Buoys & Girls: A Forced Proximity, Roommates to Lovers, Closed Door Vacation Romance

Dreamboat Cruises #1

by Cynthia Gunderson

Book a Receive one shirtless man.

I boarded Dreamboat Cruises expecting sunshine, cocktails, and girl time. My roommate bailing at the last minute felt like a win. Until I opened my cabin door and found a very confused, very shirtless stranger already unpacking.

Apparently, checking the box that said happy to accept a matched roommate didn’t mean someone from my friend group. It meant anyone traveling solo during “Buoys & Girls Week,” Dreamboat’s quarterly singles program, which my best friend signed us all up for as a surprise.

Now I’m sharing tight quarters with Mason Reyes, a laid-back paramedic who is nothing like the men I’ve learned to expect. He listens. He notices things.

But I’m noticing things, too. Like the fact that Mason knows nothing about actual life-saving techniques.

My friends think he’s hiding something.
I’m starting to think this may have been a setup.

The only problem? I wonder if cracking the case is worth it. Because exposing the truth might cost me the one new connection on this ship I don’t want drifting off to sea...

Start listening if you

Strong Friendship Vibes Forced Proximity He has a Secret Beach Vacation Romance Only one bed

Genres: Audiobook, Romance

Audible Audio

Published January 21, 2026

Reviews

[Faerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭑༺༺♡❂♡༻♡༺❀♡❂♡❀༻♡༺♡❂♡༻༻⭑
⭐3

♡ Plot:
Sunny and delightfully unpretentious, Buoys & Girls introduces Liv, who reluctantly boards a singles cruise expecting sunshine, cocktails and carefree girl time - instead, a last‑minute, somewhat serendipitous cabin mix‑up forces her to share close quarters with handsome stranger, Mason. Between singles-week activities, chaotic group dynamics and the eccentricities of “Buoys & Girls Week,” Liv finds herself navigating not only her reservations, but a growing attraction she hadn't bargained for.

♡ Writing Style:
Cynthia Gunderson’s prose is breezy, conversational and easy to consume in one sitting. The tone is lightly comedic, with playful situational humour and snappy dialogue. Novellas often struggle with pacing, but here the rhythm remains consistent throughout, delivering a compact story that feels intentionally light.

♡ Characters:
Liv is a relatably grounded protagonist, her practical reactions anchor the more comical cruise scenarios. Mason is charmingly enigmatic - calm, observant, and just mysterious enough to keep things interesting. The initial forced-proximity dynamic begins with awkward humour before developing into a softer, more genuine connection, rooted in mutual compassion. Supporting characters add a sense of lively group energy, though remain lightly sketched.

♡ Impact:
This is ultimately a feel‑good, low-stakes read - peppered with themes of trust, vulnerability and stepping outside of one's comfort zone. The emotional beats land nicely, though the minimal page count limits how deeply they can be explored.

♡ Entertainment Value:
Buoys & Girls is ideal for readers seeking to effortlessly devour a sweet, summery contemporary romance. While the setup is classic rom‑com fuel, readers may be left wishing this had been a full-length novel, thanks to the enjoyable quality of the writing. While unlikely to linger beyond the final page - it functions well as a fun little palate cleanser between heavier reads.

⭑༺༺♡❂♡༻♡༺❀♡❂♡❀༻♡༺♡❂♡༻༻⭑

Genre:
♡ Contemporary Romance

Tropes and Themes:
♡ Forced proximity
♡ Singles cruise
♡ Slow‑burn attraction
♡ Group dynamics
♡ Holiday romance

[Emma.catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Welcome to Buoys & Girls Week…

Book and receive one shirtless man 😂

Seen as I’m currently cruising the Med, I decided on another cruise themed book and Dreamboat Cruises brought all the sunshine, fun, and forced proximity romance I was hoping for 🌞 What came to me as a surprise was deep insights into loneliness/single-hood and the nature of connection.

In Buoys and Girls, Liv goes on a birthday cruise with her best friends, only to discover that it’s a singles cruise and she has a surprise cabin-mate 🤭

Both Liv and Mason’s characters were well written and very relatable. I also enjoyed the scenes with Liv and her friends, although I wish these parts were fleshed out a bit. For a quick strangers to lovers romance I thought this was particularly well done. It didn’t feel rushed or forced and they seemed naturally comfortable in each other’s presence (once they got over the initial shock 😝).

