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The Cure for Drowning
Evocative, magical and luminously written, The Cure for Drowning is not only a brilliant, boundary-pushing love story but a Canadian historical novel that boldly centres queer and non-binary characters in unprecedented ways.
Born Kathleen to an immigrant Irish farming family in southern Ontario, Kit McNair has been a troublesome changeling since, at ten, they fell through the river ice and drowned—only to be nursed back to life by their mother's Celtic magic. A daredevil in boy's clothes, Kit chafes at every aspect of a farmgirl's life, driving that same mother to distraction with worry about where Kit will ever fit in. When Rebekah Kromer, an elegant German-Canadian doctor's daughter, moves to town with her parents in April 1939, Rebekah has no doubt as to who 19-year-old Kit is. Soon she and Kit, and Kit's older brother, Landon, are drawn tight in a love triangle that will tear them and their families apart, and send each of them off on a separate path to war.
Landon signs up for the Navy.
Born Kathleen to an immigrant Irish farming family in southern Ontario, Kit McNair has been a troublesome changeling since, at ten, they fell through the river ice and drowned—only to be nursed back to life by their mother's Celtic magic. A daredevil in boy's clothes, Kit chafes at every aspect of a farmgirl's life, driving that same mother to distraction with worry about where Kit will ever fit in. When Rebekah Kromer, an elegant German-Canadian doctor's daughter, moves to town with her parents in April 1939, Rebekah has no doubt as to who 19-year-old Kit is. Soon she and Kit, and Kit's older brother, Landon, are drawn tight in a love triangle that will tear them and their families apart, and send each of them off on a separate path to war.
Landon signs up for the Navy.
390 pages, Paperback
First published January 30, 2024
About the author
Loghan Paylor
1 book115 followersLoghan Paylor is a queer, trans author who lives in the Fraser Valley of British Columbia. Their short fiction and essays have previously appeared in Room and prairiefire, among others. A graduate of The Writer’s Studio program at Simon Fraser University, Paylor has a master’s degree in creative writing from the University of British Columbia, and a day job as a professional geek. Their first novel, The Cure for Drowning, was longlisted for the 2024 Giller Prize, named a Globe and Mail Best Book of 2024, and shortlisted for the 2025 Jim Deva Prize for Writing That Provokes.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 861 reviews
January 9, 2024
Heartbreaking and brilliant.
A deeply moving sapphic/queer love story set against the backdrop of WW2, told from the point-of-view of two Canadians struggling to find a place in the world and finding solace in each other.
The prose in this book was vivid and engrossing and the subject matter was often frustrating and sad. This author has a talent for writing deeply descriptive passages, action and emotion without superfluous language or detail.
The magical elements were sprinkled throughout and sometimes I wondered if they were truth, legend or it was an after affect of Kit’s almost drowning as a child. You will have to decide this for yourself, and I haven’t come to any conclusions of my own either. Perhaps Kit is a changeling descended from Selkies and there are fairies in the water, perhaps her oxygen deprived brain and imaginative mother merely convinced themselves of it. Regardless I found it fascinating.
I won’t do any plot summary here as the blurb is amazingly comprehensive and completely accurate.
Don’t go into this thinking it’s a romance though, it’s not, it’s a story of struggle, survival and finally, hope.
Thank you to NetGalley for the copy and congratulations to Loghan Paylor for a brilliant debut novel.
May 1, 2025
A lovely queer Canadian historical novel with just a touch of magical realism! Set just before, during, and after WW2, this book made the extremely overdone time period fresh and interesting. I loved how it centred a nonbinary bi character and a sapphic woman, straddling a difficult line between celebrating them and being realistic about homo/transphobia / misogyny in the 30s and 40s. Queer historical happy ending!! Fuck that Landon guy though.
January 7, 2024
June 9, 2026 Update I was looking back at this review and also seeing if there are any updates for Loghan Paylor's next book, which there aren't. However, I discovered there is Soundtrack playlist for the book which didn't exist at the time of my initial review, so I have added that under Soundtrack below.
Emergence and Coming Out
Review of the upcoming Penguin Random House Canada paperback/audiobook/eBook (January 30, 2024) via the NetGalley Kindle ARC (downloaded December 11, 2023).
I found The Cure for Drowning to be completely engrossing as a coming-of-age story, an endurance during war story, and as a survivors coming home story. It is told in the alternating voices of Katheen (Kit) McNair and Rebekah Kromer. In the years prior to World War 2, Kit is growing up in a farming community near Orangeville, Ontario with her older brother Landon and younger brother Jep. Coming from Montreal, Rebekah moves onto a neighbouring property when her father is hired as the local doctor.
In her childhood, Kit survived a drowning incident after which her personality changed, turning her into somewhat of a tomboy (there is a small magic-realism element to her ‘resurrection’). A love triangle develops with Kit and Landon both falling in love with Rebekah. The looming World War and various incidents cause everything to break apart with Rebekah forced to move back to Montreal, for Kit to run away to a vagabond life and for Landon to go to war.
In further dramatic turns, Rebekah and Kit also join the Allied Armed Forces. Rebekah becomes a signals clerk and Kit becomes Christopher (through a rather neat trick which avoids an entry medical physical), a navigator in a bomber crew flying perilous missions over Germany. Landon is meanwhile a sailor in the North Atlantic. A passionate encounter occurs when Landon again meets Rebekah, which brings about her expulsion from military service.
Those who survive will meet again after the war back in Orangeville where events take various shocking turns, but where love triumphs in the end in a very satisfying and poetic conclusion. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and look forward its official release and to further books from its author.
This is the first novel by author Loghan Paylor, who has previously published short fiction in magazines and online. They grew up in Ontario and later lived in Montreal, Quebec and currently live in Abbotsford, British Columbia. Look for updates at their website here.
My thanks to publisher Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this preview ARC, in exchange for which I provide this honest review.
Soundtrack
There is a soundtrack playlist for this book which did not exist when I first reviewed it. Listen to the soundtrack on Spotify here or through YouTube Music here.
Emergence and Coming Out
Review of the upcoming Penguin Random House Canada paperback/audiobook/eBook (January 30, 2024) via the NetGalley Kindle ARC (downloaded December 11, 2023).
I found The Cure for Drowning to be completely engrossing as a coming-of-age story, an endurance during war story, and as a survivors coming home story. It is told in the alternating voices of Katheen (Kit) McNair and Rebekah Kromer. In the years prior to World War 2, Kit is growing up in a farming community near Orangeville, Ontario with her older brother Landon and younger brother Jep. Coming from Montreal, Rebekah moves onto a neighbouring property when her father is hired as the local doctor.
