i could not imagine finding a book filled with marine terminology so interesting as i did. as someone who hasn't really been near water a lot (mountain child), it was strange to come across something so exciting but all around water, it was an interesting experience and i can see that Sonja researches her books really well. this was a rather unique experience. and good storytelling.

The Family Ship encouraged me to research yachts and marine terminology - this always happens when I read her books though. I love that she takes a subject that I’m not familiar with (boating) and turns it into something I’m looking up later on! I loved this family dynamic and that everything works out for the best. I had high anxiety for a while - but it ends sweet and I loved it.

A family with nine children, a ship in the backyard, and a house run like a drill sergeant was in charge.

We meet the Vergennes family and learn that the ship is a diversion to keep the children busy as well as teach them how to be self-sufficient and learn life skills.

THE FAMILY SHIP has a storyline that takes us into a pecking order of sorts with the oldest child being respected as the leader.

Both parents love their children deeply, but they do rely on the children to help take care of each family member.

There is a slow start that will make you wonder where this book is going.

As you keep reading, you will find out where the book was going, and what a marvelous story line.

You will fall in love with most of the characters. You will also feel the pain of tragedies as well as happy moments which were few since their father was so strict.

Their strict father was a bit much because the children always behaved and were doing their best to help each other.

I really enjoyed the family‘s interaction and how tight knit they were.

Helping out is what happens in a large family as well as having to make sacrifices for some or all family members.

Anyone who has come from a large family will definitely enjoy this book and might see some of their own family with the array of different personalities and a mother who has to make each one feel special in their own way.

THE FAMILY SHIP is a beautiful read with lovely characters, heartbreaks, and a writing style and story line that pull you in.

You won’t want to miss this book. 4/5

This book was given to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 rounded to 5 stars

Sonja Yoerg does it again. I have read all 6 of her novels now, and all 6 have been winners! She is one of my favorite go-to authors. I never read the blurb before diving in as I know I will like whatever she comes up with. Her books are so different, yet every one has depth, compelling characters, and a lesson to be learned.

This story is about the Vergennes family who dwell in small town Virginia. The mom, Mauve, is a caring and loving mother. The dad is a navy veteran who suffers from a form of PTSD. Together they have 9 children, ranging from ages 4 to 22. I was impressed that despite the size of the cast, we get a very clear take on everyone. Ms. Yoerg has the family members taking turns being the focus of each chapter, a technique that works extremely well and makes it easy to keep track of who is who.

Early on as introductions are being made, the narrative moves slowly. Once that is complete, the book is hard to put down. Not only are we privy to the thoughts and perspectives of each character, but we also get a fascinating look at complex family dynamics. I especially enjoyed the hair-raising suspense and some heart-wrenching moments as a major crisis strikes the Vergennes family.

I really appreciated the way Ms. Yoerg brought the tale to a close. One of my reading pet peeves is abrupt endings, which are all too common in my opinion. However, the way the author closed this one out was like an exceptionally smooth landing of an airplane on a good long tarmac. There was no epilogue per se, but we got one just the same. Well, done, Ms. Yoerg.

I will miss these characters, including the non-seaworthy family ship parked in the backyard. They provided a wonderful escape along with all the feelings during a difficult time in real life. Where would we be without our favorite authors when we need to step off the world for a bit? Many thanks, Sonja, for being there with a terrific story when I needed it the most.

I highly recommend The Family Ship and all of Ms. Yoerg’s novels for readers of contemporary fiction looking for something different with true meaning and outstanding characterization.

I want to thank Sonja Yoerg and Lake Union who gifted me an advanced copy of The Family Ship through Net Galley. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.

Maybe this just isn’t my kind of book, but I found myself reading and re-reading sentences, paragraphs, and even whole chapters of this book because I just could not stay focused on it at all.

There were so many points of view and they spanned different years - and since I couldn’t keep up, it was just a jumbled mess for me. I almost gave up reading it.

About half-way through, the story does get more interesting (though I think there were things I missed from the beginning because I found myself wondering why a few things happened).

Overall, I thought the characters were both original and the plot was unique.

Describing The Family Ship is like putting a square peg into a round hole. It just doesn’t work. This remarkable story is about a family of nine children raised by Arthur and Maeve Vergennes. Arthur is a former Naval veteran of the Korean War with suspected PTSD who trains his children like a drill sergeant. He has moved his family to a home removed from the rest of town, separated by a bridge. This point is essential to the rest of the story. In the back yard is a large boat (ship) where the children play and escape from family daily difficulties.

Arthur has always had authority issues; people giving him orders make him think he is being persecuted. His wife, Maeve, is his sounding board and savior. She loves being a wife and mother and is an expert at handling Arthur. She can usually steer him towards the correct response. They are a close and loving family with the older children taking care of the younger children. Estranged from their oldest son Jude due to an unfortunate incident that occurred due to their daughter Verity, the parents are at odds over this issue.

