Cover Image: The Cruise

The Cruise

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Member Reviews

I adored this book. I want to read a million more books about the characters! This book made me feel all the feels and the setting was just stunning. 5 big stars!!

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If you have ever wondered what Christmas is in the tropics or wondered what goes on a cruise ship then you should read this.

The Cruise follows the story of three women, who decided to throw caution to the wind, on a cruise. Each woman has come on board with both physical and emotional baggage.

It is an emotional read and you will be transported to The Diamond Star as you mingle with other passengers and hear their stories.
4.5⭐️

It was fun reading about the shenanigans of the passengers- from friends to benefits, gigolos, and husband hunters there is a story for everyone.

The opening chapter was funny. It was sarcasm and payback at its best. The following chapters were engaging and I loved how the author painted the scenery vividly.

If you love women’s fiction then you will enjoy this. I received an advanced copy via Netgalley and the review is mine and voluntary.

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This was a delightful read and I had a rollicking good time with these three friends and their new adventures.
Many thanks to HarperCollins UK and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

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Funny and entertaining with a heart-warming story at its centre. An great option for a sunny day of reading by the pool, or on a cruise!

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Loved this book. Such a fun read and found it so brilliantly funny. Would 100% reccomend because it's a brilliant summer read

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3 old friends in their early 60's decide on a luxury 2 week Christmas cruise to the Caribbean. The pace is gentle, like the cruising life as they all find something to help them into the next stages of their lives.

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okay, this book was so adorable!! i know a lot of people did not like this one, but i really really did! it was so fun and sweet and precious! thank you so much to netgalley for letting me read this one early!!!

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I couldn't get into this book. I lost interest after a few pages I reached 3% before I was done. DNF



********************************I received an ARC for my honest opinion from NetGalley********************

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A great fun read, pure escapism!
I enjoyed Caroline James’s writing style and it was very easy reading .
Three friends all in their sixties decide to take a cruise to the Caribbean for Christmas and this is their story.This book has a fantastic cast of secondary characters- loved it and would recommend
Thank you to Netgalley, Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter and Caroline James for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review

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Having read her prior release, The Spa Break, I knew I was in for a treat. The author gives us something you don't see a lot of...older characters taking the lead, and having the time of their lives...and makes it something that crosses generations. It's relateable whether you're 19 or 99 and the antics they get up to are priceless at any age!

I loved how close they all were, and the initial showdown at the reunion certainly proves that point from the word GO. Can't say I've been to any reunions, but I can imagine being faced with those you didn't really hang with them on a whole new level while everyone is trying to one up each other...no thank you...or perhaps YES PLEASE with a group of friends such as these. They are there for each other through thick and thin, and that's not to say they don't tell it like it is because they most certainly do, they've just been around the block before so they aren't thrown off their game nearly as often. Each one of these ladies goes through a transformation in some way, the most notable, perhaps, being Jane. I really felt her come into her own, and by doing so, she opened herself up for bigger, better, life enriching experiences, and connections. Kath may be the one faring the worst health wise, but she's not out of the game just yet, and aims to prove as much. She doesn't gain as much tangibly as the others, but there is something to be said for peace of mind and taking the reins on one's own life. Anne was the one I worried about the most, seeing as Dicky set his sights on her , but she had a good head on her shoulders and true friends he could rely on...what more could you ask for? We'd be remiss if we didn't mention Selwyn when he has a bigger purpose for his journey too, and plays such a big part in all their stories, albeit for the better. He was quite the character, but in a charming way, and his easygoing, self confident vibes certainly have a transforming effect on those that surround.

All in all, it was a trip in the right direction with a course set for life, love, and friendship...all things that they achieved in spades! Though it wasn't all smooth sailing, by book's end everything is set to rights, and a few characters may just surprise you with their 180s. A great pick for Women's Fiction fans, and those who could use the reminder that the only one that can stop us from truly living is ourselves.

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I have been a long time fan of Caroline James' stories. The Cruise was no different.
A story of 3 friends swapping the traditional Christmas turkey and cold weather for a cruise together on The Diamond Star.
The way the 3 friends were was heartwarming. They have been friends for so long and still supported and loved each other. What a great way for them to celebrate Christmas and their friendship.

The cruise is filled with a mixture of characters, escapades and plot worthy happenings.

