I would like to start off by saying the cover of this book is beautiful. The colours; chefs kiss.
Right off the bat I loved that there is a spicy chapters list to give you the option to skip them as you come across them.
Also, I just have to say, this book was incredibly easy to read. It was fast paced and simple to understand. The concept of this book, aswell, was amazing. I've never read a book with this kind of plot but I absolutely loved it.
The start of the book was definitely the most hooking of the entire story. As the story progressed I do think the story got a little bit slower as the romance felt a bit to immediate and happened a bit fast.
However, overall I think this book is going to get a 3⭐️ from me as the ending was amazing!

3.5 ☆.

I loved the dynamic between the detective and the pop star. It had witty banter that made me laugh pretty loud haha. Also, I love how the author mixed romance with murder mystery. The writing is fine, but in some scenes, there were some pacing issues. The development could be better. But anyways, it is a enjoyable book with some suspense and spice.

The book was impressive, i didn't find out who the killer was. Its a good junction of romance and mystery.

3.5 stars

What I liked:

Poppy’s complex, self-doubting yet lovable character
Romance that felt earned and satisfying
Mystery that kept me reading, even if I guessed the culprit

What could be stronger:

Mina’s romance arc needed more depth
The mystery’s reveal was predictable
A few plot points could have been explored more fully

I really enjoyed this one it hooked me from the start and kept me flipping the pages. Poppy thinking she’s a monster instantly pulled me in. I was here rooting for her the whole way, even when she doubted herself. She’s layered, flawed, and relatable in a way that made me care about what happened next.

The romance? I already saw it coming, but that didn’t take away from my enjoyment. It was sweet and fit naturally into the story’s rhythm. Mina’s relationship with the F1 driver, on the other hand, left me wanting more.

The mystery element added a nice edge to the narrative. That said, I had a strong feeling about who the murderer was pretty early on, and when the reveal came, I was literally, “I KNEW IT.” Predictable? Yes. But it was still satisfying to see it confirmed.

Overall, this was a fun, engaging read with a mix of romance, friendship, and intrigue

I love a book that mixes mystery with some romance. I thought the storyline was fun and the whole book kept me entertained and interested. I really hope the author will write more like this!

This was a fun mystery/thriller/romance that I enjoyed a lot! The storyline was great, the twists and turns were unexpected. I did predict the ending but not everything that happened and I did not take away from the story at all.

I enjoyed the characters. There were a lot of side characters to keep track of but it made the story that much more fun.
The FMC and MMC had great chemistry and an insta-love but given their situation I think it was understandable and justified. They go through so many challenges throughout their cruise and I loved watching their trust and relationship grow.


Thank you to for the copy of this arc. My views and opinions are solely my own.

I enjoyed this!

The setting was unique to most of the books I read and I loved the main character!

Highly recommend!

Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for the ARC!

This book hooked me right away! And started a little differently than I expected! It had twists and turns and also tension between Poppy and her bodyguard (who's also a detective) Isaiah.

And if you read Not Another Rockstar, you will be reunited with some characters! :)

Thank you for this ARC from NetGalley

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The main character Poppy was great and had depth along with many of the side characters. I loved the murder mystery plot and I think the murder mystery plot was done very well. I was very invested and curious about who the murderer was and the details that were given and not given was done well. However, I did not like the romance in the book because I feel like it was rushed and under developed. Isaiah and Poppy were attracted to each other physically but that was about it. Maybe if the first kiss scene would have been pushed off and they got to know each other better, it would be better romance wise. Don't let that deter you from reading this though if you like murder mysteries. Thanks again for this ARC.

📚Book Review📚
Book: The Situation Ship
Author: Kate Callaghan

The Situation Ship was so much more than I expected in the best way possible! I thought it would be more of a summer romance, but it had so many turns! Popstar Poppy Roe gets ready to go on a summer cruise after the passing of her aunt, with her bodyguard, Isaiah, and her new friend, Mina. Shortly after boarding the ship, we learn about a slew of deaths following Poppy around. We follow this trio on the cruise which ends up being filled with more murder, mystery and intrigue all the while Isaiah and Poppy are discovering a romance between them. Callaghan really builds depth in each of the characters as we learn more about their paths and how they come together to figure out who is causing all this mayhem. It was such a fun read with so many twists that I was not expecting!

Thank you very much to Kate Callaghan, and Net Galley for the ARC.

4.5 star!

I loved the setting of this story, making it a great summer read. It had everything I loved in a book- mystery, thrills, romance. The twists at the end were so good and I definitely didn't see it coming. Everything was so well thought out and fun to try to puzzle together!

I was so excited to pick this book up because I love books with romance, spice, and murder mysteries, throw in the addition of it being on a cruise ship, SIGN ME UP! This book was everything I wanted, a fun enemies-to-lovers romance, a Law-Abiding Citizen vibe, and it’s all wrapped up in one nice FUN entertaining read. I'm not sure how Kate Callaghan managed to maintain the suspense of "who did it", kept me guessing, all while thinking I'm on the cruise vacation enjoying my time, but she did it!

I was not expecting the twist at the end, came out of left field and knocked my brain off its axis for a minute until all the clues started coming together.

Thank you, NetGalley, IBPA, and Kate Callaghan for this advanced reader copy, I thoroughly enjoyed my time reading this book.

I honestly loved this one. Poppy was a relatable character with some dark secrets, and Isaiah was swoon worthy with his own past. I loved seeing these characters develop and the plot was truly engaging.

