Genevieve Graham’s Letters Across the Sea is a engrossing and educational look at little-known Canadian history. In her detailed “A Note to Readers,” Graham reveals the curiosity and creativity behind her historical fiction novels: “What I love most about writing historical fiction is the ability to take something ordinary, like a black and white photo, and make it into something extraordinary.“ After mentioning a plaque commemorating a 1933 Toronto riot that figures in this novel, she continues: “I like to think about what’s behind that plaque. About why it was put there. I love to bring that story to life, so it sticks in people’s minds long after they’ve walked away.”

Letters Across the Sea opens in 1933 as many Toronto families cope with low paying jobs, unemployment, and limited food budgets. Molly Ryan, an excellent high school student with a love of literature, drops out of school to help support her large Irish family, and one by one her brothers do the same.

With Hitler’s rise to power in Germany, anti-Jewish sentiment increases in Toronto. “No Jews” signs crop up on businesses and at the beach; universities impose quotas on the number of Jewish students they will admit. A Swastika Club forms to keep the beach free of human “trash,” and Molly’s older brother Richie joins. Tensions rise between Molly’s family and her best friend Hannah Dreyfus’ family as Hannah’s older brother Max and Molly are drawn to together by shared interests and physical attraction. After a riot breaks out at a baseball game, circumstances force Molly and Max apart, but Max has inspired Molly to work toward new career goals.
As years pass, many of the Toronto boys- including Molly’s brothers, Max, and Max’s friends--enlist in various branches of the military and some are sent to Europe to fight Hitler’s forces. AS Graham’s “Notes” reveal, she initially planned to send Max to Dieppe, where more than half of the Allied troops died, were wounded, or were captured when invading German-occupied France. Instead, she took a less traveled path, sending Max and several others first to Gander, Newfoundland and then to Hong Kong where they are told they would perform only duties on base and not engage in combat. Then, unexpectedly, the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor, the Philippines, and Hong Kong within a matter of hours. Her choice provides an welcome change from the many WWII novels set in Europe.

Much of the story remains.

To tell her story, Graham alternates chapters between Molly and Max, keeping readers wanting to know what happens to each as they become involved in portions of WWII history not yet mentioned in this review. Maps of Toronto and Hong Kong help readers visualize locations and events.

Thanks to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster, and Genevieve Graham for the advance reader copy of this highly recommended novel. I look forward to Graham’s next work.

Letters Across The Sea is very relevant to what is happening racially in our world today. I love how Genevieve Graham writes about chapters in Canadian history that are not well known, and need to be brought to light, so that people never forget. The Forgotten Home Child was one of those books and this is another.

The story takes place from 1933-1945 in Toronto during the Great Depression and moves forward through World War II. You will learn about Canada’s involvement in World War II, the Christie Pit Riots, The Battle of Hong Kong and the brutal treatment of Canadians in the Japanese POW camps. I also did not know about the many Swastika Clubs hat were formed all over the world.

As is evident today and during this time in history, the press played a role in creating a great divide between the public. War brings so much inhumanity to the forefront but as seen in this book it also brings many acts of kindness. The press, to this day, needs to bring the public together, not rip it apart. The press needs to gain the trust and respect of people so that we can create a more peaceful world to live in without so much hate and racial divide.

My only complaint is that in the beginning of the book it felt like just another love story but as I continued to read I began to see the author bring more of the historical fiction aspect into the book.

Graham did a tremendous amount of research for this book and it is evident in her notes at the end of the book. I will continue to research this time period in Canadian history now that I finished the book.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon and Shuster for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I read a lot of WWII fiction. I was intrigued to read one set in Canada. The writing style just wasn’t for me though. Feels more like a very young adult style of writing. This not a dig at the author - it’s just a personal style choice.

Toronto, 1933: The Great Depression has caused hardship among many of the residents of this city and finding blame seems to make people feel better. Anti-Jewish sentiment is on the rise, in parallel to what is going on in Nazi Germany. When a riot erupts between the Nazi followers and the Jewish and immigrant communities, the resulting events drive a wedge between the Ryan family (Irish Protestants) and the Dreyfus family (Jewish) both of whose children (Richie and Mollie Ryan; Max and Hannah Dreyfus) grew up together and had always been friends.

