When I saw this rom-com was based on The Hating game meets Unhoneymooners, I immediately requested for this book and am happy to say that it absolutely lived up to its expectations without a doubt! It is also my favorite trope - enemies to lovers. Graeme and Henley get to go on a cruise to Galapagos on an office task and then their cute banter starts off right away. There is crackling chemistry between them and they both are so adorable.

I liked their personalities as whole with their insecurities and histories shaping their current behaviors. It was not just a light, fun romance but actually discusses eco-tourism which I loved and is refreshing too. I devoured it in one sitting and now I want to read more about her friends and their stories hopefully. I wish it had more steam!

I also liked how the other women at Henley’s workplace supported each other representing true women empowerment. I absolutely hated Henley’s sister Walsh for most of the book but she does get better at the end.

The best part was the vivid detailed description of Galapagos and it certainly made me want to add it to my bucket list! We should all enjoy the wonders we see all around and enjoy nature for a bit. This is definitely echoed by the author and thank you for that!

An absolute delight!

Thank you Gallery Books and Netgalley for my advanced copy!

Sign me up for a Galapagos cruise! The scenery, the adventures and the steamy views were right up my alley! Between their banter and chemistry, Graeme (such a good name!) and Henley are fun, lovable, well written characters. Henley’s inner thirteen year old was squealing so hard during the karaoke scene and so was mine. SUCH a good scene. I love how each character was vulnerable but strong and ended up right where they should be in life! Loved this book!

‘Shipped’ is a delightful enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy with a healthy dose of wit, and a satisfying amount of substance.

Henley Evans is overworked and under-appreciated as the marketing manager at a popular cruise line. When she’s notified she’s in the running for a lucrative promotion, she’s thrilled… until she realizes that her coworker/nemesis is also being considered for the job. Graeme Crawford-Collins works remotely as the social media manager, and is as infuriating as he is handsome. But when their boss sends them both on a cruise to the Galápagos Islands, Henley realizes that she may have pegged Graeme all wrong.

Angie Hockman does a masterful job of creating a breezy, fun story that also has a lot of depth. On its surface, it’s an exploration of a familiar trope, but it’s told in a wholly unique way, with the backdrop of the beautiful Galápagos Islands. The characters in the novel are all well sketched, and you get a good understanding of both the heroine and the hero’s points of view. There’s also a deliciously slow burn that simmers between Henley and Graeme that is a joy to read. It’s a little steamy, though all of the main romantic scenes are alluded to but happen off-page.

Another thing I appreciated about this novel is how Hockman accurately portrayed the struggle that women have in the workplace, but did so in a manner that didn’t feel overwrought or out of place. Same too with her ideas of how to better care for the environment. These interwoven elements of the story made the novel feel all the more timely, and added a layer of substance that I found worthwhile.

In all, ‘Shipped’ is the perfect beach read that will leave you entertained and also enlightened.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for generously providing me with an ARC of ‘Shipped’ in exchange for my honest review.

This book exceeded my expectations! It was definitely a rom-com, but it incorporated some serious themes as well. I really enjoyed it and the setting was perfect.

AHHHHHHHHHH is all I have to say! So beautiful and exactly The Unhoneymooners meets The Hating Game! Cannot wait for everyone to read this.

"Shipped" is a funny, cute rom-com novel from new author Angie Hockman. The title is a great play on words and is just further proof of Hockman's clever writing style. Graeme and Henley are rival coworkers who are both up for the same job: digital marketing coordinator for a cruise line. When their boss sends them on a cruise to get an up-close and personal look at all that their company offers, the sparks begin to fly. I enjoyed the personal growth Henley showed throughout the book. Not only did she become a better person, employee, and sister, but she also learned to let her guards down with Graeme. This was a really enjoyable book, and I highly recommend it!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

I don’t always read rom com novels but when I do, I like them to be sexy, light, witty, and fun. This one hit all those marks. It’s a modern day millennial love story. It also had me day dreaming of traveling. I knew nothing of the Galápagos Islands before this and this book took us on a romantic adventure to the exotic location.

Henley is a goal oriented career woman. A good role model and a refreshing parallel to the typical damsel in distress/gives up everything for a man type who is often portrayed in romance books. Graeme is handsome and charming but Henley finds him unbearable...or so she tries to convince herself. Without even trying they have a flirty playful banter that was entertaining. They challenge each other.

The job component adds another layer of depth to this story. It’s no secret that women typically have to work harder to get power roles in the workplace. Henley is very aware of this which adds to her animosity towards Graeme. She feels he gets special “buddy buddy” treatment from their boss, probably because he’s a man. She ain’t having it! At first I understand her hate towards him but you slowly realize Graeme is NOT the enemy. He’s actually very kind and supportive of Henley. He encourages her passion and wants her to thrive (even if it was more than him). * Swoon* But as they begin to connect more you remember they’re still competing for the same job! This puts a complicated wrench in their romantic feelings. Can they pull through?

Thank you Net Galley and Gallery Books for this ARC in exchange for our honest review. (PUB DATE: 1/19/21). You’ll want to pre order this one- it’ll be the perfect heart warming tropical escape from the January cold.

This was an adorable Romcom and super quick, but fun read. I enjoyed the main characters and I enjoyed the setting, though I wish I had been on a beach reading it! The story moved quickly and it was just fun to see what was going to happen as these characters spent time together in real life after many months of email and staff meetings. Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

I really wanted to love this book, but I just couldn’t get past the heroine; there was just something about her that just annoyed the crap out not me. Which is super sad because I really enjoyed everything else! She did such a good job with the info on the Galapagos and painting a picture of being on vacay.....but I couldn’t get I to the story because I was just super annoyed with Henley. Definitely a fun summer read!

This book was very, very fun. Angie Hockman has a delightful voice and the characters and set-up were familiar yet fresh and just a delight. I thought the enemies-to-lovers set up, having Henley and Graeme compete for the same promotion was done very well (and took away power dynamic issues that can happen in some workplace romance). Their chemistry was great and they were very cute together and easy to root for. The cruise ship was a fun and interesting setting and everything was just executed extremely well for a fun summer read.

Four stars, partially because I read this on a beach, which is exactly where you want to read this book. Shipped, by Angie Hockman, is marketed as a mix between The Unhoneymooners and The Hating Game, and that’s exactly what it is. What saves this book from being just another contemporary romance is that it’s actually well written, the characters are lovely, the romance feels believable, and the author has clearly put time into researching the setting (the Galapagos) and painting a picture of the location. It may be a completely predictable story, but I certainly enjoyed the ride, and I loved the author’s note at the end. If you need a good beach read, I highly recommend this one.

My problem with enemies-to-lovers storylines tends to be that I don't buy the change, whether it's the reason for it or that I don't believe either the enemies part or the lovers part. But Hockman nailed the plot. I bought it all. And I shipped it all so hard because of it.

The work dynamic was fascinating, even if at the end it felt a little bit too neatly wrapped up. I loved how Hockman demonstrated Henley's relationships with her colleagues and how they manifested outside work. And of course her sister was an absolute delight, with many nuances to her.

And our Russian lover-boy was absolutely hilarious!

This is such a cute rom-com with a great message! I loved all of the scenes in the Galápagos and it was great to read during Covid since I can't physically travel anywhere.

“This is the competition. We’re not on the Love Boat. We’re on an assignment for work. And the one who uses this experience to craft the best proposal wins. And I’m going to win. I will. I’ll make sure of it.”

Henley Rose Evans is a workaholic, dedicated to her marketing job at Seaquest Adventures and finishing her MBA at night. After giving so much to her company, she’s finally up for a promotion. But to throw a wrench in the plan, Henley’s number one work nemesis, Graeme Crawford-Collins is also in the running for the brand-new director of digital marketing position too.

Following a meeting with her boss (where Graham Cracker-Collins is eavesdropping over speakerphone from his remote office in Michigan), both Henley and Graeme are forced to book their own Seaquest Adventures cruise to the Galápagos Islands as research for a new marketing proposal. The boss's idea: competition breeds innovation and the employee with the best marketing plan deserves the promotion. It's game on and Henley will do anything to win. When the enemies meet for the first time on the cruise ship, sparks fly and Graeme is nothing like Henley expected.

I read “Shipped” all in one sitting - I didn't want to put it down. It's the perfect romance novel: light and genuinely funny with a lot of heart.

