The friends, all aged 63, decide to go on a cruise for Christmas around the Caribbean. Anne, about too be divorced from her philandering husband, Kathy, recently widowed, and Jane, always worried about her weight.
I loved the setting, it's been on a few cruises which helped me visualise the on-board events, although I've not been lucky enough to visit the Caribbean. The various characters were interesting, I loved The Captain who definitely seemed to be enjoying the cruise, and Selwyn who might be able to crack Jane's shell. I became involved with the women's story, going that each would get what they wanted, the scenery and the excursions also drew me in.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influenced my review of the book.

When three 63 year old women one divorced on widowed and one unmarried set out for some fun at sea over the Christmas holiday and wanting to leave their problems at home and just have fun they do just that. This journey made for a fun fast and easy read. I am ready to go on my cruise now.

I couldn’t get into this book.

I tried a few different times, but each time something was just off. The writing style wasn’t my favorite and it wasn’t keeping my attention.

The concept seemed like it would be really good, though. I’m sure there will be some people who absolutely love it!!

Such a moving story following the antics of three mature friends on a wonderful Caribbean cruise..Good food.,
good company. and romance.
An uplifting, funny and lovely week at sea over Christmas . I enjoyed this book immensely.

I read this fun book on vacation which was the perfect venue for it. It is a quintessential feel-good beach read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was charming. A delight that took me straight into the aqua waters and powder-white sand of the Caribbean. I'm the same age as Anne, Jane, and Kath, and their antics rang true. The three friends from England, divorced, single, and widowed, respectively, decide life is passing them by and make a pact to go on a two-week luxury cruise aboard the swanky Diamond Star ship. From day one, their lives begin to take on a slow change that builds and crescendos by the novel's end. The side characters will have you howling and cheering. Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. Well done, Ms. James!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I absolutely loved reading this book.

Three friends, Anne, Jane and Kath, make a decision to do something for themselves. They book to go on a festive cruise, wanting to forget what’s happened in their lives. This holiday may change their lives.

I really liked the main characters. The book was about friendship, that’s reminded between them through the decades.

I recommend this book.

Kath is a widow, alone after a bad marriage. Anne has been left by her husband who spent much of their income on a girlfriend. Jane, a chef who lost her job, is overweight, self conscious and has always been single. None of these women in their 60s is happy so when Anne has the idea to spend Christmas on Caribbean cruise, reservations are made. Then the fun begins. Soon Jane is dancing with a handsome widower, Anne is flirting with an entertainer and Kath is learning to do what makes her happy.

The Cruise is light, satisfying and easy to read. I enjoyed reading about older woman who enjoy life as much if not more than younger people. The Caribbean locations are well researched and described with interesting information. 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and Caroline James for this ARC.

Three sixty-three year old best friends decide to shake up their lives. Jane, Kath and Anne decide to take a two week cruise over the Christmas holidays. This was a fun read...enjoyable as I read the experience each one of them experienced. My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a great read and I loved that the main characters were older with life experiences. Kath, Anne and Jane are all 63 and have been friends since school. Jane is divorced, Kath is widowed and Jane is single. Whilst at a school reunion they decide to go on a Christmas cruise and that is where the fun starts. I loved all the characters in this and felt that they all had their parts to play. This is a story about friendship, romance, new beginnings and living your best life whatever your age! Great locations and I thought that the balance between being on the ship and being on land was just right. Each of the main characters backstories were explained well and made it easy to see why they each felt like they did. Some real laugh out loud bits in this easy to follow and enjoyable read. Thank you to Netgalley and One More Chapter for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.

I requested this book because I'd read Caroline James previous book 'The Spa Break' and absolutely adored it - this book didn't disappoint either!

An easy feel good book perfect as a light escapist read.

I loved the characters and the way they were brought to life (particularly how Caroline James books focus on older characters which aren't generally included as much as they should be in popular fiction)

I'll be looking out excitedly for her next release.

This is such a fun feel good book that will be right at home as your summer read. I cannot wait to read more from this author.

