Stories involving the Titanic can be hit or miss. I mean, we all know what happened for the most part.

Fancy ship.
Hits iceberg.
Sinks.
Tragically a lot of people die.

It’s sad, heartbreaking actually that so many people died on an “unsinkable” ship. Do we need more stories about the Titanic?

Yes. We. Do.

Much like in When the World Fell Silent, Donna Jones Alward takes ordinary people & gives them extraordinary lives. Her stories are engaging, her characters are strong, courageous, endearing, and her settings tangible.

I could see the opulence on the Titanic. I could hear the music, taste the food. I could smell the sea water & feel the wind on my face.

I became invested in the lives of the main characters. I went through a gamete of emotions, from elation to devastation. I yearned for a happy ending where everyone survives but knowing it couldn’t be so, Donna Jones Alward gives the reader an ending with hope & healing.

Yes, this review tells you nothing of the actual story of friendship, secrets & life changing events but I’m a feeler. When a book makes me feel that’s all I can talk about.

Hope you’ll grab this book & enjoy it like I did.

Thanks NetGalley, HarperCollin’s UK, and One More Chapter for the advance copy of this remarkable book.

“I was simply transfixed by the sheer size of the ship, all white and black and gold, regal and yet ostentatious, settled firmly at the dock with an attitude of blatant superiority.” (page 3)

Ship of Dreams by Donna Jones Alward is a historical fiction novel about two women, Hannah and Louisa, who are close friends, but are each keeping a secret from the other. Both ladies are excited to be among the first passengers to travel First Class on the Titanic to America, each for different reasons. Hannah hopes the trip will heal her marriage; and for Louisa, the trip is part of her plan to escape marriage.

“Here we were, stepping inside the grandest ship in the world, the scent of fresh paint still hanging in the air and white halls pristine and unblemished, without marks in the paint or scuffs on the floors. We were the first passengers to tread these decks, the first who would eat off the elegant Spode china and drink from the cut crystal.” (page 5)

Both women are completely different. Hannah is a little more traditional. She is married and has future plans for a happy home and family. Louisa is a bit of a rebel. She is a suffragette, fighting for women’s rights and equality between classes.

“How many people were trapped, never daring to dream of something better for themselves because of our social structures?” (page 11)

I really enjoyed the fact that, although the main characters in this story are fictional, they interact with real passengers of the Titanic. Several are examples of strong women of the time.

“This is how it should be, Han. These women… they support other women. Not just the Elsies and Mrs. Pankhursts of the world, but women like Renee Harris and Helen Churchill Candee and the Fortune sisters.” (page 114)

I also really enjoyed the Halifax component of the story in the last part of the book. Since I live across the harbour from Halifax, I felt it strengthened my connection to the story. The bodies that were retrieved from the Titanic were brought to Halifax. Today, there are Titanic graveyard self-guided and guided tours in Halifax that, after reading this novel, I now want to experience.

Ship of Dreams is a book where we know the outcome. The Titanic sinks, taking with it most of the men on board. We expect it to be about love, loss, and grief. But it is also a story of friendship, women helping women, and forgiveness. This book will appeal to fans of Titanic stories and lore, historical fiction, and Canadian history. It will appeal to readers who like strong female characters and heroines who challenge traditional norms.

“Women, I thought, are stronger than men think. I never did buy this weaker sex bit. What we might lack in physical prowess we more than made up for in fortitude.” (page 308)

Ship of Dreams is a novel that you can easily sink into (pun intended). I was really impressed with how this talented author creatively finished her book. Donna Jones Alward chose a format that gives the reader the impression that some characters live on in a way that we may meet up with them again.

How wonderful and moving is this book?! Ship of Dreams is more than a story surrounded by the sinking of the Titanic, at its center is a friendship so true that it stands the test of time.

Hannah and Louisa are thick as thieves and have been best friends since their time in boarding school. Hannah is the daughter of a solicitor, whereas Louisa, "Lou," is the daughter of a Baronet. Although the two have been kindred spirits since they days of their youth, they are polar opposites. Hannah is married to a wealthy businessman. Always fortified by a sense of propriety, she is the balance to her best friend's boisterous lifestyle. Although she is married to a husband that she adores, a tragic event has left her marriage broken, and in a last effort to repair her marriage, she books a passage for her husband and best friend aboard the ship of dreams, the Titanic.

Louisa is a maverick who is passionate about women's rights. Always looking to support the right for women to vote and hold independent lives from men is her life's mission. As a member of high society, she is often found amongst the opulent circles in England but when her father gives her an ultimatum of marriage or being cut off financially, she sails away with her best friend to escape her fate but has a plan set in motion to ensure her independence. What Louisa did not expect was the attraction towards a wealthy London banker whom she has been corresponding with and has also booked passage aboard the ship.

