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The Shippers
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Expected 19 May 26Win a free print copy of this book!
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10 copies available
U.S. only
Listening Length: 11 hours and 8 minutes
One of the hottest, fastest-rising rom-com stars delivers her latest swoon-worthy novel about a destination wedding on a cruise ship.
After a whole lifetime of being bad at love, JoJo Burton decides to solve her intimacy issues once and for all at her sister’s destination wedding on a cruise ship. With the help of a little pop psychology, she diagnoses herself with a fixation on the neighborhood guy who was her her first crush and first kiss (and who just happens to be a newly-divorced wedding guest ), and she decides to woo him during the cruise for some long-delayed closure. Only problem is, her sister’s a little busy being a bride at the moment—so JoJo ropes in her childhood bestie, Cooper Watts, to be her wing man. Cooper: who RSVPed no, but then showed up, anyway. Cooper: who left town without a word four years earlier and moved to London. Cooper: who was, if she’s honest, the worst heartbreak of JoJo’s life. It’s bliss for her to see him again, and it’s agony, too—and the more they team up for Project Conquest, the more she obsesses over questions she can’t bring herself to ask.
Shipboard antics ensue in this witty, heart-tugging, childhood-friends-to-lovers romance—as JoJo and Cooper fake flirt, slow dance, share a cabin, sing duets, treat sunburns, get jealous, rescue each other over and over, and finally, at last, figure it all out in the most blissful, swoony, romantic way.
No one does summer romance quite like Katherine Center. THE SHIPPERS will take readers on the cruise of a lifetime in a story awash with romantic longing, top-notch banter, long-held secrets . . . and true love rediscovered.
One of the hottest, fastest-rising rom-com stars delivers her latest swoon-worthy novel about a destination wedding on a cruise ship.
After a whole lifetime of being bad at love, JoJo Burton decides to solve her intimacy issues once and for all at her sister’s destination wedding on a cruise ship. With the help of a little pop psychology, she diagnoses herself with a fixation on the neighborhood guy who was her her first crush and first kiss (and who just happens to be a newly-divorced wedding guest ), and she decides to woo him during the cruise for some long-delayed closure. Only problem is, her sister’s a little busy being a bride at the moment—so JoJo ropes in her childhood bestie, Cooper Watts, to be her wing man. Cooper: who RSVPed no, but then showed up, anyway. Cooper: who left town without a word four years earlier and moved to London. Cooper: who was, if she’s honest, the worst heartbreak of JoJo’s life. It’s bliss for her to see him again, and it’s agony, too—and the more they team up for Project Conquest, the more she obsesses over questions she can’t bring herself to ask.
Shipboard antics ensue in this witty, heart-tugging, childhood-friends-to-lovers romance—as JoJo and Cooper fake flirt, slow dance, share a cabin, sing duets, treat sunburns, get jealous, rescue each other over and over, and finally, at last, figure it all out in the most blissful, swoony, romantic way.
No one does summer romance quite like Katherine Center. THE SHIPPERS will take readers on the cruise of a lifetime in a story awash with romantic longing, top-notch banter, long-held secrets . . . and true love rediscovered.
12 pages, Audible Audio
Expected publication May 19, 2026
554 people are currently reading
132852 people want to read
About the author
Katherine Center
20 books33.5k followershttps://katherinecenter.com/about/
https://www.instagram.com/katherinece...
BookPage calls Katherine Center “the reigning queen of comfort reads.” She’s the New York Times bestselling author of eleven novels, including The Bodyguard, Hello Stranger, Things You Save in a Fire, and her summer 2024 book, The Rom-Commers. Katherine writes laugh-and-cry books: bittersweet romantic comedies about how life knocks us down—and how we get back up. She’s been compared to both Jane Austen and Nora Ephron, and the Dallas Morning News calls her stories, “satisfying in the most soul-nourishing way.” The Netflix movie adaptation of her novel Happiness for Beginners—starring Ellie Kemper and Luke Grimes—just hit the Global Top Ten in 81 countries, and the movie of her novel The Lost Husband was a surprise Netflix sensation in 2020, hitting number one and landing in their top 25 movies for the year. Her books have made countless Best-Of lists—at Audible, BookBub, and Book of the Month, as well as Goodreads' Best Books of the Year, and Amazon's yearly Top 100 books. Emily Henry calls The Bodyguard “my perfect 10 of a book,” and Jodi Picoult says of Things You Save in a Fire, “Just read it, and thank me later.” Katherine lives in her hometown of Houston, Texas, with her husband, two almost-grown teenagers, and their fluffy-but-fierce dog.
https://www.instagram.com/katherinece...
BookPage calls Katherine Center “the reigning queen of comfort reads.” She’s the New York Times bestselling author of eleven novels, including The Bodyguard, Hello Stranger, Things You Save in a Fire, and her summer 2024 book, The Rom-Commers. Katherine writes laugh-and-cry books: bittersweet romantic comedies about how life knocks us down—and how we get back up. She’s been compared to both Jane Austen and Nora Ephron, and the Dallas Morning News calls her stories, “satisfying in the most soul-nourishing way.” The Netflix movie adaptation of her novel Happiness for Beginners—starring Ellie Kemper and Luke Grimes—just hit the Global Top Ten in 81 countries, and the movie of her novel The Lost Husband was a surprise Netflix sensation in 2020, hitting number one and landing in their top 25 movies for the year. Her books have made countless Best-Of lists—at Audible, BookBub, and Book of the Month, as well as Goodreads' Best Books of the Year, and Amazon's yearly Top 100 books. Emily Henry calls The Bodyguard “my perfect 10 of a book,” and Jodi Picoult says of Things You Save in a Fire, “Just read it, and thank me later.” Katherine lives in her hometown of Houston, Texas, with her husband, two almost-grown teenagers, and their fluffy-but-fierce dog.
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May 7, 2026
Hmm… I have to admit my expectations were much higher for this book, especially considering it’s written by one of my auto-approved, favorite romance authors. The opening alone had me hooked: an entertaining, chaotic wedding ceremony where the MCs escape in a modern The Graduate–style moment. Add in friends-to-lovers, fake dating, forced proximity, and a wedding cruise as the setting? I was fully prepared to give this five stars.
There’s a lot to love here. The comedy level is noticeably higher than in some of Katherine Center’s previous books, and many moments genuinely made me laugh out loud. But—and this is a big but—the reason I didn’t fully love this story comes down to the heroine.
Yes. Jojo.
Jojo is written as a brilliant woman: a Phi Beta Kappa graduate in mathematics, an Einstein-level IQ, a knot theory thesis, and a math teacher shaping young minds. And yet, from the very beginning, she behaves with a level of immaturity that completely undermined her character for me. Not in a charming, flawed-but-relatable way—but in a way that felt wildly inconsistent with how intelligent she’s supposed to be.
She stays engaged to a man for four years, and on her wedding day, her biggest concern seems to be that she’s stuck wearing an itchy wedding gown borrowed from her mother-in-law—one she broke the zipper on—rather than the fact that she clearly does not want to marry this man. If her estranged best friend doesn’t suddenly show up at the last minute in a hobo-meets-lumberjack outfit, she might actually say “yes” and walk straight into an unhappy marriage. Six weeks later, she changes direction entirely, setting her sights on someone just as irritating as her hot ex-fiancé—jumping headfirst into yet another emotional entanglement. And through all of this, Jojo insists none of it is her fault. She’s not indecisive or emotionally reckless—she’s cursed.
Oh girl. Please. Grow up.
Thankfully, the hero completely saved this book for me. Cooper is a full-on cinnamon roll. Supportive, handsome, blue-eyed, Disney-prince energy, and emotionally available in ways romance heroes rarely are. Honestly, there were moments where I wanted to shout at him to jump off the ship, swim back to England, and forget Jojo entirely—especially every time she made yet another impulsive decision that hurt someone around her. Ironically, he is the one who should have unresolved daddy issues, not the other way around, yet he’s the most grounded person in the story.
