To start, I want to thank Harper Collins Publishers for this ARC — it was a fun wrap-up as the third in a series of body positive books.

I appreciated that this book was less of a forced feeling when it came to fat acceptance and body positivity. Both of the main characters were thicker (though I wish more than just “round” was used to describe them…) but it wasn’t their WHOLE story. I enjoyed that it was just a part of them but not the most important piece.

That being said, this was a little slow for me. I didn’t love how it skipped forward without some kind of warning — just, boom, next chapter … forward 6 years explains throughout the chapter but not just titled that way. It was a cop out way to get the couple together.

Because of that and the slow pace, I am giving this one a 3/5. It was good but not better than Alex’s book (book 2).

I'm a huge fan of this series and was really excited to pick this one up. Peter and Maria have a steamy one night together before they realize they've just been cast as costars on a deserted island in a popular fantasy series. They spend the next 6 years as friends and once the show wraps, all limitations are out of the way.

I liked this book. It was funny, it was charming, and it was a fun glimpse behind the scenes of filming a show. I felt the jump in time was a little clunky. Maybe it'll change with the final released book but the beginning chapters didn't clearly show where they were in the timeline (1 year in, 2 years in, etc). Once you got into the real relationship building stuff I was audibly cheering for them. Some more things I loved: heavier characters. Older characters. A celibate hero. Slow burn. Supportive family. Found friends family.

All in all, this was a great book and I can't wait to read more from Olivia Dade.

This was cute and sweet. I loved how Peter and Maria grew throughout the book. The slow burn pining — six years of if! — was great.

I was a little thrown off by the number of secondary characters. I couldn’t keep them all straight.

I think this is my favorite of this trilogy (so far? Maybe there will be more??). I really liked that some of the plot actually unfolded on set, especially since the first two books give a lot of context for Gods of the Gates (a Game of Thrones-esque epic television show), but not much actual action from the set. This book also spans more than 6 years, the entirety of the show's run, but focuses almost exclusively on two actors - Maria and Peter, two fat actors cast as shipwrecked Vikings on the show. Because of the setup, the two of them film almost exclusively together, on a remote Irish island, separated from the other actors. Unfortunately, right before they're both cast, they have a hot one-night stand and Maria leaves Peter without a word - something that unfortunately triggers some major flashbacks to a failed engagement and causes him to resent her and treat her like crap at the start of their professional relationship. Slowly, they build a strong friendship but avoid any kind of romantic entanglement while they're working together. Both Maria and Peter have some abandonment issues, which cause some of the conflict that moves the plot along, but I liked that they have this in common as it feels like kind of an equalizing factor in their friendship. I liked both characters a lot and appreciated that both the male and female MC are fat and hot. The first two in the series featured fat female MCs and it was nice to see a fat male MC to normalize the idea that you can be fat, healthy, hot, and successful, all at the same time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the review copy! Overall rating: 4.5

I previously read (and absolutely adored) Spoiler Alert and All the Feels by Olivia Dade, and I was really excited for this third installment in the Gods of the Gates saga. And while I will say that this is probably my least favorite of the three, I still loved it.

Peter and Maria are both compelling main characters and they have fantastic chemistry. So much flirting and teasing and bickering! Their relationship unfolds so satisfyingly, over a period of several years, and none of their ups and downs or inevitable miscommunications feel manufactured or tired. Something that has impressed me about Dade's writing through the whole trilogy is that the story never feels formulaic despite hitting all the requisite beats for a romcom.

Something I especially loved about this book is just...Maria. She knows what she wants, what she expects out of a partner, and most importantly, she damn well knows what she deserves and she will accept nothing less.

(Also, Alex continues to have my entire heart.)

Ship Wrecked is the third book in a series about the cast of a popular tv series (very much GoT) finding love, this time beginning with a one night stand turned years long partnership. Peter, long-time actor and loner finally getting the role that promises to change his career trajectory forever, meets Maria, Swedish theater ingenue and body confidence maven more committed to family than craft. After an impassioned and anonymous meeting, the two assume they’ll never see each other again, until they both walk into the same audition. Needless to say, there is some serious chemistry, and some serious tension.

