The premise of this book sounds fun but unfortunately for me it was just kind of boring... I feel like a book set on a cruise ship has so much potential to be SO fun but I feel like the setting was not really well used. Also, I still don't really know why John loves Micah other than they jsut grew up together, which isn't enough reason for me. They're cute as a couple but I didn't feel a big connection.

Something about Alicia Thompson’s writing hits for me every time. This was sweet and romantic but also real spicy! 🌶️ Micah and John are two musicians originally achieving fame as a one-hit wonder band about ten years ago. They didn’t part on good terms and Micah hasn’t spoken to any of them since, even though John and her used to be best friends. When a short reunion opportunity comes up, they both decide to say yes. Suddenly the past comes rushing back and they have less than a week on a nostalgic cruise tour to figure it out.

This book was friends to lovers, musicians, former/current celebrity romance, plus YEARNING. Also bi FMC! This was a lovely story and the characters grew a lot!

I am brand new to this genre after spending decades up to my shoulders in fae wings and wyvern and let me just say, what a delightful introduction!
I read this from cover to cover in a single day because I just literally could not put it down. The story is fast moving without being confusing. The plot is very interesting and the world of cruise life is such a fun place to explore!
I greatly enjoyed the dual POV. By the end of the book I felt like I know these people and I'm really curious about where they will go from here.
The side characters were a delightful addition, too.
The entire story moved so well and not a word was wasted or felt excessive.
As my first foray into romance, Never Been Shipped really encourages me to want to keep going!
I really appreciate the opportunity to review this arc and am excited to watch it's journey in the world!

First, I want to preface this by saying I'm still an Alicia Thompson fan, and I really do consider her one of my favorite contemporary romance authors. With Love, from Cold World and Love in the Time of Serial Killers remain two of the best rom coms I've read of late. BUT. This book just did not quite hit for me, and I honestly think it's just because it's not what I want from a romance. One of the things I think Thompson has done best in her other books is build tension and show romance slowly unfolding, and a lot of that was missing from this book because it was a second chance romance. Both of our characters go into the story with so many feelings for each other that it doesn't feel like there's much tension there - even their climactic romantic scenes feel inevitable. And their revelations feel like they happen at a startling pace. I also didn't love how much their lust seemed to fuel their romance. It's not something that has really led Thompson's books in the past, and I was surprised to see it be such a driving factor of the plot here. I like my spice, but I like it to be part of the romance, not the start.

That said, there were some super fun parts of this book. One, I absolutely loved the playlist at the beginning. I wish I had had the patience to listen to them as I started each chapter like Thompson suggested, but I was so ready to jump into this book that I'll have to revisit that option later. Two, I loved the premise! Loved, loved, loved it. I was on a cruise while I read this, and I really could see how the forced proximity of a cruise really lends itself to a second chance romance like this. Having the added chaos of the Nightshifters reunion and the band drama was amazing, too. And I really do love John! Lovesick, curly headed band boys are my weakness, so I was a huge fan from the start.

Overall, I'll give this a 4/5 because I know so many people who will LOVE the pacing and the second chance romance aspects of the book. It's just maybe not my favorite trope. Thanks to Thompson, NetGalley, and Berkley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Alicia Thompson is one of my favourite writers in this genre, consistantly showing up with these stories of fun weirdos falling in love. This one was no exception to that, and an incredible linked story to her amazing With Love From Cold World. The characters are complex, the settings are vividly described and the dialogue is often laugh-out-loud funny.

Alicia Thompson does it again! I really love her contemporary romance and think this one was a home run. Loved the tension and the nostalgia that bound our two leads together. This is the second or third romance I've read recently where music is a big part of the story and I really enjoyed that as well.

I enjoyed the majority of the characters in this book (basically all of them except Ryder), and I absolutely loved learning more about their history together and the bands. I actually at one point had wished the book took place during their time in the band, but I think writing it this way did the story so much more justice. The readers were able to see how much the characters have changed and grown since then and how their lives continued on. There were certain topics I wish had a little more book time.

The one thing I didn’t really enjoy was the first sex scene. It felt like it came out of nowhere and was a bit jarring. At this point we know John has always been in love with Micah, but it mostly just seemed like Micah saw him as a friend before this cruise. It isn’t until after that first sex scene that we start to get hints that Micah always had a small crush on him, but those felt just as jarring. I did enjoy the two of them being a couple once I got over it.

The ending of this book was perfect. I really hope we see more of the other characters in later books (especially Frankie, Tatiana, and Kiki)!

absolutely OBSESSED!! I love Thompson's writing style and her characters! I just have such a good time in her stories and I can't wait to read the next one. If you read With Love, you'll recognize a few characters and this is John's story! and those spicy scenes! phew!! But for real, are there no cameras on this cruise ship?? 😅😅 This is gonna be released in June and I can't wait to get a physical copy!! Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for my digital ARC!!

