This is a cute story! I really enjoyed the setting and premise, and even liked it more that it had a personal connection to the author. I enjoyed the progression of Henley and Graeme's relationship, albeit it felt rushed and I couldn't help but feel like Henley was stubborn. I also enjoyed that the premise is around her trying to get a promotion at work, which showed women's empowerment in a male-dominating situation. Definitely a good light-hearted read, and if there's ever a sequel, I hope it's about Walsh, her sister!

Wow! Shipped was super cute! Marketed as The Hating Game meets The Unhoneymooners, Shipped lived up to this description and really hit that sweet spot between the two.

I loved the Galapagos Island settings, and I love a workplace rivalry, though I could have done with a bit more of a stronger rivalry between Graeme and Henley. It didn't quite suck me in as much as The Hating Game, but it was very cute and enjoyable - a solid 4 star read for me!

I found the dialogue to be a bit weird and awkward at times, but I feel that way about a lot of contemporary romance so I think that's just the nature of the game/I might just be picky. Overall though, I 100% recommend this if you like contemporary romance and a workplace rivalry, also there are marine iguanas - what more could you ask for!

Longer review to follow on blog :)

I received an ARC of this via the publishers and NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I received an ARC copy of this book from NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! As marketed, it definitely has both The Hating Game & The Unhoneymooners vibes. As a lover of both of those books (which were both 5 starts for me) I was already sold on Shipped. The romance was cute, the hero was hot and sensitive, and wanted our heroine to get everything she wanted out of her career. All things that are necessary in a 2021 romance ;) I thought that the setting in the Galapagos Islands was unique and very interesting! The only thing that knocks off one star for me was that the whole modern, millennial thing felt kind of forced. I will definitely read more from this author!

Shipped is described as The Unhoneymooners meets The Hating Game, and honestly it’s quite an accurate description as it’s the perfect mix of the two. Those are two of my favorite books, so I was excited and hopeful for this one. I’m glad to say that it did not disappoint!

Shipped follows marketing manager Henley as she is forced onto a cruise with her enemy and rival, Graeme. They’re both up for the same promotion, so all bets are off as they each work to come up with the best proposal to win the job.

The cruise is their first time meeting in person, but it’s clear from the very first interaction that there is some serious chemistry between the two. I loved the banter and the back and forth. Neither backed down from the challenge, yet they obviously grew to see each other as more than their arch nemesis. It was such a short period of time, but they’d really been building up to these events over the course of the last year through their working relationship.

The setting in the Galapagos was truly amazing and such a beautiful place for this story to take place. It makes me want to take a cruise through the different islands someday. The nonprofit they visited also allowed for the book to become more than just a romance and moved into issues of climate change and global warming.

Overall, Hockman wrote a really fun romance with a beautiful setting and hilarious characters. It was a quick read that I didn’t put down until I finished.

Shipped releases on January 19, 2021. Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

In this book we follow two "feuding" coworkers, Henley and Graeme as they are forced together on a business cruise. They are both up for the same promotion and neither one of them is willing to back down. Let the games...and perhaps a little sexual attraction...begin!

This book gave me everything I needed...and then some. I was swooning the entire time. I was extremely connected to all of the characters in this book. None of the side characters seemed flat or irrelevant. I would highly recommend this book! I know it is only my third book I have read in 2021, however I can definitely see this book in my top favorites at the end of the year! It is TRULY that GOOD!

I absolutely devoured this book over the holidays. As in, stayed up until 3am because I could not put it down. In the age of COVID, I gravitate toward novels about vacation, and as a rule of thumb, I love a good boss-babe story. This was so engaging and I just wanted to keep reading about the protagonist and her antics to climb upward in the corporate world. I deducted one star because some of the buzzy corporate-lingo descriptions made me roll my eyes as someone who is engaged professionally in a similar world - but I still very much enjoyed this book and will recommend it strongly on my feed.

