5 stars

This was a beautiful and heartbreaking book. After I finished, I needed a bit before I wrote a review. That bit turned into a lot longer than I wanted, but oh well.

I had never heard of the Christie Pits Riot, and I didn't realize how much people in Canada blamed the Jews for what was going on. Admittedly, I don't know much about Canada's role in the war and how people felt anyway, so this was all new to me. I like learning new things about the war, so I was glad that I was able to learn something here.

I also didn't know about the Battle of Hong Kong. It was very hard to read about, but I'm glad the author didn't shy away from the descriptions of what happened. There were many atrocities, including the killing of wounded soldiers in the hospital and the conditions in which the captured soldiers endured in the POW camp.

It was hard reading about the divide between Molly and Max's families, especially after the riot. Blaming someone for something just because of who they are or what they believe in isn't a new concept. and unfortunately it's one that still endured today. It's easier to blame someone else for what's going on that really looking at the big picture, but people get irrational in trying times. I did see the ending coming, but I'm glad that it ended the way it did. I wouldn't have been happy with any other ending.

Definitely recommended to anyone who enjoys reading about WWII and learning new parts of what happened during those times. Be prepared for a lot of emotions though.

First, thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with a digital ARC of this title via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I was not familiar with this title nor the author before coming across it on Netgalley. I really enjoy historical fiction It was pleased to be given the opportunity to read this title. I found it to be a nice story with good characters. There was an interesting perspective of
Canadian soldiers during world war 2 that I was unfamiliar with. Overall, a good and interesting read.

This is a War World II Historical Fiction that takes place in Canada. I feel in love with Genevieve Graham's writing when I read Forgotten Home Child, so I know I had to pick this book up. This book was slow moving in the beginning of the book, but it picked up pretty quickly. I love the characters in this book, and I really love the storyline in this book. I love how the main characters loved each other no matter how many people told them not to. I also love that this book shows us how Canada was during WII and the Depression. There is many books that takes place in France, England, and some USA, but I have not read many Historical Fiction that takes places in Canada. I love how Graham's book is helping people learn Canadian history. I am from and live in the USA, but I love learning other Countries history as well. I also look more into historical points in Graham's book. This book also hit my heart so hard and I cried so hard during some points of this book. I have to say this book is not for the light hearted readers, and you should look into trigger warnings before putting this book up. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Simon Schuster) or author (Genevieve Graham) via NetGalley, so I can give honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

This is the first time I had the opportunity to read something by Ms. Graham. I also haven't read many WWII books to be a good judge, but I have to say this was amazing book. It was so well-written and full of historical detail, it made me feel as if I was right there experiencing the events for myself. The story is based on true events that happened in Canada and Hong Kong and Ms Graham does a terrific job of capturing the tragedy and emotions of the characters and what they endured during that horrific time. Though a fictional story, Ms.Graham provided such historical details, that the story became real. I learned a great deal, all in a story context. Ms. Graham did a great job with this book, and I will definitely be looking for more of her work.

I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

This is the story of friends in a volatile time in history. Two friends, one Protestant & one Jewish, and the friendship they have during the 1930s. This is a dangerous time for everyone, and no one knows if friendships will survive or if they will survive. Times are tough enough with the Depression, and now you have people that hate you just because of your religion. Will they survive?

As most of you probably know, I absolutely love historical fiction – especially set during World War II, so I was immediately interested in Genevieve Graham’s Letters Across the Sea. Following main character Molly Ryan as she grows up during the war, the novel is set in 1933 and 1939 – giving readers a glimpse of life in Canada during the depression before the war and the war’s aftermath.

I don’t know much Canadian history overall, so I was surprised to read about all of the prejudice and clashes between the Irish and Jewish communities. It was a bit startling to learn about “swastika clubs” and stores banning Jews from their premises. As much as I read about the topic, this was a stark reminder that I’m still very naïve and it’s easy to forget how widespread antisemitism really was/is.

For her time (1930s), Molly was bold and ambitious and I loved being a part of her journey to become a reporter. She was crushed when she had to quit school to work and help out her family, but she was unstoppable and refused to give up on her dreams – even if her aversion to getting married and being a housewife affronted her parents. I also really liked her best friend Hannah who was funny, but realistic and I would’ve loved to read more about Hannah’s trajectory during the war. It may not be what Molly wanted to hear, but I understood completely why Hannah who try to dissuade Molly’s crush on her brother.

