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Caribbean Cruising: A Fun YA Summer Adventure Where Plans Change and Love Happens
The perfect summer story of a girl, several boys, and a cruise ship full of possibilities.
Lindsay has never been on a cruise, but she knows exactly what she wants to do now that she is: climb a waterfall, snorkel, meet lots of cute guys, and look for one perfect guy for a summer fling.
But her to-do list isn't going according to plan, especially when she discovers that it's impossible to have a fling-when you're actually falling in love.
Lindsay has never been on a cruise, but she knows exactly what she wants to do now that she is: climb a waterfall, snorkel, meet lots of cute guys, and look for one perfect guy for a summer fling.
But her to-do list isn't going according to plan, especially when she discovers that it's impossible to have a fling-when you're actually falling in love.
314 pages, Paperback
First published April 27, 2004
49 people are currently reading
2500 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Hawthorne
30 books1,615 followersaka Jade Parker and also writes with her son as J.A. London
(also writes romance under Lorraine Heath)
Rachel Hawthorne, who also writes as Lorraine Heath and Jade Parker, is the daughter of a British beauty (her mother won second place in a beauty contest sponsored by Max Factor® during which she received a kiss from Caesar Romero-who played the Joker on the old Batman TV series) and a Texan who was stationed at Bovingdon while serving in the air force. Lorraine was born in Watford, Herts, England, but soon after moved to Texas. Her "dual" nationality has given her a love for all things British and Texan. She enjoys weaving both heritages through her stories.
When she received her BA degree in psychology from the University of Texas, she had no idea she had gained a foundation that would help her to create believable characters—characters that are often described as “real people.” She writes for both adult and young adult readers. She received a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award for Americana historicals. Her novels have been recognized with a RITA, Romance Writers of America’s most prestigious award for excellence, a HOLT medallion award honoring outstanding literary fiction, a Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award, five Texas Gold Awards, the Golden Quill Award, the Rising Star Award as well as other awards and recognitions. Her novels have been selections of the Doubleday and Rhapsody Book Club. Her novels have appeared on bestseller lists, including USA Today, Waldenbooks, and most recently, the New York Times.
(also writes romance under Lorraine Heath)
Rachel Hawthorne, who also writes as Lorraine Heath and Jade Parker, is the daughter of a British beauty (her mother won second place in a beauty contest sponsored by Max Factor® during which she received a kiss from Caesar Romero-who played the Joker on the old Batman TV series) and a Texan who was stationed at Bovingdon while serving in the air force. Lorraine was born in Watford, Herts, England, but soon after moved to Texas. Her "dual" nationality has given her a love for all things British and Texan. She enjoys weaving both heritages through her stories.
When she received her BA degree in psychology from the University of Texas, she had no idea she had gained a foundation that would help her to create believable characters—characters that are often described as “real people.” She writes for both adult and young adult readers. She received a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award for Americana historicals. Her novels have been recognized with a RITA, Romance Writers of America’s most prestigious award for excellence, a HOLT medallion award honoring outstanding literary fiction, a Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award, five Texas Gold Awards, the Golden Quill Award, the Rising Star Award as well as other awards and recognitions. Her novels have been selections of the Doubleday and Rhapsody Book Club. Her novels have appeared on bestseller lists, including USA Today, Waldenbooks, and most recently, the New York Times.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 228 reviews
June 13, 2010
Let me start of by saying that this book is a secret little gem! I’d never heard of this author before and probably wouldn’t have picked it up even if I had because the cover looks a little young and cheesy but when I discovered this book on my Amazon recommendations and found out what it was about I thought I’d give it a try and I’m so glad I did. I read this in one sitting on a hot summer’s day when I fancied something light and summery to read and it sure hit the spot!
Eighteen year old Lindsay has just finished school and it’s her summer before heading off to university. Her mothers marrying the wealthy Walter Hunt and is having the wedding and honey moon aboard the Enchantment ship cruise. Lindsay has to be bridesmaid for the first night but then she’s free for the next ten days of the cruise to do as she pleases so she creates a list of everything she wants to do in this time.
+ soak up the rays
+ shop until I drop
+ drink margaritas by the pitcher
+ dance all night
+ climb a waterfall
+ snorkel
+ kiss a lot of cute guys
+ sleep with a guy for the first time.
But when Walter asks his gorgeous god son Ryan to keep an eye on Lindsay during the cruise, Lindsay finds that sometimes even the most carefully planned lists don’t always go to plan…
I really loved this book and I just had to order another two of Rachel Hawthorns books straight after I finished this. It was a fun summer read and Ryan is one of the sweetest fictional guys ever. I couldn’t give this book 5 star’s because some of the characters got on my nerves sometimes, and some bits were kind of adult that I wouldn’t necessarily recommend to younger teens. So over all I give this 4.5 stars and if Rachel Hawthorns other novels are as good as this then she’ll definitely be climbing up to join my other favourite chick lit authors.
Eighteen year old Lindsay has just finished school and it’s her summer before heading off to university. Her mothers marrying the wealthy Walter Hunt and is having the wedding and honey moon aboard the Enchantment ship cruise. Lindsay has to be bridesmaid for the first night but then she’s free for the next ten days of the cruise to do as she pleases so she creates a list of everything she wants to do in this time.
+ soak up the rays
+ shop until I drop
+ drink margaritas by the pitcher
+ dance all night
+ climb a waterfall
+ snorkel
+ kiss a lot of cute guys
+ sleep with a guy for the first time.