Overall, it was a quick, fun read. Perfect easy reading for a day at sea 🛳️

3.5 🌟🌟🌟✨

[Leticia🌻 · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5

Buoys & Girls is a fast paced, closed door romance about Liv and Mason. Liv is in a cruise celebrating her friend's birthday; however, a few days before the trip, one of her friends who also happens to be her cabinmate cancels. As she boards the ship, she realizes that their cruise is not only celebrating "Buoys & girls week" (singles week) but she will be sharing her cabin with Mason, a handsome paramedic. As they spend time together, Liv realizes that Mason is not who she thinks he is, as some aspects of his story are inconsistent; but this doesn't stop Liv from feeling an attraction towards him.

Overall, this is a very well written story, I enjoyed reading about Liv's friends and their friendship. Would love to have read Mason's POV in this story. Can't wait to continue the series.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Alieke · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a short, sweet story but I maybe would have liked more interaction on paper instead of mentioning that they "talked about everything", you know? Now I didn't feel as invested in them as I could have. Ofcourse that's difficult to do in a novel as short as this, so I think Ms Gunderson made the best of the pages she has.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kate McMurry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Singles-cruise, forced-proximity romance novella, with many unfortunate, cruise-related inaccuracies

This story contains the following romance tropes:

Love Boat cruise
Rebound romance
Vacation romance
Roommate romance
Forced proximity
He has a secret
Friendship builds before sex
Slow burn
Only one bed
Closed bedroom door
Romantic partners from opposite sides of the country
Sole POV of the FMC

Liv is a 30-year-old physical therapist from Billings, Montana. She is excited about joining four of her closest female friends, who are former college roommates, for a 7-Day cruise, embarking from Miami and sailing through the Caribbean. Unfortunately, shortly after Liv boards the ship, she is shocked to discover that the friend who recommended this particular voyage did not warn the rest of them that it is a singles cruise with the titular name, Buoys and Girls.

Liv has zero interest in a cruise like that because she broke up with her long-time, live-in boyfriend only six months ago and is still in the bitter, "no man can be trusted, and I'll never date again" phase of recovery. In addition, the friend who was supposed to be her roommate canceled at the last minute, and due to a technicality of how the singles cruise has been organized, Liv has been assigned a 30-something male roommate from New York City. Even though he's pleasant and absolutely gorgeous, she has no interest in rooming with an unknown man.

These are the things that I enjoyed about this story:

1. Liv is a healthcare professional, and her love interest Mason is a mental-health professional. They are of a similar age, comparable educational level, and are equally dedicated to their career. This means that there is no huge disparity in their backgrounds that could cause a power imbalance in a potential mated relationship.

2. Mason is a real sweetheart, and I liked him very much. He is a compassionate, competent therapist who is an expert at effective interpersonal relationships. His primary professional mission is teaching people hoping to find a life partner effective ways to achieve that goal through honest, emotionally vulnerable communication. This is a unique profession for a male love interest in the romance genre, and it made an innovative contribution to the story.

3. Liv has close, loyal relationships with her female friends, who are all likeable. (By the way, typically, each of these women would get their own romance novel as part of an extended series. But the FMC of the second novella in this series is completely unknown to any of the women in this novel. The theme linking the series is that the FMC in both novels is on a type of cruise.)

4. There is an epilogue showing Liv and Mason enjoying their HEA and Liv still strongly connected to her girlfriends.

These are the things I struggled with in this story, which caused me to resist suspending disbelief:

1. I'm not a fan of the first-person, present-tense, single POV of the FMC in a contemporary adult romance. Over and beyond the fact that this is a typical choice for this author in her romance novels, I realize she probably also chose it to conceal what Mason is really doing on this cruise ship. But without his POV, there is no way to know what he sees when he looks at Liv, or why he has fallen in love with her out of the hundreds of women that he has encountered in the course of his career.

2. The core premise that creates the inciting incident of this story, the Meet Cute, is something that would never happen in the real world. No singles cruise would ever assign male and female strangers to the same cabin against the wishes of one or both of them and, worse, insist they are out of luck if they don't go along with it.

3. Liv broke up with a (presumably minor-league) hockey player six months ago. There is no mention of what he did to cause her to break up with him, or if it was actually he who broke up with her. She makes a preposterous claim that the fact that he is a handsome, ripped athlete had no part in her choice to be with him. Her entire reason was companionship and avoiding loneliness rather than passionate love. If the ex was an accountant with a mild disposition and a weedy physique, this claim might make sense. As is, it's yet one more irritatingly unrealistic contention in this story.

4. We are told that Liv doesn't have a lot of money, but she has reserved a pricey balcony cabin and spends an entire day receiving numerous treatments in the ship's spa with her girlfriends. That kind of luxury would cost close to $2,000 plus 15-20% for tips.

