I felt as though I was on the cruise them. A great fun read full of heartwarming characters.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Scrumptious! This book evokes memories of holidays past. I was there on the cruise with them, soaking up the atmosphere of each country and that’s because of the way that it’s been described. The sights, sounds and smells are all brought to life and I mustn’t forget about the romance, the reinvention of Carmen and the intrigue into who is the thief.
An all together scrumptious book!

The Cruise Club by Caroline James is a delightfully fun contemporary novel that will leave you smiling.
As the title suggests, the action is aboard a cruise ship in the Mediterranean. The atmosphere is light and fun-filled, with blue sky days and relaxing nights.
The reader revels in the trips ashore as we ‘see’ some of the treasures that the local landscape has to offer.
There are a wonderful eclectic mix of characters, all of whom are the other side of sixty. Caroline James shows that you are never too old to have fun. Life is for living.
You are never too old to follow your dreams. “Don’t die wondering what it might have been like to be an author. Make it happen.” If you have a dream, why not fulfil it?
Characters bond together. They help each other when needed – whether it’s a shoulder to cry on, or a mother to push in a wheelchair.
Love can still blossom whatever your age. We meet a character who has never loved as well as those who have loved and lost.
The Cruise Club is the perfect read for a glorious summer day. It’s a wonderful light-hearted and fun read.
I received a free copy via Rachel’s Random Resources for a blog tour. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

The Cruise Club is a delightful, feel-good escape that blends humour, heart, and a dash of mystery on the high seas. Cosy crime writer Carmen Cunningham is creatively blocked and emotionally drained, mostly thanks to her overbearing mother, Betty. Hoping to rekindle her writing spark, she impulsively books a place on a cruise ship writing workshop—only to find Betty has invited herself along too.

What follows is a charming, character-rich story set aboard the luxurious Diamond Star. Carmen is surrounded by a vibrant cast: the charismatic author Ruskin Reeve, celebrity chef Theo, and the lovable restaurant-owning duo Fran and Sid. As the cruise winds through stunning ports—Malta’s Valletta being a standout—Carmen begins to rediscover her voice, her confidence, and a hint of romance. Carmen’s transformation, supported by quirky friendships and laced with gentle humour, makes this an uplifting and thoroughly enjoyable read.

Overall, it is a charming voyage of self-discovery packed with laughter, lovable characters, and a warm sense of community.

Carman writes cozy crime books and lives with her demanding mother, Betty.

When her writing takes downturn, and she needs a break from Betty, Carman decides to book a cruise when she discovers her favourite author, Ruskin Reeve, will be holding workshops. Unfortunately Betty has a similar idea and now Carman isn't so sure her escape on the Diamond Star to the Mediterranean islands will be what she was hoping for!

The book brings people together to forms long lasting friendships and love and a smile to your face with every page!

This was such a fun and heartwarming read! The cruise ship setting was an absolute win—there’s just something so entertaining and cozy about being swept away at sea with a cast of charming, quirky characters and their unfolding drama. Caroline James really nailed the atmosphere; I felt like I was right there on board, sipping cocktails and soaking in the sun.

I didn’t know she had a previous book also set on a cruise, but now I have to get my hands on it—immediately adding to cart.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC

As someone who loves a cruise this is right up my street. I read The Cruise by Caroline James and adored it so was very excited to receive an early copy of this. We meet a new bunch of characters and they take us along with them. It deals with friendships and life issues that will make you think and keep you hooked.

Like all good holidays, I didn’t want this cruise to end. This is Caroline James’ genius – to take you to exotic places alongside her characters and to draw them so vividly they become your friends too.
Cosy crime writer Carmen is carer to her ungrateful mother, but she rebels and books a cruise where her author hero Ruskin Reeve is a guest speaker. To her absolute horror, mum Betty books a ticket too and it looks as though Carmen’s plans for a restful and creative holiday are well and truly scuppered. But she hasn’t reckoned on kind and lively restaurant owner Fran, and celebrity chef Theo who befriend her in the most heart-warming ways.
I loved Fran in The French Cookery School and was delighted to see her again and meet her husband Sid. She takes Carmen in hand with surprising consequences and friendships are made, and maybe even a touch of romance. All with the backdrop of gorgeous locations like Rhodes Town, Kefalonia, Malta and Ibiza. Not to mention a little mystery that needs solving as well.
The Cruise Club is the ultimate summer read for friendships and fun, and I heartily recommend it.

After reading the first book set on a cruise,’The Cruise’ ( funny enough ) I was keen to go straight into this follow up book,although it is the subject of cruising and cruises that is the follow on and not the characters we first met as aside from Dick Delaney,the crafty,sleazy ‘star’ comedian we meet a whole new set of travellers who for various reasons find themselves on this Med cruise..

Carmen ( author with writers block ); and Betty,her Mum,were my favourite characters…..Carmen,books the cruise as she sees her fav author, Ruskin Reeve,is doing a set of talks onboard and hopes to go alone,Betty has other ideas and demands to also go….she is terrible and rules Carmens life but you cant help but wonder what on earth she will say this time when you see her appear,she is a force to be reckoned with albeit a cruel one at times

Be prepared for the ‘Golden Oldies Meet Up’s’ 😀…………not quite as you might imagine……

As with ‘The Cruise’ a very funny and at times poignant read with fab descriptions of the ship,the food,the ports,onboard life and of course the wonderful people we find on board

As with ‘The Cruise’ it is an uplifting read and am really hoping for more cruising adventures in the near future from this author

What a gorgeous quote at the beginning of the book! Great start for a book that gets me dreaming about being back on a cruise. That, followed by a great meta line "If Carmel's life was a novel" did make me chuckle and showed an interesting writing style. While I didn't feel I was particularly invested in the romantic relationship, I felt there was enough going on with other characters that I was still keen to keep reading. With the romantic relationship, it did seem to rooted in the celebrity idolisation for me to be invested in the real moments. My main passion was for seeing the development of the mother daughter relationship and wanting to see the main character flourish which was really nice to see with the support of her cruise friends!
Big thanks to NetGalley and the author for the chance to read.

the best adventures sure were still to come, and come they did in this wonderful book. its a book for everyone and will make everyone smile. i just warmed up reading it and it caused the corner of my mouth to slide up on far too many times. i also had that inner readers chuckles a few times too!
Caroline James i think has funny bones. as it comes through in all her books ive read. they just have lightness to them all and those perfectly times giggle or smile wide moments.
for this book we are given Carmen who is a crime writer, who biggest crime is currently not feeling at all happy in herself, her work, or her mother!
so what else can she do but jump aboard a ship and sail into the sunset right? well the best she can get right now is jump on a cruise ship. oh and her mother insists she coming too.
i have to admit that when i think of going on a cruise this one with all the characters involved would be my dream come true. the quirky characters and quirky goings on made me life and made me want o be part of the group.
this book was a joy to read. an absolute joy of joys.

A great story that took you on a journey full of laughter and seriousness. The characters are great to enjoy, predictable ending but still very fun!

Ahoy mateys! This Cruise Club offers a charming escape, perfect for unwinding after a challenging work day. Caroline James’ newest novel introduces readers to a diverse group of characters: an endearing mother-daughter duo, a witty comedian, and a couple navigating their relationship on a memorable cruise. As they sail from one stunning destination to the next, readers are immersed in the beauty and vibrancy of each locale. Along the way, the characters form unexpected bonds, share heartfelt moments, and experience the joys (and quirks) of life at sea. With its warm and inviting tone, The Cruise Club feels like a cozy getaway, ideal for curling up on a rainy day.

DNF'd at 53%...I was expecting "a feel good rom com full of romance, fun and mischief" all I've gotten so far is a chaotic cast of characters, geriatric swingers, and fluff. Where's the romance or fun?

An absolute hoot. A light enjoyable book with plenty of quirky characters including larger than life Fran, who was featured in a previous book, The French Cookery School. Set on a cruise ship around the Mediterranean with plenty of diverse people and situations make this a thoroughly entertaining read to escape with.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for providing this book, with my honest review below.

The Cruise Club focuses on Carmen, who has a lot of love to give and life to live but feels it’s all squashed due to her obligation and the control of her mother Betty. So what better than for Carmen to take a cruise where she meets whole cast of characters who help her embrace life. Carmen struggles to find her voice on the cruise just as she solves a mystery that could have come straight from the pages of the books she writes.

This is cozy in every way, and I loved the locations (both the cruise and the locations it stops in) as much as I love the cruise patrons Carmen meets (with some exceptions). The Cruise Club really shines as it spotlights Carmen’s journey to find her voice and confidence and emerge from the shadow of her mother, but the most delightful parts are definitely from the ensemble cast of cruise goers.

A delightful read with a cast of quirky characters set off on the cruise of their lives. Through the individuals you will feel wealth of emotions as some have their lives transformed through their cruise experiences and through in a little bit of sleuthing .

What a delightful read, it took me a while to get into it but stick with it. Carmen has the patience of a saint, as her mother Betty is rather demanding, but the joys of the cruise find friendships for both, mystery and a spot of romance and some great humour whilst on the seas.
The descriptions of cruise life through the book have left me wanting to book one, Melody the superstar drag queen was a hoot, im sold!

I love cruising and this novel gave us a lot of what a cruise is like from boarding until dismemberment. The night life and the daily excursions were on point. A little bit of mystery and just a touch of romance but mostly friendship that last longer than the cruise.

What a great summer read this book is! Carmen goes on a Mediterranean cruise with her very demanding mother. She starts off with little spare time as imperious Betty makes more and more demands on Carmen’s time but as they settle into their holiday Carmen’s new friends take on more of the challenging job that is Betty! Part of the attraction of the cruise for Carmen had been to listen to Ruskin Reeve giving a talk and hosting workshops on writing fiction. Carmen has always been in awe of Ruskin’s work so the opportunity to take some advice on writing from this great man is too good an opportunity to miss. What she hadn’t bargained on was her mother’s insistence on accompanying her on the cruise. There is a lot of humour in this book and the descriptions of life on board and the cruise destinations are magical. A great book for a summer holiday! I enjoyed it so much I immediately bought another of Caroline James’s books to read. Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me an ARC of this book.