The Survivors Guild

by Gabriella Saab

In 1912 aboard the RMS Titanic, Nabiha “Bea” Nohra is traveling to America to find work, eager to earn the funds necessary to afford passage for the family she left in Lebanon. On the same ship, heiress Marguerite Ashby sails home to celebrate her engagement to a dull British lord, a marriage that will secure her new-money family’s place in old New York society. But when the Titanic sinks, the two women’s paths are fused together when Bea saves Marguerite’s life and they are unexpectedly charged with the smallest survivor—a baby boy.

No one claims the infant, so the women form a committee to aid survivors and locate the baby’s next of kin. Bea works as the child’s nanny, desperate to bring her family to America before the difficulties in Lebanon overwhelm them. Meanwhile Marguerite hopes the committee’s charitable efforts will win society’s respect and render an advantageous marriage unnecessary, sparing her from marrying a man she does not love—unless her parents force her to fulfill the obligation no matter what society says. And when finding the child’s relatives proves to be no simple task, the women are soon enmeshed in deception and uncertainty as they seek to determine where the baby truly belongs.

The committee might grant the acceptance Marguerite craves, connect Bea with the stability she needs, and lead them to the baby’s relatives. But a committee helmed by an American heiress and a Lebanese nanny is hardly customary. Surviving a shipwreck is only the start. As Marguerite’s wedding looms nearer and Bea faces the increasing hardships of adjusting to her new country, they must fight for survival once more. This time, to survive New York society.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Audiobook, Adult, Romance, Historical Romance, Immigration

397 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2026

About the author

Gabriella Saab is an acclaimed author of historical fiction. Her first two novels, The Last Checkmate and Daughters of Victory, have been published in multiple languages and various countries. She graduated from Mississippi State University with a bachelor of business administration in marketing and lives in her hometown in Alabama. Connect with her online at gabriellasaab.com; Instagram: @gabriellasaab_; Facebook: @GabriellaSaabAuthor; X: @GabriellaSaab_

Reviews

[Gabriella Saab · Rating 5 out of 5]

9/5/26 update: THE SURVIVORS GUILD is now available in hardback, paperback, ebook, and audiobook! A special thank you to my narrators, Saskia Maarleveld and Gail Shalan, for their absolutely tremendous work on the audiobook. Please grab your copy, tell your friends, leave reviews, and request from your library, and thank you to everyone who has already done so! I'm so happy to share this book with you ☺️

8/7/26 update: Free short story! To thank those who preorder THE SURVIVORS GUILD, I'm offering you a FREE short origin story for Minnie Musgrave, the gossip columnist in THE STAR SOCIETY—but don't worry, it doesn't spoil any of the contents in any of my books, so you can read it even if you haven't read TSS yet! Preorders are so important for books and authors, so I wanted to give you a small token of my appreciation ☺️ Preorder TSG in hardback, paperback, ebook, or audio (narrated by Saskia Maarleveld and Gail Shalan) and then claim your free story here! https://www.harpercollinsfocus.com/ha...

4/7/26 update: Signed and personalized copies are available for preorder through my local indie! Order yours here: https://checkout.square.site/merchant...

3/19/26 update: NetGalley users, THE SURVIVORS GUILD is now available for request! Follow this link - I don’t control who gets approved or not, but I wish you luck, and I hope you enjoy it! https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/boo...

Also, make sure you’re signed up for my newsletter to keep up with the latest news: https://gabriellasaab.substack.com/

11/20/25 update: Hi all! I can't wait to share THE SURVIVORS GUILD with you on 9/1/26! Add it to your shelves and stay tuned for updates! - Gabriella

[Christina C · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Survivor Guild was such a beautifully written and moving story! The book follows Bea and Marguerite, two women from completely different walks of life who meet as the Titanic is sinking and are unexpectedly entrusted with a baby. After surviving the tragedy, the women form a committee to help other Titanic survivors while also trying to find the baby’s parents.

I loved the setting and the way the story captured the aftermath of such a devastating event. Bea and Marguerite were both strong, determined women, and I especially enjoyed watching their friendship develop. Their determination to fight against the social expectations placed on them and stand up for what they believed in made their journey so compelling.

This was a well-done historical story about friendship, courage, and resilience. I really enjoyed it!

[Cecily - MillennialBookGal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Gabriella Saab and NetGalley for the advanced audiobook of this novel.

4.5 Stars

I didn't realize until I started reading this novel that I haven't read many narratives other than the Hollywood version of the events or people on the titanic.

Though the titanic is how these characters meet, the novel is so much more than that. The story continues in New York and highlights women's issues and class and status for different women and how that effects their choices at that time. There was some intensity and some heartbreak but ultimately I felt good by the end.

The writing was fantastic and well researched while remaining respectful for those affected by the sinking of the Titanic.

The narration was great, I had no issues.

Great read.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been drawn to books by this author since her debut novel five years ago, The Last Checkmate (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...). Ms. Saab writes compelling and intriguing books about strong, courageous, and resilient women. This is a story of tragedy and triumph.

Marguerite and Bea's lives intersect on a raft in the Atlantic Ocean during the sinking of the Titanic. Bea and her cousin were on their way to America to build a better life for their families who were still in Lebanon. While Marguerite was the daughter of rich parents in New York. Her family was recognized as part of the "new rich" in society but were not considered equals with the long established families with generational wealth. Marguerite was a pawn in her parents plans for an advantageous marital arrangement to a British Earl, even though she did not love him.

