" But unlike Mom, I had enough time on this earth to find the partner I needed. Someone who’s not just my lover but my friend too. Someone who can understand me, as well as…”
"Love you. Someone who can understand you and love you. Someone like me. “

This book was a fun one to read. Right away it starts out with a bang! Literally they’re banging. 🤣 After that one night stand that Peter wishes didn’t end, Peter and Maria realize that they’re gonna be costars for the next six years. That they’re gonna be in close spaces for the upcoming years. I loved that while they didn’t evolve to more than costars they cannot stop with the lingering glances and the wanting! I also loved how protective Peter was of Maria! Sometimes their scenes could be quite dangerous and Peter was always looking out for Maria. Peter most of the time would be awkward talking to people and Maria would help him be more comfortable. I loved that she was looking out for him. Peter right away realizes that what he has with Maria special. I loved how he wanted to jump right away iinto the relationship when they had the chance. I did find at times that the book was a little slow but overall this was a sweet romance! But don’t let the sweet fool you. There are plenty of spicy scenes in this book!

Read if you like:
Dual POVs
One night stand
Forced proximity
Costars
Mutual pining
Hero falls first
Protective hero
Open door romance

Overall, a great read.

What worked for me:
The characters were really lovable. On the surface it seems like sunshine/grump, but it's more than that if you look a layer deeper. Maria's straightforward and blunt, she's not bubbly, but she's definitely one to look on the bright side of things. Peter is more solitary, takes a while to warm up to people, yet is ambitious and concerned about his status and perception. Very multi-faceted characters who have dynamics I'd find in real people.

The fat representation was excellent! (As it is with all her books I've read..) It's really refreshing. I like that this book is pretty blatantly against fat-shaming, and fatphobia is condemned in the text. The scene where Maria refuses to lose weight for her role made me want to pump my fist in the air to cheer for her.

I liked the interludes with tweets/fan fiction/cast group chats. Those are great, even though they'd be a bit clunky in an audiobook.


What didn't work for me:
The pacing. I think the issue came because this plot had to fit into the timeline already established in the other books. There were too many jarring time jumps, and long periods where nothing would really happen to move the relationship along.

Peter has been working consistently in Hollywood for 15 years, and now he’s finally landed his big chance – he’s going to play Cyprian on the huge hit Gods of the Gates. His leading lady, Maria, a newcomer with little television experience, would be perfect if it weren’t for the fact that they shared an amazing one-night-stand the night before the final audition – one in which she slipped away without a word. Now the pair must work together as castaways on a remote island.

Ship Wrecked is the third title in Ms. Dade’s fabulous Spoiler Alert series, but can be read as a standalone. The books all feature cast from a fictional mega show (think Game of Thrones) and partially overlap in time. Peter and Maria’s story starts well before the previous books in the series, but catches up as the story progresses.

Peter and Maria’s romantic journey takes years to come to fruition. While they start as frenemies (he’s hurt that she left him like she did), they eventually become close friends. There is strong sexual tension, but they don’t want to ruin their working relationship, so they agree not to cross that line. The first half of the book takes place in this “friend zone.” It’s a slow burn, but the progression allows readers to better understand the characters. Maria is very confident and doesn’t need the show to feel successful, unlike Peter who is conditioned not to rock the boat out of fear of losing his job. The show runners are assholes, and this causes tension between Peter and Maria when the show runners make demands on the pair. I like how conflicted Peter is. He’s proud of/fascinated with Maria’s ability to stand up for herself and even him, and he feels awful when he doesn’t do the same.

I really enjoyed both main characters. They are both lovely people, and I loved being submersed in their lives. Their banter is fun and made me chuckle. I wanted to be part of their tight knit group. I love Maria’s self-awareness and courage to stand up for herself. She has insecurities but her weight and lifestyle are not among them.

I liked getting to see Peter and Maria together, both as friends and then as lovers, for so much of the book. They connect so well from the beginning, and even though we had a wait for them to get their HEA, I love that they were together in some capacity for nearly the entire story. When they finally connect, I honestly felt like the book was complete, and it wasn’t even half over. The second half allows the pair to grow as a couple and also face their demons (most of which belong to Peter). It takes a loss to realize what is truly important.

