Heather Marshall’s LOOKING FOR JANE is powerful and important.

A story of motherhood, a story of women, a story of our lack of choices and the fight to choose. The complexities of the women, their experiences, and the emotions portrayed in these pages always rang true. Marshall doesn’t write in black and whites, but the world of greys we all live in, where moment to moment our feelings, our decisions, and our thoughts can shift and transform and merge; where seemingly ‘wrong’ choices are never so simple, but understandable and often justified. Being a woman in a world that for so long saw us as second-class citizens (and in some cases still does) is not an easy feat. But women are powerful, women are fighters, and it is our emotions, our tenderness, that although sometimes viewed as a weakness, is what makes us strong – LOOKING FOR JANE explores all of this.

It’s a story I’m sure I’ll be thinking about for weeks, from the details about homes for unmarried women I knew nothing about, to the details about back alley abortions I wished I’d known nothing about, to the fight for a woman’s right to choose, which I’d never really taken enough time to consider.

Clearly, Marshall is an excellent researcher. I often found myself wondering whether aspects of this novel were inspired by lived experience. The detail was so on point, the emotions, the scents, the texture: it all felt too real to simply be fiction. And based on the Author’s Note, it wasn’t, but rather what I imagine must have been months, if not years, of mining other women’s stories.

This novel of brave and determined women is a must-read that honours countless untold stories of a past that’s been too long-silenced, that in other countries still exists. Beautiful, heartbreaking, necessary, and memorable.

Also, be sure to read the Author’s Note at the end!

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this advanced reading copy.

I loved this book for it's time period, it's very real characters and it's historical accuracy! I cried, shook in anger, feared for and cheered for the heroic female characters and felt great pride for the real historical people of the times.
This book struck me in my heart and soul. I lived in those years as woman fought for the right for domain over their own bodies, were refused safe abortions and who gave up babies, even when they did not want to. I was one of those women and my situation set my life on a path of irrevocable change with lose, lose, lose choices.
Marshall has done a masterful job of capturing the historical accuracy in Canada during the mid 20th century. Her characters come off the page as heroic women whether they die during unsafe abortion circumstances, are doctors illegally providing safe abortions, are young women hiding in 'homes' while pregnant or are women forever missing a child they were forced to give up.
I highly recommend this book to all women. There is much to learn in its truth and enjoy in the .story.

This book was one of the best books I have read in a long time. I picked it up, and could NOT put it down. The voices of the 3 main characters were so distinct and unique, and yet felt like it could be any woman in any one of their situations. I found their stories to be not just compelling but spellbinding, as they pulled me in to their lives. This was the first book I have read by Heather Marshall and it will not be the last.
The stories of Evelyn, Angela and Nancy gripped my heart. By the end of the book, I was crying. It was an incredible story to read.

I loved this book. It's amazing what you find out about when reading historical fiction. Unwed mother's were sent to these homes and coerced into giving up there babies, even when the didn't want to. They didn't have very many choices back then. Back street butchers giving young girls, illegal abortions. Or girls aborting themselves, as they felt they had no other choices.
Jane was a secret organization of doctors, nurses and volunteers that performed illegal abortions, but with sanitary conditions and proper medical care. Without these brave people, many young women would have died in back street alleys, or butchered to the point were they would never have any other children. The homes for unwed mothers, sold some of these children to parents that could not have children. Not all of these babies went to children's aid.
There is hope though for some of these children, and their mothers that gave them up. Because of their fight for the Right to Choose, abortion is now legal in Canada. I loved the back story and the history lesson. Thank you to the publisher and netgalley.

Prior to reading Looking for Jane I had no idea Jane clinics existed and that there is one in my city.
I learned so, so much from the authors research and incredible writing skills, I thought I was well educated on this topic, turns out that was not true.
I whole heartedly believe that this is an important book that every person should read, male, female, pro-choice, pro-life, young adult to adult past their child bearing days. With or without children. Looking for Jane should be required reading in women's health and history, also in sex education classes. This is a solid full five star must read for everyone!

