What an absolute joy to attend a book signing for @katherinecenter ! This author is the absolute bomb .com! We gained so much insight into her writing process. For starters, we found out that she has written most of her novels in Galveston (a local author๐), which is also the embarkation port in her latest story. Secondly, her dedication to thorough research - something not always common in the Romcom genre - is likely why I connect so well with her work. I've tried reading other authors in this space, but I've often struggled to suspend my disbelief... enter ๐ป๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ and I was all in! And this latest book was just as engaging. We also discovered that miscommunication is a recurring theme in her stories, and while she playfully acknowledges that it can sometimes get slightly exasperating, I can see why she keeps it in her toolbox. It’s a fantastic way to drive the plot and build anticipation!
Now that I've gushed about what a delight Ms. Center is as a human, let's talk about this book! The characters she created are such a joy; I was genuinely invested in the outcome for the whole cast of quirky misfits. The premise was fantastic (which is surprising coming from a historical fiction enthusiast like me) - it's a childhood friends-to-lovers story and I was all in!!! And the setting? A cruise ship! I was thrilled to discover that the author shares my obsession with The Love Boat!
Also, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the fabulous
@pattimurin who narrated this audiobook - wowza! What a talent! And Lori who owns @then_and_now_bookshop had the foresight to book the @thegrand1894operahouse venue
...just amazing!!! The whole experience was sublime...
So, all this to say, Katherine Center has definitely gained a new fan in me! She was an absolute delight and I whole-heartedly recommend her books! If she’s ever in your area, make sure to stop by and say hello! She's as charming as can be!
Read 6/12/26
