This is by far one of the best books I’ve read this year. Nina and Ollie are both charming and heartbreaking, and I found myself flipping page after page rooting for them. I loved the charter boat staff premise. It felt unique and fun Grunder-Ruiz’s writing is wonderful and her dialogue is top-notch. I loved the charter boat staff premise. It’s a unique, fun setting filled with characters that are easy to love.

I could not finish this. I think I made it about 30% before DNFing this. Just wasn't really for me.Took forever for me to get to 30% so it only gets 1 star from me.

Thanks NetGalley for the eARC!

Luck and Last Resorts is heartwarming and entertaining sequel to Love, Lists & Fancy Ships that started with Jo breaking news of quitting her job on Serendipity so she can help Alex manage the restaurant and Nina not taking it well. Nina feels even more panic when Ollie gives her ultimatum of accepting her feelings for him and be in relationship with him by the end of the charter season or he leaves Nina and goes back to Ireland. We know ultimatum doesn’t turn out well but these two have 10 years of history.

This is Nina and Ollie’s complicated story about commitment issues, trust, betrayal, friendship, family, love, taking chances, and being open to loved ones.

Romance is slow burn with Grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity, and will they won’t they trope. There was lots of angst, confusion, sexual tension, and banter that made me go through a rollercoaster of emotions. Ollie and Nina’s relationship is huge part of the story and I loved how their relationship changed over the time period to something very deep and touching. Even though Nina’s uncertainty was annoying, I wanted them happy and it was great to see their big gestures.

Overall, this is lovely, fun and heartwarming second chance contemporary for summer reading with lots of banter, angst, and tension.

Things I loved about Luck and Last Resorts:
🫶 the yacht setting
🫶 Ollie, the sweetest hero
🫶 second-chance romance
🫶 forced proximity
🫶 another trope that is revealed as a twist in Chapter 4

Despite all of the above, I feel the angst was missing, and Nina kept getting on my nerves. Nina was a gymnast but due to a bad break, life took her in another direction. Ten years later, Nina is a chief stewardess and her life is better than before. 'Ollie' or Oliver is a chef and used to work at Serendipity, the same yacht Nina works at. Oliver was also 'involved' with Nina but they kept it casual, mostly at Nina's behest. Now, Oliver is back as a chef at Serendipity and expresses his love and desire to be in a committed relationship with Nina. If Nina says no, then Oliver will go back to Ireland for good.

While I understood Nina's reticence of being in a relationship especially since the stakes are higher here (you'll know when you read the book), the actual reasons behind it weren't fully fleshed out. I felt bad for poor Oliver throughout most of the book and it was difficult for me to empathize with Nina. In the end, however, Nina's character was redeemed and I guess, all's well that ends well.

Anyway, overall it was an okay romance. I felt a bit lost and honestly, I read this solely because of Oliver even though I was irritated by his constant use of 'fecking' (I love a good f-word but show me some other Irish sayings).

Can we first talk about how BEAUTIFUL the cover of this book is??? Besides the pretty cover, I always love a good second chance romance and this book was simply amazing. I will be thinking about this story and couple for a long time.

4.5 stars

LIKES:
📝 relatable, breezy, quirky, & witty writing
⏳ dual-timeline
🛳 set on a yacht!! (Below deck vibes)
👩🏻 Nina is carefree, fun, & scared of commitment
🤸‍♀️ …with a gymnast past!
🇮🇪 Oliver is a protective, Irish, cinnamon roll hero!
👨‍🍳 …and a chef!
🤺 light enemies to lovers
🧵 no strings attached
💞 second-chance romance (2/5 steam level)
😳 a SHOCKING reveal in Ch. 4!!! (IYKYK👀)
💰 explores financial struggles & identity theft
🤫 + the impact of secrets
🧠 + addiction & the impact of trauma
🌱 personal growth themes
😊 cute & swoon-worthy
🎧 good on audio
•
DISCLAIMERS:
⚠️ DM me for TW
👎 Nina can be unlikeable at times
🧞‍♀️ selfishly wanted a bit more on the financial struggle storyline & mental health (psych major alert 😂) but I still liked how these issues resolved!
•
VERDICT: a quirky, cute, & fun second-chance dual-timeline romance + light enemies to lovers with no strings attached! a perfect end-of-summer read providing a mix of levity & depth w below deck vibes!

Instagram link: https://www.instagram.com/p/CinS8_4LNYw/?igshid=ZjA0NjI3M2I=

3.5 Stars

I felt really torn about reading Luck and Last Resorts because I thought it would be super angsty (not my thing) and that Nina would try my patience, but I loved the first book, Love, Lists and Fancy Ships so I thought I’d give it a shot.

