What do you think?
Rate this book
Dangerous Harmonies #3
The Situation Ship
The Deeper You Sink, The Darker It Gets…
Pop star Poppy Roe’s glittering life of fame takes a sinister turn when she finds herself trapped in a nightmare aboard a luxurious cruise ship. As her every move is monitored by a sinister stalker, the ship becomes a hunting ground for a relentless predator. In a desperate bid for survival, Poppy turns to enigmatic detective Isaiah Rivers, also a passenger on the ill-fated voyage. Haunted by his own demons, he never expected to get caught up in a web of danger on the high seas. Determined to protect Poppy, he joins forces with her, seeking to unravel the twisted secrets that lurk beneath the ship’s glamorous façade. Amid the horrifying murders, a thrilling romance blossoms, intertwining their fates in a dangerous dance of trust and vulnerability.
As danger lurks on every deck and passions ignite, Poppy and Isaiah must navigate a treacherous sea of suspicion and desire. Will they unmask the killer before the final note of their haunting melody?
✨Tropes & Themes✨
Detective/Bodyguard X Pop Star
Cruise Ship
Murder Mystery
Opposites Attract
Shared Cabin
Reluctant Allies
Readers! Please note: this book contains mature content not suitable for those under 18. This is a stand-alone novel with mentions of trauma, stalking, murder, emotional and physical abuse which may be triggering.
Pop star Poppy Roe’s glittering life of fame takes a sinister turn when she finds herself trapped in a nightmare aboard a luxurious cruise ship. As her every move is monitored by a sinister stalker, the ship becomes a hunting ground for a relentless predator. In a desperate bid for survival, Poppy turns to enigmatic detective Isaiah Rivers, also a passenger on the ill-fated voyage. Haunted by his own demons, he never expected to get caught up in a web of danger on the high seas. Determined to protect Poppy, he joins forces with her, seeking to unravel the twisted secrets that lurk beneath the ship’s glamorous façade. Amid the horrifying murders, a thrilling romance blossoms, intertwining their fates in a dangerous dance of trust and vulnerability.
As danger lurks on every deck and passions ignite, Poppy and Isaiah must navigate a treacherous sea of suspicion and desire. Will they unmask the killer before the final note of their haunting melody?
✨Tropes & Themes✨
Detective/Bodyguard X Pop Star
Cruise Ship
Murder Mystery
Opposites Attract
Shared Cabin
Reluctant Allies
Readers! Please note: this book contains mature content not suitable for those under 18. This is a stand-alone novel with mentions of trauma, stalking, murder, emotional and physical abuse which may be triggering.
352 pages, Paperback
Published July 26, 2025
21 people are currently reading
2231 people want to read
About the author
Kate Callaghan
14 books327 followersKate Callaghan is an Irish author who writes adult fantasy, romantic suspense, and feel-good Christmas romance. She’s the creator of the Hellish Fairytale series, blending dark magic and intrigue, as well as festive romcoms like The Naughty or Nice Clause. Whether she’s spinning tales of dangerous love or cozy holiday magic, you’ll find her in a Dublin café with an iced coffee, plotting her next twist.
Mailing List https://forms.gle/mBcib2vHhBaf5XRe9
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/katecallagh...
Tiktok 🍄 tiktok.com/@katecallaghanwriter
Mailing List https://forms.gle/mBcib2vHhBaf5XRe9
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/katecallagh...
Tiktok 🍄 tiktok.com/@katecallaghanwriter
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 277 reviews
August 18, 2025
Huge thanks to Kate Callaghan & CallaghanWriter | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) for the eARC via NetGalley 💌
🛳️ Murder. Tension. One bed. And a brooding detective.
A pop star with secrets + a scarred detective + a stalker on a luxury cruise? The setup screams chaos and I was all in for it. Protective anti-hero with a dark past? Yes, please. One bed, murder mystery, enemies-to-allies-to-??? Say less.
So here’s the tea ☕: The beginning was honestly thrilling. Bodies dropping left and right, a luxury cruise turned claustrophobic nightmare, and Poppy just trying to survive while dodging a stalker? I was hooked. Isaiah, the detective with baggage and a broody vibe, was…well, broody, and I loved the tension he brought to every scene. The premise promised chaos, and the first half delivered.
…but somewhere around the halfway mark, things kinda fizzled out. The suspense slowed, Poppy and Isaiah’s chemistry felt rushed, and the plot started to feel predictable. Like, the romance went from “we barely trust each other” to “let’s make out in a shared cabin” way too fast. Side characters who were hyped in the beginning (looking at you, Mina and Joshua) basically vanished until needed for drama. And yes, I guessed the killer early on—but the twist about family secrets? Okay, I did not see that coming, so props for that.
The cruise setting was chef’s kiss—claustrophobic, glamorous, and perfect for the suspense. The murder mystery kept me guessing at times, and the final reveal hit harder than I expected. The romance was serviceable, but not swoon-worthy; it needed more slow burn, more soft moments, more “getting to know each other” vibes. The spice? It’s there, but not overwhelming, just a few chapters that are steamy yet brief.
Final thoughts: The Situation Ship had a fun, intriguing premise with a broody detective, a pop star in peril, and a murder mystery that mostly delivered. It’s not perfect—midway pacing drags, romance is rushed, and some characters feel underdeveloped—but the chaos, suspense, and twisty ending make it a decent read. Perfect if you want a light, entertaining murder mystery with some romance sprinkled in.
🛳️ Murder. Tension. One bed. And a brooding detective.
A pop star with secrets + a scarred detective + a stalker on a luxury cruise? The setup screams chaos and I was all in for it. Protective anti-hero with a dark past? Yes, please. One bed, murder mystery, enemies-to-allies-to-??? Say less.
So here’s the tea ☕: The beginning was honestly thrilling. Bodies dropping left and right, a luxury cruise turned claustrophobic nightmare, and Poppy just trying to survive while dodging a stalker? I was hooked. Isaiah, the detective with baggage and a broody vibe, was…well, broody, and I loved the tension he brought to every scene. The premise promised chaos, and the first half delivered.
…but somewhere around the halfway mark, things kinda fizzled out. The suspense slowed, Poppy and Isaiah’s chemistry felt rushed, and the plot started to feel predictable. Like, the romance went from “we barely trust each other” to “let’s make out in a shared cabin” way too fast. Side characters who were hyped in the beginning (looking at you, Mina and Joshua) basically vanished until needed for drama. And yes, I guessed the killer early on—but the twist about family secrets? Okay, I did not see that coming, so props for that.
The cruise setting was chef’s kiss—claustrophobic, glamorous, and perfect for the suspense. The murder mystery kept me guessing at times, and the final reveal hit harder than I expected. The romance was serviceable, but not swoon-worthy; it needed more slow burn, more soft moments, more “getting to know each other” vibes. The spice? It’s there, but not overwhelming, just a few chapters that are steamy yet brief.
Final thoughts: The Situation Ship had a fun, intriguing premise with a broody detective, a pop star in peril, and a murder mystery that mostly delivered. It’s not perfect—midway pacing drags, romance is rushed, and some characters feel underdeveloped—but the chaos, suspense, and twisty ending make it a decent read. Perfect if you want a light, entertaining murder mystery with some romance sprinkled in.
