Sometimes life takes us in the opposite direction than what we desire. In Charlotte’s case, there are so many turns of fate that she must be resilient just to survive.

Charlotte’s youthful dream of marring well all but disappears when her father dies. He left them without a dowry. After a series of unfortunate events, the sisters find themselves heading to Canada. The ship is transporting a group of women intended as brides for the gold miners.

Among them, Charlotte’s desire is not to marry but to become independent. Charlotte’s quick mind provides the initiative to seek activities not normally designated for women. Her mother’s insistence that she always act as a proper lady gives her pause.

This is an easy to read historical novel. It is not a typical romance novel and the barrier to a happier ever after life are many. Some are such that a lesser woman would not survive. It is well written. I found myself up late at night wanting to read just one more chapter. A fine example of period writing and the perseverance it took to succeed under societies expectations and prohibitions. I loved it!!!


I received an ARC from Simon and Schuster Canada through NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion or rating of this book. I am voluntarily submitting this review and am under no obligation to do so.

Though this is a long novel it is worth the History Buff's time. Charlotte is our main Heroine but we get a lot of back ground on a lot of characters to know why the choices on marriage, or not wanting to marry are so important to this story. England to Canada in the 1800's is one thing but Charlotte has to get all the way across Canada and that is the adventure in itself. We know that white men and women populated Canada but have you really thought about that happened? Epic travels like those of brides like Charlotte are stories worth telling and reading.

The year is 1862. Charlotte is perilously close to being labeled as a spinster at her young age. Her father was a dreamer and didn’t leave behind a dowry for his daughters. She is living on the generosity of her sister, Harriet, and her husband, Charles. Charles has high political aspirations and intends on marrying Charlotte off to someone who can help him achieve those aspirations. When Charlotte is told to make a match with one of these powerful people, things go horribly wrong and her reputation is in peril. Of course, in these times, truth didn’t matter. A simple thought of impropriety was enough to make you a social outcast. Charlotte has no other choice than to take the journey from England to the far west coast of what is now Canada in order to find a new life for herself. What she learns on that journey and in this new land shapes her into the person she wants to be. It is a life of freedom from all of those Victorian rules and constraints.



This was the first Leslie Howard book I have read. It was VERY well done. I had never heard of these bride ships, but this was an actual part of history. The whole idea was to send marriageable women to the British colonies in the Vancouver area to help populate and civilize the area. Fascinating yet insulting at the same time. This was a fictional take on this time period. I enjoyed following Charlotte and seeing the progression that led her to being the self-reliant woman she became. Her sister, Harriet was a character that both irritated me and saddened me at the same time. I’m quite certain many women in that time went down that same path thinking they had no alternatives. If you are a fan of historical fiction, this is one I would recommend. I haven’t seen many books that look at this particular area in history and it was fascinating. Four out of five stars for me.



Thanks to Simon and Schuster and Netgalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The quiet of the ship is relaxing. Soon they would dock in Victoria far away from her home. She is 21 and starting her life over from being a social out cast. There will be less rules in the colonies and more freedom. George is crazy over Charlotte or so he acts and is told to steal some kisses before marriage.Charlotte doesn't have a large dowry.charlotte wants to be a vet assistant but is made to feel a fool for wanting to . It seems like the only option is to marry Charlotte and George have a dispute that can alter her life.i liked Charlotte and felt for her worries about measuring up to other women. I thought she was headstrong in a good way. George was awful.

Sixty women hesitantly, boarded a bride ship headed for Victoria. What could happen if they were brave enough to start over? Would they even make it there? And how does someone marry someone you don’t know?
This was realistic fiction at its core. There was poverty, prejudices, drug abuse and death. I was pulled in at the injustice unfolding and struggled at times to take in all the hardships. It was just one thing after another and I
had to see it to the end.
This is a HEA, but you’ll have to embrace the true telling of what it was really like to sail there.
If you’re looking for a romantic book then this is not for you. But I really enjoyed this historical account and I’m very glad I read it. I hope you read this and enjoy it as much as I did.

This was a NETGALLEY gift from the publisher and all opinions are my own.

Well researched and interesting history of the brideships to the Pacific Northwest in the gold-rush era. Enjoyed the history and the background on conditions for women, both poor and wealthy, in England at the time. The writing felt a bit rushed at times and slow at others, though it kept me engaged throughout.

Although fiction, this book gives a realistic look at the strict rules that governed a woman's life in early British history. Marriage was a bargaining chip to be traded to the highest bidder and woe the life of a woman who was not married by the age of 20. Leslie Howard gives us the story of women who escaped their regimented destiny to sail to British Columbia's Canadian shores. These women agreed to the voyage as a means to find a new life, with or without marriage. I enjoyed the story. The characters showed a determination to follow a dream, no matter the rough living conditions they would find. These women set examples for their daughters and granddaughters to follow. 5 stars easily.

Endearing story of Charlotte who is living with her married sister whose husband wants to marry her off to a potential political ally. Charlotte tries to be nice at a party but the man tries to rape her and she escapes, but her reputation is ruined. She is sent out on a ship to one of the British colonies to find a husband there, but instead finds adventure...

The setting and storyline of this carefully researched book were very appealing. Leslie Howard tells the story of the women who sailed from England to British Columbia in the mid 1800s. Their reasons for leaving England were varied; the main characters in the story, Harriet and Charlotte, ran afoul of powerful men who casually ruined the women's reputations to pursue their own ends. The descriptions of shipboard life and the gold rush towns at the end of their journey were fascinating.

The character’s language was very formal, perhaps fitting for its Victorian setting.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Technically I give this book a 3.5 stars.

The Brideship Wife was interesting to me as it involves Canada, where I am from.
Also being a person very interested in genealogy, I had heard of war brides from WWI, I actually knew one when I was a child/teen.
I loved the story of the warship brides. It depicts pretty much what I had learned in my genealogy research.

The books MC, Charlotte Harding is 21( at this time and her place in society, she should be married by now) she has a duty to marry, no dowry, and little choice in the matter as her sister attempts to secure her a husband.

When plans that her sister Harriet had set up go awry, she has no choice but to choose to take the chance on the warship to Vancouver Island.

It was from this point until about 40% through that I debated finishing this book.
But things began to happen, instead of the same ole that had been the first part of the book. For me once I got to this part, I didn't want to put the book down!!

If you have the patience to go through a little bit of the book before it hooks you, I promise you a great story with many ups and downs and quite a bit of interesting education about England and Canada.

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for giving me this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Brideship Wife by Leslie Howard tells of a piece of Canadian history that is not widely known and certainly new to me. It tells of the women who traveled across the ocean seeking a better life for themselves, some marrying while others chose to live independent lives forging their own path. The author tells this story through the eyes of Charlotte Harding, a young woman forced to leave her home in the wake of a scandal and travel aboard the British Brideship. I found this story quite compelling. You can tell the author did her research. The history of gold and the early settlement of British Columbia was very interesting. I enjoyed the characters and their stories but I felt the book was a bit rushed in places and although the book holds 400 pages I feel as if something was missing.

Posted review on Goodreads and my Instagram

The Brideship Wife by Leslie Howard is one woman's fictional story about voluntarily setting sale for British Columbia, leaving England forever, ideally to become a bride to a man there, but at least have the opportunity to make a new life. Charlotte has left England to escape her sister Harriet, and he marriage of convenience to a man who has grown tired of supporting her. It's a complicated story, much of it revolving around men's intrinsic power over women, especially in 1862. The hardships they faced are all realistic, although they happened one on top of another instead of over a period of year. Her sister ends up traveling with her, ostensibly as a chaperone but she ends up becoming a part of the story. This is a terrific story, similar in many was to orphan train type stories. Strong women make a go of it in Victoria or anywhere else. Weaker women are at the mercy of men and of society. This was a very interesting story of some of the strong women who succeeded, husbands or not. I fully recommend it to lovers of historical fiction or to people who want to learn about different lives in different times. It was terrific.

I received a free ARC of The Brideship Wife from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #thebrideshipwife

The Brideship Wife is a refreshing look at a little known part of Canadian history. Unfortunately, the majority of the story takes place in England and on the ship, leaving the Canadian details as a brief postscript. The character of Charlotte was strong and feisty and clearly before her time. I would have liked to see her shake up the rigid Victorian society a bit before she shipped out.

In 1862, Charlotte lives with her sister Harriet and brother-in-law Charles in England. She has no dowry and very few prospects for marriage. Charles has grand visions for a life high in the political arena, and he views Charlotte as a damper on his plans.

After a scandoulous evening at a party hosted by Charles, things begin to change for the family. Against her desires, Charlotte is sent away on a brideship sailing for Cananda where she is expected to make an advantageous match.

While on the voyage that lasts more than 100 days, Charlotte begins working alongside a doctor, which Charlotte enjoys and leads to some eye-opening experiences. Once the ship reaches it's destination, the women learn that life in the Americas isn't that much better or scandal free than life in England.


I really appreciated the historical aspects of this novel. The brideships are a part of history that I was not previously familiar with. I had a difficult time connecting with the writing and characters, though. I did enjoy the inclusion of historical figures, such as Charles Dickens. Overall, I would recommend this book if you want something easy and informative to read. The story is interesting and I cannot imagine having to go through this kind of experience. It was enlightening and led me to do some of my own research on the topic.

