I have been a fan of this author for years. She knows how to write a great romance with excellent character development and connection.

Casey lucks out and finds herself on the maiden voyage of a luxury cruise ship. Her goal is to score an exclusive interview with the ships owner Phillip Woodmont. She told her boss she knew Phillip and could get the interview with the private CEO. What she failed to mention is, yes she once knew him but it was years ago when they were in grade eight. And their friendship also ended in grade eight over rivalry and sabotage between their school debate teams.

Once aboard the extravagant ship, she makes it her mission to get the interview. However, once Phillip sees and recognizes her, his immediate response is no. No way is she getting an interview. He's still holding a grudge from grade eight.

R.S. Grey is an automatic download. I love the past connect that the main characters had and I really enjoyed watching them fall involve. Appreciate the author's consistency.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this advanced readers copy!

It should first be said that I read this book in one setting. While it did start out a little slowly for me- it picked up around the 30-35% range. I liked the dual POV a lot in this book. This one is one of grey’s steamier novels for sure! I liked the premise quite a bit and the pacing ended up working for me. I liked the female friendship that was featured. It did seem like the hero’s bff may have been or will be featured in a book.

The portion that didn’t quite hit for me: the hero and heroine have some drama from the past and they never actually have a conversation about why the heroine made her choices back then. The reader knows why she does it, but she never actually talks to the hero about it. Also the very last reuniting scene was too far fetched and out of character for the hero, I wish the author would’ve come up with a different explanation for that occurrence. Lastly, I don’t think the epilogue added anything to the story.

Overall this was a fun and quick steamy - perfect for the summer- read. I’d totally recommend it for anyone hunting for a summer romance!

3.75-4 stars
3 out of 5 steam level

4.5 stars!!!! This book was SO cute!

Thank you so much to RS Grey and NetGalley for the ARC for exchange of an honest review.

I loved Casey and Phillip’s love story. Childhood enemies to lovers, poor vs rich, he falls first, he falls harder. It was all so perfect.

I also loved the “coming of age” and “finding oneself” aspect as well from Casey. I was so proud of her when (spoiler alert) she finally quit her awful job!

Loved all around!

Will be uploading a TikTok review by the end of April!

This book was fun and exactly what you want in a beach read. The plot wasn't heavy, the scenery and locations were gorgeously described, I even googled a few and they were spot on. This author is an automatic buy for me. Some times you need to escape into a book without any heavy subject matter or insufferable characters, which is just what this book did for me. My brain took a nice vacation aboard the cruise ship. I will definitely be recommending this for a summer read in my book group

Thanks Montlake for the ARC!

I have read every single R.S. Grey book and I will read all future books Rachel publishes. Grey's books suck you in and when you finally come up for air you realize you've been rotting in bed for the whole day. I've actually cancelled plans just to finish one of her books, they're so addicting!

Caribbean crush was a cute second chance romance + enemies to lovers story. Casey, the aspiring travel journalist and Phillip, the heir to a shipping company were so fun to read about. I loved their banter, Grey's specialty!

The only thing that made me give it 4/5 stars rather than 5/5 is that I wish the main characters had more time together, their HEA felt a bit rushed and I wish they would have delved a little deeper into their family and personal lives.

This will be the perfect summer read and I highly recommend it (as well as all of R.S. Grey's books!)

I really enjoyed this book! For me it was the perfect pace and kept me interested the whole time! Loved alllllll the characters. Thanks Netgalley and to the publisher.

Four Sweet Stars!!

This one starts out a little rocky. Casey Hughes never dreamed she’d be on a cruise ship for a work related assignment. But this assignment is going to be tricky once Phillip Woodmont denies her access…to himself. So she grows bolder by the day and things start to heat up. This was a fun entertaining story that is full of laughs and love.
I would highly recommend to any romance reader.

ARC copy provided by NetGalley.

Almost everything about this book made me happy. This is my first book by R.S. Grey and it struck me what a great author she is. The book is so much fun to read! The plot is interesting and the main characters are realistic and well developed. Philip is just gorgeous; powerful but caring, and Carey is bold, brave, daring and so much fun! I had no trouble connecting to all the characters. Although Philip is very powerful, I liked that Carey had a simple, humble background and is very down to earth. She’s also been through a lot but tries not to let that keep her from fighting for what she wants. Her feelings are relatable; she’s often doubting herself or the simple things (like waiting for Sienna in the hallway and freaking out about being late), but she also just tries to just go for it and jump all in.
The secondary characters are just perfect: Sienna was everything you’d want and I liked her pairing with Javier. Philip’s friend Tyson and his romance with Samara made me browse R.S. Grey’s books to check if there was a book about them (I haven’t found it).
The setting made me want to go on a cruise. The emotions are relatable and made me nod or laugh, and Philip is such a sexy hunk! What I didn’t like is Casey’s proposition and the fact that she tried to flee in seks instead of talking to Philip. Philip was so nice and understanding, really wanted to listen to whatever was bothering her, but she kept dodging his attempts at being this great, attentive and caring guy. I would have liked a little less spice and more talks and feels, and her caving in way sooner. Casey's attitude towards compatibility or her self-worth was a little frustrating at times; I wanted to shake some sense in her! But I liked the ending, it was satisfying. And the epilogue was perfect; I was almost sad I finished the book. I enjoyed it very much and I highly recommend this fun read. 4,5 stars.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book and I am very grateful for the opportunity. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I am a huge fan of R. S. Grey books and this book did not disappoint! This was a fun, steamy, tension filled read. I enjoyed the flow and the descriptive emotional tone of not only an enemies to lovers storyline, but also a besties storyline between Casey and Sienna. Everyone could use a friendship like Sienna!

