This was a good contemporary romance book! I'm always happy with plus size rep in romance novels. I would definitely recommend to those who think it sounds interesting!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher.

The book was a bit of a clunky start for me, but after a bit I adored it. Love the fat rep and solid messaging along with it. I'm intrigued to read some of the other entries in the series for sure, and love the friendship development.

I have a lot of mixed emotions about Ship Wrecked, the latest in the Spoiler Alert series by Olivia Dade. While there was a lot of good there, this book also had a few big flaws that kept me from rating it more than three stars.

I think Olivia Dade did better with this one than with book two in the series, which was a bust for me, but I still varied wildly in my feelings about this story from chapter to chapter. I loved the sex scenes in the beginning but then... poof. The book seemed to grind to a halt and then there was endless chapters and even a huge time skip where not too much happened. I got tired of the drawn-out storyline and the constant references to pickled herring and the same catch phrases repeated over and over. The pining and the nitty gritty of filming was mildly interesting, but the middle of the book felt very long for me. Then, of course, things started to pick up again (yay!) but then the conflict at the end of the story sort of killed my buzz. In short: I think this author has some pacing issues.

I really enjoyed how the female MC refused to conform to expectations of her (re:shaving, losing weight) and was super firm in her stance and extremely confident. It was fabulous to read. I enjoyed the way these two really adored each other, which is why the conflict that kept them apart just felt so flimsy and unsatisfying.

I'm not mad at this story, I just felt like it was overly long and not as good as the first in the series. However, I still think readers in general will enjoy it, despite its flaws.

I had a hard time getting into this one. While I enjoy the plus size rep, the focus on the character’s body size and the consistent reference to it made me feel some sort of way.

As a plus size person, I feel like there is a line between rep (which we want) and too much focus on a person’s body, and this felt at times like the latter.

The story was cute, but the focus on the character’s body was a bit much for me.

I am a big fan of the Spoiler Alert series, so I was very excited when I found out that a third book was being released! Avon was kind enough to provide me with a digital ARC, as well as a physical one!

Ship Wrecked was such a fun book! I loved that we got to explore a different part of the world in this book. We spent a lot of time with Maria and Peter on that wind-swept Irish island. Being the Anglophile that I am, I absolutely loved the setting. Then, getting to learn more about Sweden through Maria’s birth culture was fantastic as well. I honestly don’t know much about Swedish culture, so the little tidbits that we learned really sparked my interest!

Speaking of Maria and Peter, I love them so much. I loved that Maria was so unapologetically herself. She was big, loud and proud of it. Seeing such positive plus-size representation in a romance novel was so refreshing. I loved that she wasn’t ashamed of her body, and in fact embraced it. Peter was a giant, cuddly teddy bear with a prickly exterior, and we love that about him here. Seeing their prolonged pining for one another was bittersweet and a fantastic slow burn.

Something that I was not expecting from this book, and I was so thrilled to see, was the adoption representation. Adoption is not a subject that is often seen in a romance novel. And, this was done so well. Here is a quote from the novel about adoption that is so true:

“[Her adoptive parents] meant to declare in every conceivable way, both to her and to the authorities: this placement was forever. They were forever. Her new family would never leave her, would always want and love her, would always choose her.”

I got teary reading this part of the novel. It perfectly captures how I feel about my daughter. It was such a wonderful experience reading this in a novel. I hope that other adoptive parents, and adoptees, read this and feel the same.

All in all, this was a lovely book and I definitely recommend it, along with the other two books in this series!

My Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I gave Ship Wrecked 4 Stars!

Ship Wrecked by Olivia Dade was a fun book, but ultimately was missing that spark for me. This was a case of a one-night stand gone wrong between two actors who are about to start working together... for six years... on a remote island. I liked the premise a lot and the storyline took us on some funny ups and downs for both Peter and Maria as they tried to fight their attraction to each other. A fun and sexy book but ultimately a but lackluster for me. I honestly don't love celebrity romances that much usually so that could be the problem. Some of the lines made me cringe a bit which is why I think I didn't love this one as much as I thought I would. Not sure if I will pick up Dade's next book.

Upon reading the synopsis this seemed like a book that I would love. Add that to the fact that I have previously read and enjoyed this author’s previous work, and you’d think that this would have been perfect for me. Unfortunately, several things about this one fell flat for me.

My main issue with this book was the pacing, and how it felt a bit all over the place. The quarter of the book sees the main characters go from having a one night stand, to becoming reluctant coworkers, to acquaintances. Then there is a six year jump where we are told that throughout those six years Maria and Peter have grown close and that they have a great relationship. After they get together we don’t get to see the chemistry building and relationship growing. There are also other, smaller time jumps through the book. Each time we were told how their relationship had evolved, but we never get to see it happen.

I also had an issue with character reactions. Maria was a kind of a hypocrite, and she definitely realized it, which I am glad for. She expected Peter to shift his dreams, and outgrow his trauma in order to make her happy. Meanwhile she was happy to continue his dream while her past trauma and fear of being alone was her main motivator near the end. And then, suddenly Peter is cured of his problems because of what? The power of love? Idk? The whole third act conflict felt forced.

I do have to say though that I loved the representation and generally enjoyed the character’s personalities. I generally enjoyed the dialogue, although this too at times felt forced.

Overall, I liked it. It was fine but could have been better.

This book was better than expected. I wasn’t sure what to expect but it was really great to get the whole backstory of Peter and Maria since their appearance in Spoiler Alert. Also, can we just talk about how she started a book mid sex scene, it was definitely a surprise (not a bad one though). I will have to say though, the tension in this book is what really made it great. I love me some good tension

And then without further ado READ this book! I think it’s Olivia’s best yet and if you don’t fall in love with both of these characters we can’t be friends 🙌 we have one hell of a fast burn and then slow burn but it’s so worth it 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Maria is a Swedish Goddess that is also lol funny so get ready! And the pop culture bits Olivia adds in are just perfect 🤩

For real go read it now so we can chat about it!!

While the steam literally starts on page 1, that’s very quickly extinguished as we take a meandering journey through Maria and Peter’s long relationship after a one night stand quickly cools into a professional working relationship. For the first 1/3 I could understand the need to pump the breaks on the romance and hooking up, but the six year time jump at 34% in just really killed this for me. Really, SIX WHOLE YEARS?? I just didn’t get it.

Sprinkled in between are text conversations or snippets of interviews and fan fiction meant to show us how over those 6 years Maria and Peter becomes good friends but it just wasn’t convincing for me and honestly some of those text convos are very much NOT “just friends” type exchanges so I wonder why they didn’t just come together sooner.

Once they finally DO come together and the show draws to a close, I felt like there was a lack of balance between finally getting together and something being new while Maria and Peter somehow also acting like they had been together for years. For example, the significant ex’s each had, after being SO CLOSE supposedly for 6 years (to the point they’d be stranded on an island together for months in end) they never talked about those ex’s? Peter is imagining asking Maria to live with him but he hasn’t talked about his dad or ex fiancée? It just felt too fantastical and unbelievable at times to see how deep on their feelings they were while also not knowing some pretty glaring things about each other. I also felt the break up to then make up event in the back half was a big stretch and I couldn’t see Maria’s POV on it.

Ultimately it’s a breezy read, the steam is kind of good kind of cringe at times, but the fat representation and discussion was a welcome sight.

Rating: 2.75/5

I really enjoyed reading a book with not only plus size representation for ladies, but also men. A lot of romance books I've read that have plus size women only have them interacting with super buff or slim men. This is honestly the first books I've seen that carries representation for both love interests and that may be a wake up call for me to be more conscious of the books I'm reading.

Buckle up for an amazing ride! I loved this book and was so happy to get back into Olivia Dade's world. Maria and Peter's story is my favorite in this series thus far (and I really loved the previous 2 books). I appreciate that she writes plus size characters and doesn't make them solely side characters there for comic relief. I'm still sweating from the spice in this book!

I have really loved some of Olivia Dade’s prior books and was really looking forward to Ship Wrecked. I always appreciate Dade’s representation and showing that all bodies are beautiful and this is no different in Ship Wrecked. I found that I didn’t connect with the relationship quite as much as I have in other books like Spoiler Alert and All the Feels but. I did still enjoy this one.

Thank you to Avon for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

This one unfortunately was a miss for me. I loved the other two books in the series, particularly Alex’s book, but this one was my least favorite of the bunch. It still had all of Olivia Dade’s trademarks that make me enjoy her stories, like the mentions of fanfiction, the steamy scenes, etc. But I could not form a bond with these characters. The miscommunication/conflict was something that I was frustrated by and I had a hard time agreeing with either of them in those situations. Overall I would still recommend this to those who want to delve back into the Gods of the Gates world and want to experience two fat main characters and some decent spice.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Spoiler Alert series has been so much fun and this third installment was no exception. The book follows Peter and Maria, who after a disastrous one-night stand, must spend the next six years filming together on a remote Irish island. The book follows their relationship over the years as it builds from enemies to friends, to something more. I really enjoyed how Peter and Maria were both a bit older than a typical couple in a romance book. The result was two, well-developed characters who knew themselves and were intentional and thoughtful in their decisions. The found family between the cast and crew added another layer of warmth to an already lovely book.

