A group of people who were supposed to be on the Titanic but then for various reasons did not board, end up forming a group to discuss their unique situation. At first they met out of curiosity, but then decide to form a book club based on the suggestions of Yorick, who curated the second class library on the Titanic. As they get to know each other, Yorick, Zinnia, and Haze in particular bond and thus start a love triangle centered on letters Yorick writes for Haze to send to Zinnia. Overall, a bit convoluted and mostly tragic as no one seemed to get what they want. The book club scenes with the group were more interesting than the love triangle.

Yes, his real name is Yorick. He was supposed to be on the Titanic but was not, given leave of his job before the boat pulled away on its unfortunate journey, yet his name was still listed among the dead. There were others like him, people who were meant to be on the boat and ultimately did not go, making them sort of survivors without having ever gone through the event. A few of these people get together to form the Titanic Survivors’s Book Club, and thus begins the story of Yorick the bookseller in Paris.

I have a lot of feelings about this book. I did enjoy it, in the end, although it felt a little meandering. The story isn’t really about the Titanic or anyone who was actually aboard (until the end, at least), but it is about a love triangle, a changing world, and things you see but can’t have. The book was interesting and original, although I may have wanted it to be “more.” More of what, I don’t know. I enjoyed the wartime details of the plot, the sepia-toned moodiness of the overall setting, and I believe the author accomplished what he set out to accomplish. I feel like this story and a few of its plot points could have been polished until they shone a bit brighter, but overall it was a clever story in a time I adore.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

If you're craving a literary voyage back to the early 20th century, "The Titanic Survivor's Book Club" by Timothy Schaffert might just be your ticket!

While the romantic entanglements didn't quite light my literary fire, I must admit, I'm not one for love triangles. The plot, though well-crafted, felt a tad low stakes for my taste, leaving me yearning for a bit more excitement. However, for readers eager to delve into the historical period of the Titanic, this novel serves up a tantalizing slice of the past. So, if you're ready to set sail on a journey through time, grab a copy and prepare to be transported to a bygone era of glamour and intrigue.

For weeks after the sinking of the Titanic, Yorick spots his own name among the list of those lost at sea. As an apprentice librarian for the White Star Line, his job was to curate the ship’s second-class library. But the day the Titanic set sail he was left stranded at the dock. After the ship’s sinking, Yorick takes this twist of fate as a sign to follow his lifelong dream of owning a bookshop in Paris. Soon after, he receives an invitation to a secret society of survivors where he encounters other ticket holders who didn’t board the ship. Haunted by their good fortune, they decide to form a book society, where they can grapple with their own anxieties through heated discussions of The Awakening or The Picture of Dorian Gray. The story evolves to a love triangle between Yorick, Zinnia and Haze, and, unfortunately, the other interesting survivors are not mentioned as much. I thought the story of the three main characters was slow in spots but was well written all the same. I am also not a fan of homosexual relationships being prominent in the story.

The premise of the story was interesting as it was about those who survived the Titanic by NOT using their tickets and boarding the ship. I wish the other book club members had figured more into the story, and more books were mentioned. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book.

“The Titanic Survivors Book Club” is, in essence, a love triangle that began with the formation of a book club. The survivors mentioned had, in one way or another, cheated death by not boarding the Titanic. They had their tickets, but fate intervened and spared them. Through an invitation, these bunch of survivors gather sporadically throughout the years in a Paris bookshop owned by one of those said survivors. A friendship, and subsequent triangle, blossoms between Yorick, Zinnia, and Haze (short for Hansel). The book follows these 3 friends one year after the sinking of the Titanic through the beginnings of World War I.

Don’t let the title fool you. This book has nothing to do with the sinking of the Titanic. It is a story of unrequited love, jealousy, friendship, sadness, and war, with the occasional book references thrown in, not to mention a small take on Cyrano de Bergerac films as well. This is also a love letter to books and how they have affected and shaped the proprietor of the bookshop, Yorick, through his life (including being named after the Shakespearean character). The other survivors of the club are in the peripheral of the story, popping in occasionally when the club sporadically gets together. The backdrop of Paris gives a hint of historical reference when World War I breaks out and most of Paris feels as though they’ll be spared, until they’re not, sending the 3 friends in different locations and paths while war rages on.

