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!

Meet Poppy Roe—a pop star with secrets and trauma. After a world tour and witnessing her aunt’s death, Poppy decides to escape it all with a luxury cruise. Enter Isaiah Rivers, a handsome detective whose job is his life. He’s convinced that a string of deaths surrounding Poppy is no coincidence. Determined to get closer to the truth, he takes a job as her bodyguard. Shenanigans ensue.

What a banana-pants murder mystery romance! Poppy and Isaiah have fantastic banter, though the romance develops fast. Not quite insta-love, but almost. The murder mystery element is well done, and I found the ending satisfying. Overall, a fun, fast-paced read.

Thank you to the Independent Book Publishers Association and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The Situation Ship by Kate Callaghan

Pub date: 27/07/2025

Poppy Roe is a global superstar trying to escape scandal after witnessing her aunt’s suspicious death. She boards a cruise to lay low but danger follows her. When she becomes a suspect herself, Isaiah Rivers is assigned as her bodyguard, who can’t decide if he’s protecting a victim or someone much more dangerous…

This is a murder mystery with a romance twist. Set in a high stakes cruise-ship environment. The forced proximity between the leads adds tension, especially as the plot unfolds. The second half really picked up for me, with several plot twists that kept me guessing. I enjoyed trying to figure out who’s behind the murders.

The first half of the book, I struggled to connect with the characters. I didn’t feel much chemistry with Isaiah and Poppy at first. Though their dynamic developed as the mystery deepened. For me, the murder mystery was the strongest element for in the story. I really appreciated the author’s curated playlist, it definitely helped to set the mood while reading.

If you enjoy celebrity drama mixed with cozy murder mystery, romance and scandal, this might be a great pick for you.

Content Warnings:
Murder, violence, grief and on page sexual content

Thank you Netgalley for this Advanced Readers Copy.

This is was a fun read for me. I loved the suspense and the thriller aspect of this book. That story of the book made it really engaging for me and I liked that. I loved the main character; she was a strong and self-assured. Many times, it makes it hard for me to enjoy a book with a weak main character, but this one was great!

However, I felt the pacing was a bit unbalanced throughout the book. Specifically, in the romance, I felt that things got way too quick, and they didn't really have that chemistry. It almost seemed forced in that short time period. The writing style hit a bit flat for me. She would be a bit to explicit in the narrative parts that could have been just as clear without, and it made it a bit bland.

Personally, this book was not really for me, but if you enjoy a good mystery, and okay with open-door romance and insta lust, you should definitely give it a try.

So thankful for Kate for entrusting me with an ARC for this in exhange for honest review.

Where do I begin? This story kept me awake at night and for a good reason. I could not have guessed anything along the way!

I loved the scenery and suspense.

Loved the spice and angst, just all around a perfect summer read for me.

📔 The Situation Ship-a standalone

✍🏾By ~ Kate Callaghan-I read Not Another Rockstar & gave it 5⭐

Rating ~ 4/5⭐

Genre ~ Romantic Suspense, Mystery

🌍Setting ~ Ireland to cruise

📅 Publication date ~ July 27, 2025, | Read ~ July 19, 2025

Est Page Count ~ 354

POV ~ dual, 3rd person

⚠️TW ~ stalking, murder, emotional/physical abuse

Featuring ~celebrity romance, opposites attract, slow burn, cruise ship, same cabin

Summary ~After the death of her aunt, Poppy goes a luxury cruise The Midas where a killer goes on a rampage. Isaiah is a detective suspicious of Poppy and all the deaths surrounding her. He goes on the same cruise after being hired as her personal security.

🎭Characters

👩🏾Poppy Roe~ 26, pop singer turned actress.

👨🏾Isaiah Rivers~ a detective suspicious of Poppy due to multiple deaths related to her.

Aunt Martha Roe~ raised Poppy from eight years old after her parents died in car accident
Joshua Clark~ Poppy's boyfriend-a business arrangement
Duggerty~ Aunt Martha's manager
Minera/Mina~ Poppy's new assistant
Levi Eckells~ Mina's boss and owner of The Midas
Captain Roberts ~ Isaiah's boss
Michael~ Isaiah's partner
Axel~ Isaiah's friend, getting married

🤔My Thoughts ~I enjoyed the murder plot and Isaiah's fierce protectiveness. Poppy isn't the nicest woman, but she trusted Isaiah, their attraction sparked. Poppy and Isaiah had some witty banter while keeping themselves alive.

