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, Immigration, New York, Romance

Audible Audio

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]

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]

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!

[Debbie]

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.

[Paulina ☾ (Taylor’s Version)]

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]

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.

[Cecily - MillennialBookGal]

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.

[Abby | Life-Giving Library]

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

[Lena]

I really liked this book (3.5 stars rounded up to 4 for Goodreads)! 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

[Cindy Spear]

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]

“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

[The History Mom]

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.

[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.

[Enchanted Prose]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

[Kirsten Desorcy]

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.

[MicheleReader]

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.

[Jessica]

Over 100 years later, there is no shipwreck that fascinates like Titanic. I loved that The Survivors Guild used that horrific event as the jumping off point for her characters and the events of this historical fiction novel.

It is not a spoiler to say that our main characters, Marguerite Ashby and Nabiha “Bea” Nohra, both survive the tragedy. They are from different classes, different countries, and different worlds, and are brought together unexpectedly during the sinking and afterward. The novel tells their stories in alternating chapters, as they work to forge their individual paths in New York. Joining them is their work to help other Titanic survivors. One in particular is the focus of the story.

The novel provides a lot of detail about New York society during the early 1900s, and discussion of class differences, women’s rights, and immigration. Fans of Downton Abbey and The Gilded Age will find a lot of enjoy. Thanks to Harper Muse, Gabriella Saab, and NetGalley for providing this copy of The Survivors Guild for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Colleen Maclennan]

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.

[Cindy]

🌟THOUGHTS (without giving anything away): I love historical fiction that showcases the realistic side of humanity. This book was a great representation of what survivors of the Titanic must have encountered as they tried to work their way back to normalcy. I also appreciated the weaving to the tales of two very different women as they were joined in the quest to take care of the Titanic’s youngest survivor. This book was remarkably well done and caused many happy tears!

🏆PERFECT FOR: History buffs, women’s fiction readers, and Titanic excavators. Truly, this is not one any reader should miss!!

[Crystal books_inthewild]

I really enjoyed following Bea and Marguerite through the sinking of the Titanic and then watching them navigate life afterward. There was so much more to the story than the shipwreck itself. I loved the look at social class, old money vs. new money, women’s rights and expectations, and the ways women used their money and influence to create charitable organizations.

I also found the stories of the babies who survived the Titanic and the efforts to reunite them with their families really interesting. I hadn’t known much about that aspect of the disaster before reading this- and of course, it made me want to go and find out more…!

A definite five stars from me! I’d highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, wants to learn more about the Titanic, or likes a little Bridgerton-style social drama mixed into their historical fiction.

[Jennifer *Nottoomanybooks*]

💭: This one started off strong. Set on the Titanic, and then the aftermath of two of the surviving women of the boat. I loved the Titanic chapters, and when they got to NY. However, I felt the story was dragging on and on, and this is a long book. I wish it had been condensed. I stopped reading a little after halfway because I found myself not caring if I found out what happened or not. This is my second DNF by this author, so I think we shall part ways.

[Jennifer Deke]

I’ve had the pleasure of hearing Gabriella speak on launch day for this book and for The Star Society. She thoroughly researches the subject and writes a fascinating account that keeps readers engaged.

[Morgan]

4.75 ⭐️ Another beautifully written book from Gabriella Saab, she is definitely on my must-read-every-book-she’s-ever-written list! 🫶🏼 Thank you NetGalley for the ALC!

[Michaela]

Thank you to @booksparks + @harpermusebooks + @gabriellasaab_ for this gifted copy of The Survivors Guild! All opinions expressed are my own.

The Survivors Guild follows two young women aboard the Titanic—Nabiha “Bea” Nohra (a Lebanese immigrant) and Marguerite Ashby (an American heiress). Bea and Marguerite could not be more different but unite to survive a tragic night and protect an unclaimed baby boy. In the aftermath, they form a committee to help survivors and locate the baby’s family. They may have survived a tragedy, but New York society presents further problems for women who break convention.

I’ll start with what I loved! Bea and Marguerite have a sweet friendship. I enjoyed their dynamic and the dual POV benefited the narrative. Their affection for each other and the baby in their care touched me. Dual POV is typically a struggle as I end up liking one perspective more than the other, but I was engrossed by both stories. There is a closed door romantic subplot, but The Survivors Guild is primarily a celebration of female friendship and resiliency.

What I enjoy about Gabrielle Saab’s writing is how she weaves in rich historical detail while keeping the story grounded in human emotion. I learned a great deal about the Titanic, New York society in the 1910s, and the experience of Lebanese immigrants. I had no idea so many nationalities were represented on the Titanic!

However, the uneven pacing keeps my rating from being higher. The beginning truly gripped me and gave me chills! Unfortunately, the pacing slowed dramatically in the middle. I wanted to see more of Bea and Marguerite actively running their society and engaging with survivors beyond the main few. Things did pick up towards the end though and I was once again invested.

All in all, I’m happy to have read this and learned more about the Titanic. Most media focuses on the disaster itself, but I loved seeing the longterm effects of survival and how it affected each character differently. I’m excited to see what the author writes next!

[Judy Collins]

Highlights
~Beyond the ocean. Where survival begins.
~Titanic tragedy meets Gilded Age betrayal.
~Two women. One secret. A bond forged in tragedy.
~High society drama with a powerhouse heart.
Surviving the sea was only the beginning.

