This is my second Alicia Thompson book and she did not disappoint! This was a blast. The characters were so much fun to read, and the VIBES of the early 00’s band made this book FANTASTIC! I will definitely keep reading Alicia Thompson books.

4.5/5 thank you to NetGalley and Berkeley for this ARC!

Oh my god you GUYS

I wish I hadn’t burned through this so fast because it was so good and I already miss them 😭😭😭😭 I loved John so fucking much…why is a cartoon man so HOT??????

This MMC has everything: very hot, plays guitar, is very good in the sack, very considerate, is a total simp!!! Says things like “you have no idea how long I’ve wanted you” GOD SAVE ME this man is EVERYTHING

The banter, spice, and emotional development was so good in this one. Incredible execution of childhood-friends-to-lovers and rockstar romance. Dear lord this one SLAPPED

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkeley Publishing Group for this ARC!
What can I say? This was a trip down nostalgia lane, with a side of 2000's, Midwest Emo perfection.
I love a childhood friends to lovers story and this hit it out of the park. I enjoyed the forced proximity of being stuck on a cruise and the 'will they, won't they" aspect of the story.
I did feel like the middle dragged a bit (just get to the kissing already!), but otherwise, this was a fun, introspective, rock star love story that spanned decades and covered some tough material.
If I hadn't just taken a cruise last year, this book would have had me itching to get on one STAT!
Will definitely be singing this book's praises all year :)

Thank you for this e-arc! Micah has been avoiding her past for a decade, but once it comes back to her with an opportunity she can't turn down, she has to face the band members she left behind. One of these past band members was her childhood best friend. This "has been" band can will be doing a reunion concert on a cruise. Once on board, Micah and her estranged best friend, John, do their best to move past her betrayal. This book was written in the third POV, giving you an understanding of Micah and John's feelings. I am a sucker for forced proximity and second chance. The author did a good job of making the friends and lovers feel not cringeworthy, which is essential to me. The romance was a slow burn, in my opinion. I wanted Micah and John to talk about their issues right away. I think the author wanted these two characters to have difficulty communicating their feelings, but I felt like if they just talked, everything would be fixed! So, if there were something I would want to change in the book, it would be the miscommunication. I did enjoy the band's dynamic and banter! Thank you again for letting me read this in advance.

this wasn't a flop but I stg there were so many nonsensical things bogging down the story

✰ 3.5 stars, what kept it afloat was the fact that I'm a sucker for childhood friends to lovers and romances about musicians

thank you to Berkley for the ebook arc in exchange for an honest review

platform: netgalley ebook arc

My first by Alicia Thompson, but definitely not my last! The characters were well developed and I felt like I could get inside their heads/hearts. As fan of pop punk and emo bands back in the '00s, this was a full on nostalgia fest. What I appreciated the most about this story was how niche and yet universal the story line was. The characters were relatable, their relationships with each other, and how they might have spent a decade apart. I loved the little insider jokes (the Offspring song title battle! The OC and Supernatural references!) that felt as though they were written for me. Let's give more stories like this a chance.

First off, the cover for this book is absolutely gorgeous, I cant wait to own this! I read Love in the Time of Serial Killers in 2022 and really enjoyed that. I thought Thompson's writing style was really good and the way the story had an overall melancholy feel really appealed to me. So, when I picked this book, I expected to like it, but I really ended up enjoying it far more than I thought. This book hooks you in from the very beginning and I'll even go as far as to say from the dedication, because it made me laugh out loud and I wanted to continue straight away and once I started, I couldn't put the book down. (Dedication: if this book flops istg). The main characters were very likeable and relatable to me (especially the FMC), and they had great chemistry and tension between each other. I also really really enjoyed the setting, I thought it was a very fun and fresh take setting a romance book on a cruise ship.

This book is definitely for the second chance girls, because it was done right here. I'm not the biggest fan of the trope, but I think Thompson executed it in a that didn't bother me and therefore I really loved the romance between our main characters. I'd definitely recommend you check this book out when it releases. Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to 'Berkley Publishing Group' for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This book was such a perfect ice cream sundae mix of everything I like. A certain Pop punk band, the ship to end all ships, slow burn catching fire, and a freaky dash of Elvis Presley. Ugh! You couldn't write a better book, really.
I also made a playlist of her book playlist on YouTube to play out loud while I was reading this, and Alicia has excellent music taste. Do yourself a favor, add to TBR, preorder, read and enjoy!

There were many lines in this book that were CHEF'S KISS but I don't want to spoil it. :)

John is the definition of Doberman boyfriend!! He’s looks all dark with his black shirts but once you get to know him he’s goofy and lighthearted . Micah is a recluse honestly but once the story progresses and you get to know her a little better you realize she’s so insecure because she’s never truly had it easy!! She’s waiting for the other shoe to drop, honestly this books was good ! Wasn’t my favorite by Alicia Thompson but it was good.

I’m not entirely sure how I feel about this book, I had high hopes and was pretty stoked when I got the arc but I fear it was just alright. Disclaimer, I’m not a huge second chance romance girlie but I felt like this was almost that feeling with none of the fun of having been an established couple (though, I liked Micah and John and their relationship!).

I also felt like the most glaring issue was that the band-breakup stuff fell a little flat for me towards the middle of the book and it just warped my experience almost immediately to realize there wasn’t going to be that much there. That being said, I really enjoyed reading it and thought the side characters were shockingly vibrant and made the reading experience that much more enjoyable so it wasn’t a total miss by any means.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Berkeley Publishing Group for this arc to review!

This was cute. Has a lot of potential. Unfortunately the first half of the book really dragged for me. I struggled to keep going because I felt little to no chemistry between the characters. Then the second half picked up and I was vibing. It’s a good romance with an interesting premise, like I said I struggled at first but once it picked up I had a good time. I adore the cover!!!

📖 Book Review 📖 It’s been years since the hit band ElectricOh! played on stage together but a chance to get the band back together on a themed cruise brings the five members back, all grown up from their teenage days but still reeling from the breakup. Alicia Thompson gives readers the long-awaited moment we never knew we needed until Never Been Shipped came into our lives. Micah carries the guilt of breaking up the band to pursue a solo career and desperately wants to avoid being alone with her ex-boyfriend and former bandmate during this five-day cruise. But the silver lining is a hopeful chance to reconnect with John, the boy she grew up with and partnered with to create so many of their powerful songs. It’s nearly impossible to recall the last book where two characters had the spark jump off the pages like that of Micah and John. Never Been Shipped is an deliciously addictive read that can easily be devoured in one sitting because of the sheer chemistry of these two. Thompson brings the reader along on a heartfelt journey through their history, while simultaneously building the slow burn and anticipation of more than just a five-day voyage for Micah and John.

Such a fun, romantic ride! I love this author and enjoyed the aspects of friends to lover, especially in central Florida. The cruise was a fun setting, and the character dynamic was fitting.

I think I’ve come to terms with the fact that while I enjoyed this book (it’s a fun and quick romp and a great vacation read) I had some hiccups with the female lead character Micah. There were some ‘ick’ character traits/moments that I had to read past but lingered in my brain. John on the other hand was far more pleasant in the quiet and mysterious way.

A band reunites for a concert on a cruise for a tv show fandom (imagine a band that played in an episode of The Vampire Diaries reunites to play a gig at an event), that’s the basic gist. But the lead singer Micah and guitarist John have unrequited feelings since their teenage years that positively combusts while cruising. I could make a lot of Love Boat jokes and references but I digress. Of course there’s additional band dynamics and music industry commentary but this is a quick romance read.

Giving this 3 stars. It’s fluffy and speedy and is definitely a solid romance beach read for the summer.

Thank you NetGalley, and Berkley Publishing for providing an ARC!

thank you netgalley for the opportunity to read this book as an arc in exchange for an honest opinion

lets start off with this premise: im obsessed with books related to music so that the main characters were band members automatically drew me in and i really enjoyed that aspect of this story
however i unfortunatly didnt really connect with these characters, i dont know if it was the wrriting style but i didnt seem completely invested so i kept on getting distracted whilst reading this

that being said, i think this is a fun romance and if you like music or have read from thsis author before i would reccomend to pick up!

4.5 STARS!! 🎸🎸🎸🎸

Let it be known that I will ALWAYS love a man who YEARNS!

If you're a fan of music, second chances, and heartfelt romance, this is the perfect book for you. When two ex-bandmates reunite to perform on a cruise ship, sparks fly! Micah's relationship to music is… complicated. Her band took off after being featured on a teen TV show, but the group broke up in no small part thanks to Micah's ex, the band's guitarist.

The premise alone makes for an intriguing setup: two musicians, each with their own set of wounds, returning to perform together in a themed cruise after years apart. The emotional depth of their reunion feels authentic, as the author expertly weaves together themes of regret, healing, and rediscovery of love that never quite went away.

The chemistry between the two is ELECTRIC! And their long-standing history of friendship makes their love and pining even more sweet! The pacing is just right—plenty of heart-pounding moments alongside quieter, more introspective ones. There's also a perfect balance of drama, humor, and vulnerability that makes the book feel both fun and meaningful.

If you’re looking for a fun romance read, this book hits all the right notes and will leave you believing in the power of love and music to heal even the deepest wounds. (Where can I find a John for myself IRL? 🥹)

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley Romance for providing me with an e-arc to read in exchange for my honest review!

I've always had a soft spot for books about music and bands, and this book really hit the spot for me! Alicia Thompson writes characters that are delightfully diverse and real and Micah and John are no exception. Both of them have imperfections but their love is just amazing to read

I think 2025 is the year of rockstar romances because this book was an absolute blast! How have I not read Alicia Thompson before?

All I really knew going in was that this was a nostalgia plot and either a second chance romance or a one-that-got away. Thank goodness it was the second option, because her ex was an absolute ass.

Micah is having a rough go of it, its been a number of years since her band fell apart and she tried to go it alone, but the spotlight has a way of spitting you out. Now she hides out in her cute apartment avoiding the world. Until the offer comes in to bring the band back together for a fandom cruise, in honour of a tv-show that gives teen wolf/vampire diaries vibes. Reuniting with the band is everything she thought it would be, painful. Except for John. The best friend from childhood that got lost along the way.

I shipped these two immediately. Talk about a man that fell hard and never had the chance to do anything about it. These two get right to it though as the sparks fly. Suddenly the cruise is a break in life that gives these two a second chance, and I loved it. From the mental health rep, lgbtq rep (fmc is bi and one of the band members is non-binary) to all the feel good cute moments that made me giggle, this is a book that is going to be added to my shelf once it releases

This was so cute. Made me want to go on a cruise. It made me think of Daisy Jones and the Six. I loved the characters and loved that there wasn’t a second act breakup.

This was SUCH a satisfying companion novel—I loved returning to old familiar characters through new lenses, getting a deep dive into John's story!!! The themes around art and vulnerability hit me right in the heart, and seeing this couple stand up to their own internalized fears and external bullies was SO satisfying. Romantic, redemptive, and absolutely delightful.