The Situation Ship was such a wild, entertaining ride. The idea of a pop star, a detective, and a string of murders on a luxury cruise ship got me reading late into the night. It’s part murder mystery and part slow-burn romance, with just enough chaos and glam to keep things fun even when the stakes get deadly.

Poppy Roe is a pop princess with a sharp tongue and a complicated past, and I really liked her as a lead. She’s guarded, but not cold, and watching her slowly let her walls down was one of the highlights. Isaiah is the broody off-duty detective posing as her bodyguard, who has just the right mix of gruff and gentle. Their chemistry is very much a simmer that turns into a satisfying spark.

The mystery was engaging- there were twists I didn’t see coming, and I found myself genuinely curious about who was behind everything. Some plot points were a little over-the-top or convenient (classic cruise ship thriller vibes), but honestly, I didn’t mind. I was along for the ride.

My only wish was for a bit more emotional payoff at the end. The romance wrapped up a little quickly for me, and I would’ve loved an epilogue or even a final scene that gave more closure. Still, if you’re in the mood for a fast-paced story full of murder, mayhem, and a morally gray man falling hard for the FMC, this one is worth checking out. Just maybe don’t read it on a cruise!

A propulsive, fast-paced story featuring two morally gray MCs and a series of murders on a (comically luxurious) cruise ship.

The set up tells the reader pretty early on that this is going to be an OTT plot, so go into it expecting that. The synopsis doesn’t match the actual plot IMO, it seems like Isaiah is on board by happenstance when in reality he was hired as Poppy’s bodyguard…with a secret motive. As the bodies start to fall, I would have expected more snooping and investigating from Isaiah, the detective, instead of the Princess of Pop. I will never buy a couple that is in love after two weeks, but even so I would have liked to see more of the relationship develop between Poppy and Isaiah especially given where Isaiah started.

The mystery itself had some definite twists and turns but the entire murder/stalker plot was a bit convoluted with layers of secrecy and betrayal. This is exactly the type of book to read on a summer vacation where a fast-paced, glitzy setting is the backdrop to murder and romance.

Plot points that needed more:
- The intro letter to be released upon Poppy’s death. This didn’t feel it fit in given everything else that happened - either it didn’t need to exist or needed a LOT more detail about her Aunt Martha.
- How did (spoiler alert- redacted) end up on board? The timeline doesn’t make sense
- What was up with the room access bracelets not working?
- For a ship so luxurious and about ensuring passenger privacy, there sure was a lot of sneaky access to rooms that shouldn’t have been doable

Overall, this book was entertaining. A mystery novel with a dash of romance - what a fantastic blend of my two favorite genres! I applaud the concept!!
I love the dual point of views; usually, it helps me connect with the characters and makes me feel more invested as a reader, which makes me enjoy the book more. However, both POVs were written in third person, so I felt removed from the situation and didn't end up caring too much about the characters as a result.
The romance aspect of the novel was decent, though definitely rushed. The entire novel takes place over the course of two weeks, and I'm not a fan of insta-love or rushed relationships, so the romantic plot fell a bit flat for me. There was some witty banter, though, so it wasn't a lost cause altogether.
My main problem with the novel was the mystery plot. It could be that I was raised on Agatha Christie and thus expecting some genius ending with a mind-bending twist, but the ending of the novel left me largely unsatisfied. I had questions about the revelations that were shared and found what I consider to be plot holes (though perhaps not because again- questions).
This wouldn't be the first mystery book I recommend to a friend, but I wouldn't dissuade them from reading it either. It was just okay, but at least it kept my attention for an afternoon and entertained me.

A reasonably well written book. The murder mystery part of the book was very well done and when you thought you knew how did it - it proved there was another twist/ red herring. The disappointment was the romantic aspect between the main characters wasn’t quick as well done and didn’t really flow very well. The overall feeling is was a good all round read a note is that there are a few sensitive issues in the book and this should be noted to read the disclaimer before reading the book .

