Following one hot night together, Maria and Peter are stunned to encounter each other at the casting call back for a GOT-style show. Between hurt feelings and the reality that they will be costars on a remote Irish island for the foreseeable future, they remain friends (without the benefits) for the length of the show, all while getting to know each other and fight battles (sometimes) together. Maria comes from a very tight-knit family who support her no matter what; Peter, on the other hand, has virtually no support system and desperately clings to his career and the opportunities a show like this can offer. It’s not until the show ends that they finally have a chance to see if they can fit into each other’s lives and goals.

It feels strange to say that a book that starts off with a one-night-stand is a slow burn, but after that first encounter, this is the slowest of slow burns (we’re talking YEARS of pining). I think this is my favorite of the three Gods of the Gates books. Both MCs are fat and their differing comfort levels with that fact really resonated. When the producers try to make them lose weight, Maria is fully willing to just walk. She loves herself and her body and isn’t willing to risk her health for her job. Peter is so insecure about his job and his need to be liked that he can’t back her up and then feels shame for the betrayal. But my absolute favorite parts of the book (besides the love scenes) are all of the group texts and meetings with the rest of the cast. I genuinely laugh out loud when they’re all together and would love to watch THAT show (even if I would absolutely pass on GOTG).

God I love Olivia dade. Every book she writes is soooooooooo good. The spice level 10/10. The representation 10/10. The nerdy-ness 10/10. I highly recommend her books to any and everyone. Can’t wait to get this in print

Ship Wrecked wasn't quite as good as Olivia Dade's earlier works. The last third of the novel seemed to drag on a bit. I did enjoy how she brought all three stories together and weaved them into the very end of the book during the convention scene.

I have loved this series so very much, but I think Ship Wrecked is my favorite. It absolutely sucked me in from the very first page and had me sighing in swoony relief by the end.

Maria and Peter have a memorable one-night stand until she leaves in the middle of the night, leaving no trace behind. Fast forward to the next day when they are auditioning together for Gods of the Gates and their chemistry together on screen and off is undeniable. Soon they're shipped off to a deserted island to shoot the show and their success basically keeps them there for six years. Peter has sworn not to cross any boundaries while their coworkers, but by the time they reach the wrap party, all bets are off. What follows is a really beautiful, at times hilarious, journey of what it means to commit yourself to another person while pursuing your dreams and their happiness.

There is so much to love about this book. I was a huge fan of the interludes filled with texts, scripts, and fan fic - it adds such a fun dimension to what could be a heavy story at times. The timeline jumps took a bit of an adjustment but I never felt taken out of the story or confused. Olivia Dade's fat rep is just excellent in all her books, but I especially loved how well it is done in Ship Wrecked with two fat characters. I want Maria's confidence when I grow up! There were just SO MANY FEELINGS in this book. Time spent working through challenging family situations, uncovering each other's histories and woundings, figuring out each other's needs, etc. It's beautiful and heart-wrenching at times and only once did I want to smack Peter upside the head for his lack of emotional intelligence at times. Finally, it was great spending time with the Gates cast we've met in other books. A little heavy on Alex and his chaotic energy, but the side characters especially on the island added a lot to the story.

Content warnings: Maria is adopted and her abandonment and foster situations are explored in detail which could be traumatic. Peter's mother died after a struggle with depression and his relationship with his father is very strained ever since.

I voluntarily reviewed an early copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I adored these characters! Peter and Maria are so relatable, and Maria is hilarious. The island setting and The premise of filming a TV show in a remote setting were highly entertaining. This is a very enjoyable slow burn but the second half had some pacing problems for me: extraneous scenes that didn’t move the story forward, particularly around cons. I realize now these pieces were likely intended to highlight characters from the previous books in the series, but I read this book as a stand alone so it didn’t add value for me. Even so, I plan to read the rest of the series now.

It’s the last visit to the Gods of the Gates set in this series finale!

Peter and Maria end up being costars after a steamy one-night stand, in which Maria ghosted Peter and he got in his feels about it.
They had plenty of time to figure it out and create a working relationship, since they worked on a remote island together for SIX YEARS.
When filming wraps, they finally give in to their sexual tension and give coupledom a try.

