the best adventures sure were still to come, and come they did in this wonderful book. its a book for everyone and will make everyone smile. i just warmed up reading it and it caused the corner of my mouth to slide up on far too many times. i also had that inner readers chuckles a few times too!
Caroline James i think has funny bones. as it comes through in all her books ive read. they just have lightness to them all and those perfectly times giggle or smile wide moments.
for this book we are given Carmen who is a crime writer, who biggest crime is currently not feeling at all happy in herself, her work, or her mother!
so what else can she do but jump aboard a ship and sail into the sunset right? well the best she can get right now is jump on a cruise ship. oh and her mother insists she coming too.
i have to admit that when i think of going on a cruise this one with all the characters involved would be my dream come true. the quirky characters and quirky goings on made me life and made me want o be part of the group.
this book was a joy to read. an absolute joy of joys.

A great story that took you on a journey full of laughter and seriousness. The characters are great to enjoy, predictable ending but still very fun!

Ahoy mateys! This Cruise Club offers a charming escape, perfect for unwinding after a challenging work day. Caroline James’ newest novel introduces readers to a diverse group of characters: an endearing mother-daughter duo, a witty comedian, and a couple navigating their relationship on a memorable cruise. As they sail from one stunning destination to the next, readers are immersed in the beauty and vibrancy of each locale. Along the way, the characters form unexpected bonds, share heartfelt moments, and experience the joys (and quirks) of life at sea. With its warm and inviting tone, The Cruise Club feels like a cozy getaway, ideal for curling up on a rainy day.

DNF'd at 53%...I was expecting "a feel good rom com full of romance, fun and mischief" all I've gotten so far is a chaotic cast of characters, geriatric swingers, and fluff. Where's the romance or fun?

An absolute hoot. A light enjoyable book with plenty of quirky characters including larger than life Fran, who was featured in a previous book, The French Cookery School. Set on a cruise ship around the Mediterranean with plenty of diverse people and situations make this a thoroughly entertaining read to escape with.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for providing this book, with my honest review below.

The Cruise Club focuses on Carmen, who has a lot of love to give and life to live but feels it’s all squashed due to her obligation and the control of her mother Betty. So what better than for Carmen to take a cruise where she meets whole cast of characters who help her embrace life. Carmen struggles to find her voice on the cruise just as she solves a mystery that could have come straight from the pages of the books she writes.

This is cozy in every way, and I loved the locations (both the cruise and the locations it stops in) as much as I love the cruise patrons Carmen meets (with some exceptions). The Cruise Club really shines as it spotlights Carmen’s journey to find her voice and confidence and emerge from the shadow of her mother, but the most delightful parts are definitely from the ensemble cast of cruise goers.

A delightful read with a cast of quirky characters set off on the cruise of their lives. Through the individuals you will feel wealth of emotions as some have their lives transformed through their cruise experiences and through in a little bit of sleuthing .

What a delightful read, it took me a while to get into it but stick with it. Carmen has the patience of a saint, as her mother Betty is rather demanding, but the joys of the cruise find friendships for both, mystery and a spot of romance and some great humour whilst on the seas.
The descriptions of cruise life through the book have left me wanting to book one, Melody the superstar drag queen was a hoot, im sold!

I love cruising and this novel gave us a lot of what a cruise is like from boarding until dismemberment. The night life and the daily excursions were on point. A little bit of mystery and just a touch of romance but mostly friendship that last longer than the cruise.

What a great summer read this book is! Carmen goes on a Mediterranean cruise with her very demanding mother. She starts off with little spare time as imperious Betty makes more and more demands on Carmen’s time but as they settle into their holiday Carmen’s new friends take on more of the challenging job that is Betty! Part of the attraction of the cruise for Carmen had been to listen to Ruskin Reeve giving a talk and hosting workshops on writing fiction. Carmen has always been in awe of Ruskin’s work so the opportunity to take some advice on writing from this great man is too good an opportunity to miss. What she hadn’t bargained on was her mother’s insistence on accompanying her on the cruise. There is a lot of humour in this book and the descriptions of life on board and the cruise destinations are magical. A great book for a summer holiday! I enjoyed it so much I immediately bought another of Caroline James’s books to read. Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me an ARC of this book.

I was so excited for this. Tq so much for approving me.

This book was amazing. What a journey.

I loved it so so much.

And that cover. Gorgeous!!

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I read approximately 1/3 of the book and I am disliking the characters terribly. I kept trying to read this book over a few days, even though I felt this way from the start. I believe because I feel this way the plot is dragging on slowly and I have no interest in it. I am giving up and not forcing myself to finish the book.

I know that authors put their heart and soul into a manuscript and I am sorry that I feel this way about any book that I chose to read, Every book is not for every reader, and I am sure that there are people that will enjoy the story. For me, I cannot read one more line of that manipulating mother, her spineless daughter, the horrible comedian or the pineapple couple.

I am not going to post this review on any social websites. This is only for NetGalley feedback.

Introvert Carmen, a crime writer with a writer's block, books a cruise to meet her favourite author, Ruskin. hoping for inspiration . Unfortunately her cantankerous mother insists on accompanying her. Meeting new friends and undergoing a make-over, the cruise may just change her life. Perfect easy holiday/wet weather reading ..