At times, I wavered with this story, as it was sometimes difficult to continue. The older children, Jude and Verity, are over-burdened with too much responsibility for raising their siblings; it was both sad and beautiful. As each child strives to find their place in the family hierarchy, tragedy is about to strike, which will level the playing field. As Arthur deteriorates, Jude and Verity must step up and sacrifice their own desires.

Truly a voyage worth taking, this was not a book I would usually choose, and it took me out of my comfort zone, catapulting me into the lives of the young but unselfish Vergennes children. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion. I gave this book three and one-half stars, rounded up to four. #NetGalley #TheFamily Ship

Publication Date: February 23, 2021

The Family Ship by Sonja Yoerg was definitely one of the most odd books I have ever read.
The story follows the Vergennes family throughout the years. There are multiple points of view.

The book is set in the 1980's in Chesapeake Bay. There are strong family dynamics at play here as well as difficult times for the family all told through the stories on the boat in their back yard.

An interesting read, but definitely odd.

Wow! This book immediately drew me in! I’m always amazed when an author is able to make me feel like I’m right there along with the family. The story follows them through times of joy, heartbreak, resolution, and eventually finding joy once more.

What does it take to keep a family of 9 afloat? This book certainly gives you insight as to how to keep a crowd engaged day after day and it all revolves around a boat in the yard. It’s hard to believe that 7 kids would acquiesce to how this family functions. Not that they all do—there is a lot of conflict between the older children (parents, futures, responsibilities, teenage angst); but it was very hard to imagine such constant complacency for the most part by the kids in the story. As usual, mom is the superhero and the true captain of this ship and as in all large families, the older kids take care of the young ones.  A tragedy that befalls the family results in the expected reunion of the clan. It’s a nice story about different personalities within the same family and to what lengths they will go to stay together.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this book. I'll be posting my review on Goodreads and Amazon

It's a decent read. My attention wavered at times when I thought the narrative dragged. The Vergennes family is quite large. Eight children with another on the way. Jude, the eldest is estranged while the parents rely heavily upon Verity. Verity has a full ride to college, but her father selfishly believes she needs to help with the family instead of furthering her education. Several tragic occurrences befall the family. I just thought the story went on and on longer than what was necessary.

The Family Ship by Sonja Yoerg followed the Vergennes family through times both bad and good. Multiple points of view gave us insight on how this imperfect family truly fit together. My favorite narrator was Cyrus, a sweet little six year old who just wanted his family to be happy. This story was a whirlwind and kept me interested as it was so true to life.

It only took a few pages to hook me, flashbacks created interest and increased the dramatic effect. I felt like I knew what was going to happen, but I was rooting for the family to have a better outcome. The main responsibility for this large family falls on the shoulders of the oldest sibling, Verity, who is only 18 years old. The book is largely set on the Chesapeake Bay during the 1980s.

The ideal reader of this book would appreciate the nuances of a complex family dynamic, and have empathy for the intense trials the family endures. You are in awe of the strength and resilience of Verity as she navigates this complex dynamic to find her own happily ever after.

I was provided a free advance reader copy from Lake Union Publishing in exchange for my honest review on Net Galley. The opinions shared in this review are my own.

Wonderful character driven family drama. I loved reading the story of the Vergennes family and the oyster ship in their yard. I
5 stars

Oh how I loved this book!
A family struggle becomes so real as they depend upon a family ritual started very early in their history. It’s a family activity, really, but the little ones feel like it’s a game.

The story looks at the results of pride when it is allowed to grow unchecked. And it’s about love in a family and the difference love makes in the midst of a storm.

I love how the author manages to vividly paint 8 different children, plus the parents, each with a unique personality and motivation. She shows how each person fits into the family dynamic while showing us how it makes them feel and also painting the big picture and how each individual adds to the whole.

There is brilliance sprinkled all over this story, like glitter! A true delight. A story you cannot just walk away from: I kept wondering what would be next for these siblings and hoping all along that the disappointments in their past would not scar them for life. It’s been awhile since I read a book that got my heartbeat pumping as I worried for the characters and their outcome.

Simply stunning.

