Casey is a total fish out of water in a cruise ship trying to get the big story with Phillip. Secretly she knows him from when she went to school with him in middle school. At the welcome media mixer, Phillip is introduced to all the media. Casey decides this is true time she gets the story before it gets busy and crazy on the ship. When she introduces herself, he puts her in her place saying “no” as in no story with her. She’s confused and he says he remembers her and how karma is back for her. This starts the battle of getting the story from Phillip for Casey. She has to get this story and Phillip isn’t willing to give it to her. Two completely stubborn characters which brings such great banter.

I loved how this was based on a cruise ship. I don’t think I’ve read a cruise book before. Loved this part. I also loved the complete opposite friendship between Casey and her neighbor on the cruise ship, Sienna. Love seeing character growth and Casey did that!

Tropes:
Enemies to Lovers
Forced Proximity
Grumpy/Sunshine
Banter

Rachel's books are something I still haven't been able to figure out - some of them I adored some were DNFs. There's no in-between, and I don't really know why or how, seeing as the writing and stories could not be that different.
The plot of a Carribean voyager sailing across the ocean with your teenage enemy on board was funny and definitely a nightmare of mine. Confined spaces like a ship and me are not gelling well together, but the forced proximity trope had me intrigued.
Philipp was an okay MMC, definitely not a favourite of mine. Casey was a bit immature for my liking and their supposed beef with each other dated far back and had no particular relevance for me in the present.
The comedy aspect is something the author can plot out nicely, so I must applaud her for this!
The romance could have been a bit more thought-out as well as the repetitive nature of inner monolouges and dialogs being the same would be preferred in my honest opinion!

This. Book😍😍😍😍 I love R.S Grey’s books so much and this one was no exception! I enjoyed Casey’s character a lot! She was very real and I related to her in many ways. Her friendship with Sienna was one of the best parts of this book! I loved their bond and how their friendship developed over the course of the cruise.

Phillip😮‍💨 I love a broody, grumpy MMC and he delivered. The first few interactions between Casey & Phillip had me dying!!! I loved her “what do I have to lose” attitude and him being taken aback by it😂 They had some sweet (and spicy 🔥🔥) scenes in this book and I really enjoyed it. Another great one from R.S Grey!!

4/5 Stars

This one was fun!I enjoyed the cruise setting, but I am not a huge fan of insta-love and this cruise is such a short time frame in the grand scheme of things, but in the context of an R.S. Grey book they are just a fun time and you've got to go with it! This wasn't my absolute favorite one of hers (Three Strikes and Your Mine wins that one), but this was fast, fun, and met all of my expectations. Will always be reading R.S. Grey's next release!!

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Caribbean Crush by R. S. Grey is a delightful enemies-to-lovers romance set against the backdrop of a luxury cruise. Casey Hughes, a struggling travel journalist, lands the dream assignment to cover a maiden voyage but must face off with her former nemesis, Phillip Woodmont, the handsome CEO with a grudge against her. Their fiery, antagonistic chemistry fuels both the tension and humor in this fast-paced, steamy story. As Casey tries to navigate her professional mission while dealing with their unresolved past, the two are forced into close quarters, where old sparks fly and grudges turn into something deeper. Grey’s witty writing and playful banter make this a fun, irresistible read for fans of romantic comedies.

R.S. Grey is one of my favorite RomCom authors and Caribbean Crush did not disappoint. Loved the characters, the setting, the banter. It was such an enjoyable read.

R.S. Grey does it again with Caribbean Crush. It was a fun, flirty, quick read that I loved from start to finish. There's a reason I always pick up one of her books when I'm in a reading rut--they're the perfect palette cleanser when I need something fresh and light. I loved the banter of this childhood enemies to lovers book and enjoyed the travel setting immensely. I thought the banter was adorable and I just wanted to escape to a cruise ship. It's the perfect beach read--or the perfect read to pick up on a snowy day, snuggle up, and imagine you're somewhere else. I always recommend R.S. Grey's books, but this is definitely a new favorite.

I received a copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest and fair review.

Cute read with fun banter. Casey is a travel journalist who wants that big story. Phillip is a successful businessman, an heir to a shipping dynasty. When Casey goes on a cruise with the intention to land a big interview with him…it’s nothing but obstacles. The biggest obstacle being that these two have a history, a history that goes back to high school. This is a back and forth battle between hard headed individuals that actually turns out pretty well. This is a cute read with a fun story. A story about becoming your own, falling in love and everything in between. A story of blunders and fun moments that were sometimes laugh out loud funny. I look forward to seeing what this author brings us next.

As I dove into Caribbean Crush, I found myself swept away by the fun and fast-paced narrative that R.S. Grey is known for. This book was the perfect escape, blending sweetness with a dash of spice, making it an ideal choice for my beach reading list. I was entertained from start to finish, eagerly turning pages to see what would happen next.

One of the highlights for me was the signature witty banter that Grey masterfully weaves throughout the story. The enemies-to-lovers trope is one of my favorites, and I loved how it played out between the main characters. While I enjoyed the story immensely, I have to admit that it didn’t quite surpass some of Grey’s other works that I’ve adored, but it still held its own with charm and humor.