Ship Wrecked is another wonderful story from Ms. Dade. A slow-burn romance that starts with a one night stand and waits six years to finally hook up. I adore Ms. Dade’s ability to create honest characters that I care about. I highly recommend any of her books.

My Rating: B+

DNFed at 70% -- I really enjoyed the relationship and characters in the beginning, especially their banter and the attention Dade gave to their experiences as fat actors. They reminded me a little of older versions of Nina and Matthias from Six of Crows. Peter especially was relatable for me, and both were lovably realistic.
Unfortunately, I think six years was too much of a time jump and it feels strange that these years are completely skipped over despite Peter and Maria filming together almost every day. The plot started dragging on at that point, and after the "Swedes vs Americans" jokes were recycled for the 500th time I found it hard stay interested. Then again I'm currently in a reading slump so not much is holding my attention -- it's a credit to Dade's engaging characters that I stuck with it for this long.

I will start this review with the fact that this is the first book by Olivia Dade that I have read. With that being said I did miss some back story when it came to some other characters that were present in Spoiler Alert and All The Feels. But it is possible to read all 3 separate I just think you’ll miss out on some story ties. I do wish that I had read the other 2 first because you would have more of an insight on the story they were filming that would allow you to piece that storyline together. But that’s on me and not the writer.

The story follows Maria, a Swedish plus sized actor, and Peter a plus sized American actor trying to become successful in LA. When they have a one night stand and Maria leaves without a trace in the middle of the night Peter has vengeance. And what’s even better? The day after they get casted in a TV series together. Now they have to play nice and pretend neither of them actually like each other.

I am so here for the Plus Sized representation in both FMC and MMC! It’s even better that they both accept who they are as individuals and that their weight doesn’t define who they are. The author does an amazing job at having both main characters appreciate each others bodies to the extent as any other book where they main characters are what others think are “body standards” these days.

It felt like the characters were lusting for each other and had so much sexual tension from their one night stand. I never really saw any relationship growth except for when they visited each others homes briefly.

They were only on their TV-show set for 50% of the book and over the 6 years of filming their relationship never really changed and nothing really happened. I felt that there could have been so much relationship/friendship growth over that time that you didn’t necessarily see.

Although I liked the story it never really pulled me in. It actually almost put me in a slump. I was reading one chapter at a time and there wasn’t anything really dragging me to come back.

Some parts felt like the characters inner monologue was going on forever and practically going in circles. Something that would take 3 paragraphs to explain took 3 pages.

Overall the book was “okay” to me. There was nothing bad about it but nothing amazing either. I will try reading her other books in the future as well to compare and continue this story background.

Ship Wrecked is the third book in Olivia Dade’s Spoiler Alert series, featuring Maria and Peter. I already want to reread the whole series, as all three books are written to seamlessly fit together. Maria is a Swedish actress who isn’t afraid to stand up for what she believes in- body positivity and inclusivity especially. Peter is far more concerned with getting his next paycheck and proving that he deserves his spot in Hollywood. When their paths cross, they have no way of knowing that they’ll be auditioning together the next day. Cast to play two people stranded on a deserted island, Maria and Peter are about to get to know each other intimately. As the years pass on their show, they must decide what is most important- their careers or their love.

I absolutely loved Maria and Peter’s story!! They are both so relatable and lovable. I thought it was fantastic how Maria refused to let the producers control her body or influence her choices. Both Maria and Peter have a lot of history to share with each other before they can progress, making Ship Wrecked a delightful emotional slow-burn until it is scorching hot. Olivia Dade has the rare gift of being able to write scenes of both deep pining and fiery-hot spice/romance. I love how Olivia Dade always includes body positivity, mental health rep, LGBTQ+ rep, and is just generally a very inclusive writer. The cameos from castmates and members of the previous books were very well-done and a nice surprise. I hope there are more books in this series and that this isn’t the last we see from these characters! I can’t wait to see what Olivia Dade writes next. Thank you so much to Olivia Dade, Avon, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! I am normally not a fan of a slow-burn type of romance, but I loved this one! The sexual tension in this book, WOW again! Imagine having an amazing one-night stand and then not seeing that person again for years…then BAM, they are back in your life.
Do yourself a favor and pick this one up. Please.