I loved the fact that BOTH leads were plus sized and not insecure about it at all. In fact, they fought against Hollywood’s insistence that they be skinny or typecast.

Maria and Peter were just adorable in general, singularly and together.

The setting of this was so immersive, most of this book takes place on the island with a small cast of characters. I found myself missing it whenever the setting switched to Sweden or LA.

Now, I had to take off a star because that last quarter break-up was obnoxious. I understand it is following the formula, the problem I had was the reasoning for the break-up itself. Very weak sauce.

Fortunately, it was overcome easily and overshadowed by the lovely wrap-up scenes.
I’m going to miss this series, but it was fun while it lasted!

P.S. I’m still holding out for Mackenzie to find a cat Daddy for Mr. Whiskers, because cat ladies deserve love too! (Has anyone written a fanfic on this yet!?)


Check it out, when it hits shelves, 11/15/22!
A big thanks to the Publisher & NetGalley for gifting me a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I loved the first two books in Olivia Dade's Spoiler Alert series and I'm delighted to say that the third one, Ship Wrecked, joins the others as being one of my favorite reads this year. Thanks to @netgalley, @avonbooks and @harpervoyagerus for early access to this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

✔️ Second Chance
✔️ Workplace Romance
✔️ Forced Proximity
✔️ Entertainment Industry
✔️ Grumpy/Sunshine
✔️ Fat Rep

I love the combination of second chance romance and forced proximity. The angst! The pining! The good memories of the past in front of their faces 24/7. The coworker dynamic and "keeping things professional for the sake of the show and workplace harmony" while also longing for more is just chef's kiss.

I loved both Peter and Maria and adored how they could both completely get each other at times and also completely misread/misunderstand each other at other times.

I also loved how Olivia wove in fandom and shipping here. Also seeing Alex and Marcus from earlier books was delightful - love all the characters in this world.

Loved that Peter and Maria were also successful actors with not-traditional fitness mag Hollywood bodies, and that their bodies are described as beautiful and sexy.

This book (and all books in this series) delivers on the emotion, the humor, and the spice. Another winner - 5⭐️.

Steam 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Banter 🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️
Swoon 💕💕💕💕💕

Can we all give a huge round of applause for Olivia, who created a gorgeous confident, fat woman with body hair who is absolutely unapologetic about the room she takes in the world, and the tall, dark, burly lumberjack of a man who loves her?

I have so much trust on Olivia that I knew she was going to take Maria and Peter and put them through it and then take care of them and us on the other side. This book starts with a bang, and then subsides into a six years long slow burn. During those six years, Peter and Maria become best friends, and trusted colleagues as they are tucked away on a remote island filming for the fantasy show they both star on. A significant amount of the book takes place in this time and place, because it's so formative, and we get to participate in the slow unfurling of trust and love between them as they build a little family with their crew.

Highlights:
I haven't read anyone who writes authentic fat character better or more lovingly than Olivia, and to get with our hero and heroine is everything. There is not a second where you are allowed to doubt how smart, sexy, funny, and desireable both of them are, inherently and to each other. It's a thing of true beauty and I wish I could bottle it.

The overlapping timelines with the previous two books, plus cameos from all the other cast mates is fun and gives me the itch to reread them all. I would love a huge compilation of all the scenes from all three books in chronological order. It's such a beautifully woven universe with fantastic characters that I want to come back to over and over again.

Peter and Maria both have complicated ideas about what home and family are, and it presents a significant obstacle for their relationship. Getting to see them both in their childhood spaces was a chance for them to see each other so clearly, and understand how they had to be to be good partners for the other. It's a rocky road, but such a satisfying one.

Overall, I adored this book, as expected, and I can't wait for anything else Olivia is willing to give us.

I loved it. I knew I was going to love it. I am enthralled with the choices Olivia Dade makes with her main characters throughout this three book series (this being the finale following Spoiler Alert and All the Feels). I want everyone to read it and have the same experience that I did. I’m aware that most likely not everyone will as I think there’s a certain kind of lived experience needed to fully grapple with the characters Olivia Dade is choosing to forefront in her work.