3.5⭐
I've never read a murder mystery romance and I must say, I think I've found a new favourite category. I ate this book up! Loved the setting in this one. 🥰 The vibes of this book remind me of The Noahtic Act from Moriarty the Patriot, which I actually really loved! The romance was a huge bonus 💗

I actually genuinely liked the Poppy's character. I admire her firmness, her confidence and her quick wit. Isaiah was a dreamboat and I loved how protective, warm and supportive he was. These two together - chef's kiss! 💋 The romance wasn't too much and it didn't overshadow the murder mystery going on. If anything, it helped balance it out.

While I loved most of this book, I docked points because I was quite let down by the way the true culprit was revealed. 🥲 Their crimes and motives were basically just given away, and the following action sequence that led to their downfall was rather disappointing. 💔 I didn't feel that the case was closed in a convincing way; it felt too convenient and contrived.

Additionally, I wish we got closure from Poppy and Isaiah's relationship. The book ended too quickly and we don't know if they're going to move in together, will they get married, etc. Just a small window into their future together would have been an amazing icing on the cake.

All in all, I still enjoyed this book a lot. 💗 The characters are so likeable, the pacing was great, the romance was sweet and the writing was lovely. Would I recommend this to a friend who loves murder mysteries and also reads romance? Yes, I would. 🥰

I really tried to give this one a benefit of the doubt because I loved Mr. Perfectly Fine. There was just many things in the book that I struggled with wanting to finish. I was very excited with the premise because I always want to read stories set on about cruise ships. The love story just went from 0 to 100% very quickly and it just felt a little off. All the murders were a little confusing with the ones done off the ship and on the ship.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book!

I would like to thank NetGalley, Kate Callaghan and CallaghanWriter for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

3⭐ - I've never been on a cruise before, so this book intrigued me - so a murder mystery and a romance that takes on a cruise ship, I couldn't wait to start this book.

We follow Popstar Poppy, she has death following her wherever she goes. This seems to pique the interest of Detective Isaiah. Who quickly takes a job as Poppy's bodyguard on the ship. Will they find out who's behind the murders?

I loved the murder mystery part of the story however I wasn't a huge fan of the romance between Poppy and Isaiah, it felt a bit forced?

The Situation Ship is out on July 27th!

i loved the concept of this book. I did enjoy reading it but felt i had to push myself through some parts of it. I didn’t feel connected with the characters maybe because it was written in 3rd person POV. There were a few grammatical errors that i did notice. It was a little predictable but in the end i would rate ⭐️⭐️⭐️

3.75/5 stars.
This was such a fun mix of mystery, thriller, and romance all wrapped into one. The story kept me guessing and had me asking “who dunnit?” the whole way through. I also loved that it had a solid plot and didn’t just revolve around the romance. That said, the romance did feel a bit quick and lacked some depth, so I didn’t connect with it as much as I hoped.

Overall, it was an entertaining read with enough twists to keep me hooked. If you’re looking for something light and suspenseful that doesn’t take itself too seriously, this is worth picking up. Thanks to the publisher, Kate Callaghan, and NetGalley for the ARC!

This book was such a fun, messy, and painfully relatable ride. Kate Callaghan captures the confusion and chaos of modern dating in a way that feels both hilarious and deeply real. It’s not just about romance—it’s about figuring out what you actually want when you’re caught somewhere between flings, feelings, and the fear of commitment.

The main character is sharp, flawed, and refreshingly honest. I loved how her internal monologue often made me laugh out loud, even when she was making questionable choices. The situations she found herself in were awkward in the best way. At times, I wanted to shake her and other times I wanted to hug her, which says a lot about how well she was written.

The dialogue was quick and clever, and the pacing never dragged. It struck a nice balance between humor and heartache. While there’s romance, this is just as much a story of self-discovery, and it doesn’t tie everything up with a neat little bow, which I appreciated.

It’s a great pick if you're into witty, emotionally honest stories about the grey areas of relationships. Definitely recommended for fans of millennial fiction and romantic comedies that don’t always play by the rules.

