Member Reviews
This is the third book in the Spoiler Alert series and follows actors Maria and Peter. After a one night stand, the two find themselves filming together on an isolated island for 6 years. Despite their chemistry, they agree to stay friends only while filming. However, once those 6 years are over, they finally have the chance to deepen their friendship into something more. But adjusting to life together off of the little island may be more difficult than they both expect. Dade does a fantastic job closing out this series and I really enjoyed this romance. It ended up being more emotionally charged than the first 2 in the series and I think that was due to this book taking place over 6 years so we see a lot of character development. I loved Maria and Peter and found them both such interesting characters and they had so many layers to work through to finally be together. I loved that we got a few cameos from the characters in the other books and the epilogue was absolutely fabulous. As always, I loved the fat rep in this book, even more so that both of our main characters are fat and the amount of lusty descriptions from both of them about the other are fantastic. This is a longer romance at 413 pages, but considering we had 6 years to cover and a whole lot of character growth to get through I think all of that length is needed. That being said, the pacing was a little hit and miss for me. There were times where it felt like it dragged and then times where it felt way too fast. I do think Dade did a great job giving the reader glimpses of Peter and Maria over that 6 year period to help with this, but I think having that big of a time jump is just hard all around. I did like how we see their first year together and then we time-jump and the story moves forward from there so we have pretty solid footing with these characters before the jump.
Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for the ARC
Publication date was November 15, 2022
This is the perfect book to read while cozy on the couch with that great glass of wine. It just makes you feel happy and content! A solid read for a rainy day!
This is such a fun series and I really enjoyed the slow burn romance in this one. Lovers, then enemies, then friends, then lovers again, it's a roller coaster ride of emotions as Peter and Maria navigate their stormy seasons on God of the Gates. I loved that both characters are comfortable in their own skins, plus-sized actors who've worked hard to get where they are. The cameos are fun (Alex is still my favourite character, he's such a goof!) and the found family of the TV series really shines through. And of course our couple gets an HEA, one that shows they are both willing to bend to put their relationship at the top of their priorities. I'm going to miss the characters from the whole series, but glad I've got another series to re-read!
Hands down my FAVORITE of the entire Spoiler Alert series!
Maria & Peter are familiar faces to anyone who has read Spoiler Alert or All The Feels & here we start off with a bang - literally their first and only hook up 6 years ago before becoming costars on Gods of the Gates. The chemistry that these two have is insane but they decide for the sake of the show & filming to not pursue anything.. until the show finally wraps & they can no longer hold back.
This is the only book to feature two fat main characters & one thing I enjoy about Olivia's writing is how her characters are more than just their bodies. Even when producers insist on Maria & Peter losing weight & altering their bodies to 'appease the fans', Maria is steadfast in declaring that they can take her as she is or fire her, knowing that her body may not be 'typical' but is still strong & beautiful.
I also love the group texts & fan fic excerpts that are included - we get to still hear from the other characters besides the main couple & especially here, Maria & Peter's texts made me swoon. No to mention the adorable Swedish pet names?! I died.
This is swoony, sexy, sweet & oh so good. I'd definitely encourage you to check out the first two books before diving in but you could read this as a standalone if desired!
I received a copy of this book for review from NetGalley. Somehow, I had managed to forget how much the books in this series made me laugh, but I spent a lot of time giggling in this book. If you are a fan of snarky banter, witty people, and friendly bickering, then this is definitely the book for you. I loved the body positivity in this book so much, and how much each character enjoyed each other because they look they way they do, not in spite of it. It was fantastic.
The characters were witty, funny, deeply emotional, and wonderfully real. It can be very hard to write a book that spans this length of time, but it was carefully and craftily done, and I never felt like I was missing out too much on their development. Would I happily read the missing years? Absolutely. Did I need to? Not really. However, you do really need to read the first two books in the series to truly understand a few plot points that occur with the rest of the characters. Overall, I enjoyed the heck out of this book, and I look forward to more books from the author.
I have read the first two books in this series and loved them. I was so excited to get my hands on the newest release. It did not disappoint! Oliva Dade has a knack for weaving characters so that the reader feels an intense emotional connection with them. I enjoyed every twist and turn in the story.
While this wasn’t technically a “holiday read,” I definitely got some cozy Viking romance vibes. This one-night stand quickly pivots into a slow-burn romance with simmering chemistry, forced proximity, and all the pitch perfect witty banter.
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Peter is the type of guy who falls hard, which is why he is crushed after a potential romance turns into a one-night stand when Maria (first name only) ghosts him the next morning. That next day, the two are stunned to discover they have landed the part of co-stars on a Game of Throne-ish sounding viking TV series called God of the Gates. Determined to stay professional, Peter swears off any possible romantic relationship with Maria for all six years of the series. What ensues is a beautiful friendship, followed by a second-chance romance. But with Maria set to return to Sweden and Peter determined to settle back in LA, will the two be able to make it work?
