The Shippers: A Novel

4.5 stars! This is my first Katherine Center book, and I am so excited to read more from her! I thoroughly enjoyed her writing. I laughed out loud. I found the characters relatable. I was rooting for the two MC's the whole time. This story could definitely be made into a rom-com movie. The only reason I can't give this 5 stars is because of the micommunication trope, which is my least favorite trope in romance novels. Sometimes the miscommunications were understandable, other times they were completely avoidable. However, I still really enjoyed this!

My Book Review: https://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2026/05/the-shippers-by-katherine-center-book.html

The Shippers was an okay rom-com read for me. The writing style was easy to follow, and I did enjoy the humor and the fun cruise-ship setting—it definitely gave the story a light, summery vibe.

The story follows JoJo and Cooper, childhood best friends who reunite at a wedding on a cruise ship. Cooper ends up helping JoJo try to win over her longtime crush, which leads to plenty of chaos as feelings start to unfold.

While I enjoyed the humor and overall premise, I had a hard time fully connecting with the characters. JoJo, especially, came across as a bit too childish at times, which made it difficult for me to stay emotionally invested in her journey. Cooper, however, was sweet and added some emotional depth to the story. That said, it was still a fun and entertaining read if you’re in the mood for something light.

The audiobook narration was definitely a highlight—Patti Murin did a great job bringing JoJo to life, and I especially liked her voice for Cooper. It made the story even more enjoyable to listen to.

Thank you to Katherine Center, NetGalley, and Macmillan Audio for the ARC.

My least favorite book of KC. Bummer!

The Shippers is cheesy, cliché, and so committed to the rom-com bit that I had no choice but to respect it. Katherine Center gives us a runaway bride, a destination wedding, and a cruise ship full of forced proximity. Cooper, JoJo’s childhood best friend, clearly came aboard carrying unresolved feelings in his emotional luggage. JoJo Burton becomes a runaway bride at her own wedding after realizing she is about to marry the wrong man. Then, she heads straight into her sister’s cruise ship wedding with a new plan for fixing her love life. Her goal is to get closure with Finn, her childhood crush. She recruits Cooper Watts as her wingman. Cooper is her former best friend and childhood heartbreak who left years ago without a real explanation. Every fake flirtation, shared cabin moment, jealous glance, and shipboard mishap pulls JoJo closer to the truth that she has been avoiding. Cooper had his frustrating moments. His reaction when he thought JoJo slept with a groomsman made me want to throw him overboard. Still, the childhood memories, longing, and JoJo’s realization that her feelings for him never really left gave the romance a cozy second-chance charm. This story is breezy, silly, sweet, and wrapped in the shiny packaging of a summer rom-com. The cruise ship setting creates the perfect little pressure cooker for misunderstandings, grand gestures, family drama, and movie-ready moments. JoJo and her dad racing toward the ship with her sister’s altered wedding dress felt so cinematic that I could practically hear the soundtrack swelling. The emotional side plot with JoJo’s father added a fantastic side plot. His attempts to reconnect with his daughters and help win back their mother were tender. I liked watching JoJo soften toward him. The explanation for his distance felt a little too convenient at times. Especially around why he struggled with his children’s names. The effort he made to make up for his mistakes still gave the book a sweet family thread. Everything ties up neatly by the end. Maybe too neatly, but that is also part of the appeal. The Shippers feels like a sunny vacation movie with a glass of something fruity in hand. It is not trying to reinvent romance. It is here to flirt, sparkle, cause mild emotional inconvenience, and send everyone home with their heart packed safely in their carry-on.