4/5 Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was actually supposed to be reading a couple of other books (one for Book Club & another technical one); but once I started into “Looking for Jane”, I could not get back to the other books. This one really held my interest.

This story follows a few women through their stories of wanted and unwanted pregnancies.

In the early sixties, Evelyn and Maggie are unwed and pregnant. They meet at St.Agnes’ Home for Unwed Mothers in Toronto and against the rules, become fast friends. Neither wants to give up their child for adoption, but they are coerced under duress. Both manage to send the baby away with a note wrapped up in her swaddling.

A few years later, Evelyn becomes a doctor and gets involved in providing women with free illegal abortions. Dr.Evelyn Taylor notes in a book she writes years later that she lost both her best friend and her baby due to lack of choice and she knew that she would make sure that in the future, other girls would always have a choice.

The book takes the reader through some abortion protests of the ‘70s; an expensive, illegal backroom abortion with less than desirable results; and the establishment of the Jane Network in Toronto, Ontario. The Jane Network was a hushed up way for women to obtain free illegal abortions from actual trained medical personnel in the ‘70s and early ‘80s. Women with an unwanted pregnancy could call around to doctor’s offices and say that they were looking for Jane and eventually be referred to someone in the network who could help.

The book actually has many other layered stories threading through each other which take us from the ‘60s to 2017. There are complex issues about motherhood and abortion, and the fact that the two are not always strictly a black or white choice. The different story lines make it very interesting, but I don’t want to include spoilers.

My only criticism of the book was that the character interdependency was too coincidental in the end; too pat. The twist about a character’s identity change was not expected and quite well done, but the reveal of a mother-daughter relationship was too much for me. The characters were too close already for this happenstance to really happen the way it did.

A very well written, thought provoking book. A meditation on women’s rights over their own bodies; which is rather timely now with the issues surrounding the Roe V Wade case in the United States. I would definitely recommend this book.

Highly recommended for fans of Canadian Historical Fiction, especially those who love Genevieve Graham's work. This novel is a debut from Heather Marshall, and it is fantastic!

Looking for Jane is about motherhood, the fight for a woman's right to choose and the terrible system that wayward homes for unwed, pregnant girls conducted in Toronto. It follows three female characters, from the 60s to present-day, intertwining their stories in heartbreaking, beautiful ways. Having never read a story about this part of our history, I was drawn in immediately. I especially loved this novel for its strong female characters, unexpected plot twists, and historical accuracy.

If you're going to pre-order any Historical Fiction for 2022, this is the one! This novel is expected to be published March 1st, 2022.

"Looking For Jane" is a difficult read emotionally. This story is tragic from the first page to the last. I learned many things about Canadian history and the fight women went through for the right to a safe and legal abortion. The story brings the reader into the lives and hearts of women who suffered under Canadian law. It is hard to imagine that abortion in Canada only became legal in 1988. We have come a long way yet there is much farther to go.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to pre-read this novel. Heather Marshall has done a lot of difficult research and created some tragic life events for her characters to portray this time in history to the reader. I am grateful to learn about the Jane Network and the amazing work they accomplished.

This is a book about a very emotional and divisive subject that was well written, well researched and compelling. What so many women have had to endure is heartbreaking. and having some insight as to the struggles that not only these women endured, but also of those who were working so hard to bring relief to these women, was enlightening. I have very mixed emotions about abortion - I grew up in a very “anti-choice” community , but over the years, I have moderated my views to a great extent and while abortion on demand at any stage, for any reason is still hard for me to wrap my head around, I feel I have greater insight as to why this is so important and necessary for many. So much food for thought, I really enjoy books like this that challenge my way of thinking.

It did take me a bit to figure all the characters out. I was a little confused, not only switching characters, but decades in each of the characters lives as well, however once I figured it all out, it was very hard to put down.

Thank you to Net Galley, Simon and Schuster Canada and Heather Marshall for the opportunity to read this book.

