Dade wrote Maria like the big sister you’ve always wanted. Absolutely loved her, and appreciated her emotional clarity and boundaries and reflection. That self-assessment and adjustment was refreshing to read. I also loved her supportive family. <3

Peter was precious.

While some of the MA content isn’t exactly my thing, for those who prefer, those scenes can be easily skipped or skimmed without disrupting the story (except for the very first page—that was a bit jarring to me personally).

One of the things I love best about Dade’s writing is she really makes you believe the beauty of her characters--internal and external. Maria’s strength was lovely to witness, and Peter’s heart and care for his craft, in roles notable and niche, made me love him. <3

Reviewed for Shelf Awareness:

Two fat actors are cast opposite each other in career-making roles after a one-night stand in Olivia Dade's Ship Wrecked, a body-affirming romance full of heat and heart. The day after Swedish theatre actress Maria leaves Peter alone in his hotel bed, they discover they're auditioning together for the biggest high fantasy drama on television: Gods of the Gates. Soon they're committed to six years on a remote Irish island acting as two vikings shipwrecked alone together.
Though they're still drawn to each other, Peter is determined to keep things professional while filming. Focusing on their first year on set and then jumping to the end, the author illustrates the characters' goodness, compatibility and crackling chemistry. Readers will eagerly anticipate the day shooting wraps and Maria and Peter will finally have a chance at romance, but the path to happily ever after is far from smooth. The press tour for the show will end soon and they have some big decisions to make. Can they overcome their fears and find a way to have both their careers and each other?
Olivia Dade's skill at crafting banter-filled romances with kind, cuddly, sexy characters will draw new readers and those who've read Spoiler Alert or All the Feels will laugh at the interstitial group chats and fanfic exchanges. Themes of home and chosen family make this high-heat romantic comedy a hopeful and comforting read.

Being a fan of the Spoiler Alert series, I jumped at the chance to read book 3.

I love that Dade gives us plus-sized representation and that this one had both plus-sized MCs. Maria knows who she is and isn't going to change when it's not something she has to do. I love that she stands up for herself and for Peter, in that respect.

This book is fun. The banter, the nicknames, the relationship they have is playful. It's also steamy too. Don't let the "slow burn" description fool you. This one starts out with a bang. It just doesn't happen again for years. And that is the main criticism I have for this is the time jump. I thought it was going one way and then it jumped 6 years, abruptly, and went in a different direction . Although, I'm happy with the resolution of the book, I would have loved to see more of their relationship progress when they were still filming on the island. I enjoyed this book better than Spoiler Alert, but not as much as I LOVED All the Feels.

The group chat with the other Gods of the Gates cast members is always a fun addition to these books and it's nice to see these characters again. I was curious about a couple of the others' relationships and thought there'd be more books, but Dade ties those up at the end so we get those too.

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley. I voluntarily reviewed an early copy of this book.
4.25 Stars

I was provided an ARC by NetGalley. I don't think I can finish this all the way.

I wanted to LOVE this book. I have loved the other 2 books in the series. This book features 2 plus sized main characters and I was very excited to read a love story with some diverse body types. Unfortunately for me, the positives are getting lost in a mess of negatives. The biggest issue for me is the timeline. The book is going forward and backwards without very clear distinction of when this chapter is taking place. I am not sure when this book is happening in comparison to the other two books in the series. The previous characters I know are mentioned, but still not sure where this story fits in compared to when their story happened. I was very distracted by this. It just feels like it's all over the place.

Also, the book opens with a "one night stand" yet is a slow burn romance? This really threw me off. They way the book opens for me was startling and then establishes a fast pace that does not continue at all for the romance part of the story. And on top of that I did not like the FMC attitude at the beginning of the book. So right away, not sure I am invested in this story. So when the timeline started giving me whiplash, I was just done.

I have been a fan of this series since the beginning and if this is the end of it, there couldn’t be a better ending. Peter and Maria made me fall in love from the beginning and that love only grew with time. It’s fast on the connection but slow and steady on the emotional connection. Does your ship have a 6 year slow burn?? Most of all it was just exciting to read, and made me excited about my own writing and characters, and I couldn’t recommend it enough for romance lovers.

Trope-wise, this is fast-spice and slow burn, but it goes a lot deeper than that. The emotional and platonic connection between Peter and Maria is developed first and foremost. But even more than that, they develop and better themselves emotionally and more outside of their relationship. Peter isn’t an unlikeable protagonist at first, but he’s so much more likable when the book ends. Even more, Maria doesn’t expect him to change and get better without looking inward, the relationship is give and take, even with significant bumps in the road.