Fate gave Bea and Marguerite another chance at life, as well as an infant who was dropped in their laps in their lifeboat. Despite their differences in ethnicity and class, these women bonded together over the small child. Once they were in New York, they created the Survivor's Guild, a charitable organization dedicated to helping the survivors of the Titanic disaster, and to hopefully find the child's parents.

This heartwarming story demonstrates how true love, devoted friendship, and persistence can overcome even the most challenging obstacles. The author's note at the end of the book is definitely one that should not be missed.

My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse for giving me the opportunity to read a DRC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Jennifer N · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bea is a third class passenger from Lebanon on the Titanic. She is traveling with her cousin. They want to go to America and then make enough money for their families to join them. Marguerite is a first class passenger traveling with her fiancée. When the ship goes down both women are thrown into the ocean. Bea saves Margeurite as they cling to the wreckage. When they find a collapsible lifeboat, someone hands them a baby.
On the Carpathia the parents are not found. When they arrive in NYC Marguerite convinced her parents to let Bea be the baby's nanny as they hunt for his family.
This is how the Survivors Guild begins. A charity set up to help Titanic survivors.
It is a great historical novel of life in NYC in 1912 where the divide between old money and new money is almost as big as between the rich and the poor.

[Paulina ☾ (Taylor’s Version) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of an advanced copy received from NetGalley

It’s my first time reading a historical fiction about the Titanic. And reading about two women that somehow needed each other to actually live in a time where being a woman was absolutely hard. If today was hard, in that time was even harder. I loved it, and if I could just paste here my tears I would.

[Deb Kiley · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a compelling story about two survivors of the Titanic tragedy! We all know the story of the unsinkable ship versus the iceberg, but this novel focuses on engaged socialite Marguerite who was saved from the frigid, dark water by a third class passenger, Bea, These two women were handed a baby to save and that bonded them once they were brought aboard the Carpathia and back in New York. Marguerite went against her fiancé's wishes and pushed her parents to hire Bea to be the baby's nanny. From that point on, Marguerite decided to create the Survivors Guild to help others in similar situation with Bea as co-chair. They threw themselves into this endeavor to find the baby's family and create a charity that would ultimately help get the family the acceptance into the elite crowd.
Marguerite grew as a character and decided to pursue what she wanted and not what others wanted her to do. I loved this for her because her fiancé was too controlling and thinking only of himself. Bea was from Lebanon and had come to America to work to be able to bring her family over. Bea made a true friend in Marguerite but still had to navigate the city as a young woman with no money. She struggled to find other work opportunities and learned the hard truths of upper class vs. lower class. Bea gives the reader a peak into how hard it is as an immigrant to learn the language, customs, and rules but she was lucky to have the support of Marguerite and the other household staff.
I love stories that find a new angle on a piece of history we think we know. I also enjoy stories that are inspired by the author's experience and/or family. The author notes explain where she got the idea for the book and her connection to the Lebanese immigrants.
I highly recommend this for all historical fiction fans as well as those that are intrigued by the Titanic, immigrants, or the Astor legacy.

#TheSurvivthatorsGuild #NetGalley
Thank you Harper Muse and Net Galley for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Abby Melchers | lifegivinglibrary · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse Publishing for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Nabiha "Bea" Nohra, desperate to earn passage to America for her family she left behind in Lebanon, boards the Titanic in hopes for a better future. Meanwhile, wealthy heiress Marguerite Ashby is returning to America to celebrate her recent engagement to a lord, securing her family's place among New York's old money elite. When the Titanic sinks, these two women find their lives inextricably intertwined when they are entrusted with a baby boy whose survival is completely dependent on them.

Upon arriving in the United States, Bea takes a job working as a nanny for baby Remy in the Ashby household, while Marguerite wrestles with the prospect of a loveless marriage. As the two women search for Remy's parents, they also establish an organization to support Titanic survivors called The Survivors Guild.

There were many elements of this story I really enjoyed. I appreciated the way Saab explored the differences between Marguerite as a wealthy, first-class passenger with Bea, a poor Lebanese immigrant anxious to provide for her family. I honestly didn't know there were third-class and immigrant passengers on the Titanic, and it was heartbreaking to read about how differently they were treated from their first-class counterparts during the disaster.

I did like both Marguerite and Bea as characters and loved the concept of their unlikely friendship. However, I wish their relationship had been a little more developed. The story is told from the perspectives of both women, and while a first-person narrative generally helps the reader better understand the characters, I often felt as though I was only being told what they were feeling, rather than experiencing it alongside them. There were parts, particularly in the first half, where I felt the story dragged a little bit. I wanted more emotional depth and stronger character development. At times, the characters' internal monologues seemed to be overly long, while the scenes that moved the story forward were surprisingly brief. I think I would have enjoyed the story more if that balance had been reversed.

The second half was better pacing in my opinion, and I especially liked the storyline around reuniting Remy with his mother. The story came to a satisfying conclusion, and I did even tear up in the last few pages. While it didn't end up being a favorite for me, it is a good, clean story, so I'd recommend for historical fiction readers.