I'm not going to lie, I mostly was drawn to this novel by its gorgeous cover, and I thought the title was referring to well Jane you-know-who ;) And I think that many who pick this up will be surprised to find that it is actually about the underground, Canadian abortion network that ran mid-twentieth century Canada.

I'm sure their will be some definite outrage about this title, but I'm squarely in favour of 1) airing the story of the networking because abortion is healthcare and its important to remember what happens when safe abortions are not available and 2) because it is a history we don't hear much about, and the strength, determination and perseverance of the volunteers who made up Jane deserves to be shared, even if only in fictionalized accounts.

I like the narrative style the author used, multiple eras and a woman for each. I thought most Angela, Evelyn and Nancy were well fleshed out. And I'm not embarassed to say that the writting and the stories had me crying a couple times. My only complaint might be that there was quite a lot happening in the different eras and locations (i.e. Girl's Home, Jane clinics, Fertility treatment) and I felt like they were a bit unbalanced, but I suppose considering the culmination that there is some reason to the narrative decisions.

All in all really well done! Glad to have picked this up!

This is an excellent book. So important to read, especially with what is happening in the US around Roe vs. Wade.

Serious literary hangover! I am trying to find the right words. But all I can find is thank you! Thank you Heather Marshal for this beautiful reflection of motherhood and woman hood in all It’s forms among the backdrop of the fight for a woman’s right to choose. With what is happening in Texas this book is even more poignant. Thank you!

I love to read - it relaxes me and helps me to de-stress, and it has been my favourite hobby since early childhood. However, I also love when a book teaches me about a subject or time in history that I had little or no knowlegde of. Looking for Jane opened my eyes to the era of underground abortion networks and maternity homes and certainly brought out a lot of emotions in me. I just can’t fathom how people ever thought they could tell women what they could and could not do with their own bodies!! Things have improved over the years, but sadly there is still room for improvement. This book was very thought provoking, and I definitely recommend it.

A fascinating story spanning 57 years and 3 generations, it deals with a heavy subject. I enjoyed that the story deals with a dark history, bringing to light stuff many would much rather ignore. Homes for unwed mothers where many women were often treated terribly, often no better than criminals, and forced to make decisions that weren't necessarily the best ones. The fight to make abortions legal, just so women wouldn't have to go to butchers in back alleys with unsafe, unsterile conditions but to have the procedures done in sterile conditions where they could be properly monitored. It was fascinating to read about history in an easy to read way with characters one could connect with on different levels.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and all opinions are my own.

Wow. What a magnificent book. After finishing this well written book I found myself full of so many emotions. Pride and awe for everything the amazing woman of the past did to protect other woman. Deep sadness for all of their pain, suffering and loss. Anger at the way women were treated then and sadly are still being treated in some countries.

As the author states in the acknowledgements, this isn’t a book about abortion, it is a book about motherhood. The author created some amazing characters that seemed so realistic and who were easily likeable. The story started a bit slow for me but once it picked up I couldn’t stop reading. I’m fact it’s was four in the morning when I finished it.

While I know some people may disagree on this topic it is one that needs to be discussed and nothing does a better job of showing you what is going on mentally, emotionally and physically with women that are faced with this difficult decision. The author handled the topic with such eloquence and dignity.

I cannot thank Simon and Schuster Canada for allowing me to read the ARC of this book via NetGalley. A must read for us all.

In 2017 Toronto, Angela finds an old letter addressed to one Nancy Marshall, from her deceased mother, admitting that Nancy was adopted and giving her the name of her birth mother, hoping they reunite.

In the ’70s, Nancy Marshall first accompanies her cousin to an illegal back-alley abortion that almost kills her, and hears about the Jane Network, the underground abortion network operating in Toronto. When she herself needs an abortion a few years later, she goes to Jane. And then joins them as a volunteer.

In 1961, Eleanor is a young unmarried woman sent to St. Agnes’s home for Unwed Mothers, a home run by the church, where the women—called inmates—are mistreated for months before giving birth alone and then being forced to give their baby up for adoption. She grows up to become a doctor, and to join the Jane Network as an abortion provider.