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I loved Maria’s character in this book. She’s a no-nonsense feminist who isn’t afraid to speak her mind and put her personal beliefs and ethics before her career. She laid down the law for the show-runners in this book and I was here for it. Loved all the messages of body positivity as well. This was my first book in this series, so you can absolutely enjoy it as a stand-alone.
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Thank you to @netgalley and @avonbooks for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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Ship Wrecked - Olivia Dade
4.5/5⭐️
As always, this series continues to impress and be worth reading and recommending. Loved this latest entry into the knot of the disastrous con weekend and the close-knit crew around a literally epic television show. Loved the character progression and the way you can see dynamics shift over time.
I really liked All the Feels, and Spoiler Alert. This one was not my favorite, still very enjoyable.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I am new to the Olivia Dade universe and I will say I was presently surprised! What is not to love about the forbidden love of Hollywood costars. It was such a refreshing concept, compared to it’s natural opposite (Hollywood stars fake dating).
Though I was impressed by the plot and romance scenes, the friendship between Peter and Maria truly sold me on this book. It would have been hard to convince me they weren’t meant for each other. It was so beautiful to see them each grow in their own way.
Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Olivia Dade for the ARC!
This book really just took me for a ride. I loved the build up, the character development, and the writing. I would definitely read more from this author!
I enjoyed the first two books in this series a lot, but Ship Wrecked just wasn't clicking for me. Can't quite pinpoint why, just that I wasn't enjoying it as much as the first two.
Kudos (as always) to Olivia Dade for well written plus size characters, and I appreciated that in this one Maria was not going to compromise for the film.
*Thank you to Avon/Harper Voyager, Olivia Dade and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review*
Ship Wrecked is the third book in the Spoiler Alert series by Olivia Dade. I didn't love the first book, loved the second book and this one was great. I enjoyed both Peter and Maria and I adored how the book started, jumping right in mid thrust. The characters are multi-layered and it is not insta-love.
ShipWrecked beings in the middle of a one night stand between Peter and Maria. Maria is a Swedish goddess, well known on social media and Peter is an actor. When Maria leaves in the middle of the night, Peter , still reeling from the loss of his mother, feels the sting of rejection. When she shows up at a casting call the next day, he can't believe his eyes. When she gets the part, he tells her their relationship is strictly business, still feeling hurt from her leaving. But as they get to know each other, they admire each other from afar, not wanting a relationship to get in the middle of their television series. .
This is a really great contemporary romance. I wish Olivia Dade would include less characters because the group chats are so confusing. Maybe a brief refresher on who's who from other books.
Thank you so much to Oliva Dade, Avon & NetGalley for an advance copy of this!
This book is the 3rd book in the Spoiler Alert series and follows Maria and Peter as they embark on filming on a remote island for 6 years. They had a brief hook up and each thought they would never see one another again but fate had other plans.
I wanted to like this book more. There were parts that I really enjoyed and then other areas that I felt could have been eliminated or edited down. I just couldn't connect with the two MCs and their love for one another.
The first half took me longer than I had expected to get through but it really picked up for me in the 2nd half. Even though the conflict in the 2nd half seemed a little juvenile and I got really annoyed with Maria over it, the conflict helped propel the text for me. They both were being selfish in that moment but I took Peter's side in the argument.
One thing I love about Olivia and will always be a fan of is that she has a wonderful way of writing about plus size characters. This one not only had a female plus size MC but a plus size man. Which honestly I think he may be the hottest MC out of all the 3 books - beard, check, belly, check! There was very minimal fatphobia and was shut down immediately. Both MCs were comfortable in their body which made it so refreshing to read. Their characters could just be them and have it not be something between them.
I don't think this was as spicy as her prior books but that doesn't mean this didn't lack any spice. The book started off with a sex scene right in the first chapter when we met the 2 MCs as a one night stand.
I also paired this book with the audio and Kelsey Narravo is such a good narrator. She was able to give Maria & Peter their own voice give them some texture.
This wasn't my fave but don't just consider my review. Other book friends love this book.
I still will recommend this series to romance friends.
I also love that we got a sprinkle of our former MCs sprinkled throughout the book. I have missed Marcus, April, Alex and Lauren! I am very excited to see what is next for Olivia.
Rating: 3.5 stars
This book was not my favorite of Olivia Dade's. I was very excited for the premise but it fell a bit flat for me. The book came off very preachy at times.
