The audiobook was actually really good the narrator did her part and most of the star rating is due to this. However, something about this was all over the place. For starters, it kept mentioning the pandemic. Maybe it’s my personal preference to not consume books that specifically mention modern events or people and I thought I could deal but it just felt slightly forceful to me. Secondly, this did not feel like a cohesive piece of work. It felt as if so much was happening yet nothing at the same time. Like the author had so many ideas for a story that they decided to just throw it all together because ‘hey why not’.

Thank you @netgalley for this ALC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a quick holiday novella perfect for December drives to meet family.
I didn’t read or listen to the first book but was able to follow along with this one.
Unfortunately, it didn’t draw me in and I didn’t connect with the characters. I was left feeling slightly bored with the whole story.
This could have just been me, and not having the previous story as a guide.

I was enjoying this in the beginning, sadly near the middle and by the end it did not match for me. I enjoyed the friendships but that was really about it.

Katie is starting to care for Deke. He has to work every year on Christmas which Katie is having difficulty accepting. Katie is working on getting her captain’s license.

Katie has a very supportive friend’s group that rallies around her. This takes place during COVID which makes everything a bit more intense.

I think this is a great book to listen to on a long journey. It’s a cozy fun audiobook. Published September 2024
3.75 stars


Thank you NetGalley and Make Waves Press for this audio ARC copy for an honest review.

Book was not my cup of tea and was not aimed toward my demographic at all. This series is aimed toward women 35+ and I was not aware of them and am in my 20s so I could not relate to the characters at all.

Overall I could not find a reason for the plot. At first the FMC was upset, but did nothing to fix it and was just going to keep being sad over a guy. Just not my cup of tea I guess.

This was a pretty quick read with some nice holiday vibes but overall, it fell a little flat for me. The beginning was strong with a good hook but it fizzled. The plot didn't feel consistent and the romance just didn't hit the mark for me. It was an overall decent and quick listen but just not my favorite holiday read this season. Thanks for the ARC!

This book started strong and had good intentions. It played out a bit different than I expected.
I enjoyed the friendship aspect but it never quite caught the wave that made me fall in love.

"Santa Overboard" is a Christmas-themed story that revisits Katie Young from "Cicada Spring" and catches us up on what's going on with all her friends.

Since I really enjoyed "Cicada Spring," I was thrilled to discover this is a sequel to it. But as much as I enjoyed reading it, this one didn't resonate with me as much as the first one did. Katie's response to Deke's research trip, which was planned long before they got together, was immature. I get that she's gun-shy after her last relationship went to incredibly sideways, but it just seemed a bit much.

I did enjoy the new characters that were introduced though and look forward to seeing Bonfire BLU come together in a future story.

Thank you to Carolyn McBride, Make Waves Press, and NetGalley for an advance review copy.

Santa Overboard is a holiday-themed romance set against the picturesque backdrop of Occoquan, Virginia. It follows Katie Young, a single mother starting anew in a charming riverside town. Balancing her roles as a gallery co-owner, boat parade captain, and mother, Katie faces midlife challenges, including a holiday festival gone awry and a romance that’s less merry than expected.

While the premise of Santa Overboard is full of holiday charm and small-town cheer, the story didn’t quite meet my expectations. The plot leaned heavily on predictability, and I found myself longing for more depth and surprises. Katie, the female lead, is portrayed as someone trying to move past problematic relationships, but her character often comes across as unreasonable rather than resilient. This made it difficult to fully connect with her journey or root for her romantic arc.

That said, the book does have its appeal. The festive setting, the camaraderie of the Beach Bonfire Babes, and the inclusion of holiday recipes lend the story a cosy, escapist quality. If you’re looking for an easy, low-stakes holiday listen to accompany your gift-wrapping or decorating, this might suit your needs.

While Santa Overboard wasn’t a standout for me, it offers a feel-good seasonal vibe that will likely appeal to fans of light, festive romance. If you enjoy stories about second chances and small-town festivities, you may find this a pleasant way to kick off your holiday season.

This review is based on an audiobook edition obtained via NetGalley.

