Total Dreamboat is a breezy, heartfelt romantic comedy set aboard a Caribbean cruise. A perfect summer read. The story centers on Hope Lanover, freshly heartbroken and struggling in life, and Felix Segrave, a work‑driven British chef committed to staying sober. When they meet at check‑in, what begins as a playful fling blooms into something deeper until tensions surface and a misunderstanding strands them together in the Bahamas, forcing them to confront their feelings and personal baggage.

The banter and setting were both big parts of the story. The chemistry between Hope and Felix is quick and engaging, carried by witty dialogue and cruise‑ship charm, complete with karaoke nights, buffets, and moonlit island walks.

The side characters added a ton to the story. Hope’s influencer bestie and Felix’s sisters bring a charm that is unmatched.

The story was narrated by Kelli Tager and Russ Bain. I believe this was my first time listening to both of them and they were wonderful. They both portrayed their own characters and the side characters with absolute accuracy.

Thanks to Netgalley & Macmillan Audio for the Advanced Listener Copy.

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 Macmillan and NetGalley for the ALC to review

🎧 Book Review 🎧 Cruising was our family’s vacation of choice growing up and so I had my fair share of cruise romances growing up. Granted these were cute little teenage flings that meant grabbing a milkshake at Johnny Rockets with our friend group but many of the relationships with people I met cruising the world lasted a lifetime. A big shoutout to Katelyn Doyle for translating those amazing nostalgic feelings to a grown-up rom com that sizzles and ushers in summer with a bang. Hope reluctantly tags along with her influencer friend on a cruise, desperately in need of a break from her reality. Also unhappily cruising along on Romance of the Seas with his family is British Felix. Perhaps they can cure the dread of being stuck in their perceived floating hell with a vacation romance. But we all know expiration dates are easier said than done..Total Dreamboat delivers the summer escape we have all been dreaming of.

I absolutely loved Total Dreamboat. The entire plot was so good, had me hooked from the jump, and kept me wanting more. I could not put it down. The characters were awesome and I loved watching both of them develop and grow. I also loved the underlying message. I felt deeply moved while also utterly satisfied. Honestly, this would be a fantastic movie!! This is my first book by Katelyn Doyle and I look forward to reading more. I listened to the audiobook and both of the narrators did a fantastic job. 🩵🩷

I would like to thank Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for giving me an ARC (which did not sway my opinions or review).

I loved this book! It had both great characters, so much cruise ship fun, but also emotional depth! I especially loved the male narrator - he did an excellent job of conveying Felix's emotions. Overall, this was a fun summer romance book that I enjoyed!

Romance can be a tough genre to write. No, really.

Two people falling in love on a cruise ship, only to be stranded in a foreign country? It sounds far-fetched—cheesy, even. In the hands of a lesser author, it would be. But Katelyn Doyle isn’t one of those authors.

She excels at writing contemporary romances that are as believable as they are entertaining. Her characters feel real, her banter sparkles, and the chemistry is always convincing. I loved her debut, Just Some Stupid Love Story, and this follow-up only confirms her talent.

The structure—starting at the height of the conflict, then rewinding to the beginning—hooks you immediately. And the conflict itself? Much more nuanced than expected. The emotional arc is thoughtful and well-paced, making the final reunion between Hope and Felix feel earned.

Both leads are likable individually and even better together. Doyle handles tricky tropes like insta-love and miscommunication with surprising authenticity. The side characters, especially Lauren and Felix’s sisters, add humor and depth.

I normally read before I listen, but I had the chance to experience this audiobook first—and I’m so glad I did. The narrators were spot-on, bringing just the right emotional nuance to each scene.

Thank you @NetGalley and @MacmillanAudio for the ALC. I enjoyed this book. It was romantic, fun and totally rom-com. Hope needs a vacation from life. She just got dumped and her friend puts them on a romance cruise. It is not all smooth sailing for Hope but romance might be on the agenda. Fun summer read.

So I loved this. There was so much packed into this book. First I loved that it was not long nor did it drag at all. The characters were all so well developed and the writing was some of the best I have read for romance. So much happens and I do not want to give anything away. I will say the descriptions of being on a cruise were great I felt like I was right there with them. Hope and Felix really grew throughout the book. I liked them both individually and together. The narrators very A+. I honestly could listen to Kelli Tager narrate all my books from now on. This is one of my favorite listens so far this year!

✨ARC Review✨(spoiler free)
Total Dreamboat by Katelyn Doyle
Pub Date: June 24, 2025

“Total Dreamboat” was an absolutely fun summer rom-com!

To give you a quick synopsis: Hope and Felix meet on a cruise they both were kinda peer pressured into going on and decide to have a little fling. Fling starts off good, things get bad, and then they get really bad, like comically bad, and they are left stranded with only each other for support.