Ship Wrecked is built on the back story of lovers turned friends before finally exploring their romance. Maria and Peter felt immediate sparks when they met, and it’s only a few hours before they acted on that attraction (we in fact join the characters mid-act as the book begins). After spending the night together Maria left without a word or note – she had no further expectations for their interlude – only to see Peter again when he’s cast as her co-star on Gods of the Gates. The co-star she’ll be filming with, on an isolated island, for six seasons.

In fact, the two are the only cast members in their plot line and will film 95% of their scenes on a remote Irish island with a small crew. Maria, based on her priorities and needs chooses to make the location a happy family unit, including Peter in that warmth even though he has been a complete jackass to her following their mutual audition. She can see that Peter will not create his own pathways to friendship (though she does not yet know the whys or the full extent of his isolation) so she takes the first steps, slowly but surely weaving him into the web of connection that builds amongst the crew. Eventually, Peter recognizes what Maria has done for him and continues the work on his own. Once they are past their initial issues their mutual respect and adoration for each other becomes evident and is put on hold as Peter declines a return to a sexual relationship with Maria while they are filming.

Dade’s stories are always very character-driven, which is on display to great effect in Ship Wrecked with two characters well-developed outside of their romance. Maria and Peter have deep emotional backstories which Dade utilizes to craft a story around trust and recognizing what one needs in order to be happy and to put aside the baggage given to us by our past traumas. Because they both have traumas that haunt their pasts and influence their actions, although one of them is much further along the path of making healthy choices. This wouldn’t be an Olivia Dade book without humor, and we’re gifted with that with the rest of the Gods of the Gates cast and Maria’s family, assuming a bit of absurdist humor is your thing.

There is also a bit of an age gap – 11 years to be specific. On their first encounter she’s 25 and he’s 36, when action picks back up again in earnest after 6 years she’s now 31 to his 42 (which also qualifies this for Read Harder Task 7: read a romance where one of the leads is over 40). It also feels important to note that this is a sexy, body-positive work that does not fetishize or erase the fatness of the characters. Instead, there a plot points that circle directly around their size and their respective choices. Dade, again, created people whose fatness is a trait as simple as her blonde hair or his aloof demeanor.

Unlike All the Feels I do think that you should probably have read the first two I order to properly enjoy this one. There are fewer interstitials, but there are enough, and the third act brings in plenty of characters from the earlier books.

I have absolutely loved Olivia Dade's Spoiler Alert series, and this third installment is no exception. It's hilarious, sweet, and just all around lovely - not to mention, full of conversations about fat acceptance side by side with plenty of steam.

It's a tough call, but I think Maria and Peter might be my favorite couple of the series. Their chemistry - and the excruciating slow burn - is spectacular. Their banter is hilarious, yes, but their deep conversations are even better. And the way in which they both help each other grow was lovely to see. This book takes place over a span of six or so years, and you can really tell that they're not the same people they were when they originally met.

Beyond the warm fuzzies this book gave me, though, I'd be remiss if I didn't call out just how much it made me laugh. Whether it was dialogue, text message transcripts, or just narration, it felt like Dade was having a lot of fun writing this book, and I found myself cracking up more often than not. The several running jokes threaded throughout never got old for me (and I still want some answers about that jar of pickled herring).

My tiny complaint about this book is that the pacing felt a bit unwieldy at times. I think this was sort of an unavoidable consequence of spreading out the story over so many years - which was, of course, necessary to convey the slowness of the burn - but it did end up feeling a little clunky throughout, especially when large chunks of time passed. Not that it detracted from my enjoyment overall, honestly. I still had the Most Fun reading this.

I get the sense from the epilogue that this is the last we'll see of the Gods of the Gates crew, which is such a bittersweet feeling for a series that has brought me so much joy. But if Ship Wrecked is the conclusion to the series, it was a fantastic one, and I look forward to whatever Olivia Dade brings us next!

