Cover Image: Shipped

Shipped

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

Henley and Graeme, two rivals vying for the same promotion at work end up forced to take a cruise together in a delightful enemies to lovers adventure story.

This book was enjoyable. I started reading it on my lunch break and actually rescheduled a task til later in the day so I could keep reading! The chemistry between Graeme and Henley is well developed and, where many books are entirely focused on the end point of the characters getting together, in this case I truly enjoyed the journey as much as the destination. One aspect of the story telling that stood out to me was the banter between the main characters. I thought it was just witty enough to feel surprising and fresh without slipping into stereotypes.

I also very much enjoyed the backdrop of the Galapagos islands. I think it would have been easy to overdo it on the details about the islands & wildlife, but the author added just enough elements to make the setting seem vibrant and realistic without overpowering the characters and their story. I loved how the setting added an escapist vibe that let me imagine just for a little bit that I was on a cruise / tropical island rather than quarantined in my house.

I did feel the ending was a little unrealistic in how favorable everything turned out for all the main characters, but in some ways thats the fun of a happy ending. I would definitely recommend this to friends & readers and especially to anyone who loves travel romance.

Was this review helpful?

The to-do list on Henley's phone takes top priority in her life, especially when a promotion at Seaquest, the boutique cruise line where she's worked for the past few years, has her on the shortlist to be selected as the new marketing manager. All that stands between her and the position is a guy she's never met in person, but who may have done her dirty on one of her best marketing efforts to date. None the less, this MBA student is determined. She just needs to take a cruise with Graeme Crawford-Collins, her nemesis . . . and direct competition for the job. Graeme, well he's a hottie, and sparks do fly. Which is great, but not the best part. Henley is named after Don of Eagles fame and she is a rockstar, girl boss on the rise. So when life isn't fair, Henley finds she can do better than her to-do list. Inspirational and adventurous, with a perfect title, Shipped is fun female empowerment at its best!

Was this review helpful?

Henley has a sister Walsh. I like the name Henley. Henley is twenty eight years old. She is taking classes and getting her career together. She is in huge competition with Graeme. I couldn't connect with the characters.

Was this review helpful?

Ok, this was adorable. Seriously- I just wanted to give this book a hug for being too cute.

This book had a ton of warm and fuzzy moments. The characters were quirky and individualistic, which was sweet. If there’s anything I’m a sucker for, it’s a good rendition of the “hate... but really love” trope.

Although this piece was absolutely adorable, there were some items that didn’t really click with me. The antagonistic vibes had a very short-lived existence. The piece also concluded in an overly fortunate way... but who doesn’t love happy endings, right?
.
Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this book! A more comprehensive review will be posted on social media closer to the date of release.

Was this review helpful?

For fans of Christina Lauren and Helena Hunting, Shipped is a charming, contemporary workplace romance between Henley Rose and her rival Graeme. They're both up for a promotion and their boss sends them both on company cruise. Their assignment is to come up with a digital marketing plan - best one earns the promotion.

Henley is driven, earning her MBA while working at a cruise company full time, trying to climb the corporate ladder. Graeme who's been working remotely is standing between Henley and the digital marketing manager position - defeating him is a constant on her to-do list. Henley's drive is relatable as is the workplace discrimination she combats.

The cruise and the Galapogos destination are gorgeously described.

Shipped is charming, light and a fast-paced read. Both of the MCs, while they each have emotional baggage, are likable. But for me, the relationship felt like it happened too quickly, too easily. And the particulars of the HEA were all too obvious, chapters before it happens.

Was this review helpful?

I honestly cannot say enough good things about this book. It’s by far one of my favorite romance novels I have read in a long time. I loved that the book focused on important issues such as sexism in the workplace and some heavier relationship problems. The romance between Henley and Graeme was full of sparks and I loved it. I would 100% recommend this book! I can’t WAIT to see more by this author. Fantastic debut.

Was this review helpful?

Henley Evans is a marketing professional for a cruise line who has approximately zero time for herself, let alone friendships and relationships. She is obsessed with getting a promotion and working on her MBA. Her work rival Graeme is up for the same promotion and nothing will stop her from beating him. Her last professional hurdle before landing this promotion is a marketing campaign to boost reservations on their Galapagos Islands tour with a major catch - Henley and Graeme have to actually go on the cruise...together.

Billed as a cross between The Hating Game and The Unhoneymooners, I was BESIDE myself with excitement for this book. However, I think this comparison really did the book a disservice. While I did see echoes of the two stories, Shipped is really much more about a woman's journey to self confidence and a healthy sense of professional accomplishment and female friendships than the other two were. Honestly, the second half of the book reminded me of something Sophie Kinsella would write more than anything.