🙏🏽Thanks to NetGalley, CallaghanWriter| Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles, and Kate Callaghan for this ARC 🚢⚓! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

This book follows Poppy Roe, a famous popstar who sets out to sea on a cruise ship while accompanied by her bodyguard Isaiah Rivers. As a killer emerges as a serious threat to the safety of those aboard, but mainly Poppy, Isaiah and Poppy work together to find the culprit and in the process build trust and a romance.

What I liked most about this book is that it kept me on my toes and that I was never too certain on who the killer on the ship was and had multiple theories throughout the book, but in the end, I was actually surprised by the reveal, which I can appreciate. The romance element of this book was alright as it was nothing too incredibly special to me, and I cared much more of the plot payoff than rooting for the romantic relationship.

A sharp, witty dive into the chaos of modern dating. The Situationship is painfully relatable, laugh-out-loud funny, and filled with emotional truths about self-worth and letting go of the wrong guy. Perfect for fans of messy love lives and even messier personal growth.

ARC review
3.8 ⭐️
~murder mystery, thriller

Thank you Netgalley and Kate Callaghan for letting me read this arc. The following review is my honest thoughts and opinions.

The Situation Ship was a fun read for me considering its setting - that is the cruise ship. A string of murders surrounds the pop star Poppy, with a killer who seems to be playing a cat-and-mouse game with her. The entire book is about her and Detective Isaiah trying to figure out clues left on the cruise ship to piece together the identity of the killer.

Poppy was a fierce character throughout. I loved the cruise concept and the whole 'everyone's a suspect' situation. I like the ending too, which was a nice surprise. Throughout the book, I placed my suspicions on a lot of people, but I was proved wrong.😂
There is little spice in it (in like 3 chapters) which you can just ignore if you're looking for spice spice-free read.

For the cons, I have to say there were unnecessary details here and there. Not too much but still. I also felt like Poppy and Isaiah's dynamic should have been a little better cause they gave into each other way too fast.😂 At times it was fast paced and other times slow, so the pacing was a bit off too.

Other than that, it was an enjoyable read.✨️

Amazing book loved the characters and plot. I couldn't stop reading I stayed up all night. I loved the book so much thank you for the arc.

Thank Kate Callaghan and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review! All information below is based off my own opinion of the book! I also like to keep my reviews short and simple as someone who looks at the short reviews before reading books. 💕⭐️

Book rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Favorite characters: Poppy & Mina
Review: The book was a good time! I loved the plot there wasn’t a lot of romance in the book but I kind of enjoyed the lack of romance and more of the mystery side of things! The whole book I kept trying to guess who the killer might have been and it changed every other chapter! I wish the ending was a little better! Overall the story kept me entertained and I loved characters!

4.5✨
I loved this book!! It was such a fun and
enjoyably read!! If you love tropes like:
Detective/Bodyguard X Pop Star
Cruise Ship
Murder Mystery
Opposites Attract
Shared Cabin
Reluctant Allies
This is definitely the book for you!!
Poppy Roe is a Pop Star
after her abusive
Auntie death (murder) she's ready to take charge of her life from firing her agent to taking a cruise ship. Just as she's about to aboard with her new assistant and a new bodyguard/detective she's dumped my her (Fake) boyfriend who abundance her and drives away.
Curious about her new bodyguard Isaiah Rivers and why he's volunteered to take this job and if he may or may not be keeping an eye on her over her Auntie death.
Highly recommend this book!! 😍😍😍

The Situation Ship by Kate Callaghan is a slow-burn romantic thriller (is that even a thing?). This was a fast-paced page-turner that caught my attention immediately. While it started with more thriller vibes, there’s enough spice and romance added to keep things interesting without detracting from the story. A lot is happening in this one, and it will keep you guessing.
I appreciate NetGalley and the publisher for providing the ARC ebook that I read and reviewed. All opinions are my own.