But when Walter asks his gorgeous god son Ryan to keep an eye on Lindsay during the cruise, Lindsay finds that sometimes even the most carefully planned lists don’t always go to plan…
I really loved this book and I just had to order another two of Rachel Hawthorns books straight after I finished this. It was a fun summer read and Ryan is one of the sweetest fictional guys ever. I couldn’t give this book 5 star’s because some of the characters got on my nerves sometimes, and some bits were kind of adult that I wouldn’t necessarily recommend to younger teens. So over all I give this 4.5 stars and if Rachel Hawthorns other novels are as good as this then she’ll definitely be climbing up to join my other favourite chick lit authors.
June 19, 2018
The first time I read this I was thirteen and it was the most awesome book of all time. Now reading this a second time, I can’t believe I ever thought it was that great. I have no problem with fluffy books, but this book had absolutely nothing going on. It was just a string of scenes involving random hot guys and drinking margaritas. Things got redundant and repetitive. Most of the time nothing important happened and things were glossed over with sentences like ‘we partied and danced all night and then I went back to my cabin’. To make things worse, I didn’t care about any of the characters. In a book that is 100% about romance, this was a huge problem. Ryan was supposedly so amazing, but I didn’t understand the appeal. He was sooo freaking boring and I got tired about hearing about how attractive everyone thought he was. He and the other characters had no substance. They were a bunch of cardboard people walking around on a boat.
There was one scene in the book that really annoyed the crap out of me. I don’t get why Lindsay was so upset when it turned out that was a player. The whole book Lindsay is constantly going on about how she wants to find some random guy to lose her virginity to. She wants a one-night-stand with someone that she’ll never have to see again. Once she meets a guy that just wants a quick romp with no strings attached, all of a sudden, Lindsay has been made a fool of and the guy in question is a horrible monster that tried to take advantage of her. Like, REALLY?! What happens next is equally is ridiculous and I couldn’t believe that . The entire situation seemed like overreacting to me. After that point in the story, I was really just over it. The remaining pages dragged on and I was ready for the book to be done.
There was one scene in the book that really annoyed the crap out of me. I don’t get why Lindsay was so upset when it turned out that was a player. The whole book Lindsay is constantly going on about how she wants to find some random guy to lose her virginity to. She wants a one-night-stand with someone that she’ll never have to see again. Once she meets a guy that just wants a quick romp with no strings attached, all of a sudden, Lindsay has been made a fool of and the guy in question is a horrible monster that tried to take advantage of her. Like, REALLY?! What happens next is equally is ridiculous and I couldn’t believe that . The entire situation seemed like overreacting to me. After that point in the story, I was really just over it. The remaining pages dragged on and I was ready for the book to be done.
October 30, 2017
Reto cuatrimestre del 2017
10.- libro que tenga de portada un medio de transporte
en este caso es un crucero de lujo , que de hecho es lo que mas tiene protagonismo en todo el libro y el personaje que mejor me agrado. asi de raro es el libro para que me guste el crucerito...
antes de la lectura
Yo ya habia visto este libro desde hace un mes . empecé a recordar que los libros de esta autora me divertieron un montón cuando tenia 15 o 16 años asi que me dije esta trama y justo entra en la catégoria para el reto. pues ya está
durante la lectura
lo empecé en un dia y lo acabé dos horas después. un libro sencillo , palabras sencillas, trama sencilla. aveces me gusta las cosas sencillas y clara. inicio-nudo-fin. pero oh sorpresa. algunos escritores como que se olvida que aparte del problema o nudo existe un INICIO Y UN FIN.
bueno , la historia narra de una chica que no sabemos casi nada. se ve a si misma como responsable y aburrida . para rematar introvertida . pues les digo que ser introvertida no significa que hay que ser TONTA. ni extrovertida... otras connotaciones vulgares que no mencionare aqui .
tal vez este libro no es tan MALLOOOOO SINO QUE jugó con algo que para mi es super importante que yo no aguanto esto por nada del mundo. acerca de la relaciones sexuales.
la protagonista esta invitada a un crucero de lujo de 10 dias que va a ir por toda america latina. eso se escucha cool para mi . sol , playas , conocer sitios nuevos. resulta que su madre super joven se ha casado con un ... cof cof SUGAR DADDY COF COF señor multimillonario que es ligeramente ( como unos 15 años de diferencia ) mayor . este señor se llama Walter ,es alguien que lindsey ( la protagonista ) no sabe nada o si sabe no lo cuenta . esta feliz de la madre no este sola porque ella acaba de graduarse y quiere irse a la universidad al otro lado del mundo.
hasta ahi todo cool. la boda es dentro del crucero pero su mejor amiga no puede ir . asi que ella hace una lista de cosas.
YO AMO LAS LISTAS DE COSAS . me dan un proposito y no olvido nada.
donde dice cosas normales : beber margaritas , escalar una pared , subir una catarata , bucear , y dormir con un chico ( tener sexo )
aja , la chica quiere dejar de ser virgen por el simple hecho que cree que es una carga . que esta cansada de ser la unica virgen de su escuela ( acaso no sabe que la gente miente sobre eso? que tiene de malo ser virgen a los 18? )
la chica se obsesiona todo el pinche libro que quiere dejar de ser virgen y con su amiga promiscua ( una chica que ha sufrido una ruptura amorosa y que piensa que teniendo sexo sera amada ) busca candidatos para la tarea.
el problema radica es que al inicio del libro lindsey conoce a su chico ideal que es Ryan , el ahijado de su padrastro que tambien ira a la misma universidad y esta buenisimo.
yo no entiendo mucho el instalove aqui. no sé conoce de casi nada pero se gustan ella quiere alejarse emocionalmente pero pasan todo el dia juntos RYAN Y LINDSEY.
los personajes son digamos feos , no tiene caracter en vez de tener 18 siento que tiene 12 años que necesita una mano firme que los corrija y otra amorosa que los guie. yo los veia y no pensaba como si fueran amigos sino los veia como mis hijos , seres que hay que proteger y ayudar mas no a alguien que seguir.
