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On Isabella Street
Instant Bestseller
From #1 bestselling author Genevieve Graham comes a gripping novel set in Toronto and Vietnam during the turbulent sixties about two women caught up in powerful social movements and the tragedy that will bring them together—perfect for fans of Kristin Hannah’s The Women .
Toronto, 1967. Two young women with different backgrounds, attitudes, and aptitudes are living in an exciting but confusing time, the most extreme counter-culture movement the modern world has ever seen. They have little in common except for the place they both call an apartment building on Isabella Street.
Marion Hart, a psychiatrist working in Toronto’s foremost mental institution, is fighting deinstitutionalization—the closing of major institutions in favour of community-based centres—because she believes it could one day cause major homelessness. When Daniel Neumann, a veteran with a debilitating wound, is admitted to the mental institution, Marion will learn through him that there is so much more to life than what she is living.
Sassy Rankin, a budding folk singer and carefree hippy from a privileged family, joins protests over the Vietnam War and is devastated that her brother chose to join the US Marines. At the same time, she must deal with the truth that her comfortable life is financed by her father, a real estate magnate bent on gentrifying the city, making it unaffordable for many of her friends.
The strength of their unlikely friendship means that when one grapples with a catastrophic event, the other must do all she can to make it right.
Inspired by the unfettered optimism and crushing disillusionment of the sixties, On Isabella Street is an extraordinary novel about the enduring bonds of friendship and family and the devastating cost of war.
From #1 bestselling author Genevieve Graham comes a gripping novel set in Toronto and Vietnam during the turbulent sixties about two women caught up in powerful social movements and the tragedy that will bring them together—perfect for fans of Kristin Hannah’s The Women .
Toronto, 1967. Two young women with different backgrounds, attitudes, and aptitudes are living in an exciting but confusing time, the most extreme counter-culture movement the modern world has ever seen. They have little in common except for the place they both call an apartment building on Isabella Street.
Marion Hart, a psychiatrist working in Toronto’s foremost mental institution, is fighting deinstitutionalization—the closing of major institutions in favour of community-based centres—because she believes it could one day cause major homelessness. When Daniel Neumann, a veteran with a debilitating wound, is admitted to the mental institution, Marion will learn through him that there is so much more to life than what she is living.
Sassy Rankin, a budding folk singer and carefree hippy from a privileged family, joins protests over the Vietnam War and is devastated that her brother chose to join the US Marines. At the same time, she must deal with the truth that her comfortable life is financed by her father, a real estate magnate bent on gentrifying the city, making it unaffordable for many of her friends.
The strength of their unlikely friendship means that when one grapples with a catastrophic event, the other must do all she can to make it right.
Inspired by the unfettered optimism and crushing disillusionment of the sixties, On Isabella Street is an extraordinary novel about the enduring bonds of friendship and family and the devastating cost of war.
432 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 22, 2025
153 people are currently reading
7713 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 304 reviews
February 23, 2025
Known for her stellar ability to breathe life into history one story at a time, Genevieve Graham brings the late 60s and 70s Canada into the spotlight for her readers.
In assembling the ingredients for her story, Graham has included counterculture lifestyle, deinstitutionalism, the Vietnam War, and American draft dodgers. Adding to this mix, she’s crafted four almost polar opposite characters and placed them together, showing how they influence and shape each other during this exciting yet confusing time in our nation’s history.
Graham’s spotlight on relationships really shines in this story. I was impressed with how the author highlighted relationships and their role in character development (in this case, they were the catalyst for change/finding oneself in this exploratory era), on shaping identity (women pushing social constraints/ intergenerational tensions/Canada’s stance on Vietnam War/girls challenging each other’s POV/as a result of tragedy), and on Canadian cultural diversity (power of shared experiences both socially and domestically). The end result is the impact on readers; my view of the hippy movement and our role in the Vietnam War has been shifted as a result.
The lens of this story has me reconsidering the impact of the counterculture lifestyle. I’ve shifted from the traditional ‘get a job’ mindset to seeing the benefits for our country that arose as a result of these changes. Where the American hippies were challenging Patriotism in the States, those in Canada were contributing to our nationalism, many spurred on by the American draft dodgers.
It was interesting to read about deinstitutionalism in Toronto. In my teenage years on the West Coast of Canada, I was very aware of the repercussions of the Riverview closure; many that are still felt today. Dr. Marion Hart and Daniel Neumann would have had a lot to say to our Social Credit government at the time!
With Buffy Sainte-Marie in our news at the moment, I was prompted to read about her formative years and her influence during that era, both on the page and in real life.
By putting Marion, Daniel, Buffy and Sassy under the spotlight, Graham has shown us that despite our differences (backgrounds, attitudes and aptitude) and despite an extreme movement (Counterculture) shifting our Canadian values, we can impact our country positively and become stronger in working together and (at least attempting to) understanding WHY we stand for our beliefs, ultimately journeying towards increased nationalism.
I was gifted this copy by Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
In assembling the ingredients for her story, Graham has included counterculture lifestyle, deinstitutionalism, the Vietnam War, and American draft dodgers. Adding to this mix, she’s crafted four almost polar opposite characters and placed them together, showing how they influence and shape each other during this exciting yet confusing time in our nation’s history.
Graham’s spotlight on relationships really shines in this story. I was impressed with how the author highlighted relationships and their role in character development (in this case, they were the catalyst for change/finding oneself in this exploratory era), on shaping identity (women pushing social constraints/ intergenerational tensions/Canada’s stance on Vietnam War/girls challenging each other’s POV/as a result of tragedy), and on Canadian cultural diversity (power of shared experiences both socially and domestically). The end result is the impact on readers; my view of the hippy movement and our role in the Vietnam War has been shifted as a result.