This book clearly reads as a sequel, yet it does a great job of balancing that with introducing characters, locations, and backstory in a way that made it easy to follow, even as a first-time reader. The vivid, romantic, and detailed descriptions of the locations almost made the story feel like the product of a tourism campaign. That's not entirely a criticism; it certainly showcased the beauty and allure of the setting (which I’m assuming is real, given the level of detail).

I was initially surprised by the realness of the post-2020 time period, with multiple explicit references to COVID-19. While many readers and authors might shy away from such real-world elements, aiming for escapism, I appreciated it in a way I didn’t expect; I found it oddly comforting in a relatable way. That said, it doesn’t detract from the cozy romance at the heart of the story.

The book is short, which I actually liked, as I usually take a long time to get through even audiobooks. The narrator did a great job, with distinctive voices for each character, making the audiobook enjoyable and easy enough to follow. Lastly, the audio message from the author at the end was an interesting touch.

Santa Overboard is a quick, cozy Christmas novella. Katie is trying to organize a boat parade for Christmas. At the same time she is trying to navigate a new relationship with Deke. Deke drops the news that he will not be with her during Christmas as he has to go to the Galapagos Islands for work. She believes that he will never share her Christmas traditions and their relationship will end before it ever has a chance to take off.

I always want to read books with more mature characters. I believe this book had the potential to really make that happen. However, it fell short for me. I believe the FMC acts too much like a spoiled teenager who wants it her way or not at all.

Post her failed marriage, Katie has returned to small town life and started a new(ish) romance with a man that she really likes.

But are they really communicating as well as they should? Or is this going to be another failed relationship? At least she has unexpectedly made a new friend and has a good relationship with her daughter to fall back on.

This is a cosy enough story, but to my mind lacked sufficient action and complexity to make it interesting.

Thank you NetGalley and Author for this ARC!

I don't think this book was aimed for me but I really appreciated older characters for a change. They bring new challenges dramas than what I've read so far and I found that enjoyable. The writing style wasn't really for me as I kept finding my brain drifting through the story but I did love the Santa stuff! I wish we went in a bit further with Larry's stalking though, I found that more interesting the some of the main story line to be honest. Great start though! Looking forward to watching this author grow!

Santa Overboard was a fun Christmas read/listen! The audiobook was the perfect cozy read to pair with egg nog and wrapping Christmas presents. Even though I hadn't read the first book, I dove into the second without missing a beat. The characters are fun and easy to cheer for!

This was a short, few good book/ audiobook. I think the narrator was perfect for this story. Katie and Deke have been dating for about 9 months and they both have some hangups they need to work through to have this one work out. But it’s a little refreshing to read about someone in their 50s having the same insecurities as me. That age doesn’t fix all problems. Being a feel good read, you know you’re getting your HEA. Even when you want to smack the main characters for basically self sabotaging themselves.

Santa Overboard is my first title by Carolyn McBride - quick cozy mystery read. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Maria Marquis and she did a wonderful job with bringing each of the characters to life in the story.

Kate Young has moved to a small community along the Potomac with plans to start new as a boat Captain. She has a wonderful group of friends and partner Deke. The story takes place during the Christmas season and the town’s holiday traditions, there is some mystery, romance and hyjinx in the storyline and it gets a little lost at points but wraps up at the end.

I felt like this was too short and I didn't care about all the side characters. But I also didn't read book 1 so that might be my problem.

I received a copy of this audiobook from netGalley for a honest review.

What a lovely coming out of Covid story. This is my first book by this author but I'm sure to listen to more as this one just made my heart sing.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to listen to Santa Overboard by Carolyn McBride.
This was such a fun quick seasonal little romance. Great snappy writing straight to the point with not all of frills which allows for your own imagination to fill in the gaps in this lovely story.

Santa Overboard had a title that made me eager to listen to the audiobook. I was looking forward to a rom com set with a Christmas theme. What I got to listen to was way too full of too many things and with Covid being a big topic in the story made me lose interest and I listened to the end hoping I would get more rom-com in the story.
Maria Marquis was the narrator and she gave it her best to make the audiobook fun to listen to as best as she could.
Thank you NetGalley, Carolyn McBride and Make Waves Press for the audiobook of Santa Overboard. This is my personal review.