The Arctic Cruise is the latest release from Caroline James. With an anticipated release date of January 15, 2026, readers are taken on an Arctic cruise during the holidays. Joy is a widow on the cruise her husband had booked to celebrate their 40th anniversary. Henry is a confirmed bachelor on the hunt for the Northern Lights. Will they find themselves along the way?
I want to thank Avon Books UK and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of The Arctic Cruise. However, all opinions expressed here are solely mine.
Synopsis from Goodreads
Joy never imagined stepping aboard a cruise ship without her husband, Tom. Now widowed, Joy wonders what her voyage on the Emerald Dream will hold – and as it glides through breathtaking Norwegian fjords, she longs to believe in happiness again. However, she carries a secret that could unravel her fragile hopes if it ever came to light…
Elsewhere on deck, as the sun dips below the horizon and the polar night sets in, Henry, a lifelong bachelor, is living his dream of seeing the Northern Lights. Having long since given up on love, he now dedicates himself to his passion for photography. But when he meets Joy, is it more than the aurora borealis that catches his eye?
As they embark on a snow-dusted adventure which takes them from bustling ports to reindeer-drawn sleigh rides, will Joy and Henry find the courage to embrace love again? Or will hidden truths sink the possibility of a new beginning?
Positives
- Under 400 pages.
- Quick and easy read.
- Great cast of characters.
- Believable relationships.
Negatives
- I want more!
My Opinions
Adding The Arctic Cruise to my TBR was a pure impulse move, and I am so happy that I did. What’s not to love about a widow trying to find herself, a confirmed bachelor finding himself in a new situation, and a cast of quirky characters? Oh, and all of this on a week-long cruise from England up to the Arctic Circle around Christmas? Sign me up!
James is best known for writing novels that feature a more mature cast of characters, and this novel was chock-full of them. But there weren’t so many that you couldn’t keep them straight. On a cruise ship with over 1,000 people, the cast list is relatively small, with fewer than 20 named characters. The side characters, like Nora, Sid, Judy, and James, are just as entertaining as the main characters. Honestly, I want to be like almost all of them when I get older. No one should aim to be like Barbara or Kenneth.
Reading The Arctic Cruise made me want to reach out to the nearest travel agent to book it. Though I’m not sure I want to go there in the winter, I wouldn’t mind a nice, relaxing summer cruise to the area.
Do you enjoy reading books with a quirky cast of mature characters? Or ones that feature travel to unexpected locations? What about a romance that is beautiful to see unfold? Do you enjoy Christmas books that don’t scream Christmas? Or friends that become found family? Then you should read The Arctic Cruise.
Are you looking for some more books to read? Check out my bookish lists, book reviews, and monthly reading wrap-ups.
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Thank you so much for your lovely review of my new novel The Arctic Cruise. Wishing you and your readers many happy reading hours. Warmest wishes, Caroline x