Thank you to NetGalley and Callaghanwriter for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Situation Ship was a fun read, really comical situations throughout all the book.

The romance between Poppy and Isaiah throw me off a bit, didn’t feel believable to me, really forced.

However i liked the friendship with Mina and her loyalty to Poppy.

A bit of trauma dump that was not touch enough.

Over all it was a nice story.

‘The problem with fame is that someone will write my story one day.’

Atmospheric, chilling, beautiful world building. The pacing was too slow for my liking, but I truly didn’t mind. It’s pretty easy for me to guess who the stalker was from the first few chapters, but the plot twist caught me off-guard. I wasn’t a fan of the romance aspect of this book though, it felt unnatural at times, maybe because it was written in 3rd person. I’d recommend this book if you love Death on The Nile.

I was kindly provided with the arc of this book by NetGalley and CallaghanWriter in exchange for and honest review, thank you ✨

4.5⭐️

Wow I had the most amazing time reading this book!! I was invested since chapter one on Poppy’s story and even when I had my suspicions I was gladly proved wrong because any of my suspects was the actual villain in this book and I loved being wrong in this case 🙂‍↔️

I loved Poppy, I hurt for her and all the things she had to endure growing up, all the things she has to quiet down and put on a smile until she were finally free, and I loved Isaiah 🛐 I loved how he went to suspect Poppy was the killer to “touch her and die” 😮‍💨❤️

This was my first book by the author but surely won’t be the last ✨🙂‍↔️

Romantic suspense with the Detective (aka The Bodyguard), with forced proximity and it's a slow burn. This book has all my favourite tropes, and has a summer vibe, with the action taking place on a cruise ship. I really enjoyed reading it on the beach while watching the cruise ships come and go from the harbour.

I want to start by saying how much I appreciate the atmosphere and premise of The Situation Ship—a moody, romantic suspense with a haunting vibe and a strong female lead. Kate Callaghan clearly knows how to build tension and emotional stakes.

That said, this one wasn’t quite the right fit for me, and I ended up setting it down before the end. The pacing felt a bit drawn out for my taste, and while the chemistry between the characters was there, I personally wished the spice was a little more detailed and lingered longer when it finally hit.

Still, I can see how fans of slow-burn romantic thrillers and emotionally complex plots would absolutely devour this story. Just because I didn’t finish doesn’t mean it won’t hit just right for the right reader. If you love cruise ship murder vibes, protective detectives, and a touch of darkness—this could be your perfect read.

this title had me hooked and wanting to read it. I enjoyed this book and had a good time reading it. I will read it again. I will find more books from this author.

A romance and a murder mystery?!? sign me up! I thought this was so great!! I loved the romance, the forced proximity, the cozy mystery, and even the spice!! All of my favorite things in one book. I didn't guess the killer and that's my favorite part of a mystery. This was my first book by Kate but it won't be my last because I really enjoyed this.

I wanted to love this one but I had to put it down around 30%.

The writing style is just not for me. It felt a bit immature almost and lacking? I grabbed this one partially based on the cover. I really love the cover and the concept though!

I appreciate the opportunity to leave honest feedback voluntarily. Thank you for the eARC!

Firstly, thank you to NetGalley and Kate Callaghan for this ARC!

Unfortunately, I had to DNF this book at 15%. I didn’t find the writing style particularly engaging, but that is a personal preference, so I understand that some people could really love it! However, I also did not find Poppy likeable at all, which made me quite uninterested in her POV chapters, and combined with not being a fan of the writing style, that made this book really difficult to try get through.

I decided to DNF at 15% because of this, and also because I tried hard to suspend my disbelief at Poppy’s nonchalance about murder, but I just couldn’t and that did take me out of this story.

If you like romantic suspense, I would still give this book a chance! It just personally didn’t work for me.

I was so intrigued when I read murder mystery, but it didn't work for me. It was too slow and I was not able to get into it. I unfortunately could not continue and I had to DNF.