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

Another steamy, age gap, dual POV, body positive celebrity romance that will have you cheering for co-stars Maria and Peter. The story starts off with a literal BANG as Maria and Peter have a hot one night stand and then Maria ghosts him, only to find themselves cast on a new television show that has them working almost exclusively alone on a remote island for years.

Peter is the older actor and is kind of a dick to Swedish Maria in the beginning, holding a grudge against her and not trusting that she'll be able to hold up her end of the show as a mainly theatre actor. Slowly she wins him over as they work together and eventually they do give in to the sizzling chemistry and undeniable attraction.

I really loved how unapologetic Maria was about her body - both its size and hairiness. She refuses to cow to Hollywood beauty ideals and even tries to talk Peter out of a dramatic weight loss just to get a role, citing all the health dangers involved. This was also a great childfree by choice story which we can never get enough of in my opinion.

Great on audio narrated by Kelsey Navarro and highly recommended if you enjoyed the other books in this series. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

I squealed with delight when I was approved for Olivia Dade's newest novel, "Ship Wrecked". As expected, she did not disappoint me. Someone enemies to lovers, somewhat second chance, somewhat awkward loner makes friends... Falling in love with someone not because they are societies version of drop dead gorgeous... This book has it all. There is humor, heart warming moments, and a great story.

This novel is a 4.5 to 5 stars for me! I have read all of Olivia Dade’s novel in her Spoiler Alert series thus far, and Ship Wrecked has been my favorite by far. This may be an unpopular opinion, because the first novel was rather beloved, but I was never a fan fic girlie, so that aspect of the first two novels did not do it for me. I also recently moved to Scandinavia, so the heroine being from Sweden was fun to read about. The aspect that has the largest sway on my general opinions on this though are the fact that a chuck takes place or talks about Madison and UW-Madison. The hero and a few of the minor characters went there for undergrad, and I to went there for university. There are a lot of small fun details that really played to my emotions. As the youths say – IYKYK (if you know you know for all of you who still struggle with this acronym).

So back to the novel. It starts out mid-thrust of a one-night stand. An unexpected and fun intro to a book. One would not think it would work, but Dade sells it. Out hero, Peter, has been in Hollywood for a number of years playing smaller roles and is waiting for his leading man moment. Maria is a stage actor in Sweden just starting out in the city. They meet in a sauna and sparks fly, but the next morning Maria is no where to be found. That is until they meet at the studio to do final auditions for characters in the hit series, Gods of the Gates (it gives Game of Throne vibes). Surprise – they both get the roles and spend the next few years with a super small cast on a small Irish island. Plot twist, they decide to keep their relationship completely platonic while filming the show. But will things heat up once filming has wrapped?

I think Dade’s writing has improved greatly, I like the characters she creates and the scene she sets. What I like even more is that unlike her past novels in the series, both the characters are fat rather than one being conventionally attractive and the other being plus size. Here they are both larger people who love themselves, have to overcome some fatphobia in Hollywood, and are trying to overcome other mental health issues not related to their bodies. The side characters also add both humor and heart to the story.

This is kind of a mesh of romance books. It could technically be a second chance romance as they had a one night stand previously, a friends to lovers as they become friends as the novel progresses, or a workplace romance since they meet because of work and a good chunk of the story takes place during the filming of the show. I wouldn’t expect these troupes to work well for me, but I was in it and really enjoyed my time.

Again, I will reiterate, I probably love this more because part of the setting takes place in a location I know and love and I thought Dade did the place justice. I did a little digging and saw she did her master at UW-Madison, so it totally makes sense!

I think if you loved Dade’s past novels in this series you will enjoy this book. If the fan fic aspect is your favorite aspect, this probably won’t be your favorite. But if that was your least favorite part you may have found a favorite in the series. But I think if you have any interest in actors in a large fantasy series romance novel you will have a good time!

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon for the advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

i was so very excited to receive a copy of this from the publisher @avonbooks in exchange for my free and honest review - my first olivia dade book! my main takeaway from this book is how much i adored the two main characters, but also how much i loved the plus size representation in this book. this is one of the first books in recent memory i can remember reading where both the protagonist and love interest are plus size, and it made me so happy. i think i might have enjoyed this one more if i had read her other books in this universe first, but overall a sweet (and very steamy!) book with a fun and readable plot.

I have greatly enjoyed this series so far, and the newest installment is no different!

Maria and Peter are the perfect mix of insta-lust and slow burn, I love a good "one night stand turns into someone you have to work with" trope, and this book handles it super well, with our erstwhile lovers having an explosive night before spending the next six years with small crew, filming their storyline for a very popular series that is largely separate from the rest of the cast.

I loved that in this book we got more of an insight into the actual filming of the show, even if it was for just the one storyline--the first two books in this series pick up at the end of filming for the show, while this book gives us a glimpse of things as both the show and Maria and Peter's relationship progress through the years.

Maria is a fabulous character who I want to be friends with immediately. She is extremely confident and secure in who she is, has no time for the patriarchy, and is never afraid to stand up for her well-being and happiness. Her quips (and Swedish curses and insults) were genuinely laugh-out-loud hilarious, and all of her banter with Peter was great. She was also the type of plus size character I'd been waiting for in a book, where her size is not her defining point and is not a major plot point. She has her vulnerabilities, but happily her appearance is not one of them.

I also loved that we get a male hero who is not a super-ripped model-type. Peter definitely has a ruggedly handsome thing going on, but in a way that better reflects how actual people are and without the ever-present male hero six pack. Like Maria, his size is not a major plot point. More realistic male heroes, please!

I also loved the way that Peter and Maria's relationship progresses throughout the years, to immediate chemistry to animosity to friendship and more. They both had things they needed to work through, and for most of the book all of these things were handled really well. The only real quibble I have with this book was the third-act conflict. It honestly felt kind of forced and like it was a way to force a realization for each character without therapy, which honestly would probably have been the correct way for them to reach the realizations. Given how far each character had come with trust, it didn't seem like they would have reacted the way they did, and that they wouldn't have gotten over it as quickly either. I honestly think it could have been dealt with better, but it is the only problem I have with the book.

Also, we get just enough of past (and hopefully future) characters, with more zany cast chats and meetups to keep fans of the series satisfied. Definitely cannot recommend this book enough!

CW: death of parent(s), abandonment, adoption, grief, anxiety

So I really wanted to love this book. I was so interested in the enigmatic Peter and Maria characters from the first 2 books but this book just fell flat for me. I really enjoyed Maria in the beginning and was all for her body positivity but in the 3rd act of the book I really couldn’t relate to her. I was also hoping for more plot in this book but it was really just Peter and Maria’s relationship from the beginning without really much going on. It was an okay read and will recommend the series for people who want to see curvy FMC representation because that was a great appeal to me but it’s a one and done book for me.

Peter and Maria meet as a one night stand, and the next day they’re cast on the same tv show. Oops.
A solid 3.5, rounded up. A great addition to Dade’s series. There’s a time jump that felt like an easy out. That’s the reason for the lower star rating. Loved seeing the characters from the other two books in this story.