July 16, 2025
3.25💫
So intriguing right? And if it's the FMC, even more. The story follows Poppy, the princess of pop and Isaiah, our detective. Isaiah believes that Poppy has some connection to all the people dying around her. To investigate more into it, he joins her to the cruise trip as her bodyguard.
Until suddenly people start dying around them in the ship and Poppy's life is in danger.
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.
.•♫•♬•Tropes•♬•♫•.
✧ 𝙲𝚛𝚞𝚒𝚜𝚎 𝚂𝚑𝚒𝚙
✧ 𝙼𝚞𝚛𝚍𝚎𝚛 𝙼𝚢𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚢
✧ 𝙾𝚏𝚏 𝙻𝚒𝚖𝚒𝚝𝚜
✧ 𝙰𝚗𝚝𝚒 𝙷𝚎𝚛𝚘
✧ 𝚂𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝙲𝚊𝚋𝚒𝚗
✧ 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗𝚐𝚎
✧ 𝚁𝚎𝚕𝚞𝚌𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝙰𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚎𝚜
✧ 𝙳𝚎𝚝𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚇 𝙿𝚘𝚙 𝚂𝚝𝚊𝚛
彡Thank you NetGalley, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles and Kate Callaghan (the author) for an eARC in exchange of an honest review.
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ ˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ ˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ ˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
↝Pre-read°｡.ﾟ.｡♡
A murder mystery romance? Sounds interesting.
Exp. Publication Date: 27/07/2025
"Martha Roe was a monster, and since I killed her, she raised one too."
So intriguing right? And if it's the FMC, even more. The story follows Poppy, the princess of pop and Isaiah, our detective. Isaiah believes that Poppy has some connection to all the people dying around her. To investigate more into it, he joins her to the cruise trip as her bodyguard.
Until suddenly people start dying around them in the ship and Poppy's life is in danger.
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.
"If I were completely alone with my thoughts, I wouldn't know what to do with myself."
.•♫•♬•Tropes•♬•♫•.
✧ 𝙲𝚛𝚞𝚒𝚜𝚎 𝚂𝚑𝚒𝚙
✧ 𝙼𝚞𝚛𝚍𝚎𝚛 𝙼𝚢𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚢
✧ 𝙾𝚏𝚏 𝙻𝚒𝚖𝚒𝚝𝚜
✧ 𝙰𝚗𝚝𝚒 𝙷𝚎𝚛𝚘
✧ 𝚂𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝙲𝚊𝚋𝚒𝚗
✧ 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗𝚐𝚎
✧ 𝚁𝚎𝚕𝚞𝚌𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝙰𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚎𝚜
✧ 𝙳𝚎𝚝𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚇 𝙿𝚘𝚙 𝚂𝚝𝚊𝚛
彡Thank you NetGalley, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles and Kate Callaghan (the author) for an eARC in exchange of an honest review.
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ ˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ ˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ ˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
↝Pre-read°｡.ﾟ.｡♡
A murder mystery romance? Sounds interesting.
Exp. Publication Date: 27/07/2025
July 16, 2025
Thank you to the Independent Book Publisher’s Association and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own. 📕
🛳 Blurb 🛳
“The Deeper You Sink, The Darker It Gets…
Pop star Poppy Roe’s glittering life of fame takes a sinister turn when she finds herself trapped in a nightmare aboard a luxurious cruise ship. As her every move is monitored by a sinister stalker, the ship becomes a hunting ground for a relentless predator. In a desperate bid for survival, Poppy turns to enigmatic detective Isaiah Rivers, also a passenger on the ill-fated voyage. Haunted by his own demons, he never expected to get caught up in a web of danger on the high seas. Determined to protect Poppy, he joins forces with her, seeking to unravel the twisted secrets that lurk beneath the ship’s glamorous façade. Amid the horrifying murders, a thrilling romance blossoms, intertwining their fates in a dangerous dance of trust and vulnerability.
As danger lurks on every deck and passions ignite, Poppy and Isaiah must navigate a treacherous sea of suspicion and desire. Will they unmask the killer before the final note of their haunting melody?”
🔪 My Thoughts 🔪
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. ☺
❗ Content Warnings ❗
Trauma, stalking, murder, & emotional and physical abuse.
🛳 Blurb 🛳
“The Deeper You Sink, The Darker It Gets…
Pop star Poppy Roe’s glittering life of fame takes a sinister turn when she finds herself trapped in a nightmare aboard a luxurious cruise ship. As her every move is monitored by a sinister stalker, the ship becomes a hunting ground for a relentless predator. In a desperate bid for survival, Poppy turns to enigmatic detective Isaiah Rivers, also a passenger on the ill-fated voyage. Haunted by his own demons, he never expected to get caught up in a web of danger on the high seas. Determined to protect Poppy, he joins forces with her, seeking to unravel the twisted secrets that lurk beneath the ship’s glamorous façade. Amid the horrifying murders, a thrilling romance blossoms, intertwining their fates in a dangerous dance of trust and vulnerability.
As danger lurks on every deck and passions ignite, Poppy and Isaiah must navigate a treacherous sea of suspicion and desire. Will they unmask the killer before the final note of their haunting melody?”
🔪 My Thoughts 🔪
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. ☺
❗ Content Warnings ❗
Trauma, stalking, murder, & emotional and physical abuse.
July 28, 2025
☆ 3 stars (was originally 2.5 but it got bonus points for the ending lol)
✦•┈๑ Spoilers will be marked! ๑┈•✦
Spice: 3/5? Nothing too detailed or long but like four chapters talking about them banging.
Trigger warnings (since this wasn’t listed in the beginning and some of these chapters discussed some pretty heavy stuff): detailed talk about past murders and mcs childhood trauma, more talk of current murders, mc has an anxiety attack at one point.
Ok first off I will say I can tell that a lot of thought was put into this book with the playlist for the main couple at the beginning and the list of chapters with the most spice but as I mentioned earlier there wasn’t a list of trigger warnings which I would’ve appreciated since I wasn’t really expecting or in the mood to read some of the stuff that was discussed.
As for the characters,
I really didn’t feel like Poppy and Isaiah had that much chemistry until maybe near the end of the book ngl, like they just met and then they kinda just start making out immediately and don’t really have any reason to like each other other than physical attraction.
Also the side character Mina who is supposed to be Poppy’s best friend? We see her briefly in the beginning of the book and then for the rest of the book she’s only mentioned when Poppy or Isaiah talk about why she isn’t around or when she’s in danger until the last chapter of the book when she finally interacts with Poppy again for like two pages.
Same for Joshua who is supposed to be one of Poppy’s good friends, he’s mentioned a bunch in the beginning then disappears until like the middle of the book !!spoiler warning start!! where he only comes back to be another murder victim and we’re told Poppy’s super upset about his death but she literally moves on and he’s like never mentioned again two pages later 😭 !!spoiler warning end!!
It just felt like the only two characters that had any thought put into them was the main couple and even they still felt kinda flat to me.
The rest of this review is lowkey a spoiler!
I also felt like it started dragging around the middle and felt like the whole mystery could’ve been concluded quicker considering the last chapter the main killer is literally taken care of using only one page. I will say though although I did guess that Sophia (Poppy’s cousin) would be the killer the moment she was introduced I didn’t expect it to be a “I’m your aunts real daughter she abandoned and that’s why I’m trying to get rid of you” type of situation so that was a twist that did bump this rating up to 3 stars for me lol
All in all it wasn’t a terrible book just not what I was expecting and not really my cup of tea
Pre-read ˖°🌊.·°*
Did I really get the arc a week before its supposed to be released?? yep I did lol
✦•┈๑ Spoilers will be marked! ๑┈•✦
Spice: 3/5? Nothing too detailed or long but like four chapters talking about them banging.