It is easy to get lost in the lives of the two women and forget the impending doom that will befall the passengers of the Titanic. Just when I was glued to their plots, the Titanic hit an iceberg, setting off a catastrophic chain of events. Since the sinking of the Titanic is a famous historical event, it is no secret on how things will play out; however, this story is centered on the resilience and sisterly bond of Hannah and Louisa. Their friendship as they navigate their trauma was moving. Until the end, I found myself emotional after reading their letters in the epilogue. If you happen to find a love so strong as Hannah and Louisa's in your lifetime, you are very fortunate.

I loved this story very much even knowing the tragedy that awaited the passengers aboard. Those scenes were haunting, and I found myself morose for several chapters afterwards as the passengers had to carry on in the aftermath of one of the worst ship sinkings in history.

If you enjoy books surrounded by the Titanic, you will enjoy this book.

Trigger warnings: minor language, suggestive spice (more on the slightly graphic than fade to black), alcoholism, miscarriage, and death.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. This review is voluntary. All thoughts are my own.

This was a great historical fiction! It was packed full of heart wrenching moments and it made me feel for the main characters so much!

A wonderful read. I felt I was there with the characters and the tragedies. I look forward to reading other novels by this author.

Ship of Dreams
by Donna Jones Alward

It's April 10th, 1912, at the bustling dock in Southampton, England, where the majestic RMS Titanic prepares for its ill-fated maiden voyage. Among the throngs of passengers, Hannah Martin and Louisa Phillips stand out as best friends, having forged a bond at their prestigious boarding school. This breathtaking and emotional tale set aboard the opulent ship offers a fresh perspective on both friendship and the fragility of life.

Hannah, a young woman of grace and ambition, is travelling on the Titanic with her husband, Charles, who is embarking on a crucial business venture in the United States. As they board the ship, Hannah harbours hopes for a rekindled romance, wishing that Charles would shed his preoccupation with work and demonstrate more attentiveness to her needs. Meanwhile, Louisa—caught in the throes of social expectation—dreams that her overbearing parents will finally abandon their relentless pursuit to marry her off to a man she scarcely knows, allowing her to forge her own path.

The novel excels in its rich setting and nuanced character development, painting a vivid picture of the Titanic's grandeur. The descriptions of the ship showcase not only its impressive architecture but also the lavish décor, exquisite dining rooms, and impeccable service that characterised early 20th-century luxury travel.

What intrigued me most were the depictions of life aboard the Titanic: the sumptuous meals enjoyed in the dining saloon, the joyful laughter echoing through the hallways, and the dreams of adventure shared among passengers. The story poignantly shifts focus to the aftermath of the tragedy, yet it thoughtfully emphasises the moments leading up to that fateful night. This was a compelling and swift read, as it delves into the hope and anticipation of the characters while subtly hinting at the dark events that lie ahead.

A story from a local author which every historical fiction lover will devour. I will recommend it to customer without hesitation.

Set mainly onboard the Titanic, this well-written, wonderfully descriptive and very insightful novel was unputdownable and pulled at the heartstrings many times. It features strong, independent characters each facing their own demons, and shows the importance of friendship and trust. It's going to stay with me for a long time. In fact, it's inspired me to dig out my DVD of the Titanic movie! I highly recommend you add this to your list.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an advance copy for review. All opinions are my own.

The secrets the women brought onto the Titanic-and the life issues they hoped to resolve during the trip-were of the sort that only a best friend could help navigate. So very different from one another, their lives fit together like pieces of a puzzle. I found these women to be BFFs of the most supportive kind!

Hannah said to Lou: "There's no rush, darling. Give yourself space to feel all your feelings and think all your thoughts."

The novel is well written in both setting and character development. It was easy to envision the luxurious decor and furnishings of the ship. I found myself deeply invested in Hannah as she worked through her issues with Charles, and I was beyond happy for Lou as her circumstances evolved during the voyage. Knowing all the while that this ship was destined to sink and that grief would soon follow, I embraced the moments of hope and happiness as they came. I was, indeed, a wreck when the reality of loss became real to them.

Already familiar with Margaret Brown of Colorado, I enjoyed Hannah's visit with her. I wasn't as familiar with the other authors, dress designers, socialites, and suffragettes mentioned, so Lou and Hannah's interactions with them felt a bit bland to me. However, I found the historical details about Halifax, Nova Scotia quite memorable and enriching.

I can highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy emotionally resonant historical fiction, especially stories of female friendship, resilience, and grace set against iconic moments in history.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this complimentary book. Opinions in this review are my own.

This is a beautiful historical fiction book set aboard the ill fated Titanic. It is a story about hope, loss, love, friendship and survival against the odds.