Nina did try my patience, and I did understand she wanted to guard herself after what her parents put her through, but still, I wanted to shake her on more than one occasion! She pushed Ollie away so many times and I really had no idea why he took this waffling from her for so long. He was an absolute sweetheart. I was glad he gave Nina an ultimatum because it pushed her to finally start to acknowledge her true feelings for him. Of course, she didn’t change completely overnight, and it was painful in parts.

I know it sounds like I didn’t enjoy the story, but I did. The story flashes back to when Nina and Ollie first meet and they started a bit playfully adversarial but grew to be friends and then inseparable. It was fun and passionate. That is until Nina screwed things up. My heart hurt for Ollie, but also for Nina, because she was depriving herself of real joy and happiness by keeping Ollie at arm’s length.

Luck and Last Resorts was an angsty, heart wrenching read, but one that I enjoyed overall.

A lovely romance between a couple who marry for a green card and actually fall in love. Loved the luxury yacht setting!

Luck and Last Resorts turned me into a giant mushy ball of feels. When I tell you I did not see the twist reveal coming in Chapter 4 I am not lying! The gasp I gasped. I loved everything about this book. It's perfect for readers who love second chance romances with mutual pining and a bit (okay, maybe more than a bit) of angst. Nina and Ollie are EVERYTHING.

AH!! I absolutely adored Luck and Last Resorts. And can we just take a moment for this gorgeous cover??? Love it! I loved Nina and Ollie's story. I love a cinnamon roll hero with a gruff exterior. And he was such a strong stable presence for Nina. As usual I loved the setting of this book and all the wonderful friendships! Can't wait for Sarah's next book!

Commitment-phobe Nina Lejeune lives by two rules:
1. Always have fun.
2. Don’t rely on anyone but yourself.
The first rule is easy; the second, she's only broken once.

Ten years after fleeing home, Nina is the chief stewardess on the super yacht Serendipity, single by choice, and perfectly content with how life has turned out.

But Nina’s ex-coworker and old flame, Irish chef Ollie Dunne, isn’t so happy with the status quo. One year after leaving yachting, he's returned as the Serendipity’s chef with an ultimatum: if Nina continues to deny she's in love with him by the end of this charter season, he'll go back to Ireland for good.

Nina and Ollie's shared secret from their past threatens to shipwreck not only their relationship, but the entire boat. But as their connection grows amidst chaotic guests and crew drama, could there be smooth sailing in their future?

I read Love, Lists, and Fancy Ships last year and it was one of my favorite books of the year, so I was screaming when I received a copy of the second book from the publisher.

This friends to lovers, second chance romance features Nina and Ollie, side characters from book one.

What I loved:
• Ollie. Ugh what a sweetheart! I am so glad we got to know him more in this book because underneath his gruff Irish sarcasm is a swoonworthy book boyfriend you just can’t help but root for.
• The alternating timeline. I enjoyed the glimpses into Nina and Ollie’s past which played a huge part in what was happening in the present.
• The banter was great, both MCs had me laughing throughout.

I wasn’t a huge fan of Nina as a person for most of the book. I do think she redeemed herself in the end, but I felt like she was a bit selfish. I understood why she had her “rules”, but she was so strict about them that she began to sabotage things in her life that were really good for her. However, she was so well written. Even though she was unlikeable, she was such a well developed character with a real backstory so I can’t hold that against the book.

I was also happy to get some updates on Jo and Alex in this one.

Overall, it didn’t wow me as much as the first book but I still loved it and will read anything this author writes.

Unfortunately I had a hard time with this one! Nothing negative on the writing, but the romance wasn't introduced for quite a while, and it was all girl-talk / friend chat and I just had a hard time following. I wanted to be shown things, not told - and I think I just wanted more introduction to the character outside of her friends first.

f you saw my last review for Love, Lists and Fancy Ships, you know I loved it so I was excited to see where Ruiz took Nina’s story in the second installment in the series. And, I’m happy to report that it didn’t disappoint! I loved learning more about Nina & her background and equally enjoyed watching her relationship with Ollie develop.

The dual timelines were fun & added to the storyline, helping us learn more about the characters. I also loved that all the characters from the first book still made appearances and were woven into the story well.

Nina had some personal issues to work through, which made her lack of commitment somewhat understandable, but there were so many instances of lack of communication which is a trope I despise. Team #adultsshouldactlikeadults. 🤪 Oh, and I thought the overuse of the word “feck” (52 times) was a little annoying but understand it added to Ollie’s persona.