Henley and Graeme are both insufferable for about the first half of the story. And I wanted to push Henley's sister Walsh off the damn cruise ship. It was a struggle to keep reading sometimes.

BUT. The second half is just fabulous. Angie Hockman does a wonderful job of weaving in a beautiful story of sisters learning to lean on each other and trust each other alongside the workplace drama. And I LOVE how Henley worked with other female coworkers at the end. Basically, I love a good enemies to lovers romance, but what makes this book so good is the empowering female relationships.

Also (SLIGHT SPOILER) I loved the ecotourism aspect. Always appreciate a good romcom with an important real world message!

Steam note: fade to black/closed door.

Thank you NetGalley, Gallery, and Angie Hockman for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

As soon as I saw this book had the same vibe as The Hating Game, I knew I had to try it! Shipped gave me all of my favorite romantic comedy feels with an exotic, vacation take and I LOVED it!

Shipped revolves around Henley, a hard working woman who has high career goals. She is fighting for a promotion against her office rival, Graeme. As a part of competing for the promotion, for research purposes, they are assigned to go on their company's cruise in the Galapagos and return home with the perfect pitch. The twist is, they have never met each other in person and will find their assignment may be a little more complicated than they originally thought...

Shipped has such a wonderful mix of adventure, heartfelt scenes, complicated sibling relationships, and witty banter between Henley and Graeme.

I read this book in one day, it was the perfect escape I needed!

Was this review helpful?

I enjoy a good enemies-to-lovers trope as much as anyone, but the conversion was so quick and smooth here that it felt too easy and once that was resolved, the plot was more tepid. Henley's stress and exhaustion while working, taking night classes, and attempting to have any degree of a social life were believable, but I wanted to read more about all the work and ideas she was generating for the business early on in the book (to tie back in with all the ideas that her boss stole, revealed at the end). I didn't feel like there was a satisfactory explanation for why she was pushing so hard to get a director position, any position--everyone has student loans, so that alone didn't feel like sufficient motivation. Also, the cover doesn't match the contents of the book--they don't spend any time lounging on the water as they are portrayed. Make Henley more active! Show them snorkeling! Give Graeme a camera!

Was this review helpful?

I'll start off by saying that I did have a lot of fun reading Shipped. I'm always a sucker for hate-to-love and the cruise/ Galapogos setting was stunning and made me desperate for the post-pandemic world and the ability to travel again! And, starting out, the couple had on fire chemistry.

Unfortunately, I felt this one unraveled around the half-way point. The couple went from hate to love too quickly. I found it rushed and a bit unbelievable. The Big Bad of the novel, and the central conflict of Who Will Get The Promotion also stayed on the shallow side (and reminded me terribly of The Hating Game, but without the same stakes) and wrapped up too easily, with a nice little bow.

I'll definitely recommend this one for someone looking for light and fluffy fun, but if you're an avid romance reader, you've read this same thing, but better.

Was this review helpful?

There’s nothing I love more than a rom/com that takes place in a different tropical destination, and oh boy did Shipped deliver. This was the sweetest, most romantic, enemies to lovers romance and I loved every second of it. This reminded of a mix between Unhoneymooners and the Hating Game, but not gonna lie, I enjoyed this far more than Unhoneymooners.

This lovely story follows Henley and Graeme who work for a cruise line adventure company and can not stand each other. When a promotion opportunity, Henley and Graeme are the top contenders. The two head to the Galápagos Islands to come up with the best a digital marketing proposal, the best idea gets the promotion. But with Henley’s sister tagging along, and a unexpected mutual attraction between Graeme and Henley, winning this promotion is going to be anything from easy.

I adored going on this adventure that was Shipped. This was a fast read I was hooked with from beginning to end and read in a single sitting. The romance between Henley and Graeme was so heart warming even though there was very little stream, but I just didn’t care. The secondary characters of Walsh and everyone on board the ship and in this office really made this book shine. Here’s hoping for a story centered on Walsh next.

Make sure you add this one to your TBR list when it is released in January 2021.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and Angie Hockman for this ARC.

Was this review helpful?

Absolutely LOVED this book. It's the perfect summer read. I couldn't put it down and finished it in only a few hours. Recommend to anyone that wants an easy and fun read.

Was this review helpful?

I loved this book! I had a really difficult time putting it down, it drew my attention from the very beginning. The characters were intriguing and I felt like I connected with them right away. The chemistry between the characters felt real and tangible. Would definitely recommend!

Was this review helpful?

