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The Shippers
Not yet published
Expected 19 May 26One 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.
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
Expected publication May 19, 2026
54983 people want to read
About the author
Katherine Center
22 books30.9k followershttps://katherinecenter.com/about/
https://www.instagram.com/katherinece...
BookPage calls Katherine Center “the reigning queen of comfort reads.” She’s the New York Times bestselling author of eleven novels, including The Bodyguard, Hello Stranger, Things You Save in a Fire, and her summer 2024 book, The Rom-Commers. Katherine writes laugh-and-cry books: bittersweet romantic comedies about how life knocks us down—and how we get back up. She’s been compared to both Jane Austen and Nora Ephron, and the Dallas Morning News calls her stories, “satisfying in the most soul-nourishing way.” The Netflix movie adaptation of her novel Happiness for Beginners—starring Ellie Kemper and Luke Grimes—just hit the Global Top Ten in 81 countries, and the movie of her novel The Lost Husband was a surprise Netflix sensation in 2020, hitting number one and landing in their top 25 movies for the year. Her books have made countless Best-Of lists—at Audible, BookBub, and Book of the Month, as well as Goodreads' Best Books of the Year, and Amazon's yearly Top 100 books. Emily Henry calls The Bodyguard “my perfect 10 of a book,” and Jodi Picoult says of Things You Save in a Fire, “Just read it, and thank me later.” Katherine lives in her hometown of Houston, Texas, with her husband, two almost-grown teenagers, and their fluffy-but-fierce dog.
https://www.instagram.com/katherinece...
BookPage calls Katherine Center “the reigning queen of comfort reads.” She’s the New York Times bestselling author of eleven novels, including The Bodyguard, Hello Stranger, Things You Save in a Fire, and her summer 2024 book, The Rom-Commers. Katherine writes laugh-and-cry books: bittersweet romantic comedies about how life knocks us down—and how we get back up. She’s been compared to both Jane Austen and Nora Ephron, and the Dallas Morning News calls her stories, “satisfying in the most soul-nourishing way.” The Netflix movie adaptation of her novel Happiness for Beginners—starring Ellie Kemper and Luke Grimes—just hit the Global Top Ten in 81 countries, and the movie of her novel The Lost Husband was a surprise Netflix sensation in 2020, hitting number one and landing in their top 25 movies for the year. Her books have made countless Best-Of lists—at Audible, BookBub, and Book of the Month, as well as Goodreads' Best Books of the Year, and Amazon's yearly Top 100 books. Emily Henry calls The Bodyguard “my perfect 10 of a book,” and Jodi Picoult says of Things You Save in a Fire, “Just read it, and thank me later.” Katherine lives in her hometown of Houston, Texas, with her husband, two almost-grown teenagers, and their fluffy-but-fierce dog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 688 reviews
December 20, 2025
I’m going to do a full review closer to publication date, but just know that I absolutely loved this! JoJo was so funny, so relatable, and I loved her so much!
And Cooper? Omg, the man has my heart and soul, and I blame Katherine Center for making me raise my standards even higher than they already are. 🤭
Were there flaws and issues I had with the characters and the ending? Yes. 🙂↕️ But this book was just so freaking fun and so freaking cute, I’m willing to overlook them…just this once. 😏😉
Ugh, I am so sad it ended! 😭🩷
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own.
And Cooper? Omg, the man has my heart and soul, and I blame Katherine Center for making me raise my standards even higher than they already are. 🤭
Were there flaws and issues I had with the characters and the ending? Yes. 🙂↕️ But this book was just so freaking fun and so freaking cute, I’m willing to overlook them…just this once. 😏😉
Ugh, I am so sad it ended! 😭🩷
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own.
Want to read
September 4, 2025💘Pre-release:
No matter what this book is about, if Katherine Center writes it I’m already on board. Enough said 🫡
No matter what this book is about, if Katherine Center writes it I’m already on board. Enough said 🫡
December 20, 2025
I am in love with Cooper! 🩷 This book made me want to go back in time and fall in love with my best friend. It was just so good.
Was it somewhat predictable? Yes, but it felt like a romcom from the early 2000s. Just sooooo good. It could be a movie for sure.
A cruise. A wedding. Drama. Laughs. What more could anyone want?
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Was it somewhat predictable? Yes, but it felt like a romcom from the early 2000s. Just sooooo good. It could be a movie for sure.
A cruise. A wedding. Drama. Laughs. What more could anyone want?