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for the eARC, I always appreciate the opportunity to read and review before publication day!

As THE fan of friends-to-lovers (having lived it myself), I was immediately drawn to Never Been Shipped. This was painted as a story of reunited band mates / former best friends that have a second chance at what could have been, and who are still haunted by choices that they made when they were teenagers thrust into the spotlight. I expected the heavier themes around mental health and the discussions around what it's like to encounter fame so young, especially for Micah as the female lead singer. What I didn't count on was how the silly fandom events (complete with shapeshifter cosplayers), and the light absurdity of forced proximity on a cruise ship with Hollywood stars, turned Never Been Shipped into one of my favorite romance reads so far this year.

Beyond just the fantastic concept of a band reunion on a cruise ship with all the fun messiness that that entails, the use of dual pov is what really won my heart - Alicia Thompson's use of dual pov was masterful. The format was such a strong storytelling tool, often showcasing how John and Micah felt or thought similarly about something even after a decade apart, or highlighting that they both had done something in the past with similar intentions towards each other. I was blown away by this technique and how it really gave more depth to the character's shared history going all the way back to middle school. There's something special about the impact a friendship has on you during such formative years, the influence of the other person on who you will become down the road - this story felt like a love letter to that kind of friendship. All of this tangible history and the marks John and Micah's friendship made on one another really helped me root for them both right from the start, even through any communication issues or tensions they experienced.

Additionally: I loved our whole cast of characters in the band - they were so distinct and unique, all having taken different paths and ending up with different motivations and benchmarks for success and happiness. They were so fleshed out, it made me wish I could pop into this reunion and ask them dozens of more questions myself! Who did Steve marry? What stories does Frankie have from working with so many different bands? I want to know it all! I also appreciated the bisexual representation in Micah, and the nonbinary representation in Frankie, as well as the mental health representation in Micah's struggle with panic attacks. They all fit into the story naturally and seamlessly, and gave so much depth to all the characters and their dynamics.

A few small things that kept this from being a 5 star read for me:
- I felt like Micah's family was referenced several times as important in her life, her sister especially, and I felt like it wasn't really expanded on beyond John knowing this or that was important to her, and Micah leaning on her sister and the salon. Considering the role Micah's father played in the band's success and eventual breakup, I wish we had gotten a little more depth there. I also kept thinking about the moment where John's wondering about the ring her sister gave her and him wondering where it went. I'm sure there's something to be said about it symbolizing the passing of time and things changing while apart, but it felt like a few too many questions lingered because John didn't ask! I would have loved to see him actually try to bridge that gap in knowledge.
- Ryder's plotline felt like it had almost too quick of wrap-up, especially with the final full-band confrontation being off the page. I kept expecting him to pop back up after the final performance, while Micah and John were apart, or in the epilogue. I don't really mind that he didn't - but the fact that I kept waiting for it signaled to me that it felt a bit unfinished,
- In some ways I felt like the other band members (specifically Steve and Frankie) were a bit neglected, which made me sad because they had been friends with John and Micah for nearly as long as those two had been friends with each other! This was a very small thing for me, because there's only so much you can fit in one book, and I think it was actually a testament to how real the characters felt.

Overall I rated this book a 4.5 / 5 stars. This is a story of redefining yourself and reclaiming your passion, re-learning someone you once knew like the back of your hand, and how true bonds can't easily be severed (even after a decade apart). It was a romantic, yearning-filled story, with flawless use of both the friends to lovers trope and dual pov. If you love a thoughtful MMC, friends-to-lovers, band member power struggles and drama, and/or love stories about rediscovering passion for music or art, this is for you!

I so deeply enjoyed getting back into the world of WLFCW! John was such a great character even jn the brief glimpses we got of him in the first book, and it was so fun to get a whole book (or, well, half of one!) in his POV. I loved Micah too, and all of the side characters.!

This was an overall fun and cute friends-to-lovers/second-chance romance. I love the cruise ship setting and the forced proximity that caused between Micah and John. Micah was a great anxiety/panic attack rep and I saw a little of myself in her in regards to that. It was clear that even though there was a lot of animosity between the two, there were still a lot of unresolved and complicated feelings there.
I adored Frankie as a side character and hope that they end up with their own story one day maybe!
I do wish Micah and John had their important conversation a tad earlier in the story but I don't mind a slow burn, and wouldn't have minded a little more of a "challenge" for them or some more deep conversations.
This was a fun combination of unresolved feelings, slow burn romance, music and millennial vibes.

I simply can’t express enough how much I ate this book up!!! This book was tender, it was longing, it was yearning, intimacy, best friendship and love!