Content Considerations:
-No foul language that I remember
-Kisses only
-Description of the sinking of the Titanic and the finding of dead bodies in the ocean

[Renata · Rating 3 out of 5]

once again tricked into reading a mid book due to the Titanic.
And the Titanic was like, BARELY in it.
That said if the events of this book happened in a season of the Gilded Age I would live for it but reading it was like, eh

[Angelie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Survivors Guild is a beautifully crafted story set in the Progressive era of NYC high society. It follows two women- heiress Marguerite Ashby a socialite who is betrothed to a British lord and Nabiha “Bea”, a Lebanese immigrant who reaches for a secure life in America where she hopes to bring her mother and siblings. These two women are bonded together by survival and tragedy following the sinking of the Titanic.

Surviving along with them is Remy, an infant with unknown next of kin. He is the impetus of their work together at the Survivor’s Guild, a charitable committee formed to help other survivors of the titanic.

This story is about friendship, about fighting against the grain for what matters, and it’s also about loyalty and family.

This was near a 5 star for me, as most books by Gabrielle are, and I adored the dual narration from Saskia Maarleveld and Gail Shalon. It was heartfelt, deeply meaningful, and I learned more about an intriguing time in history.

I struggled initially with Bea’s gruffness and pride. While I understood later the reasons for her intensity, it made it harder at first to root for her. Later, I definitely did.


The main aspect that challenged me in this story involved the conflict surrounding Remy. I didn’t find the reasons compelling enough to result in the outcome that happened. There is so much I would say about this but won’t because of spoilers, but suggest this story for a book club! I think there would be a lot to talk about. And while I actually didn’t like the outcome, I see why many will.

Anyway, I recommend this book (out 9/1), highly recommend this author, and I recommend reading the author’s note as well!

Thanks to Gabriella Saab NetGalley and Harper Muse and Harper Muse Audiobooks for the ARC and ALC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own.

[BookWormBecky · Rating 5 out of 5]

5.0

*Thank you to Gabriella Saab for this great giveaway win!

Status, chosen, duty…

Titanic - 1912
3 survivors:

1st Class passenger / heiress Marguerite Ashby, 3rd Class passenger Nabiha (Bea) Nohra, and baby Remy have survived the tragedy. Marguerite is sailing home to celebrate her engagement to a Lord . Bea is leaving Lebanon searching for a better life and plans to send for family members in Lebanon when able. Baby Remy ends up in the same lifeboat with Marguerite and Bea but is unclaimed.

They were “2 women and a baby on a lifeboat. Strangers in everything - in name, in class, and in origin.” They HAD to survive.

Marguerite creates an organization called The Survivors Guild and names Bea as co -chair. Their first objective was to find baby Remy a home, preferably with kinfolk. Other objectives include connecting family members and providing resources.

AVAILABLE SEPT 1, 2026


THOUGHTS:

*Powerful prologue (p. xi)

*Yes - another Titanic story! This tale focuses on 3 survivors following the tragedy. An unlikely partnership and friendship develops. An unusual bond connects them. The Lebanese immigrants were a great angle - distinguishes this from other Titanic storylines.

*I will always be a historical fiction reader! Even tho I also read lots of thrillers, psych thrillers, mysteries, and police procedurals.

*Rich settings. Vivid descriptions.

*Don’t miss the author’s note…

*The Ashbys and others were sure concerned about status. It was everything to them. It drove their life. All detailed in this story…

*If you ever get a chance to see The Titanic Experience , do so! I visited first in NYC and again in Pittsburgh in 2024. Great artifacts! A very creative way of tracking passengers.

[Cindy Spear · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am drawn to Titanic inspired stories so when asked to review this novel, I jumped at the chance. I had never read Gabriella Saab’s previous works so did not know what to expect. But the moment my eyes fell on the first page, I was mesmerised. To the point it kept me up all hours of the night. I was totally absorbed in the story and in the two main characters, Lebanon born Bea (Nabiha) Nohra and New York heiress Marguerite Ashby.

The time: April 1912 when the worst thing imaginable happened. An unsinkable ship on its maiden voyage sank and took many lives with it. The author paints a vivid picture of that fateful night and the difficult choices that were made by all on board (yes, crew and passengers). As we all know, many lost their lives but there were some survivors. Gabriella provides an opportunity to show us what it was like for the rich and the poor who found themselves tossed into the sea. Those who were lucky enough to get a lifeboat, though shocked, managed but others struggled to survive the icy waters of the Atlantic.

One of the many things I love about The Survivors Guild is that it is different from other Titanic inspired novels. Often the focus is on the tragic event or the rescue but this story concentrates on the survivors and what happened after they went ashore. Although we get in depth character studies, there is still plenty of action and movement in the plot. At times the tension is so great I found myself sitting on the edge of my seat!

The novel opens with a type of prologue. The Rumors is delivered from Bea’s point of view, a third class passenger who left Tripoli, Lebanon to make a new life in America. Not only for herself but also her family who have been struggling financially. Her plan is to go to America, find a job, set up lodgings and send money back to her family so they can eventually join her. She begins mentioning the rumours (thus the heading) of whether the ship split in half or the band played while it sank into the ocean. (Questions often asked.) She says she does not know. She can only speak of her own personal experience on the ship and how she managed to survive. But being a passenger who did escape, she now carries scars and must bear a heavy mission. For ‘survival is both an honour and a burden, a responsibility and a duty’.

Bea takes her responsibility seriously and carries the same concerns from her home in Lebanon to her destination of New York. She tells us also what she has learned. That the ‘challenge is not surviving, but living.’ These two statements are the basic foundations of the story. Going through such a horrific event, surviving when others did not, and trying to live after the event is not easy. In fact, as we see with the survivors Bea and Marguerite, the effects lead to life-altering decisions.