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
── .✦ 3.5 stars
okay so shoutout to florida for being over 80 degrees and letting me appropriately read a summer romance in december? literally on christmas eve?
anywhoooo this was my first katherine center, and i thoroughly enjoyed! it reminded me a lot of an emily henry slash abby jimenez story, with a great romance but also so many other things going on, from emotional to entertaining to a little bit ridiculous but hey we’re having fun so it’s fine. also i realllly enjoyed the writing, literally binged over 80% of it in the matter of a few hours because it was so bingeable and i couldn’t put it down.
cooper omg the man of my dreams!!! so so sweet and silly and protective and caring and supportive and ugh literally so perfect i adored him. i want one under the tree tomorrow for christmas. thank you.
jojo, on the other hand? positively insufferable. god, i could not STAND HER. not for one second. she was so dramatic and made issues out of nothing, was so childish and couldn’t stop to have a grown up conversation when she and cooper were having issues, literally just annoyed me the entire book. i wanted to love her, truly, but i didn’t relate to her and found it difficult to actually root for her most of the time.
overall, pick this up on your next beach trip!!! it’s definitely a sit in the sand and binge in one sitting type of story, and who doesn’t love that? a super solid romance story, and yes, has inspired me to want to pick up more katherine center <3
𐙚⋆.˚pre-read
started this at 2am last night and 15% in i feel like i need to keep going (yes it’s winter but i live in #florida and it’s 80 degrees so i think a summer romance is fine yes!!) 🍒🐳
thank you to netgalley & st martin’s press for the arc! all opinions are my own.
release date: may 19, 2026
“once you’ve decided to let yourself love somebody ... it’s hard to turn that off.”
okay so shoutout to florida for being over 80 degrees and letting me appropriately read a summer romance in december? literally on christmas eve?
anywhoooo this was my first katherine center, and i thoroughly enjoyed! it reminded me a lot of an emily henry slash abby jimenez story, with a great romance but also so many other things going on, from emotional to entertaining to a little bit ridiculous but hey we’re having fun so it’s fine. also i realllly enjoyed the writing, literally binged over 80% of it in the matter of a few hours because it was so bingeable and i couldn’t put it down.
cooper omg the man of my dreams!!! so so sweet and silly and protective and caring and supportive and ugh literally so perfect i adored him. i want one under the tree tomorrow for christmas. thank you.
jojo, on the other hand? positively insufferable. god, i could not STAND HER. not for one second. she was so dramatic and made issues out of nothing, was so childish and couldn’t stop to have a grown up conversation when she and cooper were having issues, literally just annoyed me the entire book. i wanted to love her, truly, but i didn’t relate to her and found it difficult to actually root for her most of the time.
overall, pick this up on your next beach trip!!! it’s definitely a sit in the sand and binge in one sitting type of story, and who doesn’t love that? a super solid romance story, and yes, has inspired me to want to pick up more katherine center <3
𐙚⋆.˚pre-read
started this at 2am last night and 15% in i feel like i need to keep going (yes it’s winter but i live in #florida and it’s 80 degrees so i think a summer romance is fine yes!!) 🍒🐳
thank you to netgalley & st martin’s press for the arc! all opinions are my own.
release date: may 19, 2026
Want to read
November 10, 2025katherine center writes, I read.
December 8, 2025
WORTHY OF ALL THE STARSSSSS!!!!
First of all, I’m an avid Katherine Center supporter. I’d read anything she writes, but this one is her best to date! It’s a dose of healing between the pages; much-needed laughter and love. Precriptive reading.
Secondly, I’m an avid cruiser. I’d read anything that’s marketed as a clean read if it is set on a cruise ship, regardless of location.
Finally, I’m just starting to branch out into romcoms. Center’s narrative tickles my funnybone while still making me gush and swoon.
This book is centered around the idea that we need to develop courage to follow our own compass. I loved the exploration of holding space for destiny, of choosing love over fear, and of the value in rebranding. I laughed at the pity hickey episode and was instantly charmed by Cooper Watts.
I’m keeping this brief for those who are looking forward to this one. You have a book worthy of all the stars to look forward to in 2026. I'm kinda jealous that you have this wonderful book still to read for the first time!!!!
I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.
First of all, I’m an avid Katherine Center supporter. I’d read anything she writes, but this one is her best to date! It’s a dose of healing between the pages; much-needed laughter and love. Precriptive reading.
Secondly, I’m an avid cruiser. I’d read anything that’s marketed as a clean read if it is set on a cruise ship, regardless of location.
Finally, I’m just starting to branch out into romcoms. Center’s narrative tickles my funnybone while still making me gush and swoon.
This book is centered around the idea that we need to develop courage to follow our own compass. I loved the exploration of holding space for destiny, of choosing love over fear, and of the value in rebranding. I laughed at the pity hickey episode and was instantly charmed by Cooper Watts.
