It took me a while to get into this one - Viking drama is not something I am generally interested in. But I'm glad I stuck with it! The lives of the actors was interesting, as were the backstories of Maria and Peter. Their romance was satisfying after a will they/won't they for most of the book.

4.5 stars.
The first half of the novel was absolutely phenomenal. I adored the build-up and the friendship that formed between Peter and Maria. However, things were a bit too slow towards the middle and the conflict in the book felt as if it was a huge overreaction.
Overall, I had a positive experience and Olivia Dade has a way with characters and not only making you fall in love with their love story but with the characters themselves.

Olivia Dade is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors ever. When I learned we’d get a third book in the Spoiler Alert series, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it!

Up-and-coming actor Peter is hurt when Maria walks out without a word after their one-night stand. They find each other at an audition for the same show the next morning, and when they both land the roles that’ll catapult their careers, Peter realizes he’ll be stuck on an island with Maria for the foreseeable future. Over the next six years, Peter and Maria form an irreplaceable friendships, but Peter hasn’t got over their one night together. When they finally finish filming the finale of their show, Peter is done waiting.

Dade’s stories are very character-driven, and I love everything about them. Peter is an introverted grump. He’s never been interested in making friends or going out of his way to socialize with colleagues, but Maria forces him out of his shell and helps him realize what he’s been missing out on. These two form a found family with the cast and crew who spend the majority of six years filming on an Irish island together.

Maria is one of my favorite FMCs ever!!! She’s so unapologetically herself and has the sweetest heart. She’s a plus size heroine who advocates for body positivity and doesn’t allow anyone to try and change her. I aspire to be more like her 🥹 She’s Peter’s opposite in many ways, but I think that’s what makes them so perfect for each other. Peter’s spent most of his life chasing one goal: becoming a successful actor. Everything else—friends, family, joys outside of his career—have taken a backseat in his life, but Maria helps him realize what truly matters.

I think Ship Wrecked is my favorite of the series (and that says a lot because I LOVED Spoiler Alert and All the Feels). I just found these two MCs so relatable and authentic. Dade’s beautiful writing allows me to connect to her characters, but I found myself particularly drawn to Peter and his story. His past and inner monologue often left me teary eyed, and it was disconcerting to realize how much I related to his character.

The love between Maria and Peter is undeniable. Their transition from lovers to friends to lovers was smooth and moved at the right pace as their pasts are slowly revealed, and we learn why these characters are the way that they are. I loved these two so much and appreciated how genuine everything about this story was. Their grow together but also push each other to change for the person they love, and it was so sweet to witness 🥹

I’m so lucky to have received an eARC of Ship Wrecked from NetGalley and Avon. This book is out November 15, so you have plenty of time to read the first two in the series if you haven’t already!

First of all: I have never read an Olivia Dade story and I was very pleased with this! Although, some parts I felt dragged on a bit, I really liked this story line!

I LOVED how this story had fat characters. We don’t really ever see that in a book. That was one of the reasons I liked this!

The plot was different- and how she incorporated fan fiction was so funny. At the very end though I didn’t really like Maria as much as I did in the beginning. Maybe that’s just me.

I was almost tempted to give this a 3.75 because I didn’t feel as connected to the characters as I usually do.

Overall I give this a solid 4 stars out of 5! It was funny, romantic, interesting all the way through- I enjoyed it!

I received an advanced copy of this book, and I was so excited since I really enjoyed the first two books. I was definitely not disappointed, as this turned out to be my favorite book of the series. I loved that there were two fat main characters who were both presented as being attractive to the fans of the show, and it wasn't a big deal. A lot of times when there are fat women in romances, it includes a lot of instances to illustrate the fat phobia of the world around her, and that isn't the case here. Aside from some shenanigans from the showrunners, it doesn't really come up in the story. The relationship between Maria and Peter was so sweet and hot. I enjoyed seeing the progression of their relationship from one-night stand, to enemies (sort-of), to friends and then lovers. If you liked the first two books in the Spoiler Alert series, this will not disappoint!