I loved this book. There were so many quotable passages contained within the pages. The writing was so eloquent and beautiful. As a librarian and an avid reader of any book/genre imagined, I have read probably over 1,000 books in my over 50 years. While I’m thoroughly invested in almost every book I’ve read, very rarely do the characters stay with me well beyond my finishing the book. The 3 characters in this book have stayed with me even a week after I finished it, and I credit the incredible writing of the author, Timothy Schaffert, for the emotion contained within the pages.

The only drawback for me would be to say that I did not enjoy the ending. I was a bit disappointed in how it was written and would have liked a different sort of closure for these characters. It felt rushed. My only hope is that the author will revisit Yorick in a sequel.

I will be seeking out other Schaffert books to see if his exquisite writing is captured in his other novels or was just reserved for this particular one.

The Titanic is my weird niche history obsession, so I was really excited to read this book about survivors who band together in a book club. This was... not quite that. It was actually about people who were supposed to be on the ship but then for a variety of reasons never boarded, so the title isn't ~entirely~ accurate. However, I still thought that the cast of characters that made up the book club were interesting, and each of their reactions to realizing that they had just missed likely drowning on the ship were intriguing. I particularly liked the toymaker who had made all of these Titanic-themed toys, but now felt that selling them and profiting off of the tragedy would be morally wrong.

Despite its name, this book focuses very little on the book club itself, and more on three specific characters who are locked in a love triangle (Yorick is in love with Haze, Haze with Zinnia, and Zinnia with Yorick). To be honest, I didn't care about these messy, messy relationships; none of them were fleshed out enough to justify all of the dramatics these three went through.

Interesting concept, deceiving title.

After you’ve narrowly avoided death in a notoriously tragic shipwreck, how do you approach your remaining days? For the memorable personalities in Schaffert’s (The Perfume Thief, 2021) exquisite novel, their chance survival encourages them to pursue their desires. But what if these yearnings conflict or remain unrequited? Having opened a Parisian bookshop after his secret library of controversial volumes got him replaced as the Titanic’s librarian, or so he believes, Yorick convenes a book club for fellow eccentrics who also missed boarding the fatal voyage. While Yorick falls for Haze, an impoverished photographer, Haze grows romantically obsessed with part-Japanese candy heiress Zinnia. Relations among this trio of beloved friends become complicated after Yorick reluctantly begins a Cyrano de Bergerac-style correspondence to Zinnia under Haze’s name. Then the Great War disrupts everyone’s lives. Schaffert writes stylish, intelligent fiction that casts new light on familiar settings, and his appreciation for lush details feels so very Parisian. This isn’t a standard cozy novel about book clubs but rather an elegantly moody take on love, literature, and the indelible connections they create. (Reviewed for Booklist, 3/1/24 issue)

Thank you so much to Netgalley for my arc.

I thought this was going to be a book about Titanic survivors in all honesty. But it wound up being a tragic love story and I was not expected that.

I was disappointed but since I did like some of the characters, I stuck with reading it although the writing style is not something that I am used to.

I can't say too much because it was completely different and I was disappointed to see its not.

Thank you for my arc!


This book was not for me. The premise seemed interesting but the writing itself was overly written prose that could not keep me engaged. I ended up skimming most of the book because I wanted to be done.

Alas, a book about books and the Titanic which is not actually about books or the Titanic.

This was a great premise for a novel and I was really looking forward to reading it. Unfortunately it’s not exactly what it appears to be.

This book is mostly about a doomed love triangle, which is well written and reasonably well imagined, but it’s also boring if you’re not a fan of tragic romance and if you were expecting the book to be more about…well…what it claims to be about.

And it’s a shame the story didn’t focus more on those things, because the bits that ARE there about the characters’ connection to the Titanic and about the bookshop are quite good. I wanted more of this, especially about the protagonist’s love of and relationship with books. It’s the best part of the novel, and it’s sadly underutilized.

