I felt that the author spent far too much time on the activities, such as they were, spent by the two main characters before the ship went down. The ship going down was covered all to briefly. For me the story got really interesting from the point of rescue and not enough time was given to this. A missed opportunity.

I was beyond excited when I found out that I was approved on @netgalley for Ship of Dreams by @donnaalward!

This book is told through alternative narrators, Lou & Hannah, two young women who are excited to travel on the Titanic from England and New York where they each have big plans for their time in America. Hannah is desperate to reconnect with her husband, Charles, after their relationship suffered tremendously due to a loss. Lou is excited to spend the voyage secretly connecting with her crush, Reid, despite Hannah and Charles's displeasure with her slightly scandalous and boundary-pushing ways. Alward clearly did her research as the descriptions and foreshadowing was well done. She also included interactions with several real passengers and weaved connections and storylines throughout. Obviously you can guess that there will be big excitement and emotion at about the 2/3rds mark, and I think that she did a really good job with that part. Alward also goes on to describe the experiences survivors faced after the ship went down which I really appreciated. I did find the book as a whole a bit slow and while I'm really glad I read it, I wished for a bit more excitement, especially before the ship hit the iceberg.

If you're a historical fiction fan, or a Titanic fan, this is definitely the right book for you! It is out on August 26th so preorder now! Thanks to the publisher, @harpercollinsuk for giving me the chance to read and review this book!

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Took a break from the mystery/thriller category and flew through this @netgalley #advancereaderscopy of the upcoming @donnaalward novel Ship of Dreams.

I have always been fascinated by the Titanic. I am so lucky to have family who indulged me in a three and a half hour side quest while visiting Dublin a few years ago just so I could visit the Belfast ship yard where Titanic was built. I have read nearly every non-fiction book about The Titanic disaster. A fiction book about it was a new one for me, but it makes so much sense to explore what life may have been like for some of the passengers.

In this story, Louisa joins her best friend, Hannah, and Hannah’s husband, Charles, on the Maiden Voyage of ‘Titanic’ in this historical fiction novel. Hannah & Lou are set to spend the week after the voyage in New York while Charles travels further into the United States on business, but when the ship strikes an iceberg & sinks, all of their plans get pushed aside as the girls confront a frightening reality. This novel is a beautifully told tale of enduring female friendship in the face of both tragedy & diverging life choices.

10/10 for me, highly recommended for fans if Titanic, historical romance in general, or stories about women supporting each other. ❤️

𝕎𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕥𝕠 𝔼𝕩𝕡𝕖𝕔𝕥:
🚢 Titanic inspired
🤍 Friendship
🤐 Secrets & betrayal
❤️‍🩹 Emotional

𝕄𝕪 𝕋𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤:
𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀 is a beautiful historical fiction that is set against the backdrop of the Titanic’s ill-fated voyage. It was evident that Donna Jones Alward did her research in preparation of writing this novel. The story was unique in that it didn’t just focus on the sinking of the ship; the characters’ inner turmoil and interpersonal relationships were the driving conflicts.

Full of emotion, intriguing relationships, and a journey of self-discovery, this story of perfect for readers who love character-driven plots. The expected publication date for 𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀 is August 25, 2025. 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝗚𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗶𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝘆 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄!

Hannah Martin joins her husband,Charles, on his business trip, via the Titanic. She is desperately hoping to mend their broken marriage. Charles has been cold and distant since she lost their baby, and almost her life in childbirth. Her best friend, Louise, is joining her, to escape the marriage her parents have arranged, to a loathsome, but aristocratic older man. They will cut off all her funds if she refuses. She hopes to explore starting a new life in Canada.

As the reader becomes immersed in the everyday life of the first class passengers, we realize how luxurious the Titanic was. Because we know the heartbreaking outcome of this voyage, we wonder if the passengers would have behaved differently if they, too, had known their fates. I was totally immersed in this heartbreaking story. As we finally learn who survived, and who Heroically died, the reality of this tragedy touches our hearts. I particularly enjoyed the letters between survivors, revealing how they lived their lives after this horrific tragedy

A sweeping, heart‑wrenching Titanic tale that dives deeper than the iceberg. This was beautifully researched and emotionally charged, it’s a historical fiction hug that leaves your heart tingling long after the lifeboats have gone.

Southampton, England. Hannah Martin and Louisa Phillips have been best friends since they met at boarding school, and both board the Titanic’s six day maiden voyage to New York hoping it will be life changing and they each have a secret.

Hannah is married to Charles, since a tragic loss two years ago their marriage hasn’t been the same and she hopes to talk to him about how she feels and fingers crossed they rekindle their romance. Louisa is spirited and headstrong, independent and a big supporter of the suffragette movement, her father has given her an ultimatum and it includes marrying a man she doesn’t love.

The Titanic lives up to the ladies expectations, the suites are luxurious, so are the dining rooms and reading room, the food’s decadent and delicious and they meet some of the world’s richest and influential people.

Mr. Reid Grey is aboard, Louisa has been corresponding with him in England, and he makes quite the impression on her and in ways she wasn’t prepared for and will she chance her ways and plans?

I received a copy of Ship of Dreams by Donna Jones Alward from NetGalley and One More Chapter in exchange for an honest review. I have read quite a few Titanic stories, this one is very different and I felt like I knew the two main characters personally and best friends Hannah and Lou.

The narrative explores society’s attitudes towards women, marriage and romantic relationships, how the survivors felt and were treated after the "unsinkable ship" hit the iceberg, being loaded into lifeboats, sank, aboard the Carpathia, once they arrived in New York and some went on to Nova Scotia.

Five stars from me, a historical tale about love, hopes, dreams, loss, tragedy, acceptance, forgiveness and moving forward. I enjoyed Ms Jones Alward’s previous book When the World Fell Silent and I highly recommend both.

First, I’d like to thank NetGalley, Donna Jones Alward, and Harper Collins UK One More Chapter for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for my honest review.

As a self-proclaimed lover girl of all things Titanic, seriously give me Titanic content and I’ll devour it, I was instantly excited to dive into Ship of Dreams. 🛳️✨

The first half of the book was a bit slow for me. It dragged at times and felt a little repetitive, especially as we followed Hannah and Louisa’s personal struggles. But stick with it! Because the pacing shifts dramatically in the second half. Watching these women navigate the tragedy of the Titanic’s sinking and everything that followed truly made the earlier groundwork worth it.

What I appreciated most was how richly detailed and historically grounded this novel is. Alward didn’t stop with the sinking, she brought to life the chaos and emotion aboard The Carpathia, the overwhelming arrival in New York City, and even the heartbreaking recovery efforts in Halifax. These moments added depth and authenticity that made the story resonate even more.

This isn’t just another Titanic retelling. Ship of Dreams is filled with heart, tension, friendship, love, survival, and ultimately, perseverance. It’s a story about what happens after the iceberg, and how strength and connection can grow out of unimaginable tragedy

I really enjoyed this book. It took you a full and honest sweep of not just the event or time. But also very much the lives involved both in it, then afterwards. So scarecly have I managed to find any fact or fiction accounts of living with the events of the terrible time. How much PTSD they must have had! Both for those directly involved and sadly those with loved ones lost or forever changed.
We get go know our two friends. We get to care for them. And then we get to see how these woman survived. And how they actually survived in the time after and beyond. This for me made this book bounce upwards with bonus points.

As a fan of all things Titanic, I was eager to dive into this novel which promised drama, secrets, and tension aboard the world’s most infamous ship.

The setting is beautifully drawn, especially the opulent details of first-class life—the food, the fashion, the elegance. The atmosphere feels authentic and immersive, capturing the grandeur of the Titanic and the era it sailed in. It makes me so sad that all of that glamour is at the bottom of the ocean rotting away.

The story focuses more on the emotional journeys of its central characters than on the historical event itself. While this adds depth and allows for strong character development, the first half of the novel can feel slow at times. The pacing picks up significantly in the second half, where the story becomes more engaging and impactful.

Overall, this is a story that explores personal growth, friendship, and the weight of unspoken truths. While it wasn’t quite what I expected in terms of Titanic-centered drama, it was still a worthwhile and emotional read.

A nice story about two best friends, Hannah and Louisa, who travel on the fated Titanic. They travel with Hannah's seemingly detached husband and Louisa's secret "flirtation" Reid.
Both friends embark on their journey with life changing secrets.
The chapters swap between Hannah's view point and Louisa's, telling their tale on board the ship, the tragedy that occurred and the aftermath.

I feel having by chance checked out the book on the Titanic weeks earlier and having read quite a lot of the Titanic's saga online previously, may have possibly spoilt the enjoyment of this book. It used many of the well known real life people who were aboard the ship as characters in the story, with an over use and veneration of Margaret Brown (The Unsinkable Molly Brown). It could have been fine, but it did come off as constant name dropping. I would like to think that the use of less common known facts about the Titanic and names could have made for a more interesting read.

The only part I really enjoyed was the aftermath of the sinking, after they were picked up by the Carpathia. These stories/facts are not overly saturated online or in nonfiction books. About what the survivors did or could have gone through, in the weeks following.

I didn't love any of the characters, but I did find Reid a likeable character.
Hannah's husband has one plea for Louisa, which for me, makes the ending ridiculous and non sensical.

In saying all this, it's a nice read and I don't mean to deter anyone from reading it. It's just my thoughts and honest review. I can imagine many loving this book.

ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Titanic is a popular historical fictional subject and I have read my fair share of books about the Titanic. Ship of Dreams is a bit different. I found I was quite vested in the two main characters, Louisa and Hannah. They have been friends since childhood and both have come from wealthy families. They are traveling to New York in first class cabins for a bit of a holiday. Both women have secrets and stresses in their lives and some are not being shared with each other. Although very different in personalities, they have a deep and bonding friendship.
The first half of the book is about getting to know and care about Louisa and Hannah and their lovely time spend on this magnificent ship despite their own personal worries. I found that I became very invested and empathetic to both characters.

Then the Titanic hit the iceberg.

The next half of the book deals with this horrific tragedy. The book continues to describe the rescue of survivors in life boats and the second trauma of identifying loved ones who were not saved. Without giving spoilers, I found this part dealt with a subject matter that is not always provided in other stories about the Titanic. The last brief section of this story covers decades later via letter correspondence. I found this rounded out the story for me and provided closure to this moving story.
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and the publisher. This is my unbiased review.

This book was the usual read about boarding the titanic to sail to New York, the story line was easy to follow and the characters were all well written. That fateful evening arrives and this is where the book changes and I enjoyed reading how Hannah and Lou cope with the tragedy and how their friendship heals. I enjoyed the last few chapters and it gave a new perspective of what maybe some survivors may have done to try and find their loved ones.
Really enjoyed this book and would recommend it.
My thanks as always to NetGalley and Publisher HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter | One More Chapter and author Donna Jones Alward for a lovely read.

Another amazing novel from Donna Jones Alward. This is a wonderful retelling of the Titanic. You may think it's been done before, but not this way. The novel is about best friends that are starkly different. Hannah conforms to be a perfect wife and wants nothing but to feel the love of her husband. Louisa loves to push the limits and spends time helping with the suffrage movement. They have been friends their whole lives but when secrets and lies start to unravel things it's hard to know what will happen to their friendship. I love that the characters are friends even though they are so different from each other.

All of this happens against the backdrop of the Titanic and the people on it. It's an amazing background to everything. The fear and panic that happens as the ship begins to sink is told so well and the characters are well-developed.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an advanced copy.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! Ship of Dreams by Donna Jones Alward is a novel about love, loss and hope for the future. When Hanna boarded the Titanic, she wanted nothing but to reconcile with her husband over, what she believed, was a failed marriage. Her friend, Lou, on the other hand was travelling abroad to get as far away as possible from her father who wants nothing but to marry her off to the highest bidder. The two woman, good friends since childhood, want to escape their lives for just a short while so embark on an adventure. On board the Titanic life feels like a fairytale but, unfortunately, we all know how it will turn out. However, for Hanna and Lou, the sinking of the Titanic doesn’t represent the end, it is rather a symbol of a new beginning. Though the story was good and Jones did a great job of developing the characters, I was left wanting to know more about how the two women’s lives turned out. A good story that in the end missed the mark for me.

The Ship of Dreams by Donna Jones Alward is a beautifully written and character driven story. It is also about the strength and power found in female friendships, the bonds and courage required to find one’s own path.

Rather than focusing solely on the disaster itself, Ms. Alward uses the doomed voyage as a backdrop for this story. The reader finds two best friends on board the “unsinkable” ship. Hannah Martin, conventional and yet a deeply sympathetic character, boards the Titanic hoping that six day voyage might bring her and her husband closer and heal the damage in her marriage. On the other hand we have Louisa Phillips, Hannah’s best friend who totally embodies the spirit of rebellion. She is not willing to succumb to her family’s plans for a loveless marriage. She is a willing participant in the Suffragist Movement. The chapters alternate points of the view of these two women.

What makes The Ship of Dreams your atypical historical fiction novel is Ms. Alward’s divergence into the roles of women during this time when marriage was the only path to a secure future. This was before the Vote and before women could own property and where arranged marriages were the order of the day.

The author’s extensive research shows in her breathtaking descriptions of the Titanic’s interiors and the rigid social hierarchies that governed life aboard ship. The ship weaves it’s romantic and elegant appointments into the greater story. It creates a beautiful back drop of growth, and resilience and new found awareness of all the main characters. The actual sinking of this historic ship serves to highlight what truly matters to each character. Another aspect of the story is healing from grief, forgiveness, and moving forward albeit one step at a time.

This story was wondrous. I loved that Ms. Alward included the Astors, the Browns and other real characters from the Titanic. Hannah and Louise's friendship was what everyone hopes to have in their life. Although Louisa had some moments of questionable behavior the fact that she found an opportunity to redeem herself made me forgive her. Hannah’s desire to please everyone is eclipsed by a strength she never knew she had. I really enjoyed this book. I can’t wait to see what Ms. Alward has in store for us next. Very well done.

I would like to thank Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter, the author and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I'm a huge Donna Jones Alward fan. I read her first historical fiction novel, When the World Fell Silent, and now it's living in my head. So of course I had to read Ship of Dreams. I enjoyed the fresh taste on the Titanic disaster and the enduring and poignant friendship between two women of that era. Not quite as absorbing and exciting as When the World Fell Silent, but still a very enjoyable read. Looking forward to the next book by this author as well

A story set on the Titanic which focusses on the friendship between two women. Overlong in places, I liked the characters and their eventual journey to Halifax. I learnt nothing new about the ship sinking, but I enjoyed the scenes on the Carpathia.

I have read a lot of Titanic novels as the story never gets old . This story is told in two points of view . Louisa and Hannah are two different women but the best of friends who board the Titanic. Hannah finds herself in a marriage that is failing . While Louisa finds herself in the arms of Reid Grey. There are twists and there is tragedy. The Ship of dreams takes you on a wonderful, beautiful and tragic journey that changes both women’s lives but never their love for each other. Highly recommend this book! Thank you for the opportunity to read this advanced copy!

I love Titanic stories and think we don't have enough, so I leapt at the chance to read SHIP OF DREAMS. Sadly it wasn't the historical fiction for me; I've not read the author before so don't know if this is her usual writing style but found it clunky and not engaging enough. That two stars for both a stunning cover, and that I liked the last third where we see the aftermath of the sinking in Halifax; a perspective often left out.