I’m keeping this brief for those who are looking forward to this one. You have a book worthy of all the stars to look forward to in 2026. I'm kinda jealous that you have this wonderful book still to read for the first time!!!!
I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.
December 28, 2025
3.5 stars -- Read this if you like...
- Childhood friends-to-lovers
- Fake flirting
I absolutely loved Cooper but I found Jojo and the miscommunications to be a bit annoying. This was cheesy but still a fun and addictive read!
- Childhood friends-to-lovers
- Fake flirting
I absolutely loved Cooper but I found Jojo and the miscommunications to be a bit annoying. This was cheesy but still a fun and addictive read!
December 13, 2025
A childhood friends-to-lovers lighthearted rom com with well developed minor characters. I loved this ending, there’s just something about a head over heels unabashed love declaration, that I will let you read for yourself.
Our story begins as JoJo is about to marry the wrong man, and becomes a runaway bride. It’s bang-you-over-the-head obvious that this is the wrong guy, and the wrong mother-in-law. JoJo’s sister is having a cruise ship wedding just 6 weeks later. Her childhood neighbor and best friend Cooper will come along. She’s decided to connect with and kiss her first crush Finn, who is recently divorced, and has enlisted him as her wingman.
I really enjoyed this story, the setting was fun. What I didn’t love was how weirdly JoJo seemed to be so focused on the wrong guys. It was obvious to the reader who the right guy was from page 2 and it was irritating that it took her as long as it did to figure that out. Also that miscommunication trope killed me, but it was kind of done in a different and more creative way.
However, I loved Cooper’s back story and how much detail the author puts into the interpersonal relationships of the minor characters, JoJo’s whole family was really developed and gave the reader a lot of people to follow and root for.
I ended up jumping up my star rating at the end just because I loved the final scene and epilogue so much.
Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the ARC. Book to be published May 18, 2026.
Our story begins as JoJo is about to marry the wrong man, and becomes a runaway bride. It’s bang-you-over-the-head obvious that this is the wrong guy, and the wrong mother-in-law. JoJo’s sister is having a cruise ship wedding just 6 weeks later. Her childhood neighbor and best friend Cooper will come along. She’s decided to connect with and kiss her first crush Finn, who is recently divorced, and has enlisted him as her wingman.
I really enjoyed this story, the setting was fun. What I didn’t love was how weirdly JoJo seemed to be so focused on the wrong guys. It was obvious to the reader who the right guy was from page 2 and it was irritating that it took her as long as it did to figure that out. Also that miscommunication trope killed me, but it was kind of done in a different and more creative way.
However, I loved Cooper’s back story and how much detail the author puts into the interpersonal relationships of the minor characters, JoJo’s whole family was really developed and gave the reader a lot of people to follow and root for.
I ended up jumping up my star rating at the end just because I loved the final scene and epilogue so much.
Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the ARC. Book to be published May 18, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Oh, I love me a VERY protective MMC!! THIS... This is THE perfect boyfriend anyone could wish for 🥺.
Although I found the FMC very unlikable in the beginning, I came to like her. She was so toxic with every boyfriend she had but not with our MMC 🤭
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕻𝖗𝖊-𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
I'm so grateful to St. Martin's Press for offering me a widget to this beautiful book via Netgalley 🧡🩷 Pretty sure I'm gonna love it 🫶🏻
Although I found the FMC very unlikable in the beginning, I came to like her. She was so toxic with every boyfriend she had but not with our MMC 🤭
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕻𝖗𝖊-𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
I'm so grateful to St. Martin's Press for offering me a widget to this beautiful book via Netgalley 🧡🩷 Pretty sure I'm gonna love it 🫶🏻
December 29, 2025
Katherine Center used to write about women doing adult things, but she for some reason turned into the most basic of rom coms. These 20 something storylines just bored me to tears.
JoJo deciding not to fall for Cooper was ridiculous. He flew all the way from London to Texas to break up her failed from the start wedding, and has everything she could want. Zero buildup for the obvious.
Wish Center would go back to her roots, because this sounds like it was written by a 20 year old college student on the brink of her career as a rom-com writer.
JoJo deciding not to fall for Cooper was ridiculous. He flew all the way from London to Texas to break up her failed from the start wedding, and has everything she could want. Zero buildup for the obvious.
Wish Center would go back to her roots, because this sounds like it was written by a 20 year old college student on the brink of her career as a rom-com writer.
December 15, 2025
── .✦𝘚𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸⋆·˚ ༘ *
₊˚⊹ ᰔ "𝓣𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓮 𝓲𝓼 𝓷𝓸 𝓾𝓷𝓲𝓿𝓮𝓻𝓼𝓮 𝔀𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓬𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓶𝓮 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓱𝓮𝓵𝓹 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓘 𝓭𝓸𝓷'𝓽 𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓮 𝓻𝓾𝓷𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰."₊˚⊹ ᰔ
🌊⋆.˚ 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 ⋆.˚
The Shippers is an emotional, heartfelt story that balances humor and vulnerability in a way that feels deeply human.