From the start, Jojo and Cooper’s chemistry is intense and undeniable. This book could have been significantly shorter if Jojo had truly been as smart as the narrative insists she is—and if she simply acknowledged what was plainly in front of her instead of planning increasingly unrealistic emotional maneuvers. The final third was particularly frustrating, as she makes yet another impulsive choice that erased any remaining goodwill I was starting to build toward her. I really wanted to soften on her flaws, but in the end, I just wished she were less obnoxious.
That said, if it weren’t for the strong comedy and the compelling subplot involving Jojo’s parents and their crumbling marriage—along with the festive cruise atmosphere—I would have rated this a solid three stars. I actually enjoyed the humor more than the romance itself. Still, it is a feel-good rom-com with a predictable but comforting resolution, and I read it in one sitting.
As a devoted rom-com supporter, I rounded my 3.5 stars up to 4, purely out of love for Cooper and his impeccable collection of gabardine vests.
While this wasn’t my favorite book by the author, it’s still a positive, lighthearted rom-com—exactly the kind we need to lift our spirits when darker, heavier stories dominate. It may not have completely won me over, but it was still an enjoyable escape.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sharing this feel-good rom-com’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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There’s a lot to love here. The comedy level is noticeably higher than in some of Katherine Center’s previous books, and many moments genuinely made me laugh out loud. But—and this is a big but—the reason I didn’t fully love this story comes down to the heroine.
Yes. Jojo.
Jojo is written as a brilliant woman: a Phi Beta Kappa graduate in mathematics, an Einstein-level IQ, a knot theory thesis, and a math teacher shaping young minds. And yet, from the very beginning, she behaves with a level of immaturity that completely undermined her character for me. Not in a charming, flawed-but-relatable way—but in a way that felt wildly inconsistent with how intelligent she’s supposed to be.
She stays engaged to a man for four years, and on her wedding day, her biggest concern seems to be that she’s stuck wearing an itchy wedding gown borrowed from her mother-in-law—one she broke the zipper on—rather than the fact that she clearly does not want to marry this man. If her estranged best friend doesn’t suddenly show up at the last minute in a hobo-meets-lumberjack outfit, she might actually say “yes” and walk straight into an unhappy marriage. Six weeks later, she changes direction entirely, setting her sights on someone just as irritating as her hot ex-fiancé—jumping headfirst into yet another emotional entanglement. And through all of this, Jojo insists none of it is her fault. She’s not indecisive or emotionally reckless—she’s cursed.
Oh girl. Please. Grow up.
Thankfully, the hero completely saved this book for me. Cooper is a full-on cinnamon roll. Supportive, handsome, blue-eyed, Disney-prince energy, and emotionally available in ways romance heroes rarely are. Honestly, there were moments where I wanted to shout at him to jump off the ship, swim back to England, and forget Jojo entirely—especially every time she made yet another impulsive decision that hurt someone around her. Ironically, he is the one who should have unresolved daddy issues, not the other way around, yet he’s the most grounded person in the story.
From the start, Jojo and Cooper’s chemistry is intense and undeniable. This book could have been significantly shorter if Jojo had truly been as smart as the narrative insists she is—and if she simply acknowledged what was plainly in front of her instead of planning increasingly unrealistic emotional maneuvers. The final third was particularly frustrating, as she makes yet another impulsive choice that erased any remaining goodwill I was starting to build toward her. I really wanted to soften on her flaws, but in the end, I just wished she were less obnoxious.
That said, if it weren’t for the strong comedy and the compelling subplot involving Jojo’s parents and their crumbling marriage—along with the festive cruise atmosphere—I would have rated this a solid three stars. I actually enjoyed the humor more than the romance itself. Still, it is a feel-good rom-com with a predictable but comforting resolution, and I read it in one sitting.
As a devoted rom-com supporter, I rounded my 3.5 stars up to 4, purely out of love for Cooper and his impeccable collection of gabardine vests.
While this wasn’t my favorite book by the author, it’s still a positive, lighthearted rom-com—exactly the kind we need to lift our spirits when darker, heavier stories dominate. It may not have completely won me over, but it was still an enjoyable escape.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sharing this feel-good rom-com’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium.com
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 stars
my favorite katherine center book, by far 🥹!!! oh wow, going into this my expectations weren’t the highest because although her books were mildly likable, they weren’t anything to really enjoy or savor.. but how this book proved me wrong!
’the shippers’ follow Josephine [jojo] and Cooper, while they work together to conquer a man that jojo has been crushing on since childhood, to solve her problem of love once and for all. they enter a cruise trip together, and everything spirals from there.
now.. the huge positives: Cooper 🧡! this man owns me — i can’t spoil anything but he literally did EVERYTHING for jojo 😭 he was the sweetest, most humble, and most patient man ever.
jojo, on the other hand, was positively insufferable. she was always making the wrong choices, blaming everyone else for it, and expecting others to give her grace. she was unable to take situations seriously at all. truly the only reason i couldn’t rate this book higher.
overall, this book is such a perfect pick for summer 🌅! the setting is great, the cover is perfect, and the romance is hot.
🥨 ₊˚୭, thank you to my lovely bestie rei for reading this with me. ily forever! <3
thank you to netgalley for the ARC 💛.
⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹
✉️⌇pre-read ⊹
i'm so happy that it's finally March and that the weather is starting to warm up ☀️🌱 because it means starting my spring reads 😼 ofc reading with my ARC partner, rei 🙂↕️🧡.
thank you, netgalley, for the ARC!
my favorite katherine center book, by far 🥹!!! oh wow, going into this my expectations weren’t the highest because although her books were mildly likable, they weren’t anything to really enjoy or savor.. but how this book proved me wrong!
’the shippers’ follow Josephine [jojo] and Cooper, while they work together to conquer a man that jojo has been crushing on since childhood, to solve her problem of love once and for all. they enter a cruise trip together, and everything spirals from there.
now.. the huge positives: Cooper 🧡! this man owns me — i can’t spoil anything but he literally did EVERYTHING for jojo 😭 he was the sweetest, most humble, and most patient man ever.
jojo, on the other hand, was positively insufferable. she was always making the wrong choices, blaming everyone else for it, and expecting others to give her grace. she was unable to take situations seriously at all. truly the only reason i couldn’t rate this book higher.
overall, this book is such a perfect pick for summer 🌅! the setting is great, the cover is perfect, and the romance is hot.
🥨 ₊˚୭, thank you to my lovely bestie rei for reading this with me. ily forever! <3
thank you to netgalley for the ARC 💛.
⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹
✉️⌇pre-read ⊹
i'm so happy that it's finally March and that the weather is starting to warm up ☀️🌱 because it means starting my spring reads 😼 ofc reading with my ARC partner, rei 🙂↕️🧡.
thank you, netgalley, for the ARC!
March 1, 2026
4.5 ⭐ (Yay! I remembered to write the full review for the book, lol!)
⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ JoJo Burton is bad at love, but wants to fix her intimacy issues at her sister’s destination wedding on a cruise ship by possibly wooing her first crush and first kiss, who is newly divorced and is attending the wedding. But out of the blue, her childhood best friend, Cooper Watts, shows up, and JoJo decides that the least he can do for her is help her find out if her first crush is Mr. Right since Cooper moved to London four years ago without a word and broke her heart. And as JoJo and Cooper spend more time together as they fake flirt, share a cabin, and finally answer the questions they’ve held onto for so long, they finally get the closure they need about each other that will change everything for both of them.
