The Shippers, a Review by Susan

❤️❤️❤️❤️

The Shippers
Katherine Center

St. Martin’s Press
336 Pages
May 9, 2026

            This was a case of the right book at the right time; I needed a light and breezy read and this fit the bill.  At the very beginning of the novel, Ms. Center declared that now, more than ever, she needs books with happy ending and this was that sort of book. That was exactly what I needed.  This might not attract all readers because not everyone wants to know up front that things will end well.  However, Ms. Center is not known for sadness, whether she states it or not.  I am not a big romance novel reader but I have enjoyed the books of hers I have read.  I do agree with some readers that this is not her strongest novel.

            The protagonist, Jojo, is about to marry her fiancé, but when her childhood friend, Cooper shows up to stop the wedding, she leaves her fiancé at the alter.  Jojo is convinced by her best friend that she is unable to go through with the wedding because of a relationship that scarred her.  We know early on that Cooper, although Jojo’s good “friend” is actually in love with her.  We can also predict from the outset that Cooper will prevail because things will be happy ever after.  While Ms. Center’s books are all happy ever after, this might have been a tad too predictable and would have benefited from a bit more tension along the way.  There was some but might have been a touch too predictable.

            That said, there were other things working in the novel’s favor.  Ms. Center is a master of dialogue and banter and this book is no slouch in that department.  There is also strong character development and pacing.  What’s more is that the setting, much on a ship, was stellar and was the place I wanted to be. All in all, this was classic Katherine Center, with perhaps a touch more happiness and romance.

            Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an advanced copy of this novel.