Thank you to NetGalley and Kate Callaghan for providing me with this ARC!

I really tried to push through, but unfortunately, this one didn’t quite work for me. I DNF at 26%. The writing style didn’t fully resonate with me, which made it a bit difficult to stay engaged. Of course, that’s a matter of personal preference, and I can see how the tone and pacing might appeal to other readers.

I also had trouble connecting with the characters, which impacted my ability to stay invested in the story. A deeper emotional connection may have helped strengthen the narrative for me.

That said, if you're a fan of murder mysteries with a romantic edge, this could still be worth checking out.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for a copy of this ARC for my honest review.

I loved this book. Kate Callaghan does it again with a great story with strong character relationships. I wasn’t sure if I would like this setup with the cruise but it was done so well! Highly recommend!!!!!

I loved this book and it did not disappoint! I love Kate’s style of writing and the storyline.
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor.

When Poppy Roe boards ‘The Midas’ for a luxurious 2 week cruise the last thing she expects to be doing is running from a serial-killer. Thankfully, her new bodyguard Detective Isaiah Rivers is by her side (in more ways than one…) to try and help her get to the bottom of the puzzling mystery. But as the days pass by and they get further from land the killer inches closer. Stuck at sea with nowhere to run or hide, will Poppy make it back to her life of glitz and glamour or will ‘The Midas’ be her last curtain call?

✅ I’d recommend this book to those who enjoy -
• Murder mystery & romance books
• Angst, anti-hero, cruise ship setting, dual POV, off limits, reluctant allies, revenge & slow burn themes/tropes
🔞This book contains mature content not suitable for those under the age of 18.
‼️It also includes mentions of trauma, stalking, murder & emotional/physical abuse which may be triggering.

The Situation Ship is a fun, fast paced murder mystery featuring romance, suspense and a plot that will keep you guessing. Although the book features some serious themes it has quick witted banter and a good comedic side too. It’s easy to follow - not complicated or confusing so it’s great for anyone wanting an easy going read.

Poppy Roe (FMC) is a confusing but likeable character. She’s a famous singer with a tragic past and has more than a few skeletons in her closet. Despite her ‘past behaviour’ which I can only describe as immoral actions with moral reasoning her heart does seem to be in the right place. I really felt like she just wanted to be loved and accepted for who she really is. I was relieved to see the change in her behaviour and way of thinking as it made it much easier to root for her!

Isaiah (MMC) is also extremely likeable. He’s a detective with a strong mind and strong morals. Like Poppy, he too has a ‘checkered past’ but again there’s more to the story than meets the eye. He’s fiercely protective but I loved the vulnerability we see during the chapter where they share their pasts with one another. It was also a nice change in pace from the rest of the mayhem going on around them.

When it came to the romance I wasn’t knocked off my feet. Although I liked both characters and was happy with the end result, it all happened very quickly. There was a huge shift in Isaiah’s opinion in a very short space of time and I really felt like there was a missed opportunity to explore the connection on a deeper level.
The murder mystery side however was much better! This isn’t a book where you’re able to predict the ending which is fantastic. (For me, there’s nothing worse than guessing the outcome halfway through a book!) If anything, some situations could’ve actually been a little more drawn out to add to the suspense but otherwise it was great.

Overall, this was a great book. It’s definitely made me want to explore more of Kate Callaghan’s work. My biggest ‘issue’ is that I was disappointed it wasn’t longer. There were so many missed opportunities to delve deeper but I still really enjoyed it. It was a fun to read, not overly complicated and the chapters were a nice length so I never felt like the book was dragging. I think I might stay away from cruises for a while though..

📣 Thank you to NetGalley & Kate Callaghan for the open opportunity to read & review this ARC. This honest review consists solely of my own thoughts and opinions & I am leaving it voluntarily.

Thank you to Kate Callaghan and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

First and foremost, I adore the cover of this book.

Second, the banter in this book is amazing. I really liked both Poppy and Isaiah.

The murder mystery aspect was really good, and it held my attention.

