The Girl on the Boat is the first of a four-book series, The Emerald Sisters, about four women aboard the SS St. Louis, a ship of Jewish refugees from Germany that was turned away from North America in 1939.

The perfect combination of inspiration from a true story and Hewitt’s emotive writing style, this book captured my attention from start to finish.

“To the future, to Havana, and to us. Four friends forever!”

Rosa Herzelfeld, Rachel Blau, Hannah Stone and Sophie Weiss were all on the SS St. Louis in May 1939 journeying from Hamburg, Germany to Havana, Cuba. All four were Jewish or Mischlinge and excited about the opportunity of a new life. None of them could have predicted that so much heartache was still on the horizon.

Shared experiences meant that when they met, they became instant friends and supported each other through the traumatic experience of being a Jew during wartime. Just before they were to arrive in Havana Sophie gave each of them one quarter section of an emerald and they made a pact that when the war was over, they’d meet on June 17th at 4 pm in Henry’s by the Eiffel Tower.

“I want us each to have a piece. A talisman of sorts. And when we’re together again - and we will be - we’ll fit the pieces back together. We’ll be whole again.”

All four are cast to the four winds and settle in England, France, Netherlands and America. This is Sophie’s story about the passage on the cruiseliner and her experience in America.

It was interesting to see the parallels the author drew between the segregation of the Jews in Europe and the Blacks in America. I was shocked at the reason that America wouldn’t accept refugees, was amazed at what passengers had to give up to ensure passage, and had never considered that a nightly suicide watch was necessary on the SS St. Louis. My tastebuds were tantalized with discussions of “thick slices of delicious Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte.”

I am eagerly awaiting Rosa, Rachel and Hannah’s stories.

I was gifted this copy by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture providing this book, with my honest review below*

This was a great start to the Emerald Sisters series, and I thought it was well done from a historical standpoint and very well written. I felt transported with Sophie during her journey throughout the book. I did feel that the plot got a bit cloying with the emerald, but I appreciated the emotional journey it took me on, really hitting home on the struggles of being Jewish at that time.

The end came quickly but I’m eager to read the other books in the series and to learn the answer to a major question that arose in the prologue.

Hello, Emerald sisters! This was a great start to the series. Sophie is a strong main character left to figure things out on her own in a new country. She never stops or lets anyone get in her way.

I wasn’t expecting the cliffhanger at the end and am so ready to read the next book! Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

A wonderful historical fiction book which takes a different look at the plight of Jews from Germany during their trip on the SS St Louis.
The book mainly follows Sophie and honestly the vast majority of the book is about her life after her time on the boat. It’s a wonderful look at survivors guilt and how many young Jewish people in America must have felt when they had to leave their families behind.
This was a very solid book. I wish I had known it would end in a bit of a cliffhanger, but that just means I’ll have to be on the lookout for the next book in the series.
I don’t really give 5 stars unless I’m completely enthralled. For me this book would be more of a 4.2 but since goodreads doesn’t allow less than a full star I have adjusted my star rating.

I received an advance review copy for free, from NetGalley and the publisher. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book hooks the reader immediately, with the prologue opening in Paris, in June 1946 at a cafe where the four "emerald sisters" had promised each other to meet on this particular day and time. Three of them show up and we learn that one didn't survive the war. No names are given. Absolutely brilliant writing!

Next, we set sail on the SS St. Louis, the doomed ship with 1000 Jews fleeing Germany and it is here we meet all four young women who will ultimately be the emerald sisters. It's heartbreaking and shameful to read about their voyage. This first book follows Sophie to D.C., one of only a handful of passengers to get off the ship in Havana. She is shocked by the segregation policies in America, as they are so similar to what the Jews experienced in Germany. I was shocked reading the very same political language being used then by Americans who didn't want to be involved in a war in Europe and the political rhetoric in America today. The America First Committee was virulently anti-Jewish, parroting Hitler's hate speech. I was so absorbed in the story that I didn't realize that the book was coming to an end. Since this is the first book in a new series, it ends in 1942...YIKES! I still don't know who survived so I hope the next book is released very soon. I may have to reread this one while I wait because it is that good. You don't want to miss this outstanding book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the digital ARC. All opinions and the review are my own.

A transporting and immersive story that will enthral historical fiction readers. Poignant and moving, its unforgettable characters will stay with you long after you’ve finished reading.

The Girl On The Boat by Kate Hewitt is a powerful historical novel that completely consumed me. It is the first book in The Emerald Sisters series which promises to be fabulous.
The action is set from 1939 – 1942 as we travel from Germany to New York. As the story opens, we ‘hear’ from after the war in the prologue. We know the time and the place and we ‘hear’ the outcome for several characters but we have questions – questions which will follow us through the series. I am assuming all answers will be revealed in the final book – I can’t wait but I’ll have to!
We follow a Jewish family as they board a ship, with other Jewish families, fleeing Germany for Cuba. Alliances are formed on board, and promises made to meet up in Paris one year after the war ends.
We ‘see’ the damage inflicted mentally on physically tortured souls. Men, who were the heads of families, are reduced to mere shells. It is the women who have to step up and become strong.
The novel follows a character to New York. Here, different problems are encountered.
We see that racial prejudice and injustice exists in America too. Here, people are judged by the colour of their skin and not the content of their character. This horrifies the character who fled Germany as she believed she was in the land of the free.
Tension builds as the months tick down. The reader knows that Pearl Harbor in December 1941 is approaching. There is nothing we can do about it. We cannot stop time nor warn the characters. We are passengers in the story heading to a moment in time.
All the characters are well drawn. They elicit a variety of responses from the reader.
As the novel ends, we are perfectly poised for book number two which I cannot wait to read.
I received a free copy from the publishers. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

THE GIRL ON THE BOAT is the first novel in rhe Emerald Sisters series by KATE HEWITT. I cannot recommend the book highly enough and am looking forward to the next one!
Kate Hewitt is one of my favourite authors, for her interesting and inspirational stories, and her characters, whose emotions are semsitively and realistically portrayed.
The Girl on the Boat starts in 1939 in Hamburg with Sophie Weiss, her father Jacob, her stepmother Margarete and half brother Heinrich, boarding the SS St Louis for Cuba and then the United States. These Jews who have been badly treated in Germany are, for the most part, well treated on the ocean liner and are full of hope until they are not allowed to dock in Cuba. Margarete arranges for Sophie to get to the States and Sophie is devastated at leaving her family and three friends behind to an unknown fate. She is filled with guilt and feels selfish. She breaks an emerald that belonged to her mother into four and the girls make a pact to meet up in Paris after the war…….
There is so much more to the story which deals with anti-semitism, not only in Europe but also in the States, where racial prejudice is rife, but I am not going to tell you any more for fear of spoiling things for you.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bookouture. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

I am not usually a Historical Fiction reader but this was amazing and the writing was beautiful.

The author made it easy to follow along with the character and i cannot wait to read another book by this author.
The Author lets you see a vivid picture and i found myself not wanting the story to end.

This book was a tearjerker but oh my.... just amazing as well.

Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review.

An amazing and hard to put down read! I can’t wait for the next book! I found the part of the book that took place on the SS St. Louis dragged a bit and the parts in Washington flew by, but I couldn’t put the book down for a minute!