Bea, particularly, must learn to live after what she has suffered from the shipwreck and being separated from her family. She carries a heavy burden of trying to care for her family by getting a good paying job so she can send them money to help them join her. She worries about them, particularly her ill mother. Will she be able to make enough to bring them all over? She is a new immigrant in a land different from her own. There are language barriers and cultural differences. But in that moment when she reaches out to a struggling woman in the sea who is also trying to survive, a new bond is formed. And Bea saves Marguerite’s life, a New York heiress and together they are also charged with the care of a baby boy who was handed to them during the rescue.

Bea becomes very attached to the child and is very good with him so she works as a nanny at Marguerite’s home while they try to find his family. But when nobody claims him, together these two woman continue every avenue, including creating a Survivors Guild. This not only is meant to help the small child they call Remy (this name was on a blanket he was wrapped in) but other survivors who have also lost their families and support.

Marguerite is a very likeable character. She shows compassion and cares about helping others. Although she is from the nouveau riche class, she is not happy with how society operates. She is being forced to marry a Lord she does not love to help her family but is it a sacrifice she can live with? After almost losing her life in the Titanic and being saved by Bea, she starts to doubt her requirement to marry the Lord for her family’s social acceptance. The Survivors Guild gives her purpose which in turn helps build her courage to fight against the expected norms. She is forced to make some difficult choices after establishing new relationships and a friendship with Bea. Marguerite’s quiet rebellion continues to grow as she becomes more independent with each little success she has. But then something happens and threatens it all. And Bea gets caught in the middle with two offers that are tempting. Will she do the right thing or —?

Bea and Marguerite are both brilliantly strong women who help each other survive, encourage each other to live their best life. I loved how the class distinction dissipates in the most important moments and to see these two forging their own way in a time that gave women little attention or credit.

The Titanic disaster is part of this story but it is more about after the event and what survivors faced. How some overcame the challenges and became beacons for others. There is a bit of everything in this novel: drama, mystery, romance, parental and society battles (old money and noveau riche) and community. In the end, beautiful lasting friendships between those of very different backgrounds are born from tragedy. Growth happens for the two main characters but also some of their family members. Love wins out (I will say no more about that) but Marguerite and Bea achieve in ways never imagined. And in-spite of, or because of, the Titanic tragedy, their lives take turns that nobody could have expected. This is a beautifully delivered, honest, compassionate, heart-soaked tale full of second-chances/new beginnings, healing and triumph that I highly recommend. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Huge thanks to Harper Muse for sending me a review copy.

[Wildrose Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Survivors Guild” by Gabriella Saab
🎧 Format: Audiobook
🎙️ Narrator: Saskia Maarleveld & Gail Shalan
📚 Pub Date: 09.01.26
⭐️ Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Stars

“The Survivors Guild” by Gabriella Saab is a phenomenal historical fiction novel about surviving the Titanic disaster. With a full plot and characters that feel so real and compelling, this novel was hard to put down. Featuring an added element of romance, and some mystery, “The Survivors Guild” was easily a 5⭐️ read for me.

It was interesting to read about the hierarchy of the wealthy during the early 20th century and how the “Nouveau” rich were not as respected as those with generational wealth. It feels like such a tragedy to be forced into arranged marriages for the sake of family reputation, and though I understand that marriages were often treated as mergers between families, it feels foreign to me to imagine marrying for anything other than love. The duty and obligation that sons and daughters were required to marry for the benefit of their families seems almost cruel (particularly toward women, in my opinion, since as a rule they had so much less control over anything in their own lives at that point in time.)

With strong themes of family legacy and finding purpose in life, “The Survivor’s Guild” is ultimately a triumphant story that highlights how facing mortality can make one rethink their goals or focus more intently on their life plans.

A quote from “The Survivor’s Guild” that I loved and will be thinking about in the future is: “To live is to do so much more than simply exist, to live is to find the place and the people who occupy your heart and fill your soul.”

I highly recommend “The Survivors Guild”. I listened to the audiobook and the narration brought such vibrant life to the storyline.

Thank you to Gabriella Saab, Saskia Maarleveld, Gail Shalan, NetGalley & Harper Muse Audiobooks for the Advance Listener Copy. All opinions are my own.

#TheSurvivorsGuild
#GabriellaSaab
#SaskiaMaarleveld
#GailShalan
#NetGalley
#HarperMuseAudiobooks

[Lisa Goodmurphy · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

In 1912 two women from very different backgrounds board the Titanic sailing to New York City. Nabiha (Bea) Nohra is travelling to the U.S. to find work and earn the money necessary to bring her family from Lebanon to join her. Marguerite Ashby is sailing home to New York to celebrate the engagement to an English Lord that will secure her new-money family's place in New York's "society" which favours old money. When the Titanic sinks, Bea saves Marguerite's life and after the two women are pulled aboard a lifeboat, a small baby boy is handed into their care. Upon arrival in New York, Marguerite returns to her parents' home with the baby and Bea as his nanny and the two women work together to form a charitable committee with the goal of locating the baby's family as well as aiding other survivors of the Titanic disaster.

An enjoyable historical fiction novel set during the Gilded Age in New York City about the unlikely friendship between a socialite and a new immigrant which is told from the alternating perspective of the two main characters. It was interesting to read about what life might have been like for the survivors of the Titanic disaster once they arrived in the U.S. although it's more about the status of women and the limitations they faced at the time, class differences and the hardship faced by new immigrants with a bit of society drama and romance thrown in.