In her childhood, Kit survived a drowning incident after which her personality changed, turning her into somewhat of a tomboy (there is a small magic-realism element to her ‘resurrection’). A love triangle develops with Kit and Landon both falling in love with Rebekah. The looming World War and various incidents cause everything to break apart with Rebekah forced to move back to Montreal, for Kit to run away to a vagabond life and for Landon to go to war.
In further dramatic turns, Rebekah and Kit also join the Allied Armed Forces. Rebekah becomes a signals clerk and Kit becomes Christopher (through a rather neat trick which avoids an entry medical physical), a navigator in a bomber crew flying perilous missions over Germany. Landon is meanwhile a sailor in the North Atlantic. A passionate encounter occurs when Landon again meets Rebekah, which brings about her expulsion from military service.
Those who survive will meet again after the war back in Orangeville where events take various shocking turns, but where love triumphs in the end in a very satisfying and poetic conclusion. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and look forward its official release and to further books from its author.
This is the first novel by author Loghan Paylor, who has previously published short fiction in magazines and online. They grew up in Ontario and later lived in Montreal, Quebec and currently live in Abbotsford, British Columbia. Look for updates at their website here.
My thanks to publisher Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this preview ARC, in exchange for which I provide this honest review.
Soundtrack
There is a soundtrack playlist for this book which did not exist when I first reviewed it. Listen to the soundtrack on Spotify here or through YouTube Music here.
January 12, 2024
The Cure for Drowning by Loghan Paylor is a beautifully written coming-of-age romance and historical fiction novel set in Canada centering non-binary and trans characters spanning the years 1939 to ‘53. Most of the story takes place in the fictional town of Harrichford, a small farming community in Southern Ontario. When Kit McNair was ten, on a walk with her brothers, Landon and Jep, she fell through the ice and drowned. Her Irish Canadian mother is able to save her using Celtic magic but she is never the same. She is reckless, prefers boy’s clothes to dresses, and chafes at farm life. When the family of Dr Kromer, a German doctor, move to town from Montreal, both Kit and Landon fall in love with his daughter, Rebekah. She likes both but it is Kit who wins her heart while her parents encourage a match between her and Landon.
However, as the war approaches and anti-German sentiment grows, the family returns to Montreal and, after a fight with Landon, Kit leaves home. When war starts, Landon joins the navy, Rebekah becomes a signal clerk in Halifax, and Kit joins the Air Force under the name, Christopher. During leave in Halifax, Landon encounters Rebekah and the ensuing night together results in a pregnancy and her forced exit from her job.
After the war, Rebekah, unable to return to her home in Montreal moves in with the McNairs and eventually Kit and Landon also return at least for a while. But again events intervene and again the family is split up. Despite it all, though, the story ends on a satisfactory and happy note.
When I first saw The Cure for Drowning on Netgalley, I’m not sure what attracted me to the story. Although I don’t mind historical fiction, romance is my least favourite genre. Perhaps, in the end, it was the Canadian setting and author. Whatever the reason, I am so glad I did because I can honestly say I loved this book.
There's a lot going on in the story and it could have become overwhelming but it never does.it’s told from varying viewpoints, mainly Rebekah and Kit, and I found both of them very likable. There’s a touch of magical realism in the tale and a story about selkies runs throughout, told by different characters, each changing the story just a little to express their own feelings. The section that takes place during the war was fascinating , especially one section that combined the strafing of Kit’s plane with the pain of childbirth that had my eyes glued to the page and my heart racing.
Paylor has published short stories before but this is their debut novel and what an impressive debut it is. I can’t wait to see what they do in the future. But now I will end this review by repeating I loved this book, even the romance.
Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review
However, as the war approaches and anti-German sentiment grows, the family returns to Montreal and, after a fight with Landon, Kit leaves home. When war starts, Landon joins the navy, Rebekah becomes a signal clerk in Halifax, and Kit joins the Air Force under the name, Christopher. During leave in Halifax, Landon encounters Rebekah and the ensuing night together results in a pregnancy and her forced exit from her job.
After the war, Rebekah, unable to return to her home in Montreal moves in with the McNairs and eventually Kit and Landon also return at least for a while. But again events intervene and again the family is split up. Despite it all, though, the story ends on a satisfactory and happy note.
When I first saw The Cure for Drowning on Netgalley, I’m not sure what attracted me to the story. Although I don’t mind historical fiction, romance is my least favourite genre. Perhaps, in the end, it was the Canadian setting and author. Whatever the reason, I am so glad I did because I can honestly say I loved this book.
There's a lot going on in the story and it could have become overwhelming but it never does.it’s told from varying viewpoints, mainly Rebekah and Kit, and I found both of them very likable. There’s a touch of magical realism in the tale and a story about selkies runs throughout, told by different characters, each changing the story just a little to express their own feelings. The section that takes place during the war was fascinating , especially one section that combined the strafing of Kit’s plane with the pain of childbirth that had my eyes glued to the page and my heart racing.
Paylor has published short stories before but this is their debut novel and what an impressive debut it is. I can’t wait to see what they do in the future. But now I will end this review by repeating I loved this book, even the romance.
Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review
May 19, 2025
A Beautiful, Bold Canadian Coming-of-Age Story
Set in WWII-era Canada, The Cure for Drowning is a quiet, emotionally layered novel that explores gender, queer love, and the struggle to live authentically in a world that often doesn’t allow it.
The story follows Kit—born Kathleen—who survives a near-drowning and begins to question her identity, her place in the world, and how love fits into all of it. Spanning two decades, the story centres on Kit’s relationships with Rebekah, the daughter of a German-Canadian doctor, and Landon, Kit’s brother. At its core is a complex love triangle that challenges personal loyalty and emotional truth in a time when queer lives were often silenced or erased.
Queer Identity, Folklore, and Personal Change
What sets this apart is how Paylor handles complexity without flinching. They explore prejudice, isolation, fear—while also making space for quiet acts of resistance, resilience, and moments of connection. Celtic folklore weaves through the narrative, echoing Kit’s inner world and the novel’s larger themes of identity and transformation.
A Deeply Canadian Story
The book is rooted in place. The Canadian landscape and cultural backdrop give the novel quiet power. History, myth, and identity all converge to create a story that feels grounded and personal.