los padres pues que te digo en los 10 dias solo la madre hace una llamada no sé si tiene algo que ver con que son de otra cultura o que . pero por lo menos yo pediria al dia una llamada para saber si esta viva considerando que hacen paradas en diferentes paises esta gente es tan loca que casi se quedan varias veces botados en varios paises. no es broma.
al finalizar la lectura
esperaba otro final. quiero decir en el 75 % como que se arreglaba las cosas, la gente milagrosamente entendia sus asuntos ( como que el viaje no fue tan en vano , medio espiritual resultó) pero la autora lo volteo para que haya un felices para siempre y todavia abierto. por eso es que le puse 1 de 5. si lo hubiera leido a los 16 le hubiera puesto 3 de 5 por el asunto este de tener relaciones de forma irresponsable.si , es irrresponsable porque la chica nunca ha bebido alcohol esta sola y quiere tener sexo. pero como ahora estoy mas dura es una estrella.
10.- libro que tenga de portada un medio de transporte
en este caso es un crucero de lujo , que de hecho es lo que mas tiene protagonismo en todo el libro y el personaje que mejor me agrado. asi de raro es el libro para que me guste el crucerito...
antes de la lectura
Yo ya habia visto este libro desde hace un mes . empecé a recordar que los libros de esta autora me divertieron un montón cuando tenia 15 o 16 años asi que me dije esta trama y justo entra en la catégoria para el reto. pues ya está
durante la lectura
lo empecé en un dia y lo acabé dos horas después. un libro sencillo , palabras sencillas, trama sencilla. aveces me gusta las cosas sencillas y clara. inicio-nudo-fin. pero oh sorpresa. algunos escritores como que se olvida que aparte del problema o nudo existe un INICIO Y UN FIN.
bueno , la historia narra de una chica que no sabemos casi nada. se ve a si misma como responsable y aburrida . para rematar introvertida . pues les digo que ser introvertida no significa que hay que ser TONTA. ni extrovertida... otras connotaciones vulgares que no mencionare aqui .
tal vez este libro no es tan MALLOOOOO SINO QUE jugó con algo que para mi es super importante que yo no aguanto esto por nada del mundo. acerca de la relaciones sexuales.
la protagonista esta invitada a un crucero de lujo de 10 dias que va a ir por toda america latina. eso se escucha cool para mi . sol , playas , conocer sitios nuevos. resulta que su madre super joven se ha casado con un ... cof cof SUGAR DADDY COF COF señor multimillonario que es ligeramente ( como unos 15 años de diferencia ) mayor . este señor se llama Walter ,es alguien que lindsey ( la protagonista ) no sabe nada o si sabe no lo cuenta . esta feliz de la madre no este sola porque ella acaba de graduarse y quiere irse a la universidad al otro lado del mundo.
hasta ahi todo cool. la boda es dentro del crucero pero su mejor amiga no puede ir . asi que ella hace una lista de cosas.
YO AMO LAS LISTAS DE COSAS . me dan un proposito y no olvido nada.
donde dice cosas normales : beber margaritas , escalar una pared , subir una catarata , bucear , y dormir con un chico ( tener sexo )
aja , la chica quiere dejar de ser virgen por el simple hecho que cree que es una carga . que esta cansada de ser la unica virgen de su escuela ( acaso no sabe que la gente miente sobre eso? que tiene de malo ser virgen a los 18? )
la chica se obsesiona todo el pinche libro que quiere dejar de ser virgen y con su amiga promiscua ( una chica que ha sufrido una ruptura amorosa y que piensa que teniendo sexo sera amada ) busca candidatos para la tarea.
el problema radica es que al inicio del libro lindsey conoce a su chico ideal que es Ryan , el ahijado de su padrastro que tambien ira a la misma universidad y esta buenisimo.
yo no entiendo mucho el instalove aqui. no sé conoce de casi nada pero se gustan ella quiere alejarse emocionalmente pero pasan todo el dia juntos RYAN Y LINDSEY.
los personajes son digamos feos , no tiene caracter en vez de tener 18 siento que tiene 12 años que necesita una mano firme que los corrija y otra amorosa que los guie. yo los veia y no pensaba como si fueran amigos sino los veia como mis hijos , seres que hay que proteger y ayudar mas no a alguien que seguir.
los padres pues que te digo en los 10 dias solo la madre hace una llamada no sé si tiene algo que ver con que son de otra cultura o que . pero por lo menos yo pediria al dia una llamada para saber si esta viva considerando que hacen paradas en diferentes paises esta gente es tan loca que casi se quedan varias veces botados en varios paises. no es broma.
al finalizar la lectura
esperaba otro final. quiero decir en el 75 % como que se arreglaba las cosas, la gente milagrosamente entendia sus asuntos ( como que el viaje no fue tan en vano , medio espiritual resultó) pero la autora lo volteo para que haya un felices para siempre y todavia abierto. por eso es que le puse 1 de 5. si lo hubiera leido a los 16 le hubiera puesto 3 de 5 por el asunto este de tener relaciones de forma irresponsable.si , es irrresponsable porque la chica nunca ha bebido alcohol esta sola y quiere tener sexo. pero como ahora estoy mas dura es una estrella.
July 29, 2022
2022:
This was probably the first true romance that i ever read, and it honestly set my expectations for romance books, in terms of what tropes and character relationships i enjoy till today.
2017:
An old favorite from my teenage years. A cute feel-good romcom, perfect for getting you out of a reading slump.
This was probably the first true romance that i ever read, and it honestly set my expectations for romance books, in terms of what tropes and character relationships i enjoy till today.
2017:
An old favorite from my teenage years. A cute feel-good romcom, perfect for getting you out of a reading slump.
May 14, 2010
Ok i only liked this book because of the cruise and well i thought Ryan was really sweet and funny!
everything about the cruise was super... sounded like a lot of fun! all the stuff they got to do wow i just wish i got the chance to do that one day!!
unfortunately the only character i liked was Ryan...he was very mature for his age and was very sweet and caring
lindsay was just plain dumb...a fling...with someone youll never see again...seriously? come on we teenage girls have got to love ourselves better than that... n she was also blind how can she not see Ryan is beyond me
brooke...aghhh...she was just an embarresment for us girls...hooking up with just about everyone...gross!
oh even though julie (lindsays bff) is only like in two chapters i liked her better than lindsay herself or any other characters
jake n chad were just disgusting!!!
everything about the cruise was super... sounded like a lot of fun! all the stuff they got to do wow i just wish i got the chance to do that one day!!
unfortunately the only character i liked was Ryan...he was very mature for his age and was very sweet and caring
lindsay was just plain dumb...a fling...with someone youll never see again...seriously? come on we teenage girls have got to love ourselves better than that... n she was also blind how can she not see Ryan is beyond me
brooke...aghhh...she was just an embarresment for us girls...hooking up with just about everyone...gross!
oh even though julie (lindsays bff) is only like in two chapters i liked her better than lindsay herself or any other characters
jake n chad were just disgusting!!!
Read
February 4, 2018The heroine of this book, Lindsay, is 18 years old. Her mother is on a honeymoon cruise with her brand new husband, a very rich businessman, and Lindsay has been invited along. Her extremely generous stepfather has provided her with an unlimited open account onboard the cruise ship, with which to buy anything her heart desires, and her own highly expensive, fancy, private cabin in which to get up to any activity she chooses to engage in.
Having been a scholarly, introverted type who gets tongue tied when attempting to carry on a conversation with attractive young men, prior to this moment, Lindsay has done very little dating and is very concerned about the fact that she is still a virgin. Her main goals on this cruise are to drink a lot of expensive booze, flirt with as many good-looking young men as possible, and ultimately cull out one lucky individual from the herd of "cute" males she assumes she will encounter during the cruise for the purpose of a one-night stand on the last night of the cruise to end the life-blighting curse of her virginity. Furthermore, because she believes herself to be a young woman of foresight and careful planning, while she is quite hopeful that she will experience this hookup as a marvelously romantic moment which she'll remember with great fondness for the rest of her life, she is prepared for the alternative. In the presumably unlikely event that her projected deflowering might turn out to be an embarrassing and painful experience, she firmly believes that she will avoid any subsequent awkwardness if her one-night stand is someone she will never afterwards encounter again.
This rather sordid, so-called romance plot is normally found in "erotic romance" novels, whose focus is almost entirely on highly explicit sex scenes with relatively little attention given to actual romance and relationship building. Thus, it is rather surprising to find such a setup in a novel marketed as a young adult romance. Granted, true to the YA genre, none of the explicit sex such a plot implicitly promises is included in this book. Instead, all that is offered of this type of plot is, instead of sexual action, lots of passive and redundant introspection about the heroine's rather self-destructive belief that being a virgin is akin to suffering from a dreaded social disease.
In my own personal opinion, the sleaziness of that sort of plot, combined with the heroine's endless drinking and frequent drunkenness (activities which are illegal in the USA but apparently legal on the high seas) eliminates this book as being a young adult novel and moves it more in the direction of a new adult novel. I would also classify this book as more chick-lit than romance, because the heroine spends most of the book engaged in activities that do little to advance the romance plot.
Having been a scholarly, introverted type who gets tongue tied when attempting to carry on a conversation with attractive young men, prior to this moment, Lindsay has done very little dating and is very concerned about the fact that she is still a virgin. Her main goals on this cruise are to drink a lot of expensive booze, flirt with as many good-looking young men as possible, and ultimately cull out one lucky individual from the herd of "cute" males she assumes she will encounter during the cruise for the purpose of a one-night stand on the last night of the cruise to end the life-blighting curse of her virginity. Furthermore, because she believes herself to be a young woman of foresight and careful planning, while she is quite hopeful that she will experience this hookup as a marvelously romantic moment which she'll remember with great fondness for the rest of her life, she is prepared for the alternative. In the presumably unlikely event that her projected deflowering might turn out to be an embarrassing and painful experience, she firmly believes that she will avoid any subsequent awkwardness if her one-night stand is someone she will never afterwards encounter again.
This rather sordid, so-called romance plot is normally found in "erotic romance" novels, whose focus is almost entirely on highly explicit sex scenes with relatively little attention given to actual romance and relationship building. Thus, it is rather surprising to find such a setup in a novel marketed as a young adult romance. Granted, true to the YA genre, none of the explicit sex such a plot implicitly promises is included in this book. Instead, all that is offered of this type of plot is, instead of sexual action, lots of passive and redundant introspection about the heroine's rather self-destructive belief that being a virgin is akin to suffering from a dreaded social disease.
In my own personal opinion, the sleaziness of that sort of plot, combined with the heroine's endless drinking and frequent drunkenness (activities which are illegal in the USA but apparently legal on the high seas) eliminates this book as being a young adult novel and moves it more in the direction of a new adult novel. I would also classify this book as more chick-lit than romance, because the heroine spends most of the book engaged in activities that do little to advance the romance plot.
November 4, 2018
SO romantic, so cute. I starting reading this because I didn't have a book with me and this was the only book on my phone, but I don't regret picking up at all.
August 2, 2021
I usually love these cheesy books. But this one was definitely not the best. The main character annoyed me son much, I barely got through it.
February 13, 2016
From a snowy, cold island with hot guys, to warm cruises and equally warm islands with even more hot boys. I don't mind this one bit. :D
4.5 stars.
At first I didn't particularly like the main character, she seemed vapid and acted like an idiot. I didn't really like her lists, and what she put on them. Losing your virginity? Just like that? On a cruise? With just someone? No, just no.
But, our main character grew and with each day she saw something new, she slowly got closer to love, and in the end she revised the list. I won't say what changed, but lets just say that I am delighted when she decided it was time for a change.
It was kind of cute to see her go to guys, and how she had no clue how to handle them, she had no clue how to flirt with them and at times she just stood there and tried to get away or say no, but had no clue how.
Even though she kissed quite a few boys, and was unconsciously flirting with them, from the start it is easy to see who she is going to end up with. This is something I have seen happening in all the books by this author, that I read so far at least. It is not a bad thing, and while normally I am not too big on it, but this author knows how the weave a story and make even the expected, unexpected and fun.
Our main character is also apparently quite rich. I know, she saved up money and all that, but how much did she save to spend so much on the island. We are talking about bags and bags of stuff... And I know they said it was all pretty cheaper from normal prices, but these are still brand-names. Are those sold for 10 to 50 dollars/euros somewhere? Are those truly brand-names then?
Ah, another thing, I didn't particularly like how she "lied" to Brooke. I know, she didn't really lie, but I would call omitting stuff and making it seem different from what it is, still lying. I was worried this would be a theme through the book, but luckily it wasn't.
Ryan was a cute and hot boy, though I didn't always like him. He was a bit too nosy and a bit too much around. It was just a bit creepy and too much stalkerish. And yes, I know that he was going to be the main interest, but I had hoped for some more stuff without him. Now it was just strange, that he was always around.
He was also a hypocrite at times.
Brooke, at times I really disliked her, but there were times that I liked her a lot. We later find out why she is being like she is now. And then I feel sorry for her, sorry that she had to go through that and that this was the way she was coping. She really helped out the main character at times, with the list, but also with other things.
The book has chapters, but we also can see what day it is on the cruise. Which made the story come more alive to me. Now it felt like a diary, even though it wasn't written like that.
I love the details, and I could just imagine me on the beach with a couple of hot boys around me. Or shopping with my new best friend. Discovering Mayan temples. Sipping a drink at the pool. Cruises sound like great fun, and I hope that one day I can also go on one. I will be sure to bring this book along for the ride.
All in all, this book is great and I would really recommend it to everyone seeking a fluffy romance filled with cute guys.
Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
4.5 stars.
At first I didn't particularly like the main character, she seemed vapid and acted like an idiot. I didn't really like her lists, and what she put on them. Losing your virginity? Just like that? On a cruise? With just someone? No, just no.
But, our main character grew and with each day she saw something new, she slowly got closer to love, and in the end she revised the list. I won't say what changed, but lets just say that I am delighted when she decided it was time for a change.
It was kind of cute to see her go to guys, and how she had no clue how to handle them, she had no clue how to flirt with them and at times she just stood there and tried to get away or say no, but had no clue how.
Even though she kissed quite a few boys, and was unconsciously flirting with them, from the start it is easy to see who she is going to end up with. This is something I have seen happening in all the books by this author, that I read so far at least. It is not a bad thing, and while normally I am not too big on it, but this author knows how the weave a story and make even the expected, unexpected and fun.
Our main character is also apparently quite rich. I know, she saved up money and all that, but how much did she save to spend so much on the island. We are talking about bags and bags of stuff... And I know they said it was all pretty cheaper from normal prices, but these are still brand-names. Are those sold for 10 to 50 dollars/euros somewhere? Are those truly brand-names then?
Ah, another thing, I didn't particularly like how she "lied" to Brooke. I know, she didn't really lie, but I would call omitting stuff and making it seem different from what it is, still lying. I was worried this would be a theme through the book, but luckily it wasn't.
Ryan was a cute and hot boy, though I didn't always like him. He was a bit too nosy and a bit too much around. It was just a bit creepy and too much stalkerish. And yes, I know that he was going to be the main interest, but I had hoped for some more stuff without him. Now it was just strange, that he was always around.
He was also a hypocrite at times.
Brooke, at times I really disliked her, but there were times that I liked her a lot. We later find out why she is being like she is now. And then I feel sorry for her, sorry that she had to go through that and that this was the way she was coping. She really helped out the main character at times, with the list, but also with other things.
The book has chapters, but we also can see what day it is on the cruise. Which made the story come more alive to me. Now it felt like a diary, even though it wasn't written like that.
I love the details, and I could just imagine me on the beach with a couple of hot boys around me. Or shopping with my new best friend. Discovering Mayan temples. Sipping a drink at the pool. Cruises sound like great fun, and I hope that one day I can also go on one. I will be sure to bring this book along for the ride.
All in all, this book is great and I would really recommend it to everyone seeking a fluffy romance filled with cute guys.
Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
June 7, 2019
It’s amazing how a story about being on a cruise ship and having adventures could turn out to be supremely boring and irritating. It revolves around Lindsay, a girl obsessed with losing her virginity to a stranger (preferably hot of course) while she’s on the cruise ship with her (conveniently disappearing) mum and stepfather Walter. Yeah, that’s it really.
She instantly meets Walter’s godson, Ryan who is of course good-looking and nice as well as seeming to be interested in her. However, she doesn’t realize this for a damn long time just so that the book is long enough to fulfill the required number of pages. She also meets Brooke who pretty much sleeps around and encourages Lindsay to hang out with other guys. Throughout the book all Lindsay ever thinks about is losing her virginity, like it’s a crime not to. At the same time she mentally acknowledges how attractive Ryan is and how much fun she has with him but he’s not the one. Oh no, because a bunch of sleazy guys is an obviously better choice.