5. The excuse for getting Liv and Mason to share the same bed is another case of a nonsensical setup. Without their specific request, the cabin steward shoves the two twin beds in the cabin together and turns it into a double bed. This would never happen. And in the extremely unlikely event that it did, it would be a simple matter to immediately get the cabin steward to change it back. But Mason conveniently comes down with food poisoning, and Liv is so busy taking care of him, she doesn't insist it be done.

6. Regarding the food poisoning, Mason only throws up one time, which anyone who's ever had food poisoning would know is ludicrously inaccurate, and he gets the kind of chills that you would only get with the flu. But he does not have the flu.

7. As a means to push Liv to cuddle up to incapacitated, naked Mason in their improbably shoved-together twin beds, the author states that there are no blankets in the cabin, that they can't control the temperature of the cabin, and that they can't just simply call the cabin steward to give them blankets. So she cuddles him to keep him warm. In the real world, extra pillows and blankets are standard on modern cruise ships, guests can control their own thermostat, and cabin stewards readily provide additional blankets on request.

8. As an excuse to isolate Liv and Mason in their cabin together for 24 hours, we are told that Mason's symptoms cause them both to be required to get a cheek swab to determine if they have the flu. The story claims that it takes 24 hours to get a result, and they must be quarantined in the meantime. This is yet another outlandish inaccuracy. Rapid flu tests deliver results in 10-30 minutes, not 24 hours.

9. We are told that the woman who was supposed to be Liv's roommate canceled at the last minute and got a full refund. This is another aggravating error. Cruise lines typically charge 75-100% penalties for cancellations within 30 days of sailing, with no exceptions. That's why people buy travel insurance. And the cruise ship would not be involved in the traveler's negotiation with the insurance company, or even know about it.

I got access to the audiobook version of this novella for free through my Audible membership. The author has acting experience and narrates all of her novels that are offered as audiobooks. She does a good job.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC from Book Sirens, but that in no way sways my review of the book.

This is a really cute quick read about Liv, a recently single lady, who goes on a birthday cruise with her best friends for one of their birthdays. Only to discover once on the boat that it’s a singles’ cruise and she has a surprise (hot) male roommate!
The friendships are real and well written and the strangers to lovers romance is quick and I personally like that it doesn’t have some blow up. The MLC is smart and kind and an all around good guy. The FLC is also smart and open to consider other people’s experiences/opinions and I really like that about her. It’s just a book with no complications and a good vibe throughout.
I finished this book in less than 2 hours and enjoyed it very much. However I would have liked the story to be a little more in depth and longer because I really liked the characters.
If you’re looking for a really quick, feel good read, this is a great choice.

If you’re interested, here’s my affiliate link to order from Amazon, while I could make a commission off this link it in no way changes my review of the books. Check my other reviews to see that I always leave an honest review.

Amazon 🔗: https://amzn.to/4jPIRa0

[Jenny Lynn Curry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Any time I have a chance to read a book by Cynthia Gunderson I jump at the opportunity!!

This one was no different!

It’s like Sex In The City meets speed dating, on a cruise.

The girls decide to go on vacation together, unknown to them, they are signed up for a singles cruise and all the activities that go with mingling.

When Liv finds out she is rooming alone, she secretly is excited to have the space to work without her friends nagging at her. But when she opens the door to her cabin and there is a man in there unpacking his suitcase, there seems to be a problem!!

A problem that quickly erupts into a bigger mess when neither of them can switch rooms since the entire ship is booked!

So here they are, a couple of singles, shacked up together on a ship for the next seven days.

Just when Liv thinks she knows Mason so well, things start to unravel. She starts to feel things she shouldn’t feel, she starts to understand things about herself, and dating in general she didn’t understand before.

That’s when life as she knows it, flips upside down in some of the best ways possible!!

Can’t wait to read the next book in this series!!

[Anna B · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the perfect instalove story and the concept was perfect.

Mason is the kind of guy every girl dreams of and I love the way he’s written. But it doesn’t stop there, his goal is to help both women and men to find real lasting connection. What he didn’t plan on was his own connection with his unwitting roommate.

Liv had no idea she was going on a cruise specifically planned to help young singles connect. When she finds out, she is one hundred percent against it, She would simply hide out if she wasn’t celebrating one of her best friend’s birthday.

When an error rooms her with Mason she’s not happy, and she lets him know it. I love her little quirks and attitudes but then again she might just begin to like her situation. Mason is good looking, listens, and sees her. What’s not to love, or fall in love with?