I was a bit unsure of the direction this story was heading more towards - romance or thriller. The suspense was definitely there either way. Enough to keep me dying to know what was going to happen next. The plot twist was totally unexpected. The spice was just the right amount. Overall, I would recommend this book. To make it even more fun, read this book on a cruise vacation haha

3 Stars - Fine book

A person should avoid booking healing cruise packages since many Hollywood celebrities want to see you dead. The Situation Ship begins its journey with this energy and delivers a mostly fun and bloody experience.

Poppy Roe boards a week-long luxury cruise to escape her grief and gossip headlines. She discovers cryptic notes and CCTV blind spots, and the body count matches the number of cocktail specials. The detective Isaiah Rivers , who doubles as her bodyguard, plans to protect her until he proves whether she is a victim or a perpetrator. The story progresses through its chapters like a podcast about true crimes, using the ship’s decks as settings and passengers as suspects, while the ocean waves create enough motion to require Dramamine.

Callaghan nails cruise-life minutiae—the buffet purgatory, claustrophobic cabins, and that eerie 2 a.m. hush—while handing Poppy a satisfyingly grey moral compass. The mystery clicks because every corpse ties back to the toxic machinery of fame, and the final mask-drop, though half-guessed, still lands.

The romance development moves too quickly throughout the story. The transition from wary allies to deep soul connection within four days triggers my #InstaLust warning signal because I wanted more nighttime surveillance and fewer spontaneous heart declarations. The detective’s credibility suffers from Isaiah’s willingness to accept an excessive number of deaths, and the two major red herrings, consisting of Mina’s dishonesty and her friend’s excessive helpfulness, fail to make an impact.

This book works well for poolside reading if you accept fast-paced feelings and want to finish the suspense in one sitting.

The publisher provided an ARC for review, but my opinions remain completely wild and independent.

New-to-me author, and while overall the book was fine I don't think I was the right audience for it. Poppy (famous singer) and Isaiah (extremely skeptical detective) meet under tense circumstances and their whirlwind romance then takes place over a couple of weeks during a very trying time in Poppy's life. (Murder just seems to follow this girl around, doesn't it?) They're both a bit morally gray (which didn't really bother me), and I don't think it's a spoiler to say that this was a theme for the book. I was invested in the mystery, and there were definitely some twists I didn't see coming in this whodunnit. However, the writing style is a bit flat and the pacing/plotting was uneven. I was jarred at times by the push-pull of the relationship between Poppy and Isaiah, and the insta-lust/insta-love aspect gave me a bit of whiplash. (I'm fine with sexual content in my books, but in this book it sometimes felt like filler or a way for the author to force intimacy between two characters who really didn't know each other well at all.) This is an age gap romance, which normally isn't my favorite, but it didn't bother me here since Poppy (26) didn't come across as being a lot younger emotionally than Isaiah (mid-30s). If you're a fan of this author's previous books then you're likely to enjoy this one. (Phoebe and Axel from Not Another Rockstar make cameos in this book, and since they knew Isaiah here I assume he was also in their book.) Fans of age-gap, forced proximity, open-door insta-lust romance with morally gray characters should like this quick read. Publishes July 27, 2025. This review is based on a complimentary eARC of the book, all opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed the book! tho i would have loved writing the names of the characters and who they were, because some of them appeared later and i just forgot who they were haha, but the trio i really liked them! the mystery was done really good and i didn’t see the killer being her!! Overall i enjoyed a lot the book 4.5 ❤️

After the death of her Aunt Poppy Roe the princess of pop finds out about a plot to kill her so she hires a new body guard to travel with her on her vacation. Little does she know that detective Isaiah Rivers ( the new body guard) is investigating some deaths that have been happening around her and his number one suspect is her.

This moved really fast. Things started to happen almost immediately. The plot was constantly going from one point to another. It had me guessing who was responsible who could be doing this the whole time.

I loved the cameos from other books. It made me so happy to see them pop into the story.

Tropes:
Shared Cabin on a cruise ship
Suspect to lovers
Murder mystery
Body guard/ detective
Touch her and die
Protective MMC


Thank you Net Galley and CallaghanWriter | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles for providing this early copy for review.