Trigger warnings (since this wasn’t listed in the beginning and some of these chapters discussed some pretty heavy stuff): detailed talk about past murders and mcs childhood trauma, more talk of current murders, mc has an anxiety attack at one point.
Ok first off I will say I can tell that a lot of thought was put into this book with the playlist for the main couple at the beginning and the list of chapters with the most spice but as I mentioned earlier there wasn’t a list of trigger warnings which I would’ve appreciated since I wasn’t really expecting or in the mood to read some of the stuff that was discussed.
As for the characters,
I really didn’t feel like Poppy and Isaiah had that much chemistry until maybe near the end of the book ngl, like they just met and then they kinda just start making out immediately and don’t really have any reason to like each other other than physical attraction.
Also the side character Mina who is supposed to be Poppy’s best friend? We see her briefly in the beginning of the book and then for the rest of the book she’s only mentioned when Poppy or Isaiah talk about why she isn’t around or when she’s in danger until the last chapter of the book when she finally interacts with Poppy again for like two pages.
Same for Joshua who is supposed to be one of Poppy’s good friends, he’s mentioned a bunch in the beginning then disappears until like the middle of the book !!spoiler warning start!! where he only comes back to be another murder victim and we’re told Poppy’s super upset about his death but she literally moves on and he’s like never mentioned again two pages later 😭 !!spoiler warning end!!
It just felt like the only two characters that had any thought put into them was the main couple and even they still felt kinda flat to me.
The rest of this review is lowkey a spoiler!
I also felt like it started dragging around the middle and felt like the whole mystery could’ve been concluded quicker considering the last chapter the main killer is literally taken care of using only one page. I will say though although I did guess that Sophia (Poppy’s cousin) would be the killer the moment she was introduced I didn’t expect it to be a “I’m your aunts real daughter she abandoned and that’s why I’m trying to get rid of you” type of situation so that was a twist that did bump this rating up to 3 stars for me lol
All in all it wasn’t a terrible book just not what I was expecting and not really my cup of tea
Pre-read ˖°🌊.·°*
Did I really get the arc a week before its supposed to be released?? yep I did lol
June 19, 2025
Hello My Loves,
I'm so excited to announce the ARCs of The Situation Ship went out this morning! I hope you love Poppy and Isaiah's steamy adventure on the high seas! As always, signed copies are available to pre-order on my website.
Happy reading,
Kate
I'm so excited to announce the ARCs of The Situation Ship went out this morning! I hope you love Poppy and Isaiah's steamy adventure on the high seas! As always, signed copies are available to pre-order on my website.
Happy reading,
Kate
July 18, 2025
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!
***
PRE-READ (16/07/25): my first ARC!! The book seems thoroughly planned and so far so good, will write a detailed review once im done ! fingers crossed this is a good one !
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!
***
PRE-READ (16/07/25): my first ARC!! The book seems thoroughly planned and so far so good, will write a detailed review once im done ! fingers crossed this is a good one !
July 14, 2025
I don’t think I’ll ever get bored of Kate’s writing.
I loved the murder mystery aspect of this book and how the characters were written, there was so much chemistry between them all.
Of course with it being an interconnected standalone I can���t gloss over Phoebe and Axel showing up! I was so happy they showed up. Also don’t worry if you have read “not another rockstar” you will still be able to follow this book as you are given a summery.
Finally a big thank you as always to Kate for this eARC
I loved the murder mystery aspect of this book and how the characters were written, there was so much chemistry between them all.
Of course with it being an interconnected standalone I can���t gloss over Phoebe and Axel showing up! I was so happy they showed up. Also don’t worry if you have read “not another rockstar” you will still be able to follow this book as you are given a summery.
Finally a big thank you as always to Kate for this eARC
July 9, 2025
Absolutely loved this. I didn’t see the ending coming. I loved poppy’s and Isaiah’s bickering banter. I loved that it was mostly mystery with a small bit of romance. It was perfect. Hands down I would recommend. Super fast read. Short chapters and kept me interested the whole time.
July 11, 2025
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!
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the ARC of this book!
June 28, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️3.5 stars
Overall, I enjoyed this book. I loved Poppy’s character. She’s very strong-willed, loyal, and most importantly, fierce. Yet she’s able to almost always maintain a level of grace and composure. I also liked Isaiah’s character and their relationship, although I felt like we could have used a little bit more build up to their romance. It almost felt unnatural at first. I loved the murder mystery/romance mix, as I usually read one or the other, so this was a nice twist!
Overall, I think this is a great summer/vacation read.
Thank you to NetGalley and CallaghanWriter for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for my honest review.
Overall, I think this is a great summer/vacation read.
Thank you to NetGalley and CallaghanWriter for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for my honest review.
July 5, 2025
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!
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!
June 25, 2025
i have a read a lot of romantic suspenses but this was one of the worst ive read. I'm not sure if this is a spoiler or not but don't continue this if you are gonna read this book (which i dont recommend). the characters were honestly really dumb- why did the detective whose litteral job it is is to find murderers and lock them up turn a blind eye to the FOUR murders she did!? and her best friend was also awful eager to help poppy commit a fifth. some of the conflict was also really unresolved- why did mina lie about francis? it literally added nothing to the story accept suspicion of mina even though she was not involved at all! the romance was wayyy too quick for me as well. they meet like four days ago but yet he didn't care that was was a serial killer? honestly this book just kind of felt unnecessary and extremely dissapointing.
July 22, 2025
Romance-thriller is a genre too, right?
Yeah, I love romantic stories, but an exciting thriller mixed with romance could be my favorite trope, ever.
At least if it's as good as Kate's story.
The book is fantastic.
A pop star and a detective, aka her bodyguard, are pursued on a cruise ship by a crazy stalker or maybe a serial killer? 🤐
This book is sooo good.
It's romantic and action-packed.
Suspense-packed and exciting.
The romance is real and authentic.
The thriller is beyond suspenseful.
It's gripping and fascinating.
Of course, I didn't know who the killer was until the very end 🙄
I love the writing style and the constant, eagerly anticipated resolution to the drama.
Oh, and I love drama! 😈
The story constantly changed and, with twists and turns, provided surprises I didn't see coming.
I have to say, romantic thrillers could be my favorite genre.
Did I mention that I love the characters?
Even the background characters.
I can see material for future books blooming in the background 🤩
I give this a 100% recommendation for all action-packed romances.
✨Tropes & Themes✨
🪸Cruise Ship
🌊 Angst & Slow Burn
🪸Murder Mystery
🌊 Off Limits
🪸 Anti Hero
🌊Shared Cabin
🪸 Revenge
🌊 Reluctant Allies
🪸Detective X Pop Star
.
Yeah, I love romantic stories, but an exciting thriller mixed with romance could be my favorite trope, ever.
At least if it's as good as Kate's story.
The book is fantastic.
A pop star and a detective, aka her bodyguard, are pursued on a cruise ship by a crazy stalker or maybe a serial killer? 🤐
This book is sooo good.
It's romantic and action-packed.
Suspense-packed and exciting.
The romance is real and authentic.
The thriller is beyond suspenseful.
It's gripping and fascinating.
