I’m on a boat‼️
I got my swim trunks & my flippy floppies 🩳🩴
I was listening to the lonely island and the next thing you know, this list happened.
this list contains a variety of books that take place on a variety of boats, ships and vessels
as always, taking any and all suggestions
created by erintripsey
last updated October, 2026
Comments
I am obsessed with this list
hehehe thank you!! do you have any recommendations for any books with some hanky panky on a boat? or maybe some murrrder?
Ask and ye shall receive...
Beast of the Bayou by CJ North-swamp boat haunted house cursed swamp man
Hooked by Emily Mcintire-Hooked on a boat
Slip into Me by Clover Holloway-eel man on Rumspringa
Drown the Sea by Elisha Kemp-time travel boat action
Secrets on the sea by Shona Knight-when you get whisked away to another world and you need to pretend to be a cabin boy for a bunch of hot pirates...how terrible
I knew youd have something up your sleeve 😈
wait I’m just realizing you said an EEL MAN ON RUMSPRINGA???? 😭😭😭
Here to suggest American Fantasy by Emma Straub and A Restless Truth by Freya Marske! Both take place on cruise ships 😌
incredible thank you!! will add now 🙂↕️
Hemingway, Rick Riordan and Tessa Bailey on the same list? i love it
I wanted there to be a little bit of everything on this list!!!
I was coming here to say the same!! Love that we have 'Heart of Darkness' along with a bunch of (what I hope is) queer romantasy. Perfect curation 🙂↕️
The Lonely Island mention!! 😂 Saltblood by Francesca De Tores is a fictional story about the life of Mary Read (an English female pirate)
This is why I love pb, never expected to see a list of just books where characters are on boats
love this, recommend adding Your Wicked Heart by Meredith Duran
thank you!!! added to the list 😊
How about Sinners Condemned by Somme Sketcher? A good part of the book happens on a yacht that houses a casino 👀
oooo that sounds like a good book 🙂↕️ adding now!
It's a duology inside an interconnected series, full of tension and chemistry 🔥 it's good, I recommend it!
i recommend the plover by brian doyle! and i love this list!!!
You always have the best lists and I'm always gonna come with the worst suggestions but Captain Silver Fox by Nora Phoenix is on a boat 🤭
ooooh adding now!!!
I just wanna wiggle my fingers inside your magnificent brain and boop-bop around 
Ooh, just found this list because of today's featured emoji. I think Saltcrop by Yume Kitasei would be a good fit!
thank you for the recommendation!! will be adding now 🫡
Boat‼️ I suggest Nicked by M. T. Anderson (as long as significant but partial boat time is acceptable) and Running Close to the Wind (I have to assume -- haven't read it yet but it's literally about pirates so I'm pretty sure it's boat-centric. Seconding the rec of A Restless Truth. Whole thing's on a huge transatlantic Edwardian ship.
BOAT!!! thank you for the recs, adding now!! 🙂↕️
IM FLIPPING BURGERS YOU AT KINKOS STRAIGHT FLIPPING COPIES 🗣️🗣️🗣️🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Not exactly a boat, more flotilla, but I think The Scar by China Mieville would fit in here
oooh that works too!! thank you for the rec!! it’s been added to the list!
Firstly, this list is amazing.
Maybe I missed it, and maybe you’re just doing standalones, but a good chunk of Siege and Storm (second Shadow and Bone book) is on a boat.
I haven’t read, but I believe Life of Pi takes place on a boat?
I’ll take any rec that fits! If the first book takes place on land but a sequel takes place on a boat, I’ll add it!! Thank you for the recs!!! Life of Pi is already on the list, I had to scroll to find it myself!!
I somehow missed it too! Excited to read a bunch of these boat books!!!
I don't know if anyone has recommended it, but The Bone Ships by R.J. Barker is set on a ship!
oooh it has not been recommended so I’ll add it now!! Thank you for the rec!!!
Lmao love that song 😂
Can I suggest Fable by Adrienne Young?
absolutely!!! I love doing the song for karaoke, it’s such a fun song 🙂↕️ thank you for the rec too I’ll def add it now!!!
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