🌊⋆.˚ This book made me laugh, and it made me cry — sometimes within the same chapter. We follow the fmc, Jojo, who was, at the very beginning, about to get married to a man she doesn’t want before bumping into her childhood best friend, Cooper. Then most of the book events take place on a cruise ship!
🌊⋆.˚ Cooper completely stole my heart, and the emotional beats landed hard. Some moments felt a bit repetitive, and Jojo, while understandable and somewhat realistic, clearly had unresolved issues that could be frustrating at times. Also, the miscommunication was through the roof honestly.
🌊⋆.˚ The romance in it was super cute and touching throughout the book and the banter was very fun to read as well! Even the side characters were greatly written and definitely had their own parts to add to this book.
🌊⋆.˚ 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 ⋆.˚
Despite its minor “flaws”, this book had me engrossed through most of the story!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy!
─────────── ࣪ ˖ ꫂ ၴႅၴ ₊ ───────────
₊˚⊹ ᰔ "𝓣𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓮 𝓲𝓼 𝓷𝓸 𝓾𝓷𝓲𝓿𝓮𝓻𝓼𝓮 𝔀𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓬𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓶𝓮 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓱𝓮𝓵𝓹 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓘 𝓭𝓸𝓷'𝓽 𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓮 𝓻𝓾𝓷𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰."₊˚⊹ ᰔ
🌊⋆.˚ 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 ⋆.˚
The Shippers is an emotional, heartfelt story that balances humor and vulnerability in a way that feels deeply human.
🌊⋆.˚ This book made me laugh, and it made me cry — sometimes within the same chapter. We follow the fmc, Jojo, who was, at the very beginning, about to get married to a man she doesn’t want before bumping into her childhood best friend, Cooper. Then most of the book events take place on a cruise ship!
🌊⋆.˚ Cooper completely stole my heart, and the emotional beats landed hard. Some moments felt a bit repetitive, and Jojo, while understandable and somewhat realistic, clearly had unresolved issues that could be frustrating at times. Also, the miscommunication was through the roof honestly.
🌊⋆.˚ The romance in it was super cute and touching throughout the book and the banter was very fun to read as well! Even the side characters were greatly written and definitely had their own parts to add to this book.
🌊⋆.˚ 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 ⋆.˚
Despite its minor “flaws”, this book had me engrossed through most of the story!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy!
─────────── ࣪ ˖ ꫂ ၴႅၴ ₊ ───────────
December 21, 2025
At least it was better than her last few!
KC didn’t fall into her normal traps until about the 50% when the plot died off and the momentum stopped. Why she thinks repeating names is good writing is a complete mystery to me! Instead of our FMC learning the name of a woman in the bridal party, we only knew her as “bridesmaid two” and she repeated that approx 900 times throughout the story. A very insufferable character trait in the main character! Let’s not learn her name! Ugh.
KC didn’t fall into her normal traps until about the 50% when the plot died off and the momentum stopped. Why she thinks repeating names is good writing is a complete mystery to me! Instead of our FMC learning the name of a woman in the bridal party, we only knew her as “bridesmaid two” and she repeated that approx 900 times throughout the story. A very insufferable character trait in the main character! Let’s not learn her name! Ugh.
Want to read
December 8, 2025Read Now available on NetGalley!
Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martins Press and the author, Katherine Center for this eARC!
Publication date: May 19, 2026
Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martins Press and the author, Katherine Center for this eARC!
Publication date: May 19, 2026
December 9, 2025
Thank you Netgalley for the arc!
As a Katherine Center lover, I was super excited when I got an arc of this book. Reading this book on a gray, cold day definitely hit the spot. I ate it up in a few hours. A million stars as always for Katherine Center!!
As a Katherine Center lover, I was super excited when I got an arc of this book. Reading this book on a gray, cold day definitely hit the spot. I ate it up in a few hours. A million stars as always for Katherine Center!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to Netgally and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I have loved every book by Katherine Center that I've read and The Shippers is no different. This will be the perfect beach read when its released next year. The story is (mostly) light and funny, the characters are loveable and make you want to root fot them from the start, and the setting for most of the book is a cruise ship. I do find it infuriating when the 2 main characters could solve their biggest problems by just saying/communicating the thing (whatever the thing is lol), but it also find that its so much like real life that it just works. Plus, without some kind of conflict there wouldn't be a story there at all.
If you love Katherine Center's writing and all the entertaining shenanigans that includes, you'll love this book!
