*Looking for Jane* by Heather Marshall is a compelling historical fiction novel that explores women's rights, particularly reproductive rights, across several decades in Canada. Through interwoven narratives set in different time periods, Marshall introduces us to three women: Evelyn, Nancy, and Angela, whose lives are connected by a mysterious letter and their involvement in a secret underground abortion network.

Marshall skillfully brings each of these women's stories to life, touching on themes of motherhood, choice, and female solidarity. The novel is a potent reminder of the difficult decisions women have faced throughout history when it comes to their bodies, and the emotional toll that these decisions carry. The settings feel immersive, and the characters’ experiences are portrayed with compassion and nuance.

The book effectively combines historical and contemporary timelines, allowing readers to see how the fight for reproductive rights has evolved while remaining relevant. One of the novel’s strengths is its ability to balance hope with the harsh realities women face, making the emotional weight of the story impactful without being overwhelming.

Marshall’s writing is evocative, and her characters are well-drawn and deeply relatable, especially as they wrestle with societal expectations and personal desires. While the plot can feel slightly predictable in places, the underlying message is timely and important, ensuring that *Looking for Jane* is not just a gripping read but also a meaningful exploration of women's issues.

**Overall Verdict:** A thoughtful, poignant novel that brings attention to the ongoing struggles for women's reproductive rights. It's a must-read for fans of historical fiction and those interested in women's rights.

4.75! Wow this was so good!! Such an interesting history I didn’t know about. This is so well researched and does not shy away from those hard and emotional topics and scenes. I was a little confused a bit throughout as to who was who and that’s the only reason it wasn’t quite 5 stars. But honestly maybe that’s just on me being confused lol. Honestly such a good an important read.

I enjoyed this book and learned a lot about the underground abortion network in Canada that I admittedly knew nothing about (although I did know that abortion wasn't legalized in Canada until well after Roe v. Wade in the States). I generally enjoy multiple viewpoints in narration, but am not a huge fan of different timelines, so those balanced each other out.

I'm a fan of twists (psychological thrillers are definitely my go-to books) and I figured there had to be one in this book, but I have to say, I did not enjoy this twist at all. It seemed like a bait and switch to me, as all along we were given the perspective of Evelyn but, in reality, the first few Evelyn chapters were really Maggie chapters. Additionally, there were inconsistencies in the backstories of Evelyn and Maggie that didn't make sense to me following the twist - the main one being the brother. There were other inconsistencies (like Evelyn being a vegetarian but then ordering a BLT), and WAY too many coincidences for my liking (like, the WHOLE Evelyn / Nancy storyline, but I just had to throw up my hands and go with it).

The author has degrees in political science and history and it seems like this book was well researched and about a topic of importance to the author. I enjoyed her notes at the end of the book and appreciated that she took the time to provide further information on the post-war maternity homes, as well as draw the parallels between these (mostly white) babies that were taken from their mothers and Canada's shameful history regarding Residential Schools and the Sixties Scoop.

WHY did I wait so long to finally pick this book up?? Fantastic - one that I think everyone should read given the current political climate around reproductive rights and bodily autonomy. The abortion movement in Canada is one that is, given our geographical proximity, grossly overshadowed by what is happening south of the border. Learning more about the abortion movement in Canada prior to its decriminalization was inspiring, and makes me so appreciative for the determination of reproductive rights advocates in making lifesaving healthcare safe and available. Well researched, thoughtful, and heartwarming.

This book was deeply moving. Angela Creighton has been trying for a baby with IVF for years, struggling with the difficult process. In the early 1970s, Evelyn Taylor becomes friends with Maggie, another young pregnant teen, when they are both sent to a home for unwed mothers while waiting to give birth and give their babies up for adoption. In the 1980s, after witnessing a terrifying and dangerous back alley abortion, Nancy learns about the Jane Network for accessing safe abortions in Canada. The stories of these women intertwine in the present day.

I went in blind to this and from the cover I assumed something world war 2 esque. I was so wrong! This was a fantastic book about a piece of Canadian history I know little about. I loved the story lines and how they intertwined. Fascinating and well written!

