Following a very bad breakup Ruby has sworn off men, happy living with flatmate Sam, her cat Samson and her bookshop that she co-owns. Sam tricks her into coming along on a singles cruise with her, which she doesn't find out about until they actually board the shop. Fortunately she meets Cameron, who also feels out of his depth, and they strike up a friendship with no intentions of any romance.
I ended up loving this book, although it does take a while for the story to build up. Ruby was very damaged by her breakup and I could sense her pain, despite her outward appearance. It is always nice when I can relate to the main male character as he wasn't an alpha male type that is often seen in stories. Having been fortunate enough to have been on a few cruises I could easily visualise the onboard scenes,albeit as part of a couple. There were several lighthearted moments with pickpockets, missed sailings and a nudist beach to counterbalance the more serious parts of Ruby's issues. In summary a book that I ended up really enjoying.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

Hook, Line, and Single was a super cute and super easy read! I flew through this book because of how fun and easy it was to follow along. The idea of a singles cruise was total rom-com, and made all of the characters easily developed in such a quick read.

There were times where I felt a little disconnected with the character, Ruby. I felt like there was way more dialogue than there were internal thoughts of hers. I also love quick reads, but the last few chapters were thrown a little too quickly at the end and left me wanting more to be explained.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Phoebe MacLeod for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review!

⭐⭐.5
🌶️
This story had so much potential and it just did not meet its mark time and time again.

Swearing off men then getting sucked into a singles cruise might seem like the worst possible ting that could happen but Ruby makes the best of it. Cameron was a great guy and i enjoyed his character!

The beginning is so so slow. It took a while to keep my interest. It truly did feel like the Sam show. I am not religious so any thing that is have for or against religion is a turn off for me.

I enjoyed the nude beach scene, their adventures off the boat, and the easy way that felt so comfortable with each other.

Sam did have a way with words and her friendship was monumental in this HEA!

This book was received as an arc and this is my opinion.

I loved this book, it had me feeling so many emotions and had great characters that were relatable throughout.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

Ruby is happy with the life she’s living and has no interest in dating. She loves living with her housemate Sam and her cute feline. She doesn’t see any point in going on dates and is still not over what happened in her last relationship.

Sam, her housemate is always dating different men, but has yet to meet the right one, so far none have lasted long.

Can they both find their Mr Right?

The characters were relatable and i loved the idea of a singles cruise.

I recommend this book.

Hook, Line and Single is the most hopeful and interesting book, you will love Ruby and Sam two of the main characters of the book. The real life journey for love is one that we can all relate to. This rom-com will have you enjoying the story and feeling empathetic towards Sam and Ruby. This is a book that had me feeling real feelings and rooting for Sam and Ruby in their search for love!! Thank you #netgalley for #HookLineandSingle.

I absolutely loved this!!! I laughed out loud, I cringed and I adored the characters and their interactions. This is romcom at its best with a story that has fabulous characters, gorgeous scenery and a plot that keeps you thoroughly entertained. Ruby has totally sworn off men but finds herself joining flatmate Sam on a cruise. What she didn’t know was that Sam had omitted to tell her that they were signed up for the singles cruise. Cameron has also joined the cruise with no idea of what was planned. Ruby and Cameron strike up a friendship, and as Sam has already found someone through all the games they are encouraged to play, they decide to explore together. Could this friendship turn into something more and might Ruby rethink about being totally sworn of men? Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the ARC

This book was just OK for me. The main characters don't even meet until you've read a third of the book, where the cruise also starts. Then a lot of time is spent on Sam and her love Interest while the MCs take a backseat. I get that they both weren't interested in relationships, the whole reason for their fake dating, and they were definitely slow build. But I found Sam kind of annoying. Once the cruise got under way, I was more interested and there were some funny moments. I also didn't like how abruptly the story ended and never truly felt the connection between Ruby and Cameron more than friends.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Ruby is happy with her friends her cat but when a friend tricks her into going onto a singles only cruise it’s not going to end well.
Ruby finds onboard another victim of well meaning friends and Cameron and her decide to pair off so people will leave the matchmaking alone.
The problem is Cameron is gorgeous and the more time they spend together the more Ruby is liking what she sees.
Brilliant book funny and a great way to spend a day with friends on a cruise.

Phoebe MacLeod’s Hook, Line and Single is a delightful romantic comedy that follows Ruby, a woman content with her single life, who is tricked by her flatmate into joining a singles cruise. Onboard, she meets Cameron, who is also an unwilling participant. They form a platonic pact to shield each other from unwanted advances, but as they explore picturesque Mediterranean towns together, their connection deepens unexpectedly. MacLeod masterfully combines humor, charming settings, and the complexities of modern relationships, delivering an uplifting story about love found in unforeseen places.

“Hook, Line, and Single” is a romance book by Phoebe MacLeod. In this book the reader meets Ruby (FMC) and Sam, her roommate and bestie. So much of the beginning of this book was focused on Sam’s love life that I forgot that Ruby was the MFC. When the cruise ship is boarded (about 30% into the book), then I was reminded why cruises are not my thing. Nothing bad happens, except that more people are added to the story but, luckily, they remain secondary characters while Ruby is finally given a chance to come front and center. Ruby and Sam’s friendship is great - they bounce off each other like crazy, but their friendship shines. However, their friendship also takes up a lot of this book that it stole part of the focus of the romance. Cameron, Ruby’s love interest, reminded me a lot of my partner - introverted, knowledgable about seemingly random things, and someone calm when things go awry. But even with that, at the end of the book, I still wasn’t quite sure why Cameron was with Ruby (though, honestly, I’m not always sure why my partner is with me - so there is that!). This was an okay read for me - some parts made me laugh, others groan, and some bothered me a lot (I’m not religious, but why all the hate toward the one church visit?), but honestly, I’ll probably forget everything about this book except the name of the ship in a few weeks. Okay read with an adorable cover, but it missed the mark for me. I think if you like cruise ships, want a fast read, and want some escapism, this might be a book for you to pick up to read.

I am a big lover of Phoebe MacLeod, so I was
extremely excited to receive this advanced reader
copy in exchange for a review.

As usual, her books do not disappoint

A brillant rom-com that had me laughing out
loud. The story focused on not only romance
but friendships and how you can make the best
out of a bad situation!

If you love a rom-com like Bridget Jones, then
you will adore this book,

Thank you Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. The opinions written are completely honest and my own.

DNF I kept picking up the book and putting it back down. The story did not keep my attention, which is a shame because a singles cruise ship backdrop had so much promise.

I was really excited to dive into a romance set on a cruise ship, imagining the perfect blend of adventure, picturesque settings, and, of course, heartwarming chemistry between the main characters. Unfortunately, this book didn’t deliver on any of those fronts.

The romance felt flat and uninspired. The connection between the two main characters was almost non-existent, making it hard to root for them or feel invested in their relationship. I kept hoping for some spark, some moment where their feelings for each other would truly come alive, but it never happened. The lack of chemistry made the story boring and felt more like a dull, lifeless journey rather than an exciting adventure on the open sea.

Additionally, I was deeply disappointed by the way Christians were portrayed in the story. Instead of showing a nuanced or respectful representation, the book fell into offensive stereotypes that felt both lazy and hurtful. It took me out of the experience completely and left a bad taste in my mouth.

Ultimately, this book felt like a missed opportunity. It had the potential to be a lighthearted, engaging romance, but instead, it left me frustrated, bored and underwhelmed. If you're looking for a cruise ship romance with genuine chemistry and respectful characters, this one might not be the best choice.

4🌟
I really enjoyed the whole concept of the book with the 2 friends heading off on the cruise, only for one of them to discover that it wasn't all it was cracked up to be. It made me laugh, smile and smirk at points throughout as it took me along on its little journey. I always enjoy one of those books where you get to feel a bit of freedom feeling like you're in another country or travelling yourself and this is one of those times. An easy, fun and amusing read with definite summer vibes.

Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the e-ARC!

This book started out really well for me, the funny humour and the way that the characters were set up. I feel like you got to know the characters really well and that helped me to feel connected to them, especially Ruby. I could see parts of myself in her which made me feel more connected to her. The premise of this book really drew me in and it felt quite different to other romances that I’ve read. However, there were a couple of things that put this book down for me slightly. Mainly the pacing was just a bit off for me, because the book was so short, it felt like the first 30% was a lot of setup which I wouldn’t normally mind, however it then meant that the later part of the book felt rushed to establish this romance. I also really didn’t like Sam, I felt that she wasn’t a true friend and didn’t really get brought up on it or called out. That being said I really loved the banter between Ruby and Cameron and I also didn’t know that this was a British romance so I was very pleasantly surprised to see some British humour and it not be cringey or overdone.
I would recommend this to anyone looking for a light hearted, fast paced, summer romance!

I definitely enjoyed this book! It is a very enjoyable short read which is extremely easy to read in a day as it keeps you hooked and wanting to know what happens next. My favourite character is of course Ruby and I loved the dynamic between her and Cameron. I would recommend this book to light hearted romance lovers. Also, any readers who are coming out of a reading slump!

I received this book as an ARC. Thank you to net galley, the publisher and author for allowing me to receive an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

"Hook, Line and Single" is a fun romantic comedy that takes you on a Mediterranean cruise full of laughs and unexpected love. The story centers around Ruby, a strong-willed woman who’s totally done with men—until her flatmate tricks her into going on a singles cruise. There, she meets Cameron, another reluctant participant, and they team up to dodge the matchmaking attempts from their fellow cruisers.

As they explore stunning Mediterranean spots, their slow-burn romance unfolds with plenty of humor and genuine moments. Ruby’s honest take on love makes her journey feel relatable as she starts to confront her feelings for Cameron.

Phoebe MacLeod's writing is super light and funny, filled with witty back-and-forth and awkward situations, and the quirky side characters, especially the enthusiastic host Barry, add to the fun. Overall, "Hook, Line and Single" is an uplifting read that’s perfect for anyone who loves a feel-good romance with a bit of humor and a dash of adventure.

In reading Hook line and single, this is not the typical genre that I go for in a book, but I still found this book to be very intriguing. With the way that it was written and the little back and fourths. The sly side remarks kept me laughing as well. I am always up for a book that is going to be entertaining. Calling someone a "hobnob". For me that is not something that I normally hear, so reading it cracked me up. There were the typical talks between a daughter and a father when it comes to dating and them being protective over them. Many of us hit that point where we are single and we may think we are the pinocle of what a single person is lol. Those times that our friends set us up, we get mad at them.

A gorgeous book with a unique storyline set on a singles cruise around the Mediterranean. The first part of the group kept me guessing on which relationship the book was following and had a beautiful ending. Highly recommend the book, especially for travel / cruise fans who love a romance book