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.

Ship of Dreams
By Donna Jones Alward
One More Chapter - Aug 2025
Historical Fiction

Hannah Martin considered the voyage on the Titanic as a new start. She and her husband Charles had once had a loving marriage, now they were almost strangers. She had dreamed of them reconciling and having the same relationship they had before tragedy had struck.

She also invited her best friend Louisa Phillips to join them. The plan was that once they arrived in America, her husband would be busy with business, and she and Lou would have a lovely time together.

Lou knew Hannah believed she had joined them on the trip for a nice vacation, but she had additional plans. Her father was insisting she marry a man whom she had no intention of marrying. She was a modern woman, didn't need to marry, and believed in the right to vote. She had her own dreams, and they didn’t require a man. Regardless of what Reid Grey thought.

Ship of Dreams is an apt name for the Titanic. Anyone who saw its splendor, would have thought they were dreaming. It was fascinating to see these fictional characters interact with historical figures, and experience the different offerings to be had. Knowing it is the Titanic and the ultimate fate did not make it easier to read, particularly once the iceburg had been struck. Once the Carpathia arrived, I realized I did not know much of the survivors’ experiences on that ship or once they arrived in New York. I was interested in the experiences of those who were rescued, as well as those already on the Carpathia. Ship of Dreams is a beautiful work of fiction for anyone interested in the Titanic.

Kathy Andrico - KathysReviewCorner.com

Wow !!

This isn’t my first book by this author and certainly won’t be my last.

What a well written well researched and enthralling take on the well known tale off the misfortunes of The Titanic.

This books follows the story of two very different women who embark on the ship as friends but there for different reasons. They are caught up in the aftermath of the sinking which is dealt with in an emotional way.

Although the story might be well known this is different take and to say more would provide many spoilers.

All in all an emotional read which unusually for me I read in a day.

Hannah and her husband, Charles are on their way to America onboard the Titanic. He is very wealthy and they had been very happy in their marriage. But after the death of their baby in childbirth, which also nearly killed Hannah, Charles had withdrawn from his wife. She was hoping they could rekindle their love on the crossing.

Also onboard is Hannah's best friend, Louisa. Their friendship started when they had both been warehoused at a boarding school. Louisa is a bit on the wild side and she is a champion of women's causes. She had been flirty with a young man and had continued their friendship through letters. He surprised her by showing up on the ship.

As the Titanic crossed the ocean, the women met famous people who were actually onboard the doomed ship. Donna Alward presents the type of clothing they wore for different times of the day and for events. She describes the ship and the food. If you only want to experience the Titanic, this book is an interesting read. However, the story of these two friends, their relationships, and their struggles, is also a fascinating read. I was pleased that the story continued after the sinking and rescue. We learn about the immediate aftermath, and the days and weeks following.

This is an engrossing read about an horrific event that even more than 100 years later, captivates and horrifies us. Well worth reading.

Set aboard the RMS Titanic during its fateful maiden voyage, Ship Of Dreams is a tapestry of secrets, friendship and the emotional landscapes of two women determined to shape their own destines.

Hannah Martin hopes that the grandeur of the ship will mend her marriage to Charles. Beneath her composed exterior she hides a secret. Louisa Phillips heads to a passionless arranged marriage and the Titanic is both an escape from family expectations and a bid for autonomy. As the ship meets disaster, the unfolding catastrophe forces both women to confront truths that challenge their dreams, bonds and sense of self.

This book is both beautiful and tragic. It shows how especially women at critical junctures in their lives have courage, connection, and meaning amid catastrophe.

I would recommend this book to anyone. Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collin’s UK, One More Chapter for an advanced copy of this book.

Anything that revolves around titanic. I have to read. Its a curiosity for me and this book was amazing in everyway and unlike most other books the descriptions of the rooms as well as the bit about halifax. Such a good read.

Thank you Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter and netgalley

All thoughts are my own opinions and isn't influenced by anyone else

Ship of Dreams by Donna Jones Alward is very different from When the World Fell silent except for being another incredible novel. The world building was vivid, and the plot kept me hooked. Yes, I know what would happen to the Titanic but not what happens to four of the characters, Hannah, Charles, Louisa, and Reid, who I had grown to care about so much. Even after the sinking I was totally invested in the unfaltering friendship, tragic loss, the future with its choices, would they be good and bad. I especially enjoyed the Halifax setting after the tragedy and the letters at the end. A Donna Jones Alward book is not to be missed, especially Ship of Dreams, which I highly recommend.

Wonderful book! I love anything about the Titanic, and this one knocked it out of the park! I would recommend this to a friend!

4.5 stars.