[The History Mom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love books about the Titanic, and this new book by one of my favorite historical fiction writers is so unique! Focusing mostly on the aftermath of the tragedy, Saab tells the story of a Lebanese immigrant from the ship who saves the life of a New York socialite. They work together to help other survivors, including a baby they save from a raft on that fateful night.

This story is one of heartbreak and struggle yet also hope and resilience. Plus it had historical tidbits I loved learning like the confining rules of New York society. These women seemed to have it all, but they were just as trapped in their gilded mansions as those women in the tenement houses.

The book is propulsive and has some twists I didn't see coming. It’s a wonderful example of how human connection triumphs over fear. I was especially happy to read the author’s note and learn of the author’s personal connection to the story. This book is perfect for historical fiction enthusiasts!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC.

[Shana · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

This was such a beautifully written historical fiction about two resilient women from very different backgrounds who survive the sinking of the Titanic in 1912. These two women are unexpectedly entrusted with the care of an infant boy who also survived. We then follow their story as they try to build new lives in NYC after the tragedy they experienced.

This story is full of empowering women defying societal expectations and fighting for what’s right regardless of the consequences.

Watching these two women survive a tragedy together, form a deep friendship, and learn how to move beyond simply surviving to truly living was such a powerful and moving experience. Their journey was a beautiful reminder of the healing power of connection and courage.

This story also surprised me with a beautiful romance subplot that added another layer of depth and intimacy to the story.

This story and Gabriella’s writing has made me want to read more historical fiction!

Thank you to the author and to BookSparks for the ARC.

[MicheleReader · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

In 1912, two very different women are traveling on the ill-fated RMS Titanic. Nabitha “Bea” Hohra is a Lebanese immigrant traveling to New York City with the hope of earning enough money to bring her mother and cousins to America. Wealthy Marguerite Ashby is engaged to the Earl of Hexwick, an arrangement made by her “new money” parents to gain acceptance into New York society, while providing the Earl with much-needed funds for his estate in England. As the Titanic sinks, Bea saves Marguerite, and together they rescue a baby boy. With nowhere to go, Marguerite brings Bea to her family mansion to care for the child while they search for his relatives. As Marguerite becomes increasingly more unhappy about her upcoming marriage, she creates The Survivors Guild, to help other survivors and as an alternate way to impress New York society.

If you enjoy stories about the Gilded Age, check out The Survivors Guild by Gabriella Saab. It highlights the divide between the upper and lower classes as well as the challenges faced by women during the period. This story of friendship and perseverance was very enjoyable.

4.25 stars.

Review posted on MicheleReader.com.

[Lena (lenasreadsandthrifts) · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

I really liked this book! The characters were well done and likeable. I’ve never seen a book with a Lebanese main character, so I was thrilled to find a book with Lebanese representation (and female, too!). I enjoyed Marguerite and Bea’s friendship, and I thought Marguerite and Andrew had sweet romantic chemistry.

The concept of a post-Titanic survivors’ story was creative and unique! The historical aspects were really interesting, and I’d like to read some of the books recommended by Gabriella in the author’s notes at the end. I partially read on e-book and partially listened on audiobook, and the narrators were phenomenal! The range of their accents and voices were impressive.

My only critique of the book is that it felt a little long for the plot and probably could have been trimmed down a bit. I’m not sure if this is typical for a first person narrative, but I felt like the inner dialogue was sometimes over-explained. The plot could have remained a bit more intriguing if some motivations and plans were left to the reader’s deduction (shown, not told).

Otherwise, I really enjoyed this book, and I deeply appreciated the Lebanese culture that was woven throughout. I didn’t know how much Lebanese representation in a story would mean to me, but it was special.

*Minor spoiler below, so please beware*

I was deeply moved at the end when Bea’s family arrives off the boat from Lebanon. It helped me imagine what it may have been like for my dad when his family made it to the U.S. a few members at a time — the relief and joy they all must have felt to slowly be together again. It also made me miss my Teta (grandma) who passed away last year and endured so much throughout her life both in Lebanon and in the United States. I’m proud of the resilience and passion of my Lebanese ancestors, and I’m grateful to have such a rich heritage.

Really glad I read this one, and thankful to Gabriella Saab for writing it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for a complimentary copy of this book (both e-book and audiobook). Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

❗️Content considerations: mild descriptions of death (by drowning/freezing, gunshot), a few instances of using God’s name in vain, missing child trauma, no spice (kisses only)
💭 Age recommendation: older teen or adult

[Colleen Maclennan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was way too long with very little happening . The beginning was strong and I felt this book was going to be a great read but so disappointed. The story line with two very different female characters surviving the Titanic had so much potential but fell short with me . Too much focus on achieving status in society and how who you know makes the person . The concept of establishing a survivor’s guild was honourable and its success branched to other organizations to help individuals who suffered misfortune. The bulk of the book however lacked substance with characters interacting in situations which were mundane.

[Kathy · Rating 4.75 out of 5]

I was hooked from the last sentence of the first page. I read this novel in basically 24 hours. I heard the author speak about how this book came to be at a library conference. While it starts on the Titanic, it isn't the main focus. The storyline is about survivors of the ship and the impact of survival affected their lives. As a survivor of a traumatic event, I found that I could relate to the characters' questions, fears, and hope. I have a renewed appreciation for my blood and found families.

