I received an ALC of Just Some Stupid Love Story by Katelyn Doyle last summer, and after rereading my review, I wasn’t at all surprised I wrote: “Oh my goodness, this one deserves all the stars! Hands down one of my favorite romcoms this year!”

Hope, from New York, is a reluctant cruise ship traveler, sailing with her charming Texan influencer friend, Lauren, who was gifted the vacation in exchange for promoting the cruise on social media. Hope is still trying to rebuild both her financial and emotional life after a devastating breakup with Gabe eight months earlier. Fortunately, Lauren is a caring and wonderful wing-woman, encouraging Hope to have some fun over the next ten days.

Felix and his sisters, from London, are traveling with their parents who are celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary. He sticks to Coke Zero and gum due to past struggles with alcohol and has worked hard to stay sober for the last two years.

Hope and Felix’s paths cross when Hope’s buffet-style crab leg goes flying and lands right in Felix’s hair—much to his amusement. Talk about a meet-cute!

As the two spend time together, they discover they have a lot in common. And the more time they share, the deeper their feelings grow—so much so that Felix does something he hasn’t done since becoming sober.

But then, as any good romcom demands, complications arise. Someone from Hope’s past is spotted on the cruise ship, some of Lauren’s social posts are misinterpreted, and someone may or may not have missed the departure time and watched the cruise ship sail away.

I especially appreciated the underlying theme that sometimes people come into our lives, but more life has to be lived before we’re truly ready for a healthy relationship. That deeply resonated with me.

As I often say in my reviews: the narrators were SPLENDID and did a phenomenal job bringing the characters to life—especially Hope and Felix.

This FIVE STAR gem is already out, so go grab your copy now!

Huge thanks to NetGalley, Katelyn Doyle, Flatiron Books, and Macmillan Audio for the ARC and the ALC in exchange for my honest review!

This book is the perfect blend of fun and deep emotion. It lets complex characters and relationships exist with all their tensions, which I love. It's also sexy as hell. While I love this author's historical work, their contemporary works are unsurprisingly standouts as well.

I loved Just Some Stupid Love Story!
When I seen her newest title Total Dreamboat by Katelyn Doyle I immediately had to request this one.
The characters are well fleshed out and everything—including the MCs’ dynamic and chemistry—feels so organic and real.
The author has written these characters with depth that shows throughout the story.
I found myself unable to stop reading even though the book took me into the late hours of the night. I would definitely recommend this book for anyone looking for an exciting and fun romance story.

I adored Katelyn Doyle’s Just Some Stupid Love Story last year (5⭐️!), so I was especially excited to get my hands on advance copies of her sophomore novel, Total Dreamboat.

What begins as a cruise ship vacation fling leads to a lasting connection. I loved the banter and dry humor—especially the quips between Felix and his sisters, the deep discussions between Hope and Felix, the humorous hot takes and advice from best friend Lauren, all the little things that made their love seem like kismet, how the characters end up going after their dreams, and what could have been a meet-disaster turning into a meet-cute. The major conflict felt like an extended out-of-character sequence for all parties involved, but, thankfully, romcoms end with an HEA.

I was fortunate to have early copies of both the print and audiobook editions and enjoyed the audiobook narration from Kelli Tager and Russ Bain. I liked the British accents and realized I had never heard a Vermont accent before listening to the dialogue with Hope’s parents in this one. The exaggerated versions of Lauren’s Texas drawl brought a smile to my face and felt very fitting for her character.

All in all, it’s a fun summer read in both print and audio but didn’t quite hit the bar set by Just Some Stupid Love Story for me.

I received advance copies from Flatiron Books and Macmillan Audio. All review opinions are my own.

Okay gang, I was not expecting this to be a 5 star read, and I am delighted to have had my expectations demolished. First, because I am not a cruise person and on the singular one I have been on was absolutely terrified to leave the boat in fear that I would get left behind. So this kind of forced proximity was not what I'd look for, but it did make some things more organic. Shared activities without it feeling contrived, ways to meet new people, and excellent customer service.

This is a strangers to lovers to enemies to ??? book and I was IN IT.

Our leads: Hope is still knocked low by a break up of a long term, serious relationship, and generally dissatisfied and stressed out about life; her best friend Lauren is an influencer on the cruise to work and who is also a committed friend that wants to give Hope some rest and relaxation. Maybe also a hot cruise hook up. Felix is a British chef and restauranter with an aristocratic family lineage, who has been in recovery for about 2 years, and he's been pushed to break routine to celebrate his parents anniversary with them and his sisters. His family is snarky but supportive at heart, and delighted when he meets Hope on the ship.

While there are also big emotional moments, I laughed out loud a lot. This is a comedy of errors in terms of traveling and new relationships. Hope and Felix felt very real though (if sometimes too many coincidences) and they had similar sensibilities about things that made them connect quickly. They shared real, deep things, and both got vulnerable - part of the trip for both of them was about letting go, and they managed to do that with each other. The sex scenes were good in the spicy sense, but also that they really meant something to the characters, and because they showed a side of Hope the readers don't get to see as she goes about her non-sexy life. It was very revealing.

Hope and Lauren were also a highlight here because their banter was so good, and so real. There's no hiding from your best friend, for good or for the bad.

When the lovers turn to enemies...jaw dropped. Like the things Hope did...I did not know she had that in her. It made me want to speed through the latter half but I behaved and did not. But that girl...dang.

The end was incredibly sweet and I was crying many happy tears while also laughing.

Most of the books I read are thrillers, but every now and then I like a good palate cleanser and dive into a romance novel. After reading Katelyn Doyle's second novel, I think she is my new go-to when I am looking for something outside of the thriller genre. I have loved both of her books and they have hooked me almost instantly. I really liked the storyline of this novel and definitely found myself rooting for Hope and Felix (though if I'm being honest, the feminist in me thinks she probably deserves better!). I will absolutely be adding Katelyn's next novel to my TBR list! 4.5 stars rounded up.

Thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for an ARC of this novel.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc and alc.

I really enjoyed Just Some Stupid Love Story by Katelyn Doyle, so I was excited to be approved for this book. While her first book remains my favorite of hers, this book was so swoon worthy and fun it is hard to not fall head over heels for this book too! I also loved the narration by Kelli Tager and Russ Bain. Their voices were perfect together. Overall this book is super fun and the perfect book to pack in your beach bag this summer!

While I am admittedly not a cruise person this book almost made me want to go on one! It was filled with such fun and adventure I got envious, you know minus the whole stranded in a foreign country part.

Felix and Hope were such an entertaining couple, their banter was amazing. They were the perfect mixture of fun, vulnerability, and spice. Plus I just love Felix, his vulnerability and accountability were refreshing. The dynamic he had with his family, especially his sisters was adorable.

Normally, I’m not a fan of third act breakup but it felt necessary for this story and thought it was well done in the context of everything.

Read if you love:
❤️ Chance encounters
🚢 Cruises
👩‍❤️‍👨 Dual POV

Thank you Flatiron and Netgalley for my copies in exchange for an honest review!

Normally I am not a chick lit, beach romance type of reader. But I really enjoyed this! It was light but also had some thoughtful moments. The characters were interesting and well-developed. I also liked that they had character growth in the end. Yet the light, fluffy hallmarks of a chick lit beach romance are all here - a cruise romance, descriptions of tropical locales, fun clothing, sassy banter.

I read this on vacation, sitting by the pool, and it was exactly what I was looking for.

With a terrible job, a recent break up and just overall burnout - Hope needs a vacation and so she jumps at the chance for an all expense paid 2 week cruise with her best friend (although she really isn’t a cruise person). Felix is a grumpy chef with control issues - but his parents buy tickets for him and his two sisters for a family cruise, and so he has to go. After their eyes meet during check in, both decide a fun cruise fling is just what they need. But then when Hope’s ex show up on the cruise and begins to cause trouble, the fling is no longer so much fun - but unfortunately they both developed deeper feelings for each other.

This was a cute, quick read and I’ll admit that I was a bit bummed when I had to put it down to drive my daughter up to the camp where she is going to be a counselor for the summer (she kicked us out 5 minutes after we arrived). I enjoyed the first half of the novel more than the second and I found the ending a bit unrealistic (I get HEA but this pushed it for me). That being said I liked the main characters as well as Felix’s sisters (and their banter) - Hope’s best friend grew on me but I was not a fan at first. I really did enjoy the narrators for the part of the audiobook that I listened to (I think I read more than half of it) - loved Felix’s English accent. For me this super light read was great for my day on Monday, but you need to want something fluffy and sometimes that is exactly what I want.

3.75 stars

Thank you to Flatiron Books and NetGalley for the ARC to review

Katelyn Doyle completely wowed me with her debut, Not Just Some Stupid Love Story, so I couldn’t wait to dive into her follow-up, Total Dreamboat—and it did not disappoint! From the very first page, I was all in. I instantly loved Hope and Felix and was completely invested in their journeys, both individually and as a couple.

This book struck the perfect balance between laugh-out-loud humor and heartfelt, emotional moments, creating a romcom that felt both fresh and deeply satisfying. About halfway through, I found myself dreading the end—not because the story faltered, but because I didn’t want to leave these characters behind. That, to me, is the ultimate sign of a great book.

If you’re looking for a fun, unputdownable romance to add to your summer reading list, Total Dreamboat is a five-star must-read! I can’t wait to see what Katelyn Doyle writes next.

Total Dreamboat follows a FMC and MMC that meet on a cruise. I really enjoyed the first half of this novel, and found the pacing to be the perfect speed. However, I found the second half less enjoyable and the ending to be unrealistic.

I enjoyed the dual narration performed by Kelli Tager and Russ Bain.

I received an ARC and ALC from Flatiron Books and Macmillan Audio via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Let’s talk about Total Dreamboat, the book that started as a snappy cruise fling and then drunkenly stumbled into a Lifetime melodrama sponsored by Hallmark and Emotional Baggage Claim.

The first few chapters? Honestly, I was into it. Hope was giving jaded-girl energy, Felix was brooding like a man who once had feelings and now just stares into the ocean to process them. The setup screamed “fun rom-com with a side of fruity cocktails and mild sunburn.”

And then—WHAM!—everything goes saccharine. What began as sharp and funny turned into a soggy mess of sappy clichés and dialogue so cringey I had to physically shield my eyes. Why was everyone talking like they were auditioning for a toothpaste commercial?

Felix, our supposedly swoon-worthy male lead, is in AA recovery—which could’ve added some genuine emotional depth. Instead, it felt like the author wanted to tick the “traumatized man” box, then forgot to do anything meaningful with it besides using it as a plot wrench. And I mean wrench. Every third page someone was having a teary-eyed confession about trust issues, past heartbreaks, or why the karaoke machine is a metaphor for vulnerability. (It’s not. It’s just broken.)

Also: the miscommunications. So. Many. Miscommunications. I counted at least five major plot detours that could’ve been resolved with a single text or—here’s a radical idea—an adult conversation. But no, we had to keep spinning the “Oops I assumed the worst because I’m emotionally stunted” wheel until I was dizzy.

And then the last few chapters? I’m not even sure what book I was reading anymore. It felt like we docked in an entirely different genre. All the sass and spark of the beginning evaporated, replaced by an earnestness so cloying I needed insulin. 

This book promised tropical heat, romantic tension, and some cruise ship fun… and instead delivered a literary piña colada that starts strong, but quickly melts into a sugary mess with questionable chunks floating in it.

Bon voyage, indeed.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Hope was feeling "stuck" working relentlessly at a job she didn't want and still dealing with the demise of her relationship. When her influencer bestie, Lauren, invited her on a luxury cruise, Hope accepted despite her reservations. Onboard, Hope hit it off with Felix, a charming English pub owner, and thought that an onboard fling may be just the thing to get her unstuck.

Unlike Hope and Felix, I love cruises and had a great time on The Romance of the Sea with them. This part of the story was chock full of delightful and hilarious moments. I was definitely feeling the rom and the com here. In my heart, I knew this was a ten-day getaway, but I was crossing my fingers and my toes that the shipmance would continue on dry land.

Both Hope and Felix were characters I could root for. I could relate to Hope's job ennui and loved that she was able to find herself again after feeling lost for a while. And Felix won my heart early on. He had worked hard to get his life back on track, to build his businesses, and stay sober, but he was still a bit unsteady and reluctant to trust his heart's wants. Felix was fortunate to have such a lovely and supportive family who (sort of) gently pushed him to follow his heart.

I expected this story to play out in a certain way and was pleasantly surprised with the latter part of the tale. It was wonderful to see Hope and Felix reach for their dreams, grow, and change for the better. I was thrilled for them, and that epilogue moved me to happy tears.

Overall, I had an amazing time vacationing with Hope and Felix. Packed with humor, warmth, and wit, Total Dreamboat delivered lots of laughs, smiles, and feels.

Total Dreamboat is the quintessential summer romance—light, witty, and full of charm. Whether you’re stretched out on the beach, lounging poolside, or tucked away on a summer getaway, this book makes for an easy, feel-good read that pairs perfectly with sunshine and a cold drink.

The story jumps right in with our two main characters, Hope and Felix, meeting in the very first chapter as they board a Caribbean cruise that neither of them really wants to be on. There isn’t a ton of character development upfront—you’re more or less thrown into the story—but that works in the context of this fast-paced, rom-com style narrative. As the cruise unfolds, so does their relationship, which begins with a promise to keep things light and fun. Naturally, that lightness gives way to deeper feelings, but the two never quite manage to be on the same page at the same time.

A turning point comes when a fallout coincides with both Hope and Felix missing the cruise ship’s departure after an excursion. Forced to remain together off-ship, they have no choice but to confront the messy mix of love, hate, lust, and vulnerability that’s been building between them. It all leads to a classic rom-com happily ever after—predictable in the best way, and sure to satisfy fans of the genre.

There are a few moments where the dialogue feels a little cringy, and their initial "meet-cute" felt especially over-the-top and unrealistic to me—more silly than swoon-worthy. That said, the book doesn’t take itself too seriously, and if you can lean into the rom-com spirit, those moments are easy to overlook.

What I did appreciate was that both Hope and Felix had more depth than initially meets the eye. As the story unfolds, you get glimpses into their personal struggles and emotional baggage, which adds weight to their connection and helps make their romance feel more genuine and earned.

If you’re a fan of movies like The Holiday, Anyone But You, or Forgetting Sarah Marshall, you’ll likely enjoy Total Dreamboat. It’s not a groundbreaking love story, but it’s breezy, entertaining, and exactly the kind of book that leaves you smiling by the final page.

I was swept away by “Total Dreamboat.” This beach read is a love story of two strangers meeting on a cruise ship. They each have their own personal back story and character growth they are working through, and they end up finding joy in eachother. The banter between these two was a real spotlight in the book, and I definitely laughed out loud at some of their jokes. The side characters were fun. The beautiful writing really transports to reader to the cruise ship and excursions. I wouldn’t say this was the light-hearted romance that many are used to, but I loved the added depth to this story. I blew through the ending of this book and I can’t wait to see what comes next from this author.

For those who love:
🛳️ Strangers to Lovers
🛳️ The banter!!!
🛳️ Forced Proximity
🛳️ Cruise Ship
🛳️ Casual to Serious
🛳️ Stranded together
🛳️ Only One Bed

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I enjoyed this cruise ship vacation romance so much!! I especially loved that Felix, the MMC is working on himself and is at the start of his sobriety journey when he meets Hope, a newly single aspiring writer looking to let loose with her influencer friend. In spite of a (imo) unnecessary third act break up, this had a lot of emotional depth, some spice and lots of great bookish conversations between the main characters. Highly recommended for fans of books like 32 days in May or For vacation only. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio and digital copy of this dual POV sophomore contemporary romance.

Steam level: some open door scenes

This book was such a delight. A rom com with a healthy balance of humor and sincerity. And the banter!!!! Oh my gosh I couldn't get enough of it. The main characters had such adorable chemistry and I weirdly loved when they had conflict becuase it felt so real. The only thing I didnt love love was the FMCs best friend, I just wasn't the biggest fan. But I still rated this book five stars because everything else was so amazing. I'll definitely be recommending this one to all my friends as a summer read.

How cute is the cover for Total Dreamboat?! Hope needs a vacation and her best friend Lauren needs a friend to go on a whirlwind cruise with. Felix is sober and determinedly single, but a family cruise trip leads him to Hope and everything changes. And when a huge fight has their demons getting the best of them, can they navigate the stormy seas or face heartbreak? This has tension, forced proximity, great banter, and just really wonderful characters. I loved Felix’s sisters and Hope’s best friend Lauren. They add so much and they’re just so bright and supportive. And I loved the banter of Felix and Hope. Their romance happens very fast, which makes sense for the cruise setting, and they really do dive into their feelings and who they are, which is why the fight that happened really frustrated me cause it didn’t line up with them. But I loved their shy flirting in the front and just how genuine these characters are. Felix was also so vulnerable and his ups and downs with his feelings in his sobriety were well developed. And Hope goes through such a great personal development. I didn’t love some of the dialogue that was around some of the steamier scenes—there was a moment Hope tells Lauren, “I went, like, full Sonic the Hedgehog on him.” and that threw me off for a while. But the romance I felt was, even though quick timing, really well developed. The characters are vulnerable and relatable and funny. It’s a great summer rom com with just so much heart!!

Total Dreamboat is such a sweet romantic comedy! I am a sucker for any romance novel with dual POV. 2x the yearning, 2x the tension, and 2x the swoon worthy moments. This one was done exceptionally well - not only does Hope’s and Felix’s attraction for one another jump off the page, we also get each of their internal struggles as they reconcile who they were with who they want to be. This story had the perfect balance of sweet, tender moments and comedic mishaps. I loved the cruise ship setting, which also played a role as a clever plot device. Highly recommend for readers looking for their next lighthearted read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.