If you’re drawn to historical fiction with emotional weight, queer themes, and a touch of myth, this may be worth a spot on your list.
Brew something warm. Let the story unfold.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley
Set in WWII-era Canada, The Cure for Drowning is a quiet, emotionally layered novel that explores gender, queer love, and the struggle to live authentically in a world that often doesn’t allow it.
The story follows Kit—born Kathleen—who survives a near-drowning and begins to question her identity, her place in the world, and how love fits into all of it. Spanning two decades, the story centres on Kit’s relationships with Rebekah, the daughter of a German-Canadian doctor, and Landon, Kit’s brother. At its core is a complex love triangle that challenges personal loyalty and emotional truth in a time when queer lives were often silenced or erased.
Queer Identity, Folklore, and Personal Change
What sets this apart is how Paylor handles complexity without flinching. They explore prejudice, isolation, fear—while also making space for quiet acts of resistance, resilience, and moments of connection. Celtic folklore weaves through the narrative, echoing Kit’s inner world and the novel’s larger themes of identity and transformation.
A Deeply Canadian Story
The book is rooted in place. The Canadian landscape and cultural backdrop give the novel quiet power. History, myth, and identity all converge to create a story that feels grounded and personal.
If you’re drawn to historical fiction with emotional weight, queer themes, and a touch of myth, this may be worth a spot on your list.
Brew something warm. Let the story unfold.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley
March 1, 2024
I had high expectations seeing the book described as a “boundary-pushing love story… that boldly centres queer and non-binary characters” (GoogleBooks). However, it delivered the heteronormative fem-falls-in-love-with-charming-masc trope. The Cure for Drowning ignored the complexities, struggles, and conversations that come with the reality of gender diversity, queerness, and non-traditional families. For a “boundary-pushing” queer love story I expected something more than a war story that was somewhat fruity but had straight sex scenes. The novel mutes many of the features it’s marketed with. Paylor limited their mention of Kit’s gender expression and gender identity. I take this as their attempt to normalize gender diversity. Ultimately it felt like the subject was taboo though.
The fantasy and magic in the novel had big potential but ultimately felt messy and confusing. I felt teased! I would’ve loved more development and involvement with the blood of the lamb, blue & green creatures, Selkies, voices, spirits as butterflies... These didn't seem to connected and their relevance to the story was fuzzy. For instance, I thought the blue-green spirits were helpful but then they wanted to take the child?!
I appreciated the nature imagery and calming farm life tales in this novel. The writing was rich and beautiful. Paylor knows how to make you feel engulfed by nature with words on a page!
The fantasy and magic in the novel had big potential but ultimately felt messy and confusing. I felt teased! I would’ve loved more development and involvement with the blood of the lamb, blue & green creatures, Selkies, voices, spirits as butterflies... These didn't seem to connected and their relevance to the story was fuzzy. For instance, I thought the blue-green spirits were helpful but then they wanted to take the child?!
I appreciated the nature imagery and calming farm life tales in this novel. The writing was rich and beautiful. Paylor knows how to make you feel engulfed by nature with words on a page!
April 7, 2024
Oops, I forgot to review this back when I read it a few months ago. I wanted some more time to sit with it and then it kinda slipped my mind. Unfortunately, that kind of sums up how I feel about this, and this book just wasn't really for me. I thought it would be! I love a book about water and identity, but this one fell flat.
Some things are definitely just personal preference: I don't particularly care for love triangles (especially with siblings involved), and historical fiction isn't always my jam. That said, the historical aspect of this book works pretty well and I think queer historical fiction is so important. My main gripe with this was the scope just felt too broad. The story spans years and years and years (decades, maybe? truly cannot remember) and too much happens. This sort of messes with the character development. The book's ambition brings about its downfall, and it just keeps going and going and going. The book feels longer than it is, and somehow both a bit over and under developed, with too much explanation and also not enough. This is especially prominent with the folklore/magic realism aspects of the novel, which should have either been explored more or omitted.
Some things are definitely just personal preference: I don't particularly care for love triangles (especially with siblings involved), and historical fiction isn't always my jam. That said, the historical aspect of this book works pretty well and I think queer historical fiction is so important. My main gripe with this was the scope just felt too broad. The story spans years and years and years (decades, maybe? truly cannot remember) and too much happens. This sort of messes with the character development. The book's ambition brings about its downfall, and it just keeps going and going and going. The book feels longer than it is, and somehow both a bit over and under developed, with too much explanation and also not enough. This is especially prominent with the folklore/magic realism aspects of the novel, which should have either been explored more or omitted.
February 8, 2024
🍁🇨🇦—Longlisted for the 2024 Giller Prize
In a Nutshell:
I loved this very beautiful Canadian story! It was incredibly engaging, with several really interesting characters "coming of age" at the start of WWII. I'm unable to explain it well in a few short sentences, though, so I'll simply say "Highly Recommended"! This is NOT your run-of-the-mill story. It includes some very intriguing, surprising episodes - things you definitely won't see coming. It's a great book and totally worthy of your time!
4.5 (rounded to 5) “Oh-Canada🍁My-home-and-native-land” stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
In a Nutshell:
I loved this very beautiful Canadian story! It was incredibly engaging, with several really interesting characters "coming of age" at the start of WWII. I'm unable to explain it well in a few short sentences, though, so I'll simply say "Highly Recommended"! This is NOT your run-of-the-mill story. It includes some very intriguing, surprising episodes - things you definitely won't see coming. It's a great book and totally worthy of your time!
4.5 (rounded to 5) “Oh-Canada🍁My-home-and-native-land” stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
February 6, 2026
Read For Canada Reads 2026
Told in the unforgettable voices of Kit and Rebekah this Canadian historical novel is a deeply moving love story. And yet it's so much more!
A coming of age story exploring gender and identity, family and human connection and living as your true self.
A touch of magic added too!
Loved it!
Told in the unforgettable voices of Kit and Rebekah this Canadian historical novel is a deeply moving love story. And yet it's so much more!
A coming of age story exploring gender and identity, family and human connection and living as your true self.
A touch of magic added too!
Loved it!
December 15, 2023
This book was brought to me from NetGalley, so thanks!
An event occurs in Kit's childhood that leads their family to believe them a changeling and thus differentiates Kit from the rest of the McNairs; Rebekah leaves her childhood in Montreal for the rural landscape of Harrichford. With the story told in two distinct perspectives, and then a third, A Cure for Drowning tells a story of truth, one that hinges on possibility.