I wanted to love this, but almost immediately, I was confused. There are several big time jumps in this story, so it ultimately spans about 6 years in its 400 ish pages. The time they spend apart is not used to develop their characters in any key ways and no great detail is provided about what that experience is like, it’s just - oh and now I see him/her again, can’t believe it’s been six years. While I appreciated Peter’s commitment to the bit, the idea of him allowing their friendship/relationship to stagnate for that long didn’t curl all the way over, especially because some of the crucial conversations they have at the 6 year mark should long preceded any notion of loving someone - it feels like they both devote an incredible amount of meaning to a spark but do no real work to fan it until the 40% mark.

Things that worked for me: Maria’s refusal to compromise her body in the face of professional pressure. The cast of side characters cheering them on - more behind the scenes folks than the other actors (I can do without the fanfic/costars). The entire Sweden montage of scenes was beautifully domestic. The Kauffman cover and pairing of two fat people who are just fat, not conveniently ~slightly~ larger than the other characters. I don’t know if this is the close of this series, but I think it could and should be - the couples in the first two books appear and a pretty neat bow is tied on the show.

❤️‍🔥Book Review❤️‍🔥

Happy Saturday, amores!

Today I bring you the kne and only "Ship Wrecked" by Olivia Dade! This is the third book in the Spoiler Alert series and it tells us the story of Peter and Maria, two of the main actors in the Gods of the Gates series who hava a one night stand the day before they auditioned and became co-stars in the same series. Not only that, but they will be together for the next SIX YEARS filming one on one in an island.

Let me tell you, this book was AMAZING! The writing is beautiful, the characters have so much depth to them that they feel real, and the banter throughout the whole book is top tier. I love how it's not just a live story, but also a story about growth, about family, friendship, acceptance, and finding yourself. It is both funny and emotional and completely addicting, with outstanding writing and moments that I will never forget.

This book comes out on November 15, 2022 so make sure you pre-order it so you can get all the bonus content too.

I’ve been totally edging this ARC since I got it because I didn’t want to say goodbye to this series, but recently I tweeted that I needed more books with heroines that didn’t shave or wax, and I was told to read this book… so I obviously ended up caving.

I think this is my favorite book in the trilogy, and that was difficult to achieve since Spoiler Alert is one of my top favorite books. Peter and Maria’s story was INTENSE. It starts with a one-night stand, which is fastly becoming one of my favorite tropes, until they’re forced to live on a remote island for years to film Gods of the Gates. They obviously had no idea they were each other’s co-star before their night together, and this is the part I love the most about the trope! The ‘’oh, it’s you again’’ part always makes me kick and giggle.

If you think you like slowburn, wait until you read this book. It spans 6 years! Sometimes I had to go back and reread the time jumps because oh Lord. Who did these two hide their love for six freaking years!? I would probably die having to see and touch the person I love without being able to be with them!

The third act made me so unstable. I understood Peter and I was totally on his side… but then I realized that Maria was the one who was right and both Peter and I were wrong. Society makes us believe that having the best job, the best career, the best house, etc, should be our priority, but Maria didn’t settle for that and always put the people she loved and her happinness first. I think we could learn a lot from her. I certainly did. Maria was one of the strongest (in every possible way you can be strong) heroines I’ve ever read about and I loved her A LOT.

Last but not least, how I loved, LOVED, the perfect fat positive representation, as always in Olivia’s books. This time, add the body hair positivity. That combination made me the happiest person on Earth.

Out November 15th!

TW: Death of a parent, grief, panic attacks.

Rating: 5/5
Steam level: Open door, more than 2-3 detailed scenes.

Thanks to Avon and Netgalley for sharing an ARC with me!

"Ship Wrecked" is a delightful follow up to "Spoiler Alert" and "All the Feels." Olivia Dade has once again created a well-developed and complex couple readers can't help but root for.

Ship Wrecked
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

My review of Ship Wrecked by Olivia Dade will be posted to my Instagram @chronicledbycait on Tuesday, November 8th!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyage for the eARC of Ship Wrecked by Olivia Dade!

Six years ago, Peter Reedton has an epic one-night stand that leaves him high and dry, with no note, the next morning. But later that day when he shows up to an audition for a popular TV show, he’s shocked to find the same one-night stand will be his audition partner.

