⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5/5)
🌶️🌶️🌶️ (2.5/5)

Casey Hughes, an aspiring travel journalist, finally gets her big break after she tells her boss she can get an exclusive interview with the ship’s owner. She does know Phillip Woodmont, so what could go wrong? Wellllll…they once knew each other in the eighth grade as competitors in their schools’ quiz bowl tournament. Casey may have sabotaged Phillip’s team back then and twenty years later, he hasn’t forgotten.

Ten days aboard a luxurious cruise ship set to sail around the Caribbean is surely enough time to obtain an interview with Phillip, right? Until every chance Casey gets to ask him for one, his immediate response is “no.” Yeah, he definitely hasn’t forgotten.

An enemies-to-lovers romcom with equal parts sweet and spicy shaken (not stirred) together for the perfect summer read. This story takes place over the duration of the cruise and it was absolutely perfect. The writing was descriptive and sucked me right in. I actually felt like I was on the ship with the characters; sailing, dining, porting and exploring various locations. We lounged by the pool on board, went on some strenuous hikes, saw some waterfalls, ate delicious food, and made some amazing friends!! Maybe even fell in love with Phillip…No, I definitely fell in love with Phillip.

The chemistry between Casey and Phillip was hhhoOoottt. The tension… I mean… I can’t talk about it without blushing. And the side characters were awesome, I loved them all. Even Vivienne. And I absolutely loved Casey and Sienna’s friendship.

My only complaints would be 1. I would’ve loved to see Casey and Phillip settle what happened in the past. It was brought up and then brushed aside but I would’ve loved to have Casey explain to him what really happened that day at the quiz bowl. 2. I would’ve loved to have more chapters with Phillip’s POV. 3. What does this author have against the word c*ck? Or any words describing genitalia? If I’m reading explicit scenes, go full throttle!!! Gimme it ALL!

If you’re looking for a fast paced, entertaining read because you’re just not ready to let go of summer yet… this is the one! Pick it up! Right now!

I liked this a lot more than I expected to. The two of them were cute but I don't feel like I really know them that well. I enjoyed their relationship but I would have liked to get to know them better as characters.

I received an arc from grey's promotion.

This is Casey and Phillips story.
Casey is a struggling travel journalist, who needs a big break, and is assigned to get an interview from elusive shipping heir Phillip, and she lands the opportunity of a lifetime on a maiden voyage on a luxury cruise ship. Phillip and Casey have a history, but will he forgive the past and give her the interview she desperately needs?
This is a well written story which is easy to read, with enemies / lovers, opposites attract, forced proximity, emotions, tension, drama, twists, humor, witty banter, undeniable chemistry, second chances, romance, engaging and realistic characters and secondary characters, and love, which leads to an entertaining, and fun addictive page turner.
I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend.

stars

“I’ve fallen for you,” he admits boldly. […]
“I’m falling for you, too, Phillip.” I have fallen. hard.”


one thing is certain: whenever R.S. Grey writes, I devour her books within a day. her novels always have the power to cure my reading slumps. 'Caribbean Crush' was no exception - set on a cruise ship, it transported me to picturesque settings and immersed me in a passionate romance. I enjoyed every moment of it.

Casey needed a career boost, so she took a calculated risk by claiming a long-standing friendship with Philippe, the owner of the luxurious Aurelia cruise. what she failed to disclose was that Philippe remembered her as the girl who accidentally broke his nose years ago. as a result, she was sent to secure an exclusive interview with Philippe while enjoying ten idyllic days on the ship. however, Philippe's memory was still sharp, and he was far from thrilled to see her again. he was not inclined to give her what she wanted, setting the stage for a tense and potentially disastrous encounters.

the banter in this book was absolutely delicious, with a perfect blend of witty repartee and humor. the enemies-to-lovers storyline was remarkably crafted, with Casey and Philippe engaging in biting exchanges that left no one feeling comfortable. the tension was palpable throughout the narrative, with well-timed jealousy moments that added to the emotional intensity. Casey's struggles during her crisis resonated deeply with me, and I found myself empathizing with her plight. Philippe, on the other hand, was the quintessential tall, handsome, and successful male man character. while his inner thoughts about his ex-fiancée in the early chapters felt slightly unnecessary, I still enjoyed his character immensely.

overall, I loved the book despite some minor quibbles. the writing was engaging, and the romance was addicting and satisfying. If you enjoy a good enemies-to-lovers story with plenty of humor and heart, this is definitely a book worth reading.