I think what I loved about this book is that we start off with the “really bad” that I mentioned and then flash back to the beginning to see how we got there. I like this style of storytelling, especially in a rom-com! I also had a lot of fun with the forced proximity trope in this book.

There were also just so many layers to the story and how that contributed to the conflict in the book! I think that’s a huge reason why I actually was not irritated with the tension/conflict/breakup like I sometimes feel with other romances. It made sense.

Overall, this is a fun read and hope you’d check it out when it publishes at the end of June!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with an advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Overall Rating | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

Two strangers meet on a cruise ship and fall in love? Sort of! This book was such a fun adventure!! The atmospheric setting made me feel like I was on the cruise with Hope and Felix. Even though Hope and Felix never wanted to go on the cruise to begin with, I was along for the adventure and loved every minute of it. These two main characters had so many layers and just loved getting to know them as the story evolved. There yearning, tension, swoon worthy moments and some laugh out loud moments.

The audiobook is narrated by Kelli Tager and Russ Bain. These two were the voices for Hope and Felix and they did the narration so well. I loved their chemistry and felt that their characters came to life with their voices.

I was looking for an audiobook to binge during a long travel day and this fit the bill perfectly! Humorous and lighthearted with a splash of spice and a surprising degree of depth, TOTAL DREAMBOAT was the diversion I needed.

Hope joins her social media influencer friend, Lauren, on a luxury cruise because her long time relationship ended and her career is sucking the joy from her life. She needs an infusion of fun and an all expenses paid cruise seems perfect. While Lauren may be looking for a rich husband, Hope is just looking for a spark.

Felix boards the same cruise with his parents and sisters to celebrate his parents’ 40th anniversary. Newly sober Felix simply needs a reset and a chance to show his family he’s a changed man.

When Felix and Hope meet, the connection is immediate. Ten days is just long enough for a little no strings attached fun until those pesky strings start attaching. They’re both feeling like there might be something there until the dreaded miscommunication rears it’s ugly head. Determined to avoid each other for the rest of the cruise, Hope and Felix find themselves forced to rely on each other when a series of calamities has them both missing the boat.

I normally run from the miscommunication trope, but, hear me out, this is the RARE occasion where it works. It gives both characters the time and space to reflect on what each wants for themselves before trying to make a relationship work.

Katelyn Doyle knows how to write stories and characters that resonate with me and she’s done it again. I loved the setting - cruise ships and tropical islands? Hello!!! Instant fun. And the growth arc for each character was realistic. This is a fun escape with some deeper issues and they work together beautifully.

Kelli Tager and Russ Bain do a terrific job narrating this book. They capture Hope’s vulnerability and Felix’s emotional distance quite well.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.

Hope and Felix meet on a cruise- one that neither wanted to go on. Sparks fly until it all falls apart. To make matters worse, they both get stranded when the ship leaves port without them.


That is a very simplistic synopsis and I didn't give away any spoilers. We START the book with them being left behind, then we go back in time to the beginning of the cruise and the story meets about half way.

The timeline is what ruined this for me. I can handle those types of foreshadowing in a thriller, but hate it in a romance. I am just waiting for it to fall apart, to catch up to the prologue. And I don't end up enjoying it because I am too busy nitpicking and looking for signs.

So this one is a me problem, not a book problem.

I received an advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

Hope isn't looking for love when she agrees to accompany her influencer best friend on a luxury cruise. It doesn't take long for her to meet Felix, who is also less than thrilled to be there, and they hit it off immediately. It's not all smooth sailing, as Hope's past relationship comes back to haunt her, and conflict arises with Felix. In a chaotic chain of events, Hope and Felix both miss the cruise ship at a port and are forced to work together to survive and get home.

⚓Forced proximity
⚓One bed
⚓Vacation setting

I really loved how complex both Hope and Felix were. They felt so real in the way they navigated their personal issues, and were perfectly imperfect. The side characters and setting were pure perfection. I've never wanted to go on a cruise before, but the way this cruise was described made me actually consider it. Felix and Hope both have super supportive families and friends, and I loved how everyone gets their happy ending. There were parts in the middle that I was cringing at, like the return of Hope's ex and the miscommunication between her and Felix, but it all felt very real. There were parts that weren't so lighthearted for a beach read, but the development makes it more uplifting and enjoyable.

This was such a great listen! Both narrators did an amazing job conveying the emotions of the book. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillian Audio for the audiobook ARC!

I loved this book. It’s so sweet and the banter made me giggle more than once. The characters were lovable and the romance was perfect. It had spice, but just enough to make your insides flutter a bit while reading. It was a whirlwind romance and I was both satisfied and sad when the book ended. Overall, a wonderful book I listened to in one day.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for another amazing ARC in exchange for my honest review.