Jump ahead to 1941 when Molly’s four brothers, as well as Max and David (Hannah’s husband) enlist in the various branches of the Canadian military and are sent to different places. Max, David, and Richie end up in Hong Kong unexpectedly fighting the Japanese and facing horrific experiences. Molly is now working for a local newspaper and is trying to find her way professionally. There she meets Ian who is interested in her romantically but who also helps her to develop her skills as a reporter.

Part Four takes place in 1944 and 1945 when the war is over in both Europe and Japan and the young men who have survived the war are returning to Toronto. The losses that the Ryan and Dreyfus families have suffered lead to a gradual reconciliation between them. Not all is wine and roses, but they choose to look beyond the animosity that resulted from the riot in 1933.

Letters Across the Sea contains very few letters. Instead it is historical fiction that includes hints of romance and recounts two lesser-known facts from Canadian history: the race riot of 1933 and the fate of the Canadian soldiers sent to Hong Kong. It also tells of the difficulties some veterans faced in returning to civilian life.

The story flows and it kept my interest throughout. I was quickly involved in the narrative and in the characters’ lives, eager to find out what ultimately happens to each of them. I found this to be a poignant and fascinating tale, one well-worth reading.

This was another amazing ARC that I read but a first for Genevieve Graham, certainly won't be the last. It was a historical fiction that was clearly researched with an endearing romance entwined. I loved all of the characters of how they grew and changed over a long period of historical time. Even after so much evil and hatred that Max witnessed and sustained he still only had love and kindness in his heart. It was an emotional read and I'd definitely recommend taking the time to read this one.
Thank you very much to #NetGalley and #Simon&SchuesterCanada for an early review - publishing date is #April27,2021.

As a whole, Letters Across the Sea was a captivating story. Molly and her siblings, as well as her friends Max and Hannah, are all people you want to get behind... especially during the tragic backdrop of xenophobia and war. I loved how the author based her story on the experience of World War II in Hong Kong and in Japanese POW camps - that setting was new to me and so educational (but also heartbreaking!). However, I was disappointed by the first third or so of the book - when the characters were young, the book kind of read like YA fiction and (for me) was hard to stay engaged with. That being said, I loved the combination of history, friendship, love, family, and sacrifice. I'm glad to have read this book!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free ebook copy to read in advance of publication. All opinions are my own.

I haven’t read a novel in two days in awhile, but couldn’t put this one down. Genevieve Graham’s research was so thorough, bringing the sufferings of the Canadian soldiers unprepared for war, with vivid detail. I had never seen this side of WWII in any history book.
Her fictional characters were so good, blending their stories with tragedies of
The Great Depression, the suffering of those on enemy lines and concentration camps, as well as the violence of ethnic groups.
The Ryan’s and Dreyfus’ a, Protestant and Jewish family, but friends and neighbors for years, are torn apart by the hate and violence of the current ethnic conflicts.
My thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the ARC. This story will stay with me, it was that powerful.

As an avid reader of WWII books I appreciated the new take on it in this book. I truly never realized the Canadians were in the war let alone the inner turmoil their country was in. The battle in Hong Kong was brand new information for me. This author truly brought this subject to life for me. While this book is truly fiction the author included a chapter that explained the events that inspired the book.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.

I really could not get into this book.- I typically really enjoy WWII novels, but there was something about this one I really did not like. I think I need to take a break from Historical Fiction, this one just did not do it for me.

First, thank you Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the ARC of this wonderful book. This might be in my top 3 favorite reads for 2021!


I thought I had read WWII historical fic from every perspective, but it turns out I have never read one from the perspective of Canadian civilians and soldiers. In fact, I am a bit embarrassed to admit I hadn't known Canada entered WWII over 2 years (!!!) before the U.S., on September 10, 1939. Canadians entered the war on their own free will--recognizing the threat Nazi Germany posed to Western Civilization. 44,000 Canadians were killed in WWII and 55,000 more were wounded. While that number may seem meager when you compare it to United States' 420,000, consider how small Canada's population was at that time as compared to United States. During that period, 11 million people lived in Canada whereas 132 million people lived in the United States. When considering it in this light, the Canadians' contribution to the war effort was truly remarkable. I think Genevieve Graham has shed light on a part of history that deserves way more attention than it has received.