”becoming an orphan when you’re a young adult is a bitter pill to swallow. no one really feels all that bad for you because you’re not a kid anymore, but it doesn’t negate the fact that you’re really on your own now.”


many thanks to Grey’s Promotion for providing the e-ARC in exchange of an honest review

I love that RS Grey has been focusing on vacation romances because they are perfect, I literally loved that this one was set on a cruise. I got to enjoy my favorite things about cruising while also enjoying Casey and Phillip’s enemies to lovers story. Phillip hates Casey from a competition back in eighth grade, and while it’s petty, after learning the facts, honestly I can understand why the man holds a grudge. But when Casey needs an interview from him for her job, he does everything in his power to say no, while Casey does everything in her power to get him to say yes.

The scenes where Casey appears and starts to bother Phillip are my favorite, they have great banter and chemistry, and it was also so funny that I enjoyed them so much. I also love how Casey shocked me just as much as she shocked Phillip, this book was a wild ride and I enjoyed every moment of it!

Phillip and Casey are so much fun together and it was great to see Casey evolve on the cruise and stick up for herself. Phillip gradually learns to unbend and trust her, and the enemies to lovers trope is fulfilled. There is so much chemistry between the two of them and when they finally act on it the sparks fly and things get a little spicy. It's the perfect summer beach/pool/vacation read. I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed the narration by Jeremy York and Luci Christian.

Casey is one of the most entertaining characters I have read in a while. Her inner monologue is very funny. She has been under a lot of stress, but she just knows that this assignment is going to change her life. It does -- just not in any way that she could have predicted. Phillip is a good character, too, but he pales a bit in comparison to Casey. This is her book, no question. I love that she has a strong sense of values and of what is truly important. She may get a bit confused sometimes, but she always comes back to herself. I also enjoyed Sienna as her sidekick. This book was a lot of fun and a good summer read.

I was provided the opportunity to read an ARC of this courtesy of the publisher, the author, NetGalley and Valentine PR.

This novel started out greatly as a summer rom com! I liked the characters and the setting was a whole vacation vibe I needed. Towards the middle however this book became a bit rushed and focused on an HEA. The genuine story felt forced at times and it took away from from the rom com feel. I definitely would have loved to have seen some banter and spice throughout.

This is a novel many will enjoy however I think I didn’t vibe with the insta lust but I know a lot of people love it! I would definitely recommend to readers who love insta love and cute romances!

What another fun and entertaining rom-com from R.S. Grey!

Caribbean Crush sets sail with Casey Hughes- a fact checker for a travel magazine that desperately wants to break out into her own role of travel writer. Her in? Getting an exclusive interview with Phillip Woodmont, the big boss of the new luxury cruise ship- no problem since they knew each other in middle school, right? Oh, except for the small detail of him absolutely hating her... but that's all water under the ship.

These two are a match in polar opposite paradise. Phillip is exceedingly private, born to wealthy family and has never wanted for anything. He thrives with control and all of his actions are meticulously calculated- until Casey Hughes barrels back into his life. Casey is 1000% the hot mess express- her life has been in this stagnant spiral ever since her grandmother's passing a year before. Now she has no home, is stuck spinning her wheels at work but is determined that getting this interview will be the catapult to her future- even if she is also dealing with some impostor syndrome in the meantime. You would think when her first interaction with Phillip goes horribly wrong she would pull back and rethink how to handle the situation but no- instead she brings on the sass, snark and IDGAF vibes. Casey basically accepts that she isn't getting this interview but is still drawn to Phillip both because he is downright gorgeous and magnetic but also because she seems to simply enjoy ruffling his calculated demeanor. In fact just her presence often has Phillip acting out of character- filling it with this spark that he didn't realize wasn't there.

The friendship and romantic relationship these two build is so fun- even when you're screaming in your head because they are both so into each other but neither one of them seems to be willing to break the idea/rule that whatever they are ends when the boat docks back in Florida. The side characters are also enjoyable and I personally adore Sienna and her crazy outgoing personality. She helped crack Casey's shell and boosted her confidence at every turn.

