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, New York, Historical

Kindle Edition

Expected publication 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]

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

[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.

[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.

[Kathy]

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.

[Abby | Life-Giving Library · Rating 3 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

[Olesya Gilmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

My quote!: Titanic meets The Gilded Age meets Edith Wharton in Gabriella Saab’s The Survivors Guild, which is at once an emotional exploration of the privilege of life after tragedy and a scathing critique of the layers of society, class, and gender inequality that must be stripped away, not unlike a sparkling Edwardian evening gown in the depths of the Atlantic, to reveal the hope and humanity that lies at the heart of all of us.

My favorite historical fiction explores pieces of history that we might not know and focuses on women, our survival, community, and friendship. This book has both! I loved how Saab took a known historical event — the sinking of the Titanic in 1912 — and built a story around it that readers will likely not know. A story that follows the lives of the survivors after the tragedy, and, specifically, those that were rarely spoken about: the immigrants—that is, the immigrant women.

The novel follows Bea, who is a Lebanese immigrant crossing the Atlantic with her cousin in hopes of a better life in America, one that would allow for the cousins to send for the rest of their family back in the Old Country. During the shipwreck, she saves the life of an American heiress, Marguerite — who is fictional, but based on real people at the time who belonged to new money New York society, some of whom had been passengers on the Titanic. The two women form an unlikely alliance when a baby is literally dropped into their laps in the middle of the Atlantic, as they are awaiting rescue from the Carpathia. So starts the women’s not only relationship, but their shared and individual purposes. Their shared purpose is to find the baby’s family. Marguerite must also contend with her snooty (en)titled fiance, who she is set to marry but really doesn’t want to (but has to, to cement her family’s standing in old New York society), and Bea must find permanent work in America and a way to support her family back in Lebanon, in light of her cousin’s death during the disaster. The women form The Survivor’s Guild, which is a charity based on real ones formed following the tragedy. In the book, the guild initially seeks to find the baby’s family and help Titanic’s other survivors.

The story unfurls in duel point of view, pulling the reader into the Gilded Age-like setting of New York City, with echoes of the upstairs/downstairs from Downton Abbey and the societal criticism perfected by Edith Wharton. I read the book quickly, because the pace is such that you always want to turn the next page, to see what happens with these characters that you can’t help but admire and root for, even if you don’t always agree with their decisions and/or actions.

Bea is stubborn, set in her ways, and seeming
older than her years, but she is also fiercely loyal, loving, and bears the weight of her family’s future on her shoulders with remarkable strength, resilience, and dignity. I loved all the details of her family and childhood in Lebanon, all the little cultural touches the author worked so lovingly on, as it is based on her own ancestors. Meanwhile, Marguerite is on the surface a young, spoiled heiress, though underneath, she is determined to carve her own path in society. She is an example of many women of the time quietly pushing back against the stolid, old traditions of family, marriage, and familial and societal mores and expectations. And Marguerite has a big heart, lending her help to anyone who needs it, though it does help to cement her own role in the elite society whose acceptance she craves.

Both women bridge the divide of culture, status, and wealth for a relationship that begins out of necessity and turns into true friendship. Both women are also strong yet believable for the time. Both women have to survive their times, too, one as an immigrant and newcomer to this country, with no male support and no money or connections; the other, in the rigid society of upper class turn of the century New York.

I found the women’s character arcs compelling, as their friendship to each other and the baby boy who helped them to come together. The differences in both women, their point of view and reactions, differed according to their individual culture, status, and wealth. And I found the author’s general treatment of the disparities between culture, class, and gender at this time, in the wake of Titanic’s tragedy, particularly finely drawn.

This is such a fun read for anyone who loves the Titanic, society/class stories like Gilded Age and the work of authors like Edith Wharton, and historical fiction centered on women, their survival, their community, and their friendships.

A big thank you to the author and the publisher for the ARC and opportunity to read this one for a quote. I miss it and the characters already!

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free ARC (Advanced Reader's Copy) of this compelling novel from HarperCollins Focus/Harper Muse via Publishers' Weekly.

On the maiden voyage of the Titanic in April, 1912, a determined young Lebanese woman, Nabiha Nohra, nicknamed Bea, is a passenger in third class (also referred to as steerage), traveling with her male cousin, Melham. The two are hoping to make a new life in America, and find work that will allow them to save enough money to bring over the rest of their family, who are struggling to survive on the harvest from their failing olive farm.

