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The Good Ship Lollipop

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For fifteen years, Kyle and Dustin seemed like the perfect couple. That was until Kyle came home to discover Dustin in bed with a yoga instructor half his age and twice his flexibility. Two years and countless therapy hours later, Kyle has almost put the incident behind him. Being nearly forty and single makes a man bitter, but he’s making do.

Yet, when Kyle’s best friend asks him to be her Man of Honor, on her ten-day Caribbean wedding cruise, Kyle finds himself in a most uncomfortable situation. He ends up trapped on a seafaring vessel for ten days with the man who practically destroyed him.

Face to face with Dustin for the first time since the breakup, unresolved feelings float to the surface, and Kyle and Dustin both begin to wonder if their story is as over as it seems.

While navigating unchartered water with Dustin, Kyle also meets Jax, a sexy Australian who likes to cruise in more ways than one. Kyle is more than happy to let Jax distract him for ten days. Still, when Jax suggests that he might want more than just a few days of fun, Kyle must choose between the love of his past or the man he could love in the future.

424 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 14, 2021

7 people are currently reading
31 people want to read

About the author

Patrick Benjamin

10 books14 followers

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5 stars
20 (41%)
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18 (37%)
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6 (12%)
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
Profile Image for True Loveislovereview.
2,877 reviews1 follower
February 23, 2021
4.5 stars. No use to describe too much about the big lines of this content, the blurb says it punctual.
But when you look closely you’ll find a trillion different details and vibes. Amazingly done!

After two years of avoiding his cheating ex, Kyle meets Dustin again on his best friend's wedding-cruise. On this ten-days-cruise Kyle also meets Jax, who’s so smitten by Kyle.
Let the rollercoaster ride begin!

The story is told from mostly Kyle’s view. He has a huge personality we can enjoy every layer of it. You can love or hate him at the same time.

It’s a widely written narrative, w i d e l y! Extremely entertaining, at times even a bit too much, but never without being entertaining!
All the direct comments were straight honest but sometimes painfully real.
It seems they act oblivious but meanwhile... not!

It was at times hilarious and embarrassing awkward. A lot of snapping and bluntness.

And omg Dustin even cheated in a current relationship with his ex, the cheater.

Even though it was, at times, ott it was delightful! I snorted a lot.
Read it yourself, it’s so much fun.
There were also some shadows above the story.

“You have so many amazing qualities and so much love to give that you’re almost impossible to match.”

I could use the whole alphabet to express this story: anger, blunt, crazy, contagious, confusing, delightful, entertaining, embarrassing, endearing, emotional, funny, gritty, humorous, Intriguing, joyful, judgy, kind, loving, lies, messy, nasty, obliviousness, posh, questionable,
real, sweet, sassy sarcastic, sensual, sexy, secrets, trashy, ugly, vengeance, vulgar, warm, xxx, yummy, and zillions of others expressions.
It’s a wonderfully written narrative, engaging, entertaining, sparkling, emotional, extremely funny, passionate, at the end we get the best hea!
Profile Image for Joyffree.
3,415 reviews62 followers
February 21, 2021
This crew kept me on my toes.
Laughter, a bit of rivalry with the ex, some shocking surprises all blended with lots of feels

Kyle is such a negative Nancy 🙄
Ruby is missing some screws
Jax has the patience of a Saint
Dustin is so full of himself
Shawn is oblivious to negativity
And that is just a glimpse at some of the colorful cast that complete and compliment this heartwarmingly funny tale of lost love (more like a rash that keeps returning), forever friendships ( gotta love a BFF like that), and new romances (real and imagined)