The span of time in which the story takes place, from 1931 to 1953, stretches the march of narration. It does not necessarily slow it down; the expansion recreates historical Canada in which the characters move. Even as the shadow of the second world war looming in the forefront of the narrative, the tension resides in the love triangle between Landon, Kit, and Rebekah. Masterfully done, with tasteful contrast between how the two McNairs approach their courtship with Rebekah.
The characters are so well written—Rebekah's socialite persona, Kit's vigour, and Landon's cocky, self-assured manner—that the conflict feels real. There is no issue of attachment because of this.
While the expansive descriptions of the rural landscape at first impresses and offers comfort and the ability to view the town of Harrichford in the way Kit sees it in all its lushness, it becomes repetitive after a certain point.
In all, it's part Whiskey When We're Dry but with the emotional resolution that one craves, and part Backwards to Oregon for the gender-based turnabouts that never fail to excite me.
...anyway that's my stiff NetGalley review cross-posted here. Here's my non-review-like feelings.
My favourite part of this book has to be the contrast in how Landon and Kit approach their courtship to Rebekah. Landon with his front-door approach, social, public, and upfront. Compares with Kit's subtextual approach that Rebekah reads and knows. When Landon makes gestures and is able to joke about however his relationship with Rebekah may turn out, how he can make offers, he is allowed to utter things for others to hear. But when it comes to Kit, things are most nebulous, but it does not lessen their intent whatsoever. Their intent is clear to Rebekah, even though they do not say the words for it.
And so Rebekah's relation with Landon was easy and scripted, afforded to her by the literature she has read, which is heteronormative, yet her words for Kit run difficult.
I'm a sucker for endings that don't necessarily end happy (Mrs. S), but the relief I felt with the way A Cure for Drowning ended was out of this world.
Super tasty read. Will read again when it's released.
An event occurs in Kit's childhood that leads their family to believe them a changeling and thus differentiates Kit from the rest of the McNairs; Rebekah leaves her childhood in Montreal for the rural landscape of Harrichford. With the story told in two distinct perspectives, and then a third, A Cure for Drowning tells a story of truth, one that hinges on possibility.
The span of time in which the story takes place, from 1931 to 1953, stretches the march of narration. It does not necessarily slow it down; the expansion recreates historical Canada in which the characters move. Even as the shadow of the second world war looming in the forefront of the narrative, the tension resides in the love triangle between Landon, Kit, and Rebekah. Masterfully done, with tasteful contrast between how the two McNairs approach their courtship with Rebekah.
The characters are so well written—Rebekah's socialite persona, Kit's vigour, and Landon's cocky, self-assured manner—that the conflict feels real. There is no issue of attachment because of this.
While the expansive descriptions of the rural landscape at first impresses and offers comfort and the ability to view the town of Harrichford in the way Kit sees it in all its lushness, it becomes repetitive after a certain point.
In all, it's part Whiskey When We're Dry but with the emotional resolution that one craves, and part Backwards to Oregon for the gender-based turnabouts that never fail to excite me.
...anyway that's my stiff NetGalley review cross-posted here. Here's my non-review-like feelings.
My favourite part of this book has to be the contrast in how Landon and Kit approach their courtship to Rebekah. Landon with his front-door approach, social, public, and upfront. Compares with Kit's subtextual approach that Rebekah reads and knows. When Landon makes gestures and is able to joke about however his relationship with Rebekah may turn out, how he can make offers, he is allowed to utter things for others to hear. But when it comes to Kit, things are most nebulous, but it does not lessen their intent whatsoever. Their intent is clear to Rebekah, even though they do not say the words for it.
And so Rebekah's relation with Landon was easy and scripted, afforded to her by the literature she has read, which is heteronormative, yet her words for Kit run difficult.
I'm a sucker for endings that don't necessarily end happy (Mrs. S), but the relief I felt with the way A Cure for Drowning ended was out of this world.
Super tasty read. Will read again when it's released.
December 29, 2023
The only thing I am disappointed about is that this is the author's first novel. I want more!
The McNairs are an Irish immigrant family who have settled on a farm in Southern Ontario. While still very young, Kit falls through the ice while exploring the woods with her two brothers. She drowns but is nursed back to health by her mother.
After the accident, Kit bristles against the expectations of her as a farm girl. She often steals her brother's clothes to wear while doing boy's chores -- and then the cooking and cleaning when her mother makes her.
In 1939, Rebekah Kromer moves to town with her parents from Quebec. Her father is facing increasing difficulty finding work as a German immigrant in the lead up to World War II.
Soon both Kit and her brother Landon are jostling for Rebekah's attention and affection. This love triangle rips their families apart and sends them all on their own paths to war.
While using borrowed identification papers, Kit joins the Air Force as a young man. Landon joins the Navy. Rebekah joins naval intelligence efforts at home in Canada.
Kit goes by different names/pronouns throughout the book, but I will use the name Kit and they/them pronouns for the rest of the review.
Trans magic
One could argue that all the events in this story could happen in real life, but there is a hint of magic to many of the scenes involving Kit. It starts with their drowning and unlikely recovery as a young child. This motif returns several times throughout the novel. There is also frequent repetition of a story for children about selkies, or Ireland's version of mermaids.
It is implied that Kit's gender non-conforming and rebellious nature is due to them being a magical creature, perhaps a selkie or changeling. In Irish folklore, changelings are faeries who are left in the place of stolen human children.
Of course we modern readers know that trans and non-binary genders naturally exists from birth, as do queer people. When queer and trans people are forced into straight and cisgender roles against our nature, it can make us rebel as we suffer under the weight of these expectations.
I love that this book allows us to imagine Kit as something supernatural, rather than defective or deviant. By extension, it allows us queer and trans readers to imagine ourselves in this way. It is difficult for a magic creature to live among us mere mortals!
Dealing with difference
This books portrays homophobia, anti-German discrimination and sexism in a way that is likely true to its time. Rebekah being a queer, German woman faces some of the worst of it. Kit living as a man for a large part of the book gets off a bit easier in some but not all ways.
As I write in my Queer Book Reviews.
The McNairs are an Irish immigrant family who have settled on a farm in Southern Ontario. While still very young, Kit falls through the ice while exploring the woods with her two brothers. She drowns but is nursed back to health by her mother.