This is a heartfelt, emotional read set aboard the Titanic and told through the eyes of two young women. The women, Hannah, her husband, Charles, and Hannah’s friend, Louisa, are traveling on the ship from London to New York. Both women are dealing with personal issues - Hannah with a troubled marriage, and Louisa with her desire to be independent and not marry the man her father has chosen for her. As the ship sails, the bonds of the women’s friendship are tested and new relationships are formed. Then, of course, the unimaginable happens and the Titanic sinks. Some people survive, many do not. Those who do are left to pick up the pieces.

The writing is smooth and descriptive and I felt like I was right there on the ship, hearing the music being played by the orchestra and picturing the opulent rooms of the ship. The author also wove in real-life characters who had been on the Titanic, adding an air of authenticity and time and place to the story.

Hannah and Louisa were very likeable even as they weathered the ups and downs of their relationship. I liked how the story unfolded though alternating scenes from each woman’s perspective (in the first person) and the letters between Hannah and Louisa in the epilogue were a great touch.

The sinking of the Titanic is well known but in this novel, the author uses it as a backdrop to tell a story about friendship, forgiveness, loss, grief, betrayal, but also of hope and inner strength. The author effectively used the characters to bring the history of the Titanic to life for contemporary audiences.

Overall, a very good emotional read. My only small quibble was that the pacing was a bit slow and somewhat repetitive in the beginning. Highly recommend!

Thanks to the publisher for this complimentary digital copy. All opinions are my own.

I was excited to read this book, having greatly enjoyed the author’s previous spellbinding novel. ‘When the World Fell Silent’.
This was an enjoyable read, but not in the same class as that book, and not really what I was expecting, It was mostly about the friendship between two young women of substance, leading a privileged lives in England. They were sailing to New York on the maiden voyage of the Titanic. The reader learned in great detail, at times too much, just how close their friendship was, and how it came to be thus. This despite Hannah being married, and Louisa given to unwise associations.
The detailed descriptions of the Titanic staterooms, ballrooms, dining rooms, etc fully summed up quite how sumptuous this ship was.
What ultimately happened, the horrific sinking, and loss of life, was quite glossed over, before the story moved to the ship involved in rescue, the Carpathia.
The ending was rather unsatisfying to this reader, at least.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy of this novel.

As someone who's been obsessed with the Titanic since I was a kid, I was really looking forward to this book, but sadly, I didn't love it as I hoped. I loved Louisa and Hannah together and enjoyed their friendship and the challenges that came with it. I LOVED Louisa and greatly enjoyed watching her fall in love, but I feel like she deserved better. I found myself hoping that this would be an alternative timeline sort of book where the Titanic doesn't actually sink and Louisa got to ride off into the sunset with the love her life. Overall the story felt longer than it needed to be. I feel like it went on forever and often repeated things multiple times. I did enjoy that we got an epilogue of sorts to see where Hannah and Lou ended up.

I absolutely devoured When the World Fell Silent by this author and was so very excited to receive an advanced reader’s copy of this book.

I loved this current offering from the author and thought it was well done! This author has such a way with historical fiction and can pull you in to her story so that you feel you were living it! We are taken aboard the Titanic, as we follow two women who are taking the voyage across.
While we all know the outcome of the sailing, the story itself follows these women and so the beginning of the story is quite plot driven as we focus on the women seeking happiness within their lives. As the inevitable sinking occurs, we continue with the story of these women as they are rescued and make their way to safety to New York. I enjoyed how the author played with the characters and their timelines and motivations, and brought us into the world of the Titanic through their eyes.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and rated it 4.5 ⭐️.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review and feedback.

this is a historical book about the Titanic. the main characters are Hannah and Louisa. it was hard to put the book down. I read in two days.

Told in a dual point of view alternating between best friends Louisa and Hannah, Ship of Dreams is, above all else, a story about friendship and forgiveness.
Both women are heading to America, excited about the adventure ahead. Hannah hopes to rekindle the spark lost in her marriage, and Louisa is passionate to learn more about the fight for women’s rights across the ocean.
The first half of the book focuses on the characters, their hopes, and their plans for the future, as well as lush descriptions of the extravagant ship. The Titanic makes for a compelling conflict because the days count down, and the reader knows catastrophe is coming. The second half of the book is about what happens after disaster strikes.
The unique epistolary epilogue is not to be missed as it ties the entire story together at the very last moment.

This is a solid library read. I enjoyed it, but I think it’s more the type of book you’d borrow from the library than run out to purchase. Look for it on August 26, 2025.
Thank you to @netgalley and @harpercollinsuk for providing me with an early copy to review.