This book fell flat for me in a lot of ways. The plotline was basic and very linear, only one issue arising and resolving at a time. The solutions felt very easy, and details and characters seemed to come up only as we needed them. The plot that the first few chapters set up also felt obsolete very quickly, especially Isaiah's motivation for getting on the ship. The relationship felt very unnatural with sudden spice and forced "good girl" type lines and actions from Isaiah that did not fit his character. A lot of the dialogue was also awkward and was used to insert backstory and information.

I can say that I didn't expect the ending. Discovering who the killer was is what kept me going, and that part did not disappoint. While the story didn't deliver on a lot of expectations and vibes, it was still a cute and easy read.

This story is good for anyone who loves murder mysteries with a secondary romance plotline. It'd be a great palate cleanser between heavy books or if you're just looking for something light. There is spice.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review. #TheSituationShip #NetGalley

An enjoyable murder mystery with some romance, fictional celebrity gossip, and lots of plot twists! I liked the dual POV, and was not able to guess everything about the endgame. I also liked the main leads and their stories, the romance was almost insta love though from one side. Some side characters were interesting, but some questions were dropped in the heat of the moment, then was never answered.

Overall, I think it is a fun quick summer read, would recommend it to the fans to murder mysteries with a dash of romance and humour!

Thank you to Kate Callaghan and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review! 💌

I was intrigued from the start! From the moment you know your hero is also a killer, there's no way you can close the book. And I really liked the murder mistery part. I had a lot of theories and I couldn't be more wrong. I had a feeling, but it went a lot further than I was thinking. I love that feeling, the suspense and then finding you were far from what happened.

However, the romance part didn't appeal to me as much. Yes, Poppy and Isaiah are very cute together, but the path towards each other felt a bit forced. I mean, he went on that cruise thinking she was a suspect and fell in love almost instantly? I feel like they didn't have the time to develop a relationship as profound as it was shown to be. Also, it wasn't very credible how quickly he closed his ways to everything Poppy did. I'm not a trained detective, but I think it should at least take him a moment to process everything and think it through.

Overall, it was a fun read. I wasn't going into this book wanting romance, so the murder mistery was interesting and twisty enough to keep me hooked. Would recommend giving it a try!

First of all, I would like to thank NetGalley, Kate Callaghan and CallaghanWriter for giving me the opportunity to read this book before it is published.

About the book, I started to be really interested in the story right after reading the prologue and after that, I really enjoyed the rest of the book! I had a lot of theories that I later found out could not be farther from the truth and that made me love the book even more because I was really shocked when they resolved the murder mystery, which was the main event about the book. About the romance, I really liked the slow burn and the tropes although I never read anything with them before this book. I loved the banter between Poppy and Isaiah and later enjoyed even more the vulnerability they had with each other. I also really liked Mina and the friendship between Isaiah and Phoebe & Axel and it made me want to read their book and get to know more of their story!

I also really liked the writing and can't wait to read more of Kate Callaghan's books!

This book was delicious! After reading the blurb and other reviews I knew I NEEDED to read this one, and it did not disappoint. I found the mystery perfect and the romance exactly what I was looking for!

3.25⭐️ | NetGalley Review |

This was a fun and easy read! I enjoyed all the little plot twists and trying to figure out what was going on. I didn't love it but it was definitely enjoyable, a good palate cleanser!

Review: The Situation Ship
Author: Kate Callaghan
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Thank you to NetGalley and the Independent Book Publishers Association for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The Situation Ship is a fast-paced, high-stakes mystery wrapped in glitz, gossip, and cruise ship chaos. Pop star Poppy Roe is hoping to leave behind the trauma and tabloid frenzy by disappearing onto a luxury cruise, but the vacation turns deadly when passengers start dying around her. Enter Isaiah Rivers, a no-nonsense detective turned bodyguard, tasked with protecting Poppy—or possibly investigating her.

This novel delivers an engaging murder mystery with a distinctly cinematic quality. From the eerie 2 a.m. hush of cruise ship corridors to the buffet limbo of all-inclusive travel, Callaghan nails the setting. The mystery plot keeps a steady rhythm, and while I partially guessed the ending, the reveal still had impact and tied back cleverly to the underlying themes of fame, exploitation, and emotional fallout.