It was twisty, dark at times, and fast paced. Nothing is more fun than a who done it while being trapped on a boat.

Kate Callaghan’s The Situation Ship is a high-stakes blend of glamour, grit, and gripping tension. Set aboard a luxury cruise ship, the novel plunges readers into a world where fame meets fear, and every glittering surface hides a darker truth. Pop star Poppy Roe is a magnetic lead—vulnerable yet fierce, navigating a surreal descent into danger with a voice that’s as sharp as it is soulful.
The atmosphere is claustrophobic and cinematic, with Callaghan’s prose capturing both the opulence of the setting and the creeping dread that permeates every deck. The romantic tension simmers alongside the suspense, offering a dynamic push-pull between trust and vulnerability. It’s a story that thrives on contrasts: light and dark, fame and isolation, desire and danger.

Thanks to the author and NetGalley for the ARC.

I was so excited for this book. I was initially drawn in because of the cute cover. But then I read the blurb and thought that it sounded like something right up my alley. I hadn’t read a romantic suspense in a while so was keen to find another that I loved. This unfortunately just wasn’t it.

There was so much potential: a pop star in danger, a bodyguard romance, forced proximity, murders on a cruise ship. But it just fell flat for me.

I didn’t understand the relationship between the characters. Like in what world do you meet someone and then instantly (as in the very same interaction where you first meet them) start planning a murder.

And also a cop turning a blind eye to all the murders because of one very shallow conversation between him and Poppy was just ridiculous and seemed super out of character for him. I also didn’t feel as though Poppy and Isaiah had any chemistry until towards the end of the book. I would have enjoyed seeing more conversations between them to understand their attraction to one another beyond just finding the other physically attractive.

Also, Poppy was the epitome of the dumb girl in a scary movie. She would literally pick the worst thing she could every single time. Like girl, where is your self-preservation?

I also found the plot to be quite linear and basic. There would only really be one issue at any given time. That would get resolved through a really simple solution and then the next issue would crop up. I think I would have found it more captivating if the issues the characters faced were more interwoven and the solutions to those issues a bit more complex.

But on the plus, I didn’t guess who the murderer was. It was also an easy and quick read so could be great as a palate cleanser.

All in all, it wasn’t a bad book but it just read a bit too simplistically for my liking.

Lately Ive been in a mood for rom-coms and mystery, so The Situationship has been a perfect blend of the two.

Poppy, the Princess of Pop, finally gets her life back, after her controlling aunt passes away. Free to do as she pleases, she removes everyone and anyone who ever did her bad from her circle. Happy and pleased with herself, she is looking forward to relaxing upon the Midas, a fabulous ship that’s been sold out for months. That is, until she learns about the plot from those she trusted… a plot that’s meant to take her out.

Isaiah Rivers, Irish detective, has bad feelings about Poppy. Her aunts death is the latest in a string that seems to follow the star wherever she goes. On a forced leave from work, he heads to his friends workplace… only to be given the rather unpleasant task of becoming Poppy’s bodyguard. But then, is there any better way to determine if she’s a killer, than following her around?

And so starts the voyage, filled with sun, laughter and bodies. Seems like not only Isaiah has a feeling that Poppy is not as innocent as she seems, and they’re hell bent on killing her.

This was a perfect summer romance with a mystery to keep you on your toes. Poppy is absolutely loveable, Isaiah was the reluctant bodyguard that made him adorable, and supporting cast was fun and varied. I felt like I was alongside them, and I really loved seeing the interactions between the main protagonists.

I’ll be definitely reading more books on this universe, and I’m really thrilled that I got to experience the story! Cannot recommend it enough!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

Thank you netgalley for the arc in exchange for a honest review!

I was first intrigued by this book cause not many settings are on cruises and I liked there was a thriller/mystery aspect to it. I loved the idea of Poppy and the consequences of stardom and "nepo" lifestlyle, but I am not going to lie I only kept reading after 60% through because I wanted to know who the killer was and I was pretty disappointed at who was chosen. I think I would have liked it alot more if it was a person who was shown more in the book throughout like her accomplice but thats where I think it fizzled out for me.

Overall I think it was pretty interesting but I gave it 3 stars

If you’re looking for a suspense‑tinged romance with high stakes, unexpected humor, and a brooding detective + celebrity lead, this is a fun, spicy escape. Just be prepared for a few lulls and a romance that leans more subtle until the final chapters.

The overall concept was fun and unique. A cruise ship murder mystery rom com checks a lot of boxes for me, but this story suffers from the length. None of the characters were particularly likable or memorable. There were some interesting twists and turns but the ending was a little flat and anticlimactic comparatively. The story was easy to read but not exciting enough to make me want to seek out other books by the author.

4.25⭐🌶️

This was a fun mystery/romance novel that I was not expecting to enjoy as much as I did. The banter and chemistry between Isaiah and Poppy was cute, even though I think they fell for each other rather too quickly. Is it insta-love? Yeah, probably, but it didn’t feel rushed or ridiculous. The situation they were in and them being so transparent and vulnerable with each other did add depth to their relationship, so I didn’t mind them falling for each other in such a short span of time.

The mystery itself was pretty interesting, especially how Poppy was linked to the murders happening all around her. I’m kind of ashamed to say that I didn’t really know who the killer was, but I wasn’t surprised when they revealed themselves towards the end. 😅 But what I enjoyed most was the friendships and life lessons Poppy and Isaiah received during their time on the ship. I don't usually read thriller romance but this book was pleasant surprise.

Thank you netgalley for the arc