Also onboard, in first class, is Marguerite Ashby, a wealthy young American woman, who is unhappily engaged to Lord Percival Hexwith, an aristocratic Englishmen. Their marriage will add social credibility to the nouveau riche Ashbys, who hope to be accepted by New York's old money families, and also provide Lord Hexwith with the funds he needs to prop up his financially faltering estate in England, and himself.

When the "unsinkable" Titanic hits the iceberg that leads to its rapid demise, and Melham is lost at sea, Bea and Marguerite are unexpectedly thrown together, with Bea saving Marguerite's life. At the same time, they find themselves the unexpected caretakers of a baby boy when his father appears to have drowned in the icy waters.

Once ashore, these very different women gradually bond over the child, and over a mission they undertake together to reunite the infant with his family and to assist other survivors of the disaster. Gradually, and tentatively they begin to develop trust in each other and ultimately form a remarkable friendship that overcomes class, ethnic, and language differences.

Marguerite eventually comes to terms with her parents' and her own concerns over their family's social status, and develops the confidence to pursue her own goals and find love with the person of her choice, while the determined and resourceful Bea strives to find a way to create a new life in New York for herself and her family.

The Survivors Guild examines the rigid structure of the upper class society and mores Marguerite and her family aspire to in a period of rapid change in New York and the United States as a whole, as immigration swells, technology expands, workers strike for better conditions, and women pursue greater independence, including economic and voting rights. It also brings new attention to a lesser-examined ethnic group, the Christian Lebanese-Syrian immigrants who, as of the early twentieth century, had already established their own neighborhood in Manhattan, the Little Syria where Bea's character seeks housing and employment.

The novel is a satisfying and informative read that is hard to put down.

[Donna Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free advanced reading copy of The Survivors Guild by Gabriella Saab from Harper Muse Grab-a-Galley Giveaway.
This book follows two female survivors and an infant boy from the RMS Titanic disaster. Marguerite Ashby, a new money engaged heiress, is saved in the sea by Nabiha ‘Bea’ Nohra who is a third class passenger from Lebanon. An infant boy is handed to them to be saved. The trio is taken aboard a life boat and then rescued by the RMS Carpathia. Aboard that ship Marguerite finds her fiancé but the baby’s parents cannot be located.
Once in New York, Marguerite decides to bring the baby named Remy to stay with her at her parents house and gets Bea hired as his nanny. This was a time in history when society was ruled by old money people and new money was not accepted. Marguerite and her parents long to be accepted and Bea doesn’t understand the fuss as she is from a different class.
Throughout the book both women change and grow to become friends and create the Survivors Guild to help those who need it as Titanic survivors. They also along with Marguerite’s neighbor and rival Andrew Ralston III, who owns a newspaper, search for Remy’s parents.
I really liked the way both women were portrayed, including their desire to help their families and all their struggles and emotions. They are not the same women by the end, having become brave and strong. I enjoyed this story very much and highly recommend reading it.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book through the Publishers Weekly Grab a Galley compliments of Harper Muse.

Sharing a review of The Survivors Guild that I recently shared on Goodreads. I received an early copy through Publishers Weekly's Grab-a-Galley. This book comes out in September, and if you are into historical fiction, you will want to add this to your TBR.

This was a story about the lives of two women and an infant who survived the sinking of the Titanic. The story begins on the ship as the iceberg collision happens and mayhem ensues. The two main characters are a nouveau riche woman traveling first class and an immigrant woman traveling third class steerage. Spoiler alert - neither of these women makes it off the ship in a lifeboat. They do, however, end up rescuing themselves and an infant that is handed to one of the women by a gentleman without any information regarding the child, as there are language barriers. This is the first time that I have considered how diverse those traveling on the Titanic actually were.

My “Hollywood knowledge” of the history of the Titanic would have me believe that all passengers were of Northern European descent and all spoke English. I was intrigued to learn about the Syrian/Lebanese people aboard the ship.

I always enjoy a strong female character, and these two build each other up. The differences in status and culture, and their bond through surviving together and continuing their friendship with vast differences in opportunity and support, make for an engaging read. These two help each other find themselves and their futures.

Thanks to Harper Muse and Publishers Weekly. I recommend this historical fiction novel be added to your TBR. It is an interesting and different tale of the Titanic that tackles race, status, and gender and focuses on what happened to the people who survived the shipwreck and reached New York.

