ARC REVIEW**
NetGalley

I NEED MORE!!!!
I have never laughed so hard at some of these interactions between characters. This book is all about finding yourself when your original dreams don’t go to plan and learning to love and accept yourself. Meeting super hot boys is never a negative either.
Do yourself a favor and read this. You won’t be disappointed.

Review posted on Goodreads and amazon

The concept for this was intriguing and the characters were fun. However, I did find the story hard to follow at times. There seemed to be too much going on at times. I am sure this book would be loved by some, but it wasn’t the style for me.

Never read a cruise ship romance before and it was a lot of fun, great for those who are fans of musicals!

Was slightly disappointed as I really thought this was going to be an endgame ‘throuple’ situation, it was hinted at SO much.

Early twenty-somethings stuck on a ship together for six months, lots of drinking/stripping games so you know what’s going to happen.
Bar the ‘who will she choose’ there isn’t too much solid plot outside of that.

This is a prime example that it’s not always about literary gold, but it’s about the fun vibes. More Than Shipmates was an enjoyable ride from start to finish, and it slowly helped me with the worst reading slump EVER. The romance was super cute, as were the drinking parties, the love proclamations, and the ending. While I definitely would have preferred no breakup scenes, it was still so enjoyable.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book. Unfortunately, I had a really hard time getting into it. I did not connect with the characters and felt as though they were really immature for their age. I dnf this book at 25%.

More Than Shipmates follows Eliza as she struggles with past rejections and breakups while trying to find her place on board a cruise ship in the Entertainment department.

I loved this book, its unique setting, and the many fantastic characters. Eliza, Tom and Oscar are all entertaining and sexy, and while love triangles aren't usually my trope of choice, I felt like it was perfect in this book! The love triangle is written well, and it felt like it developed and ended naturally.

Having recently been on a cruise, I found this book super relatable! I laughed at the end author's note - "I take no responsibility if you uproot your life and don't fall madly in love." I loved this, mostly because the book honestly does make you feel like you should immediately quit your job and go and work on a cruise ship for half a year. Or at the very least, go and spend a good amount of time on holiday aboard one!

This was a fun read, packed full with laughs, entertainment and spice.

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read and review More Than Shipmates!

This was the cutest romantic comedy! I absolutely loved the cruise ship setting, and the witty banter from our female main
Character. This was a sweet, fun, easy summer read. Would recommend this author!! I'm looking forward to reading the next book of this series and following more cruise ship folly's.

I would like to thank Victory Editing NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is the story of Eliza who joins the entertainment crew of a cruise ship for a 6 month Caribbean run after a rough few months back home in England. While on the ship Eliza is determined to focus on the job and NOT the super attractive Tom and Oscar who are both a determined to be the ultimate distractions. Will she succeed at this job or will she fall into old habits and let people convince her she isn't enough?

What I Loved:
- Multiple POV, even this is a story about Eliza both Tom and Oscar have chapters in their POV and I like that perspective
- Cruise ship culture, I have heard stories and I enjoyed seeing some of the actual antics of cruise ship staff "after hours"
- Support, Tom and Oscar are both romantic interests of Eliza but I think most important they are her key source of support and encouragement helping her rebuild her confidence in her ability as a performer and friend
- Spicy, I was pleasantly surprised by the spice throughout this book maybe I shouldn't have been

Overall I really enjoyed this book, I was never part of a cruise staff but I was a camp counselor for many years and there are some similar experiences. If you are looking for a story about someone who is trying to figure their life out with a great group a people and a few men to choose between then you should check this story out.

"More Than Shipmates" by Philippa Young is like the ultimate escape fantasy on a Caribbean cruise, and trust me, it's as fun as it sounds. Eliza Chapman, our main girl, lands a gig as an entertainment host and vows to steer clear of dating at work. But then she meets Tom and Oscar, and the whole "no romance" plan goes overboard. It’s not your usual annoying love triangle; you kind of know where things are headed, but it's all about the ride!

Philippa totally nails the cruise ship vibes, making you feel like you're right there with them—sun, sea, and a bit of drama. Sure, there are moments when you wish they’d just talk things out and save some drama, but where’s the fun in that, right? If you’re in the mood for something light and breezy with a good dose of flirting and finding yourself, this book is it. Totally a must-read for a chill day.

Thank you to Summer Stars Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

this book made me want to quit my job and go work on that cruise ship while ignoring everything from the outside world

this was such a fun read, the characters truly felt like such a good friendship group and whole love triangles are usually something i hate as a trope, this one didn’t actually feel like one, it was very obvious who was going to be with who and the relationships felt very realistic

the struggles the characters were going through was something i could really relate to and this book hit a bit close to home

the things i had a problem with is that i felt some scenes switched up without me noticing how and the random pov add about 30% through took me out a bit, but i ended up enjoying it, i didn’t love how people couldn’t just talk to each other and work stuff out and i feel like if that was the case the book could’ve been about 150 pages shorter, but overall it was such a fun read and an amazing debut novel

My review will be published to my Goodreads now and my Bookstagram (kristianasbookshelf) towards the beginning of June

Thank you to NetGalley, Summer Stars Publishing and Philippa Young for providing me with an arc in exchange for my honest review

not quite 3.5 but not quite a 4 star read for me

i was really excited to give this book a try finally and thought it was so much fun and different for a good majority of the book and then what felt like the blink of an eye eliza became so insanely insufferable that i almost called it quits bc i couldnt stand reading anything of her pov. i do enjoy that another character finally told her to grow the fuck up essentially but even after that and her getting a bit better i found myself still not caring.

so besides that its still somewhat of a decent rating bc i did really have fun most of the book, its basically just vibes no true plot. the cruise ship setting was a fun change of pace, it was a little too chaotic and wordy sometimes but over all fun.

I enjoyed this book even though I usually dislike love triangles as a trope. There were some laugh out loud parts and the side characters were hilarious. The main characters had chemistry but lacked communication skills. Between the three of them, you'd expect at least one to be able to communicate without jumping to conclusions or just acting childish at times. There were definite highs and lows throughout the book and I often didn't love all the self loathing for each of them. Overall the writing was enjoyable and the plot was fun but the constant will they/won't they was sort of exhausting and with the amount of potential for character development, it just fell a little flat.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.

This book was so cute!!! I’ve never read a book set on cruise ship before and I absolutely loved it! I don’t usually love a love a triangle but the author had me rooting for each guy at some point in the book and I’m so happy with how it turned out. (& that the other portion of the triangle got their own book!!!!)

Read if you love: 💕
- Forced proximity
- Workplace romance
- Multiple POV’s
- Summer vibes
- Love triangles

Initially I was excited for this book based off the plot and location of happening on a cruise ship as that is not a setting I have read before. The writing was nice and easy to read and pretty fast paced. However, I did not connect with the characters. I’m not sure if I just don’t get the theater aspect, but that plot line fell flat for me. Additionally, all the games played on board seemed a little odd to me.


Thank you to Netgally for providing this ARC.

i didnt love this book, it was okay, but there were so many things that annoyed me. i didn’t like the fmc at all, i didn’t feel connected, i just didnt like her. the book overall is okay, it was the love triangle that didn’t do it for me, i’ve read love triangles before, when it’s written well, i like them, but i guess i’m not really a love triangle girly. but this one was a really easy choose yk? like i just knew she was going to end up with the guy she ended up with, he’s just better. but it’s a really quick read, i feel like if you’re in the right mood to read it, you’ll like it!

I devoured this book today! This is the perfect book for summer. Whether you are reading at the pool, on vacay, or sitting around the house, the cruise ship vibes will keep you smiling. This book definitely has some spicy parts, but it also has a lot of heart and I love it all! The fact that I found out that we are getting more Tom in the future also made me happy. Do yourself a favor and grab this one to add to your summer TBR!
Overall Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5 (without being awkward or too anatomical)
I was provided a free copy of this book in an exchange for an honest review.

holy fuck i loved this 😭 i read this entire book from 12-3 am because i couldn’t get enough. i guess im in my cruise ship era now?? ill admit that the POV change 25% of the way in really threw me off, but i ended up enjoying the different perspectives. it definitely could have transitioned smoother but hey, i binged it in one sitting so i obviously still loved it.

This is totally a Below Deck style story and I was here for it!
Give me a yacht/cruise, hot people, work place drama and I am in!

This was fun, gave me wealthy summer vibes and steamy workplace romances!

"More Than Shipmates" by Philippa Young is a sizzling debut novel that takes readers on a captivating journey aboard a Caribbean cruise. Eliza Chapman, determined to reinvent herself and leave her past failures behind, takes on the role of an entertainment host, where the motto is “work hard, play hard.” She vows to avoid mixing work with romance, but this proves easier said than done.

Eliza’s resolve is tested by two intriguing colleagues: the cheeky American Tom and the charming Brit Oscar. As the lines between professional and personal blur, Eliza finds herself in increasingly scandalous situations, making it hard to resist the magnetic pull of romance.

Philippa Young does a fantastic job of creating a vibrant, high-energy setting that perfectly complements the unfolding love triangle. The characters are well-developed, and the chemistry between Eliza, Tom, and Oscar is palpable, adding just the right amount of spice to the story. While the plot's predictability—knowing who the winning boy would be by the book’s midpoint—might detract slightly from the overall suspense, it doesn’t take away from the enjoyment of the journey.

"More Than Shipmates" is a steamy workplace romance that expertly balances the excitement of new beginnings with the challenges of letting love in. Philippa Young’s debut is a delightful read that promises more great stories to come. If you’re looking for a spicy, engaging novel set against the backdrop of a tropical cruise, this book is a fantastic choice.

More Than Shipmates by Philippa Young
Below Deck Book 1
Rating:4/5
Release Date: 1 June 2024

Eliza Chapman has always felt she fell short. She didn't make it into drama school, couldn't keep a boyfriend, and even failed as her insufferable brother’s PA. But things are about to change. Eliza has signed up as an entertainment host for a six-month Caribbean cruise, where the motto is “work hard, play hard.” Determined to avoid her past mistakes of mixing work with romance, she vows to swear off men completely. Yet, when the lines between colleagues and crushes blur and the nightlife leads to some scandalous situations, Eliza's resolve is tested by the cheeky American Tom and the charming Brit Oscar, who might not be so keen on resisting her.

Philippa's debut novel is a delightful and hilarious contemporary romance featuring Eliza, who escapes her unsatisfactory British life to work on a cruise ship. There, she finds herself drawn to two captivating men. The story offers a mix of fast and slow burn romance with open door spice and wild, humorous sexual escapades that are an absolute joy to read!

Life on the ship was entertaining, and the spicy escapades they got into were hilariously refreshing. However, the characters often felt too immature or too self-centred to succeed in an environment where you have to live with your co-workers for up to six months.

Overall, I breezed through the book and found the storyline easy to follow.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Summer Stars Publishing, and the author, Philippa Young, for providing me with an ARC copy in exchange for an honest and fair review.