Looking for Jane - Heather Marshall
First of all, a gigantic thank you to Netgalley for the amazing ARC!
When Angela finds a misplaced letter in a drawer in the antiques store she runs, against her better judgement, she opens the letter and is baffled at what she finds. It's a letter from mother to daughter, explaining that she was adopted, and encouraged her to find her mother. Angela, being adopted herself, sees it as her mission to track down the daughter and deliver the letter.
Backtrack to years before, Dr. Evelyn Taylor endured a horrible experience as a young girl, being forced to give her baby up for adoption as there were no other options for women at the time. She later learns her baby has died and is heart broken. She takes this experience and uses it for the better good. During her time as a doctor, she joins the Jane's and helps provide illegal, but safe, abortions to young women that have no other options.
20 year old Nancy learns the shocking secret her family has been hiding, she's adopted. Instead of confronting her family, she goes about living her life and finding herself unexpectedly pregnant. She finds herself at the mercy of Dr.Evelyn Taylor. After her own experience, Nancy also joins the Jane's and volunteers in any way she can.
The lives of the three woman tie together in the most unexpected way.
This book wow'd me. It was not only full of powerful strong woman, doing their best to get by and leave everything in a better way than they found it, but it's full of love, choices, and motherhood. I can't say enough things about this book, except, go get yourself a copy and dive in. Not only will you fall in love with the characters stories, but the anticipation of finding the link (you think you know but you have no idea), will have you finishing this book in a day or two.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5.

There is a review here already that said “if I could give (this book) more than 5 stars I would” and I agree totally. There are plenty of synopses in the other reviews so I will just give my opinion.

This is not just a novel, but is a really important book in its way It educates by bringing the struggles of women in Canada to obtain sovereignty over their own bodies to a new generation of women who didn’t realize how agonizing the options were before the abortion law was finally struck down in 1988. And it is a love story, but about motherhood and the attachment that is formed to our children at the moment of birth whether we get to raise them or not.

Heavens, I admit I’m Canadian and Iived through the era that is described here and yet honestly, there is so much that is described here that I knew nothing about. But because my life took different paths from the characters, and because this all happened in my time, the book struck a major emotional chord. It makes me want to get into that time machine parked outside and reach out to them and help them get out of the maternity home, or march with them in Ottawa, or volunteer at a clinic or something. Luckily for all of us Canadians there were people who did that in real life. I hope the same can be said for our sisters who don’t live in this country who are losing their ability to make safe choices again in this time.

Oh, and by the way, it’s an engaging storyline too.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for the ARC.

Oh my goodness, this book! I can’t truly express how important I feel this book is. I wonder, is this the first work of fiction with honest discussions on reproductive health and the fight for women’s (specifically Canadian women’s) reproductive rights? It just may be, but let’s hope it won’t be.

Angela 2017| Finds an old sealed letter in a piece of antique furniture. She opens it to find that it’s a death-bed confession, and she goes out searching for woman who the letter was intended for. In her search, she discovers that decades before there was an underground network of women who banded together to provide secret and safe abortions, known as the Jane Network.

Yes, naturally, it’s hard to read at times, but so important to understand how we got to where we are now.

Weaving of 3 different women from 3 different timelines, all with their own unique story. Whether it is infertility, forced adoptions, unintended pregnancies, this book paints clear, concise, and brave situations that women have always endured - but its these situations that have motivated them to help others in need. This novel is seamless in its presentations and well written - hard to believe it is a debut novel.

4 stars!

Such a heartfelt read. This book was fantastic. Touched ny heart in so many ways. Can't say enough great things about it. The storyline is perfectly laid out...and draws you into the lives.

Thanks to the author,the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book.

This book is amazing! I couldn't put it down, I just had to keep reading. Finding out that this book is based on things that have happened here in Toronto, Canada made it more personal for me. During my reading I actually had to stop and look up some information to see if it was correct. The more I read the more I had to keep going. The characters in the story really touched my heart, especially the girls that found themselves in a difficult situation. I don't mean to be cryptic but I don't want to give away any spoilers and take away from your enjoyment of this book. I'm glad that I had the parents that I did who not only supported me during an unexpected pregnancy, but stood beside me and loved my baby. Take the time to pick up this book and read it from cover to cover it is well worth your time.
I received a free download of this book from Netgalley and the publisher. This review is my own honest opinion.

Amazing story line. I loved these pieces in the different time eras and I loved how they came together.
I was able to follow the characters story lines easily. Highly recommend.

First off this book may cause triggers, the main theme of the book is abortion back in the 1970's before they became legal, for some women it may bring up old memories.

