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.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I gave this book 3 stars and 1 chili pepper. I really liked the body diversity and the fact that the fmc and mmc weren't made to hate their appearance (which unfortunately becomes part of the overarching plot of a lot of stories with fat rep). How Hollywood and the film industry treats people with larger bodies is a real issue and is handled beautifully in this story. The characters stand up for themselves and set important boundaries that set the tone for their success and health. Their support system that consists of their fellow actors and crew were adorable and serve as the ideal example of friendship/found family.

Maria and Peter themselves were relatable, likable and insightful characters that were able to unpack a lot of their own traumas with great consideration and respect for each other. The author delved deep into the intent and reasons why the characters made decisions and acted the way they did based on their baggage and as a result, their own needs. The love story is gorgeous, thoughtful and their dynamic was irresistible. If you want an example of the female gaze, Peter's ability to come to understand Maria on a deeper level had my heart thawing out. It gave very much Pride and Prejudice when a mmc can come to understand a fmc and her motivations, feelings and needs on his own accord.

However, I feel like after 40-50% of the story, it fell a bit flat. I feel like it could've ended a lot sooner and was drawn out a bit too much. Don't get me wrong, a strength of the story was the insight provided to the characters and giving them the time they needed to understand each other. But I found myself restless halfway through. The conflict was easily resolved, and I wanted to see more of the viking show dynamic. It felt like the exciting parts were kind of thrown off to the side. Also, I couldn't really see the (low-ish budget?) show being that much of a success when the slow burn lasted literal years and it was just the two of them on an island the whole time...

Olivia Dade continues to solidify herself as one of my favorite authors. I'm such a fan of this series and her writing in general. Ship Wrecked was no exception. Olivia Dade always does plus-sized representation so incredibly well, and this book felt especially special to have both leads be fat. Also, the fact that they both work in the entertainment industry adds another layer of commentary on body size and the ways other people react to you, the good the bad and the ugly. Olivia Dade explores all of it, and I love her for it.

One night stand, forced proximity, only-one-island featuring two fat characters? I couldn't have asked for a more perfect book! Maria and Peter's chemistry was instant, only now they can't away from each other because they're working together. I loved the way these two continued to moon over each other despite their differences/getting off on the wrong foot after sleeping together.

This was such a good romance (no surprise), I'm so happy I got to read this one! Olivia Dade is officially an auto-read author for me, I can't wait to see what she comes up with next!

—my rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
Going into this book I didn’t have any idea on what to expect, since I haven’t yet read the other two books in the series, and I really enjoyed it!

The story follows Peter and Maria who, after a one night stand, realize that they have been cast as co-stars on a hit fantasy tv show. After six years of working together, their yearning for each other has only intensified, and they have to find out if their relationship can survive life after filming.

Like I said, I didn’t know what to expect going into this one, and hadn’t read the synopsis before starting it, so the six year time jump caught me a little off guard, but honestly I kind of loved it. I enjoyed seeing the way Peter and Maria’s friendship blossomed while their underlying desire to be together stayed strong.

The two lead characters chemistry was palpable, and I loved getting to experience the story from both their perspectives. Both Maria and Peter have their fair share of past trauma’s, and I enjoyed watching the way they both grew and healed through their character arcs. They were also so well suited to each other, with Maria being a ball of sunshiney and fierce energy, and Peter being a grumpy introvert. Some of my favorite scenes were those in which Maria subtly helped Peter out of his shell so that he could build friendships with their crew-mates.

I wasn’t expecting there to be such a strong found family element of this book and I LOVED it! I absolutely adored so many of the supporting characters, but Alex deserves a special shout out because I love him and the fact that he emails Peter and Maria fanfic that people have written about them and their characters, and I am even more excited to read his book now.

If you are looking for a book with wonderful characters and all the emotions, then be sure to check this one out!

I think my favorite of the series. Did I picture Matt Berry as Peter and me as Maria? ......Maybe

Still contained a fair bit of cringe, as expected with Olivia Dade. But if you're on book 3 you're used to it by now. Despite myself I do enjoy the meta commentary about fandoms, fanfic, and dunking on the Game of Thrones showrunners. And as always, love the fat rep.

Dade is not the only romance author to do this, so not to pick on her specifically, but it's so obvious when authors pick a random "quirk" out of a hat to try and add dimension to a character, despite how believable said quirk may be. What person would just carry a huge jar of fish with them everywhere? I started rolling my eyes every time that happened. We get it, Maria is Swedish!!