The story has an ebb & flow momentum - a bit like the sea - at times you will find yourself holding on white-knuckling the railing - others will feel like downtime a chance to catch your breath.
Overall a wonderful story with all the feels
Profile Image for Maria Vickers.
Author 46 books394 followers
February 23, 2021
The Good Ship Lollipop (anyone else sing the song in their head when they read that title?) is the first story I've read by Patrick Benjamin, and it probably won't be the last. Full of quirky characters and enough embarrassing and outrageous moments that I was either blushing or laughing. Full of emotion, the story is good even if there were a few times when I just wanted to slap some of the characters. We have drama, fun, laughter, and so much more. Now, the characters are interesting and unique, but I wish they were a tad more developed, and Kyle got on my nerves a little. Don't let that distract you from this book though. I highly suggest you one click it today! 3.5 stars.
Profile Image for Jerri.
723 reviews4 followers
February 9, 2021
It’s a beautiful Caribbean wedding cruise. Poor Kyle feels like a fifth wheel, especially since even his ex brought his boyfriend. Too much to drink and a confrontation just makes it worse.

Enter Jax, the handsome Aussie. Maybe a little vacation fling might be just what Kyle needs.

There’s plenty of funny moments, a few tremendously embarrassing ones, and several very steamy ones. There are times when a few tears are in order. The characters are fully realized and colorful. It’s a great story!
5,704 reviews39 followers
February 12, 2021
this was interesting.. it was sad and emotional.. it made me smile and laugh.. it made me angry and wanna throw my kindle. it was a rollercoaster of emotions and personalities and it was honestly a lot of fun to read. i really enjoyed this storyline and these characters.
Profile Image for Ida Umphers.
5,558 reviews48 followers
February 14, 2021
I enjoyed getting a story about someone in their 40s starting over in the dating/relationship game and I am always up for a story where one of the MCs gets to overcome a bad relationship and find someone better while the cheating ex watches it happen. If you put all that on a cruise, where people can't just up and leave when things get complicated it is even better. A most enjoyable read.
Profile Image for Joyfully Jay.
9,124 reviews521 followers
February 23, 2021
A Joyfully Jay review.

5 stars


Benjamin has created a story that balances dual love interests, a confined setting, and high drama amongst a small, well-developed cast of characters. Honestly, I so very thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of this story. It opens up with Kyle getting cheated on, a scene which immediately includes character clues about Kyle and Dustin. We move swiftly to the present, as Sapphire works her magic to convince Kyle to attend her destination wedding, even knowing Dustin will be there since she is marrying Dustin’s brother. Both of these short, pre-cruise scenes work so well to sketch these characters’ personalities and their relationships to each other.

I am a sucker for a love-triangle and I think Benjamin really delivered on that front. As far as the pacing goes, even for a hefty 400 pages, the chapters flew by—in large part thanks to the near constant tension created by two bona fide hunks vying for Kyle’s attention. There is so much careful attention paid to developing the dynamic between Kyle and his new love interest, while also revealing (to the reader) and revisiting (for the characters) the truncated relationship between Kyle and Dustin.

Read Camille’s review in its entirety here.


Profile Image for WycEd Reader.
2,384 reviews39 followers
February 19, 2021


Check out our full post for THE GOOD SHIP LOLLIPOP on Wicked Reads, which includes an excerpt.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
3.5 stars

This book is ridiculously good fun in a drunken RuPaul’s Drag Race meets Rupert Everett’s The Hairdressers of St. Tropez sort of way. Full of slapstick humour, steamy sexual escapades, and emotional angst, this is a book for everyone who has spent the last year in need of a holiday. It’s the story of Kyle, who finds himself caught between his ex-boyfriend and a sexy Australian on a friend’s wedding cruise.

Kyle is an unlikely leading man. He is needy, attention seeking, and his emotional angst is tedious. I’m not sure I’d be as forgiving as Kyle’s friends, but against my will, I did eventually start to warm to Kyle. Later in the story, Jax balances the more exhausting elements of Kyle’s personality and thankfully, Kyle actually does some growing up by the end of the book. Jax is almost too perfect, but he isn’t ever developed into a complete character. Similarly, Kyle’s ex-boyfriend is a villain from start to end. Honestly? All of the characters feel fairly superficial. I found the story entertaining, but I didn’t feel an emotional connection to any of the characters.

