Letters Across the Sea was fantastic. It's a haunting love story set against the hate and turmoil of the rise of the Nazis. The characters are so well written, you truly feel their story.

This is a moving story about anti-Semitism in Canada during the 1930s. Molly’s best friend is Jewish. It is of no consequence as children but as WWII approaches, Molly’s father, no longer approves of the friendship. After a tragedy in the family occurs, it is more important than ever that she is not seen with any of the family members across the street.

The writing is good. The characters become like family. I love WWII fiction. Setting this book n Canada brings historical points I was unaware of, including the Christie Pits Riot, the Canadian involvement in the Hong Kong battle and others.

A highly recommended book. I look forward to reading more from Genevieve Graham and Simon and Schuster Canada.


I received an ARC from Simon & Schuster Canada through NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion or rating of this book. I am voluntarily submitting this review and am under no obligation to do so.

Love when you find that perfect mix of education and enjoyable in historical fiction. This book kept me engaged throughout, really felt like I got to know and love the characters, and I felt like I learned a lot about an aspect of WWII I’d not really known anything about before. It was an emotional read, as WWII books always are. Heartbreaking and devastating. Cannot imagine living through something like this, and am always thankful for authors like GG for telling these stories (and sharing the inspiration at the end). I do wish there was a smidge more of the romance, felt a teeny bit anticlimactic there for me… but of course, happy it ended the way it did. This is my second book by this author but won’t be my last.

4.25. I really enjoyed this book. A very interesting depression and World War II era historical fiction but different in that this novel primarily took place in Toronto Canada. The novel focuses on real world events in Toronto, the Christie Pits Riot in 1933--involving anti-Semitic and worker protests during the Depression--and the Battle of Hong Kong in World War II--one of the earliest and lesser known battles in the Pacific where ill prepared, poorly armed and outnumbered Canadian troops tenaciously but unsuccessfully defended Hong Kong from the Japanese. The British military grossly underestimated the Japanese and sent in the Canadians to fight a brave but unwinnable battle. Those Canadians who survived the Battle were taken as Japanese POWs and were subject to tortuous and horrific conditions by the Japanese. The book focuses on two families, one Jewish and one Irish, neighbors, and how these events impacted both families. The characters were very well defined. An excellent read. I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a candid and unbiased review.

4 compelling stars
Author Genevieve Graham wants to bring out little known stories in Canadian history. In Letters Across the Sea, she covers the rising of antisemitism in Canada in the 1930s and tells dramatic true stories of the Canadian forces in the Pacific during WWII in this well-written novel. Wrapped with a little romance, interesting characters, extensive research, historic events and family dynamics, Letters Across the Sea is one of the better WWII novels out there.

Part I, 1933, introduces us to two families of different faiths and a race riot in Toronto. Part II, 1939, Mollie starts her career as a reporter. Max, Mollie’s neighbor, now a doctor, enlists with Mollie’s brother and many other young men. In the final sections, Mollie reports on Canadian POW camps, internment of Japanese families, the war’s end, and the homecoming of prisoners.

Some of the book seems a bit like a YA romance, yet, I was captivated because of the superb storytelling. The one boyfriend was too good to be true. His actions were saccharine and expected. This book was clean and even war violence handled sensitively.

Make sure to read the Note to Readers, where the author discusses her research. Also included are a few photographs, maps, a reading group guide and links for further information.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Spanning over two world wars about finding freedom and building a new life in America, but still struggling to understand her family past over in Germany, Following a second war that is on the horizon. Family, destiny and legacy.

This is a super fun read. I really enjoyed this one!

Many thanks to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

I loved this story. It’s a perfect blend of real events and fictional characters blended together to weave a tale of heartbreak and endurance. Genevieve Graham does a wonderful job of bringing to life the connected stories of Jewish people in Canada just before WW11 and the nightmarish story of an untested Canadian battle battalion who faced a veteran Japanese battle group in Hong Kong. The majority of the survivors were thrown into Japanese labor camps and exposed to the worst conditions imaginable. Their story is largely unknown and mostly forgotten. It is brought to life through the stories of Molly and Max, one a Protestant and one a Jew. Born into opposing religious factions, their love for each other overcomes all obstacles placed in their way, but when Max is deployed, Molly must find her own path without ever knowing if she will see Max again. As we learn in the notes section, while the characters themselves are fictional, the events and recollections of events are real, and it’s so important to remember the sacrifice of this small group of Canadian soldiers. Review posted to Facebook, Goodreads, Litsy, Amazon and LibraryThing.

This was such a beautiful story! I loved the characters, and the locations were amazing! This was a well-written plot with wonderful atmosphere! I highly recommend for historical fiction readers!