2.5 stars

After loving Katelyn Doyle’s first book, I’m afraid this one wasn’t my cup of tea. I prefer listening to audiobooks after I’ve read the text, so this was one of the rare experiences I listened without reading. And, after a strong start, it really dragged for me, with a lot of chapters feeling like filler. I ended up putting it on 2x speed as I felt like Kelli Tager was speaking just too slow for my tastes. That said she did a great job with all the accents she had to do. I loved Russ Bain’s warmth that he brought to Felix, a man desperate to stay sober so he’s eschewed relationships to focus on his routines so he can remain on sober. His journey for me was the strongest and well-developed plot, with Hope’s less so, since she couldn’t even stand up for herself with her boss (instead that was resolved without her).

As a romance I really felt like we were told more than shown that they fell in love and I felt like Hope and Felix were better off apart and I couldn’t get invested in them as any more than friends. They had some good banter, but this felt like the forced proximity told them they should be in love with each other. I also have to eyeroll at yet another American author inserting a British male character with a lot of ‘loves’ thrown in for ‘authentic British speak’. And of course, he had to be the son of a baron and his family had an estate.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC.

Total Dreamboat by Katelyn Doyle is a funny, heartfelt romantic comedy that blends sunshine, snark, and emotional depth in all the right ways. Hope boards a cruise with her best friend hoping to hit reset on her life—not to fall in love. Then she meets Felix, a charming, handsome Brit with surprising emotional complexity. There’s undeniable chemistry, but their path to connection is anything but smooth.

Felix is in recovery from alcoholism and grappling with what it means to show up for someone else. His fear of commitment and vulnerability adds real weight to the romance, grounding the story in something deeper than just cruise ship flirtation. Meanwhile, a series of miscommunications and a wildly off-course excursion leave Hope and Felix stranded far from the ship, forcing them to rely on one another to get back. As they work together to navigate the literal and emotional journey home, the story strikes a thoughtful balance between lighthearted adventure and real emotional stakes.

The audiobook narration is a perfect match for the story. Kelli Tager captures Hope’s humor, self-doubt, and resilience with warmth and relatability. Russ Bain gives Felix a voice full of charm and restraint, gradually revealing the vulnerability beneath his calm exterior. Together, they bring out the tension, tenderness, and humor that make this romance sing.

With clever dialogue, a vivid tropical setting, and emotionally honest characters, Total Dreamboat is more than just a vacation fling—it’s a story about growth, second chances, and finding the courage to open your heart. A truly rewarding listen.

This is such a good summer read especially if you have cruised or want to cruise.

Our FMC Hope is down on her luck with love and money. She is still heartbroken over being dumped by someone she thought she was going to spend the rest of her life with. Her job is mundane and her boss is the worst.
Her best friend, an influencer.brings Hope on a free cruise to cheer her up.

Our MMC Felix, who is a wealthy English pub owner is in recovery and does not want to be on this cruise but it’s a family trip.

Hope and Felix develop a friendship but there is obvious chemistry and well, things happen. That is until the plot twist of the appearance of someone from the past and Felix’s demons cloud his judgement.

Fast forward when Hope misses the boat at one of the ports and finds someone else has missed it too.

I enjoyed the story and the narrators did a fantastic job. Both were new to me as was this author.

Great read for the summer, perhaps while on a cruise .

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this ALC. This book was really cute! Miscommunication tends to drive me a little crazy, but I still really liked this book due to the characters and character development. Once they started working together and stopped making assumptions, you could feel lithe connection through the story. I also think the narrators did a great job!

Hope reluctantly goes on a cruise with her best friend. She meets Felix who is on the cruise with his family for his parents’ anniversary. They live on opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean so they decide to have a fun summer fling while aboard the ship but soon start to develop feelings. When Felix discovers that’s maybe Hope is on the cruise to find a rich husband, he gets upset and they end things. However, when they get off the ship in Nassau for an excursion, they both miss the ship’s departure and are stranded together.

I thought this was such a unique premise for a book! I really enjoyed it. It was very funny! I loved the two main characters. They were fun and quirky. I thought they had good chemistry together. I liked how when the third act breakup occurred, it was early enough that they had time for a let’s make matters worse by being stranded together on an island. The forced proximity there was great. I also enjoyed the ending a lot and I loved to see their growth. Hope’s best friend and Felix’s sisters also added a lot of humor to the book.

I listened to the audio for this. It is dual narrated and I enjoyed both narrators.

Thank you NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Katelyn Doyle for the early copy. This book comes out on June 24th!

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.