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just as soon as you know all about the infamous Titanic and its aftermath comes Gabriella Saab's The Survivors Guild: A Novel which introduces readers to the unique perspective of a Lebanese immigrant who like other third class passengers is looking towards America and its promises of a better life and an American heiress on board.

What makes The Survivors Guild: A Novel truly stands out amongst other Titanic stories is the coming together of the two women mentioned above with the common denominator of unexpectedly taking care of a young infant and having the immense task of finding the infant's family amidst the chaos of the Titanic.

How you may be asking did these two women do this? They founded The Survivors Guild which was a charity committee that helped Titanic survivors to get aid, resources and to be reconnected to family members.

Thank you to author Gabriella Saab for writing this unique Titanic historical fiction novel and publisher Harper Muse for the advanced eARC via NetGalley.

All opinions expressed are my own. Novel is expected to be released September 1, 2026.

[Maureen Timerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a good read, from being on the mighty Titanic to NY society.
We are there for the sinking, and the survival of some of the few survivors. We are on the RMS Carpathia as they come for those survivors, and we are there for the arrival in the NY Harbor.
This story follow a noveau rich young women survivor, and her families fixation on her marrying the Earl she is engaged to. We also have a young women who originates from Lebanon with desires to bring her extended family to America.
Bea, the girl from Lebanon saves the lives of Marquerite and baby Remy, and we follow their lives, and then the founding of The Survivors Guild! We also are looking for the babies family, and it turns into a rather dangerous cituation.
This is a beautifully written story that kept me page turning for answers!
We are offered some sweet romance, snubbing by the elite, a look into Little Syria, and some really strong women characters.
I'll be look at future reads by Ms Saab!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Harper Muse, and was not required to give a positive review.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bea, a Lebanese third-class passenger on the Titanic and Marguerite, an American socialite meet in the ocean after jumping from the sinking ship to
save their lives. They also rescue a baby and the story unfolds. Marguerite, facing an unwanted marriage that will elevate her family's social status, hires Bea as the nanny to care for the for the baby. Together they form the Survivors Guild to aid other Titanic survivors. If successful, this charity will grant an unmarried Marguerite acceptance into society, help Bea earn the funds to bring her family to America, and find the parents of the recued baby. This is a story of friendship and female resilience. There is a little romance, some deception, and a satisfying ending. The rich descriptions made the story come alive.

Thank you, Harper Muse and Net Gally for the complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Emma-Louise Wykes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for a free ARC for review.

I am somewhat obsessed with the history surrounding the Titanic, and I especially enjoy reading historical fiction based upon it, so this was a perfect book for me.

I loved the character development and friendship between Bea and Margeurite, and the depictions of the societal expectations and what life was like for people of all classes.

I enjoyed the story of baby Remy being reunited with his mother, however I recently read a different novel which tells this story much more thoroughly and accurately. It was good to experience a different take on the same subject, and I preferred this novel for the focus on Bea and Margeurite and their charity - The Survivors Guild which gives the book its title.

An informative, emotive read with strong female voices.

[Paul Ezekiel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully woven historical tale of survival, identity, and unlikely friendship. Bea and Marguerite’s lives collide in the wake of tragedy, and their shared mission to protect an abandoned child is both heartwarming and gripping. The contrast between Bea’s resilience and Marguerite’s societal struggles adds depth, making their journey feel authentic and emotionally rich. The tension of secrets, class expectations, and personal sacrifice keeps the story compelling throughout. With vivid storytelling and strong character development, this novel captures both the fragility and strength of human connection. A moving and memorable read that lingers long after the final page.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars

If you like HBO”s Gilded Age (which I do), you will find this book enjoyable. NO, not quite the soap operas of GA, but yes the jockeying for social status of the old monied and the nouveau rich. This book focuses on 2 survivors of the Titanic who are worlds apart in social class but become close friends..

There isn't that much plot in the book, but the writing is easy and at times the description is quite excellent..
Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review..

[Jenni Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Official blurb: The Survivors Guild is a moving, immersive read where Bea and Marguerite linger long after the final page. Their story begins with the devastating impact of the Titanic and unfolds into a rare, compelling look at what comes after. With rich turn-of-the-century settings and shades of Downton Abbey and The Gilded Age, this is a beautifully layered novel I’d wholeheartedly recommend.