A really enjoyable read about older women who can enjoy life to the fullest and still cause scandal along the way.

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I really enjoyed this book! When I first started reading it I wasn't sure about the plus size representation and actually some of the early scenes with Jane didn't sit right at all but I did love how she developed through the book. This was an easy read and perfect holiday read, even if it did also make me cry! Full review will be on my YouTube channel: Books and Bargains

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In Caroline James’s fabulous new novel, The Cruise, Jane, Kath, and Anne are three single women in their sixties who decide to ditch the winter weather in the UK and go on a Caribbean cruise for singles over fifty.

While I am not single (I’ve been married forever), I fit the over-fifty demographic, and I really appreciated this fun, feisty, sometimes flirtatious story. Fifty may not quite be the new thirty, but contemporary fifty- and sixty-year-olds are definitely healthier, more energetic, and ‘feel’ younger than they did when our grandparents were that age. It was so refreshing to read a story that really understands that, that I was hooked just from the concept.

More than that, though, I loved the premise. Cruise ships are the perfect microcosms of society, and time aboard one is like living in a heightened reality for a week or two. (Having come off a cruise in March, I’m still wistful for morning coffee on my balcony and free mimosas at brunch.)

I liked that the author gave each of these women her own story, though Jane’s arc was the most dramatic, and I appreciated that she was able to truly find herself on her voyage. I also liked the way the friendship between all three women was depicted. Too often women in novels are catty to each other. These women tease each other but are also supportive, which is how the best friendships should be.

The male characters aboard ship are vivid and interesting as well. Setwyn, traveling with his deceased wife’s ashes (and leaving them in the various ports he visits) had such a poignant story. I’d read a whole novel just about him. And Dicky, the ultimate lounge lizard-type cruise entertainer was deliciously smarmy.

Despite being set at Christmas, this novel is the perfect beach read. (After all, it’s always summer in the Caribbean!) It’s substantive enough to be satisfying, and light enough to zip through in a weekend. Great read!

Goes well with: any rum-based cocktail that comes with a paper umbrella.

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This was a good light hearted, easy read which I needed after my last read.

I loved the fact that the three main characters (Anne, Kath and Jane) are independent single women all in different situations but all determined to have a good time on their cruise.

They meet some interesting fellow cruisers too!

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The author’s sense of humour shines through this story as you follow the three friends, Anne, Jane and Kath on their holiday of a lifetime. The cruise has ample scope for humour through the many characters you meet on board and the places that are visited. Being on holiday gives the three women the chance to step away from their lives at home and to go searching for some fun and new experiences.

Friendship is the glue that binds the women together and keeps them grounded. It is clear that they just want each other to be happy. You find out some surprising secrets that at least one of them is hiding. Of the three , it seems that Jane changes the most as she gains confidence and loses her self consciousness. With some laugh out loud moments and lively characters, this proves to be a light hearted read and ideal for an escapist holiday read.

In short: fun and frolics on this Caribbean journey

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Such a fun read with lots going on and an ending that didn't disappoint. I will definitely read more from this author.

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Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC.

Friends in their 60's take a cruise together and all are at different stages in their life.

While interesting and entertaining I founds some of the drama didn't hit right with me. Thanks for the opportunity to read this book.

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This was such a great book. I loved the warmth and humour between the friends. The book was so good and I loved there were no cliques and predictable plot turns. Lovely to read about older ladies and their loved and relationships. Really recommend this book.
Thank you netgalley for this lovely arc in exchange for an honest review.

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My Review: I had a fun time on this Blog Tour Cruise. Caroline uses and easy flowing style that is nice to read. I love how Jane, Kath and Anne come to decide that a Cruise for Christmas is a good idea, especially as women in their 60s. We meet a whole host of fun characters, including Selwyn the widower and Dicky the Comedian. In all the Cruise is funny, has great bonds, and is ideal as a relaxing fun read. I even bought a Kindle copy for my friend Victoria. x

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Three friends in their sixties choose to take a cruise and head to the Caribbean for Christmas.
Each needs a form of escapism from their own life and a little adventure at the age of sixty-three.

This was such a lovely read, written in the third person and from the three main characters' points of view. James writes with fantastic characters who you can’t help but warm to from the start and want to follow their journey throughout.
This was a feel-good read, which I couldn’t put down and one I would highly recommend to anyone for a great escapism. I will be reading more from this author in the future.

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