Marthe grew up in Newfoundland. She was restless and glad to leave for university in Montreal. While there, she met a man and got pregnant. Not ready to have a child, she got an abortion and later the relationship broke up. Marthe dropped out of college and worked waitressing, her days aimless and without a purpose.

Then she met Ruth at a meeting about women's rights. Ruth introduced her to the concept of Jane, an organization that passed on knowledge about abortions and how to perform them so that women would always have an option regardless of laws and so that rural areas would have access. Marthe has found her purpose and she and Ruth go back to Newfoundland where Marthe will receive her training.

There are issues with the group. There are personal disagreements. One woman brings a friend for an abortion but the woman is really there to further her story about underground abortions and the Jane organization and when she writes her expose, the head of the Janes is arrested. Marthe questions if this is what she wants to do.

This is a debut novel based on reality. There was a Jane organization in Chicago which serves as a model for other groups. All the women in the organization are called Jane to give them some shelter from the law. This book was longlisted for the 2021 Scotiabank Giller Prize as well as being shortlisted for other awards. It outlines a relevant social issue at a time when abortion rights are in flux with old laws being overturned and new ones being legislated. This book is recommended for readers of womens fiction.

We, Jane is by Canadian author, Aimee Wall. This was longlisted for The GIller Prize last year and I had started it, but wasn’t getting along with it. I decided to put it aside and try again another time. This time, I got through it, but I can’t say that I am a fan.
The topic of the book is very timely. It is about caring for women who want to have or who have had an abortion. It is about an underground movement and the two main characters Marthe and Jane end up going to Newfoundland to help with this movement.
This fell very flat for me. I never connected to the characters. I felt it was very bland and I just couldn’t get into it. If you are interested in this underground movement; then maybe this would be for you but I have a feeling there might be something else out there that would be better.
Rhiannon Morgan narrated the audiobook. Perhaps a stellar audio performance would have helped me enjoy this book better, but I'm not sure about that. The audiobook didn't hinder it, I don't think, but it also didn't elevate it.

The story is very topical in this current political situation in the US. I found the narrative a little disjointed, but I am not sure if this was because of the order of chapters in the audiobook or as a conscious choice. I definitely recommend this as a leading modern feminist text relating to reproductive rights.

Such a great, interesting topic. It sounded so interesting and I was so excited to read and learn about the Jane collective. From the description the topic sounded facinating. Unfortunately, I felt there was very little actual content on that until the last few chapters, and then I needed more and it was over.
The novel focused too much on Marthe and her self discovery, which was around and with the Jane collective but only to introduce characters into Marthe's life. On top of that, Marthe's character was a little bland. I couldn't quite get into enjoying her journey.

Thank you NetGalley and Book*hug Press for the arc.

This is very much the kind of book that is unlikely to appeal to everyone, but those who it will are bound to love it. Wild and thought provoking

A feminist read without a doubt, this novel explores female solidarity and society’s lack of support for women. At times frustrating to think that so many people had to struggle for where we are today and we haven’t even made half the progress needed.
A timely reminder.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my feedback.

This was definitely not the read for me. Slow and drawn out. Even on audio at 2x it was difficult to follow and get through.

Wow. What to say about this book...

It was difficult subject matter, abortion, but this book mostly wasn't about the procedure or the women receiving them. It was about a movement. A group of women who called themselves Jane with the goal to provide the service.

The book was beautifully written, elegant, and very high-brow. It read like something in the New Yorker, distant yet beautiful. The words flowed in an almost lyrical manner. I assume that the author is quite the intellectual.

With that said, I really didn't enjoy this book. I can see why others do, and I think it was beautiful and well-written, but I didn't enjoy myself. It made me feel depressed, and incredibly sad for all the women involved in this book. Not because I'm against abortion - because I'm not - but because there was this undercurrent of sadness that leaked through the pages and into my soul. Which was probably the point, but I read more for joy, so this just wasn't my jam.

I was really looking forward to this book. It sounded great, a group of radical women fighting for reproductive rights. Unfortunately it was sooo slow-moving and I could not maintain interest in the narrative. This one just wasn't for me sadly, even though I loved the concept and topic. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my ALC!

Thank you to @netgalley @bookhugpress for the ALC and, thank you to @bookhugpress for a copy of this book in return for my honest review.
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My thoughts…
Impactful. Two Canadian cities, Montreal and St. John’s and one American city, Chicago, were connected through abortion. I appreciated how the title started to make sense in this book. A heavy subject, but well supported by a strong underground feminist organization and a beautiful descriptive settings. I liked how women were truly placed in the forefront of the story, ensuring that abortion was an intimate decision for women and impacted their body and mind. It was a story of belonging and finding a new start with a feminist lense.

Took me a while to get the just of the storyline and purpose, basically about women helping other women with unwanted pregnancy. The writing was very descriptive and especially liked the going back home conversations and assumptions, very true to life. Thank you #NetGalley for the audiobook to review.

This book was at time difficult to connect with. It's much more subtle than the novels I typically read, but it was a beautiful story about sisterhood and the necessity of reproductive rights. In terms of women's fiction, it explored great themes. I've been curious to see what the state of reproductive rights is like outside of the US so I enjoyed hearing about that in this novel.

An absolute gem I am so grateful NetGalley gave me the opportunity to read - a touching story of female solidarity telling an important story relevant to our contemporary cultural conflicts over abortion. A unique and important voice with a great sense of place exploring Canadian culture as well.

A huge thank you to NetGalley for early access to the audiobook version of this title. It's out today and I am so grateful to have spent my evening last night, and morning with "We, Jane". I definitely want to pick this up in print because it was fascinating and I'd like to have highlighted so many lines in this!

I love that it touches on so many things that are significant to women and female relationships, not just the necessity of abortion - which it promises. It's written in an almost poetic style, in that - much like sparse poetry - it is thoughtful with the words but not overwrought. It has an element of almost otherworldliness about it, despite being quite grounded. Aimee Wall focuses on not just friendships between women, but relationships in general. I felt that she did a wonderful job getting across the point that it' okay not to like another woman, not agree, find things she does to be questionable... and still fight in solidarity with her, for the rights of all women. I think that sounds easy, but it can be complicated. It also looks at the ways we live through others, or try to adopt what we like about others as our own. We are critical of ourselves and romanticize others. There is so much to get you thinking.

The "collective" thing, the WE Jane bit, I loved it. The protection through solidarity and the necessity for groups like the underground abortion services to remain anonymous was well done. I love that the women saw it as a duty and one that they'd bear the burden of together.

Just a great book, and I think upon reread with a physical copy of the book it will be five stars. However, the audiobook was very good as well.