With that being said, this book was a really great read, 3 women who by the end of the book are tied together in a way that I never saw coming, the relationships and the struggles that they go through may for a beautiful read.

The main theme of the book was abortion and the lengths that women and doctors went through to get and give them before the government in Canada passed the law to make them legal. This book is based loosely on actual events.

Thought provoking

Looking for Jane weaves a lot into a well-plotted and well-researched novel that is at once heart warming and heart breaking. From the scenes at the Home for Wayward Girls, the illegal abortion providers, the fight for legal abortions, the nuanced issue of adoption rights, one can see how women's lives have been affected so much by their pregnancies or lack thereof. Before you think this is all a downer, all this fairly recent history is enriched by a multifaceted plot with several twists.

Thank you to the publisher who lent me a time-constrained e-arc via Netgalley. This review is optional and my own opinion.

A fantastic DEBUT by fellow Canadian Heather Marshall 🇨🇦 This story struck me hard and just captivated me page after page!! The story of 3 women that ever so nicely flows all together.

The author's notes at the end are very interesting. I'll just go by what she really says. At first glance one might think this novel is just about abortion or adoption. It's really about, Motherhood.. As she said, "Wanting to be a mother and not wanting to be a mother and all the grey areas." This book is a whole lot about women supporting each other! I think you can be on either side of the issue and still find enjoyment in this story.

There's so much packed into this book. It starts off with one woman finding an old letter tucked away in a drawer of an old antique's shop she works in. The story goes back in time to a place called, "St. Agnes's Home for Unwed Mothers" in Toronto where young girls are sent away by their families to have their babies and then for their babies to be put up for adoption. The places in the novel are fictional but the story is based on factual history. All the women in the novel are dealing with things to do with, "Motherhood."

This novel was mostly based in Toronto (with some parts in Ottawa.) As a Canadian and GTA (Greater Toronto Area) resident I loved being able to picture the areas that were depicted in the novel. It did share some light on a part of some horrible Canadian history of separating children from families. In this case forced adoptions. It did remind me in part of the horrible treatment of the Indigenous people. As far as the abortion parts in the novel - All I remember from my early teen years in the 1980's was when Dr. Henry Morgentaler's clinic was raided and he was put on trial. There is a little of that history in the novel too.

I highly recommend this for lovers of Women's Fiction and Historical Fiction based on factual accounts. This is an author to watch out for. Cannot wait to see what she writes next.

On an off-note regardless of your political thoughts: I just found it pretty ironic when I was reading the accounts of the abortion protestors taking their cause to Ottawa to our then Prime Minister Trudeau (Pierre) and the recent happenings in my country with our present Prime Minister Trudeau (Justin, the son of the former) and the trucker protests. Strangely, to think how this book was written before the later protests yet I sort of felt them happen simultaneously.

Looking For Jane
Author: Heather Marshall

My Rating: 5 stars
Opening Line: It was a perfectly ordinary day when a truly extraordinary letter was delivered to the wrong mailbox.

Thank you @netgalley & @simonschusterca for an arc copy of this book!

Looking For Jane is an incredible story about three women whose lives are connected by a long-lost letter, secrets, loss, and the fight for women's right to choose. It is thought-provoking. It tells the story of a dark part of women's history in Canada; a time when women had no choice, no voice, and no rights when it came to their own reproductive decisions. It honours the women who come before us, who showed strength and tenacity so that we may now have the right to choose.

This is one of those books that sticks with you. If you are female, there is an immediate emotional connection to the strength of these characters.

Congratulations @heathermarshallauthor on this fantastic debut! Thank you for shedding some light on such an important issue.

Thank you @netgalley & @simonschusterca for an arc copy of this book!

I don't read much historical fiction but I'm so glad I read this one! As a Canadian I learnt so much about the sad history of the underground abortions & the maternal homes for the unwed.

This was also a story of motherhood and the choices we should always have access to! As a pregnant woman this story hit me right in the heart, it was sad but so good and so important.

This book is being published March 1st and I highly recommend it! It is Heather Marshalls first book and she did a fantastic job!!

Looking for Jane is an incredible historical account of women’s reproductive rights in Canada and the fierce women who fought for the freedoms we have today. The story is told from multiple POV’s that are cleverly woven together.

This book covers many hot topics including young girls who were forced to live out their pregnancies in secret homes run by the Catholic Church, only to have their babies taken from them and sold without their consent. It also covers suicide and abortion during a time when it was illegal.