Hannah and her husband Charles are travelling on the ship from Southampton, she asks her friend Louisa to accompany them as Charles has business to attend to in American, and the girls can spend some time together in New York., shoping and sightseeing. Hannah hopes to spend the days reigniting her marriage to her husband as the pair have been drifting apart, since the loss of a child, a couple of year prebiously. And Louisa rebelling against her Father and an arrange marriage just wants one last bit of freedom. Whilst Hannah and Louise are very likeable characters, I didn't particularly like Charles.

Whilst the book is set on the Titanic and the disaster is part of the book, the story actually centres around the characters relationships and interactions. Before titanic and after. I did enjoy this book however I found the pacing to be a tad slow and quite repetative.

Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I love books about the Titanic, and this one is added to my favorites list. Alward writes in an emotionally searing way about a well-known tragedy that rips your heart out. We all know how the book is going to end but you can’t help falling in love with her well-drawn characters. I learned so much about the aftermath of the tragedy, especially the survivors’ time in Halifax, Canada. I hadn’t heard this history before, and I love how it touched on the tragedy in Alward’s 2024 book, When the World Fell Silent, which was one of my top books of the year. If you love emotional stories about strong female friendships, this is the book for you!

Just finished reading Ship of Dreams, I really enjoyed reading this novel which takes place aboard the ill-fated maiden voyage of the Titanic and the aftermath of the tragic sinking of the ship. The story surrounds Hannah & Lou, unlikely best friends, and their enduring friendship faced with secrets, tragedy and loss, but also so much hope and spirit.

I was fascinated reading about Halifax and how the city supported the survivors & families in the days and months after the sinking of the Titanic. And I loved reading the author’s descriptions of daily life aboard the ship. The absolute luxury at sea!

Highly recommend this one, especially if you’re a historical fiction fan (like me!) and a lover of Canadian history. Would also recommend When the World Fell Silent, another great book by Donna Jones Alward, about the Halifax explosion.

I love the Titanic and was so excited to grab a title that was not only about the event, but the aftermath and recovery of two friends as well. It was well-researced and beautiful story. It was slow to get into, but I overall loved the friendship between Louisa and Hannah and how their relationship stretched over time. This is the first book I've read by Alward but it won't be my last!

Louisa is fun loving, but on the outs with her family. Hannah is stuck in a marriage with a boring man who does not love her. Two best friends, two very different life circumstances. Together they board the Titanic and their friendship is tested in ways neither imagined.

While I enjoyed the story, I didn’t find it quite as compelling as When the World Fell Silent. Still, there are many interesting topics that are explored, such as women’s suffrage and the aristocracy, not to mention the Titanic. There were also some tidbits about Halifax I was unaware of. All in all, this is worth a read if you enjoy historical fiction.

Thanks to HarperCollins IK/One More Chapter for the ARC. 3.5 stars.

1912 - Southampton

Hannah and Charles Martin, along with Hannah’s best friend Louise (Lou) Phillips, are preparing to board the beautiful new Titanic on its maiden voyage to New York. Charles has some business meetings out west so Hannah and Lou plan to spend a week in New York City shopping and seeing the sights.

Charles does not approve of Lou as she is outspoken and supports women’s rights. His disapproval does not deter Hannah from her friendship with the woman. Lou’s father is tired of her antics and plans to marry her off to the boring second son of a viscount. Her response: Never!

The rooms and decor of the Titanic are absolutely beautiful as is the delicious food. They meet some very rich and influential people.

Hannah is hoping this trip will bring her and Charles closer together as they are still mourning a tragic loss a couple of years ago. Lou has a secret plan to change her life on this trip. However, an old friend, Reid, is on the voyage as he wants to be near her. Spending time together sparks a true attraction between them.

When the unsinkable ship hits an iceberg and chaos ensues, women and children board the lifeboats while the men are left behind. So many lives are lost and hearts are broken. Hannah and Lou are safe but can they go on without the men they love?

This book is just heartbreakingly beautiful. The strength of the women that lost the men they loved was incredible. I loved Hannah and Lou. Such strong characters. The perfect book deserving of many more than 5 stars. Do read this one.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

A tale about love, tragedy and, above all, two friends trying to endure what life throws their way

Hannah is hoping the week at the Titanic will serve as a bridge between her and her husband, after a terrible event made them drift apart two years ago. Her best friend, Louisa, is carrying secrets that could cost her their friendship, and even her own life. But the Titanic has plans to shake their lives on its own.

Ship of Dreams was nothing like I was expecting-and that’s a compliment. To be honest, I didn’t remember it was set on the Titanic when I picked it up, and when I realized it I was devastated because I didn’t want to suffer-the movie was more than enough. I’m so glad I ended up giving it a try.