I have loved every book by Katherine Center that I've read and The Shippers is no different. This will be the perfect beach read when its released next year. The story is (mostly) light and funny, the characters are loveable and make you want to root fot them from the start, and the setting for most of the book is a cruise ship. I do find it infuriating when the 2 main characters could solve their biggest problems by just saying/communicating the thing (whatever the thing is lol), but it also find that its so much like real life that it just works. Plus, without some kind of conflict there wouldn't be a story there at all.
If you love Katherine Center's writing and all the entertaining shenanigans that includes, you'll love this book!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
As a reader of many books, occasionally, a well-loved author falls short, but this has yet to happen with Katherine Center. I absolutely LOVE her books, and each one is better than the last. I loved the main characters, and the story sucked me in from the beginning. I couldn't put it down and finished in one sitting. If you're a romcom fan, I highly recommend this one.
remind-me-once-out
October 2, 2025Well now, isn't this intriguing
December 9, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the ARC
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Katherine Center is one of my absolute favorite authors. I swear I’d read anything she writes, even her grocery list. The Shippers was no exception. This book was completely adorable from start to finish.
It’s a second-chance romance with childhood friends Jojo and Cooper reconnecting on a cruise ship, and I loved them from the very beginning. Their chemistry, the nostalgia, and the setting all worked perfectly together. The story had that signature Katherine Center charm: heartfelt, sweet, and full of moments that just make you smile.
A definite 5-star read for me. If you love romance with heart, humor, and characters you root for immediately, The Shippers is a must-read!
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Katherine Center is one of my absolute favorite authors. I swear I’d read anything she writes, even her grocery list. The Shippers was no exception. This book was completely adorable from start to finish.
It’s a second-chance romance with childhood friends Jojo and Cooper reconnecting on a cruise ship, and I loved them from the very beginning. Their chemistry, the nostalgia, and the setting all worked perfectly together. The story had that signature Katherine Center charm: heartfelt, sweet, and full of moments that just make you smile.
A definite 5-star read for me. If you love romance with heart, humor, and characters you root for immediately, The Shippers is a must-read!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.
If you love a good happily ever after, you can never go wrong with a Katherine Center book. The characters in this book are witty and charming, and you can't help but love them. Was it predictable? Yes. But cute and romantic all the same.
"Love is not just an underlying structure holding our human universe together, but also a glimpse of something divine. Something awe inspiring and infinite. Not the kind of infinite that's out there far away, like the stars, but the kind of infinite that's embedded in us--and between us. A pattern we follow, yes, but a pattern we also create."
And don't forget to read the Author's Note on this one! Just like Katherine said, this book is for anyone who could really use a hug right now.
If you love a good happily ever after, you can never go wrong with a Katherine Center book. The characters in this book are witty and charming, and you can't help but love them. Was it predictable? Yes. But cute and romantic all the same.
"Love is not just an underlying structure holding our human universe together, but also a glimpse of something divine. Something awe inspiring and infinite. Not the kind of infinite that's out there far away, like the stars, but the kind of infinite that's embedded in us--and between us. A pattern we follow, yes, but a pattern we also create."
And don't forget to read the Author's Note on this one! Just like Katherine said, this book is for anyone who could really use a hug right now.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received an ARC through Netgalley of The Shippers by Katherine Center. It is a 5 star read! I absolutely loved it. It was a romantic comedy, it had me laughing out loud in places. Yes, there were a lot of misunderstandings and miscommunication but that's what happens in life too, so for me that is relatable. I liked JoJo and Cooper characters and will definitely read this again when it comes out.
December 3, 2025
The Shippers
By Katherine Center
4.5 stars
⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
A delightful read! A Fresh and charming rom com, with enough emotional depth to never feel like fluff. Compared to Center's other books, this has a bit more levity, and it really works here. 💙
Center makes a cruiseship the perfect forced proximity set up for a rom com. It's like you're in a fish bowl with the characters and get a 360 degree view of the action. 🚢
The book immediately drops you into an at-the-altar crisis, and the book never loses steam from there. No lulls. And, the main characters spend most of the story on page together (🙌).
Both the FMC and MMC are quirky and lovable. They're *good* people, and it feels good to root for good people sometimes. 💕
The secondary characters in this story are a standout. The FMC's father is comically dense. Her cousin, Harmony, is like a neurodiverse, Gen Z version of Wednesday Addams. Grandma Dodie is the hip, effervescent senior we all hope to become. These characters somehow feel essential to Center's successful execution of the story. They help the story feel rich, eccentric, and comedic.
Minor gripe: There's a fair bit of hair-pulling MISCOMMUNICATION in the story. However, the sweetness and humor of the story largely overcome those moments.