Thank you to NetGalley, Simon and Schuster and Leslie Howard for the advanced copy of The Brideship Wife in exchange for my honest review.

What an interesting book, this book, though fiction, it opened the door to a part of Canadian history that was hardly known. I have read HF about the brides coming into French Canada, Quebec and found this just as absorbing. My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Brideship Wife by Leslie Howard
Publication Date: May 5,2020


The Brideship Wife is set in England, 1862.
The main character Charlotte has a duty to marry but she has no dowry and her future seems to be decided for her. When a scandal threatens to ruin her reputation, she begins her journey to the New World in hopes of freedom and a better life.

This is a chapter in Canadian/British history I previously knew nothing about.
Living in Victoria myself I naturally gravitated to this book as I was interested in learning more. I was surprised to see this book touched not only on the British brideships but also other topics such as racism, the smallpox epidemic in native communities, Chinese opium wars, Barkersville & the fight at that time for women to be heard and have their own place in society.

The brideship wife is thoroughly researched and while many dark periods and themes scattered throughout the book I found it still rather light & enjoyed the bits of romance in the book as well. The ending was really not expected as well but made me so happy! I found it took me until part two to get into it but overall I really loved the story.

Thank you to @netgalley @simon&schustercanada @simon&schuster for the digital arc in exchange for my honest review

The Brideship Wife by Leslie Howard

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Out now 5/5/20
Please go check this one out

Inspired by the Brittish brideships

The year is 1862 and we follow Charlotte, who knows it is her duty to marry. Although Charlotte has other thoughts on the matter, she can't keep living off her sister and wealthy brother-in-law, Charles. During a dinner party, she is in charge of winning affections of one of Charles's colleagues. This is the night that will change her life forever. Her reputation is in danger and through several events after this one night, her and her sister embark on a journey with no say in the matter.
They are sent on a brideship to the New World. Charlotte's journey is hard but she grows through pain and makes new friends in different social standings.

I loved how strong Charlotte is and how much she grows throughout the years. We see heartbreak, love, women strength, and friendship. I couldn't imagine living in a time that I wouldn't be able to speak my mind. There is a part in this novel where it is his word against hers, and it makes me mad and sad for all the women out there, that their side of the story wasn't heard and believed. This may be a rough read at times for some people but, this doesn't focus on all of the bad and actually ends up being a very positive read.

I thoroughly enjoyed this debut novel and hope to see more from Leslie Howard in the future.

Thank you @netgalley and @simonschusterca

Synopsis: In 1860s England, Charlotte is considered a spinster in her 20s as she has no dowry and no real prospects of marriage. After a disastrous event with a man at a party that could wreck her family’s reputations (particularly her sister’s) , she is being forced to leave England on the bride ship to the New World and start a new life.

Thank you Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for the advanced copy for my honest review!

My Review:⭐️⭐⭐.5 / 5 stars

Charlotte’s journey is heartbreaking - so alone in the world, and only because she is a woman without a dowry and without an ability to get a real job because of her place in society. I was so irritated reading about her sister who is insufferable… this turn of event seemed to be the best thing to ever happen to Charlotte and her future - she was able to regain her freedom in a way and there was a few extremely sad moments that made me so emotional - and took me by surprise. Some parts really dragged, and I started to lose interest here and there. - This was an informative read about this time in Canada - but I wish there was more to Charlotte’s relationship with John. It was ok - but not my favorite!

The Brideship Wife by Leslie Howard.
Publication Date: May 5, 2020. Out today!
.
Description from NetGalley...
“England, 1862. Charlotte is somewhat of a wallflower. Shy and bookish, she knows her duty is to marry, but with no dowry, she has little choice in the matter. She can’t continue to live off the generosity of her sister Harriet and her wealthy brother-in-law, Charles, whose political aspirations dictate that she make an advantageous match.

When Harriet hosts a grand party, Charlotte is charged with winning the affections of one of Charles’s colleagues, but before the night is over, her reputation—her one thing of value—is at risk. In the days that follow, rumours begin to swirl. Soon Charles’s standing in society is threatened and all that Charlotte has held dear is jeopardized, even Harriet, and Charlotte is forced to leave everything she has ever known in England and embark on a treacherous voyage to the New World.

From the rigid social circles of Victorian England to the lawless lands bursting with gold in British Columbia’s Cariboo, The Brideship Wife takes readers on a mesmerizing journey through a time of great change. Based on a forgotten chapter in history, this is a sparkling debut about the pricelessness of freedom and the courage it takes to follow your heart.”

