What a sweet story “Love, Lists, and Fancy Ships” turned out to be!

This book made me feel like it is never too late to be optimistic and happy to clear off your bucket list because the forces of the universe will someone make it happen. As someone who believes in fate, I adored how the author incorporated this into the story. I also love stories that involve checklists and goals, and this book was so fun on how the author mixed Jo’s goals with the romance.

I adored Jo and how the author wrote her. The story is adorable as Jo tries to adjust to the changes in her life, especially when Alex enters the picture. Kitty, Mia, and Grayson are hilarious, and I love the bond they share with Jo, especially the scenes with monopoly and the tattoo shop. However, the highlight of the tale is the romance between Jo and Alex. The two share incredible chemistry. Even though they don’t want to get involved in anything serious, you cannot help but feel great for each other. The author also adds charming moments, like when they go through the postcards and talk about fate. On a side note, I also chuckled at the High School Musical references.

What’s also lovely about the tale is that it is not pure fluff. The author also adds in painful moments of loss as Jo witnesses tragedy in her life. I also liked reading about her past with Beth and what happened to Samson. It gave the book a practical side and made me appreciate it more.

Overall, “Love, Lists, and Fancy Ships” is a lovely contemporary romance that will put a smile on your face.

This was such a sweet and heartwarming story that made me smile, feel the heart flutters and shed some tears. You should know this isn't a romcom because it does focus on dealing with grief after a heartbreaking tragedy. But it's still a heart happy book with the sweetest characters and a funny best friend!

Our main character, Jo, is such a loveable character. She's the coolest Aunt, loves margaritas (hello sounds like me). She even has a special drink called the Drunken Joey. She's a stewardess on a private yacht in Florida which was such a neat setting! Our main man, Alex, is a hip, silver fox, single dad who stole my heart. Did I mention he can COOK?!

Jo is trying to finish her bucket list of things she wants to before she turns 30 and one of the items is kiss a stranger. Enter: Alex. I loved these two together and their chemistry, banter. The slowburn romance was so good. It is a clean romance which I kind of wish we had a smidge of steam but I still loved it!

I just adored this story and all the wonderful characters!!! Definitely recommend if you love a sweet, slowburn and a hot single dad. Also, Zac Efron/ High School Musical is mentioned in this and it is just *chef kiss* PERFECT. It kind of gave me similar feel/vibes as The Float Plan..

I’ve been wanting to read this one ever since I saw the cover on bookstagram awhile back. Luckily, I was approved for it through Netgalley. The unfortunate side of it is that I didn’t click with it as much as I wanted and I feel like the labeling of the book is a bit misleading as it’s more women’s fiction than romance. I don’t really think it is a bad book but just one that didn’t work for me but could work for others.

The book is told from one point-of-view which comes from Jo Walker. She is a stewardess on a yacht and has been dealing with interesting customers for quite some time. I thought that this was an interesting job, although not talked about too much, but one job that I haven’t seen done before. Her background isn’t very complex but she is going through grief when it comes to the loss of her nephew as well as other family drama. The family aspect does take up most of the book. It wasn’t all bad and I did like seeing how she handled the situations but it did leave little room for the romance plot.

The romance is one that is a slow-burn. That isn’t a bad thing and usually a trope I do intend to enjoy while reading, but it was utterly slow to the point where I felt like there wasn’t much of a connection and then it speeds up by the end to where they are saying they love each other without much to work with in-between. I thought the love interest was okay. I didn’t ever connect to either character so maybe that’s why I never felt anything for their relationship. I did like that he was caring father and she was a caring aunt.

A lot of the plot twists felt too convenient and were easy to spot a mile away. There is humor in the book but none of it made me laugh. This is obviously just a personal thing as I have seen others feel different. We all have different senses of humor. I think all of this just left me feeling disconnected from the book.

Overall, this was an okay read. Again, I don’t think there is anything wrong with the book and it’s a “it’s me, not you” situation. I’m just not the right reader and that’s okay! If you think this is one that may work for you then still give it a try.