While I still struggle to imagine this group of wealthy, urban sophisticates actually choosing and enjoying a cruise ship wedding, the forced intimacy of the setting definitely adds drama. Something about the tacky organised fun and souvenir cocktail glasses allows the characters to become exaggerated caricatures of themselves. The close quarters bring Kyle and Dustin together in a series of impossibly awkward (and often comical) incidents. The limited time and space also allows Kyle the confidence to fully enjoy his holiday fling with Jax.

Just as it isn’t much fun to be the only sober person at a party, readers will probably need a few drinks to get into the spirit of this book. The author draws heavily from Real Housewives marathons for the dialogue and lightly sketched characters. Anyone who loves the drama between Drag Race queens will enjoy the catty quips and sassy one-liners. Sober readers will notice that parts of the story are very slow and the plot isn’t always terribly plausible. Woke readers will be annoyed that the female characters are even less developed than the men. Anyone who has watched the news in the past year will shudder at the idea of ever stepping foot on a cruise ship again.

Reviewers received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.

Wicked Reads Review Team
Profile Image for Amy Dufera - Amy's MM Romance Reviews.
2,698 reviews140 followers
February 18, 2021
The Good Ship Lollipop is a riveting romance by Patrick Benjamin.

It takes a while to truly appreciate this book for what it is. Through most of the book, the characters aren't likeable. And by characters, I mean the main characters as well as the whole ensemble. That doesn't always make it easy to finish a book. Seriously, every single character is highly flawed.

But I love the author's writing style and there is plenty to keep one reading. It's fast paced, so never let your mind wander, or you'll miss something. And the twists and turns are fabulously done.

It really isn't until the end that the author explains the lessons learned. And damn, the last couple pages are stellar. There are far too many quotes I'd love to share.

It's a long read. Thus, it's a long journey for Kyle. He's stuck on a cruise ship with his ex and his ex's current boyfriend. To say he handles it well is a lie.

Kyle's ex, Dustin, and him spend the majority of the book fighting. There's banter, sass, innuendoes, and over the top antics. And Dustin really knows how to push Kyle's buttons. And often does.

But along the way, Kyle also manages to meet Jax. At first he claims Jax as a hookup, but slowly the two get to that place themselves.

There is a lot I could say about this story.

Some of the Dustin moments have left me furious. But it's the moment when a character roofies Kyle that leaves me steaming. How could this be treated as not a big deal? How could Kyle manage to over look this and end up getting closer to that character? I find that part shocking. I am livid for him and I can't forgive that character.

In the end, The Good Ship Lollipop is a stunning journey towards learning about oneself and others. The author reminds us that we never know why people do or say what they do. We can't always take it so personally or at face value. Sometimes people are hurting. Sometimes people are vulnerable. Sometimes they are fearful. And it's okay to forgive them.

Of course, with this crew, they're all a bunch of assholes. Sort of. But, none the less, I couldn't put it down.
Profile Image for CAROLINA.
343 reviews1 follower
February 12, 2021
2,5 star for me.
This story was a challenge to get through. Until 35, maybe 40% it dragged a lot and there was so much being said and so little meaningful things being done. Between 40 and 70% it was great, the story picked up pace and I enjoyed Jax showing up more and his and Kyle's relationship lighting the mood. Even Kyle having doubts about his feelings for Dustin and Jax was nice to read, it was meaningful and interesting. But after 75% it went downhill... too sweet, too unrealistic and too perfect to enjoy.

The book has funny parts, humor, banter and unexpected turns and twists that really surprised me.

The best character was Ruby. She was funny, interesting and although she did a terrible thing to Kyle, she was a good friend to him after all. I also like Shawn a lot! He was young and a silly, but it was in a charming way. He wasn´t a fool, just oblivius of some things, wishful perhaps, and that was ok, it suited him.

Apart from these 2 characters , I didn't like any of the others. They were either annoying or dreadful. Kyle was the main narrator and I couldn't relate to him at all, his inner thinking was so boring. He did have a sharp sense of humor that I liked, but his behaviour and view of the world were very annoying.


