Recommended to me by a trusted reading friend, FLOAT PLAN ended up being one of my favorite novels of 2021 - what a delight! In a sea of challenging circumstances throughout the year, this story was just what I needed and Trish Doller's writing is fantastic.

Anna is still moving through her grief after the suicide of her boyfriend Ben. A reminder on her phone spurs her to action and to undertake the Caribbean sailing adventure the two had planned in better days. She takes off from Florida on her own, but by Bimini, realizes she could use a crew member. Enter Irishman Keane, working through his own hurdles, who signs on to help her fulfill her trip. I don't know anything about sailing and not much about all these Caribbean islands either. But everything was so well described that it didn't matter. Anna and Keane help each other through a lot of growth moments, and although the cover might make it seem like a fluff read, it is so much more.

Ready to hear me gush about a book?! Man oh man did I ADORE this one. Definitely my favorite contemporary romance of 2021 & perfect summer reading. Anna is still reeling from the loss of her fiancé when she decides to move forward with a sailing trip they had planned together. She pretty quickly realizes she needs help and hires a professional sailor Keane to help her complete the voyage. You can probably guess where things go from here 🙃

This book snagged me from the first chapter (the writing style is very easy to read) and when I looked up I’d already sped through 50 pages. Doller expertly balanced lightness & humor with the grief and loss that the MC is dealing with. The romance is swoony and I just felt giddy while reading + there is an adorable dog. What more could we want?! I definitely felt the urge to buy a sailboat and travel the world after reading this one. Highly recommend!

(actual rating: 3.5/5)

I'm not entirely sure where to begin with this book. It was certainly sweet and wholesome, more so than I expected it to be, but at the same time, by the end of it, I was left wanting something more from it.

Float Plan is about Anna and her journey (quite literally) following the suicide of her fiance, Ben. She decides to take his sailboat and go on the trip they were supposed to take together as a way of escaping the grief she finds herself chained to. Things don't exactly go according to plan, however, and Anna recruits Keane, a professional sailor, to assist her on her journey. Sparks fly between them, but it isn't exactly smooth sailing for the pair.

The very first thing I'd like to mention is that when I first read the synopsis, as well as the brief content warning, I was expecting an angst-riddled book filled with discussions of grief and suicide. What I got instead was a comforting, almost light-hearted read - not what I was expecting, but a good reading experience nonetheless.

The romance was quite adorable, but was almost to the point of insta-love for how quickly it moved. Don't get me wrong, I actually did enjoy the relationship between Anna and Keane, but the book very quickly became focused on their growing romance, almost entirely pushing aside Anna's growth as a character about three-quarters of the way into the book. While I do understand that this a soft, romance novel at its core, I really would have liked to see more of Anna addressing her loss and growing as a character.

Reading about Anna's travels was actually very fun, as well all of the characters that she met along the way. The descriptions of the islands that she visited along with the ocean itself were not excessive, but rather, vivid, and really entertaining.

The ending, unfortunately, was quite rushed. It just felt like the book needed to end, so that's what happened. All of the conflicts were basically magically resolved, and the characters found their loving way back to each other, with Anna's journey complete. But not much meaningful character growth had occurred? It was fast, to say the least.

Overall, while I certainly would have liked to see more from this book, it did make for a short yet enjoyable read. It was a lot softer and more of a "comfort read" than I had been expecting, but it was alright nevertheless. I would definitely recommend this if you've ever wanted to travel through the Caribbean or enjoy romance-travel novels.

This book was sad but happy not the typical rom-com or what you might get from the cover. I listened to this via audiobook and just loved the narrator. I already have wanted to sail and sail around the world and this gave me major wanderlust for that. I enjoyed how they both grew emotionally- waited for the right time.





4.5 stars
3.5 steam

TW: suicide

This was ok. It wasn’t the best book I’ve read this year. A bit of a love story. An adventure. When Anna’s fiancé commits suicide, she decides to go off on the trip they had planned anyway. To set said in their sailboat by herself. Hire someone to help her and navigate the waters. She encounters many unexpected difficulties and almost catastrophes along the way and also learns a great deal about herself.