But other than that I really liked Maria and Peter and dug their communication and chemistry. The spicy scenes were hot!! Enjoyed the play-by-play of the on-screen scene in particular, lmao.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Spice rating: 🌶️🌶️

This story was so beautiful and meaningful. You know when they say, sometimes when you read a book it's exactly what you need at the time? Well I definitely needed this book right now. It was really helpful how they talk about work and what makes you happy/passionate versus what's maybe practical on paper.

Also, the fact that the two main characters are plus size was really refreshing. I absolutely loved that and Maria is a freaking icon. I just love her and I wish I could emanate her confidence in myself.

I absolutely loved the love story between these two and it made me emotional and it made me grin from ear to ear. This book had me laughing so much and the characters in it are so fantastic. It was awesome to see how she brought back the characters from the first two books in this series and we got to see them interact together.

I also loved how it continued with the game of thrones references. I was definitely one of the fans who was mad at the last season so I get what the people of her books are feeling.

Highly recommend this series if you want to see plus size women in romance, with funny characters, and beautiful stories! There isn't a lot of spice, but the spice that is there is very nice. 😏

Thank you to Olivia Dade and Avon Books for sending me the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I'm normally not lost with my words when talking about books but holy moly!! This book left me speechless in the best way possible! I don't even know where to start! I'm normally able to keep my composure while reading but this had me squirming in my seat on a plane and crying (which my seat neighbors noticed)
Highly highly recommend!!!

Peter and Maria are cast as the newest leads in the hottest show on TV, Gods of the Gates. For Peter, it's a dream come true and proof that he's finally made it. For Maria, it's her first time in front of a camera. Peter won't do anything to jeopardize this job, and that includes dating his costar. For Maria, nothing is more important than her family, not her job or a random hook up. The reasons for their priorities are what make the story so heartfelt.

What I loved - plus size representation in both lead characters. Peter is a gentleman, and a gentle man. He's a realistic good guy. Maria is unapologetic, in her body positivity and in what she demands from a relationship. She won't settle and I loved that about her. Their internal struggles in trying to be ENOUGH was sensitively written and hit home at times.

Another fun, sexy, body-positive adventure in the Spoiler Alert series, this time introducing two co-stars who are forced to spend years filming together on an isolated island, where their chemistry heats up despite their agreement to keep it professional. Terrific main characters, creative plot, and plenty of laughs -- definitely recommended!

Spice Level: Hot

Another delightful installment from Olivia Dade. As a longtime fan of the fanfiction series, I was happy to see Marcus and April and Alex and Lauren spring up several times, as well.

This is not my personal favorite installment of the three books, but it certainly opens with the biggest bang—literally. I think other previous readers will be very happy with Ship Wrecked and their return to the Gods of the Gates-verse. I will continue to eagerly look forward to new works from Olivia Dade.i

I loved this book an insane amount. The fat representation was just SO good. I love that Maria was unashamed to love her body just the way it was and that she was willing to stand up for her AND Peter to stay healthy. Seeing a romance heroine who has body hair and refuses to be shamed into shaving or waxing is absolutely incredible. Maria was my favorite character by far.

The development of Peter and Maria's relationship was also amazing. The pining between the two of them over the years kept me incredibly invested in their story. The way they both work to truly see and love each other, to be aware of what the other needs to be happy. This was a fun read and steamy, but at the center it was very emotional and deep. It paid off in a way that was very satisfying.

Of course I was going to read and LOVE Olivia Dade's third (and final?) book of her Spoiler Alert series. Maria & Peter's romance is sexy and heartfelt and mature - not that the characters are elderly, but rather they are fully-realized adults figuring out what they mean to each other. It's a delight!

One Sentence Summary: After a one night stand, Peter and Maria don’t expect to see each other again, but all that changes when they’re cast as shipwreck survivors on an isolated island in the show Gods of the Gates and are now stuck filming together for several years on an isolated island with a very small crew.

My thoughts:

Ship Wrecked is the third book in the series, following Spoiler Alert, which I loved, and All the Feels, which I wasn’t so keen on. But I love the cast of Gods of the Gates, especially since each book includes snippets of their group chat and even some in the flesh mingling. It’s also really fun to get different perspectives on the same events since these books tend to revolve around the filming years and the time right after it wraps up. It’s great to get to know a new couple and then get a little more on previous couples. After a second book that kind of faltered for me, I really felt like this one turned the whole series around for me. I loved Peter and Maria, and the depth given to them and their relationship is probably my favorite of all three couples.