I highly recommend this book and anticipate it will appeal to alot of romance readers. (And, I think it's better than her last book!) 💞📚
Publish date: May 19, 2026
(Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy!)
@juliereadsromance
By Katherine Center
4.5 stars
⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
A delightful read! A Fresh and charming rom com, with enough emotional depth to never feel like fluff. Compared to Center's other books, this has a bit more levity, and it really works here. 💙
Center makes a cruiseship the perfect forced proximity set up for a rom com. It's like you're in a fish bowl with the characters and get a 360 degree view of the action. 🚢
The book immediately drops you into an at-the-altar crisis, and the book never loses steam from there. No lulls. And, the main characters spend most of the story on page together (🙌).
Both the FMC and MMC are quirky and lovable. They're *good* people, and it feels good to root for good people sometimes. 💕
The secondary characters in this story are a standout. The FMC's father is comically dense. Her cousin, Harmony, is like a neurodiverse, Gen Z version of Wednesday Addams. Grandma Dodie is the hip, effervescent senior we all hope to become. These characters somehow feel essential to Center's successful execution of the story. They help the story feel rich, eccentric, and comedic.
Minor gripe: There's a fair bit of hair-pulling MISCOMMUNICATION in the story. However, the sweetness and humor of the story largely overcome those moments.
I highly recommend this book and anticipate it will appeal to alot of romance readers. (And, I think it's better than her last book!) 💞📚
Publish date: May 19, 2026
(Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy!)
@juliereadsromance
Want to read
September 13, 2025The cover looks great!
May 19th is going to be a great week in publishing......
Now to request an ARC..... hurry up NetGalley
May 19th is going to be a great week in publishing......
Now to request an ARC..... hurry up NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Katherine writes some of the most amazing romances, and this one wow, just, wow, knocked it out of the park. I started it this morning and literally stole moments all day, reading a chapter here and there, determined to see how JoJo and Cooper’s story would end up. And wow, I loved this!
JoJo has had the worst luck when it comes to love, and she’s decided it’s time to make a change. When her sister Ashley’s newest theory suggests that your first kiss imprints on you and that person is the one you’re meant to be with, JoJo sets out to make her match. The timing is perfect...because the person she shared her first kiss with, Finn, will be on the same cruise ship she will be.
And who will be her wingman to help her win over that man? Cooper...her childhood best friend. They fell apart over the past four years during her recent engagement, but after he nearly crashed her "almost wedding" he owes her. Helping her find a match seems like the least he can do. But the more time these two spend together, the more confusing everything becomes. Between a shared cabin, meals, serenades, slow dances, and fake flirting, it becomes harder and harder to remember what the end goal even was.
But the plan remains the same for JoJo. She needs this to work. She needs to finally have success in her love life. She knows that if all goes as planned, after this cruise she’ll be with Finn, but where would that leave her and Cooper? And how can she ignore that Cooper has always been her “one person” in the world? Once she makes her match, he’d be replaced… but could anyone ever really replace Cooper for her? Could anyone ever truly compare to JoJo for Cooper?
He’s the wingman, left to stand by and help her make the match she thinks she needs to be happy, when all he wants is for her to find happiness… with him?!
You all. Oh my goodness. Early on, I had a feeling I knew how some of this story would unfold, and I was spot on. But I did not expect to be so completely wrapped up in these two and their chemistry. Their friendship pulled me in, but their unspoken love had me flipping pages, waiting for the moment it would finally come to the surface.
I cannot wait for this book to officially release so I can have it in print and reread it. Amazing!
Side note... LOVED that the FMC was called JoJo, that's what I went by much of my life honestly, especially in High School and College.
*This is a closed door romance, some cursing and innuendo.
I received a complimentary copy. This review reflects my honest opinion.
JoJo has had the worst luck when it comes to love, and she’s decided it’s time to make a change. When her sister Ashley’s newest theory suggests that your first kiss imprints on you and that person is the one you’re meant to be with, JoJo sets out to make her match. The timing is perfect...because the person she shared her first kiss with, Finn, will be on the same cruise ship she will be.
And who will be her wingman to help her win over that man? Cooper...her childhood best friend. They fell apart over the past four years during her recent engagement, but after he nearly crashed her "almost wedding" he owes her. Helping her find a match seems like the least he can do. But the more time these two spend together, the more confusing everything becomes. Between a shared cabin, meals, serenades, slow dances, and fake flirting, it becomes harder and harder to remember what the end goal even was.
But the plan remains the same for JoJo. She needs this to work. She needs to finally have success in her love life. She knows that if all goes as planned, after this cruise she’ll be with Finn, but where would that leave her and Cooper? And how can she ignore that Cooper has always been her “one person” in the world? Once she makes her match, he’d be replaced… but could anyone ever really replace Cooper for her? Could anyone ever truly compare to JoJo for Cooper?