TW: Fatphobia, mysogony, parental death
I think my love for Olivia Dade is back! After loving Spoiler Alert but absolutely loathing All the Feels I wasn't too sure what to expect with Ship Wrecked but thankfully I enjoyed it!
Ship Wrecked is the third installment in the Spoiler Alert series and I believe the last. It stars Peter Reedton, an introverted burly actor who has always had trouble being able to talk to people, even his friends. He's always had a deep love for acting but hasn't quite landed the leading man role that he's dreamed of yet. After a one-night stand with Maria, a sexy, confident and curvy Swede he meets at an LA sauna, Peter is dismayed and angry that she left him without so much as a goodbye just like his ex-fiance did. To both of their surprises Maria and Peter have just been cast together to star on the new show Gods of the Gates and potentially could be working together for years...awkward!
I really enjoyed Maria's character, she was so strong and confident and assertive in what she knew would make her happy. She had no qualms about her body (I imagine being plus sized and in the Hollywood scene is filled with challenges because there are always ignorant people willing to put someone down) and she continally fights for her rights and the rights of her fellow actors to not be bullied around by the showrunners. I also really liked Peter, I resonnated with his introverted awkwardness so much but he was also so sweet and adorable and pretty much fell for Maria after one night. They both have their hangups influenced by events in their past but I thought they way they helped each other through them was great.
Although I liked the characters I felt the timing in the book was kind of clunky. I didn't understand the need for a 6 year time jump, I would've liked to see more of Maria and Peter's friendship develop on page instead of just instant besties with supressed sexual desires. I enjoyed the way things were on the island setting and thought the whole book could've taken place there. This one was 400 pages and I think it could've been told in 300...lots of unnecessary descriptions and tangents from the author.
Other than that this book was highly enjoyable. The spice was fantastic and the chemistry of the characters was believable and adorable. I thought the trials they went through were also realistic for their professions. Overall very good read that can be acomplished in one or two sittings.
Thank you so much to Avon and HarperVoyager for providing me with an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I'm not going to lie the only reason I requested this book on Netgalley was because of the author, as I've heard A LOT of amazing things about Olivia Dade's books. I didn't know anything else about this book. However, I was gripped from the very beginning of this book until the very end. I think Olivia Dade's writing is just so easy and fun to read. It's also super addictive. I always enjoy a famous people romance and this was no exception. I always just think it's so much fun and larger than life. However, this book also has some really great depth to it. Both of our main characters have some issues that stem from their childhood that come into play amazingly in this book. I thought those issues were really well dealt with and made these characters feel more real. Besides our two main characters I also quite liked our set of side characters. They were really fun and really brought the story to life. I also really adored the fandom culture aspects in this book, especially because it's all written from the perspectives of celebrities. I thought it was all really fun. The only thing I didn't really like was the third act conflict. I thought it was stupid and just absolutely full of hypocrisy. Now the resolution does adress my issues with the conflict but overall I still feel annoyed that it even happened at all.
I adored Ship Wrecked. It's a treat having two fat main characters, and I loved how complex and real they both felt. The book has an unusual structure for a one night stand trope. Because the couple periodically film on the same island together, we get a series of time jumps so we only see them together on the island, with hints of their lives away in between. I thought this was really effective because it allowed the couple to build a deeper relationship without the story saggy in the middle. But I loved them so much that I would have been happy to read several more chapters of them just being friends and pranking each other. The book ties up threads from the other couples in the series and was an emotionally satisfying end.
I loved Spoiler Alert and All the Feels, the first two books in Olivia Dade's series about the stars of Gods of the Gates, a wildly popular tv series clearly modeled on Game of Thrones, down to the disastrous show-runners. Body diversity and positivity has certainly an important theme in the series, but in Ship Wrecked, it takes center stage. Are either of these main characters actual people, or just stand-ins for the author to lecture the reader about how badly fat people are treated in Hollywood (is anyone surprised?) and how losing weight rapidly is dangerous for your body? Is it believable that someone would go scorched earth for months in response to someone bailing on a one-night stand? Or that two people who are extremely attracted to each other, like each other as human beings, and live together on an island for much of the year for over half a decade [spoiler removed]? The main characters honestly never read to me as real people, and their choices made little sense to me. The writing was hilarious, but because I couldn't connect with anyone in the book at a human level, it felt like empty laughter. I couldn't take the endless will they/won't they, or maybe they will but will they really, by the time I got to 40%. This book rang hollow for me, and I just didn't feel it was worth persevering.
I can't recall the last time I read a novel with two plus size love interests. I am not sure I ever have! I have really enjoyed Olivia Dade's Gods of the Gates series. She Wrecked is humorous and romantic.