This quick read is perfect for bedtime readers and those who want to know the ending this week. Great book. I recommend it.

[Stef · Rating 3 out of 5]

A girls’ trip that turns into an unexpected roommate situation? Say less.

This was a fun, quick summer read filled with lighthearted humor, a relatable FMC, and an MMC who actually understands the concept of communication (we love to see it).

As expected with a novella, I finished this in a little over an hour. The couple was cute, the storyline was entertaining, and overall it was just an easy, enjoyable time.

That said, the downside of novellas is always the pacing. While the plot itself felt well-paced, the romance moved a bit too quickly for my taste. We’ve got forced proximity and genuinely likable characters, but some elements felt a little predictable—and I found myself wanting more time with the relationship development.

Don’t get me wrong, I still had a great time. I just personally live for a slow burn, and I would’ve loved to be tortured a little longer before everything came together.

Thank you to BookSirens for another wonderful ARC!

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I picked up Buoys & Girls, I was expecting a light, fluffy, forced proximity romance on a cruise ship. I wasn't expecting deep insights into the loneliness epidemic and the nature of connection, but I'm pleased to say that Buoys & Girls delivered on all of the above, and more.

Buoys & Girls is a delightful, fun, fast-paced closed-door romance in a fun setting, featuring many of my favorite tropes. Liv is relatable, and Mason is like a dream LI: intelligent, charming, open with his feelings, and a great communicator. My only critiques are that I wish it were longer and that a few plot points and supporting characters (particularly Liv's friend group) were more fleshed out. This is the first book in the Dreamboat Cruises series, and I look forward to reading the rest!

I received an advance review copy of this book for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Tori · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t realize this book was so short when I started it but it ended up being the epitome of a beach read.

Liv has sworn of relationships after an ex she admittedly stayed with because of the comfort of it. She goes on a cruise for a friends 30th only to find out it’s a singles cruise. She thought she had a room to herself, but enter Mason, a relationship therapist working for the cruise line. After a bout of food poisoning leaves them quarantined together, their relationship starts to blossom and Liv realizes that she can either live in fear of a relationship failing or regret that she didn’t give it a chance to grow.

This book is very predictable but I think that’s what made it so entertaining

[Gigi Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I devoured this book in under 24 hours. This romance follows an FMC who is forced to share a cabin on a cruise ship with the MMC after a mix-up caused by her friend having to cancel. Determined to enjoy girl time with her best friends, she instead finds herself distracted by the hot paramedic sharing her room. Is he hiding something, or was this all part of a setup?
What I loved most about this book was how real the characters felt. The emotional connection between them was so strong and genuine that I couldn’t help but root for them and hope they’d find a way to make it work.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A. this book is too short
B. the end of this book is perfect. Absolute gold.
This book kept me guessing the whole time. The single POV was perfect and emphasised the surprises. This author has a way of writing low spice books which results in me not missing the spice at all!

It's always a refreshing read when I pick up a book by this author and I look forward to every single book. This one was no different. I look forward to seeing how this series progresses. Sports or not I love these books!

Big thanks to Cynthia Gunderson and Book Sirens for a copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fast-burn roommates to lovers story had me squealing with delight by the end! It’s the fast-paced modern fairytale romance you didn’t know you needed.

Buoys & Girls by Canadian author Cynthia Gunderson is about a group of girl friends who go on a cruise to celebrate Jamie’s birthday. Surprise; she intentionally failed to mention to her friends that it was a singles cruise. As if speed dating wasn’t going to be awkward enough, Liv unknowingly agreed to be roomed with a stranger that turns out to be unlike any of the men she’s met.

This novel may be short and sweet, but it’s definitely worth the read!

[PollyAnna Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wonder what I would do in Liv and Mason's situation….Knowing me, I'd probably give in and squeeze in with my girls rather than stay in a room alone with a complete stranger. It's incredibly romantic how things ultimately work out for Mason and Liv. His food poisoning changes everything and becomes the catalyst for Mason and to open up and be vulnerably honest with one another. Their romance is simply beautiful.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Serena Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally an original idea for a romance novel. I loved it thank you Booksirens for allowing me to be part of the review team. You have 5 friends that plan on celebrating one of their 30th birthdays but surprise she has singed them all up for the single cruise. What a crazy fun idea. Once on board things go a rye. Funny stuff people. Read it you won’t regret it. I love the originality of this one. The characters are good, the storyline is lovely and keeps pushing forward at a good pace! Well done.

