Total Dreamboat by Katelyn Doyle (June 24, 2025) Thank you Flatiron Books and Macmillan Audio for the gifted advanced reading and listening copies!
Hope Lanover is in desperate need of a reset. Her relationship has imploded, her boss is the worst, and she’s lost her spark. Luckily, her best friend Lauren, a media influencer, secures them a spot on a 10-day Caribbean cruise. While Lauren’s busy hunting for a rich husband, Hope just wants to unplug and find some peace. But the second she locks eyes with the devastatingly handsome man at check-in, she realizes this trip might be more than she bargained for.
Felix Segrave isn’t exactly thrilled about this family cruise to celebrate his parents’ 40th anniversary. His world revolves around work, his restaurants, and the discipline of maintaining his sobriety. Ten days at sea sounds like a challenge – until he meets Hope. Suddenly, those days seem full of possibility. As sparks fly between them, cruise ship flirtation grows into something more… but just as they start to fall, things take a turn.
I adored Katelyn Doyle’s 2024 novel, Just Some Stupid Love Story, and Total Dreamboat delivers the same heartfelt, messy, and utterly charming vibes. From karaoke shenanigans to dining mishaps and laugh-out-loud banter, this book had me fully invested. But what makes it really shine is how it explores reinvention and taking charge of your own story. Felix’s honest portrayal of his sobriety journey was especially moving, while Hope’s growth felt so real and relatable. Even the messy third act miscommunications felt genuine and added depth rather than frustration.
🎧 Audiobook Notes 🎧 Kelli Tager and Russ Bain are both new-to-me narrators, and I’m officially obsessed! They bring out Hope and Felix’s vulnerabilities beautifully; making every sweet, funny, and tender moment pop. I’m especially excited to hear Bain narrate Scotch on the Rocks in July! (Runtime: 9 hours)
Book: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Audio Performance: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Book Smart Kate 