Okay, enough of the history lesson. Let's talk about the fantastic story Graham has written.

This novel follows two characters.
First, we meet Molly Ryan in 1933, a 17-year old Protestant girl with a passion for storytelling. Her dreams of one day becoming a journalist were put on hold because she and her older siblings had to drop out of school to work to get her family through the Depression. The only times she can really act like a teenager is when she gets to go to watch her brother, Jimmy, play baseball with her Jewish neighbor and best friend, Hannah Dreyfus. On one such night, she sees that Max, Hannah's older brother, is back from 4 years at college. She can't help but notice how over those 4 years, he has grown into a very handsome man.

Max arrived home in Toronto as a college graduate. However, over the 4 years he was gone, Nazi propaganda infested many of the people he used to call friends. Shops that he once used to frequent now proudly hung signs that said, "No Jews Allowed". Max becomes torn between running off to medical school or attending school close to home so he can join the movement against the growing number of Canadian Nazi sympathizers in Toronto. As much as he'd like to ignore it, one other big reason he wants to stay close to home is his little sister's best friend, Molly.
Despite the danger, impossibility, and undoubtedly staunch disapproval of their families, Max and Molly give into their feelings at the worst possible time. Despite the aftermath of that decision, neither can forget that moment. *Because I don't want to spoil anything, I will leave it at that* :). You'll just have to read the book to find out what those consequences are.

Despite being a law student, and only having a very short window to read for enjoyment each day, I was irresponsible to my studies for the sake of this book. I read it with the same fervor and irresponsibility you might have if you buy 2 pints of ice cream right before you start a diet and tell yourself, "I have to eat it all now as fast as I can so I can start my diet on Monday." It was worth it.

Friends, add this one to your TBR. It comes out on April 27 and you don't want to miss it!

I loved that this book primarily took place in Toronto, Canada during the 1930's, a time and place I have never read anything about. The Great Depression, the rise of Hitler and WWII. Molly is an Irish Catholic girl with aspirations to become a journalist. She falls in love with her Jewish neighbor, Max. The story of their love and how the events of the time effected them. Molly in her realization of the bias of news reporting and Max as an unprepared Canadian soldier helping to fight battles in Hong Kong and Europe. I highly recommend adding this to your WWII fiction library. Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for a honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for the digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Letters Across the Sea is a beautiful historical novel that takes place primarily in Toronto Canada. I have read a lot of historical fiction but not a lot from Canada during this time period. We start out in 1933 when there is a lot of social tension uprising in Toronto. We follow Molly an Irish Protestant girl and her family and Max a Jewish neighbor. The two families grew up together and were friends until things started to heat up with the Nazi's in Germany and hatred for Jews is on the rise. It is heartbreaking to read about every single time. Molly has a talent for writing and wants to be a journalist, that fire is fueled when she realizes that the newspapers she has available for the news is very biased and one sided. She is noticing that a lot of important information is withheld and there is a lot of misinformation being reported. This was so reflective of the time we are living in now. History does have a way of repeating itself and books like this shed so much light on how we as a society are repeating much of the same things that led up to WWII. The players may be different but the tactics have not changed much.
I expected this to be a love story and it is in many ways but it is not really heavy on romance. It is more about the value and love we have and should have on human life. Molly is shocked that humans can be so evil, even in the midst of war. The inhumane treatment is so hard to imagine.
I cannot say enough great things about this book. I can say that Genevieve Graham is an author I am looking forward to reading more from. She weaves the story together so beautifully. She writes in such a way that you feel for the characters and the side characters. What she writes about is important and relevant. Her characters show depth and growth. This has become one of my very favorite books and I am looking forward to buying a hard copy of it when it is released.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

This work of historical fiction covers a lesser-known time in Canadian history. The story starts out in Toronto in 1933 during the Great Depression. Hitler is rising in Germany and anti-Semitism is rife in Toronto. Families who were friends are separated by religious divides. In the midst of this, Max, a young Jewish boy, and Molly, an Irish Protestant, fall in love, much to the chagrin of their families.