A fantastic debut novel! A deeply moving account based on true stories of the largely nonconsenting 300,000 Canadian women who were sent to homes for unwed mothers and ultimately were forced to give up their babies for adoption between 1945 and the 1970s. Although it seems to focus on the abortion issue and the rights of women to their own bodies, the real back story is the love of a mother for her child and the extents that she will go through to protect them. I look forward to reading more by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Shuster Canada who provided me with a copy of this book. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

After putting this on my favourites of 2022 list I realized I didn’t ever post my review on here and I also remembered it’s only being published in the U.S. next month - if you are a HF fan you MUST add this to your TBR! ⁣
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This is a debut novel and is it fantastic. I can’t wait to read more by this author. ⁣
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It’s informative, captivating and touching. Woven perfectly between two timelines and multiple POV, the pacing was perfect and I could not put it down. ⁣
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This book shines a light on the history of abortion and reproductive rights in Canada - there’s a dark side to this I didn’t know much about and a badass group of strong women fought to get help for all women, like they deserve to have. It left me googling more about this topic in my country’s history.⁣
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This book is moving, impactful and timely - I strongly recommend it to everyone!

This book was super good, definitely one I would recommend, and it is Canadian too! The story alternates between a few characters/perspectives and time hops quite a bit, but for the most part it is fairly easy to follow along. Angela Creighton is in her 30s and is ready to start her family with her wife using IVF, but the process is not as easy as they had hoped. In the early 1970s, Evelyn Taylor becomes friends with Maggie, another young pregnant teen, when they are both sent to a home for unwed mothers while waiting to give birth and then give their babies up for adoption. In the 1980s Nancy is young and pregnant and after witnessing a terrifying and almost lethal back alley abortion in her teens she now knows that in order to get a safe, illegal abortion, you need to access the Jane network, an underground organization of doctors, nurses and volunteers who offer abortions in secret. Tied together by through a passion for women's reproductive rights but decades apart, the three women's lives follow similar but also very different paths, yet somehow they all lead to the same place in 2017.

I love that this historical fiction explores multiple problems from Canada's history related to women's reproductive rights. From the homes for "fallen" women, to the Jane network to the abortion caravan, as well as the adoption process throughout history and challenges with IVF and LGBTQ+ couples wanting to have biological children, this book touches on so many important ideas. Despite being relatively long (around 400 pages), I found this book so enthralling it became a pretty quick read. In fact I finished it in under a day.

Looking for Jane is a really well researched and written emotional tale that teaches history in a way that most classrooms couldn't. By contrasting women who want to have abortions, want to access adoption, want to keep their babies and want to get pregnant, Marshall demonstrates that the answer to all issues related to women's reproductive rights is simple: choice. Afterall, the window of fertility really isn't that long and at some point the choices become naturally narrowed, so why take away options during that short period in which they exist? We know that history is doomed to repeat itself, so taking the opportunity to read and learn about our past is important. Get this book, you'll love it and you'll learn something too! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read and review this excellent book!

Looking for Jane is an emotional look into what it means to be a mother. The inspiring stories of three women are told from each of their points of view at different points in time until a twist of fate allows them to align. To say this story is a tear jerker is an understatement, especially considering where many States stand on their views of abortion laws today.
The story and characters were so well developed I could hardly put the book down as I wanted to know how the story ended.
While not my usual type of read, I would highly recommend "Looking for Jane".
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

With all that is going on with women's reproductive rights, this was a very timely book for me. Looking for Jane is set in Canada and deals with the legalization of abortion and all that happened leading up to that. It is a dual timeline story, set in 1971 when abortion was illegal in Canada, but there were underground organizations made up of doctors, nurses and others who were helping women to find a place to have an abortion. As a teenager, Dr. Evelyn Taylor was sent to a home for “fallen” women where she was forced to give up her baby for adoption—a trauma she has never recovered from. She joins the Jane Network, to make sure no young woman had to go through what she did. When 20 year old Nancy Mitchell finds herself pregnant, she doesn't want to take a chance on her life, but learns about the Jane Network, a place she can make her own decision. The second storyline is set in 2016. Angela Creighton discovers a mysterious letter containing a life-shattering confession in a stack of forgotten mail and is determined to get the letter to those it was intended for. It leads her on a long search, where we learn about the past storyline.

This story drew me in right from the beginning. Meeting a young Evelyn and seeing what she went through was heartbreaking. As she grew into adulthood, I liked how she moved forward doing something that was important to her. Unfortunately, she never got over her past, which made her a sad character as well. The women in this story were so realistic and relatable, that I felt like I was there with them. The tension when police raiding the clinics was palpable. With abortion being legal in Canada, since 1988, it is important that we remember those who lost their lives in back alleys and dark rooms and pray that we don't go back to that. The author's notes were very interesting as she shared about her research and amalgamation of many groups that became the Jane Network in this story. This is a story about maternal love, adoption, abortion, and the right to choose. This is Heather Marshall's debut novel, and I will watch for more by this author.

A beautiful story that is heartwarming. Three different women whose lives come together because of a long lost letter. Strong characters that draw you in to their world. Loved it.

In light of the recent events that took place in the USA this spring, this story was one that caught my eye.

Every now and then you will read a book that will stay with you forever and I know that Looking For Jane will be one of those books for me.

As a Canadian woman i found this book completely fascinating and I can’t believe how little I knew of this very important part of our Canadian history.

This is a book I have, and will continue to recommend to others. The writing was superb and the subject matter so important.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for the opportunity to read and review this book!

This is absolutely incredible. If you only read one book this year this must be the one. I could not put this book down.

Looking for Jane was a powerful book that both educated and entertained me. I loved each character's plot and watching them unfold into each other. A brilliant debut novel for Heather Marshall.

Looking for Jane by Heather Marshall is an important book that everyone should read. Thank you Net Galley and Simon and Schuster for an eArc! This book tells the story of 3 women over several decades and how their lives are interconnected by circumstances affecting them because they are women. The challenges women face with abortion are still happening today and the political situation remains active. This book brings understanding and an opportunity to keep the conversations going to make changes so that current and future women aren’t facing the struggles that women in the past fought to change! 5 stars!

What a powerful read! I enjoy Canadian Historical Fiction and as this was a debut book, I was expecting just that. To enjoy it. This book was had gasping, crying and stunned at the information presented and how it was beautifully written. I enjoyed the three POV and how they all tied together. The authors note in the back was just as powerful as the story itself. Do yourself a favour and be sure to read it. I cannot wait for her next one to come out.


CW: abortion, adoption, infertility, rape (off page), and abuse

Really strong story line characters are rich. The story is back and forth and keeps you guessing. I love a story that takes you away from modern life.

One of those perfectly timed books (unfortunately)!

Looking for Jane was eye opening in a way I didn’t expect. Growing up in a world where abortion was readily available and accepted it was hard to imagine that not long before I was born it was illegal.

I thought the three timelines were done so well and really showed the progression of how things moved in Canada as far as healthcare was concerned. The medical professionals and regular people who put their freedoms on the line to help those needing an abortion did extraordinary work and it’s surreal that what we thought was history may very well play out again south of the border.

Wonderfully written and deeply moving, this is a book for the times that I didn’t know we needed.

This couldn’t come out at a more perfect time. With everything happening in the USA today, there is no better time to learn about the history of abortion rights in Canada. Although this is a fictional story it gives great insight into what women went through at various points in time and is a gripping read.

Given the current discussions, this is a necessary book for delving into the historical context and conversations on abortion within Canada and I am grateful to the author for writing this book.

I was expecting so much from this book and looking forward to walking away feeling more appreciative of the events, people, and organisations that brought abortion rights to the forefront in Canada. But this book was mediocre at best and sadly missed the mark for me. The narrative transitions alright between the women at the centre of the story, but the storytelling itself felt too emotional and rather unbelievably "cringey" at times. The characters themselves were relatively half-baked; there are inconsistencies with the time jumps and characters are often left a little undeveloped. I found it difficult to conjure the characters in my mind so that I may better experience their stories in this way. The story is also a little too dramatic (sort of soap opera-y), and while I appreciate the centring themes of women and reproductive rights, the narrative felt incredibly superficial. While I appreciate the immense research the author conducted on bringing this book into fruition, there is so much more that this book could have offered. For instance, I personally would have loved to learn more about Evelyn's experience as a woman navigating the medical sciences, and her experience of working with Dr Morgentaler and the clinic itself, as well as the several other groups and organisations that advocated for rights for women in Canada.

NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada kindly provided this ARC in exchange for an honest review.