He’s the wingman, left to stand by and help her make the match she thinks she needs to be happy, when all he wants is for her to find happiness… with him?!
You all. Oh my goodness. Early on, I had a feeling I knew how some of this story would unfold, and I was spot on. But I did not expect to be so completely wrapped up in these two and their chemistry. Their friendship pulled me in, but their unspoken love had me flipping pages, waiting for the moment it would finally come to the surface.
I cannot wait for this book to officially release so I can have it in print and reread it. Amazing!
Side note... LOVED that the FMC was called JoJo, that's what I went by much of my life honestly, especially in High School and College.
*This is a closed door romance, some cursing and innuendo.
I received a complimentary copy. This review reflects my honest opinion.
Read
December 22, 2025As a reader who devours a lot of books, I’ve learned that even beloved authors can occasionally miss—but that has never happened for me with Katherine Center. I absolutely love her books, and somehow each one feels better than the last. The Shippers pulled me in from the very first page, and I couldn’t put it down—I finished it in one sitting.
This is a second-chance romance featuring childhood friends Jojo and Cooper, who reconnect on a cruise ship, and I loved them from the very beginning. Their chemistry is undeniable, the nostalgia is perfectly done, and the setting adds such a fun, romantic backdrop. The story has that signature Katherine Center charm: heartfelt, witty, sweet, and full of moments that make you smile.
Were parts of it predictable? Yes—and I loved every second of it. If you’re a rom-com fan who believes in happily-ever-afters, you can never go wrong with a Katherine Center book. The characters are charming and easy to root for, and the emotional moments land beautifully.
And don’t skip the Author’s Note—it adds so much heart. As Katherine says, this book is for anyone who could really use a hug right now, and it absolutely delivers.
A definite five-star read. If you love romance with heart, humor, and characters you fall for immediately, The Shippers is a must-read.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.
This is a second-chance romance featuring childhood friends Jojo and Cooper, who reconnect on a cruise ship, and I loved them from the very beginning. Their chemistry is undeniable, the nostalgia is perfectly done, and the setting adds such a fun, romantic backdrop. The story has that signature Katherine Center charm: heartfelt, witty, sweet, and full of moments that make you smile.
Were parts of it predictable? Yes—and I loved every second of it. If you’re a rom-com fan who believes in happily-ever-afters, you can never go wrong with a Katherine Center book. The characters are charming and easy to root for, and the emotional moments land beautifully.
And don’t skip the Author’s Note—it adds so much heart. As Katherine says, this book is for anyone who could really use a hug right now, and it absolutely delivers.
A definite five-star read. If you love romance with heart, humor, and characters you fall for immediately, The Shippers is a must-read.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.
December 21, 2025
A swoony, tension filled romance with NO spice??? Say less. I’m down.
4 ⭐️ I enjoyed this, and as I mentioned, the lack of spice was so refreshing. Spicy books are not everyone’s cup of tea, so for those of you who have been wanting a fun romance without the explicit scenes, this one’s for you.
JoJo is bouncing back from a failed almost marriage, and Cooper is suddenly back in the states after disappearing to London when Jo first got engaged. What better way to catch up than to be stuck on a cruise ship for a week to celebrate JoJo’s sister getting married?? The Shippers is a fun, cheesy rom-com between two childhood friends who just might become a little bit more; they just have to take the long way around. 😉
The banter between the characters was fun and the tension between them at times was *chefs kiss*. The only reason I couldn’t give this a 5 is simply because of how insanely blind Jo was to all of the hints that Cooper was giving in regard to his feelings. I could see certain things coming from fifteen miles away but yet Jo still didn’t have a clue even after it had smacked her in the face. I actually wanted to shake her, and therefore, I went with a 4.
Nevertheless, I see you, Katherine Center…I see you. 👀 She’ll be an author on my radar for sure.
Huge thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read the advanced digital copy.
4 ⭐️ I enjoyed this, and as I mentioned, the lack of spice was so refreshing. Spicy books are not everyone’s cup of tea, so for those of you who have been wanting a fun romance without the explicit scenes, this one’s for you.
JoJo is bouncing back from a failed almost marriage, and Cooper is suddenly back in the states after disappearing to London when Jo first got engaged. What better way to catch up than to be stuck on a cruise ship for a week to celebrate JoJo’s sister getting married?? The Shippers is a fun, cheesy rom-com between two childhood friends who just might become a little bit more; they just have to take the long way around. 😉
The banter between the characters was fun and the tension between them at times was *chefs kiss*. The only reason I couldn’t give this a 5 is simply because of how insanely blind Jo was to all of the hints that Cooper was giving in regard to his feelings. I could see certain things coming from fifteen miles away but yet Jo still didn’t have a clue even after it had smacked her in the face. I actually wanted to shake her, and therefore, I went with a 4.