Hannah’s brother Max played a major role and influence in Molly’s life from being her first love to the one that got away – and everything in between. Their short-lived romance wreaked havoc for both of their families and caused a years-long falling out. Though it sounds dramatic, it was completely easy to see how one thing led to another, heightened by the world events and local politics.

Genevieve Graham did a fantastic job of building out the characters, but also (and perhaps more importantly) the setting. The town was in itself a character, playing a pivotal role in how each character acted and reacted as the war unfolded before them. It was a powerful and compelling book that I highly recommend to anyone who enjoys historical fiction and wants to learn more about little-known perspectives.

Beautiful love story set against the backdrop of war and anti semitism, Letters across the Sea tells the story of the Dreyfus and the Ryan families. There is suffering and loss as well as hope and growth. I enjoyed this novel which is a love story at it's core, but also covers the injustice and horrors suffered during the war.

Thank you to the author Genevieve Graham, the publisher Simon Schuster, and Netgalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for my candid review.

This was an excellent book which tells the story of several historic events the occurred in Toronto Canada and Hong Kong during the Depression and during World War II. It is the story of anti-Semitism that erupted in 1930's Canada in response to the influence of Hitler's Nazi Germany rhetoric. It highlights how different news outlets can present vastly different versions of the same events----something that we still see today. It also tells the story of several thousand Canadian soldiers that were sent to Hong Kong at the request of the British during World War II and who showed extraordinary bravery in spite of overwhelming odds. It is a World War II story that was vastly overlooked by everyone-----including the Canadians.

It is an amazing insight into the vast numbers of people who sacrificed so much to fight evil during World War II. Excellent read!

I really enjoyed this book. One of my favorite things about well researched historical fiction is learning something new about a familiar topic. I’ve read a lot of WWII historical fiction, but never about Canada and not much about Hong Kong. I had no idea anti-semitism was such an issue in Canada.
A great book, well written and plotted. A must for historical fiction readers who want to expand their knowledge. 4 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I absolutely love when I learn something new from a historical fiction novel. Ms. Graham is a new author to me, and I plan to definitely read more of her books. Her ability to find a little known historical event, combined with expert research skills and ability to spin a story that unites it all is masterful. Ms. Graham story begins during the Depression in Toronto, following the social unrest felt by workers and the tension and hatred towards Jews that led to a riot whose repercussions were felt for years. The story follows both a Jewish family and Irish family as they entered WWII and its devastating toll on both families.

I found this to be a poignant story filled with heartache and the lasting effects of war. But also one that celebrates the strength of humanity. A strong choice for fans of historical fiction.

I received a complimentary copy from the author/publisher and Netgalley. I was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

LETTERS ACROSS THE SEA

I really enjoyed this book. Set in Toronto from 1933 through just past the end of WWII, Letters Across the Sea follows the events of the Ryan and the Dreyfus families. Lifelong friends Molly and Hannah spend their pre-war years as happy teens and Molly becomes very fond of Hannah’s older brother Max. They are young women at the start of the war and both worry about siblings and lovers sent overseas to fight. An earlier event in 1933, the riot at Christie Pits regarding anti Semitic tensions, caused a rift between the two families. This would haunt both families until well after the war had ended.

Letters Across the Sea takes a look at the Canadian roll in WWII, and specifically the Royal Rifles C Force in the 1941 battle in Hong Kong. It examines issues with preparedness in training and equipment for battle, and the brutal conditions in the Japanese prisoner of war camps. It also shows in a very personal and respectful way issues regarding PTSD.

As Molly is an inspiring journalist, the role of the media in WWII is also examined. With the rise of the Nazi Party in Germany, increasing hostilities against Jewish people were occurring worldwide. Canada was no exception. And as always, political decisions were felt in a personal way by those whose lives were changed because of them.

What I really enjoyed about this book is that it seemed old fashioned, but in a very positive sense. The writing was high-quality and the storyline was straight forward. The story telling was in depth with honest emotions, believable and likable characters, and sensible decision making. It was a love story and involved strong family values. But at the same time, this book seemed especially relevant as it takes a look at a lot of the same issues that we are dealing with today including media manipulation, political war mongering, and discrimination. I thought the book was an excellent example of historical fiction.

Maps, notes, a study guide, and further reading suggestions were included.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Genevieve Graham, and Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read and review this book.