If there is one thing that I’m always looking for in a read, it’s a Nick & Norah comp. Some of the most SACRED moments in my life, memories that will never leave me, revolve around connecting over music in a car. There is something so unbelievably special to me about an author who’s able to bottle up the thrill of meeting your musical match. Thompson certainly does that in John and Micah! They share musical jokes, write songs together, make mix CDs for each other, and find so many over points of connection through sound.

This book perfectly encapsulates the two types of musicians out there, in Ryder: the boisterous one motivated by ego who you likely want to stay far far away from, and the gentler souls found in artists like John.

Our main character Micah shares that she’s able to approach John out of the blue when they were young because he had safe eyes, and that tells me all that I need to know about this story. It is intimate moments and sensitive characters and a deep unbreakable bond. It is navigating adulthood and hardships and separation from those who once meant the most of you, but the inevitability of finding your way back to each other.

This story is set in the kooky environment of a TV show fandom cruise, but it is more than quirky. It’s sexy, fun, introspective and endearing all rolled into one! This story does so much to discuss bad relationships, and music industry struggles… all while maintaining the most incredibly realistic dialogue and creating laugh out loud hilarious scenes.

The author has crafted so many wonderfully engaging characters in room mates, to band mates and friends, highlighting identities such as bisexuality and gender non-binary folks without those traits ever being a focal point.
I absolutely loved every moment on sea and land with Micah and John, and I would love to read a spin-off book for any of the other characters in this world. I can not WAIT to read more from this author, and dive into her backlist!

Never Been Shipped is so much FUN and so deeply beautiful !!!! Great for any romance lover adjacent to or interested in the musical world.

DNF at 17%

Unfortunately this just didn’t work for me. The cover is really cute and the synopsis caught my attention immediately so i had really high hopes but i got bored.

The main characters Micah and John felt very lacking, I didn’t feel any chemistry and I didn’t care for any of the side characters either…

I hate giving negative reviews but this just isn’t for me

Never Been Shipped was written specifically to delight me. Like, I’m suspicious of how deeply this book understood my love language: creative passion, messy band dynamics, second chances, cruises, and a supernatural-adjacent fandom that felt like coming home. I mean. Come on.

Micah’s complicated history with music and heartbreak had me hooked from page one. She’s raw and real and kind of a disaster in the best way. The band breakup? The bad solo choices? The burned bridges? Delicious. And John—soft boy John—is the kind of quietly pining, guitar-playing sweetheart who made me want to shake him and hug him in equal measure.

The whole setup is just chef’s kiss: a reunion on a themed cruise for fans of Nightshifters (which I would die to watch, let’s be honest), complete with cast appearances and a band performance that’s basically a time bomb of unresolved tension. It’s nostalgia, forced proximity, and mutual pining all rolled into one glorious five-day emotional pressure cooker. And yes, I did grin like an idiot through most of it.

Also, can we talk about how Alicia Thompson writes creative longing? The music scenes are visceral. The stage tension is everything. You can feel what it means to lose yourself in the thing you love—and the terrifying vulnerability of choosing it again anyway.

If you’re into second chance romance, band drama, nerdy fan conventions, or kissing your best friend, then this one’s for you.

Huge thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review—though let’s be real, I would’ve sold my soul to read this early anyway.

This was a decent book that simply didn't stand out to me.

The main characters Micah and John were pretty well-developed but I didn't love either of them. The romance between the two of them was cute but it began so abruptly. They were childhood friends who hadn't spoken in more than. a decade and all of the sudden upon seeing each other again they were both completely obsessed with each other in a romantic way even though they had only ever been friends. John had clearly been interested in Micah back when they were younger too so it made sense that his attraction to her was present again. However, Micah seemed to have viewed John as a friend in the old days so it was jarring to see her lusting after him so strongly. Despite that, I did enjoy them as a couple. I really appreciated the fact that they continued to value their friendship even once they began hooking up. I also liked that there was no major third act conflict. Micah and John handled their feelings and approached their relationship maturely as adults with little to none of the miscommunication that is so often present in romances.

Some aspects of the plot felt a little underutilized, such as John's relationship with his father. It was brought up a few times but never in depth and it felt strange that the author introduces such a heavy topic only for it to barely impact the story. I also would've liked to learn more about Micah's relationship with her ex, Rider. He was an awful person who clearly caused Micah a lot of pain and yet once again it felt like we only scratched the surface.

The pacing wasn't bad, although I did find my attention to be fading somewhat towards the end, and the writing was solid. There was also some nice LGBTQ+ representation. I can see why people might have a great time with this and I would recommend that anyone who thinks it sounds interesting gives it a try. Personally, though, while I did enjoy it for the most part, I just didn't connect to it.

This was a beautiful story of friends to lovers, kind of second chance romance, mistakes, regret, and a deeply intertwined history between our two MCs. Micah and John grew up as childhood best friends and started a band that had incredible success but split on bad terms as Micah went solo. They have been brought back together on a reunion cruise to play music that was featured in a very popular television show. Micah hasn't spoken to the band for over 10 years and they all have to sort through their grievances about how it all went down. As the cruise progresses, John and Micah become closer and can't avoid the feelings they have for one another.

As someone with anxiety and who experiences panic attacks, I FELT what Micah was feeling when she was experiencing them. It can be the smallest trigger to set off a reaction and then you feel like the walls are caving in. John was such a wonderful, steady character who didn't push too much and was right there when Micah needed him. Everyone needs a John.

I loved the casual bisexual and nonbinary representation in the book and Frankie was my favourite side character. They were funny, charming and full of good advice for both MCs.

Thank you Berkley for the advanced reader copy!!

As an elder millennial, this book hit me right where I live. I loved all the characters, from feisty-yet-beaten-down Micah and cinnamon roll John all the way to lovable goober Steve. Absolutely unputdownable!

DNF at 40%

I had really high hopes for Never Been Shipped when the premise was announced - I loved John’s cameos from With Love, from Cold World. Loved the second-chance estranged friends to lovers aspect. Loved the forced proximity on a boat. The synopsis here sold me….the book didn’t deliver.

There is a slow burn aspect here (and I do enjoy a good slow burn), but it takes until 25% into the book for John and Micah, our heroine and his estranged bandmate/childhood friend, to have any sort of meaningful conversation. Then, suddenly, these two who haven’t spoken in years are hot and bothered over each other. This conversation, mind you, wasn’t anything to bring that on - it was two friends reconnecting and sharing a bed (for arguably Romance Reasons), but up until this point there was no hint that John or Micah had ever looked at the other in a romantic light and I was staring at the words I had just read and the words that came after it wondering if I had missed something.

Add to that the way in which the past is info-dumped in conversations between John and Micah, and I couldn’t have cared less about them being stuck on a boat together with their old bandmates. Ryder was an ass and I hated every scene with him, but Frankie was enjoyable for their parts on the page. Steve seemed like a fun guy.

I enjoyed the casual queerness that Thompson had here - with Frankie’s gender-neutrality and Micah’s bisexuality. I also liked the anxiety rep for Micah even though I was beyond frustrated that she wouldn’t get out of her own way about most things. I also loved the millennial nostalgia sprinkled throughout (are we too young for nostalgia?) and the homage to the emo/pop-punk bands of the early 2010s.

But when it came down to it, I just didn’t care by the 40% mark if/when/how John and Micah got together, and as a Romance, that’s kinda the whole point. Also, even this early on into their attraction, there was an obsession with Micah’s nipples (mentioned by other reviewers) that seemed to just appear and never let me know peace. I’m glad her tits are great, but tell me something else about Micah, PLEASE.

This was a swing and a miss from Thompson for me, but I’m sure others - especially friends-to-lovers lovers - will eat this up! Just be prepared for a slow pace and tons of introspection from the characters.

Thank you so much to Berkley and NetGalley for this ARC! I really wish I had enjoyed the book more than I did!

Never Been Shipped was a delightful, escapist romance about a reunited pair of best friends and their popular band- but dismantled- band. John and Micah grew up together, and despite having intense ~ vibes ~ never officially hooked up. In fact, she dated band mate Ryder instead. (Ryder had no redeeming qualities in my opinion, which is also disorienting because it makes me question the FMC’s sanity, but I digress.) Once reunited on the reunion tour, John and Micah are quickly clued into their obvious chemistry, and the romance that should have been finally blossoms. My once complaint about this book is Ryder- just too easy to hate- but the rest of it, including the other band mates, were super fun. Overall probably a 4.5 for me. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-arc.

DNF @19%

I’m not sure why I got this eARC but thank you to the publisher and Netgalley.

Another gorgeous, intriguing cover for an Alicia Thompson book… and another boring, lackluster interior 😬

I was so excited because the playlist is comprised of so many of my favorite songs but TBH I’m just bored.

The two main characters, Micah and John, are boring. They have no chemistry despite being childhood besties and having mutual pining. They’re like the same person and I have no idea what the character arcs would even be because I’m 7 chapters in and know nothing about them other than John is quiet and boring and Micah is… I don’t even know.

This is a personal thing but I can’t stand books where the characters are or were famous and I especially dislike the rockstar/pop star trope. That’s my fault for knowing that and then applying for this book (bc apparently I did?) but oh well.

If you liked Alicia Thompson’s other books you’ll probably like this one. I didn’t care for Love in the Time of Serial Killers but then Berkley sent me this so I felt like I should try it.