As a romance, however, the story felt rushed and underdeveloped. The chemistry between Poppy and Isaiah never fully landed for me, and the shift from wary partnership to deep emotional connection happened too fast to feel earned. In just a few days, their dynamic leaps from suspicion to declarations, with little time given to the tension or internal conflict that could’ve elevated their relationship arc. Their backgrounds—particularly Poppy’s trauma and Isaiah’s sense of duty—had the potential for a layered slow burn, but that opportunity felt missed.

The writing has its strengths, especially in showing the darker side of celebrity culture and the lingering effects of grief. However, the dialogue sometimes leaned too heavily on exposition, restating things that had already been shown. This occasionally pulled me out of the narrative, making emotional beats feel more told than felt.

Still, this was a compulsively readable book—equal parts drama, danger, and glam. Despite the chaotic pacing and romantic shortcomings, I was invested in solving the mystery and appreciated the unique premise. If you’re in the mood for a murder mystery with celebrity intrigue, cruise ship claustrophobia, and a splash of romance, The Situation Ship makes for an entertaining one-sitting read. Just don’t expect the love story to steal the show.

Going into this book, I expected more of a thriller, so the strong romcom tone threw me off a little. That mismatch in expectations was probably on me, but it did affect how I experienced the story.

There were things I really liked. I thought the prologue, with the letter, was a nice start and set the tone well. I also liked that the main character, Poppy, was fierce, confident, and brought a lot of energy to the story.

However, there were a few things I struggled with. Some of the choices didn’t quite make sense to me, and this made the plot feel a little less believable at times. The pacing also felt a bit off; the story felt a bit long and I found myself getting bored sometimes. The romance felt somewhat rushed and lacked the emotional depth I look for.

That said, I think readers who enjoy lighthearted mysteries mixed with romance and humor might find this a fun, easy read.

I really enjoyed reading this book, it has so many twist and turns in and you never knew what to expect next.

The main characters are likeable and from early on in the book you are rooting for them.

First of all, thanks to the author Kate Callaghan for uploading this ARC as a 'read now' on Netgalley. I became addicted to this book and I finished this in a day. The cover is beautiful and one of the reasons I picked this book up. I also appreciated the trigger warnings and age restriction to decide if this book was something for me. I enjoyed the chapter length. It made me want to read more and more chapters after I finished one so quickly. The writing was also very enjoyable and it had a good balance between descriptions and dialogue. I was able to picture the story in my head uninterrupted and without feeling confused. Also the art for the chapters look very pleasing to the eye and fit the story well.

Now onto the review of the story. The premise intrigued me a lot and I enjoyed reading from both Poppy's and Isaiahs POV. During reading, I was so invested and had a lot of questions, which luckily I got answered most of them at the end of the story. I found that the characters for Poppy and Isaiah are very well written and I could imagine their personalities a lot in my head. Sometimes I felt like Mina became an afterthought as she did not feel very involved in the story as much as I expected when she said to be prepared Poppy to help kill someone if needed. When a murder happened on board Isaiah and Poppy would be very involved and Mina would hear from them what happened, but that was only mentioned briefly or their interactions were quite short.

I think Poppy is a very interesting character. Her upbringing was very rough, but still remained able to see the good in some people. She is very smart and I could see that whenever she had to act sad during the funeral. Or whenever she made a decision to go somewhere on board because people might be wanting to talk with her or about her in her presence. In the beginning I thought she was hard on herself for thinking she killed her aunt, which to me seemed like yeah she could have done more to help her aunt, but she did not directly kill her. Later I found out she was responsible for three deaths, which yeah that would definitely qualify you as a murderer. But Poppy did not enjoy killing, which sets her apart as a murderer who enjoys the pain. I would describe her as morally grey, because she did what she did to survive, only her methods are questionable. I also loved that the author did not only tell us that Poppy was a famous singer, but instead showed us by how many fans Poppy got and how much security she needs or how rich she is.

Isaiah was loveable from the start. The detective who sought out justice for the people who could not on their own. I like how he sees that there are a lot of loopholes within the law and therefore works together with Eckells to ensure justice if the law does not. It borders also on a morally grey moral compass for me. Isaiah gave me the vibe of a flirt, but only with one person, Poppy of course. I loved their banter and flirtations, it made me giggle.