After the accident, Kit bristles against the expectations of her as a farm girl. She often steals her brother's clothes to wear while doing boy's chores -- and then the cooking and cleaning when her mother makes her.
In 1939, Rebekah Kromer moves to town with her parents from Quebec. Her father is facing increasing difficulty finding work as a German immigrant in the lead up to World War II.
Soon both Kit and her brother Landon are jostling for Rebekah's attention and affection. This love triangle rips their families apart and sends them all on their own paths to war.
While using borrowed identification papers, Kit joins the Air Force as a young man. Landon joins the Navy. Rebekah joins naval intelligence efforts at home in Canada.
Kit goes by different names/pronouns throughout the book, but I will use the name Kit and they/them pronouns for the rest of the review.
Trans magic
One could argue that all the events in this story could happen in real life, but there is a hint of magic to many of the scenes involving Kit. It starts with their drowning and unlikely recovery as a young child. This motif returns several times throughout the novel. There is also frequent repetition of a story for children about selkies, or Ireland's version of mermaids.
It is implied that Kit's gender non-conforming and rebellious nature is due to them being a magical creature, perhaps a selkie or changeling. In Irish folklore, changelings are faeries who are left in the place of stolen human children.
Of course we modern readers know that trans and non-binary genders naturally exists from birth, as do queer people. When queer and trans people are forced into straight and cisgender roles against our nature, it can make us rebel as we suffer under the weight of these expectations.
I love that this book allows us to imagine Kit as something supernatural, rather than defective or deviant. By extension, it allows us queer and trans readers to imagine ourselves in this way. It is difficult for a magic creature to live among us mere mortals!
Dealing with difference
This books portrays homophobia, anti-German discrimination and sexism in a way that is likely true to its time. Rebekah being a queer, German woman faces some of the worst of it. Kit living as a man for a large part of the book gets off a bit easier in some but not all ways.
As I write in my Queer Book Reviews.
March 9, 2024
Rounding up to five stars. This was an excellent debut and a great example of the kind of litfic I love (i.e., queer, mostly likable people working their way through the challenges of life, and a hint of magical realism). It was also so quintessentially CanLit in a familiar and comforting way. I was worried it might be a slog and instead I blew through it in just a couple of days.
I think the blurb is a bit misleading. Luckily, while I guess there is technically a love triangle - it's doesn't weigh on the story the way that I feared it would. Kit's trans narrative is so smoothly and carefully weaved into the story in a way that makes sense for someone who would not have had access to the language and resources we have today around gender identity and I thought the subtle magic served as a lovely device to add depth to that part of the story.
Also, I feel like I have read sooo many novels set during WW2 and tend to shy away from them these days as a result, but I thought this was a fresh take and perspective that touched on some nuances around war that I have not seen before.
While there is an underlying central relationship story with a HEA, I'd be inclined to classify this as litfic vs romance. Either way, it was a great read and I wholeheartedly recommend it.
I received a digital Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada in exchange for an honest review.
I think the blurb is a bit misleading. Luckily, while I guess there is technically a love triangle - it's doesn't weigh on the story the way that I feared it would. Kit's trans narrative is so smoothly and carefully weaved into the story in a way that makes sense for someone who would not have had access to the language and resources we have today around gender identity and I thought the subtle magic served as a lovely device to add depth to that part of the story.
Also, I feel like I have read sooo many novels set during WW2 and tend to shy away from them these days as a result, but I thought this was a fresh take and perspective that touched on some nuances around war that I have not seen before.
While there is an underlying central relationship story with a HEA, I'd be inclined to classify this as litfic vs romance. Either way, it was a great read and I wholeheartedly recommend it.
I received a digital Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada in exchange for an honest review.
December 12, 2023
I read this through NetGalley and didn't really know what to expect. Well, I devoured it in a single day, soaking in all the Canadian details and loving every bit of French. Motherhood, queerness, etc.....wow. Beautiful and heartbreaking and hopeful.
April 12, 2026
6 stars!
February 1, 2026
As Canada Reads begins, I start my mission to read the shortlist. Excepting, Foe, which I read when it was published, this was my first Canada Reads novel of 2026 and it did not disappoint. It was a complex tale of a family, challenging relationships, a bit of magic (with the selkies) and characters who struggle to be themselves within the family unit.
I loved the storyline of Kit, who had fell into icy water as a child, but won't elaborate so as not to add a spoiler. I will say that Kit was brave in so many ways.
The story was full of difficult relationships, resilience, bravery, acceptance and love. It was a slow start but was hard to put down towards the end. it will be an interesting discussion for Canada Reads!
I loved the storyline of Kit, who had fell into icy water as a child, but won't elaborate so as not to add a spoiler. I will say that Kit was brave in so many ways.
The story was full of difficult relationships, resilience, bravery, acceptance and love. It was a slow start but was hard to put down towards the end. it will be an interesting discussion for Canada Reads!
December 27, 2023
I really enjoyed this book and it was hard to put down! I love the way the characters are written and how we get to see all their flaws (also the queer rep was amazing!)! Thank to NetGalley for the ARC, I can’t wait to see what other readers think when the book comes out :)
September 8, 2026
3.75 ⭐️
𝚜̲𝚙̲𝚘̲𝚒̲𝚕̲𝚎̲𝚛̲ ̲𝚏̲𝚛̲𝚎̲𝚎̲
𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 : 𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 - 𝗺𝗮𝘇𝘇𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿
𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘐 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯
𝘐 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴
𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶
𝐭𝐰:death, abuse, violence, misogyny, transphobia/homophobia, suicide
-𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖-
Oh em gee. I just picked this book up at the library because it looked interesting, but i wasn't expecting it to be so good! I NEED to read more books set in a variety of places and I really want to make a conscious effort to start expanding my book taste, but i have been REALLY enjoyed reading books set in Canada! #canadian *cough* anyways. This book was very enthralling. Like I remember I started reading and saying "let me just get a few pages in" and i could NOT put this book down. The writing style is BEAUTIFUL. It has so many good quotes, i just forgot to write any down and this book is kind of niche so there's none online.. *sigh* There is also folklore in this book! I didd like the folklore, but I feel like it was more surface level and we never really delve into it which was a little disappointing. One thing that I thought was really well done, was the historical fiction aspect. Historical fiction will always be one of my favourite genres and this mixed with everything else in the book made it just so magical. The setting/atmosphere was also really good. I honestly can't remember if there's french in this book (i think maybe??) but either way, I really liked it 🤭 all the historical fiction contexts were very accurate from what i can recall which i think is quite impressive considering there is also magical realism. I loved the themes of the impact of the war and how it was realistic. OBVIOUSLY you're a completely different person after serving and it's often a change that the people you surround yourself with will need to get used to or need to learn how to support you. I thought it was written very well.