Even more shocking when they both land the roles of co-stars.

For six years Peter tries to keep his feelings to himself, until the end of filming nears and the reality of life without Maria seems impossible. But when the possibility of a real relationship is on the table, both Maria and Peter realize they have a lot of baggage and secrets they’ve kept hidden over the years.

I don’t want to admit it, but this book fell a little flat for me. The writing was great and I love the characters, I just felt like something was missing! I think the chemistry between Maria and Peter was great and definitely kept me wanting more. My biggest challenge was the inner dialogues that felt like they pulled me out of the story, and then the chapters that were entire group text conversations or fandoms - they also pulled me from the story making me struggle to stay in sync with the pacing.

But I will say, reading about plus-sized individuals who are unapologetically so was SO refreshing and something I applaud!

Ship Wrecked comes out November 15th!

Olivia Dad has such an amazing talent at creating vivid and memorable characters and Ship Wrecked is no different. Olivia is now a auto-buy author for me. Her plus size representation is amazing, as always.

THE CHEMISTRY! THE TENSION! THE FACT THAT THEY ARE CO STARS ON A HIT TV SHOW! The group chat messages were hilarious. This book had the sweet moments, the spicy moments, the funny moments. It really had it all. You can’t go wrong.

Unfortunately it seems Olivia Dade's writing just isn't for me. I love that other people love her writing, but I just had a hard time staying invested in the couple. I think this more of a reflection of me than the book itself.

Wowzer! Olivia Dade writes spicy love stories, and this one heats up in the first paragraph. (Full disclosure: This book definitely contains a handful of open-door scenes.)

In Ship Wrecked, we meet Maria and Peter on the heels of an unforgettable one-night stand. When the two become co-stars on an epic fantasy tv show, Peter decides that for the sake of the show and their careers, they can't be more than friends. However, when the show ends, years of pent-up passions explode and lead to a sexy, slow burn, second chance romance.

As always, Olivia Dade delivers sexual tension in SPADES, and it builds for these characters over a period of 6+ years. One thing I really appreciated about this book is a nod to the work of intimacy coordinators on tv sets. Kudos for promoting consent and safety!

It's a great pick for fans of Jasmine Guillory and Abby Jimenez. If you're looking for a steamy, swoon-worthy read -- look no further!

Thanks to Avon and Net Galley for providing me with an advanced copy of the book!

There are so many things I loved about this book. Olivia Dade's writing is hilarious. I legitimately cannot remember a book this year that has made me laugh out loud as much as this one did. Some of it was dialogue, but there are also descriptions that pop up and surprise a giggle out of me. Peter and Maria bantering about Sweden was amazing every time. I also adored the interlude materials- the cast group chat, the fanfiction, the media interviews. They all added to the story and the characters nicely, which is not easy to do. I just really want to hang out with the members of the group chat (except Ian, because I too dislike the smell of fish). I'm glad we got to check in with the couples from the first two books. I will say the timelines are little confusing because it starts at initial casting and goes through a year or so before jumping to the end of the season and eventually getting to the Con where all the drama went down with Marcus and Alex.

It was also a bit confusing because there wasn't a note explaining how much time had passed for each time jump and you had to wait to find the clues in the narrative. It would really be helpful if the publisher or author added those.

Maria was an excellent heroine with a compelling story and a total badass persona. I loved, loved, LOVED seeing a fat woman give absolutely zero shits about anyone else's opinions of her body and being proud of it. Similarly, I liked the representation of gay and bisexual characters without it being their only defining characteristic.

I struggled with Peter and I think some of that comes from my own bias. Peter and Maria hook up and Maria leaves without saying goodbye, which plays on some issues for Peter and causes him to have a very angry reaction and generally be a jerk to her when they see each other the next day at the audition. At first, I was annoyed with how dramatic he was being. But then I wondered if I would be that harsh if woman had slept with a guy and he had ghosted her. And I don't think I would have been. So it's an interesting flip of the script to see how Peter reacts to the situation.

The hometown visits were longer than necessary, and could have been edited down. I also struggled a bit with how they identified and worked through their issues. The resolution felt a little easy and too neat for people who came into the relationship with such vastly different expectations and experiences.