A free cruise to the Galapagos Islands, the possibility of a dream promotion, and a much-needed break from grad school plus a demanding job? Sounds like a dream - but for Henley Evans, it all comes along with the presence of her work nemesis, Graeme Crawford-Collins, whom she's never met in person but who is favored by their boss for the job Henley's angling for...and who turns out to be an unexpectedly attractive distraction.

Enemies (or rather, rivals; I like my stakes lower than, say, the fate of nations on the line) to lovers happens to be one of my favorite tropes, but it's one that's so often mishandled. If the enemies in question are too genuinely hostile to begin with, if the enmity is too legit, it's hard to convince the reader that it can be overcome in the span of 300-odd pages. On the other hand, if the rivalry feels weak or is built too entirely on nothing but a flimsy out-of-character misunderstanding, the rest of the book feels unearned. But Shipped manages this tricky balance quite well. The rivalry between protagonist Henley and her co-worker Graeme is surmountable but real, based in their particular and specific issues and baggage and totally in character, with stakes just high enough to matter (a major promotion, with big consequences for the promotee's life). The rivalry neither carries on too long into the book nor is resolved too easily - we get plenty of fun bickering-but-attracted action here, and the chemistry between Henley and Graeme is great.

The side characters are fun - Nikolai is over-the-top but in a fun way, while Henley's sister Walsh injects a healthy dose of chaos as needed - and the setting is absolutely gorgeously described. Hockman's background in eco-tourism makes perfect sense, given the book's emphasis on it, and means she writes of the Galapagos Islands' lush, pristine beauty, its flora and fauna and the sheer wonder of it all, marvelously. The resolution is satisfying on all counts, from the romantic angle to the workplace drama, and offers exactly the kind of happily ever after ending romance novels were made for. All in all, Shipped is a fresh and fun, swoony piece of escapism, perfect for readers feeling stuck at home, looking for a bit of romantic fantasy tourism through their reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the advance review copy!

Shipped by Angie Hockman is the fun, light-hearted, witty romance that I've been looking for. It not only quenched my currently insane wanderlust, it also explored the conflict of work-life balance and work place discrimination thoroughly, even after the romantic relationship had been established. Though the ending was not my favorite part of the book, I can appreciate how satisfying of a conclusion it was.

4/5 Stars

I really enjoyed reading this book. This is an enemies to lovers/ co-worker romance and I am here for it. We have our two love interests going on a work cruise together that is going to help determine which one is going to get the promotion they are both in line for. The romance was cute and swoony. I loved it, and I really enjoyed the fact that there was this underlying plot with their job and promotions that I felt added something to the story. Overall a great read and would for sure recommend!

My first book of 2021 and it’s a favorite! I know this is a book I’ll be thinking about for a long time to come! Let’s hope all my reads are good this year 🤞🏻

Shipped is described as book for fans of The Hating Game and Unhoneymooners and there couldn’t be a more perfect & accurate description! The Hating Game was my first adult romance and it introduced me to that wonderful world and wonderful trope of Enemies to Lovers. This book definitely delivers on that!

We follow our main character Henley who works for SeaQuest, a cruise ship company. She works closely alongside remote worker Grahame who she doesn’t have the best first impressions of and likewise. When they are both up for a promotion, their boss sends them on a cruise to.... THE GALAPEGOS! (yes, I instantly thought of Ted from Schitt’s Creek). And of course, a lot goes down on this cruise.

The writing was excellent and flowed nicely. The description of the cruise was so perfect it had me reminiscing on my first cruise in 2019 (can I please go back?). I loved, loved, loved our main characters and Grahame’s sensitivity and charm. I loved how Henley was dedicated to breaking barriers at work to show that women can work just as hard as men and be in the position of power, while working towards her own goals, and helping her sister through some hard stuff. She was pretty much super woman. I don’t think there was anything I DIDNT like about this book. Yeah Henley was stubborn, but aren’t we all? She showed so much growth thanks to Grahame and her sister and I am here for it!

I loved this book so much, I pre-ordered a physical copy and plan to share with my best friend, , who I hope loves it as much as I did!

Would I reread this? Absofreakinglutely!