The lens of this story has me reconsidering the impact of the counterculture lifestyle. I’ve shifted from the traditional ‘get a job’ mindset to seeing the benefits for our country that arose as a result of these changes. Where the American hippies were challenging Patriotism in the States, those in Canada were contributing to our nationalism, many spurred on by the American draft dodgers.
It was interesting to read about deinstitutionalism in Toronto. In my teenage years on the West Coast of Canada, I was very aware of the repercussions of the Riverview closure; many that are still felt today. Dr. Marion Hart and Daniel Neumann would have had a lot to say to our Social Credit government at the time!
With Buffy Sainte-Marie in our news at the moment, I was prompted to read about her formative years and her influence during that era, both on the page and in real life.
By putting Marion, Daniel, Buffy and Sassy under the spotlight, Graham has shown us that despite our differences (backgrounds, attitudes and aptitude) and despite an extreme movement (Counterculture) shifting our Canadian values, we can impact our country positively and become stronger in working together and (at least attempting to) understanding WHY we stand for our beliefs, ultimately journeying towards increased nationalism.
I was gifted this copy by Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
April 27, 2025
Genevieve Graham has done it again. On Isabella Street is another fabulous Canadian historical fiction read.
Set in Toronto and Vietnam, the story focuses on the impacts of two significant events in the 1960s: the Vietnam War and deinstitutionalization (the closing of psychiatric institutions in favour of community-based care). The novel unfolds through the lives of two young Canadian women, Marion and Susan (Sassy) living in the same apartment building (Isabella Street) whose lives become intertwined and whose friendship sees them through the ups and downs of life. Both characters are well-developed and likeable.
While the story starts slowly and is focused on the backstory of the women, it quickly becomes absorbing. Written in an easy flowing style and told through both women’s perspectives, the novel does a good job recreating the 1960s culture, music, and societal attitudes. It is clear that the author has done a lot of research as the authenticity of the period comes through clearly (don’t miss the author’s notes).
The story touches on several social issues and themes including living with mental illness, PTSD, war-induced trauma, homelessness, and the treatment of veterans once they returned from Vietnam. I did not know that Canadian soldiers volunteered to fight in Vietnam.
While this book has a different focus on the Vietnam War and its impacts than Kristin Hannah’s The Women, On Isabella Street, in my view, is just as good and captivating. Highly recommend!
Thanks to the publisher for this complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
Set in Toronto and Vietnam, the story focuses on the impacts of two significant events in the 1960s: the Vietnam War and deinstitutionalization (the closing of psychiatric institutions in favour of community-based care). The novel unfolds through the lives of two young Canadian women, Marion and Susan (Sassy) living in the same apartment building (Isabella Street) whose lives become intertwined and whose friendship sees them through the ups and downs of life. Both characters are well-developed and likeable.
While the story starts slowly and is focused on the backstory of the women, it quickly becomes absorbing. Written in an easy flowing style and told through both women’s perspectives, the novel does a good job recreating the 1960s culture, music, and societal attitudes. It is clear that the author has done a lot of research as the authenticity of the period comes through clearly (don’t miss the author’s notes).
The story touches on several social issues and themes including living with mental illness, PTSD, war-induced trauma, homelessness, and the treatment of veterans once they returned from Vietnam. I did not know that Canadian soldiers volunteered to fight in Vietnam.
While this book has a different focus on the Vietnam War and its impacts than Kristin Hannah’s The Women, On Isabella Street, in my view, is just as good and captivating. Highly recommend!
Thanks to the publisher for this complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
April 5, 2025
Thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster.ca for the much-appreciated ARC, 'On Isabella Street' by Genevieve Graham. She is my favourite author of powerful novels based on little-known Canadian history combined with compelling character development. The story is set in Toronto during the turbulent 1960s during extreme counter-culture movements. The two women and their romantic interests represent different aspects of peoples' beliefs, attitudes, lifestyles, backgrounds, and behaviour in 1967. It is an emotional look at how their unlikely romantic relationships and their polar opposite concerns influenced others. The two women living in the same apartment building on Isabella Street are quite different and would never become friendly. One day, they are stuck in the elevator and bond as friends.
Two women, Marion and Sassy, are examples of people caught up in social movements reflecting profound changes in Canadian society. During this era, Canada didn't officially partake in the US war in Vietnam. However, nearly 40,000 Canadians enlisted with the American military in Vietnam, and their treatment was shown when they returned home from the unpopular war. Protests against the war were prevalent. American draft dodgers fled to Canada and were supported, unlike the deserters.
Marion is a psychiatrist at Toronto's leading mental hospital. Her father returned from a previous war with symptoms of PTSD, and she wants to understand and help patients with these terrifying flashbacks. She is earnest and timid, with no social life. While treating and becoming attracted to a soldier injured in Vietnam, Daniel, who lost an eye, has a scarred face and suffers from PTSD, he makes her realize that there is more to life than the way she is living.
Marion is puzzled about why Daniel wants to return to his group in Vietnam. She is also worried about the upcoming closure of major mental hospitals in favour of community-based centres. She believes that many displaced patients will not cope with the lack of supervision while failing to take their prescribed medication. Many will become homeless and living on the streets. That happens to Daniel when the hospital closes down. Marion decides to take a bold step by volunteering as a medic in Vietnam. She cannot go without a bodyguard. Once Daniel is found, he volunteers to accompany and protect her.