Of course, I didn't know who the killer was until the very end 🙄
I love the writing style and the constant, eagerly anticipated resolution to the drama.
Oh, and I love drama! 😈
The story constantly changed and, with twists and turns, provided surprises I didn't see coming.
I have to say, romantic thrillers could be my favorite genre.
Did I mention that I love the characters?
Even the background characters.
I can see material for future books blooming in the background 🤩
I give this a 100% recommendation for all action-packed romances.
✨Tropes & Themes✨
🪸Cruise Ship
🌊 Angst & Slow Burn
🪸Murder Mystery
🌊 Off Limits
🪸 Anti Hero
🌊Shared Cabin
🪸 Revenge
🌊 Reluctant Allies
🪸Detective X Pop Star
.
July 4, 2025
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 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!
July 20, 2025
ARC review
3.8 ⭐️
~murder mystery, thriller
Thank you Netgalley and Kate Callaghan for letting me read this arc. The following review is my honest thoughts and opinions.
The Situation Ship was a fun read for me considering its setting - that is the cruise ship. A string of murders surrounds the pop star Poppy, with a killer who seems to be playing a cat-and-mouse game with her. The entire book is about her and Detective Isaiah trying to figure out clues left on the cruise ship to piece together the identity of the killer.
Poppy was a fierce character throughout. I loved the cruise concept and the whole 'everyone's a suspect' situation. I like the ending too, which was a nice surprise. Throughout the book, I placed my suspicions on a lot of people, but I was proved wrong.😂
There is little spice in it (in like 3 chapters) which you can just ignore if you're looking for spice spice-free read.
For the cons, I have to say there were unnecessary details here and there. Not too much but still. I also felt like Poppy and Isaiah's dynamic should have been a little better cause they gave into each other way too fast.😂 At times it was fast paced and other times slow, so the pacing was a bit off too.
Other than that, it was an enjoyable read.✨️
3.8 ⭐️
~murder mystery, thriller
Thank you Netgalley and Kate Callaghan for letting me read this arc. The following review is my honest thoughts and opinions.
The Situation Ship was a fun read for me considering its setting - that is the cruise ship. A string of murders surrounds the pop star Poppy, with a killer who seems to be playing a cat-and-mouse game with her. The entire book is about her and Detective Isaiah trying to figure out clues left on the cruise ship to piece together the identity of the killer.
Poppy was a fierce character throughout. I loved the cruise concept and the whole 'everyone's a suspect' situation. I like the ending too, which was a nice surprise. Throughout the book, I placed my suspicions on a lot of people, but I was proved wrong.😂
There is little spice in it (in like 3 chapters) which you can just ignore if you're looking for spice spice-free read.
For the cons, I have to say there were unnecessary details here and there. Not too much but still. I also felt like Poppy and Isaiah's dynamic should have been a little better cause they gave into each other way too fast.😂 At times it was fast paced and other times slow, so the pacing was a bit off too.
Other than that, it was an enjoyable read.✨️
August 1, 2025
Sun, sea & suspense - 3✨
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
✧ PLOT ✧
When Poppy Roe boards ‘The Midas’ for a luxurious 2 week cruise the last thing she expects to be doing is running from a serial-killer. Thankfully, her new bodyguard Detective Isaiah Rivers is by her side (in more ways than one…) to try and help her get to the bottom of the puzzling mystery. But as the days pass by and they get further from land the killer inches closer. Stuck at sea with nowhere to run or hide, will Poppy make it back to her life of glitz and glamour or will ‘The Midas’ be her last curtain call?
✅ I’d recommend this book to people who enjoy -
• books/genres - murder mystery & romance
• themes/tropes - angst, anti-hero, cruise ship setting, dual POV, off limits, reluctant allies, revenge & slow burn
‼️Please keep in mind this book includes mentions of -
• trauma, stalking, murder & emotional/physical abuse
🔞This book contains mature content not suitable for those under the age of 18.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
✧ SUMMARY/OPINIONS ✧
The Situation Ship is a fun, fast paced murder mystery featuring romance, suspense and a plot that will keep you guessing. Although the book features some serious themes it has quick witted banter and a good comedic side too. It’s easy to follow - not complicated or confusing so it’s great for anyone wanting an easy going read.
When it came to the romance I wasn’t knocked off my feet. Although I liked both characters and was happy with the end result, it all happened very quickly. There was a huge shift in Isaiah’s opinion in a very short space of time and I really felt like there was a missed opportunity to explore the connection on a deeper level.
The murder mystery side however was much better! This isn’t a book where you’re able to predict the ending which is fantastic. (For me, there’s nothing worse than guessing the outcome halfway through a book!) If anything, some situations could’ve actually been a little more drawn out to add to the suspense but otherwise it was great.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
✧ CHARACTERS ✧
• Poppy Roe (FMC) is a confusing but likeable character. She’s a famous singer with a tragic past and has more than a few skeletons in her closet. Despite her ‘past behaviour’ which I can only describe as immoral actions with moral reasoning her heart does seem to be in the right place. I really felt like she just wanted to be loved and accepted for who she really is. I was happy to see the change in her priorities and way of thinking as it made it much easier to root for her!
• Isaiah (MMC) is also extremely likeable. He’s a detective with a strong mind and strong morals. Like Poppy, he too has a ‘checkered past’ but again there’s more to the story than meets the eye. He’s fiercely protective but I loved the vulnerability we see during the chapter where they share their pasts with one another. It was also a nice change in pace from the rest of the mayhem going on around them.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
✧ FINAL THOUGHTS ✧
Overall, this was a good book. It’s definitely made me want to explore more of Kate Callaghan’s work. My biggest ‘issue’ is that I was disappointed it wasn’t longer. In the sense of, there were so many missed opportunities to delve deeper but I still really enjoyed it. It was a fun to read, not overly complicated and the chapters were a nice length so I never felt like the book was dragging. I think I might stay away from cruises for a while though..
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
📣 Thank you to NetGalley & Kate Callaghan for the open opportunity to read & review this ARC. This honest review consists solely of my own thoughts/opinions & I am leaving it voluntarily.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
✧ PLOT ✧
When Poppy Roe boards ‘The Midas’ for a luxurious 2 week cruise the last thing she expects to be doing is running from a serial-killer. Thankfully, her new bodyguard Detective Isaiah Rivers is by her side (in more ways than one…) to try and help her get to the bottom of the puzzling mystery. But as the days pass by and they get further from land the killer inches closer. Stuck at sea with nowhere to run or hide, will Poppy make it back to her life of glitz and glamour or will ‘The Midas’ be her last curtain call?
✅ I’d recommend this book to people who enjoy -
• books/genres - murder mystery & romance
• themes/tropes - angst, anti-hero, cruise ship setting, dual POV, off limits, reluctant allies, revenge & slow burn
‼️Please keep in mind this book includes mentions of -
• trauma, stalking, murder & emotional/physical abuse
🔞This book contains mature content not suitable for those under the age of 18.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
✧ SUMMARY/OPINIONS ✧
The Situation Ship is a fun, fast paced murder mystery featuring romance, suspense and a plot that will keep you guessing. Although the book features some serious themes it has quick witted banter and a good comedic side too. It’s easy to follow - not complicated or confusing so it’s great for anyone wanting an easy going read.
When it came to the romance I wasn’t knocked off my feet. Although I liked both characters and was happy with the end result, it all happened very quickly. There was a huge shift in Isaiah’s opinion in a very short space of time and I really felt like there was a missed opportunity to explore the connection on a deeper level.