Pretty much every guy in the book is described as attractive and she gets hit on very often. It’s really pathetic how easily she starts considering getting a tattoo just because Brooke has one. She also contradicts herself when she says she wants to do it with someone special but she wants to have a fling on the cruise ship. So yeah, she’s dumb, boring and annoying. Then she actually is genuinely surprised to find out that .
From the start, the ending is crystal clear. That wouldn’t have been a problem if the book was actually funny or interesting but it was neither. It was mind-numbing the whole time. Ryan and Lindsay had no chemistry at all. All she ever thought about him was how good-looking, muscular and nice he was while I have no idea how Ryan could be attracted to such a dimwit. Even when they explored places nothing was interesting because the focus was on them and not on describing the scenery. It was somewhat hilarious when at the end, they because it was predictable and most of all, unconvincing.
If you can put up with an annoying main character and repetition of the characters flirting or drinking or partying, then it might be a decent read. I personally disliked it and its dense lead character.
She instantly meets Walter’s godson, Ryan who is of course good-looking and nice as well as seeming to be interested in her. However, she doesn’t realize this for a damn long time just so that the book is long enough to fulfill the required number of pages. She also meets Brooke who pretty much sleeps around and encourages Lindsay to hang out with other guys. Throughout the book all Lindsay ever thinks about is losing her virginity, like it’s a crime not to. At the same time she mentally acknowledges how attractive Ryan is and how much fun she has with him but he’s not the one. Oh no, because a bunch of sleazy guys is an obviously better choice.
Pretty much every guy in the book is described as attractive and she gets hit on very often. It’s really pathetic how easily she starts considering getting a tattoo just because Brooke has one. She also contradicts herself when she says she wants to do it with someone special but she wants to have a fling on the cruise ship. So yeah, she’s dumb, boring and annoying. Then she actually is genuinely surprised to find out that .
From the start, the ending is crystal clear. That wouldn’t have been a problem if the book was actually funny or interesting but it was neither. It was mind-numbing the whole time. Ryan and Lindsay had no chemistry at all. All she ever thought about him was how good-looking, muscular and nice he was while I have no idea how Ryan could be attracted to such a dimwit. Even when they explored places nothing was interesting because the focus was on them and not on describing the scenery. It was somewhat hilarious when at the end, they because it was predictable and most of all, unconvincing.
If you can put up with an annoying main character and repetition of the characters flirting or drinking or partying, then it might be a decent read. I personally disliked it and its dense lead character.
April 24, 2011
To be honest, I didn't read the whole book. I read the beginning and the ending and that's about it.
From the start, I was irritated at how Lindsay wanted to lose her virginity so much. And for her to think that it would be just a 'fling' was so shallow of her that I didn't really mind not to read all of the book's contents.
I would've given lesser than a single star for this if were only legit in here. Boohoo.
From the start, I was irritated at how Lindsay wanted to lose her virginity so much. And for her to think that it would be just a 'fling' was so shallow of her that I didn't really mind not to read all of the book's contents.
I would've given lesser than a single star for this if were only legit in here. Boohoo.
November 30, 2009
Total disappointment!!!! I just do not like books about how a girl wants to have a "fling" with some random guy on a cruise in order to lose her virginity!! REALLY...is that all we have now for good book writing??? The saddest part is I have LOVED every book I have read by this author. I really hope when I pick up another one its better than this.
April 6, 2017
As I was about to go on a cruise, I sought out books that took place on cruise ships and this one was one that was recommended to me. So once on board the ship, I read it... and meh. This is a young adult book (I think), so it was a very quick read (started and finished it within the same day) but the plot was extremely predictable (guessed the ending from chapter 1) and the cruise-ship aspects weren't 100% accurate, which took me away from the story. But still, it was a fun, light-hearted, cute book, even if the characters were one-dimensional and the plot extremely predictable. I don't see myself reading this one again though, nor would I recommend it to anybody.
July 28, 2017
I liked this book better than the other two by this author that I've read - Love on the Lifts and Island Girls (and Boys!). The main character seemed to mature as the story progressed, though she was certainly clueless at times.
I didn't care for her friend Brooke though. She was annoying and selfish. I liked Ryan a lot though - he was so sweet.
I enjoyed the setting of the cruise ship. Overall a pretty good story.
I didn't care for her friend Brooke though. She was annoying and selfish. I liked Ryan a lot though - he was so sweet.
I enjoyed the setting of the cruise ship. Overall a pretty good story.
September 13, 2020
This is my 3rd Rachel Hawthorne book. I read a couple of them as a teen. I saw this randomly at a used book store and it caught my attention as her book covers are similar styles. I feel like this was even more fun since I had been on a cruise last year and Lindsay’s stops were some of my stops! I’ve never read a travel book where that’s happened to me 😂 I’m going to mark some more Hawthorne on my TBR and hopefully come across more at bookstores.
August 5, 2025
really loved this book. It was a good storyline. It got a little over the top with all of the guys but overall it was good. It is a perfect book to pull you out of a slump.
August 26, 2025
Super cute! I am glad I finally read it!
January 19, 2013
Caribbean Cruising is about 18 year old Linsday and her adventures on a cruise after her mom gets married. Determined to break out of her shell, she creates a list of things to do before her vacation ends. One of those things is to finally sleep with a guy. However, her new stepfather's godson is given the task to "watch over Lindsay." Totally hot and sweet Ryan makes Lindsay's heart pound, but she doesn't want to seriously get involved with anyone and is afraid Ryan will ruin her plans. While trying to keep her distance, Lindsay makes some new friends and creates lasting memories. She wonders though, if Mr. Right is closer than she thinks.
