It’s close to a four star story but I thought it was a little long. This book is about Canadians during the Great Depression and World War II. This was all new to me and parts of it very interesting. I’m an American and maybe self-absorbed in our history, I thought that the book was a little long and parts could have been cut a little shorter. But I also think this is a me issue not the authors. I couldn’t relate real well with the characters. Molly was the heroine of the story and I just couldn’t get drawn into her story as I could with other historical fictional characters that I’ve read about. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy for my honest review.

I’ve read many books of historical fiction pertaining to WWII, but mostly from the American and European perspective. Letters Across the Sea is from the Canadian viewpoint. It’s a touching, sensitive novel about two lovers keep apart. Some of the chapters did drag slightly, but others compensated. My heart ached for Max and Molly and the perfidy that kept them apart. The best feature was the extra long historical note at the end, explaining in depth the occurrences from the novel..

What an amazing book with a history lesson wrapped within the story! This was the most powerful book I have read in a while! It hits all the emotions and the information about Canada and what the citizens went through coming out of the Great Depression right into WWII was truly eye opening. The story of love between two people of different faiths, one of which was Jewish at a time paranoia and prejudice was at an all time high. The atrocities that were endured by the Canadians and not discussed is a story that needed to be told. Genevieve Graham did a truly phenomenal job of wrapping it all up together in book I will recommend to everyone. This also hit home in a way I never thought possible as an American citizen who had a family member who was an Ace pilot with the Canadian Air Force during WWII. Thank you for writing this book!

"Letters Across the Sea" begins in Depression era Toronto, Canada, and tells the stories of Molly Ryan and Max Dreyfus. The Ryan and Dreyfus families have been friends for as long as Molly Ryan can remember, with Hannah Dreyfus being like a sister to her. But in the years leading up to World War II, anti-Semitism begins taking a hold in Toronto. The events of one summer night, culminating in the Christie Pits Riot, tears the two families apart even as World War II breaks out and again changes everything. Will the secrets and hurts from those events keep the families apart, or will they find healing and eventually forgiveness over the years?

I became completely immersed in the lives of the people in this story, not sure that I have ever read anything about the events in Canada during the Depression and World War II. This opened up a new perspective for me, and I am intrigued to find out more about this often overlooked part of history. I laughed and cried through this book and am eager to read more by this author.

I enjoyed this book and thank Net Galley and Simon and Schuster for giving me the opportunity to read it pre-publication. I especially appreciated the information about Canada’s involvement in WWII and the plight of the soldiers at the hands of the Japanese! I also had no idea that there was such Anti-Semitic feeling in Toronto. Of course I love a good love story and feel like that could have used more development. I found the ending a bit unbelievable given the fact that Max and Molly were not much more than close childhood friends. The title led me to think that there would be many letters passing back and forth instead of a very few! In spite of those reservations, I found it a very interesting account of tragedy, survival, family relationships, love, betrayal and forgiveness and would recommend it!

First I would like to acknowledge the copy I received of Letters Across the Sea in exchange for my honest review. Thank you.
I found this book to be a great history lesson about WW II and a story I had never heard. We all know there was a lot of Anti- Semitism at that time against the Jews, but there is a lot more to it. This book brought to light the suffering our military suffered in war and for many months or years afterwards and the brutality, horrible treatment as POWs, The author did her research and I thank you.

As a fan of WWII historical fiction, Genevieve Graham's Letters Across the Sea brings the Canadian experience to life although the title doesn't really fit the story as there are few letters, and these only play a minor role in the story.

Opening in Depression Era Toronto, tensions build as the community polarizes amid rampant frustration and desperation over lost jobs. Anti-Semitism and resentment of "foreigners" lead to formation of "Swastika Clubs" by white supremacists as union organizers demand better working conditions, all while Hitler rises in power in Germany, pulling his country out of the Great Depression. Best friends Irish Protestant Molly Ryan and Jewish Hannah Dreyfus, along with their families, get caught in the racial strife that boils over in a six-hour riot at The Christie Pits in 1933, tearing apart the two girls and their families.