Intro
As a veteran 12-year book blogger who has championed Gabriella Saab's career, it is an absolute privilege to see her storytelling reach new heights. After featuring her recently highly acclaimed January 2026 release, The Star Society, on my #LitLiftMiniAuthorChats and #AuthorElevatorSeries blog platform, my expectations for her latest novel were sky-high. I am thrilled to say that The Survivor's Guild is an absolute powerhouse! It begins where most tragic ocean liner stories end, delivering a breathtaking look at class, survival, and unexpected sisterhood.

The Hook
Surviving the most famous shipwreck in history was the easy part; surviving the cutthroat arena of Gilded Age New York society is where the real battle begins.

Elevator Pitch
An American heiress and a Lebanese immigrant survive the Titanic disaster together, only to be entrusted with an unclaimed orphan boy. Bound by tragedy and the determination to protect the child, they form an unconventional charitable committee that challenges the boundaries of 1912 high society.

Setting
The icy waters of the North Atlantic Ocean. The opulent but rigid drawing rooms of Gilded Age New York City

Vibe
Downton Abbey and HBO’s The Gilded Age meet Titanic with a rich, unique Lebanese perspective.

Genre
Historical Fiction

Themes
~Class divides and societal expectations
~Found family and female solidarity
~The immigrant experience in early 20th-century America
~Grief, resilience, and reclaiming autonomy

Standout Characters
~Marguerite Ashby: An American heiress suffocated by parental expectations and an impending loveless marriage.
~Bea: A fiercely resilient Lebanese immigrant working as a nanny, fighting to bring her family safely to America.

Author Writing Standout
Saab elegantly alternates between Bea's and Marguerite's distinct perspectives. She balances meticulous historical research with profound, character-driven emotional depth.

Takeaway
True survival is not just living through a tragedy; it is what you build with the pieces left behind.

Title Significance
"The Survivor's Guild" represents the unconventional charity committee the women form. It subverts traditional high-society clubs into a true alliance of mutual protection and purpose.

Metaphor
The Titanic serves as a metaphor for the rigid, gilded class structures of New York—beautiful on the surface, but fatally uncompromising underneath.

Why You Should Read
You should read this for an entirely fresh, dual-perspective look at the aftermath of the Titanic disaster. It brilliantly highlights underrepresented immigrant narratives within Gilded Age history.

My Thoughts
This book is a flawless masterpiece. Having loved Saab's previous books, I was stunned by how deeply she grounded this story in both heart and historical reality. The contrast between Marguerite's societal cage and Bea's desperate hustle for stability creates an addictive, emotionally charged narrative pacing.

Verdict ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ An Absolute, Unquestionable 5-Star Masterpiece!
Reading and listening to over 300 books a year means it takes something truly extraordinary to make me stop in my tracks—and The Survivor's Guild did exactly that. This is not just another standard piece of historical fiction; it is a profound, beautifully layered exploration of trauma, resilience, and the unstoppable force of female solidarity.

Gabriella Saab has written a career-defining novel that completely upends the traditional Titanic narrative, focusing entirely on the complex, messy, and triumphant aftermath of survival. If you only read one historical fiction book this year, make it this one. It is a spectacular triumph that deserves a permanent spot on your bookshelf.

Recs or Read-Alikes
Note: If you are looking for another extraordinary, deeply emotional look at survival, legacy, and historical depth, these remarkable books are absolute must-reads.

~The Star Society by Gabriella Saab — Her stunning January release is an absolute must-read. While navigating a different historical landscape, it features that same moving, character-driven depth that fans adore!

~Surviving Savannah by Patti Callahan Henry — Known as the "Titanic of the South," this brilliant masterpiece delivers a stunning look at the Pulaski disaster. A true favorite that maps beautifully alongside Saab's narrative depth!

~The Girl Who Came Home by Hazel Gaynor —Inspired by true events, blends fact and fiction, exploring the Titanic tragedy's impact and its lasting repercussions on survivors and their descendants, which was bittersweet.

~The Last Lifeboat by Hazel Gaynor —Inspired by a true story, a young teacher evacuates children to safety across perilous waters in a moving, emotional tale that lingers long after the book ends.

Audio Standout 🎧 An Elite Audio Masterclass & A Top Audiobook of the Year!
When you consume hundreds of audiobooks annually, you quickly learn to distinguish standard narration from true performance art. The audiobook edition of The Survivor's Guild is an elite, flawless production that has easily earned a spot on my Top Audiobooks of the Year list.

Narrated by two of the absolute finest titans in the industry,Saskia Maarleveld and Gail Shalan, this production is a masterclass in emotional translation. Maarleveld brings an exquisite, sharp dignity to Marguerite’s wealthy yet trapped existence, while Shalan completely embodies the raw, gritty, and fiercely protective spirit of Bea.

Having interviewed Gail Shalan back in 2025 for my #AudioElevatorSeries, I already knew the sheer level of dedication and brilliance she brings to her craft, but her work here completely blew me away. Together, their dual narration creates a living, breathing symphony of grief, hope, and survival. They don't just read the words; they anchor you inside the characters' souls. Do yourself a massive favor: turn off your notifications, plug in your headphones, and let these two powerhouses take you on an unforgettable journey.

Special thanks to Harper Muse and NetGalley for graciously sharing an advance reading and listening copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Blog review posted at
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars +
Pub Date: Sep 1, 2026
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[Good Book Fairy]

4.5 stars
https://goodbookfairy.com/the-survivo...

[Olesya Gilmore]

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!