Thank you to @NetGalley, @simon&schustercanada @simon&schuster for the digital ARC in return for my honest review.

My thoughts...
I wanted to read this book because I’m a fan of historical fiction. I was enjoying the beginning of the book. It portrayed the role of women and how they were treated during that time period well enough. The narrative was easy to read. But, there was way too much and quite random dramas for me. Unfortunately, I didn’t connect with any of the characters. I would have liked to have read more about the brideship; explored and focused more on the women who were subjected to board it. Overall, it was an interesting story, but it just wasn’t the book for me.

Were you always bored in history class in elementary and high school? I was a pretty good student but even I couldn't get excited about history in school. I'm a big fan of historical fiction these days though and I almost always use the novels as a starting point for learning more about what really happened way back when. Sometimes I read novels about things I should have learned in school and have just totally pushed out of my head. But sometimes I come across a story that features a part of history that almost everyone has forgotten about. The Brideship Wife was one of those novels. Author Leslie Howard stumbled on the history of brideships in the 1800s and decided it was the perfect setting for a novel.

Here's the synopsis:
Tomorrow we would dock in Victoria on the northwest coast of North America, about as far away from my home as I could imagine. Like pebbles tossed upon the beach, we would scatter, trying to make our way as best as we could. Most of us would marry; some would not.
England, 1862. Charlotte is somewhat of a wallflower. Shy and bookish, she knows her duty is to marry, but with no dowry, she has little choice in the matter. She can’t continue to live off the generosity of her sister Harriet and her wealthy brother-in-law, Charles, whose political aspirations dictate that she make an advantageous match.

When Harriet hosts a grand party, Charlotte is charged with winning the affections of one of Charles’s colleagues, but before the night is over, her reputation—her one thing of value—is at risk. In the days that follow, rumours begin to swirl. Soon Charles’s standing in society is threatened and all that Charlotte has held dear is jeopardized, even Harriet, and Charlotte is forced to leave everything she has ever known in England and embark on a treacherous voyage to the New World.
From the rigid social circles of Victorian England to the lawless lands bursting with gold in British Columbia’s Cariboo, The Brideship Wife takes readers on a mesmerizing journey through a time of great change. Based on a forgotten chapter in history, this is a sparkling debut about the pricelessness of freedom and the courage it takes to follow your heart.
I really felt like I was going on this journey with Charlotte. I don't know exactly what the settings would have been like, of course, but the worlds Howard created in this novel were brought to life for me. It was vivid, without being overly descriptive, and it was very much like a movie in my head.

I did struggle with a few things in this novel that kept me from loving it, like I kind of expected to. There was a lot happening in this novel. A lot. There was the scandal that pushed Charlotte out of England (which has multiple layers to it in terms of class and gender inequality) and the main purpose of the story, to explain the history of the brideships. But then there was the smallpox pandemic and how it devastated the Indigenous population in what was to become Canada. There were race issues, both with the Indigenous in British Columbia and with Charlotte's friend Sarah, who was half black, and her father. Then there was a devastating fire, which happened often in gold mining towns (and yes, there was a lot on the gold rush, too) that were built entirely of wood, which closed the book on a random character who was not at all necessary to the plot. Oh, and a laudanum addiction pops up too. Yeah. A lot. And on top of all that, Charlotte is a gentlewoman. She had some education but she seemed to know way more than a woman of her class would have.

All that being said, the themes Howard presented were very, very good ones. I appreciated that she focused on race and gender issues because so many of those issues are still prevalent today. Perhaps not as extreme as it once was but we still have a lot of work to do. The women who were on the brideships, and others who made their way to the New World in other ways, still had some societal restraints but they were also afforded many more freedoms than they had had in Victorian England. It was so wonderful to read as these women grabbed ahold of their new lives and made the most of it because they knew they deserved it.

I've been loving the historical fiction Canadian authors are writing right now. My favourite is Genevieve Graham and she was the one who reminded me that we have some interesting history in our country - even if we're a young country. Howard has contributed to the genre as well with her debut which focuses on a part of history that we were in danger of forgetting. I'm looking forward to even more historical novels about Canada's history. (Hear that, authors and publishers? Give me what I need.) Have you read other authors who write about Canadian history specifically (especially Indigenous authors)? I'd love to hear about them.

While I didn't love the novel The Brideship Wife I did love what Leslie Howard was attempting in her debut novel. I think historical fiction fans, especially Canadians, should consider reading this one because it tells a story of our history that we shouldn't forget.

*An ARC of this novel was provided by the publisher, Simon & Schuster Canada, in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*