Horrified by the role that the Toronto Telegram newspaper played encouraging racism and anti-Semitism, Molly becomes a reporter for the Toronto Daily Star, dedicating herself to impartial reporting that combines honesty with humanity. Meanwhile, her four brothers and Hannah's brother Max head off to war. Assigned to garrison duty in Hong Kong, Max and Molly's brother Richie are blindsided by the brutal Japanese attack in the days following the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The unknown (to me) story of the Canadian troops in the Pacific theatre, the horrific Battle of Hong Kong and the brutality of their internment in the Japanese POW camps are brought to life. Graham also eloquently shows the damage war wreaks on soldiers and their families, regardless of whether they fight for the winning or losing side. This book will stay with me for a long time.

Thank you Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an ARC of Letters Across the Sea. Four and half stars.

LETTERS ACROSS THE SEA, by Genevieve Graham, is the story of two families caught in the turmoil of the Depression, as well as World War II. The Ryan and The Dreyfus families have been neighbors and close friends for years. They both struggled through the depression, often depending on each other for emotional support. As Nazi clubs grow in the Toronto area, their families become divided. Ritchie Ryan becomes a member. One terrible night they go to a community meeting which became known as “the Christy Pitts Riots.” Mr. Ryan was hurt, blaming Max Dreyfus, who was in love with Helen Ryan. The families no longer spoke to each other. The horrors of WW II bring the boys of both families together at a Hong Kong base, where they face death and imprisonment.
This is a story about prejudice, hate, redemption, and most of all forgiveness, as seen through the eyes of both families. I enjoyed learning about the depression and rise of anti- Semitic groups in Canada during the 1930s. A love story between Molly and Max holds the reader’s interest. I was given an ARC, for my unbiased review.

What a wonderful story of brave Canadian men and their role in World War II! Fall in love with Molly and Hannah and the ways their different religions worked to drive them apart. Molly and Max, Hannah’s brother, find themselves falling for one another, but are then separated by war times. I loved this storyline and all of the characters!!!! I highly recommend reading this book!

4.5/5
First off, Thanks to Netgalley and to the publishers. for this arc, beyond grateful! I personally thought this book was so amazing and I loved that it was for the most part historically accurate. I fell in love with the world and the characters.Characters which I sympthasized for and cried over a little bit.

This starts out as a story of racial strife in Canada and turns into one of the most eye opening accounts of life in a Japanese pow camp. Well told and we’ll written it holds your interest to the end. Through it all weaves the love story of Molly and Max. Has a lot of parallels to what is going in the world today. We could learn a lot from this book. A must read.

The best thing about this book is all of the little bits of historical facts and events that I did not know about being from the U.S. This book talks about the Canadian experience during the Great Depression and through the end of WW2. In 1933 Toronto the city is simmering with hate against Jewish people. Signs have started popping up "No Jews", businesses won't hire Jewish people, Swastika gangs are gaining momentum and enforcing on the streets, beaches, and boardwalk. One August night deemed The Christie Pits riot all of the antisemitism, the rise of Adolf Hitler, the Nazis, and the local Swastika Clubs comes to a head.

There are a ton of historical facts and events that are unknown to me. For instance, Canada's involvement in WW2 in Europe and in Japan. The failed mission left them overwhelmed, many dead, and many more who spent years in horrific conditions in a Japanese POW camp.

I appreciate the education of the lesser-known Depression-era Toronto and WW2 events. However, the story itself leaves much to be desired. This book would have been better if they leaned in more on either side. Either they go non-fiction and give us the facts and details or they lean in more on the story. A lot of words were given toward explaining the historical events and not as much care was given toward building the story, the romance, or these Letters. I mean Max and Molly shared a kiss, a single kiss 12 years ago - and they hadn't spoken or seen each other in all that time. Come on, let's get real!

This novel is also called Letters Across the Sea it kind of makes you think that Letters themselves are going to play a pretty significant role in this book but honestly they don't. There are like 3 letters in total and then a few partial letters where the narrator recounts a few lines here or there. This big reveal at the end of the book is contained in a final letter...after 12 years...so much death...and war...It's just not believable to me. It seems to me like the author had this story they wanted to write with a list of historical events to cover. She covered all those events and then went and put in a "love story". Then built the family around it. Then "resolved" and issue and created an"obstacle" with a pretty specific letter.

It was just ok for me. What I really got out of it was many historical events that I did not know about and I'm glad that I do know about them now.

