Usually when a review says something like "it's like _____ meets _____", I'm left sorely disappointed because it's none of those things. This was so light and fun and checked all the boxes with me. I feel a slight personal connection to the Galapagos because my brother spent inside of a year there and his girlfriend is Equadorian, but I don't even think that figures I to how much I enjoyed this. I needed something to take my mind of (waves hands) all this, and it was the perfect book for today.

Shipped was a fun escape at a time that I needed to slip away from the real world for a while. Henley works for Seaquest - an adventure cruise company and has been working hard to get a promotion to be a director. Her boss lets her know that she is on the shortlist - just her and her work enemy, Graeme. They are both being sent on a cruise to the Galápagos Islands and whoever comes back with the best proposal for increasing sales will get the director position.

I really enjoyed taking a mental vacation to 2019 and traveling to a place I’ve never been. I really enjoyed the slow burn, closed door romance between Henley and Graeme as well. There were some parts that felt a little too neatly tied up with a bow for me - but I’m still along for the ride!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the advance reading copy.

CW: abusive relationship

This was cute! It was a bit cheesy at times (I almost gave up on it in the beginning) but it turned out to be a sweet romantic relief in these dark times. The story is your classic enemy coworkers turn lovers but with a more believable character dynamic. I give it a 3/5 because I feel the plot needed more substance.

This book was so great to read since it is starting to get colder. Who wouldn't want to experience a trip to the Galapagos right now?!

Henley Evans is extremely hard working and wants nothing more than to get promoted at work, but she is nervous her nemesis, Graeme, will get the promotion instead of her and she is determined to do whatever to beat him. When she learns she is on the short list for the promotion, she also learns Graeme is also on the list. Their company is an adventure cruise company that takes passengers through unique adventures at different destinations and neither Henley nor Graeme have been on any Seaquest Adventure cruises. Their boss James decides to send both of them on a cruise to the Galapagos to experience a Seaquest cruise and whoever can create the best and most unique proposal following the trip will be promoted.

I really loved both Henley and Graeme. Henley is a very hard worker and is extremely advantageous. She is determined to be successful and works harder than anyone she knows. Graeme is an extremely sweet guy who does not understand why Henley hates him so much. I really enjoyed the romance between the two, but I felt that, at times, there was more emphasis on social commentary and it almost read more like women's fiction than romance. I wanted more emphasis on the romance, more enemies to lovers, and maybe even more steam because there was so much tension between these two characters. I also really loved Henley's sister, Walsh. She was really cool and I would love to read a companion novel about her! There were many scenes that were laugh-out-loud funny which I appreciated and I really liked the social commentary throughout.

The descriptions of the Galapagos in terms of nature and animals on the islands were so cool. You could tell this book was extremely well researched and I felt like I was truly transported to the islands. I also loved hearing about the different excursions that really are popular for travelers. Overall, I wanted a little more development for the romance, but I loved the setting and the characters.

This book left me feeling reminiscent of several of my favorite writers -- Emily Henry, Rainbow Rowell, Sally Thorne... If you adore a good love/hate romance, you will not be able to put this one down!

Henley Evans, marketing manager for Seaquest Adventures Cruise Line, barely has time for herself, let alone family, friends, or dates between work and night classes for her MBA. When she hears she’s up for a promotion to becoming the company’s new director of digital marketing, which comes with a rather nice pay raise (perfect to help pay off those student loans), she finally feels like all her hard work is finally being recognized. That is until she hears she’s not the only one on the boss’s radar. Enter Graeme Crawford-Collins, the remote social media manager and the one coworker that Henley always seems to butt heads with (she has her reasons). The two of them are sent on a cruise to the Galapagos Islands with the task of drafting a proposal to boost bookings. Henley wants more than anything to succeed, but when Graeme turns out not to be the big-bad she thought him to be, she starts to question everything.