I adored Peter and Maria! They were so adorable, playful, and vulnerable. I loved that they were both fat actors and were proud of their bodies. Maria was so inspiring for repeatedly standing up for herself and knowing her worth. Her backstory and Peter’s made me cry. There was so much I loved about this story.

The one thing that didn't work for me was the timeline. There's a big time jump with a few small glimpses into what happened during those years and it made me feel like the story didn't really start until around the halfway point. But I still enjoyed so much of it!

Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for giving me a digital copy of this book.

With great plus-sized representation, Ship Wrecked delivered an ultimately satisfying romantic comedy. Readers will enjoy Maria's confidence, the Hollywood backdrop, complete with a disastrous last season and directors with questionable morals. This book also features dual-POVs and multiple time jumps. It might start out slow, but it gets steamy by the end!

This book was a great addition to the Spoiler Alert series. It can be read as a stand alone but does also have some moments of overlap from both of the previous books. I did feel like those moments made more sense having read those books.

I absolutely loved Maria and all that she stood for. She wasn't afraid to stand up for body positivity and call out anyone who tried to shame her or anyone she cared about. Peter on the other hand took awhile for me to like. I did think he made a lot of growth as a character which is kind of the point though. Their relationship was really great too.

The time jump in the story was a bit abrupt and it would've been nice to see more of the 6 years of friendship between Maria and Peter. I did really like the flashbacks to text conversations from during that time.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this book as well as the rest of the series.

Ship Wrecked by Olivia Dade is far and away my favorite in her Spoiler Alert series to date. I enjoyed Marcus and April's story as well as Alex and Lauren's story, but I LOVED Peter and Maria. Maybe it was because I knew more of the supporting characters already, or maybe it was just the electric chemistry between the two co-stars, but I was sold from the first page (which opens in a surprisingly steamy way). They share a night of passion before both landing the role of their dreams on Gods of the Gate. Forced to film almost completely alone for the next six years on a remote island, they decide not to date because the fallout would be disastrous--but as soon as their final episode wraps, it's ON, and I was HERE FOR IT.

And what?! Two plus-sized main characters? Fat representation done RIGHT?! THANK YOU OLIVIA DADE FOR YOUR AMAZING CHARACTERS!

Dade continues to perfectly capture the insanity of the fandom phenomenon--from the shipping to the fanfic, it's all there, and it's amazing. Peter and Maria both have things from their pasts that affect how they handle relationships and it's not baggage they can just check at the gate. Even though Dade does employ the dreaded third act breakup, she uses it to great effect--and she doesn't drag it out. It was obvious from the start that they truly are each other's person, and nothing could keep them apart for good.

Thank you to Avon and Netgalley for my advance review copy.

Thanks to Net Galley and publisher for this ARC
Oh man, I really wanted to love this, but I didn’t. The beginning was good! The middle was great! I just felt like the second half of the book was the beginning? After 6 years of our characters knowing each other, we get chapters and chapters of them GETTING to know each other. It made me lose interest and I just didn’t vibe with the main Characters chemistry unfortunately. I did greatly enjoy the authors writing and I can see why other people would enjoy this book.

Another winner from Olivia Dade. I adore this Spoiler Alert series. This is modern romance with amazing depth of character and emotion matched with complex story lines. I enjoyed the way this story wove in and around the time frame of the prior books. A wonderful mix of humor and drama. I highly recommend this author and series.

Though I do own some of Olivia Dade’s books, Ship Wrecked is the first book of hers that I’ve finally gotten around to reading and I have to say, I so believe the hype around this author!!

I’ve easily fallen in love with Ship Wrecked from the moment that I started it and though at times the characters could fore sure be frustrating so much so that you wanted to shake a jar of herring under their noses.. well, in the end all prevailed and it was such an enjoyable story.

I LOVED THIS BOOK!! It was perfect blend of a brooding Viking god and the sunny beautiful Swedish goddess !!
THE EPIC PINING HAD ME HOOKED FROM BEGINNING GO END. My heart almost couldn’t take it!! Highly highly recommend!!

DNF. I’m really struggling with the conflict here. Peter and Maria have a one night stand - it’s hot, they both have a good time, when he wakes up he’s alone. The next day they find out they will be working together. Not a new romance trope but it’s one I enjoy.

