Debut - Canadian author Heather Marshall

This is for sure my all time favorite book of the year. Looking for Jane is a historical fiction novel centered around the Jane Collective. The Jane Collective was a group of women and men that assisted in underground abortion services throughout the 60s - 80s. Since reporductive rights have become a very important subject of late, I found this book very timely. The thought that women had to be subjected to unsafe abortion services when in need is extremely unsettling. This book is a good representation of what is to come if we decide to repeat the past.

Thank you NetGalley, Atria Books and Heather

A timely novel given the recent overturning of Roe v. Wade in the States, and a fascinating exploration of a period in Canadian history. It’s hard to believe that this is Heather Marshall’s debut novel. She moves deftly between protagonists and time periods, and weaves the storylines together beautifully in the end. The novel is well researched without getting bogged down with historical details (don’t miss the author’s note in the back for historical context). She crafts characters who are not tropes but individuals, each with her own complexities and nuances. Ultimately this book is not about abortion or adoption - it’s about motherhood, love, and the impossible choices women so often face (and how many have no choice at all).

This is an emotional story about a hot button issue in our society today. With the overturning of Roe v Wade, abortion has become a very emotional and controversial issue. Even though the book is about abortion it is more about motherhood. The author does an outstanding job presenting the emotions of young unwed pregnant girls dealing with their own mind and body issues as well as those imposed on them by laws and society. Different timelines and characters are presented as the reader experiences all aspects of this issue. Well researched by the author and recommended by this reader no matter what side of the issue you are on. #LookingForJane #HeatherMarshall #NetGalley

Looking for Jane sucked me in within the first few pages. It is so good! I was a teen mom and had I lived in the 1960s, my experience would likely have been similar to Evelyn and Maddie’s. I had tears in my eyes at times. It is well researched and it was easy to keep the different timelines separate. I will be buying a physical copy just so I can hug it (and pass it around to all of the women I know).

A must read for all females everywhere. A book about motherhood and the various factions who try to impose their feelings and religious beliefs on to others. We must continue to fight for womens rights. Powerful writing.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for this advance reader copy of Looking For Jane in exchange for a fair review.
Powerful and timely, this tri-timeline story follows three women of various generations and their right to make decisions about their own bodies. Before women were granted their rights to decide on bearing a child, many unmarried women and even young girls were sent away to centers to carry their child and ultimately give their child up for adoption - regardless of the circumstances behind the pregnancy. Conditions were poor and these women endured some harsh conditions only to lose their child. Elsewhere, women carrying unwanted pregnancies were forced into the 'back alley abortions' where many died of infection, but somehow this was better than the shunning, ridicule and ruin their would endure as a single mother. Even today the stigma of invitro fertilization and same sex couples, or same-sex adoptions is still present.
I am glad to have read this book. Its a hot button topic in our nation today and I am rather embarrassed that we have turned the clock back 50 years. Its not an easy topic but one that more people should read about and understand to truly grasp what all women face when they might find themselves in a predicament thrust upon them.
I enjoyed the character development, how the action moved between the three main characters and each of their storylines - and I especially loved their collision. I was page turning by the end.
4*

LOOKING FOR JANE is a fantastic and timely historical novel. Unfortunately, with recent news about Roe v. Wade, this issue is more relevant than ever. Heather Marshall handles it with a deft hand and it's hard to believe this is her debut novel. She moves seamlessly between decades and includes just the right amount of historical detail. The characters come alive and the reader is swept along in the narrative.

I will look forward to this author's next book.

Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction.

Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for an arc in exchange for my honest review.

Publication: February 7, 2023

I'm stunned that this is a debut novel! There is a lot of historical content which I love plus it's with history that I'm not familiar with since it's based on Canadian history. You follow three women all in different aspects of Canadian history and the main theme would be: their right to choose.

I loved all the history and big topics that are addressed: abortion, motherhood, adoption, infertility, unwed mother homes, abuse within those homes, etc. I thought that this would be a five star read for me but the biggest thing that docked a star is that there isn't much character development.

This book focuses on the characters through the different waves of history but lacked some of that emotional connection for myself as a reader.
Will I purchase this book for someone else? Absolutely!
Will I be on the lookout for Marshall's next novel? Definitely!

Make sure to preorder this book for a dose of history and women's choices.

This book debuts during an apt time with the overturning of Roe v Wade and the fight for women’s rights across the world. The story weaves three perspectives across 60 years; these are always fun to read as the book sort of unravels itself as it keeps going. The story started out very strong with compelling origins and narration. However, it was difficult to keep track of the three characters during the beginning as the time jumps abruptly and there wasn’t enough development to identify the characters. It started getting slow around the mid point before picking back up again. There is a major plot twist at the end which I felt was not necessary and undermined several characters and the overall mission of the story. It suddenly became thriller/horror for a fledgling of a second and it just didn’t make sense. There is some unresolved character arcs as well and overall the characters didn’t feel fleshed out.

It’s a very interesting story rooted in actual history. I also enjoyed the setting in Toronto as a local. There are just some plot and character kinks that distract from the story.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an advanced copy for my honest opinion.

There is nothing quite so gratifying as reading a really good debut novel AND learning about some groundbreaking history of your own country at the same time! Abortion has been legal in Canada since 1988, so many are now rather complacent about the issue. What we have to remember is that before it was legalized many, many women died seeking abortions, and many, many fought – at great personal risk – to make abortion legal.

The characters in this novel fairly leapt off the pages in their authenticity. Weaving fiction with historical fact seems to come natural to the author as this is her debut novel. With themes of maternal love, adoption, abortion, and the right to choose, this is a timely novel given the fact that March is International Women’s Month.

A moving fictional portrait that puts a human face on the history of Canadian women’s reproductive rights, “Looking For Jane” is a novel that is entertaining and informative in equal measure. It is an impressive debut that I highly recommend.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review. While this was more of a 4 star read for me, I am giving it 5 stars because the issue of women's choice is so important and this book does an excellent job of covering the issue. The story is told by three narrators - Evelyn, Nancy and Angela. In 1961, Evelyn finds herself unwed and pregnant after her fiancé dies of a heart attack. Her parents disown her and force her to enter the St. Agnes home in Canada where she will stay until she gives birth. The "inmates," as they are called, are treated terribly by the nuns and are forced to give up their babies for adoption after birth. Evelyn and her friend, Maggie, both give birth to girls. Maggie, against orders, secretly names her daughter Jane and hides a note inside the baby's booties saying that she was forced to give her up and that she would never stop looking for her. Flashforward to 1980 and we meet Nancy who witnesses her cousin have an illegal, back alley abortion in filthy conditions and it is Nancy who saves her cousin's life by taking her to the hospital when she won't stop bleeding. At the hospital, a female doctor tells Nancy that if she ever finds herself in the same situation to call to doctors offices asking for Jane and someone will help. Once Evelyn left St. Agnes she went to medical school and, in the 70's, joined the protests advocating for women's rights and legal abortions. When she realizes that those efforts aren't enough, she agrees to join a secret organization that provides women with safe abortions called The Jane Network. When Nancy finds herself in need of an abortion during college, she calls The Jane Network and ends up being treated by Evelyn. Remembering the experience with her cousin, Nancy realizes that she is lucky to have had a better and safer option and she herself joins the network as a volunteer. Over the years, Evelyn and Nancy work closely together as they try to stay one step ahead of the police raids and secret informants that threaten the network. However, despite the danger, they continue to provide their services via the network until they can come out of the shadows when abortions are finally legalized in Canada in 1988. You may be wondering where Angela ties into the story. She is a married woman and she and her wife are trying to have a baby via IVF. Her wife works with Evelyn at the university and eventually Angela makes a connection between Evelyn and Nancy but to say anything more would be a spoiler so suffice to say that there is a very big twist at the end of the book. Angela was my biggest issue with this book. Her character and storyline were completely unnecessary and distracted from the very important story of the work that Evelyn and Nancy were doing with the network. I think that the author was trying to show that all reproductive rights are important, including IVF for same sex couples, which is certainly true but I didn't think that this was the best forum for that topic as it was completely overshadowed by the brilliant history of The Jane Network.
As I said previously, this story is so important now with the recent US Supreme Court decision to once again restrict women's rights by blocking a woman's access to abortions. It infuriates me to read a book like this that describes the dangers to women who are forced to seek out unsafe options because the government decided that they should not have say over their own bodies, especially knowing that this is reality now for women in a modern, first world country that was supposedly founded on freedom. I know that this is a controversial issue so I will step off of my soapbox except to say that I highly recommend this book and encourage everyone to read it, regardless of your personal feelings on the subject.