I really liked this book! I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading it, but immediately became immersed in the stories of Molly, Hannah, Max, Richie....all of the Ryan and Dreyfus families who played parts in the overall story-telling of this book. The main characters, Molly and Max, faced many obstacles in their heart's desire to be together. The stories of the Canadians in Toronto...the hardships of the depression and the ethnic tensions of the 1930's was not something I was aware of, and it played a vital role in Max & Molly's lives. The author brought into the story a part of WWII that maybe not many have known about, and that was the Canadian's part in the horrendous battle of Hong Kong, its outcome and historical impact on so many lives. I am a huge fan of historical fiction and especially surrounding WWII. I will definitely recommend this book to others who are looking for good books in this genre also. Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the opportunity to read and review this advance reader copy. #NetGalley #Letters Across the Sea

Beautifully told story about Canadian soldiers in the war.

I love Genevieve's way of really bringing her characters to the page. Following both Molly and Max through the book gave you the perception of two sides dealing with the same issues.

Thank you Netgalley for a digital copy to review!!

Y'all, I love WWII historical fiction. I can't help it. Every time I say I'm going to take a break, I find myself sucked back into the glorious storytelling of it all.

I always appreciate when an author can find a new perspective on WWII, and Genevieve Graham did just that in Letters Across the Sea. Set in 1930s Toronto, a young Protestant girl, Molly, and her Jewish neighbors are engulfed in a wave of hate. As tensions grow between the Jewish and Irish residents of the city, a riot inevitably erupts leaving everyone involved broken-hearted and changed forever. Molly's battle doesn't end there. Six years later, her brother is shipped off to fight in Hong Kong with little training. As they wait for word, they can only pray and hope for the best.

Such an incredibly moving book. If you are looking for a book that stirs up a lot of emotions, this is it!

I really enjoyed LETTERS ACROSS THE SEA, a captivating historical fiction novel set in Canada leading up to World War II. Graham's writing is beautiful and the plot was interesting and informative. I love a historical fiction novel where I come away feeling like I've learned and been a part of a chunk of history. I'd recommend this novel to fans of historical fiction! Thank you to NetGalley and Simon Schuster for the ARC I received in exchange for my honest review

Overall, I felt kinda meh about this book. Not necessarily bad, but not particularly memorable either. Giving it 2.5/5 Stars.

I love to read historical fiction and this one is right up there. The author masterfully combines such rich history in writing that is enjoyable and understandable. Molly Is bright with a positive view of the world. I love all the characters and the richness to each of them.

Letters Across the Sea chronicles the lives of Canadians during the 1930s-1940s. It spans continents and arduous life stories. Global anti-Semitic sentiment backdrops the budding romance of a Jewish boy and. Protestant girl. A forbidden love for that era.

I was pleasantly surprised by this novel. I’ve never read any of the author’s other works but I have you say this was one of the best books I’ve read all year. The writing was illustrative and easy to read. I was never bored. You quickly gain an emotional connection to many characters and you share in their pain as the plot progresses.

I’d recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. The amount of detail the author took from real life and wove it into the storyline is impressive.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.

Genevieve Graham became one of my favorite authors after reading The Forgotten Home Child. She returns with another story based on true events in Canadian History of World War 2. I loved Molly and the letters between herself and Max, a Jewish friend, after he and her brothers are sent off to war. Graham does a great job of creating a character that is detailed and complex, but not so detailed that it holds back the story line. I love how ambitious Molly is and how she looks at the world. I highly recommend this author and this book! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC, all opinions are my own.

Letters Across the Sea
By Genevieve Graham

I do love reading WWII historical fiction novels and glad to have had read this very little known part of history, about the Canadians fighting the war and the anti-Jewish sentiments that have perpetrated the Canadian borders. Told in two timelines 1933 and then again six years later 1939, and from Toronto to Hong Kong, this story was well researched and completely rich in detail and an immersive read.

Historical Fiction readers cannot miss this wonderful novel.

this was a good one.

Ths was very well written, based on true events. I learned a lot about the Canadian side of World War II that I didnt know existed. Talk of the issues with their Jewis hate crimes. I also had no idea about the Battle of Hong Kong and how it could have been prevented. I was touched and shocked at the story of the war prisoners.
4 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and the Author and publisher for a copy of this book. The Opinions expressed are my own.

Letters Across the Sea is my favorite book of 2021. Both heartbreaking and sobering, this book tells the story of a side of WWII many forget.

Graham has this amazing way with words where even the saddest story is absolutely beautiful. I won't say too much. Just read it. You won't regret it.