[Enchanted Prose · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.3

How tragedy can teach us how to live (RMS Titanic and Carpathia at sea, and Manhattan’s Upper West Side; April 14 – October 1912): The Survivors Guild is my kind of historical novel. Yours too if you want to feel energized by women who’ve “had a remarkable way of doing. Of survival.”

Two very different women from very different walks of life emotionally recount how their destinies became indelibly bonded when the one society deemed lesser-than – Nabitha “Bea” Hohra from Tripoli, Lebanon – saves the life of Manhattan socialite Marguerite Ashby. By artfully crafting their social classes, situations, prestige, obligations, personalities, Gabriella Saab’s leading characters dramatize an era in early 20th century American history marked by the excesses of wealth and power concentrated in the hands of the few resulting in systemic inequalities – the Gilded Age.

The historical implications speak to the historical period we’re currently living in. Over a century later, historians and journalists are calling our age the “Second Gilded Age.” At its best, historical fiction makes us think more broadly, deeply, relevantly about the meaning of survival. Not only when your life is in the gravest peril, but when your personal freedoms are predetermined, circumscribed, at risk, violated.

While the action ignites on the sea where survival is literarily life-or-death, Saab hones in on survival on land in the aftermath. Switching to Manhattan, the setting most emblematic of the drastic imbalances of the Gilded Age.

Saab’s literary talents are on display in terrorizing lifeboat scenes when the world’s largest cruise ship back then, the RMS Titanic, touted as “unsinkable,” hits an iceberg off of Newfoundland on the southern coast of Canada and the unthinkable happens. She continues to arouse until the end, nearly 400-pages worth, shifting to an entirely different set of survival challenges that aren’t as blatant, primarily inside an Upstairs-Downstairs mansion, French Gothic Revival Style, on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.

Marguerite and Bea were among the more than 700 Titanic survivors (over 2,000 onboard) rescued by the RMS Carpathia, which continued to sail to its New York City destination.

Nothing about the disaster and its consequences comes easy for Marguerite and Bea. Nothing seems to have ever been easy for Bea, some years older, from a dwindling, large family of olive farmers, whereas Marguerite was an overprotected only child, attended to by a devoted, long-time maid, Lisette, and the sympathetic ear of an Irish housekeeper. Marguerite had been the submissive one; Bea, likely out of necessity, the one who spoke her mind.

Saab excels at expressing emotional range and intensity – fear, grief, stresses, constraints, uncertainties, impossible choices – at a time in history when many men “could never understand the pressures women faced.” Bea is the natural fighter whose effect on Marguerite changes her. Theirs is a story of persistence and surprises at every turn, and what it means to have a meaningful sense of purpose in life.

To emphasize what they’re both up against, there’s another survivor entrusted in Marguerite’s care. In a desperate moment, a stranger in a lifeboat begged her to take care of a baby. Moments later it becomes clear Bea knows how to nurture him. Her immediate attachment to the infant, coupled with Marguerite’s awakening, beautifully depicts the psychological theory of attachment and its vital importance to the well-being of a child, even if you’re not the birth mother. Marguerite’s moral sense of responsibility for Bea and the infant drives the plot, seriously complicated by discrimination against people of color, women, and immigrants at the time. Chilling parallels are also seen today.

Bea illuminates a wave of immigration to America we’re unlikely unfamiliar with. In the early 1900s, Lebanese people fled economic struggles and political persecution. Saab distinguishes the peoples of Lebanon and Syria although they were grouped together when both weren’t independent countries, rather ruled by the Ottoman Empire. Which explains why Lebanese immigrants who settled in an area of lower Manhattan near the World Trade Center was termed Little Syria. (Googling, I learned that by the 1940s the neighborhood had all but disappeared, uprooted to Brooklyn.)

The stakes are magnified as the story takes into account two classes of Manhattan’s gilded high-society as seen through Marguerite’s social climbing family. They represent the “Nouveau Riche” (“New Money”) versus the original settlers who “have lived here for generations,” Marguerite says, “born into wealth.” Young and pregnant Madeleine Astor, who figures into the story as a Titanic survival whose husband John Jacob Astor IV did not, shows how a crisis can be a great equalizer. And yet, Marguerite’s aspirations don’t have that kind of impact.

In this set-up, she’s been engaged to a nobleman, the Earl of Hexwick, an arranged marriage that has nothing to do with her wishes and love. The Before-Marguerite bowed to her unbearable parents’ fierce pressuring. The After-Marguerite grabs our hearts. Imagine realizing while fighting for your life that “for a few moments in the ocean, clinging to a scrap of wreckage,” you weren’t “governed”? How that taste of freedom gave Marguerite “an understanding of what it was to live”?

The fates of two women become entwined despite their very different ambitions. Bea to earn enough money in America to bring the remaining members of her Lebanese family to a place of hope and greater opportunity. Marguerite to figure out how best to serve two survivors she’s bound to. How to finesse and rise above the narrow-mindedness and elitism.

The dialogue is crisp, smart, delicious. It shows you all you need to know about the strength of conviction Marguerite must find within herself and by diplomatically reaching out for help for a cause bigger than themself.

“Did you pluck her (Bea) out of Little Syria”?

On the contrary, “she plucked me out of the Atlantic.”

Another favorite:

“You are causing quite a stir among society, Miss Ashby.”

“Perhaps a stir was just what society needed.”

Now imagine there’s even more being stirred. Hint: A forbidden love that makes this evolving world sing.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75
I knew I wanted to read this one for a couple of reasons. First, I love historical fiction, and anything involving the Titanic immediately catches my attention. Second, the Lebanese connection really stood out to me. My mom moved to Canada from Lebanon in the 1970s, many years after the events in this book, but that personal connection made Bea’s story feel especially meaningful to me.

