This book was a delight! While the mystery wasn't the most complex I've ever read, I still really enjoyed following the two leads as they try to navigate life on the cruise. I'm looking forward to more from this author!

OMG this was just pure FUN!

I found that I was smiling while reading this and totally fell in love with our main characters and the tropes were *chef's kiss* spot on for a fun, flirty summer romance read by the beach!

3.75⭐️

To describe this book in one word would be simply - fun.

It was quite an interesting concept and I was excited to read something that combines two of my favourite genres. Firstly the protagonist is a really interesting character I enjoyed getting snippets of her background and it helped me to like her and care about her.

One of my favourite things about this book is that it kept me on my toes with twists and turns, I didn’t guess the ending and I really like that - there’s nothing worse than a predictable mystery book. The twists weren’t just isolated to the protagonist, there were little unexpected ones elsewhere too!

The main downfall for me was the romance side of it, I’m not a huge fan of insta-love and this just felt a little baseless to me. In a similar way the friendship with Mina also felt very instant and I would have liked to have had more grounds and see the development.

That said it was an enjoyable and fast paced read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Okay, so this had so much potential — pop star in danger, murder on a cruise, broody detective with a past?? I was hooked from the blurb and reviews alone. And to be fair, the setup was super strong. The whole “shared cabin, cruise with a killer on board, forced proximity” thing between Poppy and Isaiah gave exactly what it was supposed to.

So a bit of an overview about our protagonists in this book: “Princess of pop” Poppy Roe was adopted by her famous aunt and pushed into the spotlight from a young age. After witnessing her aunt’s death, she decides to take a cruise to escape it all. Enter Isaiah Rivers — a renowned detective originally sent to investigate Poppy and uncover the truth about her connection to several suspicious deaths, and decides to take a bodyguard job to get closer to his lead suspect. But somewhere along the way, Isaiah abandons his original mission and becomes more of a partner than an investigator, emotionally entangled before he even realizes it.

But… somewhere along the way, it lost me a little. 😅 Don’t get me wrong — the beginning was excellent, and I read 40% of the book in one sitting. The romance felt kinda rushed. I physically had to stop reading and ask myself how they went from not trusting each other to being head over heels? That said, the murder mystery and how it all played out was quite good, and I really liked how that part wrapped up.

I loved the idea of a luxury cruise turning into a trap. The setting was really cool and claustrophobic in the best way. And I appreciate that it didn’t shy away from heavier themes, and I really enjoyed the ending tbf.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author Kate Callaghan for the opportunity to read this book, The Situation Ship is set to release on July 27, 2025!

Thank you to NetGalley & Kate Callaghan for an ARC of The Situationship!

I was so excited to read this book from reading the description - mystery & romance? Sign me up! And, man, did it start off with a bang! I was instantly pulled in by all the suspense around Poppy’s past. I really liked that you don’t know who to trust right off the bat.

What I Liked (spoiler free):
1. Fast-paced and easy to read (would be a great beach read)
2. Some interesting twists & turns that I didn’t predict
3. The character dynamic of a celebrity on the run and detective was super fun and kept me entertained

What Could Have Been Better:
1. Would have liked more relationship building between Poppy and Isaiah - we go from him being highly suspicious of her (and seeming to dislike her status) to insta-love within a few days

Overall Rating: 3.5 - would recommend for a quick & easy summer read

10/10 a very quick romcom with some thriller aspects I enjoyed this so much and was thankful to get it early

I was promised a romance book and I found a murder mystery book, I was very confused, but as it is a short novel I didn't give it much importance and I immersed myself in the book.

I didn't connect with the characters, as they seemed flat to me, I didn't connect with the story as I had other expectations (the romance is almost non-existent), and it tasted very bad to me, but that's the truth.

The resolution of the plot was very bare-bones, very forced and very weird.

If this book had been sold to me for what it really is, my rating would probably be higher.