Profile Image for TK.
85 reviews1 follower
February 16, 2021
Enjoyable

This was a very well written and entertaining read. There was a few surprises I did not see but it was well written and believable. I enjoyed this book.
Profile Image for Sarah.
1,456 reviews31 followers
February 14, 2021
3.5 stars - I was given a copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.

This book is ridiculously good fun in a drunken RuPaul’s Drag Race meets Rupert Everett’s Hairdressers of San Tropez sort of way. Full of slapstick humour, steamy sexual escapades and emotional angst, this is a book for everyone who has spent the last year in need of a holiday. It’s the story of Kyle, who finds himself caught between his ex-boyfriend and a sexy Australian on a friend’s wedding cruise.

Kyle is an unlikely leading man. He is needy, attention seeking and his emotional angst is tedious. I’m not sure I’d be as forgiving as Kyle’s friends, but against my will, I did eventually start to warm to Kyle. Later in the story, Jax balances the more exhausting elements of Kyle’s personality and thankfully, Kyle actually does some growing up by the end of the book. Jax is almost too perfect, but he isn’t ever developed into a complete character. Similarly, Kyle’s ex-boyfriend is a villain from start to end. Honestly? All of the characters feel fairly superficial. I found the story entertaining, but I didn’t feel an emotional connection to any of the characters.

While I still struggle to imagine this group of wealthy, urban sophisticates actually choosing and enjoying a cruise ship wedding, the forced intimacy of the setting definitely adds drama. Something about the tacky organised fun and souvenir cocktail glasses allows the characters to become exaggerated caricatures of themselves. The close quarters bring Kyle and Dustin together in a series of impossibly awkward (and often comical) incidents. The limited time and space also allows Kyle the confidence to fully enjoy his holiday fling with Jax.

Just as it isn’t much fun to be the only sober person at a party, readers will probably need a few drinks to get into the spirit of this book. The author draws heavily from Real Housewives marathons for the dialogue and lightly sketched characters. Anyone who loves the drama between Drag Race queens will enjoy the catty quips and sassy one-liners. Sober readers will notice that parts of the story are very slow and the plot isn’t always terribly plausible. Woke readers will be annoyed that the female characters are even less developed than the men. Anyone who has watched the news in the past year will shudder at the idea of ever stepping foot on a cruise ship again.
Profile Image for Phill Batt-Capps.
212 reviews1 follower
July 7, 2024
Loved loved loved. I want to meet these characters in real life. After finishing the book, I found myself still thinking about the characters days later. I want the story to continue.
Profile Image for Sakuko.
876 reviews10 followers
July 22, 2021
Oh boy, this was a drag. I found the book terribly wordy and it was just so tedious to get through.

The author claimed this is a comedy, but it did not feel like one to me. Sure, there are a few slapsticky situation and a bit of visual comedy, that does not translate well to the written format, as well as quite a bit of banter, but Kyle is just such a worrywart, wallowing in self-pity, dissecting peoples motives and generally being a downer that it does not feel comedic and funny. It mostly feels depressing and kinda gloomy.
Add to that the very toxic ex-boyfriend, who I found to be a total ass 99% of the time, as well as some rather colorful, but also moral questionable friends and it makes for a rather tiring experience.

I actually did like Jax though, but he has way too few chapters. I wanted a lot less of asshat Dustin and a lot more of Jax, and the book might have been a bit brighter.
Though, even the sex scenes got stale after the first 2 or so. The problem is that they are clustered way too closely and also that they all pretty much felt the same. Nothing wrong with blowjobs and anal, but that's all they do, and it's basically always told the same way.
Profile Image for Fay MMBookworm.
3,094 reviews66 followers
Read
February 25, 2021
DNF 42%
Okay guys I’m going to let you decide on this one. First up, this is Not an MMM as the cover suggests but a tangled web of Kyle and Jax’s story. A good start to the book with an epilogue for Kylie and Dustin ending their relationship. While this was easy to read with the pace, Kyle character fast gets annoying with his all about him attitude even on his friends wedding. Kyle was 39 and acts like a 2 yrs old in some parts with his act towards Dustin. Told with Kyle’s pov through out the story. I'm passing on this one, but it may tickle your fancy.
Fast forward 18 months and Kyle gets asked to be the best man at his friends cruise wedding. The only hitch was her hubby's twin was Dunstan. Includes a cheating Ex, 10 days stuck on a ship, a right royal Queen B, lots of sass understatement, and more.
Kyle is the epitome of a Queen with enough sass enough to sink a ship yah pun intended but he was badly hurt 2 years ago and was holding on to it instead of moving onwards. Its a good thing he meets Jax on the boat and they start a friendship.
Profile Image for Jessica.
261 reviews4 followers
February 28, 2021
A comedy of errors, romance, snark, banter, bad luck, and a meddling best friend.  This one gave me a laugh and Kyle was a hoot! 