Henley and Graeme were both solid characters, and that helped with the book's overall success. Henley wasn’t the stereotypical stick-in-the-mud workaholic that we see so often in fiction novels, and Graeme didn’t sweep in to completely change her as a person. They were fun and charming, and grew together as the relationship evolved in a really natural way. Henley and Graeme actually talked to each other and addressed their concerns, and it was so appreciated.

There's only one thing I love more than a supportive couple and that's supportive female friendships. Angie Hockman addresses that immediately and I was thrilled. It made the book so much easier to read knowing that Henley's girls would always have her back.

I also appreciated how Hockman weaved in details about the nature found on the Galápagos Islands. The destination became its own character. From the adventures snorkeling to the tortoise breeding center, Hockman painted such a vivid picture full of life. She was selling the Galápagos Islands and I was buying it!

"Shipped" was such a fun read and I loved every minute. The relationship that grew between Henley and Graeme was so sweet and I was rooting for them as a couple. I can't wait to see what else Hockman puts out - she's a new star in the romance genre.

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((Will share review on blog closer to publication day on Jan. 14, 2021 and post review to Instagram on pub day.))

This was definitely as described - a mix of The Hating Game and The Unhoneymooners (both books I really loved!) at least in terms of the plot. I enjoyed this book, but I wasn't wowed by it. I didn't feel as much tension as I expected between these two main characters, especially given the books this was compared to in the description. I also didn't particularly need the Walsh character and felt like throwing in an abuse storyline was kind of distracting for me personally. However, overall this was a really fun and fast read and I will definitely read more by Angie Hockman in the future!

I thoroughly enjoyed this tropical rom-com and finished it in two sittings. It was all things cute, funny and beachy. I loved Henley & Graeme even though there were several instances in which I was internally screaming "Nooooo!" at Henley. I especially loved that many of the main & supporting characters had back stories that contributed to how they appeared on first sight. It gave the story more depth and emotion.

Many are comparing this to the Unhoneymooners and there are definitely similarities...tropical locale, enemies to lovers trope, sister relationships, etc. The one thing I personally appreciated more about Shipped is that the romance is closed-door. There was great banter and tension but the door closes before things get too steamy. I think this book is proof that a romance can be sexy without lots of detailed sex.

The perfect book to toss in your beach bag for reading by the pool, on the beach or while trying to vicariously escape the winter weather!

I really enjoyed this book - it was well written and well-researched, I learned a lot about the Galapagos islands and enjoyed the romance too. I also thought the author did a great job at exploring how women are often disadvantaged in the work place. Overall a really enjoyable romance novel. I hope the author writes a second book about the protagonist's sister!

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this book! I had fun reading it!

Enemies to lovers, set in a work environment find themselves on a small cruise together competing for the same job position. It was set on a topical backdrop reminiscent of the Unhoneymooners. It has a supporting cast of characters and a great ending I didn’t see coming. The romance was a little lacking, the island description had more depth than the chemistry between Henley and Graeme but still enjoyed their banter and competitive spirit. I loved the shift from power moves to vulnerability with each other.

Shipped was described as a mash up between The Unhoneymooners and That Hating Game, and dang if it isn't better than both of them! This is the debut novel from Angie Hockman and count me a fan.

Henley is a Type A marketing manager who has her sights set on climbing the ladder at Seaquest Adventures, a cruise company. Graeme is the social media manager at Seaquest and Henley's number #1 enemy. Their boss sends them both on a cruise to the Galapagos and asks each of them to use the experience to develop a new marketing plan. Whoever's plan is best will win a promotion. All's fair in love and war, right?

I read this book in two days - it was a great end of summer read for me, and when it comes out in January it'll be a balm to those dark and long winter days. The banter between the two characters is hilarious, and the supporting characters are amazing. I thought the ending wrapped up a little too neatly for my tastes, but Shipped definitely delivered everything I look for in a rom com from a debut author.

Thanks to Gallery Books and NetGalley for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.

So I read this book in 1 sitting today! I was drawn into the premise but the scenery was the cherry on top! I love a good workplace competition and strong females getting the (literal) job done! I love love loved the information the author included at the end about the real life environmental resources for the area covered in the book. Make sure you grab this in January when it’s out. I bet a sunny, tropical cruise will likely be a great reprieve in the middle of Winter! Thank you @netgalley for this eARC!!