DNFed at 30%. Unfortunately this book wasn't for me. Historical fiction is one of my favourite genres so I thiught I would really enjoy this, as the main character seem to be a strong woman in development. However for me this book is very slow and some of the language doesn't fit in for the time where is setted. I found myseñf skimming through, which is not a good sign. I might be in the minority here. I have never read anything by this author before so I can't compare it to previous works.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster UK for this ARC.

Elinor Coombes is 19 when she marries into English aristocracy in 1910. Unfortunately, her husband only married her for her father's money, and an heir, whose life she would have had no say in. But then comes the maiden voyage of the Titanic, and her life changes forever.

I loved this book. It was well-paced and each part was interesting and felt well-researched. First we get the life on a cold, crumbling aristocratic estate with cold, unsympathetic people, then the fateful voyage on the Titanic, followed by Ellie's attempt on a new life with young son Teddy, impersonating her deceased maid Molly Mortimer and finding a new start with her lovely relatives - Ruth, Per, Anna and the kids Micke and Lena.

Elinor/Molly has a lot of spirit and get up and go which was suppressed in England but serves her well in New York. The life she had in England was one of tradition and being stuck in the past but now she can look forward to better times. However, she does suffer from PTSD - and then the past comes back to haunt her and threaten her new life.

I enjoyed the writing style immensely and loved our heroine. There are a few repetitions where the author is making the same point over and over in the same words but I was engrossed to the end and read it in one go until late into the night. The beautiful cover adds to the atmosphere of the story.

This is historical fiction but the Titanic and its fate is merely the backdrop for this mesmerising immigrant story of second chances and beginning again. Read it if you love strong women making their way in a new world. I will certainly read more from this author!

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel from Frances Quinn. The heroine changed her life completely when she was a survivor from the sinking of the Titanic and I do like a woman who wins over in difficult circumstances! Like other readers I felt this really got going in the second half of the novel with evocative descriptions of 1912s New York and an interesting story about immigrant experiences in a young country. The early part of the novel was essentially a scene setter with some fairly unsympathetic characters though almost certainly in keeping with their class.

There were some good moments of peril and uncertainty for the heroine but she overcame it all to survive. Fittingly it felt a little ‘a woman of substance’ for me ( in the week that Barbara Bradford Taylor died) and I enjoyed it very much as a lighter historical novel. I read it very quickly and stayed up far too late to finish it!

I didn’t feel it had the depth of ‘the smallest man’ which will forever be one of my favourite historical novels of all time but it is highly recommended by me.

Thank you for the early read. Fran’s previous books were 5 star reads for me.

I enjoyed this story - felt sorry as Ellie became trapped in a loveless marriage in an ancient house and was separated from her child.

Would she really be able to make a fresh start?

Fran’s previous books had felt unique - hadn’t read any similar books with a similar theme. Whereas hundreds of books have been set around the sinking of the Titanic.

However this is an enjoyable read as you find yourself wishing for her to succeed in making a life.

4.5

This was such a beautifully written book. We start off with upper class English society and how completely disregard women's feelings during this time. They get used for other people's advantages in the marriage mart. We see Elinor taking control and getting on board the Titanic's maiden voyage, and well, we all know how that ended up. Elinor, having survived, takes her young son and assumes the identity of one of the deceased passengers to escape the clutches of her in-law's in England. Then, we see how Elinor navigates her new life in New York. I loved this part the most, we see how Elinor gains confidence and becomes the best version of herself in order to give her and her son the life they deserve. The family aspect was so lovely and I could of read about Elinor's life in New York forever.

When Elinor, the daughter of the Cotton King, marries Frederick, she dreams of the love she’s read about in novels. When the marriage turns out to be simply a business transaction on her husband’s side, Elinor’s life is turned upside down. Living away from her loving father and with a cold aristocratic family, she’s miserable, and made even more so when her son Teddy is born and she learns of the life in store for him.

When passage on the Titanic ends in disaster, Elinor seizes the opportunity to begin a new life in New York, where no one knows who she is.

Having loved Frances Quinn’s writing before, I was so excited to pick up her latest historical fiction novel, especially with the link to the Titanic! It was such an easy read that I flew through, with characters I absolutely hated (all of the upper class English characters) and characters I loved (Elinor’s father and Molly’s family).

It seemed to be a book of two halves for me. The first half made me angry for various reasons (mostly the restrictions of the time - no fault of the author’s!) but I struggled to feel as much sympathy for the MC as I’d have liked. At 19, one could argue her simply naive but I think some of the annoyance from that was down to the sheer obviousness of the plot points - as a reader you know what’s happening chapters before her and I’d have liked a little more subtlety in the reveals and discovered things in real time, with her.

The second half was much more enjoyable for me. I fell in love with Elinor’s new life and with Molly’s family. I was rooting for her to come out the other side and thrive in her new environment. The ending was lovely and heartwarming.

I’d recommend this to lovers of the author’s previous works, as well as anyone with a fascination with the Titanic, along with historical fiction fans.

Huge thanks to the publisher for allowing me early access to the book. I’ll definitely be picking up a copy upon publication and I’m obsessed with the cover!

Possible spoilers

An enjoyable tale, that takes a story most of us already know, but doesn't make it the main focus.
Our main character goes from meek and mild , to coming into her own and fighting for what's right for her.
It had some good characters, I especially liked Elinors father, but some great acceptance from Mollys family.
Enjoyable

when the titanic sinks to it's watery grave Elinor Coombes sees this as a way of escaping.. she has a troubled marriage and with her son Teddy she embarks on a new life.

I adored this read. It is a tale of love and fresh starts but has equal amouts of drama and tension.

The writing is beautiful and the plot is just divine. I loved how it unfolded.

This is a book that I will recommend and re read. It would be a brilliant book club choice and jusy perfect to cosy up with.. I wished it never ended..

Absolutely beautiful brilliant book! Perfect for fans of the Titanic! Loved every minute Perfect for book club

As someone who adores all things Titanic the is sorry of starting over and embracing a new life is so inspiring to me and I’m sure many other readers. I love the protective mother instinct and was on pins and needles over whether her secret could be kept. Absolutely fantastic! One of my favorite books of the year