I really enjoyed the historical aspects of this book, as well as, the informative author’s note regarding Ellis Island in the early 1900’s. Unfortunately, I found the story to be predictable and a bit slow at times. I also did not feel a strong connection to the story or the characters, and felt frustrated that it seemed to me like viewing a potentially emotionally powerful novel through a cloudy pane of glass. Although I have liked several of this author’s books in the past when she collaborated with other authors, this one left some things to be desired.

Thank you very much to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the advanced reader’s copy of this book.

A heartwarming story of two women who make a difference in the experience of women immigrants coming into Ellis island. One women is a new immigrate and one a daughter of recent immigrates . Together their stories are stories of many people who have come here over many years. A must read!

I haven't read much fiction about refugees arriving at Ellis Island. I was transported back in time to the wrenching experience of immigration, where people are arriving with hopes and dreams and fears and perhaps not speaking English at all. Francesca is a wonderful character, a protective older sister than saves her younger sister from her abusive father and together they flee to America. Francesca goes through many difficult times, but friendships sustain her. This novel is all about overcoming difficult obstacles. It is a novel of hope and determination. I think it is a book everyone should read.

The Next Ship Home is a story set in Ellis Island in 1902. Thousands of immigrants arrived on ships and went through Ellis Island in hopes to be allowed entry to the US. Alma, a matron at Ellis Island, helped the immigrants by translating and ensuring they were treated humanely. Francesca is an Italian immigrant who faces difficulties upon arrival at Ellis Island. Her sister is sick and they do not have someone to meet them or a job (a requirement to enter the US). Francesca and Alma begin a friendship that evolves in the book.

Both woman have a lot to overcome in this story. I was captivated by their stories and the story of Ellis Island. The story is inspired by true events and at the end of the book the author includes a little history, book club questions, and a Q&A with her in her writing.

This is wonderful book if you like historical fiction. It is not only the story of Ellis Island but the story of lives in 1902.

The Next Ship Home by Heather Webb is a gorgeous historical fiction that takes us to Ellis Island at the beginning of the twentieth century and gives us a peak into the conflicting, complicated, and sometimes dark past of the immigration system of the States. It was fascinating.

I loved this book on so many different levels.

The author did an amazing job creating a realistic, gritty, raw, bittersweet, and honest portrayal of how the situation and life could be for immigrants (especially women) coming to America in the early 1900s (this book being 1902).

Despite being touted as “the American dream”, the immigration system was not without its faults. There was sexism, racism, corruption, misdeeds, and misgivings. Yes, a great amount of good did take place, but for as many that found hope and solace, an equal number found crushed dreams, loss, hardship, marginalization, deceit, and sometimes worse. This imperfect and flawed system was beautifully described and displayed for the reader to sift through and experience.

The stories of Alma and Francesca are but two voices within an ocean of many. The character descriptions and portrayals were real and pulled me right in. Add in a bit of suspense, mystery, intrigue, and a gripping narrative full of emotion and history and the reader has found themselves a great book.

Highly recommend.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Sourcebooks Landmark for a wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.

A vivid and fascinating look into Ellis Island when it was functioning - no, not a look into it, I literally felt like I was rushing about there, being bumped into, smelling the foods, bodies, and salty air. Webb puts the life into the buildings I've seen as a tourist, letting the reader glimpse it as an immigrant. The Next Ship Home is a powerful story of grit, perseverance, starting over, friendship and courage.

A vibrant portrait of courage, and love, Webb peels back the years of time and circumstance to find the beating heart similar to all of us who look for, withstand and ultimately embrace the desire for belonging.
Two women bound by circumstance are each wonderfully drawn to paint a poignant emblem of sisterhood and friendship unfettered by prejudice of class, race and the structures built to suppress women's agency and voices.

In a literal sea of WWII, fiction, it was a reprieve to sink into a time period all-too-abandoned in recent histfic.

Heather Webb writes amazing historical fiction. This story is about 2 different women and their experiences of Ellis Island. This story has wonderful characters and is heartbreaking at times. I love historical books based on true events and this book does not disappoint. I received an advanced readers copy and all opinions are my own.

I'm a huge historical fiction fan, especially when it's set in the US. I've been fascinated by Ellis Island since I was a child, and even more so after visiting in my early 20s. It was a building that was truly moving to see and know how many people began their journey in the US there.

The Next Ship Home follows two women, one a US citizen and one an Italian immigrant, and their trials and triumphs. It's at times completely heartbreaking and at times powerful. It will open your eyes to what the immigrant experience may have been like coming through Ellis Island. It is certainly one that will stick with me.

