Book Review - The Cruise Club by Caroline James

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Title: The Cruise Club

Author: Caroline James

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Avon

Publication Date: 3rd July 2025

Rating: 5 Stars

Escape to the sun with the #1 bestselling author of The Cruise in a feelgood rom com full of romance, fun and mischief, which will sweep you away to the azure waters of the Mediterranean with every turn of the page…

Set sail on the Diamond Star for sunshine, romance – and just a little bit of mischief…

Cosy crime writer Carmen Cunningham is in trouble. Her inspiration has vanished, her deadline is looming, and her meddling elderly mother Betty consumes her every waking moment.

Hoping to revive her creativity, Carmen books a dream cruise, featuring workshops with her literary idol, Ruskin Reeve. It’s the perfect plan – until Betty insists on tagging along…

However, as the Diamond Star sails through sun-soaked ports and magical Mediterranean islands, Carmen finds the escape she needs as she discovers new friendships, and unexpected sparks with the grumpy, but charming, Ruskin.

But mischief is afoot on board the ship, with talk of items going missing and a secret club that’s got everyone talking… Will the cruise reignite Carmen’s writing muse or plunge her into the biggest plot twist of her life? Because, as she's about to find out, anything can happen at sea…

Escape this summer on a holiday like no other, where fun and frolics are the order of the day! The perfect read for fans of Sarah Morgan and Judy Leigh.

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.