What really stood out to me was the balance of spice, tenderness, and humor. The internal dialogues of the characters felt relatable and genuine, allowing me to connect with their experiences. I found myself laughing out loud at some moments while also feeling a tug at my heartstrings during the more tender scenes. It was a delightful mix that kept me engaged throughout.

The plot, centered around old rivals reuniting on a cruise ship, added an exciting backdrop to the unfolding romance. I loved how the setting elevated the emotional stakes, making their journey together even more compelling. Watching them navigate their past conflicts while exploring their budding romance kept me invested in their story.

Overall, Caribbean Crush was a delightful read that I thoroughly enjoyed. R.S. Grey has a knack for creating engaging plots and relatable characters, and this book is no exception. If you’re looking for a light-hearted romance that will make you laugh and swoon, I highly recommend diving into Caribbean Crush!

I really disliked the main characters initially (because tell me why a grown as man still harbors this much resentment about something that happened in middle school 🙄) but by the time I finished reading, these two had grown so much on. I can admit they were cute together with good chemistry.
Although the “I don’t deserve such an amazing guy” and “let me leave him first before he leaves me” the FMC was doing was super annoying.
My favorite part of this book was however the friendship between Casey and Sienna.

Thanks to Montlake and NetGalley for the ARC!

This novel turned out to be the best escape from the winter cold. I really enjoyed the escape on the cruise. I am a sucker for enemies to lovers and I feel like R.S. Grey did it very well in this novel. I would definitely recommend this novel for anyone who enemies to lovers trope as well as a summer vibe.

While I have enjoyed some of her books, R.S. Grey is sort of a hit or miss author for me. But when I saw this book set on a cruise, I was instantly sold. They say to not judge a book by its cover...but safe to say that definitely happened here! One thing that R.S. Grey is good at doing is creating an escape for her readers, and Caribbean Crush is no exception. The setting on this big, new, luxurious ship was perfect! The biggest issue I had with this story was the pacing of this one. Everything seemed to happen so fast, that I didn't really enjoy it like I would have liked. I think a little more depth and connection with the characters would have done wonders for this one.

R.S. Grey is always a go to when I'm in the mood for a light-hearted, swoony romance, and Caribbean Crush doesn't disappoint. I loved this one! It was the perfect late summer read. And that cover?? I love! It may be one of my favorite R,S, Grey book covers. Loved this book!

I love a good RS Grey book. This one had all the humor and steam in it. I enjoyed the banter between Casey and Phillip.

Their history fueled their banter with each other.

I enjoyed reading about the cruise part and all the characters were great. I love the budding friendship between Sienna and Casey.

This had some humor, steamy moments, and a bit of drama. I enjoyed this book.

I can always count on Rachel delivering an entertaining yet sweet summer read.

I enjoyed this one more than I expected. I really liked the push and pull between Casey and Phillip. These two have a history and it's not a good one.

Casey is at her wit's end with her job and Phillip ends up being on the receiving end of her attitude when he refuses to give the interview she needs for her job.

Phillip is quite the character. I really enjoyed him and think he made this book all the more enjoyable for me.

Overall, a great summer romance read.

So I thought that this was going to be a cute romcom, perfect for the summer months, but I was let down. It's a decently written book, but the constant squabbling between two adults about a situation that took place in middle school was too much for me.

This is a good book. The two main characters are Casey and Phillip. They have known each other for all their lives. Casey is a fact finder at a magazine, she wants to be a writer. Phillip is working at his family’s business. He is launching a cruise ship and invited some journalists, including Casey. He will not give any interviews, but that’s what Casey’s boss wants. There is an attraction. They decide to have a one night stand. It is very intense. They fall in love.

Casey Hughes is a struggling travel journalist desperate for a big break when she lands the assignment of a hop on board Aurelia for its maiden voyage through paradise. While she’ll bask in the luxury cruise ship’s fine dining and complimentary spa treatments, her real mission is to snag an exclusive interview with Phillip Woodmont.

Casey and the elusive shipping heir have history. Once, they were nothing short of brutal enemies. Though the former brace-faced teen is now a suited-up CEO with devastating good looks, he makes it clear to Casey that he has no interest in forgetting their past.

The volatile grudge between them is as explosive as ever. More than once Casey is tempted to toss Phillip overboard, but for her work, she’ll have to swallow her pride. If it’s an apology he’s after, she’ll serve it up on a silver platter. If he wants her to walk the plank, she’ll salute with an aye, aye, Captain.

Casey can’t let him provoke her. She needs this interview. So if Phillip wants to play dirty, Casey will just have to play dirtier.

Loved it. cannot wait to read more from the author. Will recommend to others.

Casey and Phillip have history, now enemies, could they become lovers?? Climbing aboard a luxury cruise ship, hoping to get an exclusive interview with the CEO this could be Casey’s big break and turn her life as a struggling travel journalist around.

I really enjoyed this book! It was a captivating read that held my attention from start to finish. The story was well-paced, and the characters felt real and engaging. I’m grateful to the publisher for providing an early copy—it was a pleasure to read!