Sassy is an aspiring folk singer and an outspoken hippy. She comes from a privileged family. Her father is a Real Estate CEO who supports her unemployment and peace protests over the war in Vietnam. She is shattered when her brother goes to fight in Vietnam and is reported missing. The aim is gentrifying the city, turning affordable living quarters into homes none of her friends can afford. She also realizes that Canada is profiting by selling arms for the war. Sassy's father dies, and his partner Tom becomes head of the business. Sassy finds his work and attitude unbearable but finds herself drawn to him.
Marion is way out of her comfort zone in Vietnam. She has never been in a plane before and now travels with Daniel in helicopters under fire. She has always been fearful and refused to learn to swim. Now, she must run through rivers while being shot at and rescued by Daniel. He is always encouraging; she shoots and kills a Viet Cong and saves Daniel's life. They rescue three soldiers imprisoned in Vietnam.
I liked the 1960s slang, sayings, and mentions of popular songs and celebrities like Leonard Cohen. Buffy St. Marie is still in the news, and the Rolling Stones are frequently mentioned. Who would have thought that 60 years later, they are still recording and performing?
Marion is disturbed and disgusted by hospital conditions while working in Vietnam. She soon braces herself and does a fine job in the ER. She returns to Canada as a better, braver, and more confident person. She and Daniel confess their love. With Tom's approval, Sassy invests her inheritance in building living places for returning veterans and the homeless. It appears that she and Tom will become a couple despite their differences. She still despairs about her brother's fate.
The ending is satisfactory, and the emotional and entertaining book is recommended. The publication date is April 22/2025.
Two women, Marion and Sassy, are examples of people caught up in social movements reflecting profound changes in Canadian society. During this era, Canada didn't officially partake in the US war in Vietnam. However, nearly 40,000 Canadians enlisted with the American military in Vietnam, and their treatment was shown when they returned home from the unpopular war. Protests against the war were prevalent. American draft dodgers fled to Canada and were supported, unlike the deserters.
Marion is a psychiatrist at Toronto's leading mental hospital. Her father returned from a previous war with symptoms of PTSD, and she wants to understand and help patients with these terrifying flashbacks. She is earnest and timid, with no social life. While treating and becoming attracted to a soldier injured in Vietnam, Daniel, who lost an eye, has a scarred face and suffers from PTSD, he makes her realize that there is more to life than the way she is living.
Marion is puzzled about why Daniel wants to return to his group in Vietnam. She is also worried about the upcoming closure of major mental hospitals in favour of community-based centres. She believes that many displaced patients will not cope with the lack of supervision while failing to take their prescribed medication. Many will become homeless and living on the streets. That happens to Daniel when the hospital closes down. Marion decides to take a bold step by volunteering as a medic in Vietnam. She cannot go without a bodyguard. Once Daniel is found, he volunteers to accompany and protect her.
Sassy is an aspiring folk singer and an outspoken hippy. She comes from a privileged family. Her father is a Real Estate CEO who supports her unemployment and peace protests over the war in Vietnam. She is shattered when her brother goes to fight in Vietnam and is reported missing. The aim is gentrifying the city, turning affordable living quarters into homes none of her friends can afford. She also realizes that Canada is profiting by selling arms for the war. Sassy's father dies, and his partner Tom becomes head of the business. Sassy finds his work and attitude unbearable but finds herself drawn to him.
Marion is way out of her comfort zone in Vietnam. She has never been in a plane before and now travels with Daniel in helicopters under fire. She has always been fearful and refused to learn to swim. Now, she must run through rivers while being shot at and rescued by Daniel. He is always encouraging; she shoots and kills a Viet Cong and saves Daniel's life. They rescue three soldiers imprisoned in Vietnam.
I liked the 1960s slang, sayings, and mentions of popular songs and celebrities like Leonard Cohen. Buffy St. Marie is still in the news, and the Rolling Stones are frequently mentioned. Who would have thought that 60 years later, they are still recording and performing?
Marion is disturbed and disgusted by hospital conditions while working in Vietnam. She soon braces herself and does a fine job in the ER. She returns to Canada as a better, braver, and more confident person. She and Daniel confess their love. With Tom's approval, Sassy invests her inheritance in building living places for returning veterans and the homeless. It appears that she and Tom will become a couple despite their differences. She still despairs about her brother's fate.
The ending is satisfactory, and the emotional and entertaining book is recommended. The publication date is April 22/2025.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 26, 2025
Deeply moving and unputdownable. Loved this!
June 4, 2025
I’m baffled by the effusive praise for this one. I found the plot painfully predictable, relying on an embarrassment of eye-rolling coincidences, the characterization inconsistent, and the whole thing very un-1967 in its vaguely pro-capitalist, anti-feminist values. I’m sure it will be popular in my classroom library amongst readers who prefer straightforward stories and simple themes, but I won’t be recommending it beyond that.
May 6, 2025
Set in Toronto in 1967 two young woman, totally opposite from each other, live on the same floor in a building on Isabella Street.
Marion Hart is a psychiatrist in a mental institution fighting deinstitutionalization and Sassy Rankin is a hippy and budding folk singer from a privileged family who joins protests over the Vietnam War. She is devastated that her brother chose to join the US Marines.
They quickly become the closest of friends supporting each other through the hardest of times.
I can always count on Genevieve Graham to give me a captivating historical fiction story set in Canada. Once again, her research is next to none. Her novels have taught me so much!
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
Marion Hart is a psychiatrist in a mental institution fighting deinstitutionalization and Sassy Rankin is a hippy and budding folk singer from a privileged family who joins protests over the Vietnam War. She is devastated that her brother chose to join the US Marines.
They quickly become the closest of friends supporting each other through the hardest of times.
I can always count on Genevieve Graham to give me a captivating historical fiction story set in Canada. Once again, her research is next to none. Her novels have taught me so much!