4/5 stars

I really enjoyed this emotional, romantic journey set on a sail boat travelling the Caribbean. Anna is still dealing with grief over the loss of her fiancé a year ago and decides on a whim to take the sailing trip they had planned around the Caribbean on her own. Keane, a disabled sailor, is dealing with his own issues when he offers to work on Anna's sailboat while also teaching her to sail. This romance was definitely more emotional with two dark backstories, but I really enjoyed seeing these two come together. Anna and Keane were both dealing with some type a loss in their life and it was sweet and sometimes heartbreaking to witness them bond throughout the story. This book will take you on a emotional roller coaster and the day to day life of dealing with grief so be forewarned and forearmed with a box of tissues! While the story does cover a few dark topics, the romance itself was not steamy, but slow burn, light and sweet. I believe, other than the beautiful locations mentioned and island hopping, Keane was the sunshine throughout this story. Keane was a complete cinnamon roll with a bit of wanderlust and passion for the ocean. I felt Keane was along to teach Anna about sailing, but they both ended up teaching each other how to live again and deal with grief. I really enjoyed getting to know both of these characters equally and can't wait to see what this author dreams up next. I know it'll be another emotional rollercoaster, but the ride is always worth it!

A perfect adult debut for Trish Doller (whose YA books I love so much!). I loved this story of self-discovery and rebirth after a time of grief, heartbreak and sorrow — all set mostly on a sailboat and beautiful island destinations. Plus I REALLY loved the romance which felt so perfectly done and was really nice and slowburn. A great beach read that balances the sadder aspects of this story with the romance and the adventures.

I loved reading Float Plan. It felt like I was reading a Hallmark movie. During the time of Covid Float Plan was the perfect "vacation" if you will.

Did not know what to expect from this book, but it did not disappoint! Great story of perseverance and starting fresh after heartache.

Love this book. As with most romances it was a bit predictable. But I actually liked that they had real conflict that didn't seem made up as if someone wasn't sharing all their feelings outright. It also made me long for a vacation during this never ending pandemic.

Incredible. This book deserves a full 5 stars and more. I went in expecting a romantic comedy and what I got was a story that filled my cup to the brim. I wish all romances could be like this. Real and raw, but oh so sweet. So many romances I am constantly wondering when certain things are going to backfire for the characters, but that never happened with this one. So refreshing, and a must read.

3.5 stars

Me: Aw, Float Plan, must be a cute little beachy read
Float Plan: immediately opens with Anna's fiance's suicide note

Float Plan HAS a cute romance in it, but it is NOT a cute romance! It's about Anna, who at 25 is reeling from the suicide of her fiance, Ben. She's about 10 months into the grieving process at the beginning of the book, and sort of has a mental snap and decides to just take out the boat that they'd always planned an excursion on but never ending up taking. She runs into quite a few mishaps right out the gate... because my girl is literally sailing a full ass BOAT when she's practically never done so... I want to say she and Ben rode in it a few times but like, she's going to Trinidad with stops along the way. This is a full journey, not a little ride.

By the time she gets to Bimini in the Bahamas, she's considering giving up, until she hires help: Keane, an Irish sailor who has struggled to get jobs since the loss of one of his legs 5 years prior. They obviously spend a lot of time together as they're the only two folks on a boat together at sea lol and they just become friends and get to know each other really well. They go to all these awesome different spots and meet tons of people and she just finally gets through her dark spot of grief little by little.

There's a lot of discussion about when it's too soon to begin a new relationship after losing your significant other, how it feels to care about two different people in different ways, and who you are outside of a relationship. Some of the stuff about Ben was kind of iffy... like eventually it felt like she was deciding that Keane was better than Ben and not just different? And every plan on Ben's little itinerary ended up being kind of stupid. Like Ben just wasn't painted in the best light by the time she got to know Keane. Which, we have no clue what she and Ben's relationship was really like, so maybe it's true, but it's also a bummer to read.