◦◦,`°.✽✦✽.◦.✽✦✽.°`,◦◦
ᴺᴼᵂ ᴾᴸᴬᵞᴵᴺᴳ: this is what falling in love feels like by JVKE
1:13 ───ㅇ───── 2:00
⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ I think this might have been the last friends-to-lovers book I actually loved. I wanted to wait to read this closer to the pub date, but I was way too excited to read another Katherine Center book, so I downloaded it, and I flew through this story! 🤭
I related a lot to JoJo and her intimacy issues. I, too, am bad at love, and I know I will be horrendously bad with romantic love, but unlike JoJo, I’d rather not work on my issues, lol! 😂 Granted, she did annoy me from time to time because she was wooing a guy who didn’t even know she existed, while the perfect guy was right there in front of her the entire time, pining after her. Look, it’s been a while since I’ve read the book, but I do remember being so frustrated that she still clung to her belief that the neighborhood friend and first kiss was the perfect match for her because, girl, no, he’s not. I don’t know much about love and who is compatible with whom, but you and that guy would not last a month, let alone a lifetime. Ugh, that made me so upset! 😂🤦♀ But she was funny and had people’s best interests at heart, so I’ll cut her some slack.
But then there’s Cooper. I am in love with him!! 😭♥ He’s literally one of my favorite characters of all time. He has my heart and soul because, good lord, he was funny, sweet, and serious when he needed to be. Can a guy be perfect? Because I think Cooper is. Not only that, but he’s hot, too?! JoJo, honey, what?? If you don’t want him, I’ll take him. 🙋♀🤭😉
And I think this is where the problem lies with the sudden disdain I have for this trope. The guys are almost perfect—they’re so understanding, kind, sweet, loving, and always ready to listen. Do they have flaws? Yeah, of course, but they’re minor, for some reason. Meanwhile, the FMCs are annoying, immature, selfish, blind to their own mistakes, and take a million years to see when they are in the wrong or that they have been and always will be in love with their BFF. AND THE GUY STILL WANTS THEM AFTER ALL THE FMC PUT THEM THROUGH??!! Yeah, no. I’m good.
But thankfully, I didn’t have to worry about that sort of thing in this book. Yeah, there were problems, misunderstandings, and falling-outs, but it didn’t drive me insane because they were there for a purpose, and the story was super sweet! Reading this made my heart happy, and when I finished the book, I wanted to cry happy tears. I’ve only read one other book by Katherine Center, and I loved that one as well, so she is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine. I totally recommend this book if you are looking for a sweet, funny, childhood friends-to-lovers romance! 🩷
𓆩ᥫ᭡𓆪 Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own. The book will be available on 05/19/2026! 𓆩ᥫ᭡𓆪
⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ JoJo Burton is bad at love, but wants to fix her intimacy issues at her sister’s destination wedding on a cruise ship by possibly wooing her first crush and first kiss, who is newly divorced and is attending the wedding. But out of the blue, her childhood best friend, Cooper Watts, shows up, and JoJo decides that the least he can do for her is help her find out if her first crush is Mr. Right since Cooper moved to London four years ago without a word and broke her heart. And as JoJo and Cooper spend more time together as they fake flirt, share a cabin, and finally answer the questions they’ve held onto for so long, they finally get the closure they need about each other that will change everything for both of them.
◦◦,`°.✽✦✽.◦.✽✦✽.°`,◦◦
ᴺᴼᵂ ᴾᴸᴬᵞᴵᴺᴳ: this is what falling in love feels like by JVKE
1:13 ───ㅇ───── 2:00
⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ I think this might have been the last friends-to-lovers book I actually loved. I wanted to wait to read this closer to the pub date, but I was way too excited to read another Katherine Center book, so I downloaded it, and I flew through this story! 🤭
I related a lot to JoJo and her intimacy issues. I, too, am bad at love, and I know I will be horrendously bad with romantic love, but unlike JoJo, I’d rather not work on my issues, lol! 😂 Granted, she did annoy me from time to time because she was wooing a guy who didn’t even know she existed, while the perfect guy was right there in front of her the entire time, pining after her. Look, it’s been a while since I’ve read the book, but I do remember being so frustrated that she still clung to her belief that the neighborhood friend and first kiss was the perfect match for her because, girl, no, he’s not. I don’t know much about love and who is compatible with whom, but you and that guy would not last a month, let alone a lifetime. Ugh, that made me so upset! 😂🤦♀ But she was funny and had people’s best interests at heart, so I’ll cut her some slack.
But then there’s Cooper. I am in love with him!! 😭♥ He’s literally one of my favorite characters of all time. He has my heart and soul because, good lord, he was funny, sweet, and serious when he needed to be. Can a guy be perfect? Because I think Cooper is. Not only that, but he’s hot, too?! JoJo, honey, what?? If you don’t want him, I’ll take him. 🙋♀🤭😉
And I think this is where the problem lies with the sudden disdain I have for this trope. The guys are almost perfect—they’re so understanding, kind, sweet, loving, and always ready to listen. Do they have flaws? Yeah, of course, but they’re minor, for some reason. Meanwhile, the FMCs are annoying, immature, selfish, blind to their own mistakes, and take a million years to see when they are in the wrong or that they have been and always will be in love with their BFF. AND THE GUY STILL WANTS THEM AFTER ALL THE FMC PUT THEM THROUGH??!! Yeah, no. I’m good.
But thankfully, I didn’t have to worry about that sort of thing in this book. Yeah, there were problems, misunderstandings, and falling-outs, but it didn’t drive me insane because they were there for a purpose, and the story was super sweet! Reading this made my heart happy, and when I finished the book, I wanted to cry happy tears. I’ve only read one other book by Katherine Center, and I loved that one as well, so she is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine. I totally recommend this book if you are looking for a sweet, funny, childhood friends-to-lovers romance! 🩷
𓆩ᥫ᭡𓆪 Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own. The book will be available on 05/19/2026! 𓆩ᥫ᭡𓆪
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⭐️ 2.5 ⭐️ I am not a die hard romance fan and while The Shippers was far better than her previous novel, The Love Haters, I can’t say this was amazing. Romances are personal, right? We finds little bits and pieces of ourselves in them and the love stories should feel at least somewhat familiar. Personally, a romance or a rom-com needs to have a level of maturity that’s enjoyable, relatable and interesting or funny enough to have a good time. The Shippers didn’t speak to me because it read like a high school romance where kids argue all the time about insignificant things and the entire content of the book felt like child’s play. Perhaps I am not the targeted audience, but I was hoping for more mature, adult like content that is light, engaging and gave me butterflies thinking about my own life and love experiences.
The Shippers is about two childhood friends who go on a family cruise (for a wedding), navigate family chaos and try to resolve intimacy issues once and for all. JoJo is terrible at love and is on a quest for closure and Cooper, her childhood friend, is that soft cinnamon bun roll who just rolls with her plans. Through out the cruise, JoJo is on a roll to win over her childhood crush, Finn, and comes up with most ridiculous ideas to win him over while seeking out Coopers help. Shipboard antics ensue, but JoJo soon realizes perhaps she’s not really going for the right guy especially when the right person has been in front of her all this time.
The biggest let down of this book was JoJos immaturity. Jojo is introduced as an intelligent and intellectual person with a passionate personality but none of her choices or actions align with that description. She wants to win a man, so she asks another to give her a hickey. Are we seriously in high school? Is that supposed to be funny? Cooper flies in all the way from London for her, so what does she do? She decides to use him, pushes him to fake flirt and decides he isn’t interested in her. He’s constantly showing her attention and taking care of her, he’s throwing some sense into her with his leveled conversations. What does she do? She refuses to listen to him, runs away and not only wants him to chase her but she MAKES him chase her.
Cooper on the other hand was the three most perfect shades of cool, calm and collected. He’s grounded, he’s a listener, he’s mature and patient. He doesn’t react with his emotions, but uses logic and thinking. He’s serious when he needs to be but also the sweetest when it comes to her. Honestly don’t see what he sees in her. JoJo was not a likable character and didn’t deserve him. She was self-centered, with a spark of a teenager and personality of a goofball. Her mind read like a frazzled hot mess, always looking to do something stupid without understanding the consequences. On top of that, their entire banter was based on HER ability to easily miscommunicate almost everything. When time came for “real talk”, JoJo is the first to run away because she’s unable to process the reality of things in real time. This is just NOT how I’d like my romance built. I don’t enjoy reading romance/rom-coms where the main character doesn’t know what to do with themselves and purposefully ends up getting herself into ridiculous scenarios that are can easily be avoided.
