This review and its contents can be found on my Goodreads.

[3.5]
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review. Shipped had all the remnants of an amazing contemporary romance similar to the Unhoneymooners. Two rivals vying for the same promotion must go on a company cruise with one another in order to come up with a proposal that will grant them the job. Only problem is they get along better than they thought they would.

The first thing that really stood out to me was that the content had clearly been well researched. I was equally intrigued with the Galapagos as I was entertained by Henley and Graemes antics. The romance wasn't really my favorite thing in the world, but that was mostly because there was a lot happening throughout the book that it just couldn't hold my attention. The back and forth nature of their relationship didn’t help either because instead of having one conversation about moving forward there were multiple arguments and aggravated conversations split up over the whole book and that didn’t work for me. I liked the growing connection between the two of them, there were just other things I felt got in the way of that besides the obvious "we're up for the same promotion" issue. Multiple side storylines are definitely the culprit when it comes to this. One example is Walsh, Henley's sister who comes along to gather intel on the guests and the day to day activities of the cruise in an effort to help her sister win the promotion. This didn't work for me because she was just another character we had to think about with everything else going on, like the romance, the promotion, and the characters pasts. Again, that is just one example, but there were quite a few others that distracted me as a reader. I did enjoy where things ended up for our main character. Maybe if this had been a bit longer than each individual storyline could have been handled in a different way. All in all Shipped took me places and I quite enjoyed the journey. Look out for this book in the coming year if it interests you!

Initial Thoughts

So here we are, July 2020 and I am reviewing a January 2021 release. CRAZY. Anyway, this book sounded too good not to read right away. I thought the premise sounded super interesting and I felt a certain connection to a workaholic 28 year old main character, wonder why 🤔 😂

Some Things I Liked

Enemies to lovers. Friends, you know this by now, but it’s my favorite trope. It was really well done here. I hated Graeme in the beginning of the story too only to discover both Henley and I were both very wrong about him.
27 Dresses vibes. I actually kind of liked that this book reminded me of that movie. I think it was Henley’s sister that really did that but I enjoyed the parallels.
Graeme not being intimidated by Henley’s goals. Can we get more of this in literature, please? I loved that he was super supportive and not jealous and I feel like that’s not represented enough.
Modern references. Another favorite feature of mine. I love to know that the characters I’m reading about know and recognize the same things I would in the real world.

Series Value

I don’t really think there is much more to say about Henley and Graeme, however, I’d like a spin-off / sequel about some of the side characters we met, especially Christina.

Final Thoughts

Please be advised, there are themes of abusive relationships in this novel. That being said, I think that portion of the story was handled quite well and I liked the positive message regarding seeking help and support. Overall, I really enjoyed this story. I’d definitely read more of Angie Hockman’s books in the future.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Recommendations for Further Reading

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne – if you enjoyed the coworkers, enemies to lovers vibes in this story, try this standalone by Sally Thorne.
The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren – if you liked the idea of enemies to lovers, who were only enemies because of a misunderstanding, who go on vacation together, try this standalone.
The Honey-Don’t List by Christina Lauren – if you liked the workplace drama as well as the enemies to lovers vibes, try this HGTV inspired rom-com.

Hardworking, career-driven Henley is named after a rockstar but feels anything but. Her coworker Graeme with a “voice like a lumberjack dipped in a chocolate fountain”, is incredibly frustrating with his arrogance and terse emails. To their surprise, both are up for a big promotion and will be sent on a cruise of the Galápagos Islands to prepare a pitch for their company. 10 days in close quarters in an exotic locale. Henley quickly finds that Graeme is not as terrible as she’s always thought. I enjoyed this story! It’s a classic enemies-to-lovers trope with plenty of heart. The writing style is very approachable. Henley is incredibly driven, but she doesn’t read as stuffy or boring. She’s feisty and realistic and easy to root for. I loved the chemistry and banter between Henley and Graeme from page one. I also really enjoyed the beautiful imagery of the Galapagos that overflows throughout the story. I’d never considered these small cruises going to remote destinations, but now that I know they exist, it’s on my bucket list!

I really enjoyed the The Unhoneymooners but this book was adorable in its own right. I liked hearing about the Galapagos and I would love to go there someday. I also liked that Graeme lived in Michigan since I do too and I liked the mention. As a woman who's had higher ups/men take credit for my work before, I was cheering Henley along.

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was an ok read for me, it was funny and entertaining to read but just ok for me. For some reason it just didn't keep my attention. I'm sure a lot of people will like it and it's worth reading just wasn't my top favorite! Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for sharing this book with me!

***Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***
This is a perfect mash-up of Sally Thorne's The Hating Game and Christina Lauren's Unhoneymooners. Both are favorites of mine and I was ecstatic to read this wonderful enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy. I was hoping that the book showed both perspectives, but in the end I understood that the main story was more than just a romance - it was about female empowerment and fulfilling your dreams.

Not since ‘You Deserve Each Other’ did any book ever come to par with ‘The Hating Game’ and when the blurb of ‘Shipped’ was released, I was like YAAAAAAAAAAAAAS! This might be the next big thing but… yes there is a but—it didn’t live up to the hype and now all the hopes and dreams I had had for this love child is now shattered and blown to smithereens.