-𝐏𝐋𝐎𝐓-
The plot is just mostly the lives of the characters from when they're youngish' (19 or so??) to when they're like 26 or something. I thought it was very entertaining at the start and I was immediatly intrigued. One thing I WILL say is that the middle was QUITE slow. It felt like nothing was happening, and kind of boring. ALSO. The formatting of the book was kind of confusing to follow. Each "chapter" will be like: "august 1832" and then the chapter happens and then suddenly the next chapter will be " september 1838" and you're like 'huh wait what' and it doesn't really recap what happened so you kind of have to figure it out yourself which was a little annoying, but in general i thought the plot did a prettyyy good job and had good stability.
-𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒-
𝐤𝐢𝐭
↪I liked kit's character! it's never really clear what their identity is, like I don't know if it's ever said out loud in the book, but they're non bianary and I think that representation is important ESPECIALLY in a historical fiction book. I feel like I didn't relate to them a whole lot simply because a lot of their character arc is like their gender identity and gender dysmorphia which I don't really struggle with (i'm a cis girl..) but i still think it's important to read about and gain a new perspective, and i liked their personality and enjoyed reading from their perspective.
𝐫𝐞𝐛𝐞𝐤𝐚𝐡
↪
I REALLY liked following rebekah! I think I related to her a lot, and she reminded me a lot of myself. I loved how supportive she was of the people around her and how through her actions you could see how much of a kind hearted person she was.
dishonourable mentions:
landan
the mom
-𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐂𝐋𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍-
I really recommend this book! If you want to read books set in more diverse places or at least canada this is totally the book for you! It's also VERY fall/winter coded in my opinion and very whimsical. SUCH a good debut novel!
Thank you for reading <33
𝚜̲𝚙̲𝚘̲𝚒̲𝚕̲𝚎̲𝚛̲ ̲𝚏̲𝚛̲𝚎̲𝚎̲
𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 : 𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 - 𝗺𝗮𝘇𝘇𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿
𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘐 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯
𝘐 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴
𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶
𝐭𝐰:death, abuse, violence, misogyny, transphobia/homophobia, suicide
-𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖-
Oh em gee. I just picked this book up at the library because it looked interesting, but i wasn't expecting it to be so good! I NEED to read more books set in a variety of places and I really want to make a conscious effort to start expanding my book taste, but i have been REALLY enjoyed reading books set in Canada! #canadian *cough* anyways. This book was very enthralling. Like I remember I started reading and saying "let me just get a few pages in" and i could NOT put this book down. The writing style is BEAUTIFUL. It has so many good quotes, i just forgot to write any down and this book is kind of niche so there's none online.. *sigh* There is also folklore in this book! I didd like the folklore, but I feel like it was more surface level and we never really delve into it which was a little disappointing. One thing that I thought was really well done, was the historical fiction aspect. Historical fiction will always be one of my favourite genres and this mixed with everything else in the book made it just so magical. The setting/atmosphere was also really good. I honestly can't remember if there's french in this book (i think maybe??) but either way, I really liked it 🤭 all the historical fiction contexts were very accurate from what i can recall which i think is quite impressive considering there is also magical realism. I loved the themes of the impact of the war and how it was realistic. OBVIOUSLY you're a completely different person after serving and it's often a change that the people you surround yourself with will need to get used to or need to learn how to support you. I thought it was written very well.
-𝐏𝐋𝐎𝐓-
The plot is just mostly the lives of the characters from when they're youngish' (19 or so??) to when they're like 26 or something. I thought it was very entertaining at the start and I was immediatly intrigued. One thing I WILL say is that the middle was QUITE slow. It felt like nothing was happening, and kind of boring. ALSO. The formatting of the book was kind of confusing to follow. Each "chapter" will be like: "august 1832" and then the chapter happens and then suddenly the next chapter will be " september 1838" and you're like 'huh wait what' and it doesn't really recap what happened so you kind of have to figure it out yourself which was a little annoying, but in general i thought the plot did a prettyyy good job and had good stability.
-𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒-
𝐤𝐢𝐭
↪I liked kit's character! it's never really clear what their identity is, like I don't know if it's ever said out loud in the book, but they're non bianary and I think that representation is important ESPECIALLY in a historical fiction book. I feel like I didn't relate to them a whole lot simply because a lot of their character arc is like their gender identity and gender dysmorphia which I don't really struggle with (i'm a cis girl..) but i still think it's important to read about and gain a new perspective, and i liked their personality and enjoyed reading from their perspective.
𝐫𝐞𝐛𝐞𝐤𝐚𝐡
↪
I REALLY liked following rebekah! I think I related to her a lot, and she reminded me a lot of myself. I loved how supportive she was of the people around her and how through her actions you could see how much of a kind hearted person she was.
dishonourable mentions:
landan
the mom
-𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐂𝐋𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍-
I really recommend this book! If you want to read books set in more diverse places or at least canada this is totally the book for you! It's also VERY fall/winter coded in my opinion and very whimsical. SUCH a good debut novel!
Thank you for reading <33
March 6, 2026
2.5/5 rounded down up to 3
Man, I really enjoyed Part 1, but part 2 and 3 lost me 😞the first part was just so easy and enjoyable (although maybe too easy, where was the gay pining of “is she into girls”/will-they-wont-they?) then part 2 an 3 the story and characters went off the rails.
I felt let down by the whole “changeling” storyline, there could have been so much more to that.
And I felt the queer representation during WW2 was incredibly surface level, seems a disservice to people who were queer during that time period, and maybe a bit of laziness…
speaking of laziness, at one point one character asks another character how they got from point A to B and the author just says “the explanation carried us through tending the rest of the garden and into the afternoon.” Like seriously? Maybe us readers wanted to hear that story too? Overall kinda disappointed by this book since I was really loving the first 164 pages.
Am I just an ugly old hag of reading now? I swear I do enjoy books and reading 😅
Man, I really enjoyed Part 1, but part 2 and 3 lost me 😞the first part was just so easy and enjoyable (although maybe too easy, where was the gay pining of “is she into girls”/will-they-wont-they?) then part 2 an 3 the story and characters went off the rails.