Call me a critic, a hater or a whatnot but I’m past that age of fluffiness that is not on par with what I’d like to see in a feel-good romance that can be applicable to all ages. Unfortunately this is not it, unless of-course you enjoy reading immaturity on paper. There is nothing “cute” and “adorable” about this novel, and the friend to lovers was not a treat. It had its fun moments and funny lines and for the first 50% it was great. I really thought this would be a solid 4 star review. The ship really sunk after that.
I perhaps may not have been the right audience for this book but readers who love silly romances should try this one out.
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Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martins Press and the author, Katherine Center for this eARC!
Publication date: May 19, 2026
The Shippers is about two childhood friends who go on a family cruise (for a wedding), navigate family chaos and try to resolve intimacy issues once and for all. JoJo is terrible at love and is on a quest for closure and Cooper, her childhood friend, is that soft cinnamon bun roll who just rolls with her plans. Through out the cruise, JoJo is on a roll to win over her childhood crush, Finn, and comes up with most ridiculous ideas to win him over while seeking out Coopers help. Shipboard antics ensue, but JoJo soon realizes perhaps she’s not really going for the right guy especially when the right person has been in front of her all this time.
The biggest let down of this book was JoJos immaturity. Jojo is introduced as an intelligent and intellectual person with a passionate personality but none of her choices or actions align with that description. She wants to win a man, so she asks another to give her a hickey. Are we seriously in high school? Is that supposed to be funny? Cooper flies in all the way from London for her, so what does she do? She decides to use him, pushes him to fake flirt and decides he isn’t interested in her. He’s constantly showing her attention and taking care of her, he’s throwing some sense into her with his leveled conversations. What does she do? She refuses to listen to him, runs away and not only wants him to chase her but she MAKES him chase her.
Cooper on the other hand was the three most perfect shades of cool, calm and collected. He’s grounded, he’s a listener, he’s mature and patient. He doesn’t react with his emotions, but uses logic and thinking. He’s serious when he needs to be but also the sweetest when it comes to her. Honestly don’t see what he sees in her. JoJo was not a likable character and didn’t deserve him. She was self-centered, with a spark of a teenager and personality of a goofball. Her mind read like a frazzled hot mess, always looking to do something stupid without understanding the consequences. On top of that, their entire banter was based on HER ability to easily miscommunicate almost everything. When time came for “real talk”, JoJo is the first to run away because she’s unable to process the reality of things in real time. This is just NOT how I’d like my romance built. I don’t enjoy reading romance/rom-coms where the main character doesn’t know what to do with themselves and purposefully ends up getting herself into ridiculous scenarios that are can easily be avoided.
Call me a critic, a hater or a whatnot but I’m past that age of fluffiness that is not on par with what I’d like to see in a feel-good romance that can be applicable to all ages. Unfortunately this is not it, unless of-course you enjoy reading immaturity on paper. There is nothing “cute” and “adorable” about this novel, and the friend to lovers was not a treat. It had its fun moments and funny lines and for the first 50% it was great. I really thought this would be a solid 4 star review. The ship really sunk after that.
I perhaps may not have been the right audience for this book but readers who love silly romances should try this one out.
This book is featured as an add-on on BOTM. Grab your first $5 copy here via this link: https://www.mybotm.com/bgnrjn6qk0o
Cancel the subscription any time, at no extra cost!
Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martins Press and the author, Katherine Center for this eARC!
Publication date: May 19, 2026
Want to Read
February 12, 2026I GOT THE ARC!?!?! 😭💖 I love Katherine Center’s books sm
Read
March 7, 2026AAAAA FINALLY, a katherine center book i can say i fully enjoyed 🧡🥹!! rtc!
pre-read:
another br with my precious girl, ivy aka arc partner 🫶🏼🏹💋 we’re really trying to read all of our arcs atp 🤭 the weather here in my country is starting to feeeeel summery and warm 🌤️⛱️ and what better way to read summer books to get into the feels more, right?!
pre-read:
another br with my precious girl, ivy aka arc partner 🫶🏼🏹💋 we’re really trying to read all of our arcs atp 🤭 the weather here in my country is starting to feeeeel summery and warm 🌤️⛱️ and what better way to read summer books to get into the feels more, right?!
December 20, 2025
I am in love with Cooper! 🩷 This book made me want to go back in time and fall in love with my best friend. It was just so good.
Was it somewhat predictable? Yes, but it felt like a romcom from the early 2000s. Just sooooo good. It could be a movie for sure.
A cruise. A wedding. Drama. Laughs. What more could anyone want?
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Was it somewhat predictable? Yes, but it felt like a romcom from the early 2000s. Just sooooo good. It could be a movie for sure.
A cruise. A wedding. Drama. Laughs. What more could anyone want?
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
REVIEW TO COME💓😍💓😍💓😍💓!!!!!!!!
🥥🌴🌺🍍🌸A destination wedding on a cruise ship??? This is my most anticipated read of 2026🥥🌴🌺🍍🌸 !!!!!!!!
🥥🌴🌺🍍🌸A destination wedding on a cruise ship??? This is my most anticipated read of 2026🥥🌴🌺🍍🌸 !!!!!!!!
Want to Read
September 4, 2025💘Pre-release:
No matter what this book is about, if Katherine Center writes it I’m already on board. Enough said 🫡
No matter what this book is about, if Katherine Center writes it I’m already on board. Enough said 🫡
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
. ˖ ꒰𑁬 ♡ ໒꒱ ˖ .
this did not disappoint! it was so goofy & romantic. i love cooper! he's an amazing, protective MMC. i'll definitely check out more books from katherine center.
. ˖ ꒰𑁬 ♡ ໒꒱ ˖ . pre-read
this looks so cute! i have not read any books by katherine center and i have always wanted to. this is my sign!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
this did not disappoint! it was so goofy & romantic. i love cooper! he's an amazing, protective MMC. i'll definitely check out more books from katherine center.
. ˖ ꒰𑁬 ♡ ໒꒱ ˖ . pre-read
this looks so cute! i have not read any books by katherine center and i have always wanted to. this is my sign!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
➳ 3.75 ☆! ⚓🚢 spoiler free + mini review
⤷ so fun!! yearning for more summer reads asap
arc! @netgalley
⋆˚࿔ 33rd review of the year
₊‧꒰my thoughts꒱ ‧₊
⤷ honestly so good! i was going into this with big expectations bc the cover is just STUNNING and the prose is tea!! childhood friends to lovers, a wedding, a plan (conquest ifykyk), and a cruise?! sign me up!! while i did enjoy the story and it's characters, i cant give it ALL my love! at times i got a bit bored?? (this was by no means a slow book, it was very quick) i just mean, i wasn't super attached to the characters so at times i was just like okay? lets move on!
⤷ i REALLY loved cooper, he was such a sweetheart! our fmc could sometimes frustrate me LOL, but i like her! with every katherine center book i read, i always see her fun spark in her writing 🥹🫂 its so unique and you cant find it anywhere else!! i will say, the bodyguard, the rom commers, and hello stranger are my top reads by her, so i def recommend!
⤷ overall i can see myself recommending/rereading this in the future. i cant wait to see what KC does next, and its a true honor to read an arc for one of your favorite authors, thank you netgalley 🥹🩷
tropes!
⋆ cruise setting
⋆ childhood friends
⋆ a wedding
⋆ fake dating/trying to win over someone else
₊‧꒰info!꒱ ‧₊
⤷ find my book review on goodreads @elliexreads
⤷ this is recommended for adult/new adult readers!
⤷ contemporary romance
publish date: may 19, 2026
₊‧ all ratings and opinions are my own ₊‧
⤷ thank you @netgalley and st martins press for the arc in exchange for an honest review !🫂
----------
₊‧꒰4.2.26꒱ ‧₊
⤷ I AM OVER THE MOOON ABOUT THIS ARC!! EE THANK YOU NETGALLEY. if yk anything ab my fav authors, kc is one of them!! this might be my 6th by her?? i forget, but oh im so ready. cant wait to share more thoughts. 🫂💌
⤷ HAPPY APRIL!! (one of my fav months) and also olivia just announced a new album lets go 🩷😽
⤷ so fun!! yearning for more summer reads asap
arc! @netgalley
⋆˚࿔ 33rd review of the year
"there is no universe where you call me for help and i dont come running"
₊‧꒰my thoughts꒱ ‧₊
⤷ honestly so good! i was going into this with big expectations bc the cover is just STUNNING and the prose is tea!! childhood friends to lovers, a wedding, a plan (conquest ifykyk), and a cruise?! sign me up!! while i did enjoy the story and it's characters, i cant give it ALL my love! at times i got a bit bored?? (this was by no means a slow book, it was very quick) i just mean, i wasn't super attached to the characters so at times i was just like okay? lets move on!
⤷ i REALLY loved cooper, he was such a sweetheart! our fmc could sometimes frustrate me LOL, but i like her! with every katherine center book i read, i always see her fun spark in her writing 🥹🫂 its so unique and you cant find it anywhere else!! i will say, the bodyguard, the rom commers, and hello stranger are my top reads by her, so i def recommend!
⤷ overall i can see myself recommending/rereading this in the future. i cant wait to see what KC does next, and its a true honor to read an arc for one of your favorite authors, thank you netgalley 🥹🩷
tropes!
⋆ cruise setting
⋆ childhood friends
⋆ a wedding
⋆ fake dating/trying to win over someone else
₊‧꒰info!꒱ ‧₊
⤷ find my book review on goodreads @elliexreads
⤷ this is recommended for adult/new adult readers!
⤷ contemporary romance
publish date: may 19, 2026
₊‧ all ratings and opinions are my own ₊‧
⤷ thank you @netgalley and st martins press for the arc in exchange for an honest review !🫂
----------
₊‧꒰preview ᝰ.ᐟ꒱ ‧₊ ⚓🚢
₊‧꒰4.2.26꒱ ‧₊
⤷ I AM OVER THE MOOON ABOUT THIS ARC!! EE THANK YOU NETGALLEY. if yk anything ab my fav authors, kc is one of them!! this might be my 6th by her?? i forget, but oh im so ready. cant wait to share more thoughts. 🫂💌
⤷ HAPPY APRIL!! (one of my fav months) and also olivia just announced a new album lets go 🩷😽
February 28, 2026
Katherine Center used to write about women doing adult things, but she for some reason turned into the most basic writer of rom coms. These 20 something storylines just bored me to tears.
JoJo deciding not to fall for Cooper was ridiculous. He flew all the way from London to Texas to break up her failed from the start wedding, and has everything she could want. Zero buildup for the obvious.
Wish Center would go back to her roots, because this sounds like it was written by a 20 year old college student on the brink of her career as a rom-com writer.
JoJo deciding not to fall for Cooper was ridiculous. He flew all the way from London to Texas to break up her failed from the start wedding, and has everything she could want. Zero buildup for the obvious.
Wish Center would go back to her roots, because this sounds like it was written by a 20 year old college student on the brink of her career as a rom-com writer.
Read
January 29, 2026goofy but delightful
March 7, 2026
A fun, fluffy, laugh-out-loud read. I absolutely loved cooper, but found jojo very immature &, at times, blatantly annoying. Overall, it was an enjoyable read if you’re looking for some quick, sunshiny vibes.
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
── .✦ 3.5 stars
okay so shoutout to florida for being over 80 degrees and letting me appropriately read a summer romance in december? literally on christmas eve?
anywhoooo this was my first katherine center, and i thoroughly enjoyed! it reminded me a lot of an emily henry slash abby jimenez story, with a great romance but also so many other things going on, from emotional to entertaining to a little bit ridiculous but hey we’re having fun so it’s fine. also i realllly enjoyed the writing, literally binged over 80% of it in the matter of a few hours because it was so bingeable and i couldn’t put it down.
cooper omg the man of my dreams!!! so so sweet and silly and protective and caring and supportive and ugh literally so perfect i adored him. i want one under the tree tomorrow for christmas. thank you.
jojo, on the other hand? positively insufferable. god, i could not STAND HER. not for one second. she was so dramatic and made issues out of nothing, was so childish and couldn’t stop to have a grown up conversation when she and cooper were having issues, literally just annoyed me the entire book. i wanted to love her, truly, but i didn’t relate to her and found it difficult to actually root for her most of the time.
overall, pick this up on your next beach trip!!! it’s definitely a sit in the sand and binge in one sitting type of story, and who doesn’t love that? a super solid romance story, and yes, has inspired me to want to pick up more katherine center <3
𐙚⋆.˚pre-read
started this at 2am last night and 15% in i feel like i need to keep going (yes it’s winter but i live in #florida and it’s 80 degrees so i think a summer romance is fine yes!!) 🍒🐳
thank you to netgalley & st martin’s press for the arc! all opinions are my own.
release date: may 19, 2026
“once you’ve decided to let yourself love somebody ... it’s hard to turn that off.”
okay so shoutout to florida for being over 80 degrees and letting me appropriately read a summer romance in december? literally on christmas eve?
anywhoooo this was my first katherine center, and i thoroughly enjoyed! it reminded me a lot of an emily henry slash abby jimenez story, with a great romance but also so many other things going on, from emotional to entertaining to a little bit ridiculous but hey we’re having fun so it’s fine. also i realllly enjoyed the writing, literally binged over 80% of it in the matter of a few hours because it was so bingeable and i couldn’t put it down.
cooper omg the man of my dreams!!! so so sweet and silly and protective and caring and supportive and ugh literally so perfect i adored him. i want one under the tree tomorrow for christmas. thank you.
jojo, on the other hand? positively insufferable. god, i could not STAND HER. not for one second. she was so dramatic and made issues out of nothing, was so childish and couldn’t stop to have a grown up conversation when she and cooper were having issues, literally just annoyed me the entire book. i wanted to love her, truly, but i didn’t relate to her and found it difficult to actually root for her most of the time.
overall, pick this up on your next beach trip!!! it’s definitely a sit in the sand and binge in one sitting type of story, and who doesn’t love that? a super solid romance story, and yes, has inspired me to want to pick up more katherine center <3
𐙚⋆.˚pre-read
started this at 2am last night and 15% in i feel like i need to keep going (yes it’s winter but i live in #florida and it’s 80 degrees so i think a summer romance is fine yes!!) 🍒🐳
thank you to netgalley & st martin’s press for the arc! all opinions are my own.
release date: may 19, 2026
Currently Reading
May 7, 2026releases next week but got the opportunity to start earlier soooo here we gooo
February 23, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.
Katherine Center is simply magic!! An auto-buy author for me without hesitation! And somehow she still finds new ways to amaze me!! I truly didn't think anything could rival Rom-Commers , but The Shippers just sailed straight into my heart and tied for first place!!!
Cooper and JoJo are childhood best friends with history and heartbreak between them, reunited at a destination wedding cruise, sharing one cozy cabin at sea where the air feels thick with everything unsaid. The banter sparkles. The fake flirting doesn't feel very fake. The slow dancing? Swoon. The jealously? Delicious. And beneath all of it is this breathtaking, almost unbearable longing.
JoJo had me laughing out loud with her Project Conquest chaos, but underneath her shenanigans is vulnerability and fear and hope. And Cooper?? The ultimate cinnamon roll boyfriend! 🫠🥰 The kind of hero whose quiet devotion says more than grand gestures ever could.
But what truly makes this story soar is its emotional depth. Beneath the romance and hilarious moments is something far more tender and moving. It's a story about having the courage to choose love when fear feels safer. About refusing to let old heartbreak quietly script your future. The vulnerability feels real, the growth feels hard-won, and the emotional payoff is beautifully earned and so deeply satisfying.
I loved all the secondary characters which added so much warmth and richness to the story. Grandma Dottie was an absolute hoot! And the ending and epilogue were pure romantic bliss.💖🩷💝
Katherine Center said she wrote this for anyone who needed a hug and that's exactly what it feels like. I wholeheartedly recommend this book and cannot wait to buy the physical copy to add to my personal collection. I absolutely loved it so much and it deserves ALL the stars!!!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Katherine Center is simply magic!! An auto-buy author for me without hesitation! And somehow she still finds new ways to amaze me!! I truly didn't think anything could rival Rom-Commers , but The Shippers just sailed straight into my heart and tied for first place!!!
Cooper and JoJo are childhood best friends with history and heartbreak between them, reunited at a destination wedding cruise, sharing one cozy cabin at sea where the air feels thick with everything unsaid. The banter sparkles. The fake flirting doesn't feel very fake. The slow dancing? Swoon. The jealously? Delicious. And beneath all of it is this breathtaking, almost unbearable longing.
JoJo had me laughing out loud with her Project Conquest chaos, but underneath her shenanigans is vulnerability and fear and hope. And Cooper?? The ultimate cinnamon roll boyfriend! 🫠🥰 The kind of hero whose quiet devotion says more than grand gestures ever could.
But what truly makes this story soar is its emotional depth. Beneath the romance and hilarious moments is something far more tender and moving. It's a story about having the courage to choose love when fear feels safer. About refusing to let old heartbreak quietly script your future. The vulnerability feels real, the growth feels hard-won, and the emotional payoff is beautifully earned and so deeply satisfying.
I loved all the secondary characters which added so much warmth and richness to the story. Grandma Dottie was an absolute hoot! And the ending and epilogue were pure romantic bliss.💖🩷💝
Katherine Center said she wrote this for anyone who needed a hug and that's exactly what it feels like. I wholeheartedly recommend this book and cannot wait to buy the physical copy to add to my personal collection. I absolutely loved it so much and it deserves ALL the stars!!!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Everyone in this book is an idiot
And not in a fun way. Sometimes it can be funny when people are all dumb and working against their own interest, ala A Fish Called Wanda, but these people were so stupid you just wanted to bash your head against the wall as they made stupid decision after stupid decision.
I’m giving this a very generous three stars because it was well narrated, occasionally funny and the hero Cooper, was exceptionally sweet and epic book boyfriend material. Comedy is subjective surely, and maybe someone might think this is comedy.
This book could work if you go into it looking for a nostalgic 1990s romcom, where the leading lady constantly embarrasses herself, does dumb shit and changes everything about herself so that she can land a man *any man* and constantly misses the obvious perfect man for her, right in front of her face. Couple that with a bunch of side characters working with her to make sure she keeps making dumb decisions, while making dumb decisions of their own. And lastly,
This could have been better if the cringe levels were dialed down by 80% and the old fashioned patriarchal bullshit was removed completely. I’ve never read this author but she needs to update her ideas on how 26 year old women behave in today’s world. I’m saying this as a person not much younger than her but who seems to be more dialled in, Gen Z women do not centre men, they do not mold their lives around men and they don’t think their entire worth is wrapped up in if they are loved by men and get married before they are thirty. End of rant.
*************
Got the arc for the audiobook! Can’t wait!
And not in a fun way. Sometimes it can be funny when people are all dumb and working against their own interest, ala A Fish Called Wanda, but these people were so stupid you just wanted to bash your head against the wall as they made stupid decision after stupid decision.
I’m giving this a very generous three stars because it was well narrated, occasionally funny and the hero Cooper, was exceptionally sweet and epic book boyfriend material. Comedy is subjective surely, and maybe someone might think this is comedy.
This book could work if you go into it looking for a nostalgic 1990s romcom, where the leading lady constantly embarrasses herself, does dumb shit and changes everything about herself so that she can land a man *any man* and constantly misses the obvious perfect man for her, right in front of her face. Couple that with a bunch of side characters working with her to make sure she keeps making dumb decisions, while making dumb decisions of their own. And lastly,
This could have been better if the cringe levels were dialed down by 80% and the old fashioned patriarchal bullshit was removed completely. I’ve never read this author but she needs to update her ideas on how 26 year old women behave in today’s world. I’m saying this as a person not much younger than her but who seems to be more dialled in, Gen Z women do not centre men, they do not mold their lives around men and they don’t think their entire worth is wrapped up in if they are loved by men and get married before they are thirty. End of rant.
*************
Got the arc for the audiobook! Can’t wait!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.75 ★— You know that scene in Sex and the City where Miranda tells Carrie that she can’t continue watching her make the worst choices and be delusional about Mr. Big? That’s how I felt for a lot of this book, because the main character in this story is delusional in a way that, while often entertaining, is also a little exasperating.
The book centers on JoJo Burton, who comes face-to-face with a childhood best friend she hasn’t seen in years on the day of her own wedding, which she abruptly ends after panicking during the ceremony. Soon after, she boards a cruise ship for her sister’s destination wedding, hoping to heal the underlying issues that led to her messy love life while getting into plenty of shenanigans with the aforementioned childhood best friend who volunteers to help her.
This was my first Katherine Center book, so I went in blind with zero expectations of her usual writing or storytelling style. As soon as I got into it, I noticed that her prose was very light and fun, that her writing style was very easy to follow, and that her cast of supporting characters made for an entertaining backdrop to the book’s main story.
I also noticed something else relatively quickly: that I liked the male love interest more than the main character. Often, during my read of this book, I found myself wondering why exactly he was so persistently in love with and loyal to JoJo, who really did not seem worth the effort.
Because, damn, JoJo really isn’t, in my opinion! Cooper Watts is the caretaking, gentle, and patient type of childhood best friend archetype who’s clearly harboring a long-running crush on her that’s apparent from the first chapter… and JoJo is 100% oblivious to it.
This is a pretty common childhood friends to lovers setup, but I thought JoJo’s obliviousness was really set to a maximum here, even for a romance book heroine. And while that was obviously done in part for comedic effect, it really felt like her utter obliviousness was still there even after he confessed, which was honestly kind of annoying.
JoJo just really is not the type of main character I enjoy, with her quirky, naive, and almost obnoxious personality, along with the delusional quality to her that I already mentioned.
Her daddy issues, which are quite central to her issues with relationships and love and are framed as quite important in the beginning, were also depicted a bit strangely. While she was very aware of them, it felt like they were almost handwaved away in the subplot toward the end.
Now, the book did have me enjoy its setting, and I thought having the opening chapters set at a wedding made for a sufficiently dramatic and entertaining beginning that hooked me very well.
Just… while I thought the chemistry, banter, and connection between Cooper and JoJo were wonderfully depicted, and while I did really buy their love and care for each other, my lukewarm feelings about the heroine soured a lot of the reading experience for me.
I still can’t say I regret reading/listening to this, because I had a decent time and found it funny and charming enough, but this definitely isn’t a story I’ll be returning to.
🎧 Audiobook Notes
🎙️ Narration Style: Solo
⭐ Listener Rating: 5/5
No complaints about the narrator here! I thought she really made JoJo come to life and sold the more comedic aspects of the narration very well. I also thought her voice for Cooper was really good.
______________
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the ARC and to Macmillan Audio for the ALC.
The book centers on JoJo Burton, who comes face-to-face with a childhood best friend she hasn’t seen in years on the day of her own wedding, which she abruptly ends after panicking during the ceremony. Soon after, she boards a cruise ship for her sister’s destination wedding, hoping to heal the underlying issues that led to her messy love life while getting into plenty of shenanigans with the aforementioned childhood best friend who volunteers to help her.
This was my first Katherine Center book, so I went in blind with zero expectations of her usual writing or storytelling style. As soon as I got into it, I noticed that her prose was very light and fun, that her writing style was very easy to follow, and that her cast of supporting characters made for an entertaining backdrop to the book’s main story.
I also noticed something else relatively quickly: that I liked the male love interest more than the main character. Often, during my read of this book, I found myself wondering why exactly he was so persistently in love with and loyal to JoJo, who really did not seem worth the effort.
Because, damn, JoJo really isn’t, in my opinion! Cooper Watts is the caretaking, gentle, and patient type of childhood best friend archetype who’s clearly harboring a long-running crush on her that’s apparent from the first chapter… and JoJo is 100% oblivious to it.
This is a pretty common childhood friends to lovers setup, but I thought JoJo’s obliviousness was really set to a maximum here, even for a romance book heroine. And while that was obviously done in part for comedic effect, it really felt like her utter obliviousness was still there even after he confessed, which was honestly kind of annoying.
JoJo just really is not the type of main character I enjoy, with her quirky, naive, and almost obnoxious personality, along with the delusional quality to her that I already mentioned.
Her daddy issues, which are quite central to her issues with relationships and love and are framed as quite important in the beginning, were also depicted a bit strangely. While she was very aware of them, it felt like they were almost handwaved away in the subplot toward the end.
Now, the book did have me enjoy its setting, and I thought having the opening chapters set at a wedding made for a sufficiently dramatic and entertaining beginning that hooked me very well.
Just… while I thought the chemistry, banter, and connection between Cooper and JoJo were wonderfully depicted, and while I did really buy their love and care for each other, my lukewarm feelings about the heroine soured a lot of the reading experience for me.
I still can’t say I regret reading/listening to this, because I had a decent time and found it funny and charming enough, but this definitely isn’t a story I’ll be returning to.
🎧 Audiobook Notes
🎙️ Narration Style: Solo
⭐ Listener Rating: 5/5
No complaints about the narrator here! I thought she really made JoJo come to life and sold the more comedic aspects of the narration very well. I also thought her voice for Cooper was really good.
______________
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the ARC and to Macmillan Audio for the ALC.
December 8, 2025
WORTHY OF ALL THE STARSSSSS!!!!
First of all, I’m an avid Katherine Center supporter. I’d read anything she writes, but this one is her best to date! It’s a dose of healing between the pages; much-needed laughter and love. Precriptive reading.
Secondly, I’m an avid cruiser. I’d read anything that’s marketed as a clean read if it is set on a cruise ship, regardless of location.
Finally, I’m just starting to branch out into romcoms. Center’s narrative tickles my funnybone while still making me gush and swoon.
This book is centered around the idea that we need to develop courage to follow our own compass. I loved the exploration of holding space for destiny, of choosing love over fear, and of the value in rebranding. I laughed at the pity hickey episode and was instantly charmed by Cooper Watts.
I’m keeping this brief for those who are looking forward to this one. You have a book worthy of all the stars to look forward to in 2026. I'm kinda jealous that you have this wonderful book still to read for the first time!!!!
I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.
First of all, I’m an avid Katherine Center supporter. I’d read anything she writes, but this one is her best to date! It’s a dose of healing between the pages; much-needed laughter and love. Precriptive reading.
Secondly, I’m an avid cruiser. I’d read anything that’s marketed as a clean read if it is set on a cruise ship, regardless of location.
Finally, I’m just starting to branch out into romcoms. Center’s narrative tickles my funnybone while still making me gush and swoon.
This book is centered around the idea that we need to develop courage to follow our own compass. I loved the exploration of holding space for destiny, of choosing love over fear, and of the value in rebranding. I laughed at the pity hickey episode and was instantly charmed by Cooper Watts.
I’m keeping this brief for those who are looking forward to this one. You have a book worthy of all the stars to look forward to in 2026. I'm kinda jealous that you have this wonderful book still to read for the first time!!!!
I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Want to Read
November 10, 2025katherine center writes, I read.
April 24, 2026
This is the perfect summer contemporary romance comedy! I completely fell in love with this book! It was funny, emotional, lighthearted and hopeful. I laughed and smiled while reading this book. The Shippers was almost entirely set on a cruise ship. We have the main female character named JoJo, who came off as very immature at first. Then we have the male main character, whose name is Cooper. I liked Cooper from the very beginning. He is loyal, charming and a true golden retriever type of guy.
The more Cooper and JoJo interact with one another, the more past memories and feelings start to happen. In the past, Cooper broke JoJo’s heart. However, this book is all about second chances and comes with chemistry between the main characters. You can really feel the connection between the two in this book! There was some miscommunication between the two, but it does get resolved. It is heartfelt, humorous and just made me all happy and giddy inside! This gave me the movie, “27 Dresses” vibes! Overall, I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars rating!
Thank you to NetGalley, author Katherine Center and St. Martin's Press for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This book is expected to be published on May 19, 2026!
The more Cooper and JoJo interact with one another, the more past memories and feelings start to happen. In the past, Cooper broke JoJo’s heart. However, this book is all about second chances and comes with chemistry between the main characters. You can really feel the connection between the two in this book! There was some miscommunication between the two, but it does get resolved. It is heartfelt, humorous and just made me all happy and giddy inside! This gave me the movie, “27 Dresses” vibes! Overall, I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars rating!
Thank you to NetGalley, author Katherine Center and St. Martin's Press for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This book is expected to be published on May 19, 2026!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
thank you netgalley & st. martin's press for the eARC—all are thoughts are my own! publication date: may 19, 2026
i love books set in summer, and reading this one in the pre spring months felt like a little taste of sunshine. compared with the love haters novel i read last year, this story was definitely a step up. it follows two childhood best friends, jojo and cooper, as they attend a wedding on a cruise ship. cooper, who is still single, decides to help jojo win over her longtime crush, finn.
still, the book is not perfect, and it isn’t the best romance i’ve ever read.
one major problem is jojo’s behavior. even though the author describes her as smart, she often acts in an immature way. she makes choices that seem more like a teenager’s than an adult’s, especially when she tries to win finn’s attention. she also treats cooper poorly, taking his help for granted and showing little gratitude. in an adult rom‑com, i expected the main characters to act more responsibly and maturely.
despite these flaws, the book is still enjoyable. the humor, the cruise setting, and the chemistry between jojo and cooper keep the story moving. if you like light, summer‑flavored romances with a bit of friendship drama, the shippers is worth a read, even if you have to overlook jojo’s teenage antics lol.
⤿ childhood friends to lovers
⤿ second chance
⤿ fake dating/fake flirting
⤿ forced proximity
⤿ grumpy x sunshine
⤿ he falls first
⤿ slow burn
⤿ only one bed
౨ৎ ⋮ more by katherine center
— the bodyguard
— the rom-commers
— things you save in a fire
— hello stranger
— how to walk away
— the love haters
i love books set in summer, and reading this one in the pre spring months felt like a little taste of sunshine. compared with the love haters novel i read last year, this story was definitely a step up. it follows two childhood best friends, jojo and cooper, as they attend a wedding on a cruise ship. cooper, who is still single, decides to help jojo win over her longtime crush, finn.
still, the book is not perfect, and it isn’t the best romance i’ve ever read.
one major problem is jojo’s behavior. even though the author describes her as smart, she often acts in an immature way. she makes choices that seem more like a teenager’s than an adult’s, especially when she tries to win finn’s attention. she also treats cooper poorly, taking his help for granted and showing little gratitude. in an adult rom‑com, i expected the main characters to act more responsibly and maturely.
despite these flaws, the book is still enjoyable. the humor, the cruise setting, and the chemistry between jojo and cooper keep the story moving. if you like light, summer‑flavored romances with a bit of friendship drama, the shippers is worth a read, even if you have to overlook jojo’s teenage antics lol.