A WWII story set in Canada, Letters Across the Sea is the story of Molly, only daughter in a large Irish family, who hopes to be a writer, and Max, her best friend's brother who hopes to be a doctor someday, from a Jewish family, in the late 1930s. Molly and Max must push away their growing feelings for each other as their city becomes divided and anti-Jewish sentiment grows. I thought Max and Molly and their families were very realistic and relatable characters, and their situation, based on real events in Toronto, could have happened in real life. The horrors of both the Depression and the war were well illustrated and the focus on "soldier's heart" (more recently known as PTSD) made this a different type of WWII-era story, one very much worth reading.

Happy #HistoricalFictionFriday buddy read edition! @andrea.c.lowry.reads and I just finished the most incredible book, Letters Across the Sea by Genevieve Graham.

One of my favorite things about historical fiction novels is the ability to learn about unknown or long forgotten events. Graham has written a story containing both and I found myself pausing to google many of the events. The sheer amount of meticulous and in depth research that had to be done is impressive. Her author’s note goes into detail and she even included maps and pictures!

Another thing I loved about this book is that even though it is set during WWII, it’s set in new locations, Toronto and China. After so many books about WWII, it’s refreshing to be transported to a new place. I knew that anti-Semitism stretched beyond the borders of Nazi Germany, but I didn’t know how far and how high the tensions were in Toronto. Graham’s telling of the events leading up to the Christie Pits Riot, the largest ethnic riot in Canadian history, was impeccable and descriptive. I felt like a bystander watching the horrendous event unfold.

The characters were beautifully written and powerful to read. Molly was so different from other women of her time. She was always on a quest to share an unbiased and truthful account of the events in her community. Watching her life unfold across the pages is something I won’t soon forget. I loved how Graham didn’t spend much time with her characters during the war. Most of the book takes place before and after, which was such an original approach. We rarely get to see our characters immediately after returning from war or the lasting effects on the individual and their loved ones.

I could seriously go on and on and on about Letters Across the Sea, but all I can do is urge all my HF lovers to read this incredible book.

A beautifully written historical fiction novel. It was a bit of a slow starter for me, but I was soon engrossed in the story of Molly and Max and couldn't put it down. Parts of this book, as with all WWI novels, are very hard to read, but it is based on important historical events which don't get very much press. I was not very aware of how much religious tension there was in Canada and had never heard of the riots discussed in the story. I was glad to learn more about the role Canada played in the war. Obviously the aftermath was quite similar everywhere, with so much damage to the men who fought and to their families. As is typically the case with historical fiction, I very much appreciated the author's note at the end, speaking of her inspiration and the historical basis for the story. 4 stars.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review - all opinions are my own.

I LOVED this book and learned a but about Canadian history which happened right after the Great Depression as an effect of it and during WWII.~ This is a historical fiction and a real page-turner! I enjoyed curling up with this story each night before bed!
The Ryans and The Dreyfuses were two families who lived in Toronto, Ontario Canada in the 1930’s.
There was great character development and definatly NOT predictable which I so enjoy when reading a book~
One word that stands out in this story is....redemption!
I highly recommend this book!
5 1/2 stars

I enjoyed reading a story set in Canada and learned a lot from this book. An interesting glimpse into a pace and time with which i was not familiar.

I really enjoyed this book and thought that it was well-thought-out and well-written. My interest was kept throughout the entire novel and I am thankful for the opportunity to read and review Letters Across the Sea. I look forward to reading more books by Genevieve Graham.

Letters from Across the Sea was a beautiful story about the power of love against the backdrop of WWII in Canada. Being an American (not a Canadian, who are also Americans but not called so), I knew little about their role in WWII, and about how Canadians fared at home during that time. The author did a fabulous job with this topic. While the parts containing the gruesome treatment of Canadian (and other Allied) POWs in Japan were difficult to read, they added an important layer to the story. The author also included Japanese internment in Canada, which I was unaware of. I thought only the US was guilty of such terrible actions. But most interesting to me were the riots against Canadian Jews. It is hard to imagine that Hitler's hatred and lies reached this part of the world and instead of sympathizing with this victimized community, some Canadians reacted by attacking them. The love story which was woven throughout was wonderful as well.

Genevieve Graham does it again “Letters Across the Sea” is a beautifully written WW11 novel. The story is inspired by enduring love. From the battlegrounds of Hong Kong to the streets of Toronto, this story will not disappoint.

Thank you #NetGalley, #Simon&Schuster and #GenevieveGraham for the advance reader’s copy for my honest review.

This historical fiction book reminds us that not all hatred for Jews and others was solely confined to Europe. It did exist in North America also. This books brings to life these tensions and eventual consequences.
I enjoyed this book very much and look forward to sharing it with fellow readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGalley.