Katherine Center’s “The Shippers” Is the Wedding Romance You Need — See the Cover! (Exclusive)

"I’ve ne'er had this overmuch nosy penning a book,” Center tells PEOPLE. “Maybe it’s because this communicative has been successful my caput for years, waiting for its move to beryllium written. Or possibly it’s because it was my first clip ever to constitute a childhood-friends-to-lovers arc successful a story. Or possibly it’s because it’s group connected a cruise ship, and I had my very ain real-life first buss connected a cruise vessel ... But for immoderate reason, this communicative came live for illustration magic and conscionable wrote itself.”

“In immoderate ways, I felt much for illustration I was reference it — eagerly flipping pages, up excessively precocious — than penning it,” Center adds.

“The 2 main characters, JoJo and Cooper, conscionable roared to life successful my caput connected page 1 and had an irresistible chemistry that wholly enchanted me," nan writer explains. "And their business (stuck together connected a cruise vessel for her sister's destination wedding) was truthful cleanable for nosy and teasing and shenanigans."

“Every infinitesimal of penning this communicative felt for illustration nan astir blissful, anticipation-filled, rom-commy escape,” she adds. “I can’t hold to stock it pinch nan world, and I dream readers person arsenic overmuch nosy reference arsenic I did writing."