I read this years ago and really liked it. I decided to reread it to refresh my memory and give it a review. Now I'm not so sure what made me think this book was great...what I liked about this book is that Hawthorne creates relatable characters for her readers. Lindsay is a normal teenage girl with normal teenage problems. In some ways, I could identify with Lindsay and understand her motives. Hawthorne also does a good job of making the story fun and exciting with the cruise ship and the islands. It made me want to book a cruise right away!
The grammar and writing in this book were horrible. I cringed several times while reading this book due to all the mistakes in it. It sometimes seemed like a young teen who hasn't quiete grasped how to write effectively wrote this book. Now for the plot...most of the time I could understand the whole plot line of Lindsay wanting her to lose her virginity. She's a teenager and that's what a lot of teens think about. But sometimes it was too much. Just when I was enjoying something taking place on the cruise or island, Lindsay concentrated on what guys would be the perfect one. I felt that is was shoved in your face a lot along with her and Brooke constantly talking about guys. I love to talk about boys too, but it was too excessive in the book. Girls do talk about other things. Also, I got annoyed with how Lindsay kept on musing about Ryan and how she thinks she might like him but he was Walter's godson and sent to "babysit" her and that would get awkward. She kept thinking/saying that a lot and I kept thinking "yes we get why you dont want to hook up with him. Now be quiet." Honestly, if a good looking guy who is very nice and sweet shows interest in you and you want some romance, wouldn't you chose him? It wasn't that complicating and Lindsay seemed to miss that fact.
If you are looking for a fluff, don't really have to think while reading book, then this will fit your needs. Don't read this if you want to get emotionally involved, be wowed or amazed, or anything like that.
I read this years ago and really liked it. I decided to reread it to refresh my memory and give it a review. Now I'm not so sure what made me think this book was great...what I liked about this book is that Hawthorne creates relatable characters for her readers. Lindsay is a normal teenage girl with normal teenage problems. In some ways, I could identify with Lindsay and understand her motives. Hawthorne also does a good job of making the story fun and exciting with the cruise ship and the islands. It made me want to book a cruise right away!
The grammar and writing in this book were horrible. I cringed several times while reading this book due to all the mistakes in it. It sometimes seemed like a young teen who hasn't quiete grasped how to write effectively wrote this book. Now for the plot...most of the time I could understand the whole plot line of Lindsay wanting her to lose her virginity. She's a teenager and that's what a lot of teens think about. But sometimes it was too much. Just when I was enjoying something taking place on the cruise or island, Lindsay concentrated on what guys would be the perfect one. I felt that is was shoved in your face a lot along with her and Brooke constantly talking about guys. I love to talk about boys too, but it was too excessive in the book. Girls do talk about other things. Also, I got annoyed with how Lindsay kept on musing about Ryan and how she thinks she might like him but he was Walter's godson and sent to "babysit" her and that would get awkward. She kept thinking/saying that a lot and I kept thinking "yes we get why you dont want to hook up with him. Now be quiet." Honestly, if a good looking guy who is very nice and sweet shows interest in you and you want some romance, wouldn't you chose him? It wasn't that complicating and Lindsay seemed to miss that fact.
If you are looking for a fluff, don't really have to think while reading book, then this will fit your needs. Don't read this if you want to get emotionally involved, be wowed or amazed, or anything like that.
February 22, 2017
Ugh. I did not expect this coming from the author of Love on the lits. It never really struck me (well not this hard anyway)how obnoxiously self-confident Hawthornes main characters really are. I mean they all think they can get any guy and they all are stand offish to the guy that we all know she'll end up with. Wich brings me to the male leads in the books... one word - ew. They just crawl after the girl even though clearly she isn't interested in the beginning. In this book it became extra gross because really, Ryan just came of as pathetic and clingy.
And excuse me but before I even read the first 20 pages my take on the protagonist was: dumb, immature and VERY full of herself. And If I ignore Julie I must say Lindsay's ability to pick friends suck.
I really didn't mean for this review to be so harsh, I thought of Hawthorne as a very promising author before, but now after one incredable book and two disappointing ones I cannot have my hopes held high for the next Rachel Hawthorne book I'm planning on reading. If that book is within the same level as this one and as Snowed in - it will also be my LAST Rachel Hawthorne book!!
(And by the way, how annoying is it that this is like the fourth book I read this summer where the characters just spits out "I love you" after knowing each other for like three seconds?!)
And excuse me but before I even read the first 20 pages my take on the protagonist was: dumb, immature and VERY full of herself. And If I ignore Julie I must say Lindsay's ability to pick friends suck.
I really didn't mean for this review to be so harsh, I thought of Hawthorne as a very promising author before, but now after one incredable book and two disappointing ones I cannot have my hopes held high for the next Rachel Hawthorne book I'm planning on reading. If that book is within the same level as this one and as Snowed in - it will also be my LAST Rachel Hawthorne book!!
(And by the way, how annoying is it that this is like the fourth book I read this summer where the characters just spits out "I love you" after knowing each other for like three seconds?!)
August 8, 2009
I just LOVED this book. I've never been on a Cruise before so this was just so exciting for me to read. I never thought going on a cruise could be this much fun.
I love how the author created Ryan's personality and how the relationship between Lindsay and him grew throughout the novel. Yeah, it's pretty predictable what the product/ending was going to be. But the ride/journey was so much fun to read !
I was actually hoping that there was going to be a sequel o this...I wanted to see how her step-dad and mom were going to take their relationship since Ryan is a "friend of the family"
Overall, this is definitely one of those kind of chick books where you'll find yourself wanting to keep reading and never stopping. Might even be a good suntanning read too..it has a nice cover and all :]
I love how the author created Ryan's personality and how the relationship between Lindsay and him grew throughout the novel. Yeah, it's pretty predictable what the product/ending was going to be. But the ride/journey was so much fun to read !