This book was pitched as The Unhoneymooners meets The Hating Game, and while I’ve only read the former, I’ve heard enough about the latter to confirm those are the exact vibes I got from this book. Henley has her reasons for hating Graeme, dating back to his first few weeks on the job, and the two do nothing but take jabs at each other through emails and messages. But when the two meet in person for the first time, and Henley starts to realize her first impression may not have been correct, she starts to doubt herself. Additionally, while exploring the islands Henley sees Graeme putting together amazing ideas to boost sales through social media clicks, as her mind is void of any creativity. I loved the dynamic between the two as the story progresses, as they both have a lot of learn about themselves and about each other, but as time goes on they find it better to come to those realizations together instead of apart. Henley is a strong and capable character, but she comes to learn that even those who seem to have it all together need to ask for help sometimes. It’s not a sign of weakness, and it will only make them stronger as a team in the end.

I also appreciated that while the romance was adorable, it also tackled several important topics in a fair way, including toxic masculinity, misogyny, unfair treatment in the workplace, abusive relationships, and grief. Conversations between characters that included these topics were treated without bias and overall made the story have a message of hope. I am especially glad misogyny in the workplace was addressed and corrected when brought to the attention of supervision, as far too often we see victims of the situation not being believed, which can cause a hostile work environment. I am very glad to say this book ends with a happy ever after *spoiler* with Henley getting her job and her man.

I think this will be the perfect book to sit down to read in the middle of winter, to give you all the summer vibes that will make you pray for warmer weather. The imagery was great and the research that went into the novel made me imagine I was on that cruise along with Henley and Graham. I hope romance readers love this one as much as I did. **Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Gallery Books, for the e-copy, all thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this one a bit early!

I was quite stoked for a book that was dubbed “The Unhoneymooners meets The Hating Game, as those are two contemporary romances I quite enjoy, and I’d say it came pretty close as far as how enjoyable the story was.

I have to admit, it was a little hard for me to get into at the beginning because of how frustrating the main character (Henley’s) sister was. It almost made me put the book down. I’m really glad I didn’t.

Henley is a badass female protagonist who works really hard to get where she is, and in genuinely likable. The male lead, Graeme, is quite the dish, and a really nice guy. It was great to read a book in this genre that takes place in a totally different place than usual (mostly in the Galapagos).

Henley and Graeme and great chemistry, but I wish there was a little more steam. It’s definitely a “closed door” romance which I’m sure will appeal to some people, I like the genre for the relationships and the smut.

Overall I would recommend!

This book is exactly what I needed to read during the last part of 2020. Take a vacation to the Galapagos, since you are likely stuck at home, in cold weather when this book is released. Forget your worries and get lost on a fun cruise filled with adventure, siblings, and a love-hate work relationship.

While I'm not typically a Romance reader, this modern fiction is flirty and fun. You won't be disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for this review.

I really enjoyed this book and flew through it. There were certain parts I struggled with like the romance at times but I did enjoy it. I loved the setting of a cruise liner and how it furthered the plot.

I thoroughly enjoyed this closed door rom-com with a tropical escape. You could tell from the very beginning that the author had done a ton of research and really brought the Galapagos to life. This book touches on eco-tourism and conservation beautifully. An environmentally-aware romance? Sign me up!

If you're in the mood for a strong, determined female lead and a charming hero this is for you! Henley is an independent, strong woman and sets goals for herself, like paying off her student loans. (Girl, I feel you.) Graeme is sweet and charming. I loved how he was fully present for Henley through the book! Plus, there’s a super cute postcard scene that made my heart swoon!

This is the perfect book to pre-order or to put on your wishlist for the holidays! It releases in January 2021 and will be the best time to cuddle up with a tropical read!

**I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.**

Wow wowww wow - I loved everything about this book. I love The Galapagos tie in, the focus on Henley and Graeme’s jobs, and the sweet romance in there. This was, for me, a surprisingly inspiring book!

“Shipped” is exactly what we need after the nightmare of 2020. After one incident spoils a first impression, Henley Evans keeps a lot of hate in her heart. She spends a year or so despising her colleague Graeme based on a misunderstanding. Cut to the chase: they’re up for the same job and must spend a week on a cruise together in order to plan for their promotion. Whoever comes up with the best proposal for marketing wins the new title. As an enemies-to-lovers story, let’s be honest, the real prize is love.