Julia Quinn has a blurb on a few copy of my favorite Lisa Kleypas books that says, “Lisa Kleypas will make you laugh and cry…on the same page!” I’ve always thought that quote was funny. I’ve read the entire back catalogue of LK and I don’t think I’ve ever cried. Definitely heart felt, but never provoking tears.

This quote applies to Sarah Gunder Ruiz.

There was an actual page where I was choking up and laughing. It was incredible!

She tackles the heavy subject of grief, but her writing is…not lighthearted. I wouldn’t say that. Because she handles it all so beautifully and gives the seriousness of the situation it’s due, but also add wit and humor to hand you the pain in pieces.

She handles serious topics with medium heartedness. Not too light but not too dark.

Hope that makes sense! Ha!

I don’t typically read books that tackle such serious topics (I know, grow up, Angela) I like to read romance books that steer clear of me sobbing in my shower. This book was a nice change of pace for me. I didn’t sob in my shower, but the topics were definitely a heavier weight than I typically read.

The setting is fresh and new, the characters were unique and lovable, and the romance was a sloooow and sweet burn.

Overall, this was a great debut and I can’t wait to read more from this author!

There are so many things I loved about this book! I loved the way it made me laugh out loud. I loved how often I had a silly grin stuck on my face. I even loved the way the author dealt with serious issues.

Jo is a great main character who is very relatable. I really enjoyed following her on her personal journey as she navigates dealing with grief, heartache, and deciding what she wants for her future.

And Alex, you can't help but fall in love with Alex. I loved the initial encounters between him and Jo. There are so many details I want to highlight about him but more than that I want you, as a reader, to be surprised.

I thought Jo's BFF/boss Nina and the teenage girls were all wonderful side characters. They provided so many great examples of female friendship.

The setting (Florida and a yacht) and the premise (Jo has a 30 by 30 bucket list to complete by her birthday) make for a lot of fun, creative and unique moments. I love that tackling the list challenged Jo and helped her step out of her comfort zone. I love the way that Jo's nieces and friends rally around her to help her check items off the list. This book is filled with so much love. The importance of family is a significant theme.

I can't believe this was Sarah Grunder Ruiz's debut novel and I can't wait to read what she serves up next. This book comes out 11/23/21, but add it to your TBR and preorder it now!

Many thanks to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the eARC!

A sweet, thoughtful look at how compartmentalizing one's feelings can be a barrier to maintaining the relationships we hold most precious. There's plenty of banter and flirty looks in this one to appeal to romance readers, but the focus is on the heroine's journey to deal with her grief instead of pushing it to the side, a habit that's impacting her relationships with her beloved nieces, her sister, her friends, and even the self-ascribed Hot Yacht Chef who's making her heart race in the delightfully cramped galley. By blending the heartache of loss with the sheer fun of finishing off a seemingly impossible bucket list, Grunder Ruiz weaves a layered story about a woman who must confront her past before she can build a meaningful future. Full of wit and wistfulness, with a unique setting, a chaste romance, and lots of family affection, this one's sure to give readers All The Feels and leave them eagerly anticipating book two.

This book started as a romantic comedy and ended as a family drama. I preferred the first half of the book. I was excited when I read the plot summary and the meet cute, but this title just didn't deliver for me. The characters were one-dimensional and the humor just wasn't there. Lots of drama, not enough romance.

I absolutely loved this book. It was very romantic story about second chances. I fell in love with the main character and couldn’t wait to find out what happened. I highly recommend this for anyone who lives a romance.

Sarah Grunder Ruiz’s debut novel, Love, Lists, and Fancy Ships, is a warm, funny, and heartfelt book that occupies a space between romance and what some people call women’s fiction, but I call fiction – but that’s a whole ‘nother conversation.

In LLFS, the main character, Jo, is part of the crew on an upscale yacht for hire and is turning thirty. Prompted by her fun-loving best friend, she writes up a bucket list of things she wants to do before that milestone, and she records the outcomes on her blogs. Her plan for the summer is to finish the list when her teenaged nieces show up unexpectedly, still hurting from the death of their younger brother, with whom Jo was very close.
Jo puts off her dream summer to spend time with the girls and finds herself in company with the new chef on the yacht – and a single dad of another teenage girl.