Keane is super respectful of Anna's grieving, though, and even when she thinks she's ready to start something between them he makes her stop and think about if she wants him specifically or just wants someone to fill the void. So it's good that he has boundaries there and makes sure she's really ready to start something with him.

The sex is very lightly descriptive but it's there, the third act breakup is blessedly not a breakup at all, practically, and there's also a dog in the mix so yay.

I do plan to read book 2, which is about Anna's sister.

There are also parts that made me cry, like the Christmas gift Anna gives Keane and this line that implied that Anna loving Ben helped him live a little longer... He suffered with depression even before he met Anna so when it suggested that she helped him stay around a bit longer I just :')

This book was fantastic! Given the subject matter, there were times when it was sad, but the overall theme of moving forward shined throughout. I absolutely loved all the sailing and detailed travel experiences; it was as if I were on the journey with Anna and Keane.

Thank you so much to net galley for sending me an advance copy of this book. I feel in love with this book and cannot wait for the sequel I would definitely recommend this book

This was such a beautiful read and inspiring! I loved both Anna and Keane as characters. They were relatable and characters you can't but help but root for. I also loved the description of the different islands and countries that they were sailing to or by. I loved the idea that they made such easy friends as they went along. I knew I was going to enjoy it, but not as much as I actually did!

The first book in the Beck Sisters series and my first time reading something by this author, this was a fantastic start to the series. This is one of those books that pulls you in from the very first page and doesn't let go till the end. I was completely engrossed and engaged in the story. It takes you on an emotional journey of pain and loss and learning to move forward afterwards. The setting of the story is unique in that most of it takes place on a boat and we follow Anna on her travels as she tries to deal with her grief. She enlists the help of Keane to assist her along the way, and their relationship starts to slowly blossom into something more. This was a beautifully written, emotional read with wonderful, endearing characters. The author also did a nice job of setting the scenes and making you feel as if you were right there. A really great read, and I plan to read more by this author in the future!

I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

Originally, when I had finished this book, I thought that it was good, but just as an enjoyable read. Then time went on and I noticed that my mind kept going back to this book. I kept imagining what I would do if faced with such circumstances. Not so much relationship wise, but trying to sale this boat through the Atlantic and the Caribbean along various destinations that have always appealed to me. Could I do it and survive? Probably not, but that's the beauty of being an armchair traveler. All of the fun without the danger.

The romantic angle of this book really didn't do a whole lot for me, but the story needed something to fuel this adventure. It works and kept my interest. But it was the sailing and the various encounters through the islands that truly held my interest. There was something refreshing that kept me onboard. A freeing voyage that doesn't involve swashbucklers or so many of the other rugged characters in most sailing adventures. This was more of a cleansing of the soul while finding oneself during both the storms and the calm seas through my favorite part of the world.

Thank you Net Galley for this arc!!! Loved the story and the evolvement of Anna’s character! Beautifully written and amazing development!!! Adventures to places that I now have added to my bucket list!!!

Anna is my hero. Listen, I get that there has been a romantic comedy or two about love and loss, and coming back from the dark place that takes you, but this one just felt different to me. Learning to sail BY YOURSELF is something that would scare the pants off anyone, but our girl just up and does it. She’d sailed before, but never like this.
When grief becomes Anna’s whole life, and the alarm for an epic voyage planned by her late fiancé pings on her phone, she knows it’s time to get up and do something about it. She hits the stores, packs up everything she owns, and sets off on the journey she never planned to take alone. There are super scary moments, absolutely breathtaking moments, and some giggles along the way.
This book isn’t about romance. It’s about love. Love for what’s lost, love for one’s self, and a love for what the future might hold. The connections you can make along the way just add to the fabulous story. It was an absolute pleasure to read.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.