Ship Wrecked follows Peter and Maria, two plus size actors who play two characters who are shipwrecked on an isolated island, leaving them the sole protectors of one of the gates as they turn their relationship from hate to love. The actors themselves have a fun romance following a prickly few years of filming, but their relationship got off to a rocky start to begin with. While I felt Peter held a grudge for far too long, I loved watching him soften, but I also loved how ingrained his motivations are. Maria was just incredible throughout the book. Her personality was bright and friendly and it was amazing how she managed to make a small crew feel like a family and even more wonderful how she was able to bridge her and Peter together.

This was a really fun read. Despite the age difference between Peter and Maria, I barely felt it even though it reared its head a few times. This could really be divided into two halves: their filming years when they kept it professional yet friendly and post-filming where they really grew and struggled as a couple. I loved everything about their romance. They both have their pasts, their needs and wants. They’re clear about them, even when they conflict with each other, and watching them grow together into what the other needs was just beautiful. Mostly, I loved the maturity in their relationship. There was predictability in their relationship, but they handled it so well that they really felt like they belonged together.

Just like the previous two books, there’s the more lighthearted first half where the couple gets to know each other and fall in love. Then the second half hits and suddenly the story gets serious and they each have to deal with their demons from the past in order to move on together. The first half of Ship Wrecked is a lot of fun and I loved following them as they filmed on a small island and dealt with some horrible show runners. Watching their friendship emerge was lovely, though there’s always something more simmering between them. The second half was a bit different from what I expected as only Peter seems to have ghosts from his past. They’re incredibly impactful, though, and make a lot of sense, so the story flowed really well from there. I loved getting to know Maria and her own painful past, but she’s quite different from Peter, so she really brought a lot of brightness and love. She helped make their relationship that much more mature while adding in a lot of fun. I was so delighted with this couple that I didn’t want the book to end.

The one thing that I wasn’t a fan of were a couple of events that had been seen in previous books. One of my favorite things about this series has turned out to be getting to see the same events from different eyes. It both usually adds something to the current story and adds a little more depth to the previous characters. Sadly, in this book, the events from previous books that were mentioned in this one mostly felt glossed over and didn’t really add much to the previous couples. I was really hoping to see the other characters from the eyes of Peter and Maria, but, sadly, it wasn’t to be.

Ship Wrecked might be a little predictable as a romance and as the third book in the series, but it never failed to hold my interest. I loved getting to see the two previous couples and some of the other characters, and I’m already speculating on which character will get their book next (I really hope Mackenzie gets one, partially because her relationship with her cat is kind of bonkers). This series has an incredible cast full of big personalities and it was so much fun to get to know two more in this book. Theirs is by far my favorite romance so far, and the fact that they filmed on a small windswept island just added to my delight.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

4.5 Stars ⭐️ - Top Pick

Dade hits it out of the park again!

This series is everything wonderful and amazing. I launched into reading and was delightfully surprised when the story went the exact opposite of how I thought it would go. From a searing one-night stand to the slowest burn ever, Dade delivers characters to fall in love with and root for.

That’s a habit of Dade’s I don’t ever want her to break. Her characterization reaches inside and snatches a person’s heart right up. Mine won’t ever be the same. If you’ve read the other books in her Spoiler Alert series, this one is so different and that shows the depth and range Dade has as an author.

We have Maria and Peter essentially marooned on an island off the Irish coast for six years as co-workers on the show Gods of the Gates. For Peter, this is a chance to get his career to take off. For Maria, it’s her first opportunity at television acting. These two heated up the sheets a day before they were both hired and working together non-stop gives them plenty of time to forgive and forget that Maria ghosted Peter, right?

With the book taking place at pivotal moments across their six years filming together and afterward, Ship Wrecked truly brings Dade’s series full circle with Peter and Maria playing parts in moments from the other two books that readers of the series will enjoy. Haven’t read anything in this series yet? No biggie. This book stands by itself and is a full, fulfilling read, even if it’s your first Olivia Dade. You’ll want to read the others I promise.

From emotional highs and moments that made me laugh out loud, there was a constant cascade of ups and downs between these two characters that made them relatable. There are personal and business issues, but watching Maria and Peter navigate a future between them and come to terms with who they are on their own is a slice of joy I can’t wait to re-read.

I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to smile and cry in the same breath. For readers who enjoy Penny Reid.

~ Landra