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
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May 14, 2025I am always drawn to novels related to Vietnam as well as the lingering effects of war, so this novel set in Canada sounded interesting. Unfortunately, the novel did not hold up to my expectations. Too many parts of the storyline seemed contrived, and the writing was not deep. I am not rating it, because I don’t think this is a bad book – but rather that I am not the right reader for it.
March 22, 2025
I always look forward to a book by Canadian author Genevieve Graham. Her stories have heart, and she puts a lot of time into her research which means I know I'll get an entertaining story and come away knowing more about Canadian history.
In her upcoming book On Isabella Street, Graham tackles the turbulent 60's - a time of counterculture, the Vietnam War, and deinstitutionalization of mental patients and its direct impact on the increase in homelessness on Toronto streets.
The story is set around two women - Marian Hart, a psychiatrist who lives a quiet life. She is a rule follower and is adamant that the hospital where she works is making a big mistake by releasing its patients struggling with their mental health (and PTSD) onto the streets.
Sassy Rankin is a privileged 20-something hippy folk singer who is part of the counterculture and desperately misses her brother who is fighting in Vietnam. The only things these two women have in common is where they live - 105 Isabella Street in the Church-Wellesley area of Toronto and their devotion to the causes they each hold dear.
Graham covers a lot of historical ground, and the story is filled with many interesting historical tidbits - many of which readers may not know. Readers are also given a vividly described landscape - from what Toronto was like in the 60's, to the impact of PTSD on returning veterans and how poorly they were treated upon their return, women's rights and their roles in war, and the civil unrest of the era.
The story flows easily and the pages turning quickly in this 430-page book. The connections between characters and the way the plot rolls out are delightfully serendipitous and readers will be glued to the pages of this powerful and evocative story that covers a lot of personal and historical elements.
You can be certain that Graham will immerse you in the era, entertain you and teach you in equal measure. And despite the serious themes, ultimately this is an uplifting story about family, friendship, hope, tenacity, healing and discovering your path in a very uncertain world.
Preorder this book for its April 22, 2025 release date!
Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Simon and Schuster Canada for the complimentary advanced digital and print copies which were given in exchange for my honest review.
March 6, 2025
Genevieve Graham just continues to impress with her dedication to researching and bringing to life aspects of Canadian history that most of us have never been taught or heard about before. Her latest book is set in 1960s Canada and features Marion and Sassy, two completely opposite women living in the same Isabella Street apartment in downtown Toronto.
Where Marion is a straight-laced psychiatrist who works at the Ontario Hospital (formerly the Hospital for the Insane) at the time just before the mass deinstutionalization of Canada's psychiatric patients leading to an uprising of untreated unhoused people left on their own without access to proper care or medications.
Sassy on the other hand, is an aspiring singer and proud part of the counterculture movement whose brother voluntarily went to fight in the Vietnam war. She struggles with being the daughter of a real estate magnate (himself a veteran of the Second World War).
Marion and Sassy eventually strike up a moving friendship that sees the two women growing in their own distinct ways, taking chances and standing up for the causes that are dear to them. While this book relies on a lot of (at times unrealistic) coincidences, it is also full of heart, friendship, found family and amazing mental health rep.
Readers are sure to learn lots, especially thanks to the detailed historical notes section included at the end of the book. There are also a lot of fun Easter eggs sprinkled throughout that are sure to delight those who have read Graham's previous novels. I have no doubt this will be a favorite book of 2025 for me and I highly recommend it for anyone who has read and loved Kristin Hannah's The women.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review. To say I was eagerly waiting to get my hands on an eARC of On Isabella Street would be a gross understatement and it did NOT disappoint!!
Where Marion is a straight-laced psychiatrist who works at the Ontario Hospital (formerly the Hospital for the Insane) at the time just before the mass deinstutionalization of Canada's psychiatric patients leading to an uprising of untreated unhoused people left on their own without access to proper care or medications.
Sassy on the other hand, is an aspiring singer and proud part of the counterculture movement whose brother voluntarily went to fight in the Vietnam war. She struggles with being the daughter of a real estate magnate (himself a veteran of the Second World War).
Marion and Sassy eventually strike up a moving friendship that sees the two women growing in their own distinct ways, taking chances and standing up for the causes that are dear to them. While this book relies on a lot of (at times unrealistic) coincidences, it is also full of heart, friendship, found family and amazing mental health rep.
Readers are sure to learn lots, especially thanks to the detailed historical notes section included at the end of the book. There are also a lot of fun Easter eggs sprinkled throughout that are sure to delight those who have read Graham's previous novels. I have no doubt this will be a favorite book of 2025 for me and I highly recommend it for anyone who has read and loved Kristin Hannah's The women.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review. To say I was eagerly waiting to get my hands on an eARC of On Isabella Street would be a gross understatement and it did NOT disappoint!!
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November 15, 2025DNF
I'm in the minority but this book just didn't work for me. I found it really hard to get into. The characters just didn't grab me. It was one of those stories that sounded promising, and I really wanted to love, but the writing and execution just wasn't my cup of tea. Other readers seemed to love it, so I would suggest reading other reviews as it may be a case of me, not the book.
I'm in the minority but this book just didn't work for me. I found it really hard to get into. The characters just didn't grab me. It was one of those stories that sounded promising, and I really wanted to love, but the writing and execution just wasn't my cup of tea. Other readers seemed to love it, so I would suggest reading other reviews as it may be a case of me, not the book.