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liv and her friends are taking a cruise to celebrate Jamie's birthday. She checked willing to share with a matched roommate but ends up rooming with Mason. The cruise features Singles Week but after a breakup Liv is not interested in a relationship. Mason is part of the cruise activities in which he helps men and women relate to each other. I loved the stress of being honest with your date. There are some excellent tips on how to view dates and long-term relationships. I loved watching how Liv and Mason reacted with each other with care and concern. Great book!

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a relaxing, enjoyable story. No points of anger or feelings of frustration. Just right, to get my mind off worldly problems.
When Liv ends up sharing a cabin with Mason due to a mix up, there are adjustments to be made to complete the cruise. Although there is forced proximity, it was handled amicably.
The pages seemed to turn themselves and while there are some very good memorable points to ponder they have the touch of wisdom the young and older should find worth taking to heart.
I received a copy through Booksprout and this is my honest and voluntary review.

[Carmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hoped I'd like this - the title caught my attention and I barely read the blurb because I was already fairly hooked.
I loved it so much more than I expected to. It was exactly the kind of thing I needed right now.

A little cheesy, somewhat predictable, and plenty of moments that made me go "I've never been on a cruise to know for sure, but is that really what would happen in that circumstance??" and question realism, but still somehow near perfection for me <3
It also reminded me of some other books I enjoy, but combined into one, so maybe I'm a little biased :P

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a great read to kick of the new year! So thankful that Cynthia Gunderson posts her books on YouTube! I was able to enjoy it as I tidied up the house. I really liked the plot and the whole cast of characters...Liv was very relatable and Mason seems a bit too good to be true but that is the thing about Romance, the perfect men exist. I look forward to the other books in this series, especially Ben.

[Dena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I liked this book for a lot of reasons. It was fun and light-hearted to read, as any of this type of book should be. However, because of the characters and plot, I felt like it shared a unique view on relationships and what is important in them. That one theme is what helped this book get five stars from me.

Hopefully, you will enjoy it as much as I did.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is filled with unexpected gems of wisdom amidst all the feel good, wholesome, fun of HEA's. Every now and again the FMC was a bit whiny and for me unrelateable but not unrecoverable in any way. Occasionally I had to suspend reality as she spoke about counselors/therapists and just go with the story flow. I loved the premise and found the pacing worked, for the most part work. I received an advance copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Danelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this cute little story! It’s a quick read that is well written and very entertaining. The two lead characters work well together and the match is totally believable. The supporting characters and friends are a hoot. You shouldn’t miss this one. I’m already looking for the next story in this series. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Frances Packingham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok I loved this book! And it's a clean story! Liv going on a cruz with her friends is awesome! I love this idea. Although I would probably be mad after Jamie explains what kind of cruise it is. And then there is Mason. The whole situation and bonding process between Liv and Mason is great. It's perfect progression. I was crying right along with Liv when the cruise was coming to an end. Such a great story. I can't wait for the next book.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast paced book about a newly single Liv going on a girls trip and falling in love with a guy named Mason in a week. Talk about instalove. It was good but a lot of characters for a short book. Maybe the next books in the series will focus on each friend that went on the trip. I liked the ending when Liv and Mason talked about touch but the instalove was a red flag then in the epilogue Live is literally barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a short, quick read in which all characters are likable. The FMC goes on a cruise with her friends, but due to a work issue, the friend who was supposed to room with her can’t make it. She then realizes the cruise company has assigned her a roommate and she shares the week with the MMC. The story is cute and is an enjoyable light read.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lani Norris · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️

I don't have much to say - this was a very cute, solid, quick read. Original idea, I just wish there were more time to further develop the characters and the story. I wish there were more background to the main characters and also the side characters. There are a lot of girls on this trip with the main character but I couldn't keep any of them straight because all we really knew about them were their names. A good quick read, though.

[Barbara Lamb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm stuck between 3.5 to 4 ⭐s
Cute romance to start 2026!
Do not blink on this short sweet cruise where a girl's trip turns into something way deeper
If spice is what you are looking for unfortunately this book is not your book
Thank you Cynthia Gunderson for the free ARC and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Karen Chan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice easy read. I want a Mason in my life, he's an almost perfect man.

I read this short story in one sitting and really enjoyed it. The banter is heartwarming and the romance is lovely.

Definitely worth a read

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Virginia Shea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a light, feel-good romance about Liv accidentally ending up on a singles cruise and sharing a cabin with a mysterious stranger.

I loved the strong friendship vibes, the forced proximity, and the sweet strangers-to-lovers dynamic, especially since the story stayed low-drama and charming throughout. A quick, fun, light-hearted read!