Skip to Content

10 of the Best Historical Fiction Books About The Titanic

The Titanic set off on its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York in 1912 and tragically sank on 15th April after hitting an iceberg in the North Atlantic. Over 1,500 passengers and crew lost their lives.

The Titanic is one of my favourite historical fiction topics to read about. There’s something so poignant about the stories of the people aboard as we read about their dreams, hopes, and the unimaginable disaster they faced.

There’s something so poignant about the stories of the people aboard as we read about their dreams, hopes, and the unimaginable disaster they faced.

This list of historical fiction books about the Titanic includes romance, heartbreak and gripping survival stories.

Disclosure: This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases

The Captain’s Daughter

Author: Leah Fleming

Buy: Amazon | Waterstones

Published: 2012

Amazon Rating: 4.2/5

This novel follows May Smith, a young wife and mother, who boards the Titanic seeking a fresh start in America.

After the ships collides with an iceberg, she is rescued but separated from her family. May forms a bond with another survivor, Celeste, as they try to navigate loss and the aftermath.

This is a story of resilience and friendship in the face of unimaginable heartbreak.

The Girl Who Came Home

Author: Hazel Gaynor

Buy: Amazon | Waterstones

Published: 2014

Amazon Rating: 4.5/5

In 1912 Ireland, a young Maggie Murphy boards the Titanic with hope for a new life in America, but her heart aches for the love she leaves behind.

Decades later, in 1982 Chicago, a family secret about the Titanic emerges, sending Maggie’s great-granddaughter on a quest for answers.

Inspired by true events, The Girl Who Came Home is a poignantly beautiful story by New York Times bestselling author Hazel Gaynor.

On a Cold Dark Sea

Author: Elizabeth Blackwell

Buy: Amazon | Waterstones

Published: 2018

Amazon Rating: 4.1/5

Three women on Lifeboat 21 witness the Titanic’s sinking: Charlotte, a con artist seeking a new beginning; Esme, a wealthy American facing heartbreak; and Anna, a Swedish immigrant haunted by the tragedy.

Twenty years later, a sudden death brings them together and they are forced to confront their pasts.

The Titanic Sisters

Author: Patricia Falvey

Buy: Amazon | Waterstones

Published: 2019

Amazon Rating: 4.5/5

Sisters Nora and Delia embark on the Titanic, seeking a fresh start in America. Tragedy strikes when Nora perishes, and a misunderstanding leads Delia to assume her sister’s identity as a governess.

As Delia forms bonds with the girl’s father, she faces a dilemma: should she reveal the truth for a shot at happiness? Complications arise when Nora, presumed dead, resurfaces to claim her rightful place.

A Brilliant Night of Stars and Ice

Author: Rebecca Connolly

Buy: Amazon | Blackwells

Published: 2022

Amazon Rating: 4.4/5

A Brilliant Night of Stars and Ice tells a different story about the Titanic disaster. Instead of focusing on the doomed ship itself, it shines a light on the Carpathia, the rescue ship that raced through the night to save survivors.

This book is full of meticulous research, bringing the era and the desperation of the situation to life.

Sisters of Fortune

Author: Anna Lee Huber

Buy: Amazon | Waterstones

Published: 2024

Amazon Rating: 4.4/5

In April 1912, the Fortune sisters embark on a voyage home aboard the Titanic. Alice feels a sense of foreboding, while Flora struggles with doubts about her impending marriage. The youngest sister, Mabel, rebels against her family’s plans for her future.

However, fate intervenes on the tragic night of the Titanic’s sinking, forever changing their lives.

The Midnight Watch

Author: David Dyer

Buy: Amazon | Waterstones

Published: 2016

Amazon Rating: 4.1/5

The Midnight Watch is a historical fiction novel based on true events. It tells the fictional story of what happened on the night the RMS Titanic sank, from the perspective of the crew of the SS Californian, the ship that was closest to the Titanic when it went down.

The novel explores the guilt and desperation of the Californian’s officers, Captain Stanley Lord and Junior Officer Herbert Stone, who failed to take action to help the Titanic’s passengers and crew.

It also tells the story of a tenacious Boston journalist named John Steadman, who is determined to uncover the truth about what happened that night.

Unsinkable

Author: Jenni L Walsh

Buy: Amazon | Waterstones

Published: 2024

Amazon Rating: 4.2/5

Violet, the eldest of nine siblings, shoulders the responsibility of providing for her family when her mother falls ill. As the Great War unfolds, she becomes a nurse, caring for wounded soldiers who could be her own brothers.

Despite surviving two ship sinkings, including the Titanic, Violet is drawn back to the sea. Amidst the tumultuous waters, she strives to overcome past tragedies and seek a life and love of her own.

Unsinkable is a novel inspired by true stories of survival and resilience, intertwining the lives of two women as they navigate adversity and seize the second chances life offers them.

The Second Mrs. Astor

Author: Shana Abe

Buy: Amazon | Waterstones

Published: 2021

Amazon Rating: 4.3/5

The Second Mrs. Astor tells the love story of Madeleine Talmage Force, a beautiful and intelligent young woman, and John Jacob Astor IV, one of the richest men in the world.

The novel is inspired by the real-life couple’s tragic romance, which ended with Astor’s death on the Titanic.

The Second Mrs. Astor is a beautifully written novel that tells a moving story of love, loss, and resilience.

Sheltering Angel

Author: Louella Bryant

Buy: Amazon | Waterstones

Published: 2023

Amazon Rating: 4.6/5

This book tells the story of Andrew Cunningham, a Scotsman working as a steward on luxurious cruise ships in the early 20th century. Despite resenting the wealthy passengers, he forms a connection with New Yorkers Florence and Bradley Cumings, who share an ancestral tie with him.

When the Titanic sinks, Florence witnesses the tragedy from a lifeboat, desperately searching for her husband. To her surprise, she spots Andrew swimming towards her in the darkness.

Sheltering Angel tells the true story of several lesser-known individuals whose lives were impacted by the Titanic disaster.