June 17, 2025
I really enjoyed the first half of this book, but the last half just didn’t do it for me. I wish the author continued with Marion and the deinstitutionalization storyline - there could have been so much more there! But then Marion just dashes off to Vietnam (spoiler). If you’re going to write about being in Vietnam during the Vietnam War then the whole book should be about that. Not just a third of the book. Things also just were tied up so neatly at the end. I skimmed the last half, maybe if I tried harder, I would have enjoyed it more.
Want to read
January 10, 2025"A gripping novel set in Toronto and Vietnam during the turbulent sixties about two women caught up in powerful social movements and the tragedy that will bring them together—perfect for fans of Kristin Hannah’s The Women ."
June 10, 2025
The subject matter is interesting however it all falls flat in the execution. The writing style feels amateurish and characters are one dimensional. The effects of deinstitutionalisation of mental health facilities could have been so richly explored instead it felt entirely glossed over and wrapped in a nice neat bow. Not a writer I would read again.
May 19, 2025
DNF at 33%
I was eagerly awaiting this new book by Genevieve Graham but cannot get past the weak female lead characters. I wanted to throw my book across the room when Sassy tells her good for nothing boyfriend he can come back to her when his new girlfriend is driving him crazy...ugh, my biggest pet peeve is weak women. Also, I'm a third of the way into this book and NOTHING has happened.
I was eagerly awaiting this new book by Genevieve Graham but cannot get past the weak female lead characters. I wanted to throw my book across the room when Sassy tells her good for nothing boyfriend he can come back to her when his new girlfriend is driving him crazy...ugh, my biggest pet peeve is weak women. Also, I'm a third of the way into this book and NOTHING has happened.
April 9, 2025
Bestselling author Genevieve Graham's latest Canadian historical fiction novel about an unlikely friendship between two young women takes place in Toronto during the turbulent sixties and covers all of the big topics of the time period including the counterculture social movement, protests, fashion, drugs, music, free love and, of course, the devastation of the Vietnam War.
The story takes place in 1967-8 and is centred on two young women who have little in common apart from where they live - an apartment building on Isabella Street in the Church and Wellesley neighbourhood of downtown Toronto. Marian Hart is a psychiatrist who is fighting against deinstitutionalization - the closing of major institutions in favour of community-based centres - because she fears it will lead to homelessness and violence. Sassy Rankin is a folk singer and carefree hippie from a privileged family who is devastated by her brother's decision to fight with the US Marines in Vietnam. The friendship between the two women will provide the strength needed to navigate devastating events and forge their own paths in a changing world.
This is the 7th book that I have read by Genevieve Graham so I knew to expect a story that was entertaining, impeccably researched, well-written and enlightening with respect to Canadian history - particularly the role that women have played as the unsung heroes left out of our history books.
On Isabella Street is an uplifting story of friendship, courage, hope and love at a time of profound social change. The story covers many serious issues that existed in Canada's largest city in the late '60s including the role Canada played in the Vietnam War, protests and the treatment of returning veterans, PTSD, deinsitutionalization and homelessness. Graham's vivid writing and historical detail (I loved the use of '60s slang like groovy and far out!) immerses the reader in the time period while telling a compelling and thought-provoking story.
I always enjoy reading Graham's Author's Note because she includes so many fascinating details about her research into the subject matter of the novel. This one was no exception and I also was delighted to discover the connection between one of the characters in this novel and the family from two of her previous novels set in Nova Scotia that I hadn't recognized while reading.
On Isabella Street is a gripping novel that I couldn't put down and I would rank it alongside The Secret Keeper as my two favourite Genevieve Graham novels - highly recommend for fans of historical fiction particularly anyone with an interest in the '60s!
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for sending an ARC of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
The story takes place in 1967-8 and is centred on two young women who have little in common apart from where they live - an apartment building on Isabella Street in the Church and Wellesley neighbourhood of downtown Toronto. Marian Hart is a psychiatrist who is fighting against deinstitutionalization - the closing of major institutions in favour of community-based centres - because she fears it will lead to homelessness and violence. Sassy Rankin is a folk singer and carefree hippie from a privileged family who is devastated by her brother's decision to fight with the US Marines in Vietnam. The friendship between the two women will provide the strength needed to navigate devastating events and forge their own paths in a changing world.
This is the 7th book that I have read by Genevieve Graham so I knew to expect a story that was entertaining, impeccably researched, well-written and enlightening with respect to Canadian history - particularly the role that women have played as the unsung heroes left out of our history books.
On Isabella Street is an uplifting story of friendship, courage, hope and love at a time of profound social change. The story covers many serious issues that existed in Canada's largest city in the late '60s including the role Canada played in the Vietnam War, protests and the treatment of returning veterans, PTSD, deinsitutionalization and homelessness. Graham's vivid writing and historical detail (I loved the use of '60s slang like groovy and far out!) immerses the reader in the time period while telling a compelling and thought-provoking story.
I always enjoy reading Graham's Author's Note because she includes so many fascinating details about her research into the subject matter of the novel. This one was no exception and I also was delighted to discover the connection between one of the characters in this novel and the family from two of her previous novels set in Nova Scotia that I hadn't recognized while reading.
On Isabella Street is a gripping novel that I couldn't put down and I would rank it alongside The Secret Keeper as my two favourite Genevieve Graham novels - highly recommend for fans of historical fiction particularly anyone with an interest in the '60s!
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for sending an ARC of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
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March 19, 2025𝘼𝙨 𝙂𝙂 𝙨𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙚 (𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙙𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙩) “𝙬𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙬𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮. 𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙬𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙪𝙥 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮”.
…And the best historical fiction novels have an easy way of writing with emotional pieces that the reader can connect on.
This is the story about 2 very different women and 2 very different men. The men might be secondary in the story but they’re an important piece to it all.
𝘚𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘺: a hippie with a real estate Mogul father who lives her life freely and is heart broken when her brother Joey signs up with the US marines to go to Vietnam.
𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘯: a doctor who is on the front lines of another type of war: de-institutionalizations of mental health patients.
These two women find an unlikely friendship at their apartment complex on the streets of Toronto. Isabella Street has the sort of found family of characters that is so endearing to a reader. I loved the different voices and how they find a way to connect despite having very different views or experiences.
But beyond exploring mental health and after shocks of war, there are also the men of the story who bring another layer to it all. Tom who works with Sassy’s father. And Veteran Daniel who Marion meets on one of her rounds. Both of them are important to the FMC growth arcs.
From the streets of Toronto to war torn Vietnam, this book tackled a whole slew of topics and emotions… but none more front and centre than that of relationships: found family, friendship, family and love. It’s all in there waiting to unfold for all of us historical fiction readers.
Genevieve Graham is slowly unwrapping Canadian History in the most readable way.
…And the best historical fiction novels have an easy way of writing with emotional pieces that the reader can connect on.
This is the story about 2 very different women and 2 very different men. The men might be secondary in the story but they’re an important piece to it all.
𝘚𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘺: a hippie with a real estate Mogul father who lives her life freely and is heart broken when her brother Joey signs up with the US marines to go to Vietnam.
𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘯: a doctor who is on the front lines of another type of war: de-institutionalizations of mental health patients.
These two women find an unlikely friendship at their apartment complex on the streets of Toronto. Isabella Street has the sort of found family of characters that is so endearing to a reader. I loved the different voices and how they find a way to connect despite having very different views or experiences.
But beyond exploring mental health and after shocks of war, there are also the men of the story who bring another layer to it all. Tom who works with Sassy’s father. And Veteran Daniel who Marion meets on one of her rounds. Both of them are important to the FMC growth arcs.
From the streets of Toronto to war torn Vietnam, this book tackled a whole slew of topics and emotions… but none more front and centre than that of relationships: found family, friendship, family and love. It’s all in there waiting to unfold for all of us historical fiction readers.
Genevieve Graham is slowly unwrapping Canadian History in the most readable way.
March 19, 2025
Book Review
On Isabella Street by Genevieve Graham
What Its Got
Multiple POV
Feminist movement
Anti war movement
Deinstitutionalization, mental health
Homelessness/ housing insecurity
PTSD
Vietnam war, veterans
Women in medicine
Found family
MCs
Marion- Dr, Psychiatrist, single woman, brother (Joey) has gone to Vietnam
Sassy aka Susan- single, wants to be a singer, daddys girl , office secretary
** they are complete opposites whose circumstances draw them together in an unexpected friendship
Secondary Characters
** these individuals were the highlight for me, the community on Isabella street, they all show up for eachother and they have all had an impact on their neighbours lives whether they know it or not
Thoughts
📕 Reading about Toronto, the places, the people, the music makes me feel soo much more connected to the lives of Marion and Sassy- would I feel the same if the book tooke place in US somewhere- nope, not at all
📕 There are loads of triggers and sensitive topics ( war, PTSD, desinstitutionalization ) described however there is more focus on the impact these experiences had on Marion, Sassy, and their relationships with friends and families
📕 I enjoyed the personal growth and self discovery our MCs go through, their intertwined lives and experiences shape the people they become and by the end of the book they are changed
📕A slower start to this one, but midway through the pace picks up and the last quarter flew by
📕 Be sure to read the end notes, Genevieve is meticulous in her research and I always enjoy reading how her stories evolve
Overall
Graham continues to consistently delve into Canadian history by drawing from real life experiences and places to create stories that give readers an opportunity to to empathize, learn, and gain a better understanding of the past
Thanks to @simonandschusterca and the author for my ARC in return for an honest review. Opinions expressed are my own.
On Isabella Street by Genevieve Graham
What Its Got
Multiple POV
Feminist movement
Anti war movement
Deinstitutionalization, mental health
Homelessness/ housing insecurity
PTSD
Vietnam war, veterans
Women in medicine
Found family
MCs
Marion- Dr, Psychiatrist, single woman, brother (Joey) has gone to Vietnam
Sassy aka Susan- single, wants to be a singer, daddys girl , office secretary
** they are complete opposites whose circumstances draw them together in an unexpected friendship
Secondary Characters
** these individuals were the highlight for me, the community on Isabella street, they all show up for eachother and they have all had an impact on their neighbours lives whether they know it or not
Thoughts
📕 Reading about Toronto, the places, the people, the music makes me feel soo much more connected to the lives of Marion and Sassy- would I feel the same if the book tooke place in US somewhere- nope, not at all
📕 There are loads of triggers and sensitive topics ( war, PTSD, desinstitutionalization ) described however there is more focus on the impact these experiences had on Marion, Sassy, and their relationships with friends and families
📕 I enjoyed the personal growth and self discovery our MCs go through, their intertwined lives and experiences shape the people they become and by the end of the book they are changed
📕A slower start to this one, but midway through the pace picks up and the last quarter flew by
📕 Be sure to read the end notes, Genevieve is meticulous in her research and I always enjoy reading how her stories evolve
Overall
Graham continues to consistently delve into Canadian history by drawing from real life experiences and places to create stories that give readers an opportunity to to empathize, learn, and gain a better understanding of the past
Thanks to @simonandschusterca and the author for my ARC in return for an honest review. Opinions expressed are my own.
March 21, 2025
Thank you to Simon and Schuster for the digital arc.
I love anything Genevieve writes but this is hands down my favourite from her.
With her books you not only learn something new but there is always a love story of some sort which I love, it makes the not so light topics feel lighter.