I don’t know where to start this review. I absolutely loved this book! As a Canadian, I loved learning about another dark facet of our country’s pockmarked history, one I never would have heard about otherwise. I certainly didn’t hear about this in school!

The stories all thread around each other in touching, sometimes expected and sometimes surprising ways. I absolutely did not see the final revelation coming and loved it! Masterful.

Also, positive point: there are almost no men in the novel! A few boyfriends/husbands/brothers, but all the main characters, without exception, are women. It was SO refreshing!

I heartily recommend this to everyone interested in women’s rights!

Wow!
This is a solid 4.5 stars but I rounded up because for a debut novel it was amazing!
It is a historical fiction on a sensitive subject, abortion and what happened back in the 50's and 60's when young women became pregnant. But the story jumps to 2017 when a lost letter in an antique store is found. The woman that finds it knows that it is clearly not for the antique shop but she is curious and it was written 50+ years ago....
The storyline was well written and kept my interest. I'm not a fan of books that jump timelines and back again but this one was really good. Some aspects of the book was taken from actual events and the author spun her characters into the event. I really enjoyed the authors comments at the end of the book
Now the ending I didn't see that coming and I found it a little far fetched but the author made it work.
Heartbreaking, eye opening, well written book. I cried reading this book....
Highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for allowing me to read a digital advanced copy of this book for an honest review. All words, while not so eloquent, are my own and from the heart.

What a book! I don’t even know where to begin. This book really tugs at your heartstrings. As I was reading, I couldn’t help but feel that a little empathy, compassion and showing some humanity for these young women women would go a long way. Unfortunately this was not the reality of the era. Instead, young unmarried pregnant women were sent away to “homes” where they were treated as inmates, abused and had no choices either before, or after, their babies were born. Evelyn Taylor, one such victim, wants to change that. Nancy Mitchell is haunted by something in her past, but is afraid to pursue the matter, believing that keeping secrets and lying is the way to go. Angela Creighton stumbles across a piece of mail that didn’t get delivered to its rightful owner and after reading the context, is determined to find her. This book is the story of these three women.

The characters of Nancy, Evelyn and Angela were so well developed that I found myself engrossed in their stories. Themes of relationships, motherhood, women’s issues, love are weaved throughout and there was an ending I really didn’t see coming.

This is not a light read. The story leaves the reader with a heavy heart and a lot to think about. A well written and researched book that leaves you lost for words is rare these days. What a debut for this author!

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for the ARC in exchange for an honest review..

What an amazing debut novel and such an important women's rights read! The more pages I turned, the more I couldn't stop thinking about the characters, their connections, and all the painful things they were going through. Although this is fiction, the story is based on a number of tragic truths about abortion and pregnancy which endeared me even more to the characters.

The story is told through Angela, Nancy, and (mostly) Evelyn and spans several decades. Although Evelyn is the focus, Angela and Nancy certainly hold their own in the book, and I was as interested in their stories as I was Evelyn's. Of course they are all intricately connected, and the jump between time periods was seamless. The author always chose the perfect time to transition.

I am so thankful to Heather Marshall for bringing this important part of women's history to the forefront. This is a story I will never forget! Riveting until the last page--even the author's note! Thank you, NetGalley and Simon & Schuster, for the opportunity to read this advance copy.

I chose to read this book because I lived through this time period and in Toronto. I had actually heard of a Jane-type network through a workmate and followed Dr. Morgentaler's activities for decades. Seeing this situation through the eyes of the women whose choices on motherhood and its timing is the focus of this historical fiction novel. Coming at a time where Canada's dirty laundry is center stage with Indigenous residential schools, missing indigenous women and children this is another area where those without power have been exploited.

I found parts of this story confusing as the characters bounced between characters and eras. I felt a bit cheated by the ending when important facts had been kept back. The research on this topic was extensive and I applaud Heather Marshall for her diligence.