A somewhat unique twist on the Titanic trope: two friends embark on the fateful journey with very different purposes. One is rather unhappily married and secretly pregnant, the other is escaping a quasi-arranged marriage to a wealthy aristocrat at home. Usual concepts of suffrage and women's rights are woven into Louisa's character while Hannah is the meek dutiful wife.

I enjoyed the book and paths that Hannah and Louisa were on rang most realistic. I particularly cheered for Reid, Lou's love interest who was somewhat duped into joining the voyage and ultimately came out as the strongest and most likeable character for me.

One spec about the ship itself struck me as quite unbelievable and I stopped reading to google - the books says the Titanic weighed 46 tons. I am unsure if this is a typo or simply erroneous but in any event, it is incorrect. Location 901, 18% "The ship began to move, all forty-six off tons of it...."

I've read other stories focused around the Titanic disaster, but this one takes a look at it from two fictional women interacting with people we've read about in other books. Hannah and Louisa are long time best friends taking the journey on the Titanic, but both are weighed down by secrets they are keeping from each other. As the women enjoy the opulence of the ship's food and cabins, they begin to figure out how to repair their relationship from the deceptions. I thought the best part of the story was how the women had to learn to cope and adjust after the disaster. Hannah and Lou stayed in NYC for a few weeks then made their way up to Halifax. That is where they need to make some difficult decisions as they decide on next steps for their lives. I also enjoyed the Epilogue as it shared letters the women wrote to each other for the next few decades. Even though you know the ship sinks, this book engages you with captivating characters, some romance, and Hannah and Louisa learning they are stronger than they ever thought they could be. I definitely recommend this to fans of historical fiction, redemption stories, and transatlantic journeys.
#ShipofDreams #historicalfiction #NetGalley
Thank you HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and Net Galley for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

Ship of Dreams…or Nightmares?
Ship of Dreams is a character driven story set against the epic backdrop of the Titanic disaster. The story follows two privileged women who board the Titanic in search of answers. One wants to save a failing marriage, the other to have an adventurous flirtation.
Hannah is loving and loyal wife, distressed by a distant husband, and fearing how he will react to news of her pregnancy. Louisa is rebelling against a controlling father, determined to have one last fling before choosing between a comfortable marriage or being free but disinherited.
The first half of the book focuses on the characters, on their desires and what they are prepared to do to find solutions. In the hands of another author, these dual story lines, up to the point of resolution, would be a complete novel; but not in this case. Just as the two female protagonists find a way to be happy and at peace, disaster strikes in the form of an iceberg.
The second half of the book deals with the aftermath of the sinking, rescue on the Carpathia, recovering in New York, and an onward journey to Halifax to identify bodies.
This absorbing read has a fresh take on the repercussions of the Titanic’s sinking. I found it absorbing and surprising in places. The author does a great job of building empathy for two very different characters, who sometimes behave badly, but such is the insight into their motivation that it is all entirely plausible. I would definitely recommend to anyone who loves well-written characters and is comfortable with shedding a tear or two.

Ship of Dreams by Donna Alward is a heartfelt, sweeping historical fiction that will whisk you away on a journey of love, loss, resilience, and second chances.

Set against a richly drawn historical backdrop of the 1915 Titanic events, this beautifully written novel follows Hannah and Lou, lifelong best friends, each at a different crossroads.
You can’t help but root for both as they navigate hope and heartbreak aboard a legendary voyage.

Alward delivers emotion, depth, and a tender story that lingers like a cherished memory.

If you love stories of destiny and the enduring power of the human spirit, this one’s for you.

Thank you @netgalley and One More Chapter, Harper Collins and Donna Jones Alward for reaching out to me to ask if I'd like to read this in advance of publication! Thank you!

Publication Date: August 26, 2025

A wonderful Titanic story. Well researched, great characters. I enjoyed every word. Titanic stories are so mesmerizing.