I love Christmas!
I love Cruises!
I love the Caribbean!
I love Caroline James!

Yes I love all the C's and completely and utterly adored The Cruise. I couldn't get enough of it and devoured it as fast as my time to read would allow.

Can I just say I loved literally everything and leave it there?!

I absolutely adored the cruise ship the ladies were on, it was smaller than I'm used to but I really got to know every aspect of this ship, and I loved their itinerary too. The various ports of call were described so well, I thought as though I was in the Caribbean myself.

I'm also a huge fan of having Christmas in the sun who was ready to applaud the three friends for deciding to take the plunge and have a holiday of a lifetime. They are in their sixties and this cruise proves to be pivotal in all of their lives.

I especially loved Jane and how she developed and gained confidence over the course of the cruise. I could identify a bit with her, also being a larger lady, but unlike her I've never let my size put me off anything. I felt for her, and her growing friendship, which is reluctant at first with Selwyn is beautiful to see.

I enjoyed getting to know Selwyn, and we had chapters focusing on him too, which was good to see, as well as on Dickie, the rather stale, cheesy comedian who really is a slippery sort of a character. His jokes and his outlook on life really needed a lick of paint, but he certainly fit the bill as a ship entertainer.

And then there are the other guests on board, what a great assortment of characters the author came up with, and I especially loved The Captain.

I was so deeply involved with this story that I had tears pricking my eyes and a lump in my throat a few times towards the end of the book, for a whole variety of reasons.

I just wish I could have been on the ship with our three heroines, but as it is I loved seeing how their stories developed, over the course of a fortnight in the Caribbean.

Simply superb, totally amazing, please can we have more cruise based books!

Thank you to One More Chapter and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

This was a quick and entertaining read which showed how age is just a number and you are never too old to enjoy life and seize the day. Join this group of ladies over 60 as they embark on a cruise of a lifetime and feel inspired by them ceasing the day and finding themselves in this fun read which will make you laugh out loud one minute but feel poignant the next and might have you reaching for that travel brochure

This was my first book by this author and won’t be my last.

Fun, heartfelt and full of discovery - a definite must-read, especially for anyone who loves a story with women of a certain age in the starlight.
This is a great story of how three women all aged 63, throw caution to the wind and throw Christmas traditions out of the window. Anne, Jane and Kath each are going through some issues at home, it's emotional and stressful; one is widowed, one is unmarried and one is nearly divorced, so they up-sticks and book themselves onto a Christmas cruise to the Caribbean - well why not?!
I loved getting to know each of the women as they open up about their lives and set sights on the future, having fun and having an adventure - after all just because they are women in their sixties doesn't mean they are ready to give up on life, I hope that when I reach my sixties I am as adventuresome and sprightly as these three are, they are fabulous!
I loved this book, the plot is simplistically sweet and tender and so very easy to read, once you start you won't want to stop until the last page. It's full of compassion for the women and their lives and huge amounts of humour and laughs, with a really sweet sensitive side too, especially in regards to one of their fellow passengers; Selwyn who is slowly and discreetly scattering his wife's ashes throughout the cruise, I have to as y that, that made me a little teary!
It's a wonderful book, this is only my second title by the author and his beloved them both and can't wait to find my next Caroline James read!

This was just perfect for me- I chose it to read on my Caribbean cruise! I loved this, especially as I visited some of the same islands as the girls. I could really relate to the characters and hope I can be as positive as them at their age. Fun friendship and beautiful scenery .

An enjoyable, if somewhat predictable light read that tells that story of three friends out to remind themselves that life doesn't end at 40.

The Cruise is a romantic comedy about three life long friends enjoying a Caribbean break. Love the setting of the ship and the islands visited. A nice easy holiday read.

I loved this and I could see me and my friends in our 60s doing this and being these women. It was absolutely amazing, the ultimate girls trip.
I just reviewed The Cruise by Caroline James. #NetGalley
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This cruise sounding amazing I wish I was aboard it! The three main characters were amazing and loved the story.