Nevertheless, I see you, Katherine Center…I see you. 👀 She’ll be an author on my radar for sure.
Huge thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read the advanced digital copy.
December 11, 2025
The Shippers by Katherine Center grabbed my attention at the dedication: “This book is for anyone who could really use a hug right now.” This dedication to love is profound, humorous, silly, inspiring and serious as JoJo attempts to navigate her less than stellar attempts at emotional intimacy. She’s finally about to get married when her childhood BFF, Cooper suddenly reappears 4 long years after he’d ghosted her. Here today, gone tomorrow until he also shows up on the cruise ship for her sister’s wedding. This book opened up a lot of old memories for this reader of paths offered, paths taken, and paths that should have been avoided. I loved every minute spent with Ms. Center’s characters! My review of this book from NetGalley is completely voluntary. Most highly recommend.
December 10, 2025
As soon as I started reading this, I couldn’t set it down. I was instantly hooked and found myself smiling basically nonstop. The banter between JoJo and Cooper? Giddy perfection. KC’s writing is so warm, has goofy/quirky humor that’s right up my alley, and elicits all the feelings. I truly felt the rawness of JoJo’s core fears, and when she shared them with Cooper I was moved to tears. Such a relatable/universal human experience. Cooper as her hype man was *everything.* The tension as they danced around their “secret” love for each other was SO good. The whole story was unbelievably swoony. Absolutely a top favorite from KC so far!
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy! All opinions are my own.
Pub date: 5/19/26
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy! All opinions are my own.
Pub date: 5/19/26
December 5, 2025
Katherine Center is the unapologetic queen of happiness. I read her books to put a smile on my face, every single time. I know she’s going to put her characters through the ringer and give them real hardships, but I also know there will be a happily ever after; and that I’ll fall completely in love with the people she creates.
In her latest, THE SHIPPERS, we get a delightful friends-to-lovers rom-com set on a cruise ship for a destination wedding, and all the hijinx and shenanigans you’d expect from a cruise-ship romance ensue. But the witty banter and the beauty of the love story shine just as brightly as in every Center novel.
I felt so deeply for JoJo; for her struggles with love, for the string of unhappy relationships that leave her a runaway bride in chapter one, and for the way she seems almost destined to be single. But, in true Katherine Center fashion, she helps JoJo get her man in the very best way possible.
What a fun, warm, heart squeezing book; just what you expect from a Katherine Center novel.
In her latest, THE SHIPPERS, we get a delightful friends-to-lovers rom-com set on a cruise ship for a destination wedding, and all the hijinx and shenanigans you’d expect from a cruise-ship romance ensue. But the witty banter and the beauty of the love story shine just as brightly as in every Center novel.
I felt so deeply for JoJo; for her struggles with love, for the string of unhappy relationships that leave her a runaway bride in chapter one, and for the way she seems almost destined to be single. But, in true Katherine Center fashion, she helps JoJo get her man in the very best way possible.
What a fun, warm, heart squeezing book; just what you expect from a Katherine Center novel.
December 17, 2025
oh jojo and cooper are PERFECT. i’ve been looking for a good, fun, cruise ship romp romance for a while and this really did hit the spot. i love a good childhood friends to not speaking to lovers, and the fake almost-sort-of dating thrown in there too? PERFECT. (and as ever, i loved being able to root for the parent’s romance too.) this would be SUCH a fun beach novel, and i genuinely did enjoy it so much.
thank you netgalley for the arc!
thank you netgalley for the arc!
December 12, 2025
Every time Katherine Center releases a book, the world heals. All the feels were felt in this one! I can’t even think of another book that did the friends to lovers trope so well!
While the overall plot was just filled with shenanigans, you do learn a few things - had to google “ semiotics” and fell down a rabbit hole. The side relationships were also adorable - the one that really got my heart aching was Jojo’s parents. But of course the main characters Jojo and Cooper stole the show. Their dynamic and banter was so good, and how Cooper just cares- ugh absolute perfection.
5/5 ⭐️
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC! Release date May 2026.
While the overall plot was just filled with shenanigans, you do learn a few things - had to google “ semiotics” and fell down a rabbit hole. The side relationships were also adorable - the one that really got my heart aching was Jojo’s parents. But of course the main characters Jojo and Cooper stole the show. Their dynamic and banter was so good, and how Cooper just cares- ugh absolute perfection.
5/5 ⭐️
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC! Release date May 2026.
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