The murder mystery side however was much better! This isn’t a book where you’re able to predict the ending which is fantastic. (For me, there’s nothing worse than guessing the outcome halfway through a book!) If anything, some situations could’ve actually been a little more drawn out to add to the suspense but otherwise it was great.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
✧ CHARACTERS ✧
• Poppy Roe (FMC) is a confusing but likeable character. She’s a famous singer with a tragic past and has more than a few skeletons in her closet. Despite her ‘past behaviour’ which I can only describe as immoral actions with moral reasoning her heart does seem to be in the right place. I really felt like she just wanted to be loved and accepted for who she really is. I was happy to see the change in her priorities and way of thinking as it made it much easier to root for her!
• Isaiah (MMC) is also extremely likeable. He’s a detective with a strong mind and strong morals. Like Poppy, he too has a ‘checkered past’ but again there’s more to the story than meets the eye. He’s fiercely protective but I loved the vulnerability we see during the chapter where they share their pasts with one another. It was also a nice change in pace from the rest of the mayhem going on around them.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
✧ FINAL THOUGHTS ✧
Overall, this was a good book. It’s definitely made me want to explore more of Kate Callaghan’s work. My biggest ‘issue’ is that I was disappointed it wasn’t longer. In the sense of, there were so many missed opportunities to delve deeper but I still really enjoyed it. It was a fun to read, not overly complicated and the chapters were a nice length so I never felt like the book was dragging. I think I might stay away from cruises for a while though..
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
📣 Thank you to NetGalley & Kate Callaghan for the open opportunity to read & review this ARC. This honest review consists solely of my own thoughts/opinions & I am leaving it voluntarily.
August 1, 2025
3.75 ✨
1.50 🌶️
Thank you to NetGalley and Kate Callaghan for this eARC!
Overall: This is a cute romance with a mystery! As a mystery/thriller and contemporary romance girlie, this was really fun! I did find some parts of the book to be much slower than others. There were also moments where it was hard to follow what was going on.
Tropes:
💙 pop star x detective
🩷 murder mystery
💙 third person dual POV
🩷 forced proximity
💙 slow burn
🩷 off limits
Bookish Thoughts: This book started off so strong for me. I greatly enjoy contemporary romance and rom-coms as well as mystery/thrillers, so I was really looking forward to this one! The hook brings you right into the thick of it and makes you want to dive into Poppy’s entire backstory.
As the mystery starts to unfold, and relationships start to form, you really get drawn into trying to figure out the source of all the crime. I think having a detective main character really helped to feel like you were getting enough detail, asking the right questions, and working through the timeline. The found family (friend group) aspect was very sweet. I really enjoyed the relationship building between all of the characters.
The book really started to lose steam for me when Poppy and Isaiah were off the ship and in Italy. Phoebe and Axel, whom they meet up with, are not bad characters. It was just so slow and difficult for me to follow what was going on and why it was relevant for the story. It took me a few days to read these few chapters, because I kept getting distracted or couldn’t focus because this part of the story just wasn’t holding my attention.
I felt like the ending came up really quickly after such a slow-moving section of the story. I’ll definitely be interested to read other reviews to see how other people perceived the back half of the book, or at least the part of the cruise starting with Italy.
In the end, I think the book has a good story. It could have potentially just been a bit shorter, which would have strengthened it for me. I would recommend this one overall, and would also read other books by this author.
1.50 🌶️
Thank you to NetGalley and Kate Callaghan for this eARC!
Overall: This is a cute romance with a mystery! As a mystery/thriller and contemporary romance girlie, this was really fun! I did find some parts of the book to be much slower than others. There were also moments where it was hard to follow what was going on.
Tropes:
💙 pop star x detective
🩷 murder mystery
💙 third person dual POV
🩷 forced proximity
💙 slow burn
🩷 off limits
Bookish Thoughts: This book started off so strong for me. I greatly enjoy contemporary romance and rom-coms as well as mystery/thrillers, so I was really looking forward to this one! The hook brings you right into the thick of it and makes you want to dive into Poppy’s entire backstory.
As the mystery starts to unfold, and relationships start to form, you really get drawn into trying to figure out the source of all the crime. I think having a detective main character really helped to feel like you were getting enough detail, asking the right questions, and working through the timeline. The found family (friend group) aspect was very sweet. I really enjoyed the relationship building between all of the characters.
The book really started to lose steam for me when Poppy and Isaiah were off the ship and in Italy. Phoebe and Axel, whom they meet up with, are not bad characters. It was just so slow and difficult for me to follow what was going on and why it was relevant for the story. It took me a few days to read these few chapters, because I kept getting distracted or couldn’t focus because this part of the story just wasn’t holding my attention.
I felt like the ending came up really quickly after such a slow-moving section of the story. I’ll definitely be interested to read other reviews to see how other people perceived the back half of the book, or at least the part of the cruise starting with Italy.
In the end, I think the book has a good story. It could have potentially just been a bit shorter, which would have strengthened it for me. I would recommend this one overall, and would also read other books by this author.
September 3, 2025
It was such a fun read! It was one of the easiest books I've read this year. I loved the writing and the characters. In this book, we follow Poppy—the princess of Pop, and Isaiah—a detective who wants to find a connection between different cases that he is sure are linked to our FMC. Two tropes we have in this one are forced proximity and bodyguard/pop star.
Poppy is an interesting main character. She wasn't too innocent, nor was she an anti-hero—she was something in between. Most of the time, I agreed with her choices, so either she is a good character or I'm a bad person. Isaiah, our detective, is kind of a workaholic. Even when his boss explicitly tells him to let go of his suspicions and take some time off, he finds a way to keep investigating. He's more of a "good guy" than Poppy, but his connection to Eckells shows us he's also willing to bend the law to do what he thinks is right.
Mina was also a good side character, though I must add that she just disappeared out of nowhere and was only mentioned throughout the chapters. That was a little disappointing because she had a nice friendship with Poppy.
I'm not much of a fan of spice, but I liked the fact that the author included which chapters would have it, so I was aware. I also loved that it had a playlist.
Although I liked Poppy and Isaiah's dynamic, I feel it could've been developed a bit more. The setting was perfect—having a murderer on board while trying to uncover their identity was so fun to read.
I'm not sure how I feel about the revelation, though.
There was something that bothered me:
Overall, I really enjoyed the book.
Thank you to the Independent Book Publishers Association, Kate Callahan, and Netgalley for this ARC.
Poppy is an interesting main character. She wasn't too innocent, nor was she an anti-hero—she was something in between. Most of the time, I agreed with her choices, so either she is a good character or I'm a bad person. Isaiah, our detective, is kind of a workaholic. Even when his boss explicitly tells him to let go of his suspicions and take some time off, he finds a way to keep investigating. He's more of a "good guy" than Poppy, but his connection to Eckells shows us he's also willing to bend the law to do what he thinks is right.
Mina was also a good side character, though I must add that she just disappeared out of nowhere and was only mentioned throughout the chapters. That was a little disappointing because she had a nice friendship with Poppy.
I'm not much of a fan of spice, but I liked the fact that the author included which chapters would have it, so I was aware. I also loved that it had a playlist.
Although I liked Poppy and Isaiah's dynamic, I feel it could've been developed a bit more. The setting was perfect—having a murderer on board while trying to uncover their identity was so fun to read.
