This was not a good YA book in my opinion. I didn't like the writing. I didn't really find myself caring to much for the characters. I don't think I would suggest this one.

There are few things better than a forced proximity romance. Now add in a cruise ship? Recipe made in the kitchens of heaven. Unfortunately, this one fell flat for me. I think if the romance had been paced differently I would have been all over it, but We Ship It focused more on friendships and personal growth than finding love. Which is fine! Just not what I went in expecting. Lauren Kay is a talented author and I found myself drawn into the writing despite not really vibing with the story.

I enjoyed the main character Olivia in this story. This poor girl has been through a lot. She’s been trying deal with the death of her older brother but every time she tries to talk to her parents they change the subject. So when she meets Sebastian on a cruise with her family he steals her heart and she finally has someone to open up to. But as the cruise starts to come to the end she realizes Sebastian isn’t the amazing boy she thought he was..

High school junior Olivia Schwartz has it all figured out. At least, she thinks she does. When she reluctantly joins her family for a Caribbean cruise, it turns out that her color-coded, planned-to-the-minute lifestyle is in need of some shaking up. Her family has never taken a vacation before, and Olivia is so focused on her academic commitments and college plans that she figures it will be like any other week of schoolwork, just at sea.

Olivia boards the ship with nothing but schoolwork on her mind, but is soon waylaid by other plans. Olivia's cruise crush Sebastian is a welcome but confusing distraction. Olivia's longtime friend Jules is also on the cruise. The two girls used to be very close, until Olivia's world was rocked by her brother Logan's death several years ago. Between rekindling an old friendship, exploring a new romance, and coming to terms with family trauma, Olivia has plenty of emotional work to do on what is supposed to be a vacation.

I liked the candid approach to modern issues like gender identity, academic pressures, and opioid abuse. By the end, even the adults are vulnerable with their emotions and willing to admit their own missteps. The setup of a cruise romance was a fun way to bring the characters together and put a definite time frame on the story. Olivia's uptightness about her academics is only too relatable, and the lessons that she learns on this journey are applicable to readers of all ages.


Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins, and Lauren Kay for this ARC.

I loved this book. Once I started reading it, I couldn’t put it down. I like how the author addresses a bunch of different subjects and brings them together. The act of trying to control something when really you aren’t in control, young love and all of the feelings associated with that, the pressure of school and the drive it can have to impact decisions and then also the impact of decisions made that have a lasting effect. It was a great book and I am thankful I was given the chance to read it.

Oh how I loved this sweet coming of age book!
Here's a quote and truth that I wanted to share because it simply it really kind of wraps up my review.
If I had every moment of my life planned out, there would never be any space for the unexpected. That magical moments that take your breath away, that you remember forever.
This quote really changes in how I look at things because I am a planner. I hate when things don't work out. It oftentimes is very disappointing.
I am trying to take one day at a time.
I loved this book so much!
There were some funny moment, sad moments and moments that just made your head swim.
I guess it's what life is about.
Liv is a wonderful character and I really loved and appreciated her journey in growing up.
Sometimes we just have to get out of our comfort zone and experience life but I understood Olivia.
My favorite was the story told from her point of view.
I loved the setting aboard ship too. I felt like I was on board with Olivia and Jules the whole entire time.
I skipped over certain scenes however.
But overall 5 stars for some excellent writing! I highly recommend!
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own

I’m not a fan of the way this book was presented vs the way it actually played out. I found the characters really difficult to root for and it’s not a storyline that held its own. Sorry to say this was a miss for me.

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins, and Lauren Kay for this ARC!

We Ship It, by Lauren Kay, is hands down the BEST YA book I've ever read! There are so many amazing themes in this book which make it perfect for the intended audience.

Olivia, the main character, is a perfectionist, and not surprisingly, has her life planned out. She attends a private school and has been planning her route to college since her freshman year. With her eyes set on attending Brown and going to medical school, she plans to land her dream job of being a doctor by the age of 30. To increase her chances of attending Brown, Olivia, with the help of her friend Shruti, must present at a research fair to get the attention of Dr. Klober and land a summer internship. In addition to the presentation, Olivia and Shruti have to come up with a program, related to the research project, that can be implemented at Dr. Klober's hospital.
We quickly learn that the topic of the research project is near and dear to Olivia and her family, as it relates to the death of her older brother, Logan.

A wrench is thrown at Olivia's plans for working on her research presentation when her parents tell her that she is going on a family cruise. With permission to present virtually, Olivia sets off on what she expects to be a well planned out cruise, with her time focused on her research and preparation for her presentation.

On the cruise, she meets up with a former childhood friend, Jules, who is the complete opposite of Olivia. She is carefree, into dating, hooking up, and drinking. With the help of Jules, she meets a group of teens, and quickly falls for Sebastian and his charm. Sebastian holds a strong interest in Olivia and encourages her to open up about her past, including her grief over losing her brother, Logan. At the same time, she starts to fall for peer pressure and does things she would never have done before.

As the cruise continues, Olivia learns more about Logan and his death, and also starts to find out that Sebastian, who she was falling in love with, might not be telling her the truth about his life.

I absolutely adored Olivia's character. She was so likable and well developed. She made me laugh and she also made me cry. I think she has the potential to make readers connect with all that she has had to cope with in her short life. Grief, alcohol/drug use, anxiety, lack of emotional/family support, and teenage love are just a few of the many themes that stuck out to me in this book.

I honestly could go on and on but I'm afraid I will give too much away!

The end of the book had me in tears and was absolutely perfect! While I always considered Olivia's character to be mature for her age, she impressed me so much with her strength and resolve at the end of the book.

This book is great for teens/young adults AND I also think adults would LOVE this book. I cannot recommend this one enough! 5+ starts!!! Add this to your TBR list NOW! You will NOT regret it!