Were there moments that were far fetched? Sure. Did they greatly take away from my enjoyment of this story? Absolutely not. I found this book to be an easy read but easy in the way that it wasn't overly dramatic, it was light, silly and sweet while also having those specks of spice peppered in. Absolutely the kind of story you can read for a little escape.

Looking forward to more from Rachel in the future!

“You asked if I was always so difficult, and the answer is no, plain and simple. You bring out this side of me.” “A privilege,”

I always love an enemies to lovers story and Caribbean Crush was an adorable one! Casey Hughes is an aspiring travel journalist stuck in a fact checkers job. All she wants is to start writing about great new destinations so when she finds an in with the next big feature she jumps at the chance.

Phillip Woodmont is doing amazingly innovative things with cruise ships so naturally the first voyage on his new ship, Aurelia, includes travel journalists. He just didn’t expect Casey Hughes to be one of them.
“My long-forgotten quiz-bowl crush.”

Casey and Phillip became rivals in elementary school and Phillip hasn’t forgiven Casey for what she did. I loved how determined Casey was to do her job and never let Phillip’s lack of cooperation deter her. However, it’s Phillip who is determined in the end to prove Casey wrong when it comes to their time together on the ship and post.
“The arrangement we struck didn’t take into account our unique circumstances.”

Thank you @authorrsgrey for the ARC!
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🔥: “Let’s Swim.”

Wow! The characters chemistry was 10/10, the writing was fun and honestly I just wanted to be on this cruise!
Nothing felt too complicated, the story had good pacing and the plot was good. I highly recommend this book, a must read.
Also thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

I really loved this. A nice fun read. R.S. grey always delivers on plot and spice!

The cruise setting added so much lightness and fun. I laughed so much. The competition element was PERFECT. A great pallet cleanser of a read.

Casey, a struggling journalist, finds herself on the maiden voyage of a luxury cruise ship, hoping to secure an interview with its owner, Phillip Woodmont. Years ago, the two had a falling out, and Phillip, now a billionaire with a preference for privacy, still harbors a grudge against her. Despite her desperate circumstances, including the loss of her only relative and mounting debt, Casey is determined to get the interview. Phillip, however, is equally determined to keep her at a distance.

The story thrives on the tension and witty banter between Casey and Phillip, embodying the classic enemies-to-lovers trope. This is a well-crafted romcom that perfectly blends romance and humor, leaving listeners entertained and smiling long after the story ends.

Sometimes the right book comes into your life at the right time and that is what happened here.
Casey and Phillip knew each other in the past, it was so long ago, eighth grade! He couldn't be holding a grudge against her still. Only, he is. Casey is a travel reporter on Phillip's new cruise ship and she is gunning for an interview with him, but he doesn't want to give her an interview, he doesn't even want to be near her. She gets under his skin in a way that is unmatched.
Casey will try any angle to get this story, even if she has to offer herself (yes, she sees the way he looks at her). One night for one story. It seems like a good idea, until it isn't.
Phillip likes his nice clean, comfortable, steady life. Casey is messy and not at all what he is looking for. His ex, Vivianne. will comes to her senses and realize that they are best together. Unfortunately, the more stime he spends with Casey, the less he thinks that his ex is what he needs. He hasn't felt any of these feelings before and is scared out of his mind, but he can't stay away from her. Casey knows she is a mess and not at all what Phillip wants or needs, so at the end of the trip they will break it off, no matter how much it hurts.
These two had so much tension you could just feel it pulsing through the book. I love a grumpy hero that doesn't know what he wants in life until he gets hit in the face with it and can't let it go.
There was a beautiful little twist of fate at the end that I was ALL in on. I really enjoyed this book and it was the perfect summer read.
Thanks to Montlake, Netgalley and RS Grey for an early copy.

Thank you NetGalley, Montlake and RJ Grey for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Caribbean Crush is my first book by RJ Grey but it won’t be my last. This was so cute.

I have never wanted to go on a cruise but this book sure tempted me, if Phillip ever wants to invite me on an ultra luxury cruise I would made an exception for him!

Casey is a hardworking fact checker who dreams of being a travel journalist. She is quiet and keeps her head down - until she doesn’t, and finds herself committing to getting an interview from a previous classmate who is now an impossible interview to land.

Casey and Phillip have a history which I’m a sucker for but they also have tension and some wonderful banter.

I am obsessed with Casey’s fast friendship with Sienna and how they were so supportive of each other despite being very different and just meeting.