Congratulations @heathermarshallauthor on this fantastic debut! 👏🏻 Thank you for shedding some light on such an important issue . Thank you to @simonschusterca and @netgalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

#bookadoration #bookstagram #canadianbookstagram #simonschusterca #netgalley #heathermarshall #womensrights #abortion

Had a wide-ranging conversation with Looking For Jane's author Heather Marshall about the history and current topicality of abortion access and reproductive rights for The Big Read, the weekly longreads spotlight in Zoomer magazine's books section. (at link)

Looking for Jane is a historical fiction novel based on the real Jane Collective, an underground network of courageous women, including some doctors and nurses, who provided safe abortions in the late 60s and early 70s. The novel takes place mostly in Toronto Ontario (Canada), but partly in Ottawa Ontario and follows three women in different timelines, from about 1960 to 2017, whose lives become entwined. Be aware that there is mention of abortion and suicide but as the author says, the book is "about motherhood".

This is an absolutely amazing debut novel which I highly recommend no matter what your views are. The writing is fantastic and incidents have a ring of truth to them since the author did extensive research into maternity homes, abortion, and the effect on mostly young girls. I really didn't expect to find a twist in this book but at about 90% I was totally astounded to find I had been under an incorrect assumption all along. It's not often a book brings me to tears but this one did, as did the author's notes. I don't feel like my review has done this book justice so all I can say is, 'You have to read it!'.

My thanks to Simon & Schuster Canada via Netgalley for the opportunity to read this important novel. All opinions expressed are my own.

Publication Date: March 1, 2022

Heather Marshall in a Toronto author and this is her debut novel. It is an historical fiction set in Toronto in the 1960's through the 1980's and 2017. The book follows the lives of three women, Evelyn, Nancy and Angela. When in 2017 Angela finds an unopened letter from 2010 lodged in an antique piece of furniture, she opens it to try and reunite it with either it's sender or intended recipient. In 1961 Evelyn and Margaret are both unwed and pregnant and sent to a home to have their babies. They become close friends while enduring the harshness of the home and the nuns. In the 1970's Evelyn is now a doctor and she has become an abortion provider, even though by doing so she is risking imprisonment. In 1980 Nancy finds out a secret her mom has kept from her and it affects her deeply. She ends up unexpectedly pregnant and is told to ask for Jane to get the help she needs. This is a powerful book about motherhood and the history of reproductive rights in Canada. It is a wonderful recommendation for fans of Joanna Goodman and Genevieve Graham, or anyone who wants a great read.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electroic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: Mar. 1, 2022
Looking for Jane by debut Canadian author Heather Marshall is a gripping account of historical fiction, based on real events.
*discussions around suicide, infertility, abortion*
In 2017, and when Angela Creighton receives a letter in her mailbox meant for someone else, it changes her life forever. The letter contains a deathbed confession, and Angela quickly becomes determined that the intended receiver hear the letter’s secrets. Her investigation leads her to discover the “Jane Network”, a group of women who provided safe, yet illegal, abortions to desiring women in the 1970s in Canada. As her investigation takes a dark turn into history, Angela, and two other women’s, lives become intricately woven in an emotional tale of maternity.
Told from the perspective of three different women from the 1960s to 2017, "Looking for Jane" is a thought provoking and emotional journey from page one. To know that this is a debut novel is even more impressive!
I loved the characters, each and every one a powerful depiction of female bravery. From the Morgenthaler abortion controversy and the fight for female bodily autonomy, Marshall pulls no punches. I was ready and willing to wave my feminist flag after reading this novel!
As a Canadian, this novel obviously hit close to home (and it definitely introduced a piece of our shady history I knew nothing about), and I appreciate Marshall's well-researched plot.
This is going to be one of this novels that sticks with you, regardless of what side of the abortion debate you're on. Whether you're a mother, or just a female, there is an immediate emotional connection to Marshall's plot and characters.

"For readers of Joanna Goodman and Genevieve Graham comes a masterful debut novel about three women whose lives are bound together by a long-lost letter, a mother’s love, and a secret network of women fighting for the right to choose."

The publisher's description for this stunning debut by new Canadian author Heather Marshall blew me away!! I simultaneously couldn't put this book down and didn't want it to end! The writing is so compelling and the way each woman's story is skillfully interwoven was purely brilliant. There was an incredible twist near the end I didn't see coming at all that gave me chills!

I honestly cannot say enough good things about this book! It has everything that I love about good historical fiction:
-amazing three-dimensional female characters, fighting for change
-new aspects of Canadian history that I only knew a little bit about before reading this book
-the ability to move me to tears and empathize beyond belief
-a tightly paced plot with a mystery that keeps you turning the pages

Much thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for the opportunity to read this early review copy! This book will stick with me long after I finished and I will be eagerly waiting to see what is next by this talented new author!