I ADORED this book. Henley as a main character is very relatable, She works hard and she is a great friend to others. She also sometimes has a hard time speaking up for herself in the moment because, hello, misogyny and patriarchy, and life is hard. I love the way Henley never backs down. Graeme is one of the best male romantic leads I have read in a while. He isn't unrealistically gorgeous and buff for no reason, and more importantly, he isn't romantic by being a gruff, angry jerk at any point. He's supportive, funny, and Henley's equal. There's great tension and release between this couple--the reviews are right, and this is reminiscent of The Hating Game, another book I love. It's like THG but on a boat! This is the perfect book to read to pretend you are getting away. I loved reading about the Galapagos. I seriously have no complaints except that it ended. Kudos on such a sparkling debut novel!

Was this review helpful?

This is a PERFECT novel when you need some tropical vibes, exotic vacation and hot romance in your life.

The premise of "Shipped' sounded like *exactly* the kind of read I needed at this moment. It has a truly relatable heroine Henley, who is an insanely busy woman handling her MBA studies and a high-responsibility job as a marketing manager at a cruise line. Henley is too busy for dating, but that's more or less okay because career is her first priority.

Of course, Henley has a rival at the firm, Graeme. They don't interact much since he is a remote social media manager, which is also the reason why their work together is not very effective. So when the boss wants them to come up with a solid strategy to boost bookings for the Galápagos Islands... they have to first go on one of those cruises together. And so the steam begins!

I LOVE that this romance is relatable and yet different from most enemies-to-lovers books in that it focuses on the reality of any contemporary firm: remote work. It's not the old teasing-each-other-at-the-office kind, but rather the teasing-each-other-through-email kind. It's so realistic, which is appealing and interesting.

This was so much fun.

*Thank you to the Publisher for a free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Where my rom-com girls at? You will love this book. My gosh was this a fun read. If you are a fan of The Unhoneymooners or The Hating Game then this book is for you. I'm a sucker for enemies to lovers rom-coms.

Henley and Graeme are both very likeable characters. Henley is driven, loyal, and ambitious. The book is written in her POV. Graeme is charming, warm, and kind-hearted. A swoon-worthy hero. Both characters experience growth in their professional and personal lives. We see a depth to them that sometimes is not experienced in a rom-com.

Ok let's talk about the chemistry between Henley and Graeme. It's one of those books where you can feel the sizzle with a simple look or light touch. There were many lines I had to re-read because it made my heart melt. The playful banter was clever and witty. The push and pull between them made me keep saying "one more chapter." It was hard to put this book down.

There were many laugh out loud moments. Nikolai, one of the guests on the cruise, was very entertaining. One of my favorite scenes involved a lip sync battle. Can't give any more away than that.

Thank you @netgalley, @gallery books and @headlineeternal for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book will be released January 19, 2021 and I definitely plan on buying a physical copy to add to my collection.

Was this review helpful?

I received Shipped by Angie Hockman as an ARC in exchange for my thoughts through NetGalley. Shipped is a rom com and tells the stories of 2 co-workers. One works in the office and the other out of state as a remote employee. They both end up being tapped for a promotion, and a required to go on a trip together. Upon meeting each other, they cannot deny their attraction, but must decide if they should follow their feelings or put their work and the promotion first.

This story was funny and the main characters had great chemistry. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and could not put it down.

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed reading this book. The characters were believable and the relationship unfolded slowly throughout the book, leaving you wanting to keep reading. The setting of the cruise ship and the Galapagos Islands added to the story and made me curious if there are cruise ships actually doing service projects like her pitch! The addition of her sister's story about being in an abusive relationship adds awareness of how common this is.

Was this review helpful?

This book was adorable, it was just what I needed.
Like everyone else, my plans have been majorly impacted by Covid-19. We had two cruises canceled, one of which was to celebrate our anniversary. When I heard this book was set on a cruise ship and took place in the Galápagos Islands, I was immediately sold.
Vicarious cruising, thank you! :)

Henley works for a travel company. She has been working very hard for a long time and she may finally get the promotion she’s been after. But she learns that her nemesis Graeme is up for the job too.

Her boss tells her that her and Graeme are both being sent on a cruise and will be expected to present presentations with fresh, new business ideas for the cruise company when they get back.

It doesn’t take long for Henley to realize that Graeme is not the jerk that she thought he was. But they both want the promotion and they are working hard to get it.

I really liked all of the characters. I loved the setting. It’s a really good, enjoyable beach read, whether you’re actually at the beach or reading it on your couch.

I got to read an early ebook edition from NetGalley. Thanks!

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed this book! Overall, it was a witty, fun romance. I also really loved the aspect of female empowerment; whether, that is supporting women out of bad relationships or toxic work environments. This book did a great job of portraying women supporting women!

We will post this on our instagram account closer to the release date!

Was this review helpful?