I'm not sure how I feel about the revelation, though.
There was something that bothered me:
Overall, I really enjoyed the book.
Thank you to the Independent Book Publishers Association, Kate Callahan, and Netgalley for this ARC.
July 3, 2025
A funny, lighthearted, adventurous mystery. Kate Callaghan “The Situation Ship” was tagged as romance but read more as a murder mystery with a touch of romance.
While the cruise-ship ambiance was engaging, some subplots felt underdeveloped. Additionally, I found the dialogue was overly verbose and I disliked the rapid shifting between multiple character perspectives early on. As the story progressed I was hoping for an unexpected twist, however, I predicted the twist before it was delivered. And lastly, there were a few unresolved plot holes and unanswered motivations.
I enjoyed Poppy’s strong character. She was fierce, loyal, and composed. Unlike Poppy, Isaiah was private, cautious and emotionally guarded. He was the anti-hero who added more depth to the narrative. Although Poppy and Isaiah’s relationship was a slow to burn one, it forged through fear, danger, trust, and vulnerability with real emotional stakes, and was interesting to watch it unfold.
As a seasoned mystery and romance reader, I was disappointed in the overall execution. More specifically, the uneven pacing and the restrained reveals. In the final moments, Callaghan tied together the suspense and romance threads, however, the culmination felt a bit rushed with a monotonous climax, and some deeper social issues that were introduced earlier in the story felt less resolved.
All in all, The Situation Ship wasn’t one of my favorite murder mystery romance books, but it had a funny, light hearted and intriguing premise that I’d recommend for readers that prefer a mysterious closed door murder mystery with a splash of slow burn romance.
Thank you to Net Galley and the author for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
While the cruise-ship ambiance was engaging, some subplots felt underdeveloped. Additionally, I found the dialogue was overly verbose and I disliked the rapid shifting between multiple character perspectives early on. As the story progressed I was hoping for an unexpected twist, however, I predicted the twist before it was delivered. And lastly, there were a few unresolved plot holes and unanswered motivations.
I enjoyed Poppy’s strong character. She was fierce, loyal, and composed. Unlike Poppy, Isaiah was private, cautious and emotionally guarded. He was the anti-hero who added more depth to the narrative. Although Poppy and Isaiah’s relationship was a slow to burn one, it forged through fear, danger, trust, and vulnerability with real emotional stakes, and was interesting to watch it unfold.
As a seasoned mystery and romance reader, I was disappointed in the overall execution. More specifically, the uneven pacing and the restrained reveals. In the final moments, Callaghan tied together the suspense and romance threads, however, the culmination felt a bit rushed with a monotonous climax, and some deeper social issues that were introduced earlier in the story felt less resolved.
All in all, The Situation Ship wasn’t one of my favorite murder mystery romance books, but it had a funny, light hearted and intriguing premise that I’d recommend for readers that prefer a mysterious closed door murder mystery with a splash of slow burn romance.
Thank you to Net Galley and the author for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
July 9, 2025
⭐3.5- thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this arc.
The book follows Poppy, a pop star, who finds herself trapped in a cruise that was meant to be a relaxing holiday after a sudden family loss, but ends up being a hunt for a killer and the murders that lead back to Poppy. Detective Isaiah Rivers, who's been hired to protect Poppy on this cruise, did not expect to get so caught up in the dangers that are lurking on this cruise, nor to be so determined to be protecting Poppy no matter what.
The beginning chapter/letter from Poppy was such a cool way to open the book. The writing style was captivating and kept me interested the whole way through. It was super easy to follow and the events were fast paced. Poppy was such a strong and fierce fmc, and hers and Isaiah's friendship/relationship was endearing.
I wish we had a bit more of a build up to see their connection grow and their feelings blossom during the crazy situation they were in. It felt a bit too sudden, but with nature/plot of the book, it made sense.
I kind of guessed the twist at the end, but that didn't spoil the reading experience too much for me. Overall, I had a great time reading this book and kept turning the pages (on my phone 😬), wanting to keep reading. Definitely realised that I enjoy the romantic suspense thriller type of stories a lot. Excited to read more from this author!
The book follows Poppy, a pop star, who finds herself trapped in a cruise that was meant to be a relaxing holiday after a sudden family loss, but ends up being a hunt for a killer and the murders that lead back to Poppy. Detective Isaiah Rivers, who's been hired to protect Poppy on this cruise, did not expect to get so caught up in the dangers that are lurking on this cruise, nor to be so determined to be protecting Poppy no matter what.
The beginning chapter/letter from Poppy was such a cool way to open the book. The writing style was captivating and kept me interested the whole way through. It was super easy to follow and the events were fast paced. Poppy was such a strong and fierce fmc, and hers and Isaiah's friendship/relationship was endearing.
I wish we had a bit more of a build up to see their connection grow and their feelings blossom during the crazy situation they were in. It felt a bit too sudden, but with nature/plot of the book, it made sense.
I kind of guessed the twist at the end, but that didn't spoil the reading experience too much for me. Overall, I had a great time reading this book and kept turning the pages (on my phone 😬), wanting to keep reading. Definitely realised that I enjoy the romantic suspense thriller type of stories a lot. Excited to read more from this author!
dnf
August 25, 2025My first impression is that I appreciate the list at the front with all the spicy chapters. This is the first book I’ve seen with one and I think it’s wonderful for those readers who don’t want to read that kind of stuff.
The thing is, Poppy was certainly an interesting protagonist and I like how the book immediately started with a murder. However, I just couldn’t get attached to it and I wasn’t really into finding out the mystery and all that.
Thank you, Kate Callaghan herself, for the ARC!
The thing is, Poppy was certainly an interesting protagonist and I like how the book immediately started with a murder. However, I just couldn’t get attached to it and I wasn’t really into finding out the mystery and all that.
Thank you, Kate Callaghan herself, for the ARC!
August 8, 2025
3.5 ☆.
I loved the dynamic between the detective and the pop star. It had witty banter that made me laugh pretty loud haha. Also, I love how the author mixed romance with murder mystery. The writing is fine, but in some scenes, there were some pacing issues. The development could be better. But anyways, it is a enjoyable book with some suspense and spice.
I loved the dynamic between the detective and the pop star. It had witty banter that made me laugh pretty loud haha. Also, I love how the author mixed romance with murder mystery. The writing is fine, but in some scenes, there were some pacing issues. The development could be better. But anyways, it is a enjoyable book with some suspense and spice.
August 4, 2025
(Arc reader)
A really enjoyable read!!!
A pop star's life is turned upside down when her aunt (a major Hollywood actress) dies.
To relax and escape the spotlight, she decides to go on a super exclusive cruise. With a new bodyguard who seems to believe she's involved in three other deaths, she finds herself trapped in a sea of other deaths on the same cruise.
Now they have to work together to catch the killer and prevent more deaths.
Even with a very heavy theme (murder), the author managed to make this a lighthearted read. I really loved the character development, especially Poppy. The more we read, the more we discover new layers to her.
Honestly? I didn't feel like the sex scenes fit into the overall context of the book. I didn't think the sex scene made much sense when it happened, and I also didn't really like how it was written.
Poppy discovering who the killer was was amazing!!! I already had my suspicions about who it was, but when it was finally revealed, I was in shock along with her, hahaha.