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Workaholic Henley had put in the effort, and now it was time for her to reap her reward - the director position. Unfortunately, she was shortlisted along with her work nemesis, Graeme. In order to win the position, they had to develop a marketing campaign for the Galápagos trip while on the cruise. Henley's time at sea gave her a new perspective and may have had her rethinking a lot of things...especially when it came to Graeme.

I don't even know where to start with my praise for this book. It was laugh-out-loud funny, thoughtful, and sweet. One way this book stood out was its setting. Hockman took me on quite an adventure! She brilliantly helped me tour the Galápagos Islands from the comfort of my reading chair. Not only was I pulled into the physical surrounding, I enjoyed interacting with the flora and fauna of the islands as well. Hockman's love and passion for ecology really shined here, and I delighted in all the details and information she included.

I also really liked her approach to the enemies-to-lovers trope too. This trope doesn't always work for me. Sometimes the hate part goes on a bit too long or I get uncomfortable with the confrontations, but not this time. Henley felt justified in her ire for Graeme, but she reflected quite a bit on her interactions with him in person versus her previous electronic experiences. I appreciated that this started fairly early in the cruise and really enjoyed seeing her opinion of Graeme slowly evolve.

When Graeme and Henley had their first in-person meeting, I knew they would make a great pair. I was instantly taken with Graeme, and I really hoped Henley would see what I saw in him. As I waited, I was treated to lots of tension, "almost" moments, and fantastic banter. I found Graeme to be a positive force in Henley's life. He was soft, sweet, and supportive, and he had a hand in getting her to re-evaluate some aspects of her life. I felt they were lucky to have found each other, and I simply adored them together.

I had such a wonderful time exploring the Galápagos Islands with Graeme and Henley! This one checked all the boxes for me. Fabulous heroine who cared deeply, lovable hero with a heart of gold, fantastic supporting characters who had their chance to shine, and a romance I was 100% behind.

Overall: An absolutely fun and feel-good story!

Through long winter days, I oftentimes search for a reading pick-me-up to chase away any winter blues. This book totally achieved that for me. This delightful enemies-to-lovers style romance delivered on all levels of what I love most about this well-known trope. The Galapagos Islands come alive through the wonderfully described and well-delivered plot and descriptions and my imagination fully took flight as I felt as though I were living this story along with the main characters. I cannot recommend this enough because it is sure to pull you in on multiple levels of delight and entertainment.

What a perfect book to chase away the winter blues! I absolutely loved this book. The best trip I’ve ever been on was to the Galapagos Islands so this book made me so happy. I felt like I was reliving my trip over again since I traveled to many of the same spots. I appreciated the conservation efforts made within the story line because that was a huge takeaway from trip as well. It is important to know that we as humans can both destroy and support nature and wildlife. There’s no place like the Galapagos which truly embraces that idea. If you miss traveling or just want to learn more about a new place, I highly recommend picking up Shipped!

Thank you to Angie Hockman, Gallery Books, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Shipped is a cute, eco-romance, enemies to lovers, story about a workaholic marketing manager for a boutique cruise-line that has to go on a 10 day all expense paid trip to the Galapagos with her work nemesis in order to create a social media marketing proposal to get the job of her dreams. Sounds unrealistic, far fetched, nothing I’ve ever read before.... and I loved it!

The enemies to lovers trope is predictable, but one of my favorites in the romance genre. The cast of characters in both Seattle and the Galapagos were endearing and helped pushed the story along rather than distract from the plot. But my favorite part of this book was the time the author took to weave descriptions of natural wonders and the environmental significance of their location itself into the storyline. I was so happy at the outcome that it completely redeemed by general dislike for the main characters’ one sidedness up until that point.

I would’ve liked for the steamy parts to actually be a bit steamy. But if you are looking for a good solid Hallmark type romance that sends your mind racing to tropical location conservation, this is it!