Sure, it’s justifiable as to why this book is marketed for fans of ‘The Unhoneymooners’ by Christina Lauren and ‘The Hating Game’ by Sally Throne. They all share the same elements: enemies turned lovers/arch-nemesis, bitter rivalry, misunderstandings, family drama, and yada yada yada. And what set this novel apart was the fact that it failed to deliver.

It was easy to follow, straightforward and had all the elements I usually gravitate towards. What essentially makes or breaks a novel are the characters and the romance which is what killed this read for me. It lacked depth, there was little to no build-up and the tension was laughable at best. And lets talk about how there were pretty much zero interactions between Graeme and Henley (unique names I give it that) besides the generic work meeting that happened once a week (with the hero tuning in remotely) prior to the cruise. How would anyone consider them ‘bitter rivals’? It just didn’t do it for me and though I wouldn’t say it was terrible (it was cute to some degree), I will probably forget everything that happened in this book within a week.

Overall, it was a meh and unmemorable read.

This book is marketed as The Unhoneymooners meets The Hating Game, and never has a comparison been more accurate. This book is exactly what happens if those two books got together and had a child. Unfortunately, the child just didn't live up to the greatness of its parents. 
The writing in the book is generally good. It's easy to follow and quick to read. The characters are generally likable, all are good, friendly people. The plot is generally straightforward and generally well done. But, this is a romance novel and I felt like the romance lacked depth. It lacked believability.

The two main characters have a rivalry despite the fact that they've never met. They've never had a personal, or non-work-related conversation. They have two somewhat "flirty" (if they can be called that) interactions before seeing each other in the flesh and even those are about their jobs (and one is through their work email). And then you want to tell me that they go on vacation for two weeks and are in love? No. I don't buy it. Especially when they (mostly Henley) think of the other as the enemy for half the vacation! Where was the build-up? The sexual tension?

I also just generally wanted more from the character of Graeme (it took me a moment to know how to mentally pronounce that). Graeme is not who he first appears to be. He's harboring some secrets and while they explain much of his behavior, they also left me dissatisfied.

Overall though, this was a pretty enjoyable book. I read it in one day and it was a cute little rom-com to pass the time. Despite the fact that their romance felt a bit rushed, I actually thought the two were good together. If they would have had more time together, I think I might have loved it.

I wasn't sure if the world needed another romance about rival coworkers. I was wrong. Shipped is delightful. Shades of The Hating Game and Working Girl, among other things.

Henley is the hardest-working person she knows. She's determined to make director at her Seattle adventure travel company, and a great job just opened up. The only problem is, her main competition is Graeme, the work-from-home social media coordinator who makes her life miserable. The two have been feuding for years, despite never having met in person.

Their boss decides that the best way to settle this is to send both of them on one of the company's small-ship cruises, and have them pitch their marketing proposals to win the job. So before she knows it, Henley is off to the Galapagos with Graeme, and her younger sister tagging along. Meeting Graeme in person is a surprise. He's nicer than she expected. And much hotter. Distractingly so. But Henley isn't going to be distracted from her dream job.

This was a lot of fun to read, plus now I have to add the Galapagos to my someday travel list. Henley is a witty narrator, and I wish there was a Graeme at *my* job.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review.

I absolutely SHIPPED this book. This was a very cute enemies to lovers at work story. The story mainly revolves around Henley, who is competing for a promotion against her rival Graeme, who she absolutely loathes because he took credit for one of her ideas... or did he? The promotion requires both of them to go on a cruise together and pitch an idea, whoever has the best one will be the winner. Henley and Graeme are the epitome of the meme " oh no, hes hot" which I found hilarious. Henley is extremely hardworking and ambitious while Graeme is absolutely the pinnacle of charming and sweet. They both have flaws but they also really work well together. Reading about their slow progression into romance was wonderful and I had such a great time reading this story. The plot was great and the end wrapped everything up nicely. I would highly recommend this for romance lovers out there because this is just so sweet.
* Thank you Netgalley for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Let’s be honest, I requested this book purely because of the rivals-to-lovers trope in a workplace, and it did not disappoint. This was such a great debut! Set against the gorgeous Galápagos Islands, Shipped depicts a rivalry for a major promotion and what happens when you start to fall for the competition.

Henley Evans has been working hard both in her night classes and in her day job at a cruise line. She’s up for a promotion that would launch her career, as well as help her pay off her student loans faster. However, her hated enemy at work is also up for the job: Graeme Crawford-Collins. When their boss leans that neither of them have been on one of their company’s cruises, he sends them on one to the Galápagos with the goal of drafting a proposal to boost sales. The best proposal wins the promotion, and Henley is willing to do whatever it takes to win, even if it means ignoring her undeniable attraction to Graeme.

I really liked the writing! It’s easy to fall into Henley’s head; she’s hardworking and determined, planning for anything and everything. Her voice was strong and clear.