Grunder Ruiz is an extremely talented writer who turns her skills towards keeping the plot moving while at the same time paying equal attention to the themes of romance and of surviving grief. She’s got a sharp wit and the humor is a perfect counterbalance to some of the weightier scenes in the book. The pacing is tight and the writing is clean and smart. This book is terrific for anyone who likes a bit of weight to their pleasure reads. I was truly impressed by how deftly Grunder Ruiz wove together all the nuanced themes she brought to bear and I’m sure this debut will bring well deserved attention to a remarkable talent.

NGL - LOVE, LISTS, AND FANCY SHIPS made me cry ugly tears. Several times.

Jo, a yacht steward, is working her way through a birthday bucket list when a devastating family tragedy knocks her off course. The more she tries to avoid her feelings - about the losses in her life and also the hot single dad next door - the more complicated everything gets. When her young nieces show up for the summer and launch a plan to help her finish her bucket list, Jo (and the reader) gets more than they ever expected.

LOVE, LISTS, AND FANCY SHIPS is a heartwarming journey. There are several laugh out loud moments, some swoony scenes, and plenty of tension (romantic and personal) throughout. I might shelve this as WF over Romance because while there is a romantic relationship, the heart of this fantastic novel is the love of family and their much needed catharsis. But seriously, this lovely book should come packaged with a box of tissues.

I liked Jo and Alex's story. It was more about family than romance but it flowed really well. Sorrow comes in many forms but there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Three and a half stars. Jo, a stewardess on a fancy yacht, is turning 30 soon, struggling some with being single after a bad relationship and trying to cope with the tragic death her nephew. When her teenage nieces arrive unexpectedly for the summer, Jo's life off-season unsurprisingly takes a different direction from what she'd planned. When she kisses a stranger at a bar, something on her 30 by 30 list, romance gets added into the mix.

Things I loved about this book: insight into what it's like working on a charter yacht, Hot Yacht Chef Alex, Jo's 30 by 30 bucket list, her friend Nina, the teenagers and some home truths about coping with grief.

Things I didn't like so much: it was a bit too long; Jo's inability to get out of her own way emotionally and correctly interpret others' (fairly obvious) feelings; me not being able to see why Alex would be attracted to her--we get glimmerings of a fun, likable woman but I found her self doubt a little tiresome.

I read this book to the end, but can't say I loved it. I wouldn't steer anyone away from it, it's just not on my list of recent favorites. I did enjoy many of the characters and will definitely look for more books by this author in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

CW: death of nephew, grief, death of parent (past)

SPOILERS JUST IN CASE

This debut is a beautifully written book about the complicated handling of grief and a relationship I don't see often considered in books, the love an aunt has for her nieces/nephews. I'll be honest as somehow who a huge part of my identity is being an aunt and being (healthy) obsessed with her nephews, this book was tough at times for me to read because of the realism. The depth of the relationship, the love, and the FMCs summer with her nieces as they are all dealing with their complicated feelings with grief is subtle and yet so pure. I honestly had to put it down the first time I picked it up because it was too soon after seeing my nephews (I was properly warned it was entirely my own fault). Protect your hearts friends but for those who can this is a beautiful journey with grief in such an interesting setting.

I really appreciated how Jo continued to take care of her nieces, live her life normally, masking her pain, but doing what she felt was best. There is no one answer for grief or how best to hand it. The memories that come creeping in. My heart kept breaking for her. Jo was a quieter character, but this was also because it was a stark moment in her life, more reactive than active, all of this made complete sense for the story. I loved the yachting setting, though I would have loved to see it more. It was such a fun and different scene.

And sweet Alex. The insta attraction, single dad with a van. The romance is very slow burning and while not the main plot it is also part of the greater story. I really appreciated that Alex and Jo were friends which they both needed first before a relationship could really happen believably with all they had going on. The contrast of Alex and Jo two people who have put up walls to protect themselves in different ways but unable to stop from falling in love. I'm a sucker for a man who cooks and a single dad and Alex was just sweet and tender. Soft in the ways Jo needed. While at times I wanted more from the romance that was personal preference and especially the second half felt like the story lines interwove themselves well.

But simmering (and honestly not that much in the background every time they were on the page they lept out at me I need their book like yesterday. There's a teaser at the end friends keep reading) Nina and Ollie just shoot them in my veins now.