4.5/5

I will forever shout from the rooftops how good Olivia Dade's books are. They're like a warm hug-- comforting and safe 🥰🤍
Maria's character is honestly perfect and I want to be her when I grow up. Peter is gruff with a tough exterior, but really is an awkward cinnamon roll.
If you like :
💙 Tension, pining, and angst with a touch of slow burn (all my favorite things)
💙 Body positivity, and overall inclusivity (basically just human beings treating other human beings with respect and radiating all the good vibes)
💙 Found family
💙 Fan-fiction
Then add Ship Wrecked to your immediate tbr and pre-order this absolute gem of a book!

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC – out 15 Nov
The third installment in the Spoiler Alter series has just enough juice (and very, very fun sex) to worm its way into our hearts, but doesn’t quite capture the bubbly fantasy of the first book.
Maria and Peter thrive on an isolated island for 6 years as two cast-members of the Gods of the Gate (aka GoT) series, filming with no one but each other and their close-knit film crew. As they swing from lovers to friends and back again, they navigate treacherous terrain, bigoted showrunners, and CHILDHOOD TRAUMA, all while doing performing some serious pining.
It was cute! The first book had the most emotional heft for me, probably because of the effective use of fan fiction as both a medium and a plot driver. Dade achieves an echo of that here with excerpts from the Cast GroupChat, but they’re SO effective that it made me wish we had just gotten 200 pages of groupchat screenshots instead? Also, some of the comedic bits ran on too long, to the point where I wanted LESS banter, something I have never said.
Dade is still killing it with the diversity of body types and sexual orientations in her stories, without it feeling like your local Walmart cynically sponsoring a Pride Parade, so I appreciate that.
Read If:
1. You go in HARD for IKEA
2. You’re someone who would sacrifice a romantic relationship for financial stability
3. You love pickled herring

Ship Wrecked, by Olivia Dade

emotional funny slow-paced
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75

I'm not going to lie. The time skips in this one really threw me off. Also the lack of spoken dialogue. I felt like we lived in the characters' minds too much and they didn't actually communicate with each other enough. Like there was too much mind reading?

All that said, loved being back in the world of Gods of the Gates with the best cast ever. The nods to the showrunners were hilarious (IYKYK) and the spice was spot on, as per usual.

Fun read to round out the series!

My favorite of Olivia Dade's series. I loved the isolated setting and the chemistry and true friendship between Peter and Maria, as well as the thoughtful exploration of body issues in Hollywood.

Olivia Dade has done it again. She knows how to whisk away a reader. I was so deep into the book by the first page. I could not put it down. Hooked from the start

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

was so excited to get my hands on an eARC of this book because I absolutely loved Spoiler Alert and All the Feels was a cute follow-up, but not my favorite of the two. Thankfully, Ship Wrecked brought the heat and carried the story arc to a beautiful close.

Ship Wrecked was a sweet, steamy romance between two co-stars who’ve been in love with each other for years! Literally. Six years. If you’ve read the first two books in Olivia Dade’s Spoiler Alert series, you’ll be familiar with Peter and Maria. I loved finally getting to know Maria and Peter. Each had a complex backstory that added depth and authenticity to the characters. I particularly loved the focus on family. Getting to meet both Peter and Maria’s families and seeing how those experiences shaped who each of them became the people they are was wonderful. Family was a crucial plot point in this book and I loved it!

Maria and Peter had great chemistry (with each other and side-characters) and the slow burn was worth it in the end! I truly enjoyed seeing each of these strong, independent characters learn to lean on each other, first as friends, then as lovers, and eventually, committed partners. Maria was especially a favorite leading lady due to her strong nature and genuine acceptance and confidence of her own body, wants, and needs.

Also, Olivia. Look, I’m gonna need you to write a story about Ian because I’m just so intrigued by this competitive, tuna-loving d-bag. Like, is a redemption arc possible? Or even just a short story about him falling in love with a tuna heiress (is that a thing?) or something, anything! I just need more of his craziness, and maybe that’s weird, but it’s where I’m at right now. Lol.