However - Peter is so mad that he’s totally rude to Maria from the start and I really don’t understand why. And it just continues. This was not for me. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the advance reading copy.

I was lucky enough to read most of this book in one long travel day. Maria is such a badass, I loved what a firece friend, sister, daughter, & love interest she was. It was great to hear how she helped bring their cast & crew together to make a family. Peter did so many swoon worthy things too mixed in with questionable decisions that made sense based on all the things he went through. I loved that therapy was talked about positively & hiw it was normalized. That is great to seein media as a person who has been in therapy for many years. I loved hearing more of the antics of the cast & the peeks we got at other happy couples. I am going to missthis series if it is the end but Olivia Dade has defintely become an auto read author for me.

This is a sexy and fun third installment in Olivia Dade's Spoiler Alert series. Dade has created a charming world of actors involved in an epic basic cable series (a la Game of Thrones). This edition in the series is a lovers to friends to lovers story between a plus sized hero and heroine. It is entertain and fun, and charmingly told through past and present, giving the reader the perfect build up of the sensual tension between the two as they prioritize their friendship while filling this career making series. Dade's writing is witty and humorous while building up the romance is a sexy and sensual way. This novel is accessible, body positive, and well paced. And while being the third installment in this world, it can easily be read as a standalone.

Maria and Peter first have a sexy one night stand with each other before learning they will spend the next six years together working on a remote island on the epic television show God's of the Gates. While making the decision to prioritize a friendship over a romantic relationship, these two are still extremely attracted to the other and their attraction does not go unnoticed by fans and coworkers alike. Their relationship is then built on a friendship of understanding and testing and teasing the other in a fun and sexy way.

I love Maria as the heroine, she is bold, strong and proud of who she is, and she will not let the entertainment industry give her an unhealthy look at her body and they way she keeps is strong. Maria even while being well rounded and sure of herself still has moments of uncertainty about how others put her first. Peter is a hard worker, who is kind and only has eyes for Maria. He measures his career and success based off of his current and next job and he is always striving for the next best thing. Maria and Peter have an ease together, that is built on trust and openness. I love the way they work together, tease each other and put their current job first before they embark on a deeper relationship. I love that once these two are together, they choice to be together and not to worry about the quickness of the pace they are moving at. I love that even in moments of contention and misunderstanding they both talk to each other and try to explain their sides and feelings. I love that the physical side of their relationship is sexy and intimate and beautiful, Dade knows how to elegantly write a body positive physical scene. I love that this novel is not about if they love each other, but rather about how they are going to stay together and feel accomplished in their careers. I love that they both must learn to see the other's side of things. And I love that they both learn that sometimes things have to bend and change and that you have to learn what you want to put first.

This is a must read romance from Olivia Dade. I consider this Dade's best work in the series so far and it is not only a great look at Dade's work in general, but a great introduction if you have not had the pleasure of reading her before. I can not wait to continue to see where Dade will go in her writing!

This pining, second chance romance was a fantastic read. Plenty of tension and chemistry, a slow burn romance in the best way. The main characters are fun and engaging. Ship Wrecked is a great book to get lost in and it'll grab your attention from start to finish.

Shipwrecked
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Romance
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 11/15/22
Author: Olivia Dade
Publisher: Avon Books
Pages: 416
GR: 4.02

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Avon Books and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

My Thoughts: This is the third book in the Spoiler Alert series and it does not disappoint standing with the other two. While this is part of a series, it could stand on its own as a standalone. This book is also a backdrop to the Gods of Gates show. I fell in love with Marcus and April in the first book, while their story is a little different, Dade captures the witty banter and chemistry so well, you are drawn into the book with the characters. Peter and Maria are the perfect match. Peter is independent, not close with his family, and is socially awkward. Maria is also independent and strong, very close with her family, and thrives in social settings. The chemistry is instant and never lets up, even when they do no connect during the show. The supporting characters also shine, hoping we have some more spin offs. The characters were well developed with depth, witty banter, chemistry, and creatively done. The author’s writing style is complex, multifaceted, funny, steamy, and kept me engaged throughout the story. I absolutely love Olivia Dade and will read future novels by her. I highly, highly recommend this book and the other two in the series. Go pick up today. The audiobook was fantastic as well, the narrators created these amazing characters.