Overall, I enjoyed and will continue to read anything by Ruiz!

4.5 stars - I really liked it!

This one was so fun! I heard so much about Ch. 4 leading up to reading, and it truly delivered! This book had all the twists, angst, banter, swoon, and second chance/force proximity romance a girl could ask for! The way their story was told over the course of two timelines, when they met to where they are now, made their complex and messy past all the more vulnerable and real.

Sarah poured her whole heart into it, you can just feel it! I just adored Nina and Ollie! I loved all the little nods to FL. Not only was their romance engaging, but the secondary plot made this story even more dynamic! This is a follow up novel to Love, Lists, and Fancy Ships but could absolutely be read as a stand-alone!

This audiobook is FANTASTIC, and I highly recommend!

Would recommend for fans of Mazey Eddings and Emily Henry!

This is the second book in the Love, Lists, & Fancy Ships series. While it can be read as a stand alone, I also loved the first one and would recommend reading them both.

The narrator of the audiobook was fantastic. I listened to the majority and really enjoyed the audio version.

Nina and Ollie are one of my new favorite couples. They work together on a yacht that does private charters. Nina's the main stewardess and Ollie's the chef. There's so much depth in this book and with these characters. They have known each other for 10 years and have a secret in their past. They also have a chance at forever. However, Nina is extremely reluctant to put herself in any kind of position where she might get hurt. She's got some trust issues and I really appreciated the backstory and her journey of understanding. Ollie also has a backstory and I equally appreciated the depth and understanding of his journey. And the two of them together- let's just say I was rooting hard for them to find their HEA.

It was both hard and realistic to watch Nina keep getting in her own way for so long. And I loved the ending and how everything resolved. I absolutely recommend this!

Thanks to the publisher for a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

Luck and Last Resorts is the second in the Love Lists and Fancy Ships series and WOW did this book land perfectly!! Luck and Last Resorts picks up from the end of the first book, though it could definitely be read as a stand alone, and follows Nina and Ollie's on again off again relationship with a twist - Nina and Ollie have been married for 10 years but never told anyone! Ollie comes back to the Serendipity for one last charter season with an ultimatum to Nina that if she isn't ready to admit that her feelings are real, he is done waiting and will leave Florida for good. Told between the past when they met and got married, and the present day on the yacht, Ruiz perfectly weaves Nina and Ollie's story from then until now, and bringing it all together with a uniquely perfect ending.

I enjoyed the first book but LOVED this second one!! A perfectly executed story filled with characters who felt real and made me laugh constantly, this was a perfect romance for me! I loved the friendships and the side characters, but most importantly I loved that nothing felt forced or contrived, and that the characters didn't seem out of their element or dealing with wholly unrealistic issues. The story captured my attention and my heart, and I read it all in less than 2 days!

Fell in love with Ollie and Nina! So much fun and gave the friends to lovers (actually best friends first) to marriage of convenience?! It was an angsty, heart wrenching read and a setting you couldn’t beat. So genuine.

This book was a fun and unique romcom read.
If you love the show Below the Deck this is for you.

I love second chance romance as well as a cinnamon roll Irishman with a grumpy afraid of commitment former gymnast. Okay, so that isn't actually a trope but it was present in this book and I loved it.

This book flips back and forth from the past to the present telling the story of how Ollie and Nina's relationship formed and developed over the years. Ollie basically give Nina the ultimatum after 9 years of back and forth to either be with him for real or he is permanently moving back to Ireland. Nina is the ultimate commitment phobe, basically stating that if she doesn't acknowledge it she can't be hurt by it.

I gave this 3.5/4 stars because Nina frustrated me to no end. I wanted to shake the girl. I was trying desperately to relate to her and where she was coming from, but it was excessive after 9 years. She was just unlikable. Ollie could do way better. I loved that he wanted to wait for her, but he should not have to wait almost 1o years for her to get herself together.

The end felt rushed and I hate that. It did have a slight epilogue so that was nice, but something about the pacing at the end felt off. I would still recommend this book and I enjoyed it!

No spice at all.

Just the book needed when someone asks for a second chance where oh by the way they have to work together on a boat with a lot of people and not much room to stay apart from each other.

I love Ollie and Nina. Nina was making me mad- but you totally get why she’s doing the things she does. The author has created such fully fleshed out characters- I was sad to leave them! Funny, heartwarming, and I’m super satisfied. Give us Xav’s story next! ;)