After seeing this series everywhere, and being so excited for plus sized representation in a romance, I was so excited to get an ARC for this book.

Maria and Peter's one night stand would have been no big deal if they'd never see each other again. Unfortunately for them both, they got cast together in Gods of the Gates, a widely popular Viking style tv show. Peter, still bitter from waking up alone, has to spend the next six years filming on a desolate island with Maria. These two have to learn to not only be friends, but keep their attraction to each other in check. It works out perfectly... until filming is over and the rules are out the window.

Unfortunately, this book was cringey at least 80% of the time. I know that the series is fan fiction inspired, but it felt like I was literally reading a fanfic. There were also inserts of fan fiction written about the characters TV characters. I may have been the wrong audience for this style book, but I still felt it was a little too "try hard" at times. Reading about beets tasting like socialism was really not it for me.

I also wish Peter was better developed! Most of the time, if I'm not enjoying a plot, good characters will balance the experience. I felt like his character development was pushed into the last 25% of the book. The grown man needed therapy, and the couple over all needed better communication. They went ZERO TO ONE HUNDRED and it was giving me whiplash.

If you're a fanfic reader, this is probably going to be right up your alley.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon, and Olivia Dade for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
↠ 2.25 stars

I love this book! The banter and the slow burn between Maria and Peter was SO GOOD. This entire series has been EXCELLENT and so beautifully written. Olivia Dade can’t miss!

I love this whole series by Olivia Dade! I hope she keeps them coming! This book will hit you in the feels if you've ever felt bad about your body.

Ship Wrecked is a flirty and exciting romance between two costars. Olivia Dade always finds a beautiful balance between comedy and swoon-worthy romance.

Maria and Peter have a one-night stand. The following day Peter wakes up alone. It's triggering because his ex left him without a heads up. At least he had a fun night and doesn't have to worry about seeing her again. Well, that's what he thought. He is shocked when he sees Maria on the set of 'God of the Gates'.

It turns out that Maria and Peter are costars and main characters in the show. Maria doesn't want things to be awkward but is a bit hurt when Peter starts to ignore her and act rude when they are around. Yes, he is using his behavior as a defensive mechanism but it's fun to see Maria take on the challenge of breaking him.

I love their chemistry throughout. Even though they did hookup in the beginning, there is still a slow burn. The show's success leads to six years of filming and building friendships as well as denying their attraction. I think they would both choose to have a friends-with-benefits relationship if they weren't so worried about the repercussions of a bad breakup.

When they complete filming, will they be able to say goodbye? Will they finally give in to their feelings? I can't' wait for yall to find out. I applaud Olivia Dade for writing fat characters. It's always exciting and refreshing to read about books with real bodies. And she does it in a way that doesn't keep screaming 'oh don't forget these characters are fat'.

I give Ship Wrecked 4 stars. I'm such a fan of this series and enjoyed this third book. It's a slow burn that has you begging for more. The characters are so easy to read and root for.

This was adorable and so charming. I love a slow burn, and a friends to lovers is always wonderful. There were a few character things that I was concerned about (some decisions seemed so nonsensical) but the author would then give the context and it worked! Appreciate characters who do therapy, and do the work on themselves. Was also worried about the 3rd act breakup, but it was handled so well.

Also, an unapologetic fat female lead, an unapologetic fat male lead, and both of them being viewed as sexy to more than just each other. So so so well done.
Comment

I really enjoyed this book. I love the other two books in the Spoiler Alert series, and I love that this book brought them all together and paid homage to the other two. I love how Dade writes plus sized heroines and how they are always strong and confident women. They always love themselves for who they are, not who society tells them they should be. This book is hilarious, adorable, and yes, very steamy. I will definitely be recommending this to customers in November when it is released.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the first two installments of Olivia Dade's Spoiler Alert series, but even I wasn't expecting to find that Ship Wrecked is my favorite book in the series.

Though it stars with a one-night stand, Ship Wrecked is an incredibly compelling slow burn romance between two actors who are perfect for each other, even if circumstances keep them apart for far too long. I both wanted Maria and Peter to be together instantly, and I also wanted to work through their own feelings and journeys so that they would be ready for each other. This kind of tension instantly elevates any romance, and Dade pairs it with well-realized character arcs, sparkling banter, and the kind of television inside-baseball that makes me wonder if she ever secretly worked on Game of Thrones.

I also want to highlight the fact that both main characters in Ship Wrecked are fat. This is clear on the page and it's central to the narrative -- though the plot never revolves around either Peter or Maria being self-conscious about their weight. Instead, their bodies bring them great joy. I adored the passages in the beginning of the novel when both Peter and Maria are admiring each other's bodies. Especially when it comes to men's bodies in romance, I'm so used to six-packs and toned muscles that Maria's loving appraisal of Peter's strength and size and softness was not only unique, but instantly pulled me into the world and their story. I wish more authors would feature diverse bodies, though now they'll have to describe them as beautifully as Olivia Dade does.

I am so happy that this book exists, and thrilled to have gotten to read and enjoy it. Ship Wrecked is truly a special novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for an advance review copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*

The latest installment of the wildly popular Spoiler Alert series, SHIP WRECKED lived up to every expectation I could have dreamed of. The main characters, Peter and Maria, are one night stand partners to coworkers to friends to lovers and it all felt so realistic (which as we all know is a difficult feat to pull off in a romance book). Their chemistry was sparkling, the pining was delectable, and the scenes were quite spicy.

But not only is SHIP WRECKED a great romance book, but it’s an incredibly well written romance book. Olivia Dade’s previous books were very character driven, and this story was no exception. Peter and Maria were wonderful, relatable, and most importantly, flawed. They each had backstories that powered their motives throughout the entire book– and in the end, they each had to work through their own insecurities before able to fully commit to one another.

Besides the classic grumpy/sunshine character pairing to enjoy, there’s the fact both characters are fat (!!!) that adds a whole other layer of things to appreciate. And their size is not a fact that’s briefly mentioned or just featured on the cover– there are fights about their size with the main production duo, so much body positivity, and lots of mentions of dimpled thighs.

This is definitely Dade’s strongest work to date, and I’m so excited to see what follows!!

3.75 stars!! This was my first Olivia Dade book but it won’t be my last. I absolutely love a celebrity/co-stars trope and this did not disappoint. The banter between these two was perfection. Olivia does body positivity sooo well!! Highly recommend this book.
Thank you to NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Let me begin by saying this is a slow start. Despite the…situation…you find the characters in from the very beginning.

Peter and Maria have a relationship that builds and spans 6 years because they’re co-stars working on the same tv series. The author spends a good chunk of the first half of the book establishing their foundation. It’s not until the second half that things are really expanded. Then you learn what makes them tick and you see them together as they should be.

I enjoyed their dynamic so much. And that fact *both* the MCs are fat and described as desirable and sexy was so f’kng healing for me as a fat person. This is exactly the representation I want to see in romance for fat characters and Olivia Dade has not let me down once when it comes to that.

Overall, the representation in this book was maybe Dade’s most inclusive yet? We have characters from all points of the LGBTQIA+ spectrum. And make sure you read the dedication because it not only sets the tone, it strikes a chord.

Characters from the previous books in the series make appearances so if you missed Alex and his nonsense as much as I did, you can be assured you’ll get a satisfying but brief dose of chaotic golden retriever.

The back matter of the eARC I received didn’t indicate if the series is going to see a fourth book. If it does, you can bet it’s going to be an automatic preorder for me.

In Ship Wrecked, you can expect Dade’s usual impactful blend of emotion and steam.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. Ship Wrecked releases November 15, 2022.

3.5 ⭐️

Things we love: a strong woman you always stands up for herself and takes no shit and a man who follows his dreams and wants to support his love ones.

Things we don’t love: when an individual own insecurities forces another to not follow their dreams.