This book is nothing like the Titanic. It’s still extremely heartbreaking. I’m still shaken by what I’ve just read. But I loved how addicting it was, how moving and heartbreaking but also how endearing and warm it was. At first, I wasn’t at all invested in the story, especially because I found Hannah rather bland and disliked her husband, so I wasn’t very invested in them coming to terms. I have to admit I started the book wanting him to die, because I couldn’t stand him. But Hannah, with her softness and tendency to please, ended up growing on me. I ended up being as invested in her as I was in Louise.


Louise was great from the start. A baronet’s daughter trying to run away from a marriage she didn’t want, while having an affair with a handsome man who may or may not be the thief everyone in the ship is talking about. It was a very compelling plot-line, and I only wished their romance was more slow burn and we could have witnessed them falling in love. As it was, they had already met and I felt I missed the beginning of their story, which is the only thing I would have changed about the book (and being more invested in Hannah’s POV from the beginning).


Overall, this story started a bit slow but quickly grabbed me and didn’t let me breathe until I finished it. It was heartbreaking and heartwarming, and I love stories where friendship is as important as romantic love. Also, the ending was bold, but it was so fitting and satisfactory.✨ I loved it. ✨

I kindly received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Excitement builds for the inaugural trip on the Titanic. Hannah and her husband, Charles, are traveling for business. Hannah is hoping this time away will close the gap that has occurred in her marriage. Louisa, Hannah’s best friend, has a different agenda. Looking for a little fun, trying to escape her rich father’s rule and how she can best support her cause. Both women are hiding secrets and are hoping this trip will bring clarity, answers.

I’ve always been fascinated with the Titanic. This was a very fast read, focusing little on the actual horrific events but more on the events before and after. The first half was drawn out, replaying the girls issues over and over again. Much time was given to the opulent First Class section (food, clothes, personalities). The sinking was well written and emotional. The last part of the book deals with the aftermath (facts I knew little of) and decisions each girl needs to make. The epilogue gives us a look into the later years and was a perfect way to end this book. Overall, it was an enjoyable read for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and One More Chapter HC for this ARC. This is my honest opinion.

Sadly, this one just didn’t work for me. While I really liked the premise, the execution fell flat. The writing felt dry, and the story as a whole needed more development. The characters came across as one-dimensional, and I struggled to stay engaged—I almost DNF’d until the iceberg finally came into play.

Much of the first half was weighed down by boring repetitive details about daily life on the ship—walks, meals, and mingling with fellow first-class passengers—which felt more tedious than immersive. I also didn’t connect with the main characters, Hannah and Louisa. Their friendship was told to us rather than shown, and I never truly believed they were best friends.

That said, I will give credit where it’s due: once the iceberg struck, the writing finally hit me emotionally. The moments leading up to the Carpathia rescue were devastatingly sad, and I did find myself crying some. Unfortunately, the sections that followed on the Carpathia and after, left me more irritated than moved. The women’s shallow comments about baths and missing shopping on Fifth Avenue felt wildly out of place after witnessing such unimaginable tragedy.

In the end, this book had a strong concept but just didn’t deliver for me. A powerful idea, but poorly executed. I would not recommend.

This was a great story around two friends that set out on the Titanic and what happened to them on board and after the disaster.I would recommend this as I couldn’t put it down.Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK.

A new look at a familiar disaster.
Hannah and Louisa are two young women, each with a purpose in life. Hannah wants to reconnect with her husband, things have been difficult over these past two years.
Louisa wants to escape an arranged marriage, but risks being left penniless if she refuses the match her father has made for her.
Both women have been friends since schooldays. Hannah is shy and socially constrained, Louisa is outgoing, forward and fights against the established conventions imposed upon the female sex.
During their voyage upon the Titanic, their friendship, loyalty and feelings of devotion between all parties is tested, especially during the devastation that the sinking of this ship of dreams creates.
There is a lovely blend of factual and fictional people in this story, the emphasis is upon strong and determined women, who are ready to raise questions about their place in society. We encounter views about female health issues, political ambitions and the ongoing campaign for Votes for Women.
We know the story of the Titanic, the unsinkable liner, but this book looks at the aftermath of this terrible event and some details revealed are not commonly known.
The passengers on the Carpathia were generous in giving up their cabins and clothing for the rescued passengers. We learned how bodies were identified and cared for, these tragic events led to modern forensic procedures today.
The emotional trauma and coping strategies used as survivors learnt to cope with their futures once the morbid curiosity and press interest had faded.
This story doesn’t have the normal and expected “ Happy ever after” but it is honest and truthful.
A thought provoking read. I rated this a five star read.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers, HarperCollinsUK, for my advanced copy, freely given in exchange for my honest review. I have already recommended this to my book groups.