Rating: 4.5
Steam: 1

Relationship Disclosure: Sarah Grunder Ruiz and I are mutuals on social media

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.

Josephine Walker has a unique job as yacht stewardess fits with her vivid, adventurous soul. One drunken night, she and her best friend/ coworker/ boss Nina wrote down a bucket list with 30 items she has to do before she becomes thirty. She starts completing the tasks of the list starting with simple ones but when a tragedy hits her life, losing her nephew Samson in an accident, she gets devastated, finding herself in painful grieving process. Her coworkers, friends get worried about her well being.

She is still adamant to complete her bucket list, planning a detailed European tour. And one night, when she hangs out with her friends Nina, Olive at their favorite bar, Nina challenges her to check off number 5 from the list which entitles “kissing a stranger”. Jo accepts the challenge to introduce herself charming guy in his mid-thirties who recently had a dramatic conversation and got abandoned by a woman.

They kiss and she learns his name: Alex. But another drama escalates between her friends which forces her to say goodbye to her stranger.

And before concentrating on her trip plan, she gets a call from nieces telling her that they are waiting at the airport to be picked up. Her sister Beth has issues about marriage after losing her son so she sent them to spend time with her sister.

Jo cancels her trip plans because both of her nieces already suffer from loss of their brother and cracking marriage of her parents.

And surprisingly faith brings her and her charming stranger together. Both Alex starts working at the same place, living in the same condo, keeping each other company.

Both of them insist they don’t want a serious relationship, enjoying each other’s company. But you know the drill: sparks fly between them and palpable chemistry is undeniable!

Overall: this is absolutely perfect example of feel good novels which warm your heart and brighten your mood. The emotions poured over the dialogues and well crafted, genuine characterization made me love this story more than you expected.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.

Thank you to Berkley Romance for our gifted review copy of Love, Lists, and Fancy Ships by Sarah Grunder Ruiz.

It's no secret that my new favorite subgenre of books is love stories with a storyline involving grief. When I read the synopsis for Love, Lists, and Fancy Ships by Sarah Grunder Ruiz, I had a feeling this book may fit perfectly into that category. Once I saw the author say there are Below Deck Easter Eggs featured in the book, I am all in! Give me this book now!

I really took my time with this one; savoring the story and not wanting to rush through it. While I'm sure it would be a great binge read, I wanted to sit with these characters and really get to know them. Love, Lists, and Fancy Ships by Sarah Grunder Ruiz is easily a five-star read for me. Honestly, I will reread this one either in print or audio very soon. Not since Float Plan, has a book really rocked me.

Still not sold? Okay, let's try this.

READ THIS BOOK IF YOU LIKE:
Below Deck
Characters with a hobby of blogging
References to High School Musical, specifically Troy Bolton, Taylor Swift & My Super Sweet Sixteen
Karaoke, kisses, dinner parties, beach days & August birthdays
Characters sorting through their grief
Mentions of my favorite songs from Mulan and The Little Mermaid

I really loved this book in case I wasn't clear and it's a must-read for Fall 2021! Be sure to add On Location by Sarah Smith to your TBR too!

I enjoyed this book so much!

A tender and swoony story about love and grief and holding onto what matters most -- and letting go of what doesn't.

For the last year, yacht stewardess Jo Walker has been attempting to complete a bucket list of thirty things she wants to accomplish by her thirtieth birthday.

Jo is on track until the death of her nephew turns her life upside down, and the list falls by the wayside. But when her two nieces show up unannounced with plans to stay the summer, they discover her list and insist on helping Jo finish it.

When she summons the courage to complete item number five--kiss a stranger--and meets Alex Hayes (AKA HOT YACHT CHEF!!!!) , all bets are off. As her feelings for Alex intensify and Jo's inability to confront difficult emotions about her family complicates her relationships, she must learn to quit playing it safe with her heart before she loses what matters most.

L, L, a FS is a fresh story full of unforgettable characters and the perfect marriage of heart-warming and vulnerable. (I am also unashamedly in love with Alex. Thank you.) A must-read!