I loved the premises of this book and that the fact that a one night stand turned into loving from a distance. However I felt like the relationship progressed in a somewhat confusing manner (for lack of a better term). I wish there was more build up for when they couldn’t be together. As it felt lackluster when they finally got together. Also the big conflict just made me incredibly angry because I hate when one has to compromise themselves for another, which ended up kinda resolving in the end but not enough for my liking.

Overall it was still an enjoyable read.

I got an unexpected ARC of Ship Wrecked and it was such a pleasant surprise to receive in my inbox. I had enjoyed Olivia Dade’s books in the past and she’s made some definite headway in giving unconventional heroines the spotlight. The Spoiler Alert series is a cheeky nod to the Game of Thrones television show, even though they directly referenced that they both exist in the same universe via a throwaway comment. I mean that’s liable for a copyright suit, right? Olivia Dade’s books give an insight to what happens after the fat lady sings and gets her own happily ever after. Ship Wrecked may unfortunately be my least favorite book in the series because I was persona non grata with the hero. He was rude, intimidating, and had the same physical description as my dad? There’s no quicker way to get a literary cold shower than to picture the love hero as your father. Yuck. I’m sure it works for other ladies or I’m too young, but the hairy dad bod doesn’t get my motor running. Personal preference aside, I can validate this as a win for incorporating more realistic bodies into romance novels.

While the hero didn’t give me All the Feels like the previous books, I was totally living for the heroine. She was a Swedish actress who was comfortable in her own body and lived her life to the fullest. She was a European ray of sunshine and acted as the perfect foil to her storm cloud partner. While this series offers plenty of body positivity, the dialogue continues to stress me out. Their high falutin vocabulary can be tough to follow and it’s a constant exercise in mental gymnastics to decipher what they say. It’s a little unrealistic for your daily conversations to be operating at a 10 when you’re just shooting the breeze with your bestie. I don’t know if other people struggle with this or it may just be a me problem. I really had to focus on what they were trying to say behind all those fancy “four-dollar words”, as my Southern folks would say.

I’m so honored to have received an early copy of Ship Wrecked, even if it didn’t quite meet the standards of the past two books. The couple ended up making a nonsensical move in their relationship near the conclusion and the hero intimidated me as a reader in all the wrong ways. Luckily, the heroine was unapologetically herself and provided enough warmth to compensate for the hero’s severe lack. I mean, I wouldn’t want to wait six cold years on an island to finally seal the deal with my costar, but you do you, pal. Sometimes that little love boat floats to a happy ending and sometimes you’re just Ship Wrecked.

I received this book for free in exchange my honest review.

Ship Wrecked is the third book in the Spoiler Alert series but can be read as a stand alone. I read the first book, skipped the second, and didn't feel like I was really missing anything during this story.

Maria and Peter have a one night stand. The next day they are cast opposite each other in a Game-of-Thrones-esq television show that would then go on to film for 6 years. From the start of this book to the end they go from lovers to friend back to lovers.

I really enjoyed the first half of this book. I liked the chemistry between Maria and Peter. The pace was really good and their relationship seemed to grow very naturally. The second half of the book dragged a bit for me. I appreciated that the drama was realistic issues stemming from their pasts that they needed to work through as opposed to manufactured angst. In some chapters there were pages and pages (and pages) of internal dialogue that went on too long.

Overall, I enjoyed this one! Thank you NetGalley and Avon for the ARC!

Olivia Dade never disappoints. This was a fun, romantic read, with incredible character development and a richly developed romance that unfolded beautifully.

*Thank you to Avon, Olivia Dade and Netgalley for an "E-ARC of "Shipwrecked" in exchange for an honest review *

I really love the Spoiler Alert series, and 'Shipwrecked" was a beautiful conclusion for the series! Peter and Maria had so much chemistry and the sexual tension was delicious. It was really cool as well to hear from Alex and Marcus again. (Also kudos to Dade for writing RPF that read like an actual RPF fic. I was completely in awe of that.)