Still, I enjoyed the read as it was short <3

This was a fun mystery/romance novel that I was not expecting to enjoy as much as I did. Granted, there were quite a few chapters with spice in them (and we all know how I feel about that), but thankfully, the author included what those chapters were at the beginning, so I knew what to expect. ☺

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. If you know me, then you know that depth is what makes or breaks a story, whether it be a movie or a book. So, if your characters and plot have meaning that actually makes sense, then congratulations, you’ve got yourself a winner. 🥇

But the best part of the book was that the characters were Irish! I honestly freaked out when I read that, and it just made this all the more fun to read. 🇮🇪❤ (Is it possible to love a place you’ve never been to? ☺💗)

Now, do I recommend this book? Yes, I do, if you like mysteries and a whole lot of fun tropes scattered here and there in the book. As I said before, there is spice and also swearing, so if you don’t like those things in your books, then this is your heads-up. ☺

I do think this could be a light, easy beach read for the summer, I just didn't like how the writing had no depth to it. It came across as very 'tell' instead of 'show' with the dialogue also feeling very simple and superficial. The main character Poppy had an interesting background but I felt like it was wasted as she still felt very shallow and lacked complexity. It was as if the traumatic background was given to her in order to check off an item on a writing to do list rather than being integral to her character.

Thank you Netgalley and Kate Callaghan for the ARC of The Situation ship!

I thoroughly enjoyed this mashup of genres! Murder mystery with a side of romance? What more could you want? This book is also dual point of view and I loved getting in Poppy and Isaiah’s heads! Isaiah is an undercover cop that poses as Poppy’s bodyguard on a cruise because he suspects her of murder. Lots of bodies drop in this one so be prepared!

What worked for me:
The situationship is fast paced and reads quickly. I was only able to predict a portion of the ending but there was a piece that was definitely a shock! Two of my favorite genres came together to make for a very fun read!

What didn’t work for me:
The relationship developed extremely quickly. We have Isiah that goes from suspecting Poppy of murder to willing to do anything for her with in one week. The insta love made the connection between them a little less believable.

Overall I gave the Situationship 3.5 stars and would definitely recommend to a friend interested in these genres!

3.25 stars.

This was pretty engaging from the start. The rapid bodies dropping and all that suspense surrounding Poppy's past kept me hooked (I hate those people and I love Poppy for what she did). But then somewhere around halfway through the book, things starting getting kinda predictable and boring. It felt a little dragged on unnecessarily. Tho the final twist was shocking. Overall it was a nice read.

Solid 3.5 stars from me.Put some romance,mystery,dropping dead bodies and you have The Situation Ship.We meet Poppy Roe the pop star and Isaiah Rivers the detective,and it's from both POV,so we know they really dont't trust each other.Isaiah suspect Poppy have something to do with death of people working for her in the past,Poppy suspect he want something more from her then being her bodyguard.After the first death mutual distrust changing to trust,some past situations find understanding between them, and of course there is attraction.
I like Poppy and Isaiah together,you can say that they bond by the things they should not do in the past,and they don't regret it.It was interesting to see how this relationship progress.The mystery also was good,it keept me turning pages,in about 70% I start suspect few people,but I was still suprised about some things in the end.
I think this is a great summer read with some spicy romance and mystery.
Maybe in the future there will be book about secondary characters Mina and Eckells?Would love to read about them.
Also read the warning in description.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the ARC of this book!

This was a cute romance-meets-murder-mystery that I really enjoyed. I liked how the characters developed as the story progressed, and each chapter kept me on the edge of my seat. The characters were likable, and the cruise ship setting added a fun and unique twist to the story.

I thought I would read this because I read the title and laughed for like 10 minutes. Like wow the pun was hilarious. It honestly was not at all what I expected.

I thought this book would be a romance that was up in the air, situtationships galore, emotional, the likes. However, ... it was very different. A romance murder mystery that was honestly (well for me at least that has never and will never be able to sit through a scary movie), scary.

Poppy, after her aunt's death, decides to go on a cruise. She takes a bodyguard, Isaac who is actually undercover trying to investigate her. As a series of murders happen on the ship, they have to start trusting each other and form a romantic relationship.

Okay, now for what I thought of the book. First off, while I thought this would be a situationship, they never really had any trouble jumping into a relationship. Insta-love, anyone? I actually wanted to jump off a cliff when the "I would die if anything ever happened to you" occurred one week in. Also, I was a bit disturbed about our main character's backstory? Wanting justice is okay but the ends do NOT justify the means.

But yeah, it was entertaining.

