The Situationship by Kate Callaghan is a fun, fast-paced blend of mystery and romance, set aboard a luxury cruise gone wrong. With its dual POV and grumpy/sunshine dynamic, the story brings depth and charm to a light, summery read. Poppy, a flawed yet lovable pop star, stands out as a refreshingly relatable lead, and the banter-filled relationship adds plenty of flirty energy, even if their romance develops a bit too quickly.

While some twists are easy to spot and a few side characters feel underused, the engaging writing, entertaining setting, and steady pacing more than make up for it. This is an easy one-sitting read, perfect for fans of cozy mysteries with a splash of romance. I’ll be picking up more from Kate Callaghan!

I was so excited to receive this ARC. This book got me hooked from the blurb on the back and the cover design. This was such a fun read. It was a murder mystery surrounding a famous celebrity Poppy and a hard working detective set to investigate her Isaiah. When the location changes everything is not quite what it seems. Read this book to find out what happens to the stalker, who ends up getting unalived and why this is all happening in the first place. There seems to be quite a ‘situation’ on the ship.

I had a great time with this one! It’s a fun mix of mystery and romance, which is always a win for me. I loved how messy and relatable the characters were, especially Poppy who wasn't the typical pop star you can often see in romances! The cruise ship setting was really fun, and while the plot was a little predictable, I still had a great time!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Kate Callaghan for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I really enjoyed this book! I thought that it was very well written and enjoyable. It was a quick read that I enjoyed the whole time. This book is definitely for mystery lovers and romance lovers.

I greatly enjoyed the main characters. For some characters, I feel like we were kind of introduced to some, but they didn’t have a large part which I found kind of weird. But the other characters were very nice. For example, I liked how Poppy definitely had a lot of flaws, but the way she was written, still made me love her. I also thought the book itself was well-written. There were no instances where I found weird wordings or that I did not like the writing. I enjoyed the ending, although it was a bit predictable. I did not feel that the ending was very rushed, which is good because quite a few mystery books will rush the ending and reveal.

The only thing I didn’t really enjoy about the book was how fast the relationship between the two main characters happened. It felt like one minute they were not enjoying each other and arguing a lot and then the next they were all of a sudden in love. I didn’t feel like there was a cohesive flow and transition between the two feelings.

Overall, I loved the storyline and the writing was really good. The characters were awesome and I would definitely recommend this book to mystery and romance lovers that are looking for a quick and easy read.

Set on a luxury cruise gone very wrong, The Situationship balances a twisty plot with fun, flirty energy. The dual POV added so much depth, especially seeing the grumpy/sunshine dynamic play out between the leads. While I figured out one of the twists early, I still enjoyed to see how it would unravel. It was an easy quick read! Easily could finish it in one sitting.

If you’re into light mysteries with a summery backdrop, plenty of banter, and just the right amount of romantic tension, this one’s for you!

This is my first Kate Callaghan and I’m definitely going to read more of her books!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Poppy “princess of pop” Roe is taking a cruise after the death of her aunt to get out of the limelight. However, someone is hunting Poppy… and they’re on the cruise too. Poppy teams up with Isaiah, a detective, who agrees to act as her bodyguard until docking while he secretly investigates the mysterious deaths that seem to follow Poppy.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a murder mystery with a side of romance! The first half of this book felt much more focused on the mystery than the romance, which I appreciated as it gave the characters time to get to know each other and build a connection as well as set the initial intrigue of the murders. I appreciated that in the second half, as the romance builds, the mystery remains the driving force of the plot. I didn’t guess the killer until almost the very end and even then, I didn’t have it quite figured out. My only critique is that the romance felt a bit unrealistic, and rushed, for how little time the characters had known each other, and it could have used a bit more development. Overall, I had a great time with this book and would recommend it!

I was very excited to read this when I read the description, murder mystery following a pop star on a cruise ship?? Sounded amazing!!

While I enjoyed the setting and the mystery, the characters felt a little lacking to me. I also feel like the romance felt a little rushed. This could have easily just been a mystery novel in my opinion.
While the romance in this wasn't for me personally, I think others might really enjoy this!

Thank you NetGally for giving me this ARC to review!

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this cute book! It is fast-paced stand alone, murder/romance with a good amount of spice. I did not figure out who did it. Every time I suspected someone, they died 😆

The Situation Ship is set on a cruise ship and has unique, believable characters that are trying to catch a murderer. This is the first book I have read by Kate Callaghan and I will definitely be looking into more of her books!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4.5/5
Romance, murder, and a cruise ship full of chaos? Yes, please. The Situation Ship delivers a wild ride featuring a glittery pop star and a “hunky chunky” detective (honestly, more romance novels should embrace that descriptor). I devoured it like a free drink package on Day One of a cruise.

The story had so many twists and turns that just when I thought I had things figured out—boom. Another plot twist. This book kept me guessing (and grinning) with a writing style that’s fast, funny, and totally addictive.

Poppy and Isaiah? Instant favorites. They’re likable, layered, and genuinely easy to root for—even as the ship’s drama gets darker. The mix of romantic tension and murder mystery is handled perfectly. It’s giving pop music meets light thriller with just enough steam and suspense to keep you flipping pages.

Highly recommend for fans of romantic comedies who love a touch of danger—or anyone craving a fun escape read that doesn’t skimp on plot. If you’ve ever wanted to fall in love and solve a crime while stuck at sea, this one’s for you.