!!!Spoiler!!!
I will say, I took off one star because of the *spoiler alert – no pun intended – third act break up. I felt it was really unnecessary and it could have been avoided had both Peter and Maria spoken to each other more clearly on what it was they needed. I understand that sometimes characters need time apart before they can realize their mistake or whatever, but in this case, I’m not sure that was really necessary, and I saw it coming a mile away.

With every book I read by this author, I fall even more in love with their writing style, world and characters. This book is definitely a 5 star read for me. I love the fat representation in this book!

Although we've kinda sorta met Maria and Peter in the previous books in this series, there's ALOT we didn't know about their relationship/friendship until now and I am here for every second of it! Peter is a man of few words, a little socially awkward, and Maria is an outgoing, Swedish who knows what she wants (career wise) and won't settle for less than what she deserves.

This book serves just the right about of romance and angst and PINING, and I am here for every second of it.

I have loved every single Olivia Dad book. They are an ode to plus size women and just overall entertaining. Ship Wrecked is just another banger.

Ship Wrecked continues to deliver on this fun, fandom-fueled world. The romance is to die for. The story and characters just drew me in so fast that once I started reading, it was over too quickly!!

This is definitely a book that I will be passing along and recommending to everyone looking for a fun romance.

Nobody writes fat characters like Olivia Dade. This series is such a perfect reflection of that. Each fat lead is different, layered, nuanced. Dade never goes to the fat-trope bucket to pull out "obsessed-with-shoes-because-they-always-fit" or "this-fat-girl-actually-wears-stylish-clothes!" et al.

𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗣 𝗪𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗞𝗘𝗗 is a fantastic book in which both leads are fat. It's a part of who they each are, but not the ONLY part and not the main conflict. I cannot tell you how refreshing it is, as a lifelong fat woman, to read a romance whose conflict isn't DO I DESERVE LOVE EVEN THOUGH I'M FAT??

Maria is so strong, feisty, smart, and warm! She is a total badass. And Maria is the perfect sunshine to Peter's grump! I loved Peter and his social awkwardness, his deep feelings, and his beloved silence.

And talk about H-O-T! 𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗣 𝗪𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗞𝗘𝗗 delivers. When the first line of a book is, 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘢’𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘻𝘺 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘢𝘴𝘮， 𝘗𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘨𝘢𝘻𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘰𝘻𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘴. you KNOW it's gunna be steamier than a Swedish sauna (see what I did there?).

𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗣 𝗪𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗞𝗘𝗗 has all the good things: found family, queer representation, nuanced fat characters, lovable and flawed leads, super-hot sex scenes, female empowerment, and a truly sweat story with a very Happily Ever After.

I did take off one star from my rating because 𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗣 𝗪𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗞𝗘𝗗 just does not succeed as a stand-alone book within a series. I have read the first two books and I was still completely overwhelmed and a little lost at parts. There are SO MANY CHARACTERS and most of those characters are actors, so you are also trying to keep track of the characters they play in the fictitious Game of Thrones-esque series.

So start at the first book and definitely read the series in order. If you do that you will likely love 𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗣 𝗪𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗞𝗘𝗗 as much as I did.

𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗟𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗟: Rated NC-17 / 5+ sex scenes, harsh language. *MIGHT* include props/bondage.
𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗦: past death of parent, mid-childhood adoption, cheating ex
𝗙𝗘𝗘𝗟𝗦: 3/5 - You will definitely feel some feels.

I love a book with positive body image and characters who love themselves. Maria and Peter are absolutely great in that regard because they are comfortable with themselves and I think that is an incredibly important message in the romance industry. This might be one of the first times I’ve read a romance where the male character isn’t a shredded muscle man who manages to look perfect without going to the gym. It’s awesome and I think it’s something to be applauded.

Unfortunately this book didn’t work out for me completely. I really hated the unexplained time jumps and the characters telling me things instead of showing me. I want to be completely immersed into the story instead of X having an internal monologue about how great Y is when they haven’t interacted in the book for several pages. Personally that’s not my favorite so I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I had expected to.