The Shippers Katherine Center

One of the hottest, fastest-rising rom-com stars delivers her latest swoon-worthy novel about a destination wedding on a cruise ship.

After a whole lifetime of being bad at love, JoJo Burton decides to solve her intimacy issues once and for all at her sister’s destination wedding on a cruise ship. With the help of a little pop psychology, she diagnoses herself with a fixation on the neighborhood guy who was her her first crush and first kiss (and who just happens to be a newly-divorced wedding guest ), and she decides to woo him during the cruise for some long-delayed closure. Only problem is, her sister’s a little busy being a bride at the moment—so JoJo ropes in her childhood bestie, Cooper Watts, to be her wing man. Cooper: who RSVPed no, but then showed up, anyway. Cooper: who left town without a word four years earlier and moved to London. Cooper: who was, if she’s honest, the worst heartbreak of JoJo’s life. It’s bliss for her to see him again, and it’s agony, too—and the more they team up for Project Conquest, the more she obsesses over questions she can’t bring herself to ask.

Shipboard antics ensue in this witty, heart-tugging, childhood-friends-to-lovers romance—as JoJo and Cooper fake flirt, slow dance, share a cabin, sing duets, treat sunburns, get jealous, rescue each other over and over, and finally, at last, figure it all out in the most blissful, swoony, romantic way.

No one does summer romance quite like Katherine Center. THE SHIPPERS will take readers on the cruise of a lifetime in a story awash with romantic longing, top-notch banter, long-held secrets . . . and true love rediscovered.

Kindle Edition, 336 pages

Expected publication May 19, 2026

 by St. Martin's Press

3.75/5 stars

Katherine Center is an auto-read author for me. Ever since reading The Bodyguard, I’ve been slowly working my way through her backlist, and I’ll pretty much pick up anything new she releases.

I was also lucky enough to receive both a digital and audiobook ARC for this one, so I ended up doing a bit of a hybrid read, which worked really well for this kind of story.

The audiobook is narrated by Patti Murin, I’ve listened to a number of books she’s done before and have always enjoyed them. She really does know how to bring a book to life.

A romance set on a cruise ship? As a cruiser myself, I couldn't wait to dig in.

The setting was a lot of fun. Between the wedding prep, the close quarters and all the classic cruise ship moments, it made for a easy, beach read. It has that light, escapist feel her books are known for, but still with some emotional depth underneath.

JoJo is definitely one of those slightly messy, figuring-it-out characters. Her plan to 'fix' her love life added some humour, but also highlighted some deeper issues. I didn’t always agree with her choices but I understood where she was coming from. Then there is Cooper… the childhood best friend who left without a word. Their history is what drives this story. It added tension and gives the romance more weight, even when the story leans into the lighter, rom-com moments.

The romance hits a lot of familiar tropes along with Center's witty banter is always fun to read. Overall, this was a fun, easy read. Not my favourite of hers, but still a solid addition to her backlist and exactly the kind of book I reach for when I want something light and romantic.

My thanks to Macmillain Audio and St. Martin's Press for audio/digital arc in exchange for honest review.