I absolutely loved Spoiler Alert and All the Feels - but Ship Wrecked left me wanting. I think my biggest issue was that it takes place within the timeline of pervious novels and my brain just wasn’t accepting that. The romance was lacking and time jumps awkward.
Still, I love Olivia Dade’s writing style and can’t see what she comes up with next! Keeping my fingers crossed for another novel in the Gods of the Gates universe.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review.

4.5⭐️

After an amazing one night stand that leaves Peter hurting after Maria sneaks out without saying goodbye, the two stumble upon each other at an audition for the same show. Peter, an experienced actor who’s still sour about Maria’s sneaky exit, is petty towards her and says that there’s no way she’ll get the part opposite him because she’s a theater actor, not a Hollywood actor. Maria proves him wrong, and the two are stuck on an island together filming their new show, <i>Gods of the Gates</i>.

While filming, they become friends and one night almost risk their friendship, and the relationships with the crew they’ve developed, when they almost sleep together again. Instead, they decide to remain friends despite both of them wanting more. They remain good friends for the six years of filming, and the book shows little details of the two of them sticking up for each other and having fun together. Finally, when the show ends, they can try being together for real.

This is a lovers to enemies to friends to lovers book, and it’s great and so much more realistic! I love both Maria and Peter’s characters and who they are together. Maria is fierce and stands her ground, including refusing to lose weight for the role and refusing to conform to modern beauty standards like the show-runners try to force her to. Peter’s character development from quiet and guarded to caring and sociable is really great, too, and really shows his growth. In the end, he finds that his career isn’t as important as he once thought it was and that he was trying prove his decision to be an actor to his father and to himself.

The only thing I did not love about this book is the third act breakup. It was very over the top and dramatic - but! They both realize they were being kind of dumb and do come back together and do have a redeeming conversation about their expectations and values in a relationship. Overall, this is a super fun and steamy read. And there’s no pregnancy trope which is awesome!!!

<b> “Someone like me,” she repeated. “I love you, Peter. You’re my beloved skitstövel. Do you want me to find a house in Hollywood, or would you rather I stay with you?”</b>

Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for allowing me to read this book! Olivia dade has this way of giving you a cozy read. I feel so relaxed and happy reading her books! This book was so sweet! I love introverted Peter and spicy Maria’s love story. I will say the only thing I couldn’t connect with is the time change I guess I just never felt like it had been 6 years. I do really like the tension between the characters! This book started out strong for me but just lost its spark after about halfway through.

Thank you to Olivia Dade, NetGalley, and Avon Books for an ARC of this glorious third installment!

Peter cannot believe the woman who rocked his world last night is now his costar ... on a tiny island where the two of the them will be filming for the foreseeable future. Maria cannot believe she got this new role and won't be pulling any punches. Can the two of them work through their differences as they play star crossed lovers or are they destined for destruction?

As always, Olivia Dade hits it with the poignant characters and the spice. I loved the lovers to enemies to friends to lovers (lotta tropes in there) but it felt very natural given the length of the book and the timeline for Gods of the Gates. Honestly, the time skips were well done and delightful to see the growth within. Peter stands in line for second favorite Dade lead (Marcus was perfect) but Maria Iverrson is everything I want in a leading lady. Thick, uncompromising, loving, caring, all of wrapped up in Swedish delight.

Truly, a glorious piece of fiction.

Ship Wrecked is the third installment of the Spoiler Alert series. Dade starts of this romp of a novel with a very steamy sex scene. It is definitely hot and heavy. As a fan of sexual tension and a build through the story, it was a bit jarring. I think I may have uttered "Okay...wow...okay". Right after we are thrown into the story.

After a very steamy one night stand, Maria and Peter receive roles on the very popular Gods of Gates tv show. They are thrown together and have to navigate the repercussions of that night, mainly Maria walking out without so much as a word or goodbye. Now working together in close proximity on an isolated island, they are forced to confront the events of that night and the lingering sexual tension between them.

Ship Wrecked was a really good read. I don't think I enjoyed it as much as the previous two novels, but there was still plenty of spice and humor. Maria and Peter have a lot of chemistry and passion. Even better, they are two very well rounded characters. They seem real and genuine. The character development is there as well. I really liked their story. It's filled with plenty of swoon worthy moments, sexy hot passion, and a lot of laugh out loud humor. While I loved the characters I found at times the pacing could be a little slow. At times I felt as if paragraphs of text could have been condensed to keep the story moving. Despite that, I really liked this book. It's a strong third book of the series filled with some really nice character driven moments.