Water's Edge

by Genevieve Fortin

In 1888, the impoverished Levesque family becomes one of thousands of French Canadians forced to leave their beloved country and seek employment in the booming textile mills of Fall River, Massachusetts. Young Emilie Levesque's initial culture shock is eased by her intelligence and adventurous nature—and by her budding friendship with Angeline Fournier, the U.S.-born daughter of a fellow immigrant family. As they grow into young women, their close relationship is a welcome respite from the stifling heat, dust-filled air, deafening noise, and mind-numbing work at the mill.

Emilie knows she is different but has no words for what she is or what she feels. All she knows is that she wants Angeline with her always. Despite her own hidden attraction to Emilie, Angeline cannot conceive of life beyond what all 19th century girls are taught to aspire to: a husband, a home and a houseful of children.

A life-altering kiss and painful parting will lead the women on very different paths—until an unthinkable tragedy brings Emilie back to Angeline's side. But can these loving friends ever cross the forbidden boundary between the warmth of affection and the heat of desire?

A deeply moving historical romance by the bestselling author of First Fall and Two Kinds of Elizabeth.

Genres: Romance, Lesbian, Historical, Queer, Historical Fiction, Friends To Lovers

240 pages, Paperback

First published June 20, 2017

About the author

Genevieve was born in Rimouski, a small town in the French Canadian province of Quebec, Canada. After getting her Bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies at Concordia University in Montreal, she moved to the United States for her graduate studies in French literature. She stayed to work and spent a total of thirteen years in the United States, from Cape Girardeau, Missouri to Albany, New York. During that time she started and abandoned several novels until she started reading lesbian fiction. She found more than inspiration in the work of women like Geri Hill and Karin Kallmaker; she found direction.
Genevieve eventually went back home to Canada where she now enjoys writing, spending time with friends and family, and hiking with her dog Spike.

Reviews

[Pin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first book by Genevieve Fortin, but after reading this one I will definitely check out other offerings from her. Water's Edge is a historical romance set in Rimouski (Quebec), Fall River and Boston (Massachusetts), from 1888 till 1906. The historical setting is very important for the narrative, capturing the position of women from said period, especially in French Catholic Canadians families. The story is full of historical and geographical details, which suggests a great deal of research. The mentioned time period in combination with the Catholic Church teachings for women meant marriage as early as possible so that they can start manufacturing babies one after another.
The story is divided into four chronological parts (Flow, Maelstrom, Meanders, and Undertow), and follows the life and love of two women from childhood to maturity, one of which is resigned to such fate, even accepting it as the only possible way of living, but the other, always a rebellious one, is not. One is in denial, the other accepts herself as she is. She wants to live a life of her own while breaking some rules of her time.
Would they, with such different personalities, succeed in loving each other and living together in such unsuitable environment? To find that out you have to read this well written book. I liked it a lot, and very much recommend it to anyone who enjoys this kind of stories.

4 stars

June 17, 2017

*A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher.*

[Lex Kent · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2 Stars. This is the first book I have read by Fortin. She writes very well, and I will be giving her other books a try. This book is historical-fiction. I'm not the biggest historic-fiction fan. History is not very good for women, and I find these books tend to be more depressing than not. To be honest, this book did have some parts I was not crazy about reading. Luckily, overall it was a good story and had a nice ending.

The story is about Emilie, her brother, and parents, moving from Canada to Massachusetts. Emilie's father could no longer afford their farm so they moved to the US for work; like many other immigrants at that time. At a young age, Emilie is forced out of school to work in the cotton mills, with her family. The only thing that really keeps her together is her best friend Angeline. Emilie loves Angeline with all her heart, but in this day and age, women married young and had children. Emilie does not want that life for herself, but Angeline seems destined to be a mother and wife. Can they some how find a way together, when the world is trying to tear them apart?