Well wasn't this the most delightful little summer rom-com! Years ago, I stumbled upon my first RS Grey book and proceeded to binge her entire backlist in like, a week, so I knew this would be a winner! Caribbean Crush is filled with plenty of laughs, lots of chemistry, and is just an all around great time!

Casey, the FMC, was giving Andie Anderson vibes (let the girl write what she wants!) as a travel journalist just trying to get her big break. One little white lie results in her ending up on the world's newest cruise liner, where the owner just happens to be her childhood crush/enemy, Phillip. From the first moment they reconnect on the boat, you just know you are going to be rooting for them to find their happy ending. Casey and Phillip have plenty of chemistry and tense moments, which OF COURSE, leads to lots of sarcastic witty, banter and LOL moments. I did find the tempo of their relationship to be a little rushed and the conflict (past and present) to be a little 🙄 but nothing that would stop me from reading!

My favorite character though was Sienna, who Casey meets on the boat and forms an immediate friendship with. I could have kept reading about their adventures for 100 more pages! I always love when a rom-com gives us the funniest and most supportive side characters!

If you're looking for the easiest, lightest, funnest (I know it's not a word, don't @ me) book, make sure you grab this one when it is out 9/3! Keep those summer vibes going through fall!

Thank you Montlake for the ARC!

I am a longtime fan of RS Grey’s and I was so excited to get to read her latest book!

Caribbean Crush was the perfect summer read full of tension and chemistry. I love Grey’s writing, she’s always so funny and writes fun banter between her characters. This will be a great read for those looking to wrap up the summer with a hot beach read!

4🌟🌟🌟🌟

Casey finds herself on the maiden voyage of a luxury cruise ship. She wants to secure an interview with the ships owner Phillip Woodmont. They knew each other years ago they didn't part on good terms. She recently lost her only relative, has no real friends, and is dealing with massive debt so she is hoping that Phillip will give her the interview to help her.

Phillip, is a billionaire with a soft heart and he still holds a massive grudge against Casey for something that happened so many years ago. Phillip has no interest in doing an interview. Not only because he's holding that grudge, but Phillip does not want people up in his business, he likes to remain private.

The tension between Casey and Phillip was spot on.
This book was great at the tension, and enemies to lovers trope The banter and tension were also done great. If you are in the mood for a good romcom with some sass, tension n banter then this is a great one to pick up.

I really enjoyed the storyline and characters in this newest novel by R.S. Grey. Casey is trying to move on with her life and her grief from losing her grandmother that has left her with significant debt. A chance of luck and Casey gets the opportunity she has been waiting for that she believes might lead to not only a solution to her problems but becoming a successful travel writer at her magazine. She just needs to complete her assignment to show her boss what she can do, the only catch is that Casey will need to snag an interview confronting her childhood friend and crush turned enemy due to a misunderstanding that occurred in their youth.
When she boards the Aurelia she has a plan to confront her childhood friend and crush turned enemy to achieve her goal, but Casey didn't plan for her feelings towards Phillip to still be there or for them to hit her full force along with his attitude igniting their sexual tension and her missing fire. Phillip recently split from his girlfriend that he believes will still end up his wife not out of deep seeded love but logic. Its an arranged marriage vibe because Phillip has never experienced that kind of love. He is very focused and driven with his career and proving himself. This enemies to lovers story is so much more with the added elements of a woman's journey to finding herself and the strength to go after what she wants, friendship, love and passion, and a man discovering there is much more to life than work, and learning to enjoy the unexpected. I found myself engaged in the storyline and invested in the characters from the very beginning. This story had everything I needed with the banter, sexual tension, unexpected friendships, love and all the emotions. It's a wild ride that I would highly recommend you take.

If you love romantic comedy look further than your next tropical vacation with Caribbean Crush by R.S. Grey.
This is Casey Hughes and Phillip Woodmont’s enemies to lovers, entertaining gem of a read. Casey a travel journalist has joined a Caribbean cruise with her mind set on interviewing private and broody billionaire, Phillip Woodmont. What follows is a fun read that I couldn’t put down. I was captivated with this perfect beach read because it’s got something for everyone. It has the perfect mix of romance, passion and humour, it has characters you will fall hard and fast for and more importantly it’s a well written read that will make you laugh and leave you smiling.
I was given a copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley.