[Review] The Ship of Brides - Jojo Moyes

Title of Book : The Ship of Brides
Author : Jojo Moyes
Publisher : Penguin Books

1946. World War II has ended and all over the world, young women are beginning to fulfill the promises made to the men they wed in wartime.

In Sydney, Australia, four women join 650 other war brides on an extraordinary voyage to England—aboard HMS Victoria, which still carries not just arms and aircraft but a thousand naval officers. Rules are strictly enforced, from the aircraft carrier’s captain down to the lowliest young deckhand. But the men and the brides will find their lives intertwined despite the Navy’s ironclad sanctions. And for Frances Mackenzie, the complicated young woman whose past comes back to haunt her far from home, the journey will change her life in ways she never could have predicted—forever.

The Ship of Brides is a book about four Australian women, Frances, Margaret, Avice, and Jane, who were sent to England to meet their husbands. After World War II ended, these four women along with 650 other embark on a journey with uncertainties and hopes for new lives. Frances is a quiet nurse while Margaret is an outgoing farm girl who’s pregnant. Avice is a spoiled rich girl and Jane is the youngest of the four. These four stay in the same cabin throughout the trip. The trip itself is not an easy journey for them. Since there are also thousand naval officers on board, strict rules applied.

This book is based on true events that happened after World War II ended. At every start of the chapters there’s a snippet of newspaper article from that period of time. Each character in this book has their own problems, which could make this book a little bit complex as a whole. Yet, Moyes did a great job on managing the portion of each character. It’s not only about the trip, but it’s also about their personal struggle of leaving their families behind.

I love that this book is not only about the people on the ship, but also the ship, HMS Victoria. The voyage is actually the captain and the ship’s last sail. Moyes also includes a perspective from the captain, which allows us to see how's the captain's connection with the ship.

The Ship of Brides is beautifully written. It is a story about love and hope. It’s also the first book by Jojo Moyes that I’ve read. I know that Moyes’s other book, Me Before You, is more popular, but I’m not disappointed at all. In fact, I’m considering reading Moyes’s other book. I give it four out of five. It’s a good book for those who love historical fiction.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.