Anyone who knows me knows I love love. I am a sucker for a happy ending and I *need* my characters to end up together and happy. What I didn’t know I needed, though, was Angie Hockman showing me, in the form of my own entertainment of all places, that it’s okay to change your mind, and your opinions, as you grow as a person. The person I was a year ago is different than the one I am today. Same thing with 10 years ago Val. We learn something new every day whether we know it or not.

Guys, do yourselves a favor and put this on your TBR. Add it to a preorder list. Put it on your goodreads shelves. “Shipped” has the structure of a light, easy, quick-paced romance but one that makes you think about what you really want... set in paradise. What could be better?

I enjoyed this read! It has been reviewed as a mix between The Unhoneymooners and The Hating Game which I can definitely pick up on! I think it touched on tropes from both books but didn’t have as much of depth to it.


I really liked Henley, her ambition and career anxiety felt really realistic. She felt like a real older millennial to me, worrying about her future and student loans!

Graeme was sweet and caring. I wish we could’ve learned more about him. I think we get too see a little bit but it was very surface level and I would’ve liked to know more! And I would’ve liked to know more about his feeling for Henley, rather than being told how he felt really quickly. They had great banter but I would’ve liked to see more of it and more getting to know each other.

I loved the setting and the author’s note from this book. I was intrigued and looked up the animals and places that were mentioned!

I think the topic of relationship abuse could’ve been covered more instead of seeming like a two page plot point.

Overall this was a quick, fun, cute and read!

4.5 star read for sure! When I read that the blurb for this book noted it was a cross between The Hating Game and The Unhoneymooners, I knew I would love it! Enemies to Lovers is one of the most entertaining tropes in my opinion and the fact that it was also a workplace romance just heightened the quality of the story.

The author included amazing description of the Galapagos Islands and had me wanting to pack my bags and go the second travel is safe again. But this book wasn't just fluff. The characters addressed issues regarding abusive relationships, gaslighting in the workplace, and parental illness and death. It was easy to become attached to not just the main character, but many of the supporting characters as well including Henley's sister and a rather amusing fellow cruise goer, Nikolas to name a few. Shipped is truly a well balanced novel and one I will be recommending to many many friends in the future. I'm excited to see what else Angie Hockman publishes in the future.

Loved this book! The characters were so fun to read about and the enemies to lovers trope was played out beautifully. Highly enjoyable and great setting.

This debut novel was delightful. I was wonderful to see how Henley's development professionally and personally.

Craving a mix of The Hating Game and The Unhoneymooners? Angie Hockman really came through with such a cute and heartwarming read! Shipped was everything that I had been missing, I had been wanting to read something like The Hating Game for a while now like there is just something about the way two enemies who loathe each other, yet end up falling in love— that just gives me a different kind of pleasure. Shipped was a perfect mixture and balance of a romantic comedy. Though the concept was similar to other books I have read previously, it was still fresh and exciting to read.

This book made me smile. She's overworked under appreciated and he's learning to live life after taking care of sick parent. They th work for the same company and are competing for a promotion. Due to a misunderstanding she resents him. This book has a few twists that has you rooting for the characters.


******************I received an ARC for my honest opinion from NetGalley.********************************

SHIPPED is accurately comped as The Honeymooners meets The Hating Game. It follows colleagues Henley and Graeme as they vie for a promotion for their cruise line employer. Most of the book takes place during a cruise to the Galapagos and it is the perfect escape read! The story transports you and you feel like you’re right there in the water or hiking along with wildlife. It was a such a fun read.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

First and foremost, I absolutely commend this author on her research of the Galapagos Islands. These islands are amazing and do not always get the love they deserve, even though they are extremely famous. The scenery, the atmosphere, and the wildlife are all highlighted and the conservation efforts are highlighted. It’s nice that this location takes center stage as it not only provides the backdrop of the story, but also brings awareness to the threats facing this gem (I encourage any reader to read up on conserving these islands as many species, including the marine wildlife, face many threats).