Still, the witty writing was my favorite part and that's why this book gets 3.75 stars rounded up. That, and including so many contributions from Alex because I still love him.

Thanks Avon and Netgalley for the advance e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

I adored this book! This was
My first ever Olivia Dade book and I cannot wait to read more. 4.5 stars for me

It’s like the author goes out of her way to articulate every word she puts on the page. She has a wide vocabulary and uses words I’ve never heard before. She is the kind of author that never wastes a single sentence. She made a third person narrative feel like a first person perspective and connected the reader to both Maria and Peter on a personal level. The layout of this book was beyond fun being told between text message threads, interviews, and fan fiction stories. It felt as if this truly was a real show that I was reading about

It’s a joy to see an author be a champion for body diversity in romance books. It was refreshing to have a realistic view on the unhealthy ways Hollywood will ask actors to “prepare” for roles and what lasting effects that can have both mentally and physically. It’s often that on romance books or in Hollywood, unrealistic views cloud reality so having this book with two leads that mirror the real world was invigorating to read.

The only qualm I have is the timeframe matching the intensity of their chemistry. I didn’t feel the build up of years and years of pinning and at times the chemistry was lacking between Maria and Peter. But overall this was a great read and though I did read out of order, it didn’t feel as if I missed out on the story. Thank you to NetGalley and
Avon for this eARC

I really enjoyed this book. As I was reading it, I got the vibes that this is a final book in a series. I haven't heard anything to say that this is a trilogy, though. If it does continue, I might pick up the 4th book if the synopsis is intriguing. I would also be happy with stopping here.

These characters weren't my favorite. I think it had something to do with them not being with the core cast, so they aren't really big in the first two books. But it was nice to get to know them and see their POV of the happenings of the first two books. However, I got really mad at the third act break up.

You know the song I Won't Say I'm in love that Meg sings in Hercules? That's what this book reminds me of. 🎶"No chance, no way, I won't say it. Get off my case I won't say it. It's too cliche, I won't say I'm in love. I thought my heart had learned it's a lesson, It feels so good when you start out, My head is screaming get a grip girl, unless you're dying to cry your heart out"🎶 (Yes I sang that into my dictation feature in my phone. Deal with it). So just picture both of our MCs as Meg and the rest of the gods of the Gates cast as the muses. I hope that you envision that and then it brings you joy because that's all I can think about now is Alex in the background singing with Marcus and Carah and Summer and the Cat Lady trying to get these two to get their shit together 😂😂

Anyway, I love this book. Like with my entire existence. I feel like sometimes we don't realize how badly we need representation until it is in front of us and having to capital F Fat main characters is something that I needed desperately.

This is a third book in the series and you absolutely need to read the other two first, but it will not be a hardship because those books are phenomenal, but this one is all about Peter and Maria who play two characters on the gods of the Gates TV show who end up filming on an island for like 6 years.

So this one It takes place over a long period of time and we start out by seeing Peter and Maria in their initial interaction and then the beginning of their filming through the end of their filming and through what their careers bring after that. It's a long stretch of time and there are quite a few time jumps. This book is still 400 pages but could have been longer in my opinion. I could not get enough of these two.

Both Peter and Maria have their own past experiences that are impacting their willingness to start a relationship and there is a lot of unresolved sexual tension in this story. I mean technically it is eventually dealt with but like damn. There are lots of conversations about what family means and what types of sacrifices and compromises a relationship could encounter. There's a few tidbits about weight but honestly neither character has a subplot that revolves around their weight. They're just both fat and that's that. They're some bullshit with the TV show runners but that is to be expected because their pieces of garbage as we know from the previous books. But honestly there's no internalized fat phobia or very much outwardly fat phobia either. They're just two thriving successful amazing fat people who are finding their way and both their careers and their love.

I'm keeping this review pretty much spoiler-free and I'm honestly still stuck on that vision of Alex and Marcus and Carah specifically in like the muse get up of like the white gowns singing while Peter and Maria lament about how they can't possibly admit they're in love even though it's so so so obvious 😂😂

Cute, delightful, and once again proving that Olivia Dade is one of the queens of contemporary romance! What an absolute charmer, might be my fave Dade yet!