Historical fiction set during WWII and takes place on the ocean liner Manhattan as it sails to New York City. I enjoyed the stories of the cousins Masha and Rachel Morgenstern. Their is an interesting cast of characters on board and learning about their stories was intriguing. I would recommend this book to friends and give it a 4 star rating.

Historical fiction which places a number of real people on an ocean liner traveling to New York from Europe during WWII. And there's the threat of a UBoat. I was disappointed, as I felt this focused more on the Kennedys etc. than it did on Masha and Rachel, cousins who are fleeing the Nazis. That said, it's a quick read and I suspect others will enjoy it. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

Like a previous review said, I like stories that involve ships and ocean liners so this book grabbed my attention. In an effort to escape war in Europe 1,500 passengers board the SS Manhattan. They are seeking a better life in New York. This is a treacherous Atlantic crossing because there are German U-boats hiding and bombing ocean liners. The most interesting passengers were the Kennedys. I learned a lot about Rosemary Kennedy and what happened to her. I did a little more research on her and found it quite tragic how she was treated.. I thought this book was good, but not great! It seemed to just end abruptly. There was such a big space of time between the landing and what happened to all the characters.

I have always had a soft spot for novels set on ships, so this had obvious appeal for me. It is 1939 and Europe is in flux, with everyone trying to flee in different directions. Over 1500 passengers are aboard the liner, ‘Manhattan,’ with the overcrowded ship heading for America. Those on board include Jewish cousins, Rachel and Masha, who are hoping to find safety, a young Nazi with a secret and some ‘real’ characters, including Arturo Toscanini, Igor Stravinsky and Mrs Joseph Kennedy and three of her children; Rosemary, Patricia and six year old, Teddy.

Although just getting on board the ship was a challenge for many of the characters, there are more dangers ahead. Ships have been torpedoed and these include passenger ships – shadowing the liner is a U-boat, U-113, led by Kapitan-leutnant Jurgen Todt.

This is an interesting novel, with a good cast of characters. By far the most interesting story to me was that of twenty one year old Rosemary Kennedy, described by her family as ‘vulnerable.’ Although he is warned off by the Kennedy clan, a musician, with the implausible name of Cubby Hubbard, wants to marry her and their story is a moving one. Overall, though, this is a fairly standard historical novel. I received a copy of the this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review. Rated 3.5.

In 1939 cousins Masha and Rachel Morgenstern board the luxury liner SS Manhattan heading for New York. The two cousins are leaving Germany in their need to flee from that country which has claimed the rest of their family.

Aboard the ship are other passengers fleeing the war, each with their own problems and secrets. Among them Igor Stravinsky, Arturo Toscanini as well as Rose Kennedy with four of her children, Rosemary Kennedy one of the four. And then we have young Thomas Koenig, a young Nazi who is also leaving Germany, with a secret he tries to keep to himself. As the war is beginning, German submarines are also in the Atlantic and one of them is stalking the SS Manhattan.

The book is dramatic in nature and quite theatrical in its way. It is a fictionalized depiction of real people and one whose stories we now know, in particular the Kennedy family. Despite the fact that it was well researched and I cannot find fault with the writing, I was not enamored of the novel. My thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.