The immediate connection to two novels that I enjoyed: The Unhoneymooners and The Hating Game created a need for me to get my hands on this novel to read. It takes the idea of two rival co-workers who are up for the same promotion like The Hating Game and places the two of them together on a destination vacation where they constantly have to interact with each other a la The Unhoneymooners. Even though it has similar aspects to both novels, this book makes the storyline its own and can stand on its own two feet.

Henley Rose Evans is a marketing manager for the cruise company, Seaquest. While working full-time, she is also getting her MBA with night classes. She’s incredibly busy and barely has time to keep up with her personal life, or lack thereof, and to take care of herself. When she’s called into the Chief Marketing Officer’s office, her boss James, she is informed that she up for a promotion for the new Director of Digital Marketing position. Unfortunately, she finds that her rival is also up for the same promotion and with him being James’ favorite; Henley has to now work twice as hard to prove she’s the best one for the job.

Graeme Crawford-Collins is the remote social media manager for Seaquest. He and Henley are both informed by James that they will be competing for the promotion. Their task is to go on their first Seaquest cruise to the Galapagos Islands and create a proposal for promoting this region when they return. Not only are they both tasked with going on the cruise, but they both happen to be going on the same one due to their schedules. How will they survive being together on the cruise and who will ultimately get the promotion – read the novel to find out in this fun and entertaining novel.

As the novel is told from Henley’s point of view, you get to experience her ups and downs as she navigates everything. She admits to herself that she had an attraction to Graeme early on in the novel and she constantly has to battle her feelings as he is not only her competition, but he’s not a good person in her eyes. However, maybe all this time together trapped on the same cruise could open her mind to the possibility that Graeme may not be as bad as she originally thought.

My first thoughts with Henley as a character are that she is very relatable to someone trying to balance working a full time demanding career while moving through a demanding graduate program. It was nice to read a character that’s working hard to move ahead in her career and it shows that it’s a ton of work to do both. She’s a bright woman who works hard for what she has which was refreshing. There are moments that happen to her that are very far-fetched, but it didn’t take away from my reading as it wouldn’t be a work of fiction otherwise.

It was hard sometimes though to remember that this was a rom-com novel as the characters go on daily excursions while on the cruise and the scenery seems to be the focus rather than developing the love the story. The two characters interacted and we get brief reminders of their work rivalry and the stakes they are facing to receive the promotion, but it was not centralized like I thought it was going to be. If the reader was Earth, the Galapagos was the Sun and the romance was the moon. Sure they all interact, but the romance was attached to the story rather than being the story itself. It was still extremely enjoyable – it just wasn’t what I expected from the description.

Graeme and Henley don’t quite fit into the enemies to lovers troupe as Henley definitely had her reasons to dislike Graeme, but you never quite felt that Graeme disliked Henley for any reason. He was a very nice and understanding individual so you never quite felt tension between them as it was more one-sided dislike. The chemistry between them was heart-warming and they shared a lot of sweet moments. The background characters of her co-workers Barbara, Christina, and Tory, and of course cruise passenger Nikolai were fantastic additions and was all enjoyable in their own way. Nikolai was the perfect addition as he was extremely entertaining and his scenes definitely stole the show. Henley’s sister Walsh comes along on the cruise as well, but she was not enjoyable to me. She was a very spoiled character who didn’t live up to her one obligation to Henley when it came to the cruise. Her one job was to help Henley gain a new perspective and she was brought along to act as Henley’s support system. She was annoying to me and I just couldn’t get behind her as a character from beginning to end.

Overall, the novel was a very entertaining and light-hearted read. It was enjoyable and I would easily read another novel from this author. My main disappointment was Henley’s career and the cruise itself were more main plot-points than the romance. I wish more development was done to build up the will they-won’t they romantic aspect of the story. The idea of going on a free cruise for the purposes of a promotion sounded fun and almost makes me want to go work for a smaller cruise company for those types of perks. It’s a great and easy read that’s perfect escapism especially for those that miss traveling and want a feel-good story along the way.

**Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for ARC and a chance to experience this great novel. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**