CW: abortion, forced adoption, infertility, miscarriages (off the page)

I loved this book, I learned so much about our history and the struggles women went through then. I had a vague idea of bits and pieces of it, but this was a really well-presented way to learn more of the story.

Every child a wanted child, every mother a willing mother

I read this book due to the generosity of NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This book appealed to me on several grounds.

The setting is familiar to me. I live and work and visit many of the areas referenced in the book which showcases a bit of Canada's history as it grapples with the tough question on choice for women. It is a very divisive question - morally and spiritually challenging - and it revolves primarily on the amount of control (or not) that a woman has over her own body and whether she wants to proceed with a pregnancy or not. The author positions this novel as a book about motherhood which is of course directly linked.

The story unfolds through the stories of three women - Angela, Evelyn, and Nancy living in Toronto during the 2010s, 1980s, and 1970s. Their lives intersect in interesting ways.

Evelyn's character seems the most dominant and appealing; understandably, she is assigned a greater part of the novel. The reader is introduced to Evelyn as young girl at the fictional St Agnes Home for Unwed Mothers. She forms a close relationship with another new resident(horribly referred to as inmate) - Margaret Roberts. While close friendships are shunned at the Home; these two nervous and scared and worried young girls bonded as they console each other. Both girls are forced to sign consents under duress and to give up their babies. Overwhelmed with grief, one committed suicide while the other became a medical doctor running a family practice and performing illegal abortions to assist women who need to rid themselves of unwanted pregnancies.

Nancy is young woman who has had a wonderful childhood in the loving care of the Mitchells. Frances Mitchell is an overly protective mother who loves Nancy immensely; she chooses to never reveal the secret of Nancy's adoption out of love but very early in the story, a random comment by Nancy's grandmother plus some "spying" on her part reveal the truth.

Nancy reflects on "her childhood, full of love and joy and homemade jam. Pretty dresses and teetering piles of gifts at Christmas. Bedtime stories and summer sleepover camps. The best childhood a girl could ask for, really..." Even as she gets older and subsequently moves out of the loving home in which she is raised, it is clear to see Frances' love shining through in the wonderful gestures extended to Nancy - "I've set aside some shepherd's pie leftovers for you to take back to the apartment..." Sometimes I feel Nancy is not always appreciative of the life and love showered on her instead she focuses on what she sees as a betrayal. Her life is gravely altered by these secrets which she also keeps close to her chest.

I am not adopted and I have not adopted a child so I have NO authority to pronounce here but I have a very dear friend who is and I admire her for the close bond she shared with her adopted mother (when she was alive) and how grateful she is for the love and care she received. I was also surprised to learn that she had zero interest to find her birth mother. Undoubtedly this is a complex topic and the author touches on that in a very balanced way.

Not every adopted child wants to find their birth parents. And those who do, don't always find what they hoped to... These words are directed to Angela whose wife, Tina attempts to dissuade her from opening up what may well be a Pandora's Box. Angela is managing an Antiques and Used Books Store owned by her aunt. She accidentally found a letter written about a decade ago. The letter is penned by a dying woman who is revealing a secret of her daughter's adoption and the name of her birth mother. Angela is taken by the story and wants to connect these two people who are separated from each other.

The chapters flow back and forth among these three characters; at times a bit irritatingly but mostly easy for the reader to follow. The novel covers the struggles and protests of women leading finally to Canada's acquiescence and the legalization of abortion. The story of the Morgentaler clinic raids and court battles are fact woven fictitiously into the story. Apart from the relationships and resulting traumas around these difficult topics, I enjoy reading a story which plots through lines and things familiar to me - The Hudson Bay Store on Queen Street, College Street, Queens Park, Fran's Restaurant (where I've had several work lunches) The Annex, Danforth, subway stops with familiar names like Ossington, and even Peak Freans cookies and Royal Doulton china cups.

Summarily, a very good read. The Jane network which originated in Chicago is reproduced fictitiously in Canada and to all these brave women, I thank you and I will borrow a toast from the novel - "May the road rise to meet you". As always, I add a few of my favourite quotes:

Don't mistake your humanity for weakness.

People regret the things they didn't do far more than the mistakes they actually made.

This book, although it deals with a sensitive and controversial topic, is a must read. Looking for Jane tells a story that chronicles some of the horror procedures that women opted for (not too many years ago) and describes some of the distance that has been made in allowing women to access safe, alternative procedures. I didn’t put it down until I knew what had transpired with each character. Looking for Jane is well written and captivating.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Simon and Schuster, Canada and Heather Marshall for the opportunity to enjoy this ARC.
I look forward to reading Heather Marshall’s next book!