As I mentioned before, these books can be depressing at times. I hate having to read about a women who loves another women, be married to a man. I hate seeing women with barely any options. I'm glad this book was about more than that. It is about the friendship and love Emilie and Angeline share. Its about Emilie doing what is right for herself, not what is expected. And while there is some tragedy and bad feels in this book, it has a HEA, that makes it all worth it.

This is not a book I would have picked up on my own. I'm glad I had the chance to review it, and read it. Historical-fiction fans, you will enjoy this book. I will be keeping my eye out for books by Fortin, in the future.

An ARC was given to me by Bella, for a honest review.

[Joc · Rating 4 out of 5]

As with nearly all historical romances, especially lesbian ones, there is a certain amount of sadness and hopelessness to be expected. In 1888 Emilie Levesque's family is forced to leave their farm in Canada and move to America in order to get jobs at a cotton mill in the hopes that they would be able to return to farm eventually. Emilie is homesick and the only thing that makes it better is her new-found friend Angeline Fournier. The story follows their flourishing friendship and the hardships of their families. As women, their choices are limited and both of them know exactly what is expected of them.

Theirs is a beautiful story, filled with as much love as there is pain and sadness. The writing and the story is engaging and I found it very hard to put down until I reached the end.

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a kid and teen, I read many many historical fiction novels about girls and teenage girls in French Canadian families, some of them romance and some of them not. It was an absolute joy to find this book, from a tiny genre I loved as a young thing, and to rediscover it as lesbian romance. It's an incredibly special thing that warms my heart on so many levels. I knew this book was going to be special and oh boy was it ever.

This book is told in four parts, and follows the stories of best friends Emilie and Angeline from young girls to young women. Emile moves to Fall River, Mass from Quebec, Canada with her family, where they will work at the cotton mill. Soon Emilie and Angeline must leave school too and work alongside their parents. Angeline is resigned to marry Emilie's brother and be a mother. But it is Emilie who loves Angeline just as much as her brother does, and a kiss between them reveals the passion between them is just as real. Emilie thirsts for so much more, and travels to Boston, where she finds work in a bookstore and a whole new world. Its a beautiful story of friendship and families, sacrifice and love, and growth. Sometimes you have to move away, learn and grow and soak it all up, before you find yourself and you can truly be that self for somebody else. No matter how many years pass or how many miles between you, true love will always prevail.

The author covers many many years from start to finish, but it doesn't seem rushed, its really nicely paced. As someone who loves historical fiction, I thought the details were perfect, just the right amount, but not over the top (and I have read over the top details).

I loved Emilie's thirst for knowledge. Loved it. It was one of those magical moments when you see yourself in a character and boom there's your kindred spirit. It just makes the book all the more wonderful when you find yourself in it.

There were so many wonderful, sweet, moments and so many that had me tearing right up. Gosh what an emotional journey and one I will never forget.

I'm definitely buying this in paperback and definitely reading everything else by Genevieve Fortin.

If you love historical fiction, this one is one of the absolute best in the lesfic world! If you love a good heart wrenching romance, this one is for you too!

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, Emilie and Angeline! I really felt for these women and their tension between desire and expectations in a time when they didn’t understand what they were feeling or even have examples of other queer people to draw on. I really appreciated that the author told the story from both of their perspectives because it let us see how they each grapple with feelings that they don’t understand, what their separate lives are like, and how they both feel as they come together again and move towards their happily ever after.

Full review: http://www.thelesbianreview.com/water...

[Sarah Meerkat · Rating 2 out of 5]

First off this isnt a historical romance this is barely a coming of age bildungsroman historical fiction. It is also poorly plotted. Poorly written and seriously you can write a historical romance where your lesbian characters are in fact not completely utterly miserable or hopeless or you know marry men. This was incredibly disappointing and not worth my time. I was excited for a mill girl romance set in my state and ultimately it was not even that.

[Cynthia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was leaning towards a 2.5 rounded up but, then I disliked how the more experienced and accepting of her sexuality, who had 5+ years to come to terms with it, barely need the other's consent, she only asks if she's sure, without any thought given to any other potentiality, like her maybe feeling like she has to sleep with her to keep her in her life, kinda like with a man out of necessity for her children and herself without the ownership aspect of marriage to a man, even on a subconscious level maybe. They never talk about any of it beforehand and it feels unhealthy and unrealistic given their background and past.

And then we never see the thought process the less experienced one does to finally be ok with it and with herself. We only get a halfhearted "I thought me keeping us apart before anyone else can do it would be less painful", which is valid, but that's all we get, and we never see it, and it feels like a rationalization a posteriori rather than the real thing she needed to work on. It's also presented as completely normal that she does the work it took 5 to 10 years for the other to do, in about 1 month, while she arguably has more hangups to work through, and more responsibilities that would be impacted by such a decision. None of it is ever explored, which is disappointing because the beginning hinted as better characterization, beginning in which we see a lot more of her friend's journey.

Which brings me to my last point, it felt that this book was way more centered around the more accepting/assertive/butch one, especially at the end, but even generally, we see the more femme one question what is her worth compared to the other one, who is basically pictured as very smart and going places, while she has simple dreams of being a mother, and only has her beauty and humor to offer. In the end, the fact that the butch one basically talks for and over the femme one to fix their problem, as is expected of her by herself and the femme one really drove that point home and rubbed me the wrong way.

So all that makes me lower my rating to 2.

[Michelle Arredondo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Absolutely love historical fiction. Water's Edge read as something that I think I could love.

1888...an impoverished Levesque family are one of a large group of people that are forced to flee their beloved French Canadian land and seek refuge, shelter, and employment in Massachusetts. We meet young Emilie...a wonderful young woman that makes the most of her situation and environment...she is adventurous and brave and easily adaptable from a struggling situation. She is a breath of fresh air to read about. She meets a girl, Angeline...another immigrant girl that came to Massachusetts with her family. They grow up together, they form a unique bond, their friendship becomes something more than just two girls being silly together. There is more between them....but in that time...in that world...very unheard of. They are expected to have husbands..make themselves useful as wives and then mothers. It's scandalous for the time...quite the same to read about it.

It is unique in that I have never come across historical fiction with a solid LGBTQ plot set in this time period. But it existed right?? So the stories are there to create. I like that this story told this wonderful tale and did it so well. It was beautiful and bittersweet. I would absolutely recommend this book.

Thanks as always to the great peeps at goodreads, to Genevieve Fortin and to Bella Books for my free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review to which I gladly and voluntarily gave.

[Ale · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m sorry: I really wanted to like this book but I just couldn’t.
For starters, I didn’t like the writing style, especially how everyone’s weird hyphenated name was repeated a thousand times per page, but I could get over that.
What I really can’t get over is the whole “women can’t be happy without children” narrative. Hell no. No thanks. No.
Also every single character was selfish as hell: doing what was most convenient for their own gain at all times, with some residual guilt. Better write an a apology letter later!

[PJ Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book wonder wonderful messages

This was one of the best books I have read in a long time. Kept my interest and told me much about the history of this time. The characters were wonderful. I wanted to read more.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful story with likable and memorable characters. I really loved the ending too. There was a nice balance of angst and happiness throughout. I will definitely read more by this author.

[Éric Fortin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A masterpiece of Genevieve Fortin ! Just read it ! :)

[Alaina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pros:
- interesting settings (New England textile industry, Boston, rural French Canada, between 1888-1906)
- nerdy MC
- good costume history

Cons:
- babies, ugh gross
- awkward writing

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love historical fiction. I wish there was more out there to read. It was an enjoyable read.

[Jo Watkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good Read

This is the third book I have read by this author but some how it didn’t quite capture me me like the first two I’ve read;First Fall and Dingo’s Recovery. Don’t get me wrong it’s not a bad book by any means I just couldn’t seem to connect with the three main characters,things seemed to evolve really quickly once they grew up and moved on with little time to develop their separate relationships.Perhaps when I read it again I may enjoy it better,please give it a try .