The bulk of the story takes place on a cruise ship for his best friend's destination wedding...and his ex-boyfriend is in the wedding party, which makes Kyle's dramatic side come out in full force.  Hurricane Kyle!  He really is a sweetheart though...unfortunately his two-timing ex-boyfriend brings out the worst of him.

Much to his surprise, Kyle manages to attract the attention of a roguishly handsome Aussie and they embark on a 10-day whirlwind romance for the duration of the trip.  Unfortunately, Jax has a hidden agenda, which I did NOT see coming & totally took me by surprise.  But don't worry!  There's character growth, FEELINGS, and relationship development that occurs through the course of the book.

Overall, this was a fun book to read and made me smile.  4 stars
166 reviews5 followers
February 24, 2021
I didn't like this very much. I'm being very generous with 3 stars.

It was too long and really could've cut out a lot of parts. I skimmed over the sex parts and most of the inner monologues.

The dialogue was inconsistent. At times it felt childish and other times sophisticated. The plot was a bit contrived. I didn't believe that there was a real love triangle between dustin kyle and jax.

I didn't feel any empathy or kinship for any of the characters. Each one had an unlikeable or untrustworthy quality.

Two aspects/actions basically made the entire novel unbelievable.

196 reviews
February 26, 2021
My first book from Patrick Benjamin and it won't be my last. Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Kyle, Jax, Dustin, Ruby, Sapphire and Shawn all did their part. Kyle and Dustin are exs. Their relationship ends after 15 years when Kyle catches Dustin cheating(not the 1st time) with a 19 year old. After 2 years without seeing each other they meet on a cruise for Kyle's best friend Sapphire and Dustin's brother's wedding. All I can say is let the chaos, laughter, broken hearts and surprise twists (not the good kind) begin !!! This book has it all. The cab ride back to the Ship with Kyle, Dustn and Shawn had me laughing out loud with tears running down my cheeks!!! It was one of the best scene in the book. Definitely recommend this book.
Profile Image for Antisocial Recluse.
2,712 reviews
April 26, 2022
a bit up and down(under)

I wasn’t sure I liked this or the characters or even wanted to finish it for a while. It did keep hold of my interest, mostly, although a hundred fewer pages and sex scenes would have helped. I do like a good sex scene but prefer a few well placed, not a surfeit. It takes until late in the story before the narrative conveys its full message but was worth sticking it out.

I guess it’s hard to find a decent editor in this genre. I’ve read too many poorly edited books.
Profile Image for Janet Hunt.
3,538 reviews46 followers
March 5, 2021
This was a new to me author. I really enjoyed the story he had to tell us. Kyle is going on a cruise for his friend’s wedding. His ex, Dustin is also there. There is also a hot aussie there, Jax. I especially loved it when Dustin had to watch Kyle meet someone new! This was a fun story to read. I’m voluntarily reviewing from an advanced copy that I received.
38 reviews9 followers
Read
April 30, 2021
Loved Patrick Benjamin 's first book so I was looking forward to the next book. Even though the new book is very well written, I had to stop at 40 % into the story. I found the characters so irritating that I decided to move on and save my sanity.
151 reviews2 followers
June 28, 2022
Tender, funny and twisted - loved this book!!
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews

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