Not only is it not WW2 but it’s also the effects people experience post war. I loved the representation of mental illness and how it looks different for everyone even if they were at the same place at the same time.
I love anything Genevieve writes but this is hands down my favourite from her.
With her books you not only learn something new but there is always a love story of some sort which I love, it makes the not so light topics feel lighter.
Not only is it not WW2 but it’s also the effects people experience post war. I loved the representation of mental illness and how it looks different for everyone even if they were at the same place at the same time.
June 27, 2025
Seemed a bit slow moving and a little unclear of the direction the story at times, but overall a good read.
June 6, 2025
3.85 I love to read stories about Toronto and this author did not disappoint. This book is a page turner for the most part and I really liked about the first 85% of it. The last 15% was less enjoyable for me. That is why I did not give it more points. I can't say why specifically without spoiling the story for others. The ending may be fine for them. This author is an excellent writer and I will look into more of her books.
June 20, 2025
I am a huge Genevieve Graham fan but struggled to get into this read. I loved the relationship between Sassie and Marion but the ending just felt a little too perfect and aspects of it felt a little too hard to believe Would love to discuss in a book club though.
August 23, 2025
A story abput the strong powerful woman during difficult time in history.
February 26, 2025
On Isabella Street is a gripping and compelling read that will captivate your undivided attention from the first to the last page.
My review simply can not do this book justice.
Yes I am Canadian and from Ontario but it is not just the setting: its the strong characters, the time frame of the book and learning more things about Canada and the Viet Nam War during the turbulent sixites.
We meet Sassy and Marion (opposite personalities) who both reside at Isabella Street.
Marion is a psychiatrist at the Onatrio Hospital in Toronto that is about to be deinstutionalized which will leave a lot of vunerable people at risk.
Sassy is a free spirit that loves her music and is proud to be part of the "hippie" movement. Her brother volunteered to fight in Viet Nam.
Genevieve Graham takes the reader on an emotional journey where I laughed with both girls, cried with both girls but most of all admired their tenacity and their friendship.
The author's note at the end of the book are just as fascinating and the photos are remarkable.
I truly hated this book to end and I cant wait for my hard copy to arrive for my book shelves.
On Isabella Street will no doubt be a Book Club pick across the country.
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon &Schuster Canada/Simon & Schuster for the privilege of reading and reviewing On Isabella Street.
My review simply can not do this book justice.
Yes I am Canadian and from Ontario but it is not just the setting: its the strong characters, the time frame of the book and learning more things about Canada and the Viet Nam War during the turbulent sixites.
We meet Sassy and Marion (opposite personalities) who both reside at Isabella Street.
Marion is a psychiatrist at the Onatrio Hospital in Toronto that is about to be deinstutionalized which will leave a lot of vunerable people at risk.
Sassy is a free spirit that loves her music and is proud to be part of the "hippie" movement. Her brother volunteered to fight in Viet Nam.
Genevieve Graham takes the reader on an emotional journey where I laughed with both girls, cried with both girls but most of all admired their tenacity and their friendship.
The author's note at the end of the book are just as fascinating and the photos are remarkable.
I truly hated this book to end and I cant wait for my hard copy to arrive for my book shelves.
On Isabella Street will no doubt be a Book Club pick across the country.
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon &Schuster Canada/Simon & Schuster for the privilege of reading and reviewing On Isabella Street.
April 22, 2025
On Isabella Street by Genevieve Graham is an engaging historical novel of unexpected friendship set during the late sixties.
Marion Hart is a psychiatrist at a time when Toronto is about to deinstitutionalize mental facilities. She fears for the outcome of her patients but most especially Vietnam veteran Daniel Neumann. Marion works as much as she can with Daniel and the rest of her patients. However she fears many of them will soon face homelessness as not all families will be there to help them after the institution shuts down.
Susan “Sassy” Rankin is a spirited young woman who is a hippy and a gifted singer. She participates in sit-ins and protests. However, after a misstep during a peaceful march, Sassy ends up working in her father’s real estate firm. She and her boss Tom are complete opposites yet they share a warm working relationship.
Marion and Sassy are neighbors and they end up with an unlikely friendship. Marion expands her horizons while enjoying Sassy’s enthusiasm for life. They are there for each other through ups and downs. When Sassy’s brother Joey goes missing in Vietnam, Marion takes an unexpected opportunity to temporarily put her skills to use in a very unexpected setting.
On Isabella Street is a charming novel that illuminates interesting parts of Canadian history. The characters are three dimensional, likable and experience relatable issues for the time period. The storyline touches on many different issues such as mental health, post-traumatic stress disorder, and women in medicine. Genevieve Graham’s meticulous research brings this wonderful historical novel vividly to life.
Marion Hart is a psychiatrist at a time when Toronto is about to deinstitutionalize mental facilities. She fears for the outcome of her patients but most especially Vietnam veteran Daniel Neumann. Marion works as much as she can with Daniel and the rest of her patients. However she fears many of them will soon face homelessness as not all families will be there to help them after the institution shuts down.
Susan “Sassy” Rankin is a spirited young woman who is a hippy and a gifted singer. She participates in sit-ins and protests. However, after a misstep during a peaceful march, Sassy ends up working in her father’s real estate firm. She and her boss Tom are complete opposites yet they share a warm working relationship.
Marion and Sassy are neighbors and they end up with an unlikely friendship. Marion expands her horizons while enjoying Sassy’s enthusiasm for life. They are there for each other through ups and downs. When Sassy’s brother Joey goes missing in Vietnam, Marion takes an unexpected opportunity to temporarily put her skills to use in a very unexpected setting.
