You know that perfect beach read? Yeah, this is it! I live in Cali and wish I had taken the time to make the short drive because this is THE perfect book to read while lounging. It was fast-paced and the characters were to die for!

Love, Lists and Fancy Ships was a very different book from what I expected. But it was a really enjoyable read that delivered an engaging slow burn romance and a great exploration into grief and the way it affects people.

I enjoyed this book. The characters are engaging and I loved the dynamics between Jo and her nieces. It was a sweet exploration into the way they handled loss as a family but there were also a lot of fun and enjoyable moments as well. I also loved Jo and Nina's friendship — it was full of life and spunk, and definitely kept me entertained the whole way through.

Alex and Greyson are really great additions to the story. I think Greyson is just so cute and I loved watching her relationship with Mia and Kitty grow. Alex is a great love interest and while I wish there was a *bit* more to his relationship with Jo than the slow burn that we got, it was still satisfying to see it unfold throughout the story.

The overall plot of the story is fun and entertaining. I loved that they all worked together to complete Jo's list, even with a couple of minor tweaks to make it work. It is such a fun driving force between all the commotion that happens between the characters.

With the Below Deck vibes, the enjoyable characters, and an entertaining plot, Love, Lists and Fancy Ships is a great debut and leaves me eager to read Nina and Ollie's story later this year!

This was a fantastic book-- very original with the unusual family structures and teenagers. Jo Walker was for sure a character that you can root for, as were both of her nieces. I especially loved all of the different adventures and how the story just seemed to move. AND, the ending was fantastic, I really loved how it was a fade to black moment. I can't wait for more from Sarah Grunder Ruiz.

This is the perfect book to take to the beach or poolside in 2022! Not only is it a captivating romance between Alex and Jo, but it's also a story of self-discovery and adventure as Jo attempts to lead a more fulfilling life. I can't wait to see what this author will write next!

This is fresh, sweet, original, heartwarming, extra sentimental, remarkable book which is about finding your exact place in the universe, learning to deal with your grief, second chances, finding love, embracing the life. 3.5 rounded up!

This book wasn't for me. I knew going into it that it would involve a death in the family. I thought from he description, title and cover that the book would move past that. However, I found the book just kept coming back to her nephews death.

It was hard to laugh at the funny parts and to want to pick this book up and read when it just kept coming back to a very sad part.

The first few chapters covered life working at sea and I thought there would be more in this story. Instead it mostly covered dealing with grief in losing a young family member and completing a bucket list. At times there were some very funny things that happened to the main character while completing a bucket list item. The romance takes quite awhile to take off in this story. I did enjoy the younger characters more than the main character.

I was really excited to get my hands on this debut romance novel and it didn't disappoint!

This book was much more than just your typical romance. It dealt with grief, family dynamics, and finding yourself. I really loved the main character Jo and truly related to her as she tries to figure her life out as she turns thirty. I also really enjoyed the tropical setting and the fact she was a stewardess on a yacht, which was so interesting. Overall this was super cute and although I usually like my romances with a little more steam, I ended up enjoying this one.

I was pulled toward this book because of the premise. I am a big fan of the reality show Below Deck and I was under the impression a lot of the book would revolve around charter yachts. Unfortunately for me, this was not the case. I do wish that either the cover was different or there was more in the story about the charter yachts.

But back to the story - it was a good read. I would classify it as a women’s fiction novel. I feel the tough topics of grief and loss were handled appropriately in a way that you could relate to it.

I enjoyed the writing style and how the characters were described. The pacing was good as well.

This was very good, I loved the beginning so much and I freaking loved the characters.For me they are the reason why this book was so good.The romance was great,too adorable and I loved how they met it was funny.

Generally this book is sweet and cute but there are also some moments which are so emotional.The author did such a good job with everything .

This story is about a woman finding love and deal with grief over the loss of a family member.

This is a lovely and tender grief book about love and forgiveness. Grunder Ruiz knocks it out of the park with her debut. Jo wants to complete items on her bucket list before her 30th birthday but instead spends the summer with her nieces. They are all grieving after the loss of Jo's nephew. All of them are hurting and then they hurt each other. Until they decide to stop. Along the way, Jo falls in love with Alex. Their love is sweet and chaster and very appropriate for the story. In the book you are introduced to Jo's BFF Nina. I love Nina with my whole heart and can not wait to learn more about her.

