katkinney's review
3.0
Fifteen years after graduating high school and after reminiscing at a class reunion, four friends who have had bad luck in love decide to take a singles cruise together at the holidays. Amy, Rachel, Nina and Frankie were all interesting characters with varied careers which were fun to read about. I liked the way the backstories were developed. Things that worked for me: the characters and the friendships—I would categorize this more as women’s fiction than a romance as the romance plays very little part in the novel. Things I struggled with: based on the cover, blurb and title, I was expecting this to be a Christmas-themed novel that takes place on a cruise, however the cruise doesn’t start until halfway through the novel, and the Christmas element is barely present in the book.
daphrose's review
3.0
2.5 stars, but I am rounding up because I enjoyed it in spite of myself.
I am perhaps as far away from the main characters in this book as I could possibly be. I am 21 years old, married, and quite settled with no great desire to travel the world other than driving around the Great Plains with my husband. That said, despite my lack of reliability to the characters, I actually found them endearing. Rachel, Frankie, Amy, and Nina felt quite real to me, and their friendship was palpable. Though they were "looking for love," the concept that they should HAVE to get a man was not the main point of the story. The romantic resolutions often fell quietly to the background, and I enjoyed that.
I actually enjoyed the non-cruise scenes the most, as the girls prepared for the cruise and we were introduced to their family (and relationship) dynamics. Once the cruise started (almost halfway through the book), I actually got a bit bored. I don't usually read escapism books such as this, so I think I was wondering where the plot could go. Nonetheless, there were some fun twists, and it was an enjoyable and inoffensive story.
There were some things that I did not enjoy as much. Though I liked the characters, I had a hard time picturing them in their 30s. They often acted like high schoolers, especially when they were together. They were wildly immature to be as successful as Michaels makes them out to be. Not that that's necessarily a bad (or unrealistic) thing, but I could not for the life of me picture them as older adults. They felt to be in their mid-twenties to me, at most, and goodness gracious, they shout and squeal and hoot and holler so much! I felt like I was watching a YouTube vlog in book form. Next, the things Michaels chooses to describe vs. those she doesn't could bother me at times. She spent several paragraphs describing the girls' apartments/homes, but she spends a single sentence describing a speed dating session. Come on! I wanted that in scene! How fun would that have been? The other part of the storyline that really bothered me was the way the girls get obsessively attached to "protecting" an older woman they meet on the cruise. After day one, they begin stalking her and trying to figure out who she's dating in order to "protect" her. I guess I get it in theory, but it comes across as creepy and breaking SEVERAL boundaries. The older woman does wind up angry at them when she finds out, but they still face no real consequences. It just felt a little off and uncomfortable to read.
My only other complaint is that for a book titled "Santa Cruise," it did not feel very Christmas-y. I've been wanting a "Christmas in August" fix, and I was hoping this book would provide that, but alas, other than some mistletoe and a brief Santa appearance, there was nothing very festive for me. Oh well!
In the end, though this book has its troubles, it's an escapist fiction piece that isn't meant to be thought about too deeply. It is about friends having a good time, working through family and life difficulties, and finding love. Though these kinds of books are not usually my cup of tea, I had fun reading this book.
(I received an ARC of this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway. Though I am under no obligation to post a review as part of the giveaway, I am providing my honest feedback to thank the publisher for the free book.)
I am perhaps as far away from the main characters in this book as I could possibly be. I am 21 years old, married, and quite settled with no great desire to travel the world other than driving around the Great Plains with my husband. That said, despite my lack of reliability to the characters, I actually found them endearing. Rachel, Frankie, Amy, and Nina felt quite real to me, and their friendship was palpable. Though they were "looking for love," the concept that they should HAVE to get a man was not the main point of the story. The romantic resolutions often fell quietly to the background, and I enjoyed that.
I actually enjoyed the non-cruise scenes the most, as the girls prepared for the cruise and we were introduced to their family (and relationship) dynamics. Once the cruise started (almost halfway through the book), I actually got a bit bored. I don't usually read escapism books such as this, so I think I was wondering where the plot could go. Nonetheless, there were some fun twists, and it was an enjoyable and inoffensive story.
There were some things that I did not enjoy as much. Though I liked the characters, I had a hard time picturing them in their 30s. They often acted like high schoolers, especially when they were together. They were wildly immature to be as successful as Michaels makes them out to be. Not that that's necessarily a bad (or unrealistic) thing, but I could not for the life of me picture them as older adults. They felt to be in their mid-twenties to me, at most, and goodness gracious, they shout and squeal and hoot and holler so much! I felt like I was watching a YouTube vlog in book form. Next, the things Michaels chooses to describe vs. those she doesn't could bother me at times. She spent several paragraphs describing the girls' apartments/homes, but she spends a single sentence describing a speed dating session. Come on! I wanted that in scene! How fun would that have been? The other part of the storyline that really bothered me was the way the girls get obsessively attached to "protecting" an older woman they meet on the cruise. After day one, they begin stalking her and trying to figure out who she's dating in order to "protect" her. I guess I get it in theory, but it comes across as creepy and breaking SEVERAL boundaries. The older woman does wind up angry at them when she finds out, but they still face no real consequences. It just felt a little off and uncomfortable to read.
My only other complaint is that for a book titled "Santa Cruise," it did not feel very Christmas-y. I've been wanting a "Christmas in August" fix, and I was hoping this book would provide that, but alas, other than some mistletoe and a brief Santa appearance, there was nothing very festive for me. Oh well!
In the end, though this book has its troubles, it's an escapist fiction piece that isn't meant to be thought about too deeply. It is about friends having a good time, working through family and life difficulties, and finding love. Though these kinds of books are not usually my cup of tea, I had fun reading this book.
(I received an ARC of this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway. Though I am under no obligation to post a review as part of the giveaway, I am providing my honest feedback to thank the publisher for the free book.)
mrsbarrysbookshelf's review
2.0
This book was a disastrous read for me. Individually, each character, fine. Four friends going on a singles cruise? No wonder people watched them wherever they went; they had built in support systems where others were taking a solo-plunge.
The "Santa Cruise" title also didn't fit well for me. The cruise was post-Christmas and only had a Santa on board one night for a charity auction.
I think the book was meant to be a feel-good read, but for me it just felt trite and lazy.
The "Santa Cruise" title also didn't fit well for me. The cruise was post-Christmas and only had a Santa on board one night for a charity auction.
I think the book was meant to be a feel-good read, but for me it just felt trite and lazy.
ashleycote's review
3.0
If you’re looking for an upbeat, positive story - this is it. It’s overall cute & would make for a good TV movie.
I rated it 3 stars because I personally don’t find it super believable. By the mention of Covid-19 it’s based in current day or near future & characters are meant to be in their early thirties. I would have guessed forties or fifties based on how they talk & how their clothing was described. I am an elder millennial myself & I just couldn’t relate to these characters at all.
I also find it hard to believe that four women that haven’t spoken in 15 years just jump right back into it & would sign up to be trapped on a boat together.
*I did receive this book complimentary in exchange for my honest review*
I rated it 3 stars because I personally don’t find it super believable. By the mention of Covid-19 it’s based in current day or near future & characters are meant to be in their early thirties. I would have guessed forties or fifties based on how they talk & how their clothing was described. I am an elder millennial myself & I just couldn’t relate to these characters at all.
I also find it hard to believe that four women that haven’t spoken in 15 years just jump right back into it & would sign up to be trapped on a boat together.
*I did receive this book complimentary in exchange for my honest review*
jlrasa23's review
4.0
I enjoyed the advance reader copy from #BetweenTheChapters and #Kensingtonpublishing. At first I wasn't sure what to think but it turned out to be a fun read. #SantaCruise was an entertaining tale of friendship and change. #giveaway #SantaCruise
brinastewart's review
2.0
I have never read this author and I picked it up when I was looking for Christmas reads. I felt it was slow. The author took too long on insignificant details and happenings that when you finally got to where the story picked up, the book was almost over. I don't know if I will read another by this author.
thebashfulbookworm's review
3.0
Three and a Half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭒
Santa Cruise by Fern Michaels is a fun, holiday book about a group of friends who all go on a singles cruise over the holidays.
Lifelong friends Amy, Frankie, Nina, and Rachael reconnect during a 15-year high school reunion. Their lives have not turned out the way they wanted, so they make a pact, that if they are all still single by the holidays, they’ll go together on a cruise. Well, they all decided to go on the cruise together and enjoy the holidays.
This was a fun book, and the women were all entertaining. Although I enjoyed this book, I wish it was more emotionally satisfying. The women all enjoyed themselves on the cruise, but I didn’t feel like it changed any of them very much, nor did they learn much about themselves. I wanted more character development and an emotional journey for these women. Instead, the author focused more on the cruise ship stops, and activities as well as what the women were wearing to the different activities. There were some love matches, but they seemed to be in the background and not explored as much as I would have liked.
Santa Cruise is a fun light read, but, that’s about all. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Santa Cruise by Fern Michaels is a fun, holiday book about a group of friends who all go on a singles cruise over the holidays.
Lifelong friends Amy, Frankie, Nina, and Rachael reconnect during a 15-year high school reunion. Their lives have not turned out the way they wanted, so they make a pact, that if they are all still single by the holidays, they’ll go together on a cruise. Well, they all decided to go on the cruise together and enjoy the holidays.
This was a fun book, and the women were all entertaining. Although I enjoyed this book, I wish it was more emotionally satisfying. The women all enjoyed themselves on the cruise, but I didn’t feel like it changed any of them very much, nor did they learn much about themselves. I wanted more character development and an emotional journey for these women. Instead, the author focused more on the cruise ship stops, and activities as well as what the women were wearing to the different activities. There were some love matches, but they seemed to be in the background and not explored as much as I would have liked.
Santa Cruise is a fun light read, but, that’s about all. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
mdoerr's review
3.0
All I want to do after reading this book is go a cruise. The descriptions of the cruise activities were awesome and the food...omg I was hungry the whole time reading this. The setting and the characters were all great. The plot was a bit lacking. 4 women reconnect at a high school reunion and decide to go on a holiday singles cruise over new years. The first 25% is about them planning the cruise then the rest is about them on the cruise and the activities they do. Each of the women is struggling with what they want to do with their life next and being on the cruise helps them make those decisions. That's essentially the whole plot. They were on a singles cruise and there was no romance! How does that happen? I was going into this expecting some flirting, dating, romantic day activities, and so much more.
But this was not a romance, I would consider this a contemporary book with the idea of romance without actually having any. I also found that the writing got a bit old at times, be repetitive with humor.
This was fun, easy to read, and quick to get through. If you are looking for an easy book to read on vacation (or to make you want to take on) then I would recommend the book but its not something I will suggesting to everyone to read.
But this was not a romance, I would consider this a contemporary book with the idea of romance without actually having any. I also found that the writing got a bit old at times, be repetitive with humor.
This was fun, easy to read, and quick to get through. If you are looking for an easy book to read on vacation (or to make you want to take on) then I would recommend the book but its not something I will suggesting to everyone to read.