While I did enjoy reading it, it moved slowly for me. It was a really good story, but there were times where I was ready for something more to happen. Overall, a good book.

3.5/5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks, and Suzy Approved Book Tours for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review!

1902. Francesca escapes the fists of her drunken papa and with her sister Maria take ship from Sicily to NY Harbor.

Alma of German descent is to work at Elis Island. She enjoys linguistics and picks languages quickly. She comes from a family, where her parents being immigrants themselves, are full of prejudice toward other immigrants. Alma always dreamed of something more than becoming someone’s wife. She finds purpose in a place she despised before. She learns to think for herself, and not to follow her parent’s opinions and ideas.

The story is character-driven, which I enjoy, but I wished there was a bit more to the plot to make the pacing faster. We get to know both women’s thoughts, feelings, and aspirations, but at the same time, they don’t stand out as individuals and I didn’t fully connect with them.

It was interesting to read about the immigrants experience at Elis Island, which caused a lot of stress as you never knew if you’d pass the inspection or not. But this island, a beacon of hope, had also some darker aspects to its process, harassment toward women.

The premise is very interesting, not only of the immigrant experience at Elis Island, but the paths of two women crossing, their support and maturing process. However, the story is dramatic in tone, which didn’t evoke my emotions.

The story follows the lives of Francesca and her sister Maria, fleeing an abusive father from Italy, on their journey to America. When they arrive at Ellis Island they find themselves detained as they had no sponsor. Alma, an Woman working as a translator there, forms an unlikely friendship with the sisters.
This story was heartbreaking and hopeful at the same time. It vividly captures the environment of immigrant life and I liked how the story was told from the two different sides.

This is such an immersive story - I was drawn right into the story and the characters. So well written and descriptive. I really enjoyed this book.

The story follows the lives of Francesca and her sister Maria, fleeing an abusive father from Italy, on their journey to America. Their troubles on the ship they sailed, to Maria's sickness and stay on Ellis Island and Francesca's future. A chance meeting on the ship to Ellis Island helps her in the future. And a wrongdoing by an island agent helps her stop abusive happening to the new immigrants.

A second viewpoint is also told - Alma is a matron on Ellis Island, versed in multiple languages helps her direct the immigrants. Her family owns a bierhaus and her brother, Fritz, is a main character as well - fighting off labor strikes.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

This was such a heartbreaking story at times. The characters and stories were so real. I know so much of this story actually did happen. I enjoyed the book and couldn’t put it down. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

Both Alma and Francesca find themselves at Ellis Island. Alma, a worker, is in charge of translating for the immigrants and running various errands. Francesca and her sister arrive on a boat from Italy, hoping to start a new life in America. However, Francesca's sister falls ill and without a sponsor, both find themselves detained. Alma, conflicted about immigrants, finds herself drawn to Francesca. The two develop an unlikely friendship and find themselves as allies.

I enjoyed reading from both Francesca and Alma's points of view. They were both dynamic, well rounded, and very believable characters. I also found it fascinating to read about Ellis Island. I have read few books about Ellis Island and will definitely pick up more in the future. Overall, highly recommended.

Heather Webb's writing draws you immediately into the story, and an interesting one it is. It was eye-opening to read about Ellis Island and how the immigrants were treated there, and what many of them escaped. Heather Webb does plot an interesting story and creates characters that you will both love and loathe. I won't discuss the plot, but I must say that when it ended, I was disappointed as I wanted the story to keep going. Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher Sourcebooks Landmark for an electronic advanced reader's copy. I highly recommend it.

The Next Ship Home really opened my eyes to what the immigrants went through coming to New York, the USA. What Ellis Island was like and how very scary for people to arrive from all over the world, not speaking our language, the unknown. The separating of families, sending some back to where they came from on the next ship, making the trip in steerage on the ships. The story was written very well, very descriptive. The characters were of all types. Prejudice, mean, rude. And then we had kindness, forgiveness, love, friendships. Some chapters a little wordy, but a very good book.

Intriguing story of Ellis Island told by two female characters. One woman is forced to work there by her stepfather, the other is an Italian immigrant struggling to survive in New York. A very descriptive story o how the Italians(among other immigrants) were treated in this time period. Fascinating>

A touching and intimate story of two very different young women, who join forces in turn-of-the-century New York City to overcome the odds. As a long time fan of Heather Webb's novels, THE NEXT SHIP HOME is her most accomplished and emotionally compelling book to date. The insightful historical details delving into the Ellis Island immigration experience make this novel essential reading for anyone yearning to understand the roots of the American Experience. Highly recommended.