The other characters were great as well. Graeme is caring and thoughtful; his enmity with Henley mostly stems out of miscommunications or unknown circumstances. Her sister, Walsh, joins them on the cruise, and I really liked seeing her relationship with Henley grow since they’ve fallen out of contact lately. Henley also has two best friends at her workplace, and they are incredibly supportive.

The romance was so good; I will say that the hate is mostly one-sided on Henley’s part though. Again, her irritation with him mostly occurs because they’ve never met in person: Graeme works remotely in another state, so they’ve only communicated though email or phone calls. I wouldn’t say there’s miscommunication necessarily, more like she had preconceived notions about him based on short correspondences. Any problems she has with him is explained easily. Anyways, together, the two of them were so sweet and I loved reading about them.

When I read the summary of this book, I was a little hesitant about the fact that it takes place in the Galápagos Islands because I was scared about the tourism feeling more like voyeurism. However, it didn’t feel like that at all; rather, it leans into ecotourism in fact. I thought that was really interesting and added more depth to the story.

This book does take place on a cruise, which lent quite an atmosphere to the book. You really feel both the cramped feeling and the joyful adventure of being on a large ship in a new place. I’m not sure if I’ve read a book that takes place on a cruise honestly, so this book will definitely stand out in my memory.

I also liked that this book calls out the sexism Henley faces at her job. Although Graeme has only been working there for one year, as opposed to her three, he’s still being considered for this job. This, in part, fuels Henley’s desire to win even more.

Overall, Shipped had an adorable romance and great characters. I liked the fact that it takes place in a vacation setting; it made the story even more fun. I definitely recommend this book if you like rivals-to-lovers and/or if you are a fan of The Unhoneymooners!

Thank you netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This novel did have a lot of similarities to the Unhoneymooners and The Hating Game but Iit didn't hold a candle to them. While I enjoyed the witty banter between Hanley and Graeme, there was so much more packed into this novel that it was difficult to focus on their interaction. Henley is obsessed with getting this promotion at her job and has painted Graeme as the reason why she hasn't moved up. Graeme for his part seems like a nice enough fellow who is trying to help her at least get a fair shot at the position. This promotion hangs over their heads and is a complete distraction to their love story.
In "The hating Game" you saw a slow built up of the heroine/hero's feelings for each other. In this novel it seemed a bit rushed and underdeveloped.
Overall, a solid romantic comedy worth the read just don't expect the same caliber as the advertised authors mentioned in the summary.

Oooooooo I loved this one. Enemies to lovers? Great banter? Yes please. I loved reading about Graeme and Henley, and I loved the focus on ecotourism and the Galápagos. This was a delight!

Ladies and gentlemen! Make some noise for one of the sweetest, most tempting, enchanting, heartfelt, hilarious, romantic novels I’ve read lately!

And let’s raise our glasses (actually I already finished another bottle during my read: sorry, I got my thirsty when I get excited!) to those brilliant characters: Henley and Graeme - even though name choices are a little strange, Henley is shining like a rock star and Graeme is deliciously charming to consume with marshmallow and dark chocolate during your camp trip!

It’s true this is great mashup of Hating Games meet Honeymooners! I have to admit: it is so much better than the both books because:

- Better approach to frenemies: There is enemies to lovers theme as you may guess but characters are not childish, immature or obnoxious! As soon as you learn more about their back stories, you start to empathize with both of them. And their sizzling, outstandingly hot, smoking chemistry hooks you up and you just find yourself chanting them to kiss and tear each other’s clothes!
- Absolutely better characterization: Henley is hard worker, disciplined but also caring, golden hearted, loyal heroine. She works her ass off to achieve her goals and she always plays fair, does everything to protect her loved ones even though it means babysitting, spoiling her sister. And Graeme was sweet, sexy, smart and emotional hero: a dreamy book boyfriend who always supportive, caring and lovely from the beginning.
- Spectacular location: The cruise to Galapagos with its remarkable nature, memorable views is the perfect choice for growing romance and it also takes your mind away and make you smile so deeply as you wear your ugly pajamas, lying on your couch and holding this digital copy of the book. Even you look miserable, this book takes you places and helps you visualize your postponed holiday plans.
- Best supporting characters Oscar goes to....: Supporting characters are so lovely! In the beginning, I have questions about Walsh: yes she is flirty, spoiled brat who seems lost and no proper idea how to form her life path but at the second half of the book, I enjoyed her energetic, hot blooded, straightforward characteristics. But NIKOLAI STOLE THE SHOW! I laughed so hard at his parts! Especially his dance moves! Okay I gave away too much. I stop right here!
-
Overall: Ultra entertaining, spectacular romcom, a fantastic cruise trip, friendship, sisterhood, women power, hot chemistry, true romance, adorable characters. What are you waiting for! Go and attend that journey!

I’m giving five blazing, breezy, exotic, well-earned stars! This is a brilliant debut and I congratulate Angie Hockman for writing this remarkable journey! I cannot wait to read her upcoming works!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for sharing this incredible ARC with me in exchange my honest opinions.

This is the most adorable romance book about a remote social media manager and marketing manager working for a cruise line. They both enter a competition to draft a proposal to boost bookings. But will they both get sidetracked by attraction? I highly recommend this romantic comedy.