The title "Looking for Jane" made me think this was going to be a mystery. I was wrong, This book is a historical novel. It is the story of three woman and their journey and their choices towards motherhood.

I found this book interesting. The emotions run high throughout the book. Heather Marshall has done a terrific job at presenting the stories and the main characters. Although some of the story line takes place in the 60's the story is related to current issues.

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, from Atria Books and #NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity to preview and review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

One of the best historical fiction novels I’ve read in years. I’m still thinking about it days after finishing

This book is phenomenal! I loved every chapter, character, and point of view throughout.

The weaving timelines and points of view are done so extremely well. Everything connects and blows your mind at the end!

I am also a big history nerd, and I was very intrigued by the historical events that the author based this story on. I knew a bit about The Janes and how they operated in the United States, but I had no idea that Canada was going through the same thing. 🤯

This book was so emotional and well written, it’s easily a five star read for me.

“Looking for Jane” is a powerful debut novel by Heather Marshall. Ms. Marshall weaves together the story of three women over four decades (1960s, 1980s, and 2000s) perfectly and seamlessly. Do read the author’s note in the back for more information about not only the idea of the book, but also about the historical bits. While it’s quick to assume the theme is about abortion, I found it more about reproductive choices available to Canadian women before 1988. I found myself thinking about “The Home for Unwanted Girls” by Joanna Goodman while reading this book, especially the parts in the 1960s. I also found the medical discussion sections enlightening and educational. An emotional read, for sure, but also a much enlightening and enjoyable read too.

This book provides good information on the struggle for Women's rights to those who were not around in the 1970's-80's. How disturbing that the USA is going through this again. Appropriate topic, well presented, about the struggle to preserve women's rights.

This is seriously one of the best historical fiction novels I've read. Looking for Jane is so timely, exactly the subject matter we need to be exploring right now. I loved the strong female characters, the unique storyline and setting, plus an amazing mystery. I recommend this book to everyone I know, I can't wait to read whatever Heather Marshall comes up with next.

Uncovering the abuse and horror of a home for unwed mothers, as well as revealing an underground network for abortion providers in Toronto, this historical fiction was riveting, human and eerily relevant to today's world view. The intertwining of the main characters stories was well done, and the surprise revealed at the end was especially poignant.

4.5 Stars
I love this book!
The historical background was shocking and sometimes hard to read. The brave women (and men) of the Jane Network are amazing.
A fantastic book!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc in exchange for my review.

the book opens in toronto in 2017 when angela, a woman working at an antiques shop, discovers a long-lost letter and is determined to find the intended recipient. in doing so, she learns about a group of women in the 1970s who operated an illegal abortion network known only by the codename ’jane’.

the novel jumps in time between angela’s search in 2017, dr. evelyn taylor’s ’sentencing’ to a home for ‘fallen’ women in the 1970s and her joining the jane network, and the 1980s where we meet nancy, a girl who discovers a secret about her own family history, and who seeks out the jane network when she unexpectedly falls pregnant herself.

the three narratives weave together so seamlessly, and come together at the end in a very organic way. it was so cool to read a story set in downtown toronto, and to be so familiar with the streets and landmarks mentioned. the descriptions were so vivid, and i really felt like i knew the characters, nancy and evelyn in particular.

i’m not the biggest historical fiction reader, but i was pleasantly surprised by this book, and loved learning about an unknown part of canada’s history.