The Situation Ship by Kate Callaghan was a wonderful read! It has some of the best tropes, witty banter, slow-burn romance, and twists and turns of a murder mystery. At the beginning of the book, I was very curious about how the author would turn Isaiah's suspicion of Poppy into love, but it was well done! The pacing is wonderful, despite being a shorter book; it did not feel rushed. The writing style was clear and easy to read as well.

Overall, I rated 4/5 stars. It was a different twist on the murder mystery, and I did not see the ending coming. I would recommend anyone who loves a more plot-driven story and wants a Rom-Com mixed with a murder mystery!

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/236938744-the-situation-ship" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="The Situation Ship" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1751553288l/236938744._SY160_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/236938744-the-situation-ship">The Situation Ship</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17705145.Kate_Callaghan">Kate Callaghan</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7741424531">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Thank you to Netgalley and Kate Callaghan for giving me an opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book!<br /><br />I went into this book incredibly intrigued. The cover alone drew me to request the book, but overall, I really enjoyed it! A murder mystery x romcom on a cruise ship is a super niche idea that Callaghan executed well. While I enjoyed the book, it's plot, and the twists and turns it offered, the relationship between Poppy and Isaiah seemed more so to be a subplot and less of the main plot, especially as this book is marketed as a romcom, but besides that one point, this book was so so good. I devoured it in one sitting.
<br/><br/>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/83852984-kyle">View all my reviews</a>

I love this new trend of mashing up romance and mystery novels. I know "new" is relative and, yes, I did read the Harlequin Intrigue series back in the day. This actually reminded me of those! It’s set in the present day, but felt like a throwback. I wonder if that’s just because I haven’t read an Intrigue in 25 years?

There’s more plot, of course, and maybe less sex? But what was there was explicit! Both the romance and the mystery were good. I did identify the killer, but the motive was a big surprise.

I didn't completely hate this book but it didn't take my attention like I had hoped. I found that the romance didn't have enough slow burn for me to really root for them. The murder aspect, it didn't keep me intrigued. I could've not finished the book and it wouldn't have kept me awake needing to know what happens. Which honestly is what I look for in any type of mystery.

3.5 ⭐

Thank you NetGalley and Kate Callaghan for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In The Situation Ship, we follow popstar Poppy Roe as she embarks on a cruise after her aunt's death. She's closely followed by detective Isaiah Rivers, who is suspicious of Poppy due to her proximity to several deaths of people related to her in one way or another in the past few months. Once they get on the ship, death continues following Poppy, and she turns to Isaiah not only for protection but also to solve the mystery of who's trying to harm her.

Funny and lighthearted, despite all the murders, The Situation Ship was a fun, quick read. I really enjoyed Poppy's strong character and determination to take control of her own life, and Isaiah's loyalty to what he considers right and wrong.

I'm more used to books that rely heavily on emotions and deep conversations, and while The Situation Ship has its moments, I found the connection between the Poppy and Isaiah lacking some depth. Given the genre of the book and the pacing of the story, however, it made sense.

The twist at the end was good, and I only guessed half of it, which made the ending thoroughly enjoyable. All in all, The Situation Ship was fun, and kept me engaged with the story and wanting to get to the end to see what happened.

I'm definitely coming back and reading more books by Kate Callaghan.

I was really intrigued by this book, and I liked so many parts of it. It brought me back to my love of crime novels, but with a hint of romance.

Unfortunately, the romance element let it down. It felt too rushed and, honestly, out of place. I understand that in high-stakes environments, emotions are elevated, and people do unexpected things, but this really felt too fast. He went from being dead suspicious of her to thinking, days into the meeting, that she was interesting, kissing her out of nowhere for cover, and then suddenly becoming obsessed with each other. The inner monologues for either character supported the speed at which their relationship developed. I honestly would have preferred this if there hadn't been any romance because there was no depth to it whatsoever, and it delayed the exciting part of the story, which was the mystery and murder.

I finished it because I was curious to see how it ended, but I was speed-reading the conversations for the last 10% or so. It is by no means a bad book; I just needed more, and unfortunately, it tainted the book as a whole from my perspective. This review, however, will in no way stop me from reading Kate's books in the future.

If you like these tropes, this might be for you

⭐Cop MMC x Pop Star (Murder) FMC
⭐Force Proximity
⭐Murder Mystery x Death on the Nile

TW: for family death, death, blood, trauma, gaslighting

Thank you to the Kate Callaghan for the ARC.