Overall, it was a very good read! I'm curious to read other books by the author (especially the one about Phoebe and Axel).
A really enjoyable read!!!
A pop star's life is turned upside down when her aunt (a major Hollywood actress) dies.
To relax and escape the spotlight, she decides to go on a super exclusive cruise. With a new bodyguard who seems to believe she's involved in three other deaths, she finds herself trapped in a sea of other deaths on the same cruise.
Now they have to work together to catch the killer and prevent more deaths.
Even with a very heavy theme (murder), the author managed to make this a lighthearted read. I really loved the character development, especially Poppy. The more we read, the more we discover new layers to her.
Honestly? I didn't feel like the sex scenes fit into the overall context of the book. I didn't think the sex scene made much sense when it happened, and I also didn't really like how it was written.
Poppy discovering who the killer was was amazing!!! I already had my suspicions about who it was, but when it was finally revealed, I was in shock along with her, hahaha.
Overall, it was a very good read! I'm curious to read other books by the author (especially the one about Phoebe and Axel).
June 26, 2025
3.25⭐️
I love nothing more than a little mystery, and Kate Callaghan really delivered with The Situation Ship!
What charmed me most was the uniqueness Callaghan brought to the table. A murder mystery romance set on a cruise ship is such a fresh concept and unlike anything I’ve read before. I was immediately intrigued by the premise and that gorgeous cover. I really admire how Callaghan managed to include popular tropes while putting her own spin on them.
That said, my reading experience was a bit hindered by the third person point of view. It created a disconnect between myself and the characters, making it hard to fully immerse myself in the story. I often felt as though I was being kept at arms length.
The murder mystery elements, however, were super fun. The suspense kept up right until the very end, which had me constantly guessing. I especially loved the slight anti-hero angle, it added some nice complexity to the characters. I did wish for more depth, particularly with Isaiah. His and Mina’s motivations for helping Poppy felt a bit underexplored. They’re essentially strangers to her, yet they're deeply committed to her cause. Some internal conflict or hesitation would’ve been great!
As for the romance, I wasn’t super obsessed. If Callaghan had leaned more into the "situationship" angle, I think it would've felt more authentic. The declarations of love felt rushed, especially given how underdeveloped their romantic bond was outside the spicy scenes. I would’ve loved to see more soft, tender moments between them. Maybe some room service breakfasts or walks around the ship to really build that emotional connection.
Overall, I think The Situation Ship was pretty great. While I had some issues in regards to the character development and narrative perspective, the plot was gripping and original. I’ll definitely be checking out more of Kate Callaghan’s work in the future, especially her Christmas reads!
Thank you to NetGalley and CallaghanWriter for an ARC in exchange for my honest review 🫶🏼
I love nothing more than a little mystery, and Kate Callaghan really delivered with The Situation Ship!
What charmed me most was the uniqueness Callaghan brought to the table. A murder mystery romance set on a cruise ship is such a fresh concept and unlike anything I’ve read before. I was immediately intrigued by the premise and that gorgeous cover. I really admire how Callaghan managed to include popular tropes while putting her own spin on them.
That said, my reading experience was a bit hindered by the third person point of view. It created a disconnect between myself and the characters, making it hard to fully immerse myself in the story. I often felt as though I was being kept at arms length.
The murder mystery elements, however, were super fun. The suspense kept up right until the very end, which had me constantly guessing. I especially loved the slight anti-hero angle, it added some nice complexity to the characters. I did wish for more depth, particularly with Isaiah. His and Mina’s motivations for helping Poppy felt a bit underexplored. They’re essentially strangers to her, yet they're deeply committed to her cause. Some internal conflict or hesitation would’ve been great!
As for the romance, I wasn’t super obsessed. If Callaghan had leaned more into the "situationship" angle, I think it would've felt more authentic. The declarations of love felt rushed, especially given how underdeveloped their romantic bond was outside the spicy scenes. I would’ve loved to see more soft, tender moments between them. Maybe some room service breakfasts or walks around the ship to really build that emotional connection.
Overall, I think The Situation Ship was pretty great. While I had some issues in regards to the character development and narrative perspective, the plot was gripping and original. I’ll definitely be checking out more of Kate Callaghan’s work in the future, especially her Christmas reads!
Thank you to NetGalley and CallaghanWriter for an ARC in exchange for my honest review 🫶🏼
September 28, 2025
Solid 3.75 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!
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!
July 7, 2025
There aren't that many books and stories where we have a morally grey fmc. The male lead, yeah, we see often enough. But a good story where the sense of right or wrong is twisted in the fmc? Well.. I haven't read one of those in a while and I loved it!
I loved Poppy. She had a crappy past, but she grew above it and became strong, independent, sassy and extremly loyal and fierce. She knew what she wanted and was learning how to get it, even if some boundaries should be crossed.
When her aunt dies and she discovers a plot to kill her on her vacation she gets on that ship with a plan and new allies. What she doesn't expect is that that journey may cost her her life but will give her love and friendship for life.
Isaiah is a detective and suspects celebrity Poppy Roe is connected to several murders. No one seems to believe him, so when he is forced to back away he finds a way to get close to her in her holoday cruise as her bodyguard. He expects to learn all her secrets and arrest her if his suspitions come true.
What he doesn’t expect is to learn that she is not the murder on that ship.. but is a target! And also, as he gets to know her he can't help to start learning to love her.
During their stay on the cruise people around Poppy keep dying, and they must work together to stay alive and solve this puzzle.
This book had many twists and turns and I can honestly say I didn’t saw several of them coming, and yeah.. I didn't guess the killer right. But that added to the charm, because in a book like this who doesn't like the twists to make them gasp? I do!
And the laugh out loud moments were very well done and made the murder became more light.
Overall is is a light read, that can be binged in one sitting and give us a hell of a nice time enjoying it!
Can we have a story about Mina and Eckells next, please?
I loved Poppy. She had a crappy past, but she grew above it and became strong, independent, sassy and extremly loyal and fierce. She knew what she wanted and was learning how to get it, even if some boundaries should be crossed.
When her aunt dies and she discovers a plot to kill her on her vacation she gets on that ship with a plan and new allies. What she doesn't expect is that that journey may cost her her life but will give her love and friendship for life.
Isaiah is a detective and suspects celebrity Poppy Roe is connected to several murders. No one seems to believe him, so when he is forced to back away he finds a way to get close to her in her holoday cruise as her bodyguard. He expects to learn all her secrets and arrest her if his suspitions come true.
What he doesn’t expect is to learn that she is not the murder on that ship.. but is a target! And also, as he gets to know her he can't help to start learning to love her.
During their stay on the cruise people around Poppy keep dying, and they must work together to stay alive and solve this puzzle.
This book had many twists and turns and I can honestly say I didn’t saw several of them coming, and yeah.. I didn't guess the killer right. But that added to the charm, because in a book like this who doesn't like the twists to make them gasp? I do!
And the laugh out loud moments were very well done and made the murder became more light.
Overall is is a light read, that can be binged in one sitting and give us a hell of a nice time enjoying it!
Can we have a story about Mina and Eckells next, please?