I'm giving this novel 5 stars just for the subject alone
I've always found Titanic and her passengers interesting. Im.so glad that her story will never die.
I enjoyed in getting to know her passengers very much. However; I'd love to know how the survivors did after the sinking. It couldn't have been easy to live with
Everytime I read a story about Titanic I feel like I'm on board again but I always make sure I get off at Queenstown.
This author did very well in her research and on the passengers' emotions. I love that they're brought back to life again.
Titanic really was a ship of dreams and it broke my heart that some of those dreams came crashing down on the night of April 14th. I've always felt that that was the real day of infimay or an absolution that never came.
I finished this story in the early morning hours and it was just so good! I loved every minute of it.
I blame the tragedy on arrogance. A tragedy that never should have happened.
I feel that God has taught or maybe shown these arrogant 1st class people a lesson that no one being or thing is more powerful than Him. Put no other god before Me. It's a shame they had to take others down with them. I always felt that it wasn't fair. That's why my heart was sad.
I.will be adding this wonderful book to my shelf of favorites
5 stars for a job well done! I highly recommend.
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

Two long-time friends set sail on the Titanic. One is trying to rescue her failing marriage. The other is running away from an impending marriage. Both have secrets that will tests their friendship.

I loved this book's richly detailed historical setting. It was easy to visualize the opulence of the Titanic, the beautiful clothing, and the extravagant meals. I also felt connected to both Hannah and Louise. The horrors of the Titanic's sinking were very real.

Thank you to Harper Collins and Net Galley for the chance to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.
Donna Jones Alward is fast becoming one of my favorite authors. I have read both of her books and enjoyed them. This story deals with the tragedy of the Titanic, but even more it deals with a deep friendship. Hannah Martin and Louisa Phillips have been friends for a long time. They are both hiding some secrets and have been through some hard times in their lives. Now they are both passengers aboard the ill-fated Titanic. As you can imagine, this tragedy changed their lives. I liked the way their friendship endured through both good and bad times. This book also gave a face to some of the victims of the sinking. Excellent story!

Aboard the Titanic, where opulence knows no bounds and the horizon seems limitless, two women fight for the futures they dream of, fraught with secrets that could change everything.

I love a historical fiction, particularly one offering a different perspective of a real life event, and I was pretty excited to get into this one. It did not disappoint, I loved the detail of the clothing, the ship and the meals eaten on board. It offered two great storylines between from Hannah and Louisa's perspectives - both very different woman with different goals in life but a lovely friendship. It was a nice touch having some of the more well known passengers of the Titanic feature.

Being set on the Titanic, there was of course some very sad moments, but the power of friendship shone through. The actual sinking of the ship was done quite quickly, so if you are wanting something focused on the tragedy in great detail, this won't be it. Instead it focusses on the lead up, love stories and people going about their day to day lives on board, and what happened following.

I thought it was well written, with some great character development and a satisfying ending. I think the letters that formed the epilogue could have been done a bit tidier, perhaps less of them - I could see what the author was doing, and I appreciated it as part of rounding the story out but do think it could have been done better.

Overall, a great read and looking forward to reading more by Donna Jones Alward.

This is such a great story that the author gives us. As we embark on on the notorious ship Titanic, we know from the start what the outcome will be, sadly.
This is a story of love and loss, but there is hope, along with all the sadness. The author had me caring about these people, some are famous, and others we know now.
This is a story of deep friendship, and sharing of deep loss. We know the facts, and some cowardness, and of course greed.
This is also a story of moving on, forgiveness, and being there for one another.
I did love the epilogue!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, and was not required to give a positive review.

Another book by Donna that I loved! Something about her writing style always has me hooked. I wish the titanic sinking scenes were a little more drawn out, and less back and forth between Hannah and Lou at the end, but otherwise I loved it!

The Ship of Dreams is a very moving novel that grips the heart because it demonstrates through characters we come to love, the emotional trauma of what it must have been like for those who went through the horrible loss when the Titanic went down. This massive incident altered many lives forever. Donna Alward takes us up close through the lives of those who were there and who could have been there. She has done her research well. As she notes in the back, there was a lot of information to wade through and choosing what you need is a challenge. But she has utilised it well. The images she created from the event are forever branded in my mind. My heart certainly got a dramatic squeeze, too, to the point it physically hurt! Such is a sign of a good writer who can move you to tears as that means the story is connecting at the deepest levels.

We all know, the Titanic once called the ship of dreams, becomes the ship of nightmares. This novel’s title is apt for many reasons other than the obvious. For two couples, in first class, taking this trip, is a chance to rectify imbalances and make good things happen in their lives. For Hannah, she wants to restore her relationship with her husband, Charles, who has not been himself since the loss of their child. Charles is acting very withdrawn and seems to be avoiding any intimate contact with her. She wonders why and her head is filled with the worst thoughts. She tries to be patient but her patience thins. Is he dealing with grief or something more? Through the first few days on the ship, lots of things happen that are a catalyst for change and we watch as this couple transform. The Titanic is where their love reblooms, just in time to be torn apart.

As for Louisa, best friend of Hannah, she is on this trip to escape her parents’ drive to push her into a loveless marriage she does not want. She is a woman who wants to make her own choices but her parents have threatened to cut her off if she does not adhere to their wishes. Yes, emotional and financial blackmail. She rebels and creates a plan to help fund her own needs. Not one you’d expect but it is of her own making. What she does not count on is suddenly falling in love with a man (Reid) she has known for a while. He transforms her heart. His presence on this trip is based on his desire to have a chance with her. For once, she learns about love and what it is to be loved for herself. Sadly, the Titanic is about to take everything she has gained away and leave her with an eternal broken heart.

Although the Titanic disaster is the backdrop of this novel, this is a story about relationships. Yes, how those relationships change: how they were before, during and after the event. This transformation is definitely a major part of the plot. The relationships covered are those between close friends (friendship), between husband and wife (marital), between adult child and parents (intergenerational) and a dating couple (romance).

This is not only a novel about love but also grief. How over time, the edges of your heat can soften. Although you never recover from a deep loss, the pain can ease enough to move forward. Other activities and people can help fill the void—not replace but offer comfort and new direction. For these two ladies, they never replace their lost loves but a child and a job with a worthy cause help them through the dark valley of death. In this way, I believe the solutions and outcomes for Hannah and Louisa are appropriate. They each have something positive to focus on. For what else can they do? Withdrawing into a shell will solve nothing and is not the best use of the time they have left. Their loved ones would have wanted them to move forward, not stay stuck in the mire of grief. What they both do is honourable. We cannot but feel happy for Hannah and Louisa and the strength of character they exhibit in the face of such trauma. I think the most chilling scene of the novel for me is in Nova Scotia when they are waiting to see whose bodies were retrieved. I will say no more so as not to risk revealing any plot direction but those passages made my heart ache.

I found the letters between Hannah and Louisa very interesting as they provide valuable information in the future. Thinking of the Titanic’s time frame and what follows a few years later (WW1) we are able to see a bit about the effects of that time on these women’s lives. It also made me wonder, will there be a sequel? It would seem like a great idea! Until next time, grab a copy of The Ship of Dreams. This is a very different Titanic novel (and I have read quite a few) but one worthy of the attention of historical fiction lovers. A must read but keep the tissues close! 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to One More Chapter and Netgalley for a review copy.

**Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for a fair and honest review**

I'd really enjoyed "When the World Fell Silent" by the same author so I was excited to be invited to read this new title. I was even more interested when I saw that it was based around the Titanic.

Donna has a great way of inserting fictional charactes into historical events (she reminds me of Lucy Worsley in this sense) and it makes the story very believable. As readers, knowing that the disaster is coming adds an air of tension too.

Hannah and Louise (Lou) are childhood friends but complete opposites. Hannah is married, although the happiness has disappeared from her marriage, and Lou is determined to remain single for as long as possible. Both have big secrets that they can't quite bring themselves to share with each other.

Hannah is desperate to save her marriage, maybe the trip on the Titanic is just what she needs to reconnect with her husband, Charles.

Lou is running away from her home situation and a potential forced marriage. She isn't interested in relationships but a flirtation with the handsome Reid may be just what she needs.

And we all know that there's an iceberg lurking in the ocean...

Hannah and Louisa are best friends, both dealing with their own troubles. Hannah who is determined to fix her marriage with her husband Charles, while Louisa is looking to escape her parents' expectations to marry and settle down or she will be disowned. Hoping that taking a trip will help them come to some resolution, they find themselves on the ill-fated maiden voyage of the Titanic.

Aboard the Titanic, Hannah works to reconnect with her husband, while Louisa connects with fellow passenger Reid. While on the ship you see both Hannah and Louisa enjoy the luxuries of the ship while meeting some of the more known passengers aboard. Hannah and Louisa look out for one another and help each other through difficult times, and even in moments where they disappoint each other they both want the best for each other.

After the tragic events of the sinking Hannah and Louisa must find ways to forge forward and decide what is best for their lives and how to move on after a traumatic event. Both were strong characters in their own way and have dreams for their lives and after tragedy find ways to bring some purpose to their lives.

I enjoyed reading about Hannah and Louisas time on the Titanic and the descriptions of the ship and the well-known details of the sinking itself. I've always been interested about the sinking of the Titanic and this was a fast and enjoyable read that puts you in the tragedy and the aftermath that follows.

"Ship of Dreams" by Donna Jones Alward is about two friends Hannah and Louisa "Lou". They are on the maiden ship voyage of the Titanic. The book goes back and forth between the narratives of Hannah and Lou. Hannah is in a troubled marriage and she is hoping this trip will bring her husband closer. She is also pregnant and has not told her husband yet. Lou is on this ship to get away from her family who is trying to force her into a marriage she does not want. On board is man she likes and maybe hoping to marry. Each gal has her secrets and have no idea that the ship will hit an iceberg. It starts out a few days before the tragedy . Hannah and Lou meet some of the passengers on the Titanic. Ship of dreams describes the Crash and devastating loss of people.
It also writes of what became of Hannah and Lou. The first weeks and then in the Epilogue years. I found this to be a good read. A quick read too since it had my attention from page one. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. I would give this book a 4.5.

This breathtaking and emotional Titanic story will truly leave you wanting more from the story and give you a new perspective on life. This is not only a story about surviving the Titanic disaster itself but also finding a way to heal from grief, forgiving those who did you wrong, and finding a way to move on in a unfamiliar place. I was so impressed with the plot and the characters that this just might be my favorite new book. I usually try to avoid reading stories about the Titanic because they are so sad but this one was different and changed my perspective on the subject.
In April of 1912 Hannah Martin is traveling on the Titanic with her husband Charles who has business in the States. Hannah hopes that maybe this trip will perhaps be an opportunity to heal their marriage after a tragedy that happened a couple of years before. Hannah's dear friend Louise is along as well but Charles seems bothered with her being there but Hannah is grateful to have her along. Along the journey Hannah goes to great lengths to mend her relationship with Charles.
Louise however goes on this voyage in hopes of escaping her unsupportive parents who have always looked down on her for supporting the suffragette movement. When she meets a man named Reid she will be sure to make this affair she will never forget. However, strange jewel thefts occur on the ship. When Hannah finds out the person responsible it puts a huge strain on their friendship.
However things take a turn for the worse when the Titanic hits an iceberg. Thankfully Hannah and Louise manage to make it the safety but some others are not so lucky. Knowing that they will get no where with being mad at each other they forgive each other because they know it is the only way they can move on from this tragedy.
Overall this novel was marvelous. I loved that they included the Astors and the Browns as characters. Hannah and Louise's friendship was truly a strong and beautiful one. Although I did not approve of some of Louise's actions regarding the Jewels the fact that she found an opportunity to redeem herself made me forgive her.
I received an arc copy from Netgalley and all opinions are of my own.

Ship of Dreams is a captivating historical romance set against the unforgettable backdrop of the Titanic. Donna Jones Alward masterfully weaves the stories of Hannah and Louisa, two women seeking new beginnings amid opulence and peril. The characters are thoroughly developed, each carrying secrets and desires that feel authentic and relatable. Hannah’s journey to mend her marriage and conceal her secret adds layers of tension and emotional depth, while Louisa’s courage to pursue her passion offers an inspiring contrast. The narrative skillfully balances moments of hope with the looming dread of the ship’s tragic sinking, creating a compelling read that keeps you hooked until the very end. The richly detailed setting and well-researched historical context enhance the story, immersing readers in 1912's grandeur and chaos. Though some plot twists are predictable, the heartfelt performances and intricate character dynamics make *Ship of Dreams* a satisfying and thought-provoking novel about love, sacrifice, and resilience. Overall, a beautifully written story that explores what it means to fight for your dreams in the face of unimaginable disaster. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction and romantic drama.

I had high hopes for this book but it was all quite predictable and nothing new. It does make me wonder if in our current world if anybody would now abide by women and children first and what would happen today if such a tragedy were to occur.