Poppy and Isaiah are both workaholics who met each other while both were trying to go on vacation, but instead we're confronted with their work affairs. I loved this similarity, it made a lot of sense to me why they respected eachother and bonded so quickly over the a couple of days. Of course them looking hot is a helping factor, but still. The 'I love you' felt a bit quick. Eventhough it was explained that they got through a lot together in spite of knowing each other for a couple of days. But still you can care for someone, but love seemed a bit much even for them. I did like that they got their Happy end eventually. Also their spicy chapters were very hot and I enjoyed reading them. The balance between spicy, flirtations, tension and the overall storyline was very well-balanced.

A couple of things that I did not get answers to was why Mina lied about the F1 driver having a girlfriend. This caused Poppy and Isaiah to think she might be in on the scheme to kill Poppy, but they quickly discarded that thought and instead thought she was in danger. But later on nobody even asks Mina why she lied about it. And how did Davide and Sophia get together. We have not seen scenes of them flirting or doing couple things, so that felt like an out of the blue revelation. And to me it felt like Isaiah was not as shocked or did not have any conflicting feelings towards Poppy when she revealed to killing people. He immediately accepted it. I think it would have been a bit more realistic if he would need a bit of time to think about it and then accept her and her secrets fully, especially because he is a detective who searches for killers as a job. And lastly, Poppy and Phoebe said to both want to support minority groups. But I did not see a lot of reasons why they would do so. For Poppy it was more clear than for Phoebe. Poppy wanted to break free from her aunt and maybe saw herself in those women who wanted to make movies. So Poppy wanted to fund their projects. But for Phoebe, she only told that she cared about minority groups, but did not really give a reason why she was so involved other than from the good of her heart. So I would have loved some scenes where Phoebe mentions her more personal reasoning to supporting disabled artists.

Overall, I enjoyed this book very much. I would really recommend this book to people who like a quick read and are interested in the genres of murder mystery and romance. The expectations I got from the blurb, cover and trigger warnings was exactly what I got from reading the book. I will definitely check out the authors other works when I'm in the mood for a mystery romance book.

Firstly thank you to the publisher and netgalley for this arc for an honest review!

Well, i didn't quite know what to expect from this book. It's not usually one i would go for but i'm honestly really glad i did. This book was a mixture of thriller/ mystery and romance. I didn't know if it would work as i haven't really read any books which the genres cross but IT DID WORK! It was a great blend of both genres which made the book so easy.

The book follows Poppy who is a famous pop star who is trying to escape the chaos of her life as being in the public eye. Little does she know what she finds herself in, instead. The mmc is Issaiah Rivers - he is the detective on board who has a haunting past. Their relationship isn't expected looking at it but it works. The tension and chemistry is most definitley there 😍

I felt it was really easy to connect with the characters and honestly believe their story. They had chemistry and the banter. In light in what was going on it was still really good that the relationship didn't outweigh any part of the story.

This book kept me turning the pages - i had no idea who the killer was. I thought i had it down to a t but i kept getting it wrong which is always a sign to a good thriller. 😂

Honestly overall 4⭐️. I really enioyed it and the twisty turns in it too - i would highly recommend this book!

The premise really caught my attention: a popstar, a brooding detective, and a luxury cruise ship setting, all wrapped in a mix of romance and mystery. It sounded like the perfect setup for a fun and gripping story.

Unfortunately, the execution didn’t quite live up to the promise for me. It took me almost a month just to get halfway through, which says a lot about how little I connected with the story. While the setup was creative, the development felt rushed, especially the romance between the main characters. Their connection didn’t feel organic, and the emotional depth just wasn’t there. The dialogue, at times, came off as immature and awkward, making it hard to stay immersed in the narrative.

That said, I do think the cruise ship setting was a strong point it added a sense of tension and isolation that works well for a mystery. There are a few twists that might keep some readers engaged, especially those looking for a light, escapist read.

In the end, it just didn’t click for me. The premise had real potential, but the story lacked the polish and character development I was hoping for.