A big thanks to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for e-ARC in exchange for my honest, unbiased review. LOVE, LISTS, AND FANCY SHIPS is out 11/23!

I absolutely love this book (and not just because I'm shouted out on the acknowledgements page!) and all the Big Feelings it captures - love and loss and the importance of joy and connection.

Jo is such a beautiful human mess of a character dealing with caring for her nieces in the wake of her nephew's death and I loved watching her learn to open up to those around her and find her way back to her silly, adventurous self. Alex is the hot single dad yacht chef of my dreams and the romance between him and Jo is so soft I can't even handle it. Jo and her nieces tackling her thirty by thirty list (along with Alex, his daughter, and Jo's best friend Nina, the queen of my heart) leads to some wonderfully hilarious, only-in-Florida weird adventures that made me laugh out loud.

Reading this book feels like sitting on the beach watching the sunset with your best friend on the last day of summer vacation - that tired, happy, hopeful, bittersweet feeling of a chapter ending that you're witnessing together. I highly recommend!

I truly enjoyed this story. But if you are expecting a light read, this is not it.
This is a story that revolves around the loss of someone dear and the effects it has on different people and how they handle it.
Now this is not to say that this is a downer story, because it it not! There are enough light moments and love to make it a story to remember.
The lessons learned are hopeful and the characters and their occupations unique and fun.
Hot Yacht Chef Alex is a great love interest and the supporting characters were fun and quirky!
I recommend it!
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book. The opinions are entirely my own.

This really is the year of boats in romance novels - and Love, Lists and Fancy Ships is here to cap off the year of boats with a bang. This book had my interest from the moment I finished reading the blurb - a 30 by 30 bucket list, a hot chef, and two cute (and meddling) nieces? Sign me up.

Pro tip: don’t start this book as a before bed read: it had me hooked from the first pages and I couldn’t put it down until I finished it at 3AM. Also, have tissues ready - Love, Lists and Fancy Ships will definitely have you crying. It handles the topic of grief (TW: loss of a family member) - and I really appreciated how the topic was handled. The various characters’ grief wasn’t handled like a uniform thing - each character had their own way of grieving and processing their loss.

I loved Jo: she was a tad bit messy (aren’t we all) but didn’t pretend to have it all together. Also, her addiction to Lean Cuisines was deeply relatable. I really loved reading about her relationship with her nieces - they were freaking adorable and really helped push Jo to complete her bucket list and get out of her shell a bit more (and grow as a character). I especially loved Jo’s friendship with Nina: the support and love they had for each other was lovely, everyone deserves a Nina in their life.

I have five words for you: hot yacht chef love interest. Alex was the ultimate love interest - he was hot, charming, sweet, and understanding. He was also a single father of a spunky daughter (who was also a joy to read about). Jo and Alex’s tension was AMAZING. Their banter was phenomenal - I genuinely laughed out loud several times. Their romance was on the slow burn side of things, but boy oh boy was it worth the wait.

Love, Lists and Fancy Ships is definitely a new favorite book for me - I can’t wait for the upcoming companion novel - I need more of Nina ASAP. I’ll be rereading this again very soon. I highly recommend this book especially if you enjoyed Float Plan by Trish Doller and Life’s Too Short by Abby Jimenez. 5/5

Also, if you’re not following Sarah Grunder Ruiz on Instagram, you should be (especially if you’re a writer, she gives great tips all the time and is super transparent about her process).

NGL - LOVE, LISTS, AND FANCY SHIPS made me cry ugly tears. Several times.

Jo, a yacht steward, is working her way through a birthday bucket list when a devastating family tragedy knocks her off course. The more she tries to avoid her feelings - about the losses in her life and also the hot single dad next door - the more complicated everything gets. When her young nieces show up for the summer and launch a plan to help her finish her bucket list, Jo (and the reader) gets more than they ever expected.

LOVE, LISTS, AND FANCY SHIPS is a heartwarming journey. There are several laugh out loud moments, some swoony scenes, and plenty of tension (romantic and personal) throughout. I would shelve this as WF over Romance because while there is a romantic relationship, the heart of this fantastic novel is the love of family and their much needed catharsis. But seriously, this lovely book should come packaged with a box of tissues.