I felt let down by the whole “changeling” storyline, there could have been so much more to that.
And I felt the queer representation during WW2 was incredibly surface level, seems a disservice to people who were queer during that time period, and maybe a bit of laziness…
speaking of laziness, at one point one character asks another character how they got from point A to B and the author just says “the explanation carried us through tending the rest of the garden and into the afternoon.” Like seriously? Maybe us readers wanted to hear that story too? Overall kinda disappointed by this book since I was really loving the first 164 pages.
Am I just an ugly old hag of reading now? I swear I do enjoy books and reading 😅
November 9, 2024
Maybe I just read this at the wrong time. I had just finished Anne Fleming's novel Curiosities (also Giller-listed) about a girl who who wants to be a boy, and reading two the two books back to back revealed just how unrealistic this one is, to the point of being almost laughable at times. Seriously, how could a woman have hidden her gender to all the men in the barracks while flying in the Air Force? How would she even pass the physical? Sorry but it just couldn't happen, and then the whole calling Kit "their" and approach to non-binary is completely inaccurate as nobody would have ever used that term back in the 40s and 50s.
What I did find great about this novel was the pacing, being told from the two different narrators, although there was more overlap than needed at times, and I loved the speculative parts, the descriptions of farm life and being in the forest but in all honestly, I found the ending sappy and over-written.
.
What I did find great about this novel was the pacing, being told from the two different narrators, although there was more overlap than needed at times, and I loved the speculative parts, the descriptions of farm life and being in the forest but in all honestly, I found the ending sappy and over-written.
.
December 9, 2024
SO GOOD! 10/10 ✨️
February 5, 2024
The story start with Kathleen (Kit) McNair who was with both her brothers, Landon and Jep, into the woods. It didn’t go as planned, and, on their way back home, Kit fell in the water. Even as her older brother managed to get her out, something had changed. Kathleen isn’t the same, so is the McNair family. As they grew up, Kit remained marginal, and her family treated her that way.
Rebekah moved in a house not far from the McNair’s, with her German heritage from her father. Considering the WW2, their life isn’t easy wherever they go. But as she befriends Kit, then Landon and Jep, she finally feels like home, until a new event came out.
First, I did enjoy my reading. The dual POV was a great addition, allowing me to understand better each character.
The story was great as well. There’s the war, and the sacrifices everyone has to do for it. Every young people of the story enlist on one way or another, and the war scenes were realistic and I loved it.
There is also a love triangle in the story. Rebekah is a girl everyone seems to appreciate. I liked how the relationships were portrayed, but also how it could be complicated for people in those years, especially for someone who wasn’t only heterosexual. It can be hard to chose between what your heart wants and what would be good for you 🩵
« In years to come, I would clutch that moment to my heart like a talisman, tracing every detail. The gold light pouring through the cracks between the barn boards, landing on Kit’s hair like a beacon. The warm, close air of the loft, the rich smell of dried grasses and warm fur. Our knees just touching, our eyes on the kittens, but how aware I was of Kit’s ribs rising and falling beneath the shirt, of the deft fingers delicately stroking the kittens’ heads. Even then, I wanted the moment to last forever. » p.60
The only reason I didn’t give the book 5⭐ is because the beginning was so intriguing, but I couldn’t relate those events to the present in the story. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed my reading and the author’s writing. I will reading from them again 🩵
Rebekah moved in a house not far from the McNair’s, with her German heritage from her father. Considering the WW2, their life isn’t easy wherever they go. But as she befriends Kit, then Landon and Jep, she finally feels like home, until a new event came out.
First, I did enjoy my reading. The dual POV was a great addition, allowing me to understand better each character.
The story was great as well. There’s the war, and the sacrifices everyone has to do for it. Every young people of the story enlist on one way or another, and the war scenes were realistic and I loved it.
There is also a love triangle in the story. Rebekah is a girl everyone seems to appreciate. I liked how the relationships were portrayed, but also how it could be complicated for people in those years, especially for someone who wasn’t only heterosexual. It can be hard to chose between what your heart wants and what would be good for you 🩵
« In years to come, I would clutch that moment to my heart like a talisman, tracing every detail. The gold light pouring through the cracks between the barn boards, landing on Kit’s hair like a beacon. The warm, close air of the loft, the rich smell of dried grasses and warm fur. Our knees just touching, our eyes on the kittens, but how aware I was of Kit’s ribs rising and falling beneath the shirt, of the deft fingers delicately stroking the kittens’ heads. Even then, I wanted the moment to last forever. » p.60
The only reason I didn’t give the book 5⭐ is because the beginning was so intriguing, but I couldn’t relate those events to the present in the story. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed my reading and the author’s writing. I will reading from them again 🩵
February 5, 2024
Incredibly well written and entertaining, this debut historical fiction book was a pure joy to read (and listen to)! I love how the author has written a moving Canadian history romance/family drama/WWII story that centers nonbinary and trans characters in a way that we've rarely seen before. It was refreshing and much overdue! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @Librofm for a complimentary ALC. I really enjoyed this on audio narrated by Landon Doak, Victoria Carr and Belinda Corpuz and will be eagerly awaiting the author's next book!
June 23, 2025
An easy 5 star read! Such a beautiful telling of queer and trans magic in the context of suspenseful Canadian historical fiction. We need more queer authors in the world who can move through the transformation of someone’s identity or pronoun changes without it needing to be a huge deal in the greater context of their love, loss, growth, and resilience. I’ll be recommending this one for a long time!
January 22, 2024
Right from the first chapter this book had me in it’s grip. The little sprinkle of magical realism made this story extra special, but at its core this is an extremely compelling coming of age story that you won’t want to put down until you finish it.
I read this book in two sittings (and only because I started it right before bed the first night) then the next day read right through until the end. That’s not something I usually do, but I truly could not put it down. The author does such a brilliant job of bringing you back in time and immersing you in the setting.
The book is so beautifully written, the characters are so interesting and complex, and the relationship dynamics that are built along the way are intricate and interwoven so carefully that when I got to the end of the book I had been so deep into it that it felt wrong coming back to reality.