I was actually hoping that there was going to be a sequel o this...I wanted to see how her step-dad and mom were going to take their relationship since Ryan is a "friend of the family"
Overall, this is definitely one of those kind of chick books where you'll find yourself wanting to keep reading and never stopping. Might even be a good suntanning read too..it has a nice cover and all :]
December 26, 2014
When I wasn't downright annoyed at this book, I was bored. I've been on cruises. MANY. There is SO much more to write about than this. I can list countless numbers of interesting cruise ship plots. This one just made me want to throw it overboard. Since I don't litter I didn't, plus I would have hated for a cute sea creature to suffer as a result of my frustration. I really can't say I'd recommend this to anyone.
(Read my full review on the blog.)
(Read my full review on the blog.)
November 23, 2013
For some reason I just hated the main character. I loved the idea of being on a cruise ship, but Lindsey was a mess. She had zero idea when a guy liked her which made her an idiot. she made lists and put losing her virginity on the list. and she let Brooke use her. Oh and falling in love in 10 days is the most ridiculous thing ever. It teaches girls that if they have sex they will instantly find happiness and love. Just a ridiculous book.
May 7, 2012
I absoultely LOVED this book! Every moment was awesome. Reading this book I felt that I could really identify with Lindsay. That was why I really enjoyed it so much. Rachel Hawthrone really got into what most teens are concerned about. Once I started I couldn't put it down! I was surprised that I read it so quickly but it was well worth it. I recommend this to all teenage girls.
March 21, 2015
the book was went by really fast. I've been on a cruise before and i thought i would feel like I was reliving the moment but no. i didn't enough to the book, it was predictable, didn't like the characters in the book, also the plot line was horrible.
February 12, 2016
I read this one years ago and tried to read it again, you know, for the fun of it. But I couldn't. Lindsay is still annoying as all get out and I gave up a quarter of the way through. There is unlikeable, and then there is this - pointless.
March 11, 2009
i have read it over and over i know it soo well now that if i read the first page or so i can tell u wat goes on in the whole chapter!!!!
July 17, 2009
Beautifully written! It captured my attention and lead me on a beautiful journey of the caribbean and the sea! One of my favorite chick-lit books!
December 26, 2018
There are a few problematic things I didn’t notice when I was 14, but definitely do now. However, it’s still a great memory from my teen years.
May 5, 2019
I can't count the number of times I rolled my eyes while reading this. Took me weeks to get through it just because I would read a couple pages, then set it down and have no desire to continue reading. I forced myself to sit down and read the last half of the book in one sitting to get it over with. Thoughts:
Oh wow, it seems like none of the characters have any self-worth, which is sad. The main character is insipid, all the other characters are so 2-dimensional yet for some reason I'm supposed to care about their problems? Lindsey goes around trying to live her wildest life while on her 10-day cruise, but suddenly has a revelation and realizes that she doesn't need to have rock-bottom standards when the guy she's only known for TWO DAYS (if even that) turns out to be just as reckless as the rest. Really? I don't buy it. I don't really buy anything in this book, not exactly the island/cruise description, or the insta-like love and happily-ever-after that this book attempts in like the last 2 chapters.
The only character I tolerated to an extent was Ryan, who kinda seemed to be a good-ish person and had Lindsey'sbest better interests in mind, even if she didn't do so herself. And it was Lindsey having thought processes like this: "Under other circumstances if I weren't on a quest to lose my virginity with a guy I'd never see again, I might have been interested in him." and her friend Brooke saying things like this: "I plan to find some men to run their hands amok my body. Want to join me?" that made me lose faith in this book early on. Sadly it never improved.
I tried to keep an open mind since I've read and enjoyed the author's previous works, and have ready many of these short, simple chick lit books in the past when I was a teen. But honestly now that I'm in my 20s, I realize how utterly ridiculous these books, at least this one in particular, are; I would not want my younger relatives reading this nonsense even though they would be the age demographic. Maybe if I had found a better description of the book before reading it and knew that it was I may have been more prepared for the story line, or perhaps would've at least saved myself the trouble of reading a book not suited to me.
0.5 stars because it's a simple book, face-paced, clear plot that wasn't dragged out, and surprisingly not the worst book that I've read.
Oh wow, it seems like none of the characters have any self-worth, which is sad. The main character is insipid, all the other characters are so 2-dimensional yet for some reason I'm supposed to care about their problems? Lindsey goes around trying to live her wildest life while on her 10-day cruise, but suddenly has a revelation and realizes that she doesn't need to have rock-bottom standards when the guy she's only known for TWO DAYS (if even that) turns out to be just as reckless as the rest. Really? I don't buy it. I don't really buy anything in this book, not exactly the island/cruise description, or the insta-like love and happily-ever-after that this book attempts in like the last 2 chapters.
The only character I tolerated to an extent was Ryan, who kinda seemed to be a good-ish person and had Lindsey's
I tried to keep an open mind since I've read and enjoyed the author's previous works, and have ready many of these short, simple chick lit books in the past when I was a teen. But honestly now that I'm in my 20s, I realize how utterly ridiculous these books, at least this one in particular, are; I would not want my younger relatives reading this nonsense even though they would be the age demographic. Maybe if I had found a better description of the book before reading it and knew that it was I may have been more prepared for the story line, or perhaps would've at least saved myself the trouble of reading a book not suited to me.
0.5 stars because it's a simple book, face-paced, clear plot that wasn't dragged out, and surprisingly not the worst book that I've read.
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