In 1939, the young men of local families go to war. They never thought they would find themselves in combat in Hong Kong and Europe. The Battle of Hong Kong and the massacre at St. Stephen's Hospital were parts of history that are not generally well known. The Canadian soldiers had neither adequate training nor the supplies necessary to defend themselves.

In the United States, we do not learn about Canada's history and participation in WWII. I found this book to be a fascinating account of the times and a terrific story.

This is the touching story of love amidst the conflicts during WW2 in Canada. Molly is Irish and Max is Jewish and they are more than friends, but are torn apart by the war and prejudices. Can they find their way back.

I received a free electronic ARC of this historical novel from Netgalley, Genevieve Graham, and Simon & Schuster Canada. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read Letters Across the Sea of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work.

I am happy to add Genevieve Graham to the authors I follow. She brings us an intense, personal look into life in Toronto beginning in 1933, both before and during WWII, and makes us aware of the sorrow and sacrifice experienced by neighbors and friends during that telling time. I had heretofore heard nothing about the Canadian troops captured in Hong Kong. We in New Mexico had many prisoners in the Bataan Death March, so we can sympathize. I find it such a relief to know our pain and loss are acknowledged by those outside the problem. I hope this exposure will aid in easing the pain of those soldiers and their loved ones, those who paid such a high price for all of our freedom.
pub date April 27, 2021
Simon and Schuster Canada
3 likes

Max and Molly have been childhood friends despite being Protestant and Jewish. They have a blooming relationship that cannot be.
World War is breaking out and tensions are getting hot.
One day there is an encounter with a young group of Nazi sympathizers and Molly’s father is injured. No one really knows who threw the stone.
Both families have sons that have enlisted and the year take a terrible toll on both families.
Molly has made her name at the newspaper and her articles are gaining more readership.
Finally the War is coming to an end and terrible tragedies for both families. Will they be able to heal and what will happen to lost awaited love.
This a a very thoughtful and uplifting story of young love.

The second I started this book I couldn’t put it down. The characters in the book immediately grabbed me and I needed to know what happened next to them. In addition to that I loved the glimpse into of Toronto back then along with the history I didn’t know was then however sad it was at times. The words kept me gripped on the edge of my seat. Thank you for creating this view at the past and explaining the history at the back of the book.

First of all I want to thank Genevieve Graham for writing this book. Not only is this an outstanding book, it is a historical lesson about events that transpired about a time and place I knew nothing about. This poignant book begins in a Toronto in 1933, a time of fierce division and ugliness, brought on by the Depression, propaganda, and a press that was hiding the truth. It is the story of Molly, an Irish Protestant, and her friendship with Hannah and her brother Max, who are Jewish. Things come to a head one evening, changing the trajectory of all their lives. Molly is an extraordinary character, bright and ambitious, and torn between her family and the family of her friends. When WWII breaks out, Max, along with Molly’s brothers, are sent to overseas, and to the brutality of war. Letters Across the sea is a moving account of those years, as seen through the eyes of Molly and Max. It is a story of the worst of humanity, as well as the best of humanity; a story of resilience, pain, suffering, healing, and forgiveness.

Genevieve Graham brilliantly pulls the reader in and never lets them go. Rich in history and details, I quickly became invested in these characters and their story.

4 stars

I fell in love with this book. It isn't very often that I come across a story based on WW2 that I have very little background information on. Also, this book spans from 1933-1945, so it covers the depression (through a Canadian lens), as well as WW2. This is the first WW2 historical fiction that I have come across that discusses the Christie Pits riots as well as the battle of Hong Kong. We don't see a lot of views of WW2 from the pacific theater so it was a nice change.

I was disappointed that this book wasn't written in the form of letters like I was hoping it would be. It was a little heavy on the romance for me, and I'm not a huge historical romance fan. However, it was well written and I really began to feel connected to the characters through the story. All in all a good read and I am looking forward to reading the author's next book.

Thank you Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for the copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.