Set in the aftermath of the Titanic disaster, this is a beautifully multifaceted story about two women from completely different worlds whose lives become unexpectedly intertwined. Bea, a Lebanese immigrant travelling to America in hopes of building a better future for her family, and Marguerite, a wealthy heiress facing an arranged marriage, are brought together when Bea saves Marguerite from the sinking ship. Their connection deepens when they find themselves responsible for a baby whose family cannot be found.

I adored the contrast between these two women. Bea is trying to make her way in a new country while facing the challenges of being an immigrant, a woman, and someone without wealth or connections. Marguerite, despite having every material advantage, is trapped by expectations of her own. Following both women as they slowly realize that they can choose more for themselves was one of my favourite parts of the story.

The historical details really brought the environment and atmosphere to life, especially the differences between social classes and the realities women faced depending on where they came from. I also really enjoyed seeing their friendship develop and how the Survivors Guild gave Marguerite a sense of purpose beyond marriage and society.

There was something particularly riveting about seeing the Titanic disaster as the beginning of the story rather than the ending. The survival, uncertainty, friendships, and struggles that followed made this feel like so much more than another Titanic novel. I thought it was fascinating and an emotional piece of historical fiction with strong female characters, friendship, immigration, and plenty of early-1900s New York society.

Thank you, Book Sparks, Harper Muse & Gabriella Saab, for the #gifted copy! All opinions are my own.

[Sherry Rosen | Stories with Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up

This is a review of the physical book and the audiobook. The ARC was provided to me by the publisher, HarperMuse, via BookSparks. The ALC was provided to me by the publisher, Harper Muse Audiobooks, via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

While Titanic is the impetus of the story, this is not your typical story about the Titanic. The Survivors Guild is a beautiful story of friendship, sisterhood, strength, healing, found family, and love, It explores women's rights (1912, thank you very much), social mores, and racial and class discrimination.

The Survivors Guild is a book that when you put it down, you can't stop thinking about the characters. You keep thinking about them and want to know where they are going. You want nothing more than to pick the book back up so you can continue the story.

Gabriella Saab is a new author to me but I immediately fell in love with her writing style. She is a master of character development and makes you empathize with the troubles. You hold your breath when you feel the terror of the passengers on the ship when they realize what is happening. Your heart aches when you feel Bea's pain when she is shunned because of her Lebanese heritage. You clench your jaw and ball your fists when you feel Marguerite's frustration and rage when her parents and her fiancé ignore what is important to her.

I read the physical book in tandem with the audio. When I heard that Saskia Maarleveld was narrating, I begged for an early listener copy and I was definitely not disappointed! Saskia and Gail Shalan were impeccable - they both perfectly navigated multiple accents (Middle Eastern, American, Irish, French) and genders. Saskia has long been on my list of favorite narrators and Gail has just been added.

I recommend The Survivors Guild to anyone who loves history and enjoys reading about strong women standing up for what is right.

[Sydney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story revolves around two women who might have never crossed paths if the titanic had not met its ill fate. Marguerite is returning to New York with her fiancé, a Lord. From new money she needs the title to secure her family’s position in society. In third class, Nabiha (Bea) is travelling to New York hoping to find work with her cousin and eventually bring over her family for a better life. When the titanic sinks, Bea saves Marguerite bringing the two women together. Then they are charged with the welfare of a five month old baby boy. Rocked by the event, Marguerite cannot help but wonder if there is more to life, leading to the creation of the Survivors Guild, a chance to prove she is more than just a marriage prospect, and a way to try to find the baby’s biological family.

I loved the attention to detail. The house, the furnishings, and the outfits all brought this time alive. I also appreciated the juxtaposition between Bea and Marguerite. While Bea has nothing and was struggling to find work as an immigrant and woman, she was just as stuck as Marguerite who had so many societal expectations for her class.

The story was riveting. The only thing that kept this from being a five star read was how tidy everything was wrapped up in the end. For how difficult life was shown to be for a woman let alone an immigrant woman, the ending felt too neat. But that’s just my opinion.

Thank you to Booksparks, Harper Muse, and the author for the gorgeous PR package including a copy of the book. I loved seeing how the pocket mirror came into the story. All opinions are my own.

[Sydney Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Titanic is endlessly fascinating and well-explored. But the aftermath, especially for those few who survived outside of first class? Not so much, especially one from Lebanon. This book starts within moments of the iceberg strike and grabs hold, not letting go. I found both characters and their worlds so compelling and page-turning. The ending is perfect. And this is a great book to read in anticipation of the return of The Guilded Age series.

I won’t recap how Bea and Marguerite survive (along with a baby, thrust into their hands) as you’ll enjoy being drawn right into those stories. When the baby’s family isn’t immediately found, and Marguerite is trying to figure out how to help immigrant Bea as well, she does the only sensible thing and convinces Bea to come work as the babe’s governess. Then they form a charity with the dual purpose of helping survivors and the child.

There’s all the characters of the robber baron age: overbearing parents with loads of money; the desire of society; a miserable arranged engagement; strong-willed children with their own dreams; upstairs-downstairs dynamics; sweet romance. And there’s a fascinating new element, brought by Bea’s immigrant story: dreams of a fresh start; agony over family left behind; language barriers; the harshness of an immigrant’s prospects. And hope, the hope of the promises in a grand new land.