I loved this book, and I thoroughly recommend giving it a read if you’re at all interested in queer historical fiction overlaid with elements of Celtic mythology. It's rare for me to love historical fiction this much, and rarer still to find historical stories that focus on non-binary main characters and queer romances, so this is quite the gem and I truly hope that it won't be a hidden one. This deserves endless amounts of praise, and I expect it'll be one of my top reads of 2024.
p.s. for those of you who love a (semi?)-niche “if you loved this then…” type recommendation, this book gave me serious 2000 cinematic masterpiece “Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story” energy, except WW2 instead of WW1 of course, and definitely not just in a Canadian setting kind of way, I promise. If you know me (which of course, you don’t), you’d know this is the absolute highest compliment I can imagine.
I received this book as an e-arc from Random House Canada via Netgalley
I read this book in two sittings (and only because I started it right before bed the first night) then the next day read right through until the end. That’s not something I usually do, but I truly could not put it down. The author does such a brilliant job of bringing you back in time and immersing you in the setting.
The book is so beautifully written, the characters are so interesting and complex, and the relationship dynamics that are built along the way are intricate and interwoven so carefully that when I got to the end of the book I had been so deep into it that it felt wrong coming back to reality.
I loved this book, and I thoroughly recommend giving it a read if you’re at all interested in queer historical fiction overlaid with elements of Celtic mythology. It's rare for me to love historical fiction this much, and rarer still to find historical stories that focus on non-binary main characters and queer romances, so this is quite the gem and I truly hope that it won't be a hidden one. This deserves endless amounts of praise, and I expect it'll be one of my top reads of 2024.
p.s. for those of you who love a (semi?)-niche “if you loved this then…” type recommendation, this book gave me serious 2000 cinematic masterpiece “Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story” energy, except WW2 instead of WW1 of course, and definitely not just in a Canadian setting kind of way, I promise. If you know me (which of course, you don’t), you’d know this is the absolute highest compliment I can imagine.
I received this book as an e-arc from Random House Canada via Netgalley
June 24, 2026
I think this may be one of the best books I have ever read. Not just one of my favourite books of the year, but one of those rare novels that completely settles into your bones and refuses to leave.
I was cheering for this book during Canada Reads long before I had finished it, admittedly based on a completely biased reason. Tegan Quin of Tegan and Sara was defending it, and as someone who has spent years loving their music, that was enough for me. Thankfully, The Cure for Drowning more than earns every bit of praise it receives on its own merits.
This is a beautifully written story that blends history, magic, identity, love, and grief into something that feels both intimate and epic. Kit McNair is one of the most memorable characters I have encountered in a long time. Their journey feels deeply personal while also speaking to something much larger about belonging, family, and the ways we try to define ourselves in a world determined to define us first.
I cried through an embarrassing amount of this book. Not because it relies on cheap emotional punches, but because it approaches its characters with such compassion and humanity. The relationships are messy and complicated, the choices hurt, and the emotional weight of the story lingers long after the final page.
History enthusiasts may occasionally find themselves raising an eyebrow at some of the liberties taken with the setting and timeline. Personally, I was far too emotionally devastated to care.
This is one of those books that makes you grateful it exists. I completely understand why it won Canada Reads, and I genuinely believe every Canadian should pick it up.
I was cheering for this book during Canada Reads long before I had finished it, admittedly based on a completely biased reason. Tegan Quin of Tegan and Sara was defending it, and as someone who has spent years loving their music, that was enough for me. Thankfully, The Cure for Drowning more than earns every bit of praise it receives on its own merits.
This is a beautifully written story that blends history, magic, identity, love, and grief into something that feels both intimate and epic. Kit McNair is one of the most memorable characters I have encountered in a long time. Their journey feels deeply personal while also speaking to something much larger about belonging, family, and the ways we try to define ourselves in a world determined to define us first.
I cried through an embarrassing amount of this book. Not because it relies on cheap emotional punches, but because it approaches its characters with such compassion and humanity. The relationships are messy and complicated, the choices hurt, and the emotional weight of the story lingers long after the final page.
History enthusiasts may occasionally find themselves raising an eyebrow at some of the liberties taken with the setting and timeline. Personally, I was far too emotionally devastated to care.
This is one of those books that makes you grateful it exists. I completely understand why it won Canada Reads, and I genuinely believe every Canadian should pick it up.
June 12, 2026
Beautiful look into the world of a family that goes through incredible journeys and struggles during the second world war.
The Love and romance was captured well in the book. Making your heart ache for the loss and confusion our hearts can take us to.
I liked how the author ties in a non-binary character without making it the center of focus. Let the people speak for themselves!
The Love and romance was captured well in the book. Making your heart ache for the loss and confusion our hearts can take us to.
I liked how the author ties in a non-binary character without making it the center of focus. Let the people speak for themselves!
September 3, 2026
3.5🌟 Ok first and foremost, do yourself a favour and don’t read the inside jacket or the summary of this book if you don’t like spoilers!! The summary essentially spoils the entire plot of the book which is a bit disappointing. However, with this being a debut novel, I understand that the publishers/editors or whoever was responsible was trying to draw people into picking up the novel. If you don’t mind spoilers, this won’t be an issue at all. That being said, I still found this story very enjoyable. The writing was excellent and the characters were very well rounded and interesting. As strictly a WWII historical fiction story, I give it a solid four stars. However, I’m docking half a star because as I reader I felt that I was promised certain things in the summary that fell a bit flat on delivery. There were fantasy elements hinted throughout the story that I found myself wishing had been more flushed out, and I was hoping that the trans perspective would be more centralized in the plot and the character’s development aside from being just an identity characteristic. I have read a lot of Second World War historical fiction, and I think for myself a large draw was the expectation that I would be able to see this time period through a lens I haven’t seen it from before. Overall this didn’t ruin the story for me in any way, but I didn’t find that it was as unique or stood out as much as I had hoped. I felt like the summary had maybe promised some things within the novel that ended up falling to the background in the story. I would still encourage anyone to give it a read so that we can discuss, and I foresee myself definitely wanting to read the next thing the author can come up with! Lots of promise for sure.
April 24, 2026
Incredible writing, historical fiction, and though not every part of this novel will be for everyone, I see why this won the Canada Reads competition; it opened my mind in addition to being a captivating story.
May 11, 2026
4.5 So much I love about this book. Local Ontario landscape, WWII, farm life, prejudices, queer coping in a harder time.
Glad it's Canada Reads winner.
Glad it's Canada Reads winner.
June 13, 2026
The writing!!! It was so beautiful that I felt myself getting lost in the story. Historical fiction, meets romance, meets folklore, meets magic ✨. A huge uncovering of being true to yourself and the challenges that can come with it. Truly a Canadian gem ❤️
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