This is a feel good story with depth. I found it eye opening to read about the antisemitism in pre WWII Toronto and the tragedy and horror thousands of Canadian troops suffered in Hong Kong. And in between the learning I enjoyed the plot and characters.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an early release in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Letters Across the Sea is a Canadian historical novel that describes the hardships in Toronto during the Great Depression prior to the start of WWII. This story is about family, friendship, and love and how war effects everyone. It saddens me to know there was so much hatred in the world. This is the first novel I have read about Canada during WWII era. This was a very interesting book. Thanks to the author Genevieve Graham, publisher Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book for a honest review.

I first want to thank Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley for allowing me to read and give an honest review of this book. I was intrigued by the summary and thought that I would give it a chance. I can not state enough how much I loved this book. This book starts off with Molly, a young girl in Canada during the depression. She had to drop out of school to help her family survive. She originally has a job at the grocers who would give her near rotten vegetables to help her family survive. Molly's best friend is Hannah. Hannah is Jewish. At the time of the start of the book, Hitler was just ascending into power and many people in Canada were starting to treat the Jews as they were being treated in Germany. Hannah's older brother, Max, was in college and getting ready for medical school. He comes home and sees Molly again. To say that they have a connection is putting it mildly. It was almost electric. An event after a baseball game changes everyones lives immediately. I don't want to spoil what happens and the changes but the story takes us forward through World War II and then after war. There is love and loss and a whole lot more love. I so highly recommend this book!

I have a read a lot of WW2 books and sometimes, I grow a bit tired of them. But this one was so different. The setting was in Canada, and truthfully, I knew nothing of our northern neighbors' role in WW2. That part alone was fascinating. Plus the story was very enjoyable. I really liked the main character. I loved seeing how the war changed the young men. Also interesting, especially in this day and age, was the influence of the press. Well written book and I would definitely read more from this author. I give it 4 stars! Thank you NetGalley, for the opportunity to read this book.

NOTE: I received early access to LETTERS ACROSS THE SEA through netgalley in exchange for writing an impartial review. Thank you Simon Schuster. Scheduled publication date: April 27, 2021.

This World War II historical novel starts off as so-so but becomes riveting by the end. The story begins in 1933, (as Hitler is coming to power in Germany) with a little known riot in Toronto during the depths of the Depression. Canadians are struggling to find jobs and sufficient food and their desperation is fueling anti-semitism. Against this backdrop is the story of a friendship between two families -- one Irish, one Jewish -- and a doomed Romeo-and-Juliet-type romance that is budding between Molly Ryan and her best friend's brother, Max Dreyfus.

This first third of the novel struck me as more predictable, even bordering at times on stereotyping and the trite. But when the novel then jumps to 1939, and begins to follow the unfolding war, it becomes a much more compelling story of how war impacts families, loyalties, and the individual soldiers themselves.

By this time, Molly is working hard to establish her journalism career in a male-dominated newsroom while her brothers and Max are among the millions of young men fighting overseas. The details of what these soldiers witnessed, what they suffered, and what they were forced to do is graphic, dramatic and not for the faint of heart. In fact, as someone who has read many novels about World War II, this one is among the most powerful in its descriptions of battle and prisoner-of-war atrocities.

As the author explains in the book's Afterword, Genevieve Graham began the novel aiming to tell a story about the Toronto Christie Pits Riot of 1933. But, during her research, decided to extend that story to World War II. The connection between the two seemed a bit clunky to me. But not so much that it kept this from being an interesting read. By the end, I didn't want to put the book down, even though I sometimes did because I needed a break from the horror of it.

Well worth your investment of time.

A beautiful piece of historical fiction telling the story of two families of Canadians dealing with the challenges of WWII. It’s a story of familial relationship, friendships, mistakes, hardship and of course Love. It’s a different view of WWII from many novels out there. Thanks to NetGalley for the early read.

Genevieve Graham wrote a powerful story about Canadian history and World War II. Not being from Canada, I knew very little about their history and this horrible war. The author highlights the Christie Pits riots and far reaching effects of Hitler on the mindset of the country. Through impeccable research she brings history back to life. A love story at the heart of the novel showcases friendship, love, loss, redemption and forgiveness. Journalism and truth are important to the telling of the story and told by a rare female reporter! Well researched and not to be missed by historical fiction fans especially those seeking a new aspect of the war. #LettersAcrosstheSea #GenevieveGraham #NetGalley

I’m giving this book all the stars! A fascinating look at Toronto during WW2. I fell in love with the characters and find myself missing them, hope there will be a sequel. I reviewed this book on Goodreads. I will be recommending it to my friends.