let's get ship-faced
JoJo Burton is itchy. She is about to get married to the guy she’s been with for almost a decade. But the wedding is not going how she wanted. Her mother-in-law took over the planning, even down to her dress, and now JoJo can’t do anything but itch, from her toes all the way up to the very itchy collar around her neck. But when her best friend from childhood shows up, Cooper Watts, all the way from England, he helps her get out of it. After she faints at the altar, he grabs her and takes her away, and buys her some clothes to change into and snacks, and he takes her to the Texas coast.
That was the first time JoJo had seen Cooper in years. They had been inseparable through school, and then one day he disappeared. He didn’t answer her calls or texts, and she had to move on. And then he showed up out of the blue, rescued her from a bad marriage, and disappeared again. JoJo is ready to face the mistakes of her past that have her choosing the wrong men, starting at her sister’s upcoming cruise ship wedding.
At the wedding, family and old friends will all be trapped on a ship for a week for the wedding and the accompanying festivities, and it will be JoJo’s chance to confront the ghosts of her past, namely, Finn, the first boy who ever kissed her. All these years later, and JoJo still remembers that momentous kiss. It ruined her for all other kisses, for all her relationships. But Finn is newly single, as is she, so she can finally see if he was the one who she’s supposed to be with.
But who shows up again, out of nowhere? Cooper Watts. He’s back once again, and JoJo is happy. She’s going to need some help for her operation to conquer the effects of her first kiss and win Finn’s heart. But there are secrets that JoJo has yet to learn, that will change her story from start to finish.
The Shippers is an effervescent love story filled with warmth and giggles. While I thought that some of this story was a little obvious, there were also many moments filled with surprises and sweetness. Overall, I thought this story was a delight, and it’s perfect for the beach or pool. I have been a fan of Katherine Center for many years for many reasons, but mostly I love her enduring belief in love and its ability to heal the human spirit. Her characters are strong and independent, smart and sexy, and they leap off the page.
I listened to The Shippers on audio, narrated with buoyancy by Patti Murin. She brings JoJo to life with all of her problems and her uniqueness, from her teaching math through art to her growing awareness of her relationship with her father. Murin brings JoJo’s enthusiasm, her heartbreak, and her humanity to life, and I loved every minute.
Egalleys for The Shippers were provided by St. Martin’s Press, and an early copy of the audio book was provided by Macmillan Audio, both through NetGalley, with many thanks, but the opinions are mine.