I liked that the main female character, Carmen, is in her early 50s. She was very likeable. Her mother, Betty, was the very opposite! All characters were were well developed and different which I liked.
The book follows those characters on the cruise. It was an easy, enjoyable read.

A brilliant light read. The author has cruising down to a fine art. Some laugh out moments . Great characters . Great story . You get love. I love the ending neat. Read it you won’t be disappointed. Some good twists . Perfect for a holiday read.

Carmen is a cosy crime writer but has lot the way for her next book. Her mother Betty is very controlling and won't let Carmen do. anything. Carmen finds out her favourite crime author is giving talk aboard a cruise ship so decides to book but then her mother finds and decides to book as well.

I was transported on The Diamond Star (Cruise Ship) which was a very special cruise. We follow the main characters Carmen Cunningham, Betty (Carmen’s mum), Ruskin Reeve and many others as they embark on the cruise and I have to say that I genuinely felt as though I was on the Mediterranean Cruise with them. I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline as we follow each character. We experience the beauty of friendship and the importance of kindness which the author has portrayed beautifully in this book. If you need a form of escapism this book will definitely take you there. I’ve never been on a cruise (always dreamt of going on one). I genuinely felt as though I was riding the waves.. I was sad to see the journey come to an end.

This was a cozy feel good read about friendships, hardships and helping each other. Carmen is a writer who’s looking after her very grumpy mother when she sees an ad for a cruise, she jumps at the chance, but her mother wants to come too. When she’s on the cruise she meets new friends and has a great time. A lovely book with plenty of inspiring characters who are relatable. The descriptions of the surroundings were beautiful and it made you want to jump on a plane or ship to Greece. An overall happy 5 star read. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

I may have said it before, but I'll happily say it again - Caroline James and cruising is an irresistible combination.

And what a book this is, I definitely recall wanting more books featuring cruising from this author after finishing the Cruise and boy has this delivered, but honestly I still want more - and there are far more places cruises go other than the Med and Caribbean, so I'd like to think there could be more!

Speaking of the the author's previous cruise book ,this one is onboard the same ship, with a couple of returning staff members, but it is a totally brand new, and completely standalone story. But for anyone that has read it, the ship itself will feel like a familiar friend.

I was back into the rhythm of the Diamond Star really quickly and I loved getting to know all of the new highlighted guest on board.

What really struck me was the very tricky relationship between Carmen and her mother, and how if the pandemic hadn't got in the way, how the relationship between me and my mum may have turned out. I completely sympathised with Carmen - Betty is very demanding and tricky to deal with.

Thankfully Carmen actually makes friends on this cruise, which Betty had tagged along on, and she even gets to meet one of her writing heroes, Ruskin who is one of the guest speakers on the ship.

I was delighted to see that one of the main headliners on board is in fact a drag queen, I love drag and in my 9 or so cruises, I don't believe I've seen drag act at all onboard, which is a shame. But Melody is fabulous and although not a main character, there is still a good amount of depth to her as we got to know her through conversations with Dicky!

I absolutely loved the various ports of call on this ship, and ones that I have visited myself really felt very well described. There is so so much that I loved about this story, but I don't want to give anything away. But rest assured there are some very nice character arcs, there is some romance, some humour and some really touching moments too.

I couldn't have enjoyed this more and I was totally hooked on reading it and it's a perfect summer holiday read.

Thank you to Avon and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

The Cruise Club was exactly the escape I didn’t know I needed! This book had it all—sunshine, sass, a sprinkle of romance, and a good dose of cozy mystery—all set aboard a cruise ship sailing through dreamy Mediterranean ports. Honestly, I devoured it in two sittings with a big smile on my face.

Carmen Cunningham is the kind of protagonist you root for immediately: funny, frazzled, and fiercely relatable. As a cosy crime writer struggling with writer’s block and juggling the chaos that is her strong-willed mother, Betty, I instantly connected with her. The idea of booking a cruise to revive her creativity sounded like a perfect getaway… until Betty decides to tag along, of course.

Betty might just steal the show. She’s outrageous in the best possible way—meddling, dramatic, and secretly lovable. Their mother-daughter dynamic had me laughing out loud more than once, especially as they got wrapped up in shipboard shenanigans involving mysterious thefts and whispers of a secret club.

And then there’s Ruskin Reeve—the grumpy, aloof literary idol who ends up being more than he seems. The chemistry between him and Carmen felt like a slow simmer, full of banter and charm, and I loved watching their relationship unfold amid sun-drenched excursions and late-night confessions.

The pacing was perfect—light and breezy but never shallow. There’s a touch of mystery, but it’s handled with a gentle hand, keeping the focus on the characters and their emotional journeys. I especially appreciated how Carmen's creativity slowly returned as she reconnected with herself—not just as a writer, but as a woman rediscovering her spark.

If you’re looking for a feel-good read with humor, heart, and a few surprises tucked into its suitcase, The Cruise Club is your ticket. It’s uplifting, clever, and downright delightful. I didn’t want to disembark.