THE FAMILY SHIP by Sonja Yoerg is a beautifully-written and heart-wrenching story of the strength of the bonds of family in the hardest of times. Set near the Chesapeake Bay in 1980, the tight-knit Vergennes family touched my heart and held me captive through every single page. Arthur and Maeve have a very special love that has seen them through their share of hardships and loss. The couple and their nine children live isolated from the nearest town and each family member plays a distinct and cherished role in their daily routine. Arthur, a Navy veteran, has built a “ship” from an old oyster boat abandoned on their property. The children spend countless hours on the ship fulfilling their respective duties and responsibilities with military precision. With oldest brother Jude gone, eighteen-year-old Verity is the Captain of the ship and despite wanting more for her life, feels obligated to stay on. When tragedy strikes and the family is a risk of being torn apart both physically and emotionally, all the children, especially Verity, find a well of inner strength to weather the storm. This is such a unique story, full of every imaginable emotion. I enjoyed that the story was told from multiple points of view of the family members. Their voices felt so real and authentic. I loved this incredible family drama and highly recommend it. It will surely stay with me for a long time to come. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a chance to read an early copy.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview this book for an honest review. You can read the summary of the book from the publisher -- but i have to say it doesn't do the story justice. You really have to read it to get the feel for this story. This started out slow for me and I wasn't sure where it was going. But I have read other books by this author before and have enjoyed them so I kept going. I didn't have to go very far before I was drawn into this story. It is told from the point of view of at least 6 of the characters, all children except for the the mother. I did find it interesting that the father is not one of the narrators. It is the story of a large family and covers interactions, relationships, fun, love, disagreements, tragedy ...and how all react to those. The plot is very creative and the authors development of the characters is quite good. You really feel you get to know all of them, for better or worse. The father totally annoyed me -- but strong feelings are the sign that the author has done a good job developing a character I think. And he has redeeming qualities in the end. This is an easy book to read. Highly recommend it - great for book clubs

“Family Ship” is the newest novel by Sonja Yoerg who is a master at writing character-driven tales with plenty of unexpected twists and turns.

The focus of this novel is on the Vergennes family and specifically its nine children who use an old oyster boat as a make-believe ship. To dad, Arthur, this ship is what teaches his children necessary life strategies such as teamwork and responsibility. Oldest daughter, Verity, is the caption of the ship, named the USS Nepenthe, and oversees her younger charges in Chesapeake Bay, Virginia.

Flash forward to the present as the Vergennes family faces a range of adversities, not just from the outside, but also within the family as well.

While the novel is told from the point of view of different family members, I did not find it too jarring. Ms. Yoerg has a superb mastery of her characters and their distinct voices. We get to know each family member, flaws and all. There is a lot going on plot-wise, but the author balances story with character; the result is an honest tale of family dynamics as its members break out from their originally delegated roles.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an advanced copy.

Speechless.......

You don't get to choose the family you are born into. You don't get to select the order of your birth or the very parents who slide into your being their own personal family traits. You are a walking cocktail of quirkiness from a constantly moving North Star that sometimes fails to beam you in the right direction.It's all a shake of the dice, Folks.

As I began turning pages in Sonja Yoerg's latest novel, I wasn't sure where the concept of a large family of nine children who took to role playing aboard a wooden boat landlocked in their backyard was going. It's also 1980 near Chesapeake Bay in Virginia. Keeping track of all their names and their personality traits seemed a bit of heavy lifting. Where was Yoerg heading with all this?

But then the clouds slowly lifted and a remarkable story was unfolding. Yoerg doesn't leave you with a mob scene here.She has a gift for peeling back the layers of each of these characters as they step forward into the mix of life while revealing the painful bruises hidden within the human soul.

Arthur and Maeve Vergennes live with their brood isolated from the nearest town by a long winding road and a bridge to cross over. Maeve is in her seventh month of pregnancy in the early months of Summer. Arthur, a former Naval veteran of the Korean War, has trained his children into the responsibilities of daily routines aboard the boat. Each child relishes their distinct assignment aboard the vessel and play for hours on end. Verity, the oldest daughter, is eighteen and takes the role of Captain. Jude, twenty-two, has moved out on his own. Both Verity and Jude will hold key positions in this outstanding family saga.

The Family Ship will progressively take a giant leap from the Summer backyard activities of make-believe into the taut shoulders of reality. Several serious situations will befall this family in which their relationships and their coping mechanisms will be severely tested. Yoerg has a remarkable talent for getting deep inside her characters who display woefully flawed temperments slammed against the pitfalls of the backhand of life. Sometimes the weakest link must be fortified as the result of the others never letting go.

The Family Ship begins slowly as you get your sea legs. Keep your eye on interactions and relationships that start to unravel. There is truism here. (I am from a huge Irish family where my mother's sister had 14 children. You never allowed anyone to get lost in the shuffle.) You'll recognize a certain pecking order that exists in all families and who gets blamed for what. Search for this one when it comes out in February. It certainly is a worthy read.

I received a copy of The Family Ship through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Lake Union Publishing and to the talented Sonja Yoerg for the opportunity.

I am loving all these books about family dynamics. Its so great to read a book that deals with characters rather than who loves who and what person is having romantic problems OR who killed who, whose stalking who etc.
This was just a great story of family to get lost in. Truly enjoyed it and I know its going to be a hit when it comes out.

#TheFamilyShip #NetGalley

Special thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union publishing for providing me with ARC.

DNF, i don't know why, but i not real loving it. I tried so hard to push myself to read it many times but i can't.