Nothing about this book is poorly done, and if you like romance, especially of the star-crossed variety, then you’ll likely enjoy this more than I did. I just wish publishers would be more honest in their plot summaries, because this one isn’t what it purports to be, and that’s going to make a huge difference in who the intended audience is.

Well-written book but moves along slowly, especially in second half. Evocative setting. Paris in WW1 era comes alive. Readers may find the title misleading—the novel singles out three of the book club’s members and glosses over the others.

Firstly, this book captivates with its eloquent prose and vivid descriptions. Initially drawn in by its title, which resonated with my fascination for all things Titanic, I was pleasantly surprised to find it really had nothing to do with being on the ship. Instead, it was about the Titanic survivors; not through tragedy but through the absence of a fateful decision. The beginning intrigued me since everyone seemed quite mysterious. As their stories unfolded, I found myself enjoying their unique stories and loving their personalities. I also enjoyed the subtle romance and little love triangle. I found it charming reading a book about books. Overall, it proved to be a thoroughly enjoyable read and one that I would recommend to others.

While this was not really about the Titanic in the way that I thought it was going to be, I enjoyed the writing and overall the story kept me interested

This was not for me. I thought that a club of survivors would be interesting to read about, working through their survivors’ guilt and finding a way to go on with their lives. This was not about that at all. The members of the book club were in a different group – those who didn’t make it on to the ship but were supposed to be there, which has its own survivor’s guilt. Unfortunately, the three people the novel focused on were, in a nutshell, not people who I would spend time with. Maybe it’s because I’m shallow and I’m OK with that but they were overly intellectual and dull. And the dreaded love triangle, prevalent in the cozies I read, doesn’t work any better in historical fiction. This is more suited for those who really like to explore emotions and flowery prose. I tried reading it but couldn’t get through it so I tried listening and the narrator didn’t help. Again, this was just not for me.

I read any Titanic book that I can find, and I was very intrigued by the title of this one. Once I started reading, I discovered it was unlike any Titanic book I had read before. This book features a “society” of folks that could have or should have been on the Titanic. Yorick is the main character we follow on this reading journey. He owns a book shop, a shop he purchased after he should have served as Titanic’s librarian. He has two friends, Haze and Zinnia, also a part of the club that we get to spend time with. There are romances, heartbreak and betrayals. I found this very intriguing and enjoyed it very much.

What a lovely and heartwarming story, perfect for fans of Remarkably Bright Creatures and Before We Were Yours. It's beautifully written and focuses more on the love triangle between three characters than on the actual history of the titanic or avoiding its journey/demise, but it was an interesting read.

Thanks to NetGalley, the Publisher and Author for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review

This book offers a unique premise with moments of captivating imagery and introspection.

One highlight of the book is “Part Two,” where the narrative unfolds through a series of letters exchanged between the characters. This format adds valuable insights into their inner thoughts and emotions, adding depth to the storyline and historical context.

The Titanic Survivors Book Club is a good fit for readers who enjoy character-driven historical fiction with a focus on the healing power of literature, friendship, and second chances..

An interesting premise that devolved into something else entirely but not in a bad way. The writing is beautiful, truly the author is incredibly talented. But the story and the characters just fell a little flat for me. I just feel a little meh? I didn’t dislike it but I didn’t particularly enjoy it either. I think it would be a good book for a book club, appropriately, but ultimately it was mostly unremarkable.

Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the first third of this novel. I thought the idea was clever and I was interested in seeing how Haze, Zinnia, and Yorick's lives would intertwine. But as soon as I figured out it was a doomed love triangle (an actual love triangle for once though), I was less interested because I knew it was going to end in heartbreak all around.

Looking forward to reading more by Schaffert.

I thought this book was okay, but nothing that stood out for me. The Titanic was merely a "hook" for the story (which was a bit disingenous) rather than an integral part of the narrative. Instead, this was more of a "found family" trope within the oh-so-popular now subgenre of books about bookstores. The writing was good and I enjoyed the Paris setting in the early 20th century. However, it definitely wasn't a stand out book for me, and I'll likely only recommend it for people who really like the bookshop setting.