July 19, 2025
New-to-me author, and while overall the book was fine I don't think I was the right audience for it. Poppy (famous singer) and Isaiah (extremely skeptical detective) meet under tense circumstances and their whirlwind romance then takes place over a couple of weeks during a very trying time in Poppy's life. (Murder just seems to follow this girl around, doesn't it?) They're both morally gray (which didn't really bother me), and I don't think it's a spoiler to say that this was a theme for the book. I was invested in the mystery, and there were definitely some twists I didn't see coming in this whodunnit. However, the writing style is a bit flat and the pacing/plotting was uneven. I was jarred at times by the push-pull of the relationship between Poppy and Isaiah, and the insta-lust/insta-love aspect gave me a bit of whiplash. (I'm fine with sexual content in my books, but in this book it sometimes felt like filler or a way for the author to force intimacy between two characters who really didn't know each other well at all.) This is an age gap romance, which normally isn't my favorite, but it didn't bother me here since Poppy (26) didn't come across as being a lot younger emotionally than Isaiah (mid-30s). If you're a fan of this author's previous books then you're likely to enjoy this one. (Phoebe and Axel from Not Another Rockstar make cameos in this book, and since they knew Isaiah here I assume he was also in their book.) Fans of age-gap, forced proximity, open-door insta-lust romance with morally gray characters should like this quick read. Publishes July 27, 2025. This review is based on a complimentary eARC of the book, all opinions are my own.
August 2, 2025
3 ⭐️ / 1.5-2 🌶️
There was many things done right with this book. I found the plot thrilling, the twists and turns exciting, and the overall premise very engaging! A murder mystery, who-done-it plot with the FMC as a suspect and the MMC as the investigator? LOVED THIS!
But what I found fell short is the romance side of things. There was a little flirting prior to the inevitable “screw it” moment when Poppy and Isaiah kiss etc. But all of the romance felt like an afterthought or rushed. It’s due to this small short coming that kind of became disengaged towards the last 75-80% of the book. I did finish it thought! And even though it is a HEA, the ending felt too abrupt too.
I think, ultimately, what Poppy and Isaiah lacked is on-page chemistry. Take Mine and Eckells (side characters) for instance, they had palpable chemistry that you could basically feel radiating through the pages. So, I know the author is capable of writing it!
Unfortunately, despite loving the murdery suspense plot, the execution of the romance aspect had me rate this book 3 stars!⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!
There was many things done right with this book. I found the plot thrilling, the twists and turns exciting, and the overall premise very engaging! A murder mystery, who-done-it plot with the FMC as a suspect and the MMC as the investigator? LOVED THIS!
But what I found fell short is the romance side of things. There was a little flirting prior to the inevitable “screw it” moment when Poppy and Isaiah kiss etc. But all of the romance felt like an afterthought or rushed. It’s due to this small short coming that kind of became disengaged towards the last 75-80% of the book. I did finish it thought! And even though it is a HEA, the ending felt too abrupt too.
I think, ultimately, what Poppy and Isaiah lacked is on-page chemistry. Take Mine and Eckells (side characters) for instance, they had palpable chemistry that you could basically feel radiating through the pages. So, I know the author is capable of writing it!
Unfortunately, despite loving the murdery suspense plot, the execution of the romance aspect had me rate this book 3 stars!⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!
August 24, 2025
I just finished The Situation Ship, and overall, I’d say it’s a really fun, fast-paced read—perfect if you're in the mood for something light and entertaining. The setting on a luxury cruise ship, combined with a twisty murder mystery and a touch of romance, made it feel like a vacation in book form.
What I really enjoyed was how the story kept things moving. There were plenty of twists to keep me guessing, and the glamorous vibe gave it a kind of escapist charm. The banter between the characters, especially Poppy and Isaiah, was witty and added a nice bit of humour.
That said, the romance didn’t quite hit as hard as I’d hoped. It felt a little rushed, and I didn’t fully connect with their emotional arc. The characters could’ve used a bit more depth, too, but honestly, it didn’t take away too much from the overall experience because the plot kept me engaged.
If you're looking for a light thriller with some romantic elements and a unique setting, this is a solid pick. It’s not a deeply emotional read, but it’s definitely an enjoyable read.
This was my first read from this author and I'd probably try something else one day, but I don't think I'd be rushing back.
What I really enjoyed was how the story kept things moving. There were plenty of twists to keep me guessing, and the glamorous vibe gave it a kind of escapist charm. The banter between the characters, especially Poppy and Isaiah, was witty and added a nice bit of humour.
That said, the romance didn’t quite hit as hard as I’d hoped. It felt a little rushed, and I didn’t fully connect with their emotional arc. The characters could’ve used a bit more depth, too, but honestly, it didn’t take away too much from the overall experience because the plot kept me engaged.
If you're looking for a light thriller with some romantic elements and a unique setting, this is a solid pick. It’s not a deeply emotional read, but it’s definitely an enjoyable read.
This was my first read from this author and I'd probably try something else one day, but I don't think I'd be rushing back.
June 25, 2025
ARC Review — 3.5⭐️ rounded up
Summary:
Death seems to follow pop star Poppy Roe both on and off shore. When people close to her start turning up dead, detective Isaiah Rivers decides to investigate her—and instead ends up signing on as her bodyguard during a luxury cruise aboard the Midas. As more bodies surface, she and Isaiah must unravel the mystery before the killer strikes again. Along the way, sparks fly and the two are drawn into a steamy romance.
Review:
This was a fast-paced romantic mystery with steamy moments and a twisty whodunnit that kept me on my toes. I had my guess, but I was wrong—and the twist totally worked. Super satisfying!
The romance was compelling, but I wanted more time for their connection to build. A few more scenes showing their chemistry early on would have made the emotional payoff land stronger. Same goes for character depth - I would've loved more of Poppy's life with her evil aunt or Isaiah's relationship with his niece to humanize him. With the book being less than 300 pages, I think a couple more pages on their backstories wouldn't have hurt!
The sex scenes? 🔥 Steamy and well-executed. Some of the dialogue felt a bit clunky at times, but it didn’t pull me out completely. The pacing kept things moving, and I genuinely didn’t know where it was all heading.
Biggest complaint? I wanted more! The characters, the romance, the backstory—I'd love to read more about these two! I’d absolutely read a follow-up, and would love a book featuring Mina and Eckells next.
Thanks to CallaghanWriter and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Summary:
Death seems to follow pop star Poppy Roe both on and off shore. When people close to her start turning up dead, detective Isaiah Rivers decides to investigate her—and instead ends up signing on as her bodyguard during a luxury cruise aboard the Midas. As more bodies surface, she and Isaiah must unravel the mystery before the killer strikes again. Along the way, sparks fly and the two are drawn into a steamy romance.
Review:
This was a fast-paced romantic mystery with steamy moments and a twisty whodunnit that kept me on my toes. I had my guess, but I was wrong—and the twist totally worked. Super satisfying!
The romance was compelling, but I wanted more time for their connection to build. A few more scenes showing their chemistry early on would have made the emotional payoff land stronger. Same goes for character depth - I would've loved more of Poppy's life with her evil aunt or Isaiah's relationship with his niece to humanize him. With the book being less than 300 pages, I think a couple more pages on their backstories wouldn't have hurt!
The sex scenes? 🔥 Steamy and well-executed. Some of the dialogue felt a bit clunky at times, but it didn’t pull me out completely. The pacing kept things moving, and I genuinely didn’t know where it was all heading.
Biggest complaint? I wanted more! The characters, the romance, the backstory—I'd love to read more about these two! I’d absolutely read a follow-up, and would love a book featuring Mina and Eckells next.
Thanks to CallaghanWriter and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 277 reviews