Review of 'Ship of Dreams' by Donna Jones Alward

Review of 'Ship of Dreams' by Donna Jones Alward

Release date: August 26th, 2025

Publisher: One More Chapter

REVIEW

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 Charles is acting very withdrawn and seems to be avoiding any intimate contact with her.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.