Thank you to netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review 💕

Book Rating: ★★★★☆
Pacing: medium paced and it worked!
Characters: Poppy loml
Plot: ★★★★☆
Originality: big yes imo. very creative
Emotional investment: ★★★★☆

The Situation Ship follows Poppy Roe, a pop star raised by her grandmother. After her grandmother’s untimely death, she boards a luxurious cruise ship to escape for a while. Things turn on their head when (1) her boyfriend breaks up with her on the dock, (2) a very attractive body guard is … assigned to her and (3) a woman turns up murdered.

This book was FUN. I really enjoyed diving into it any chance I could. It flew by. It was definitely one of those I need to know who did it asap type books that you just want to keep going with until the mystery unfolds and reveals itself.

Poppy was an engaging character; someone you could really root for from the beginning. She’s sassy and unafraid to stand up for herself. And she’s smart. She’s not one of those heroines that things simply happen to and makes you want to pull your hair out. She’s out there getting her hands dirty, unafraid to meet things head on.

Isaiah was a good guy. As far as MMC’s go I liked that he was a man of his word. But he wasn’t black and white in his thinking and willing to grow and learn and be proven wrong. He was respectful of Poppy. Listened to her. The bar is kind of low but he grew on me! Green flag MMC.

Their relationship was maybe a step up from insta-love but I won’t judge them too harshly because if I’m on a boat with a murderer, my life is in danger and I’m stuck in close confines with someone I think that would up the emotional intensity a lot. So. Their banter was fun too. She gave him shit. He gives the vibes he would crawl on his knees if she asked him to. So, I like it. They pass my test. If anybody in the world was going to understand Poppy, I think it would be Isaiah.

As for the mystery - it was fun! I was very curious, I think it unfolded well. There were parts to do with the crew on deck that I thought were a little rough around the edges and some of the plot hinged on luck (eg overhearing the right conversation at the right time). I thought the reveal was great. I wasn’t surprised but also wasn’t expecting it?

Downsides? Very little screen time for Mina. Phoebe and Axel were very late additions and were very much there to pad the landing. I kinda wish they were worked in earlier.

Honestly I totally think this could be made into a really fun movie with the same kind of vibes as a simple favour or f marry kill or even glass onion. It would be SO fun.

I def def recommend a read of this book if you enjoy the sypnosis 💕

Poppy is finally free of her controlling and abusive aunt. She may have played a role in her ‘accidental’ death, but now she can live her life on her terms. She starts with firing her manager and dumping her boyfriend. She celebrates by going on an exclusive cruise. But not everything is as it seems.

Her security guard is actually a detective investigating her for a trail of bodies connected to her. And someone on the ship is killing everyone close to her. Will she be able to figure out who’s after her before they reach their final target? And will, Isaiah, the hunky detective believe her story?

I love the category, “a murder mystery romance.” As a longtime mystery fan and also a romance fan, I love the combo of these two genres. A little something for everyone, haha.

This book has plenty of twists to follow, some you could predict, but some that come out of left field. The romance feels a little insta-lovey for me based on both their backgrounds, but still cute. I had a suspicion about the killer and I was 💯 wrong, which is always a good thing.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read that I would recommend to any mystery or romance reader and especially if you like both!

Thanks to the author and Netgalley for the ARC!

The deeper you sink, the darker it gets… and this book delivers on that promise.

This was such a fun and unexpected blend of murder mystery/thriller and romance. I don’t usually read books that combine both genres so evenly, and now I want more of them. The story is set aboard a luxury cruise ship, but don’t let the glamorous setting fool you this quickly turns into a high-stakes game of survival.

Poppy Roe is a pop star just trying to escape the chaos of fame when she ends up right in the middle of something far more dangerous. Isaiah Rivers, a brooding detective with a haunted past, is also onboard and let’s just say their reluctant partnership leads to sparks, banter, and tension I couldn’t get enough of.

Their chemistry was one of my favorite parts of the book. The banter between them felt natural and fun, with just the right amount of emotional weight behind it. And the romance unfolded slowly, but in a way that really made sense given the stakes.

As for the mystery? I had zero idea who the killer was, which honestly isn’t surprising for me, but the twists and reveals genuinely caught me off guard. Every time I thought I had something figured out, the story flipped the script.

If you’re looking for a dark, twisty mystery with a solid romantic arc, I definitely recommend picking this one up. Perfect for fans of romantic suspense who love banter, tension, and unexpected twists.

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