All Boats are Sinking by Hannah Pierce is a memoir of self-discovery and growth and adjusting to a new life.

Ahoy and all that

Hannah has come to a crunch point in her life and after looking realises even with her Parents help re a deposit cannot afford a flat in London and so decides to look for a narrowboat instead, the excitement and her new life starts…

I did enjoy most of this book although at times I found myself at odds with Hannah’s way of thinking, for instance she hires an expert to help her on day 1 as she starts her journey ( journeys! ) and then is frustrated and cross with him when he does exactly as she has asked of him

However that aside the writing was easy and quick to get into and the stories flowed well ( I know I know 😀)

I remember as a young teen sending off for the ‘Hoseasons brochure’ and trying to convince Mum and Dad we needed to go on a boat holiday, I think the idea of boats/water etc appeals to many and so 100% understand why the author chose this adventure

It did make you feel like you wanted to ditch the London apartment life and go find a narrow boat and do as Hannah had done,loved the parts on setting up the interior and was in my mind placing my things in ours…

Also really enjoyed her going ‘Up North’

A different read and one that conjured up scenes of a great way of life all the way through although of course the reality of narrowboat living is not always as romantic as it would seem and the not so good realities were covered too

I have lived in towns where there are lots of canal boats (including Todmorden which was in the prologue!) and I've always had so many questions about life on the waterways so I was really looking forward to reading this.

This memoir was a beautiful mix of friendship, relationships, new beginnings and helpful boat info. The way Hannah told her story had me invested in her experiences as a first time boat owner. Her bravery in navigating her post breakup life and being on her own really inspired me and made me want to take more chances in life.
If you want a light hearted and fun read then this is for you.

Ok disclaimer here. I’m also a woman living on a boat. But I don’t know Hannah, and I can say that her experience is the real deal!
She captures beautifully how buying a boat is the best and worst thing you’ll ever do.
She recounts hair-raising experiences such as getting stuck in a lock, and the best bits such as experiencing the wonderfulness of waking up every day in the beauty of nature.
But this is also a warts and all tale of Hannah’s life and the bad relationship decisions she makes as well as the new friendships as she cruises the canals of England.
It’s also a pandemic tale - surviving while everything closes down around you (though it could be worse than being stuck in Little Venice).
It’s humorous, funny and a great read. Thoroughly recommended.

Books about people’s profession or way of life are always an interesting read, a book about life living on a canal boat seemed like the perfect summer read.
The section covering how the boat purchase came about was interesting and I’m sure many of us have experienced doing the splits with one leg on a boat and the other on land (Mine was in a canoe).
Stories of life during the pandemic are soon enough that it filled me with unease, I did however love the ‘Brasso’ idea.
A very readable book, it did seem at times to me more of a life blog rather than living on a boat.
The book really took off for me in the second half as the author headed north, this is what I really wanted to read. I loved the stories, the surprise meeting with a celebrity and the Huddersfield narrow canal incidents had me on the edge of my seat.
I did really enjoy the book, I read an ARC on my phone and was sorry that it didn’t include a  selection of photos.
Thanks to Netgalley and Summersdale for providing me with an Advance Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

All Boats are Sinking - Hannah Pierce

Move over Sex and the City because we now have sex and the narrowboat to take your place.

Hannah Pierce's memoir, All Boats are Sinking, tells of her breakup, and the jump from land to water to escape sofa surfing.

Most people get a radical haircut, start dating aggressively or join the gym but Hannah isn't like most people - she buys a narrowboat.

Settling into an off-grid life, with corroded hulls, ceased up engines, exploding toilets and temperamental locks but it's not all disaster - new friendships are formed with fellow boat owners, a deeper love for nature and the waterways, and a new perspective on London, away from the hustle and bustle. Juggling boat repairs, she gets into a situationship which makes her want more from someone who isn't ready.

The pandemic hits, lockdown looms and furlough from her job leaves Hannah with more time to think about her boat. Unexpected adventures take her through the Grand Union canal and out of London. Time to breathe, focus on what she wants and find her own self worth.

This is a memoir about unexpectedly finding a community, and finding yourself. This is a great memoir which gripped me from the start. It has also made me appreciate the narrowboats you see and how they are even more complex than living on land!

Thank you netgalley for the ebook version of this book.

All Boats Are Sinking
By Hannah Pierce

Memoir can be a tricky pond to fish in. The big shouty ones either have the lure of deliciously, gossipy reveals or are mired in layers of trauma and strife, otherwise how do they get all the attention? They don't always work for me, because my spidey sense gets triggered when I feel manipulated or get a whiff of exploitation. I seem to fare better with the more under-the-radar titles that often come on my radar from trusted sources, or peer out self consciously from between the titles on Netgalley, as in the case of this little gem.

It's all in the voice.

Hannah is in her 30s, in relationship purgatory and questionable financial stability. She needs to live in London, but can't afford the exorbitant cost of rent there, until she becomes aware of a community who live on the river and canal system on barges, and with some inspo from a friend and a little help from her parents she invests in her own narrowboat.

This is the story of how she adjusts to the nomadic, self reliant life, how she uses the confines of boat life to realise freedom, especially during the recent pandemic, how she gains confidence in her abilities and herself to navigate the canal system, which is not always female friendly, and how to navigate the relationships she chooses, which also aren't always female friendly.

Written in a chatty style that reveals it's journal-entry inception, it is touching and honest and I found myself completely charmed by Hannah. It might feel a little slow and repetitive in parts, especially as she describes the various canal and lock operations, but as a well worn nomad, (albeit it in campervan rather than boat), I recognise the dichotomy of mundanity and access to jawdropping experiences.

Reading this book has inspired me to research a canal trip from London to Oxford. I only wish there were photographs, but my copy is an uncorrected egalley. If someone has the paper copy, let me know if there's any.

For me, the narrative drive is the change in Hannah's tone from self depreciating and insecure to self assured, sanguine and hopeful. She swept me along on her journey and I did a little happy dance for her Lock 22 triumph.


Publication date: 20th June 2024
Thanks to #NetGalley and #Summersdale for the ARC

I am so excited for this one! I love the idea of starting over and being independent and taking on a challenge as cool as this! I absyvsnnot wait to share my full thoughts and review very soon.