It’s a great story and my favorite of Saab’s to date. And the audio is fantastic. Well done! Now I’m itching to read more about the Lebanese.

[Sarah Oakey · Rating 4 out of 5]

BLURB...In 1912 aboard the RMS Titanic, Nabiha “Bea” Nohra is traveling to America to find work, eager to earn the funds necessary to afford passage for the family she left in Lebanon. On the same ship, heiress Marguerite Ashby sails home to celebrate her engagement to a dull British lord, a marriage that will secure her new-money family’s place in old New York society. But when the Titanic sinks, the two women’s paths are fused together when Bea saves Marguerite’s life and they are unexpectedly charged with the smallest survivor—a baby boy.

As soon as I saw "Titanic" I hit request on Netgalley as fast as lightning!

Sometimes when books feature Titanic for just a small portion of the story I find my attention dwindles after the event...but this was a very investible story. The sinking of Titanic occurs early on, then the two women unintentionally form a close bond and support each other through their post drama battles in amongst the fascinating guilded age of New York . Its a new take on the survivors story and I found it an engaging and enjoyable read.

When I listened to the authors note I was rather hoping either of the character were based on real people, they were not, however the author mentioned other true stories from Titanic which inspired her story, like Molly Brown and the survivors committee and the Titanic Orphans...but as I've read almost everything ever printed about titanic I was already savvy to these inspirations. I really enjoyed thd inclusion of a Lebanese character as it added a new angle to a frequently covered story.

Highly recommend to one and all... especially those who are fans of the Guilded age and fascinating by The Titanic

[Lynda Engler · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Survivors Guild, by Gabriella Saab, is historical fiction about two young women from very different classes thrown together when one rescues the other during the sinking of the Titanic.

Marguerite Ashby is a wealthy heiress whose engagement to a British noble promises her family the social standing they desperately desire, but she doesn't want to marry him. Nabiha "Bea" Nohra, is a Lebanese immigrant searching for a better future in America, but when her cousin dies in the Titanic tragedy, she is all alone. When a Frenchman on a lifeboat hands them a baby, their lives are altered forever.

The women form a committee to aid Titanic survivors, the Survivors Guild, and locate the baby's next of kin. Bea works as the child's nanny, desperate to bring her family to America before their difficulties in Lebanon overwhelm them. Meanwhile, Marguerite hopes the committee's charitable efforts will win society's respect and render an advantageous marriage to a dull British lord unnecessary, sparing her from marrying a man she does not love. Marguerite and Bea form a friendship that changes not only themselves, but the world around them. Caught between loyalty and ambition, family obligations and forbidden love, Bea and Marguerite must decide how much they are willing to risk for the people they have come to love.

I haven't read novels about the Titanic before, but of course I've seen the movie. This is a completely different viewpoint, one that focuses on a friendship rather than a love story.

The narrators of the audiobook are beyond compare!

[Kirsten Desorcy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook for this story. The audio for this one was fantastic, I loved that each character had different voices and accents and that there were multiple languages.

At first, I was disappointed that the part where the Titanic sinks was so short, but then I realized the story's theme is survival, and it wasn't about pain and suffering but about the women's resilience and strength to survive and thrive. Survive the Titanic and survive the societal pressures of being a woman in New York during that time period. The story also portrays that it is important to move past just surviving and start living. Find and cherish love, friends and family. I like that this story is inspired by true events/people (thanks for the author's note explaining this... it makes me want to research and learn more). The two MCs have some great character development. I would have liked a bit more backstory and personality for Remi's mother. Overall, this was an interesting story that was clearly well researched and provided a different look inside New York in 1912. 4⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a complimentary advanced copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own and are in no way influenced by the author, publisher or NetGalley.

[McBreakneck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historical Fiction inspired by real events, The Survivors Guild tells the story of two survivors of the Titanic. Nabiha ‘Bea’ Nohra is travelling from Lebanon to find work, Marguerite Ashby is a wealthy heiress, they find themselves looking after a baby boy, identified as Remy from the embroidered name on his blanket.

Bea helped saved Marguerite’s life and the two develop a bond, and create a charitable organisation The Survivors Guild to help other survivors and to try and reunite Remy with his family.

It’s 1912, there plenty of social commentary (which I love in Historical Fiction), class, old money versus new money, society’s expectations of women, the immigrant struggle, etc.

It crept up on me, before I knew it I was fully emotionally engaged with these characters and their struggles. The narrators Saskia Maarleveld and Gail Shalan do a great job, particularly with the accents. Conversations including Marguerite’s high-class American, Bea’s Lebanese accent and a female French voice and male French voice can’t be easy. I was particularly impressed with Bea’s Lebanese accent which really brought her character to life.

Overall, I loved it and would highly recommend it.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven’t read a fictional Titanic novel before, and I really enjoyed this one! I loved the two main characters, Marguerite and Bea, and watching their friendship grow as they navigate life after surviving the Titanic sinking—all while caring for a baby who was unexpectedly handed to them on a lifeboat.
I especially loved the strong female characters and storylines. Marguerite’s journey toward finding her own footing and independence, separate from her family and smothering fiancé, was one of my favorite parts of the story. Watching her strive for something more while also helping other survivors find a sense of normalcy and rebuild their lives made her journey especially compelling.

This was such a delightful and heartfelt read. I could absolutely see this story being adapted into a movie or limited series—I’d love to watch it come to life on screen!