Genevieve Graham has done it again; she’s combined compelling characters with impeccably researched Canadian history--and a touch of romance--to create an easy-to-read story that will appeal to a wide audience.
In the past, Graham has written about the Halifax Explosion, the Acadian Expulsion, the British Home Children, and the 1933 Christie Pits Riot, to name a few. On Isabella Street focuses on the late 1960s; the peace movement, the Vietnam War, PTSD, and the deinstitutionalization of the psychiatric hospitals. To include it all, Graham created two very different main characters—with alternating narratives--whose paths cross early in the book.
Marion is a psychiatric doctor who is strait-laced and focused on work. Her whole life has been dedicated to getting to where she is today, and, as a result, her life outside of work consists of the library and her cat.
“To Marion, stepping into the old asylum was like entering a different world. It was one of the saddest places on earth; she could feel it in the walls. Layers of misery and neglect had seeped in then hardened into the brick and mortar.”
A decade younger, Sassy is one of the hippies that Marion has been fascinated by.
“This generation had leapt into the surging waters of revolution and protest, while Marion stood on the shoreline in her sensible shoes, studying them as they sailed past.”
Sassy comes from a privileged background and refuses to conform to her father’s way of thinking. Her “free love” ideas have caused tension in their ordinarily close relationship. In addition, Sassy’s brother has gone away to serve in the Vietnam war; Sassy and her father are left coping with his absence separately.
The aftermath of WWI and WWII still sits heavily on society’s shoulders. Marion and others grew up with fathers suffering from PTSD; at the time, their behaviour seemed “strange” or “embarrassing” and families were left to deal with it on their own. Because of what Marion has witnessed of her father’s behaviour over the years, she became especially interested in the effects of stress and trauma on soldiers. When a Vietnam war soldier ends up at her hospital, she asks to take his case, resulting in a turn of events Marion could never have predicted.
“As awful as the conflict was, the phenomenon of what she was watching was fascinating. The concept of a faraway war raging in this exact moment in time—while she sat here, sipping tea in peace—seemed absurd.”
Sassy and Marion become friends when they learn they live in the same building on Isabella Street. As different as the women are, the friendship they have is a close one, enriching both of their lives. As discoveries are made and revelations revealed, the women change and grow in unexpected ways, surprising themselves as much as anyone else. While the story progresses, other connections are made between the women’s families as well as other tenants in the building. There are secrets, war heroes, and secret war heroes.
As always with Genevieve Graham’s novels, you will enjoy a resolved yet emotional ending along with an ‘author’s note’ describing the inspiration behind the novel, and discussion points for book clubs. On Isabella Street provides much food for thought around ideas about how best to care for the mentally ill, the generational impacts of war on families, and the unavoidable link between war and the economy. And, as a treat for her fans, a third generation character from the Baker family (Tides of Honour and Come From Away) makes an appearance in this novel.
Genevieve Graham seems to be filled with genuine passion for what she does, and curiosity to keep her hopping from one idea to another. I’m always curious to find out what’s going to spark her interest next.
About the Author
Genevieve Graham is the USA TODAY and #1 bestselling author of thirteen novels, including On Isabella Street, The Secret Keeper, The Forgotten Home Child, Letters Across the Sea, and Bluebird. She is passionate about breathing life back into history through tales of love and adventure. She lives in Alberta. Visit her at GenevieveGraham.com or on X and Instagram @GenGrahamAuthor.
About the Reviewer
Naomi MacKinnon lives in Nova Scotia with her husband, three kids, a dog, three cats, and a bunny. She works in the children's department at the beautiful Truro Public Library where she loves to read all the picture books and play with the puppets. She blogs about (mostly) Canadian and Atlantic Canadian books at Consumed by Ink.
Book Details
Publisher : Simon & Schuster
Publication date : April 22 2025
Language : English
Print length : 432 pages
ISBN-10 : 1982197013
ISBN-13 : 978-1982197018
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