⤿ childhood friends to lovers
⤿ second chance
⤿ fake dating/fake flirting
⤿ forced proximity
⤿ grumpy x sunshine
⤿ he falls first
⤿ slow burn
⤿ only one bed
౨ৎ ⋮ more by katherine center
— the bodyguard
— the rom-commers
— things you save in a fire
— hello stranger
— how to walk away
— the love haters
December 28, 2025
3.5 stars -- Read this if you like...
- Childhood friends-to-lovers
- Fake flirting
I absolutely loved Cooper but I found Jojo and the miscommunications to be a bit annoying. This was cheesy but still a fun and addictive read!
- Childhood friends-to-lovers
- Fake flirting
I absolutely loved Cooper but I found Jojo and the miscommunications to be a bit annoying. This was cheesy but still a fun and addictive read!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Oh, I love me a VERY protective MMC!! THIS... This is THE perfect boyfriend anyone could wish for. 🥺
Although I found the FMC very unlikable in the beginning, I came to like her. She was so toxic with every boyfriend she had but not with our MMC 🤭
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕻𝖗𝖊-𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
I'm so grateful to St. Martin's Press for offering me a widget to this beautiful book via Netgalley 🧡🩷 Pretty sure I'm gonna love it 🫶🏻
Although I found the FMC very unlikable in the beginning, I came to like her. She was so toxic with every boyfriend she had but not with our MMC 🤭
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕻𝖗𝖊-𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
I'm so grateful to St. Martin's Press for offering me a widget to this beautiful book via Netgalley 🧡🩷 Pretty sure I'm gonna love it 🫶🏻
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
2.25
i'm... disappointed. :(
i've now read ELEVEN katherine center books and rated 9 of them 4 stars or above, some even 5 stars. i loved how she wrote love stories that were emotionally mature and real and tackled a lot more than your typical rom-com. but it's like a switch was flipped because both her most recent books have been 2 stars for me. it pains me to say it because i used to call her one of my favorite authors :(
i'm not going to go into too much detail because i don't think it's really necessary but here were my thoughts while reading"
-LOVED the setting. i was so excited to read a romance set on a cruise ship because there's something magical about a cruise.
-jojo is probably the most selfish FMC i've ever read about. her life is all woe is me and everything is always happening TO her instead of her making things happen. even in the middle of her sister's wedding, she could only think about her problems. she also dips out on her own wedding in the first couple chapters (a relationship which she had been in for YEARS) and is completely unphased by it and only has bad things to say about her ex (why were you with him for 4 years if he's so bad?)
-the miscommunication was just tooo much. i can handle some miscommunication because i think it's realistic, but i'm not kidding when i say this girl literally RAN away from cooper as they were trying to figure out their problems. it felt like they were in high school and couldn't have a mature conversation to save their lives.
anyways.. i had a few other problems with this but those are the main points. i feel sad about this review and i wish i had better things to say but this is just me being honest.
i've seen friends rate this high so this could totally just be a me thing :)
🔥NO SPICE🔥 frequent references to s*x though
🤐NO STRONG LANGUAGE🤐
i'm... disappointed. :(
i've now read ELEVEN katherine center books and rated 9 of them 4 stars or above, some even 5 stars. i loved how she wrote love stories that were emotionally mature and real and tackled a lot more than your typical rom-com. but it's like a switch was flipped because both her most recent books have been 2 stars for me. it pains me to say it because i used to call her one of my favorite authors :(
i'm not going to go into too much detail because i don't think it's really necessary but here were my thoughts while reading"
-LOVED the setting. i was so excited to read a romance set on a cruise ship because there's something magical about a cruise.
-jojo is probably the most selfish FMC i've ever read about. her life is all woe is me and everything is always happening TO her instead of her making things happen. even in the middle of her sister's wedding, she could only think about her problems. she also dips out on her own wedding in the first couple chapters (a relationship which she had been in for YEARS) and is completely unphased by it and only has bad things to say about her ex (why were you with him for 4 years if he's so bad?)
-the miscommunication was just tooo much. i can handle some miscommunication because i think it's realistic, but i'm not kidding when i say this girl literally RAN away from cooper as they were trying to figure out their problems. it felt like they were in high school and couldn't have a mature conversation to save their lives.
anyways.. i had a few other problems with this but those are the main points. i feel sad about this review and i wish i had better things to say but this is just me being honest.
i've seen friends rate this high so this could totally just be a me thing :)
🔥NO SPICE🔥 frequent references to s*x though
🤐NO STRONG LANGUAGE🤐
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
cooper made me rethink my dislike for the childhood friends to lovers trope in the beginning. he shows up to jojo’s wedding and when he sees she’s not wanting to go through with it, he helps her flee from the alter. it’s very obvious that he knows her better even anyone else even after not speaking for 4 years.
close proximity and a shared mission has them back to their old ways. the chaotic predicaments jojo drags cooper into were so fun to read and i loved their banter.
i wanted to shake them both a few times. so much time had passed and they were still dragging their feet and avoiding having the feelings conversation until the very end. i could have screamed every time cooper seemed to start the conversation but let the tiniest interruption stop him.
i liked the cruise setting and diving into jojos complicated relationship with her father. i think without the heavy miscommunication i would’ve loved this book!
patti murin is a fantastic narrator did a great job once again! thank you netgalley for the arc!
close proximity and a shared mission has them back to their old ways. the chaotic predicaments jojo drags cooper into were so fun to read and i loved their banter.
i wanted to shake them both a few times. so much time had passed and they were still dragging their feet and avoiding having the feelings conversation until the very end. i could have screamed every time cooper seemed to start the conversation but let the tiniest interruption stop him.
i liked the cruise setting and diving into jojos complicated relationship with her father. i think without the heavy miscommunication i would’ve loved this book!
patti murin is a fantastic narrator did a great job once again! thank you netgalley for the arc!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I wanted to give this 5 stars so badly! Katherine’s writing is as gorgeous and addictive as ever, and I absolutely devoured this in one sitting. The chemistry, the banter, and omg Cooper!!! I am truly obsessed with him. He is everything I want in a romantic lead, and real life! He is the absolute sweetest.
The only thing holding me back from a full 5 stars was the miscommunication. As the book went on, the lack of a real conversation made me more and more frustrated. If not for that, this would have been a perfect read. I also loved Jojo’s talks with her dad.
─ ✦ ────
✎ᝰ.┊ pre-read: Katherine Center + cruise ship + childhood bestie to lovers? Say no more! I’ve been saving this one for a perfectly sunny day, and today is finally it!
⬫ ⬪ ⬫
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!
The only thing holding me back from a full 5 stars was the miscommunication. As the book went on, the lack of a real conversation made me more and more frustrated. If not for that, this would have been a perfect read. I also loved Jojo’s talks with her dad.
─ ✦ ────
✎ᝰ.┊ pre-read: Katherine Center + cruise ship + childhood bestie to lovers? Say no more! I’ve been saving this one for a perfectly sunny day, and today is finally it!
⬫ ⬪ ⬫
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4 stars
This was adorable. Fun, romantic, albeit predictable, with a fantastic hero. The Shippers was one of those books where I saw everything coming, but it was sweet. I enjoyed Cooper specifically. And even though Jojo stressed me out, I did like her by the end. This was a great friends to lovers romance with Katherine Center’s signature humor.
This was adorable. Fun, romantic, albeit predictable, with a fantastic hero. The Shippers was one of those books where I saw everything coming, but it was sweet. I enjoyed Cooper specifically. And even though Jojo stressed me out, I did like her by the end. This was a great friends to lovers romance with Katherine Center’s signature humor.
Audio book source: Netgalley
Story Rating: 4 stars
Narrators: Patti Murin
Narration Rating: 4.5 stars
Genre: Romance
Length: 11h 8m
March 17, 2026
4.5⭐️ RTC.
Thank you St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copies.
Thank you St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copies.
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