It took a few chapters for me to get into the story but I loved it once I did. Jo is a great character working on completing her 30 by 30 bucket list and an unimaginable loss causes her to put everything on hold until her nieces unexpectedly come to spend the summer with her. It’s a story about family, loss, grief, and ultimately love. A wonderful read.

Talk about an all the feels book - Love, Lists, and Fancy Ships deals with grief, divorce, guilt and feelings of abandonment all while set amongst the backdrop of yachts. Jo - about to turn 30 - is taking care of her nieces for the summer after the death of their younger brother, but what she doesn't expect, is the interruption of Alex, a co-worker and friend of the girl's father.

Ruiz tackles some heavy topics in LLFS but does so with care and writes a story that I could not put down. I am certainly looking forward to reading Nina's book in 2022!

4.5 Stars!

After a bad breakup, yacht stewardess Jo Walker creates a 30 before 30 list. 30 things she plans to accomplish before her 30th birthday, all documented on a blog. Sadly the tragic death of her young nephew, Samson, with whom Jo shared a close bond, puts Jo into a tailspin of grief. When Jo’s two teenage nieces (Samson’s sisters) arrive for an unexpected summer visit, Jo decides that completing the list together will be the perfect distraction from their grief. Jo is someone you can’t help think you would like if you met her in real life. I enjoyed the premise of the story and quickly became invested in all of the characters. The meet cute between Jo and Alex (her love interest) was one of the best I’ve read in a long time. Highly recommend, particularly to those who enjoy books by Katherine Center.

This ARC was offered in exchange of an honest and impartial review:
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4,5*
Pros: Beautiful story about the loss of a loved one, facing grief and finding the strength to live on. Important focus on dealing with grieving children as a grieving adult yourself. Super interesting insight on life as part of a yacht crew, with all its perks and undesirables. Wholesome and golden-hearted romantic lead.
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Cons: Too focused on what the protagonist could do for others and not in self-healing.

Jo is yacht stewardess who is working on a 30 before 30 bucket list when she receives the devastating news that her nephew was killed in a bicycle accident. With one summer left before she turns 30, Jo spends the summer finishing her list with her nieces’ (and Grayson’s) help. When her new neighbor/coworker turns out to be the stranger she kissed for “kiss a stranger” item, things get more complicated.

I really enjoyed this! I felt like this was a good balance between the slow burn “romance” between Alex and Jo and the “other stuff.” I enjoyed Jo’s relationship with her nieces and their bucket list exploits. The audiobook is really well done, and I’m ready to read what Sarah Grunder Ruiz writes next. I’m a fan!

Thanks to @NetGalley and Berkley Romance for my ARC!

Thank you @berkleyromance for a copy of this sweet story. This is a beautiful story about working through grief and learning to move forward with a side of romance. I love all the fun adventures the gang goes on. I loved how Alex and Jo met and seeing their friendship develop.

Loved this book. Romance, tragedy and family all blend together. Beautiful writing. Recommend this debut novel!

Love, Lists, and Fancy Ships by Sarah Grunder Ruiz

This was such a sweet, moving book, part romance, part women’s fiction. At the start of the book, Jo's nephew tragically passes away after an accident. The story focuses on Jo's journey through loss and grief as well as acceptance, opening yourself up to vulnerability and taking risks. Jo has a list of thirty things to do before her 30th birthday and with the help of her best friend, Nina, hot yacht chef Alex, and nieces, she embraces her bucket list as a way to help heal and move forward. I loved how strong the friendships were in this story of multiple generations and how these bonds helped one another and this sense of found family. I'm so excited for Nina and Ollie's story in book 2!!

Love, Lists and Fancy Ships is a favorite of 2021. A mix of contemporary romance and fiction, we follow Jo, a free-spirited yacht stewardess as she checks things off her bucket list. This book was both heartbreaking and funny as we follow Jo as she deals with heartbreak while falling in love.

An enjoyable yet emotional read, this book was overall wonderful. Thank you Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC!