A slow burn, enemies to lovers, workplace romance read which was just too slow for me. There was minimal tension between the two characters then all of a sudden she was having dreams about him? It didn't make sense and didn't feel right.
I loved the concept of the book, but it didn't tick enough boxes for me. Also, sorry but it really bothered me that there was no safe sex or discuss had about it!

Love Overboard by Ada Barume
Rating: 3/5
Publication Date:20 June 2024
Tropes: Slow Burn, Enemies to Lovers, Workplace Romance, Forced Proximity

I had high hopes for this one. I read the blurb (for once) and thought, hey, maybe this will be like a cute “Below Deck” romance kind of vibe. But sadly, it was a bit of a tough and choppy read for me.

I did not find myself relating or enjoying the characters at all and felt that for the most part a lot of the dialogue was a bit pointless.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I was really excited for this going into it, and I truly wish I had something positive to say about this, but I just don’t. The plot has a lot of promise but other than that it entirely missed the mark for me.

A lot of the dialogue was stilted and unnatural, and the prose was awkward and somewhat juvenile too, which was surprising considering the book covered topics like alcoholism and sexual assault

The characters were either boring, annoying or unlikable and, because of this, I didn’t feel invested in their lives at all.

Also, the reveal relating to Jack and Patricio felt entirely out of the blue and unnecessary.

It’s in need of editing for grammar, typos and general readability.

Their romance is so endearing because we see what a deep connection they have together and how they really focus on establishing the foundation of their relationship in such a promising way. I so enjoyed reading this one.

Sophia is starting fresh with a new job as a chef on a yacht, drama/romance ensues with the first officer, Jack.

I was interested from the blurb but I just couldn’t get into it. I didn’t feel any tension between Sophie and Jack, Sophie was kind of rude/judgy/irritating most of the time, and all the characters had weird fights. It was nice to have Jack’s perspective but it was randomly in the middle of the book and didn’t come up again. So kind of dual POV but not really. Maybe there would be more tension if we got Jack’s POV throughout but honestly Sophia was still so judgy when she makes extremely poor decisions most of the time.

Received as an ARC in return for my honest review

🛥️ Enemies to lovers
🛥️ Forced proximity
🛥️ Workplace romance
🛥️ Interracial relationship

I was super excited about this one based on the blurb but sadly it just fell short for me. The characters had promise but I really struggled to develop a relationship with them in my mind, which is a shame.

There were some really lovely moments and parts of the book were entertaining but overall it just wasn’t for me I’m afraid.

This is a super cute read that would be the perfect easy-breezy holiday read.
For me, it lacked a little depth. The first part of the book was a bit slow for me and I felt like I was waiting for something to happen, and then the ending felt rushed.
The chemistry between Jack and Sofia didn't really build and I didn't feel the tension between them, which made it a little hard for me to be invested in their relationship.

Thanks to Avon Books and Netgalley for this eARC.

If you’re looking for a fun, light read with enemies to lovers, banter, and a slow burn romance, all happening in the chef’s quarters of a luxury yacht off the Amalfi Coast, then this one is for you!

Ada did a great job of creating fun, memorable moments full of tension-filled romance in a sun-soaked setting, perfect for reading by the pool or on the beach. A must read!

This book was really fun! The cover totally pulled me in. I love the enemies to lovers workplace vibes. The setting was fun and unique to me and the romance was good!

A lovely love story with some funny bits . Sophia was a chef and she goes to work on a super yacht and sparks fly when she meets Jack..Her food sounds fab.The captain was quite strict . Hard to review but it was a jolly good Saturday afternoon read.

This is a good book you’d read by the pool, or sitting in the sun.
I didn’t really connect with the characters - Sofia comes across as judgy and a bit morose at times. Everyone in the story seems to have a falling out/problem with each other throughout.
I enjoyed the setting, and Sofias passion for her job.

Title: Love Overboard By Ada Barumé

Release date: July, 30th, 2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Stars

"Love Overboard" by Ada Barumé is a delightful voyage into romance on the high seas!

On the high seas of the Amalfi Coast, Sophia, a spirited chef, and Jack, a buttoned-up first officer, find themselves thrown together on a luxury yacht. Their first encounters are more like stormy seas than smooth sailing, with clashes and soggy mishaps aplenty. Despite their best efforts to steer clear of each other, fate has other plans, especially when disaster strikes their VIP guests.

As they navigate the challenges of their shared job, Sophia and Jack start to find common ground and perhaps even a hint of romance in the air. Despite the choppy waters they've sailed through, they discover that sometimes, unexpected twists can lead to the sweetest destinations of all: love.

A captivating workplace romance filled with heartwarming moments of found family and chasing dreams.

The characters in "Love Overboard" are intricately developed, and their journey is a delightful blend of heartwarming moments and entertaining twists. In the grand scheme of things, I found the writing style engaging, and the story concept? Oh, thoroughly enjoyable!

Tropes:
Slow Burn
Opposites Attract
Workplace Romance
Enemies to Lovers

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Love Overboard is a light and cute rom com. It’s about a chef named Sofia, who leaves her Michelin star restaurant to be a chef on a charter yacht. Here is where she meets Jack, a proverbial flirt and first officer on the yacht. They start off as rocky coworkers that turns into something more as they begin to learn each other. I rate this a 4 star and a 2 for spicy. The beginning of the book felt like it dragged little until it started picking up pace, once the first yacht charter trip began. But once the adventure began, I thoroughly enjoyed the banter and character development.

This book was just what I needed to read right now. Full of summer and set on a luxury yacht, this is everything.

Liked the chemistry between Sophia and Jack, though Jack seemed like an absolute tool in most of the book but redeemed himself at the end. Related to Sophia for sure, being quite distant and stubborn but she softened by the end.

Easy to read for sure and a book I’ll definitely be rereading when I’m on vacation!

Thank you to Avon Books UK and Netgalley for the ARC

"Love Overboard" is a romance written by Ada Barumé. A fast and light book, characterized by an effervescent prose and a brisk pace, which unfortunately did not convince me fully in its development. I liked the idea of setting the story aboard a luxury yacht, unlike the characters. The protagonists, as well as the secondary characters, seemed to me superficial and poorly portrayed. I was unable to bond with them and this prevented me from becoming passionate about their events. It's too bad, because the enemies to lovers had all the makings of winning me over, but the haste and lack of depth ruined everything a bit.

Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Spicy! Great setting. Memorable characters! Just what I need in a book lately. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Charming, witty and full of banter. This was super cute and easy to read. The characters were relatable and I enjoyed their relationship

This is a slightly spicy contemporary enemies to lovers with a happy ending. I enjoyed the beginning and end (the middle dragged a bit). The writing is enjoyable but the flowery language during the 2 spicy scenes felt a little out of place to me. I was surprised that even though the main lead was a ladies man there was no prophylactic or birth control discussion. There are a handful of missing/misused/misspelled words that I hope get fixed before publication. I really enjoyed all of the characters and the setting. Though I didn't fall in love with this book I would try again with this author. I'd rate this 3.5 stars.

🌟🌟🌟🌟✨- 4.5 stars

This book transported me to summer and all things sunny and warm! I thoroughly enjoyed this easy read, as it was written wonderfully and I couldn’t put it down (as well as being a sucker for all things rom-com!)

Sofia’s strong character was very likeable and her character development throughout the book was very wholesome and loveable. She was, at times frustrating and the third person perspective was easy to follow. Jack’s POV was a surprise but equally fun to read - However, I would have liked to read more than a few chapters from his side of the story as I felt it wasn’t as polished as Sofia’s was.

The scenes were easy to picture and the two guests (Milly and Brian) reminded me of Molly and Callum from Love Island haha!!

Overall, a summery and wholesome vibe read and i highly recommend!

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review ◡̈

I may have almost jumped overboard while reading this one but I did stick it out. It was a bit chaotic and scrambled at times, but overall it was cute! Jack and Sophia did warm to me and I’m glad a HEA was had for all.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books UK for an arc of this book. All opinions are my own.