In this rom-com we meet Casey, a wallflower whose boss wants an interview with a friend from her past, Phillip. Casey embarks on a luxury cruise where Phillip spots her and immediately says, no due to a grudge he’s been holding since 8th grade. The steaminess between the two made this a quick read for myself. I enjoyed the bit of humor entwined in and would recommend the book as a perfect beach/vacation read.

Thank you to NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

This story was an enemies-to-lovers with a splash of an (almost) second-chance romance. I always look forward to new book from R.S. Grey because they are usually a lighter read - something funny to lift my spirits a little. And while it did that, it was also a little sad. One of the things that really hit me with this story was how alone Casey was in the world. It honestly broke my heart a little.

“I’m desperate for his comfort, I realize. I want to feel like there’s someone in my corner.”

Despite being alone in the world, Casey was tough. She didn’t dwell on her life. She wasn’t looking for pity or handouts. She tried to make the best of every situation. I was so happy that Casey made a connection with Sienna. Everybody needs a friend, and Sienna filled that need for Casey.

Casey also did a great job standing up to Phillip. He hates her, and she was relentless in getting him to talk to her. He really pushed her buttons, and she didn’t just rollover and take it, she pushed back. They really brought out the best in each other.

I loved the way things worked out in the end. He didn’t promise her the world. She made her own future.

RS Grey always delivers a fun and steamy romance book and this was no exception.

She is an aspiring travel journalist who gets her big break by going on an exclusive cruise and her career is riding on an interview with said CEO but he just so happens to be hold a grudge against her from years ago. I thought the dynamic between them was charming, full of banter, fun, streamy and a bit angsty. The story gives a bit of wanderlust and the perfect read to sit by the beach imaging you are traveling the world. One thing I also loved about this book was how she doesn't let him walk all over her and she challenges him. I also loved the female friendship in the book and how a woman can have love and still be a great friend which is a great message to have. I really enjoyed this book because RS Grey has a natural charm for creating books that are feel good and fun and are a guaranteed good time. She crafts a perfect balance between laughter and detailed character growth. Her characters feel relatable and like people I would actually want to be friends with and relationships that are realistic and unique each time.

Caribbean Crush was a quick and fun read! I sort of wish I read this in the summer...this would be a perfect beach read with the Caribbean setting. R.S. Grey did a great job of adding comedic bits to the story. I thought the side characters were notable and important to the storyline. Sienna was such a delightful side character! I liked that this book had dual POV's. Although their relationship was fast, I liked Casey and Phillip together. Their background story was cute and funny....their first scene together had me laughing. I liked that Phillip was direct about his feelings with Casey. I enjoyed Casey's POV chapters, especially when she got into shenanigans with Sienna. The only major critique I have is the ending. I think a few more chapters at the end would make the book feel less rushed. Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the ARC.

Caribbean Crush was the perfect romantic, adorable, put a smile on your face read. I loved the fantasy of the luxury cruise. Phillip was just right as the reclusive owner of the ship who's actually softer than he appears. Casey is an aspiring reporter who wants to interview him, but they have a past history that makes that difficult. A low angst romance with tons of charm and chemistry.

As a long time R.S Grey fan, I couldn’t let this opportunity to read an ARC of hers pass me by! And I’m SO smug I got to read Caribbean Crush before everyone else. It had absolutely everything I need in a romance book, and it also had such a classic cinematic Rom-Com vibe, particularly in the final chapters, which you just can’t find these days!

I loved that the MC’s weren’t just copy and pasted love interests from every other romance novel out there, but instead they were flawed and hopeless and a little lost in life. The plot didn’t feel like a regurgitation of so many other books flooding the market right now, and this was my first cruise ship adventure! I really do love R S Greys ‘destination’ romances, (see ‘Enemies Abroad’ and ‘A Place In The Sun’), and I think it’s because she really puts in the work and research, or maybe has personal experience of the places she writes about, and she’s so brilliant at bringing those places to life, through the eyes of her characters. It’s so rare that authors have me wanting to book plane tickets at 2am on a Tuesday, you know?

I really don’t understand why we don’t see her name banded about more on booktok/bookstagram because she out-writes the majority of romance authors that seem to get all of the glory. She’s consistently producing books that leave you wanting more and she deserves every success! Oh, and she’s got this real knack for these one liners and laugh out loud moments without trying too hard, or making her MC’s come across silly or calamitous.

My only criticism, you ask? That this was made to be read on a beach in 36 degree heat while sipping on a cocktail, but instead I’m lay in bed at 2:40am in stormy England, looking up Caribbean beaches and wondering if my bank account can accommodate such things!

First person, dual POV: Casey & Phillip
Rating: 4⭐️
Spice: 2🌶️
Tropes: second chance, enemies to lovers

I’m such a sucker for RS Grey books. I devour them. It’s just so easy to fall in love with the story and the characters.
Sweet Casey is a bit down on her luck. Her grandmother, who is her only family and her best friend, recently passed so she is picking up those pieces and trying to figure out life. The one thing she has always known for certain in life is that she wants to be a travel writer. Currently working as a fact checker at a publication, she’s grasping as her big break and when the chance to board a Caribbean Cruise lead by someone from her past, she jumps at the chance to get her big break.
She meets an influencer named Sienna, which is such a sweet friendship and I loved them so much, and tries to get back in the good graces of Phillip.
I felt the “enemies” reasoning was a little flat (they were in 8th grade and barely friends), and I wish we had more time with them building up to them finally getting together, but it didn’t detour me from enjoying the storyline and characters over all.
Casey finding and standing up for herself made me so happy. I found myself wanting to know even more about her happy ending by the end. I just loved seeing her have her big break in life.
Phillip is classic leading man billionaire hot and then he starts falling for her HARD…wow. I loved that man. When he puts the entire cruise and crew at her fingertips for her disposal? Swoon! We do get a little bit of ex girlfriend plot hiccup, but Phillip is real quick to remedy that.

This one doesn’t release until 9/3, so we have a bit of time, but I highly recommend adding this to your end of summer TBR.
And if you’re needing a tropical reading break a little sooner, check out her next release, Their Last Resort, on 5/1.

Thank you to NetGalley for a review chance.



✨ARC review✨

Caribbean Crush 🍹

Aspiring Travel Journalist Casey Hughes embarks on a ‘fake it till you make it’ journey resulting in her having to tackle her childhood rival and typical grumpy male MC, Phillip.

The character and story development gives such a clear insight to the way Casey and Phillip’s story slowly progresses as they navigate not only the sea, but also their relationship.

A dual POV, childhood enemies trope and a tense slow burn, this is the perfect holiday/vacation read!

I especially loved Casey’s recollection of her Grandma, the relationship they had and how it influences her choices. There’s a realistic aspect of grief throughout this book that brought something different to the typical romance.

“You’ve got sunshine in you, you know that? You don’t ever let anyone snuff it out”

The only comment I have to make about the plot is the way that it begins with a focus on the childhood rivalry of the 2 main characters, clearly emphasising the importance of it in relation to their progression… But reference to it seems to completely disappear about half way through.

Other than that, 4 stars! I highly recommend!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Wow, wow, WOW! I loved Caribbean Crush. I felt like R.S. Grey took on a different voice in this book, which made me happy for her. I feel like she tried to do that with My Professor and had a tough reception (it still frustrates me because I loved that book to the moon and back). There’s still plenty of rom-com elements but I felt like emotions dug deeper in this book, which I flat out adored. Grief is such a huge part of life, and the way it impacts us irrevocably changes our lives. I wanted to reach out through my book and give Casey a massive hug, and I really appreciated how patient and adoring Phillip was with her.

I had to laugh at the middle school stuff because it was realistic. Things that happened when we were younger will also never leave our psyches.

Her friendship with Sienna was beautiful, especially because it can be hard to find true friends when you’re older. I also appreciated the detail with Phillip and Vivi’s relationship, because I think it’s so easy to get sucked into comfortable relationships in real life and almost settle. It was nice to see him realize the difference and choose the life he could build with Casey when confronted with the two.

I thought the ending for Phillip and Casey was perfect—a fresh start for them both, together. Loved it so, so much, and thanks for the ARC!

I think there might be a minor typo. It’s location 4287 on my kindle, right after they meet on the plane. When Phillip is talking he says “Though got to say I’m relieved…it just doesn’t cut it.” Did it mean to say “though to say I’m relieved” or “Though not to say I’m relieved” ? I wasn’t really sure, but wanted to point it out.

My public review will be coming later this weekend on Instagram — @blooming.biblio

Cheers! Xx

Loved the ship setting of this book! I also enjoyed the dynamics of her building friendships in addition to the romance. Being in a dead-end job is something many can relate to, seeing her get the courage to stand up for herself was great. I would love to see a sequel to follow all the characters!

The perfect palate cleansing romance. Reigniting a flame from years ago, kind of enemies to lovers, he’s obsessed with her and she has reservations??? Sign me up!