Reading Donna Jones Alward’s Ship of Dreams was quite a journey—heart-wrenching, emotional, but ultimately hopeful. As my first Titanic novel, I wasn’t sure what to expect and assumed it might follow the familiar path of a happy ending, regardless of its historical setting. Instead, while the characters were fictional, the story remained grounded in the harsh realities faced by the survivors in the aftermath of that tragic event. The emotional depth and historical authenticity made this book a hard, but great read for me.
I really enjoyed getting to know Hannah and Louisa, the main characters and lifelong best friends. Their bond added warmth and depth to the story, it also brought a great dynamic to have two very different minds share in the same unimaginable experience. I never felt that the storyline grew stagnant and found that I felt engaged through it all. I will say, it was difficult at times to read through the angst that Hannah felt as she tried to mend her broken marriage. The tragedy of the Titanic serves as a heartbreaking yet powerful reminder: even the unsinkable can be sunk. It urges us to cherish every moment with those we love, because nothing in life is guaranteed.
This book was a very pleasant and interesting read, I rate it 5 out of 5 stars!

wo women who have been friends for many years, more like sisters Louisa and Hannah. They board the Titanic on it's maiden voyage to New York, along with Hannah's husband Charles Martin. They are looking forward to spending a week in New York together while Charles has business in Arizona. They will have all kinds of adventures both on the ship and in the big Apple. And the people they will meet who will become important to them in the coming days, especially for Louisa it will change her life in ways she did not see. Hannah needs to repair her marriage after a tragedy befalls her and Charles. Can they find their way back to each other. The days and nights on the Titanic will change all of their lives in ways they never saw for the good and the bad. Friendships will be tested and secrets will come out, but what will remain is love and friendship to sustain them in the coming days and future.

There has been many stories and movie's about the Titanic, but never told like in this book about the friendship of these two women and how their friendship will be tested and how they both handle the aftermath of this horrific tragedy. My heart breaks for both of them, while call for Women and Children first, if you don't break your heart reading this book and cry buckets of tears and use up a box of tissues, you are not getting it. The Ship of Dreams becomes a ship of tragedy, loss, heartbreak but most of all endurance and strength for those who survived. Friendship and love will always be at the helm of this Ship of Dreams.
This book is so a 5Star plus read.
.

When I mentioned to a friend (a non-reader) that I was reading a book about the Titanic, they looked at me as if I had two heads. “Why would you read that? You know how it ends.” Yes, I know how the voyage ends, but this book follows the rescue of the survivors as they are brought to shore in New York.

The first part was interesting enough…..the storylines of some of the passengers (some notable ones, some fictional). What interested me was the description of the ship, the opulence, the service, and the food. And the aftermath of the sinking. I had to wait until I had read 60% of the book before I got to the aftermath.

The facts that come out after the sinking are interesting. Naturally, after any disaster, the things that were done wrong or not done at all are a focus. I enjoyed the time in Nova Scotia, where the recovered victims were brought for identification and burial.

The storylines of the individuals during the voyage could be a variation of any novel of the same timeline. They weren't bad, but they weren't especially compelling. The two main female characters were likeable, opposites in personality but they complemented each other.

The book ended with an Epilogue, that took the reader past the end of the actual story. I always appreciate that…..it gives me closure.

In conclusion, I enjoyed this book, but it didn't knock my socks off. My rating is 3.5/ stars which I am raising to 4 stars. I think it will appeal to a wide readership.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.

Historical fiction at its best. ‘Ship of Dreams’ is set aboard the Titanic, and focusses on the lives of two women who have been best friends since boarding school.
Hannah Martin is married to Charles and is struggling to save her marriage. She hopes a week aboard the Ship of Dreams will see her and Charles reignite their love.
Louisa (Lou) Phillips is a suffragette from a titled family who threaten to disown her if she doesn’t enter into an arranged marriage. She is seeking independence and plans to gain this once the Titanic docks in New York.
This reimagined story of the Titanic through Hannah and Lou’s eyes is a compelling read.
I loved the richly drawn characters, the vivid descriptions of the ship’s grandeur and its first class passengers, and the heartfelt portrayal of two women pursuing very different paths in life.

A tragic and emotional story about friendship, love and loss. Hannah and Louisa have been friends since childhood when they travel together on the Titanic. Hannah is hopeful that the voyage will help her and her husband to regain the spark of their marriage. Louisa is using the voyage to avoid marriage to a man that she doesn’t care for but who her family think will make a good husband.
As the unthinkable happens to the unsinkable ship, secrets are revealed which challenges and strengthens their friendship. The friendship that exists between these two women is incredibly strong and powerful. Whilst they don’t always agree it’s the unbreakable bonds of love and friendship that help these two women rebuild their broken lives.
A well written and emotive read.