Did you love The Unhoneymooners and The Hating Game as much as I did? Shipped is being called a mash-up of the two and I would 100% agree. Henley Evans is up for her dream promotion at her job at a cruise line, but there’s one big problem. Her workplace nemesis, Graeme Crawford-Collins is also in the running. To decide on the winner, they’re sent on a cruise to the Galapagos together. This sounds like the perfect place to turn from enemies to lovers.

I absolutely loved the travel aspect of this book, especially now when we’re stuck at home. If you need an escape from reality, this is the perfect choice. The Galapagos Islands are described in gorgeous detail and if you don’t finish this book with an urge to go hiking and kayaking, I’ll be very confused.

There are so many laugh out loud moments in this book. Between Henley’s mishaps, a certain over the top Russian, and endless banter, I found myself chuckling more than often than not. All of the cruise ship passengers (including Henley’s meddling sister Walsh) and employees brought a little extra charm to the story.

This book isn’t all fun and games though. Of course, romance has a part (more of the slow burn type), it’s also about women finding their voice in the workplace, standing up to the misogynistic boss, and fighting for what you believe in.

I think we could all use a tropical cruise vacation about now after months of not traveling. This book was a perfect way to do it and envision yourself out there.

Title: Shipped
Author: Angie Hockman
Genre: Romcom
Genre Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book centers on 2 co-workers; Henley and Graeme. They both work for an eco-tourist cruise line and are battling for the same promotion to head up the marketing department. Graeme has been working remote so the cruise will be the first time they meet in person, and Henley while very interested in seeing what he looks like is not thrilled as he’s the bane of her existence. Each tasked with creating a proposal on how to boost bookings for the Galapagos, they set sail.

This book was a wonderful adventure as we visited the Galapagos with the tourists on board ship and experienced all the island had to offer. At the same time we saw the main characters learn about themselves, forgiveness for misunderstandings, what real teamwork can accomplish and following your heart.

Keep Chasing Sharks!

A sweet, feel good story. Ahh, I enjoyed this book thoroughly! I loved the hate turned love storyline. At first I was pretty annoyed with Henley, when she kept pushing Graeme away.. Like, girl!, what is wrong with you! This guy is perfect and your insecurities are pushing him in the wrong direction! Glad she finally figured it out!
This story was also about the competition between Henley and Graeme, both vying for a promotion to digital director of the company they work for, Seaquest Adventures. They both desperately want the job, and are sent on a cruise together. They are supposed to each come up with a new strategy to get more people to take the cruise.
Its quite surprising how it all ends, and I loved every minute getting there.
Another thing I absolutely loved was the setting. The descriptions of Galapagos, and all the scenery and wildlife had me wanting to book a cruise of my own.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

Henley needs to become a marketing director to pay her bills and pay back her student loans. Unfortunately, the one person that stands in her way is the gorgeous Graeme. The enemies are sent on a work cruise to see who will have a better marketing campaign when they come home. However, when the two meet, it is clear that there are sparks between them! This was an adorable enemy to lovers read!!

Such a fun enemy to lovers romance! I especially enjoyed this story because it was a chance to travel to the Galapágos while being stuck in my home due to COVID!! The scenery was written with such knowledge and detail I could picture the beautiful landscape and exotic animals.

Henley is a driven ambitious go-getter who never slows down. She works harder than anyone in her office and attends classes at night. Graeme is the mysterious somewhat new guy at her job who works remotely from Michigan. Ever since Graeme takes credit for a project Henley did, she despises him. Now, they're both up for the same promotion. Both Henley and Graeme are sent on a cruise to prove they are the right fit for the new promotion. Once they meet in person and really get to know each other, the promotion is the last thing on their minds.

I was expecting a cute romance which that definitely delivers but it also has underlying themes of misogynistic men in charge, breaking the glass ceiling, *TRIGGER WARNING* domestic abuse, and saving the planet!

I highly recommend you "Take a Chance on" Shipped by Angie Hockman!

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Gallery Books for sharing this ARC with me in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a fun pre-pandemic read about traveling. Love the enemies to lovers relationship. This was a fun read!
I will be featuring this book in a future podcast.