If you love murder mysteries with a glamorous twist, The Situation Ship is your next beach read.
As a fan of cruise-bused mysteries, l was beyond excited to dive into this ARC und it delivered a wild ride.
Pop star Poppy and broody detective Isaiah team up on a luxurious cruise turned nightmare, and the result is a fast-paced blend of chaos, humor, romance, and serious danger. The setting was atmospheric und fun (perfect for cruise lovers like me!), and the tension stayed high from beginning to end.

This book was really interesting plot wise but the characters lacked a bit for me. I did still really enjoy it!

I really liked the premise of this book; a pop star on a luxury cruise, a detective/bodyguard, and a whole murder mystery playing out at sea. I liked the mix of romance and suspense, and the cruise ship setting made it feel fresh and dramatic. I had never really read anything like it before, so it was a bit of a harder read. It took me a while to get into it, especially since dual pov's aren't necessarily my favorite. However, I appreciated getting to see the perspective between the two characters, and I think it gave the story a bit more depth.
For me, Poppy was a bit hard to connect with at first, but she did end up growing on me. Isaiah had his moments too, though their romance felt a bit rushed. There were some good twists, and the mystery kept me interested, even if parts of the plot got a little tangled and predictable. It’s not perfect, but it’s a fun, fast-paced read if you're looking for something dramatic and entertaining with a bit of spice and mystery.

In The Situation Ship, Kate Callaghan delivers a fast-paced romantic suspense novel that blends glitz, danger, and heartfelt connection. The story follows MFC Poppy, a celebrity reeling from the death of her iconic aunt. Seeking solace after a high-profile funeral, Poppy retreats to the serene luxury of a cruise ship. But peace is short-lived.

What starts as a getaway quickly spirals into a high-stakes mystery. When deadly threats surface aboard the ship, Poppy must rely on her enigmatic bodyguard—who doubles as a detective—to survive. As the duo digs deeper into a web of intrigue, their partnership intensifies, evolving from professional to profoundly personal.

Callaghan expertly balances action and romance, with the isolated cruise setting adding both elegance and claustrophobic tension. Poppy is a compelling lead—vulnerable yet resilient—and her chemistry with the brooding protector adds emotional depth to the life-and-death stakes.

Perfect for fans of romantic thrillers, The Situation Ship is an entertaining voyage through loss, love, and danger on the high seas.

This was a fun read! It was a good mixture of mystery and rom-com. It had some of my favorite tropes in it, so I went in with high hopes and it did not disappoint! Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC copy.

"The Situation Ship"- A book with a very great first few chapters. I loved the premise and I loved the idea of the characters. The storyline is excellent and the ending felt good. But the middle left something to be desired. The spice scenes are great but some of the banter and dialogues felt off. But all in all a great summer read.
Thank you NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

ARC review

4,5 stars

"The Situation Ship" by Kate Callaghan is a romance with a side of murder mystery.

I received an ARC from the author.
Opinions from this review are completely my own.

✨Tropes & Themes✨
- detective/Bodyguard X Pop Star
- cruise Ship
- Murder Mystery
- Opposites Attract
- Shared Cabin
- Reluctant Allies

I enjoyed this book a lot.
In the beginning I did not like Poppy, but her story was emotional.
She is strong, determined and deep down she has good heart, even if she is also morally gray.
I did not expect Isaiah to be so protective of Poppy, considering he was trying to find out if she is guilty of murder.

My favorite part of the story was the mystery that kept me interested.
There are some twists that I did not expect and I am glad that the stalker was not the person that I suspected.

I was also happy that Phoebe and Axel from "Not Another Rockstar" make an appearance.

Even if it is a romance there are mentions of trauma, stalking, murder, emotional and physical abuse which may be triggering

Picked this one up because it sounded like a perfect combination of my two favourite genres - romance and mystery. It was different from what I was expecting - definitely more of a mystery/thriller than a romance but I still enjoyed it. It’s giving Death on The Nile / Agatha Christie. I love mysteries that take place in an isolated location. This would be a great vacation read - especially for a cruise. It was fast paced and filled with action.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the ARC of this book!

Pop star Poppy Roe is under investigation and maybe in danger. Detective Isaiah Rivers has notice that people just end up dead around Poppy and he’s determined to find out if she’s a killer or the next victim. When Poppy is scheduled to go on an exclusive cruise, he manipulates his way into being her bodyguard. The deaths are done though; as soon as the ship sails, more dead bodies turn up. This book was a mess. There were too many convoluted story lines, zero romantic chemistry between the main characters, over explanatory dialogue, lots of telling rather than showing, and several loose ends never wrapped up for the reader. This was unbelievable and needed more editing for pacing, relationship building, and character development. 2.5 stars, rounded up to 3.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this title from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book was like a cosy, trashy, ‘who-dun-it’ from the 00s but in the best possible way.

The plot was interesting and did take a lot more twists and turns than I expected. There was a few moments where I was seriously shocked and surprised.

The characters were flushed out but still morally ambiguous which I’m a huge fan off. That also helped wonderfully when it came to the plot.

The writing was simple and easy to read. Many murder mysteries always try to be too smart or over complicate the writing. This was easy to read and easily digestible.

The romance was cute and realistic but it felt a little rushed. I wish the smut started closer to the 60% mark so we could see the evolution of their relation prior to them succumb to it.

this book was so cute and had me laughing and smiling. i totally loved the characters! cannot recommend enough!!!