On Isabella Street is a charming novel that illuminates interesting parts of Canadian history. The characters are three dimensional, likable and experience relatable issues for the time period. The storyline touches on many different issues such as mental health, post-traumatic stress disorder, and women in medicine. Genevieve Graham’s meticulous research brings this wonderful historical novel vividly to life.
December 20, 2025
I wanted to love this book… and am giving it a 2.5 rounding up because the topic was great, mixing the trauma of the Vietnam war with the closure of residential hospitals for those struggling with mental health challenges - things that all of us need to know about. We certainly see the challenges of deinstitutionalization decades later….
But…..
Spoiler alert - I cannot get past Dr. Hart having a relationship with a former patient. She was so strait laced AND would not give up a career for a relationship. That ruined her character for me as she would be punished by the college of physicians and could lose her registration for that. This was too big an error.
I loved the research of the times but Sassy’s early language of “far out and groovy” was too much and didn’t feel authentic either.
The author addressed the implausibility of Dr. hart heading off the Vietnam but it was hard to ignore.
I have enjoyed many of GG’s books but this one left me disappointed.
But…..
Spoiler alert - I cannot get past Dr. Hart having a relationship with a former patient. She was so strait laced AND would not give up a career for a relationship. That ruined her character for me as she would be punished by the college of physicians and could lose her registration for that. This was too big an error.
I loved the research of the times but Sassy’s early language of “far out and groovy” was too much and didn’t feel authentic either.
The author addressed the implausibility of Dr. hart heading off the Vietnam but it was hard to ignore.
I have enjoyed many of GG’s books but this one left me disappointed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 28, 2025
Let me start by saying I am a huge fan of this author having read everything she has published I can honestly say she has a way of taking really tragic and painful events and making them easy to read.
This book while set in Toronto starting in 1967, it has the Vietnam war as a central event in the story lines and how it effects the lives of the characters in this book. Our two main characters are Marion a doctor at a psychiatric facility that is closing its doors and releasing the patients and Sassy who believes in free love and in trying to find her way in the world. This book explores the impacts of war on the soldiers, their family and friends and their lives as the move on with their life. It is about how we each have our own thoughts and opinions and how our actions impact the lives of others.
I loved this book it is such a great read, I highly recommend it.
This book while set in Toronto starting in 1967, it has the Vietnam war as a central event in the story lines and how it effects the lives of the characters in this book. Our two main characters are Marion a doctor at a psychiatric facility that is closing its doors and releasing the patients and Sassy who believes in free love and in trying to find her way in the world. This book explores the impacts of war on the soldiers, their family and friends and their lives as the move on with their life. It is about how we each have our own thoughts and opinions and how our actions impact the lives of others.
I loved this book it is such a great read, I highly recommend it.
November 10, 2025
I have never considered how the closing of psychiatric hospitals in Ontario in the seventies impacted Canada’s war veterans coming home from Vietnam. This is a well written historical account of the turbulent sixties and early seventies with the hippies, political demonstrations, draft dodgers and the aftermath of those who went to Vietnam.
April 12, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 - Groovy, outta sight, far out!
Once again, Genevieve Graham knocks it out of the park with her research and attention to detail. Her writing is so vivid that I was immediately transported into 1960s Toronto.
This book starts off by building the characters of two very different women living in the same building who end up forming a lasting friendship. We follow their separate lives while the world of 60s-era Toronto is brought to life. The second half of the book is where the plot really picks up. Each character is thrown deeper into the Vietnam conflict and they find themselves connected in ways they never knew. There are strong themes of mental illness and PTSD in veterans along with the deinstitutionalization of psychiatric hospitals in Ontario at the time.
I really enjoyed the sense of community and well-developed side characters while learning more about the hippie movement, draft dodgers/war resisters, and the music of the era. The ending was sweet and satisfying. Genevieve Graham’s author notes are never to be skipped because they are always full of amazing info and resources!
The Secret Keeper remains my top book by GG but I am so glad to have read and enjoyed this latest release.
Thank you @simonandschuster for my ARC! On Isabella Street is published April 22.
Once again, Genevieve Graham knocks it out of the park with her research and attention to detail. Her writing is so vivid that I was immediately transported into 1960s Toronto.
This book starts off by building the characters of two very different women living in the same building who end up forming a lasting friendship. We follow their separate lives while the world of 60s-era Toronto is brought to life. The second half of the book is where the plot really picks up. Each character is thrown deeper into the Vietnam conflict and they find themselves connected in ways they never knew. There are strong themes of mental illness and PTSD in veterans along with the deinstitutionalization of psychiatric hospitals in Ontario at the time.
I really enjoyed the sense of community and well-developed side characters while learning more about the hippie movement, draft dodgers/war resisters, and the music of the era. The ending was sweet and satisfying. Genevieve Graham’s author notes are never to be skipped because they are always full of amazing info and resources!
The Secret Keeper remains my top book by GG but I am so glad to have read and enjoyed this latest release.
Thank you @simonandschuster for my ARC! On Isabella Street is published April 22.
April 27, 2025
Just finished On Isabella Street by Genevieve Graham and I LOVED it.
Two women meet by chance in an elevator and end up forming the most unexpected and beautiful friendship. The story blends history, love, and real emotion in such a powerful way. It’s heartwarming, sometimes heartbreaking, and totally unforgettable. If you’re into stories about strong friendships and finding connection in unexpected places, definitely give this one a read!
Two women meet by chance in an elevator and end up forming the most unexpected and beautiful friendship. The story blends history, love, and real emotion in such a powerful way. It’s heartwarming, sometimes heartbreaking, and totally unforgettable. If you’re into stories about strong friendships and finding connection in unexpected places, definitely give this one a read!
April 29, 2025
4.5, loved this!
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