Also? The slow burn is absolutely exquisite. They are so absolutely whipped for one another and that tension just builds for years and years and years. Olivia Dade capitalizes on that fanfiction-esque vibe of this series in the very best ways. Even once you think the burn is over, it’s back with a vengeance, and because that connection is so deep there isn’t some negative connotation, but such an intimate bond. I will admit that there was one little third-act moment that I could have gone without, but I think that it’s written in the best way possible to further develop their relationship into the beautiful thing that it is.

This book was such a joy, and such a wonderful ending to this series. This book is especially wonderful with both love interests being fat and how it approaches that. I have loved all of these characters so much and I’m sad to leave them behind, but happy to have read their stories. It is a well-crafted story in my opinion and it develops some incredible protagonists and side characters, as well as their relationships. If you’ve loved the series, or if you just love romance in general, definitely pick this book up.

Olivia Dade caps off her "Spoiler Alert" series with "Ship Wrecked," which actually overlaps the first book in the timeline. The timing of the book was one of my only criticisms, actually-- at times, we'd spend several pages in a single day, and then in a page, several years have passed. It was a bit jarring.

But ooh, the chemistry was sizzling! I adore how Dade writes her characters, especially when writing fat leading characters, with such range. Maria is a kicka** lady, and I totally want to be her friend. Peter really grew on me over the course of the book, and I was rooting for them the whole time.

The first book was still my favorite in the series, but this one takes a close second!

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.

I was so excited to read this one after listening to and loving the audiobooks for Spoiler Alert and All the Feels!!! Oliva definitely doesn't disappoint with Ship Wrecked!!

I love how she writes plus size! She writes them so well - not characters that are whiny or embarrassed by it but characters that embrace and own it!! I truly love it!! Plus, the banter is hilarious and spot on! I'm literally laughing out loud while reading it! The plot like the series is more character driven and I'm here for it! These characters are deep and so multifaceted! They have tough family dynamics and skeletons in their closets but they grow and work through things. I love reading it even though sometimes it makes me scream and want to throw my book across the room or curl up in a ball and cry. I love that you feel all the feels when reading these books!

I enjoy the group chat. It cracks me up! And it's fun to catch up with characters from past books! It definitely has its spicy moments and is slow burn!! Their chemistry is awesome!!

Every book in this fan fiction inspired series is FANTASTIC! Olivia Dade writes swoon worthy men and Peter Reedton is one of the swooniest!! Will be buying the physical copy and reading again as good as I get it!

“She was a midnight sun, drawing everyone in her orbit. She shone. She brightened everything around her. Including him.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Olivia Dade is the queen of pining, longing, banter, and intimacy. Each book is new, thrilling, and swoon-inducing. She also beautifully builds characters who are so realistic and relatable and complex. In Peter, you get a man who has social anxiety due to his strained relationship with his father. In Maria, you have a shining star of a woman who once was a cold, sad child until the right family found her and loved her unconditionally. SHIP WRECKED delivers all those wonderful feelings Dade promises in each book, and weaves together a story that honors her characters. It’s truly masterful.

Maria sneaks out of the hotel room she stayed in the night before without leaving a note with the man asleep in bed. But hours later she sees him again, reading for the part of Cyprian to her Cassia. He’s very unhappy to see her, which is unfortunate—seeing as they’ve just been cast as leading characters on one of the biggest shows in the world. To make matters worse, they’ll have to film on a deserted island for years. At every turn, the question of whether they should give in to their attraction for one another or prioritize their careers arises. But once the show ends, that problem goes away…right?

🌟FAT REP: BOTH MARIA AND PETER ARE FAT YALL!!!!!!! BOTH OF THEM!!!!! The way Maria and Peter’s bodies are described is FANTASTIC. They’re both big, tall, strong, round, and soft. There are instances of workplace fatphobia in this book, but great representation of advocating for oneself and destigmatizing fat bodies. P.S. Maria doesn’t remove any of her body hair and I love seeing that in a fat character 💛

❤️‍🔥 FAT HERO & FAT HEROINE
❤️‍🔥 Grumpy/Sunshine
❤️‍🔥 One night stand to costars to enemies to friends to lovers
❤️‍🔥 THE SLOWEST BURN AND THE LONGEST PINING
❤️‍🔥Found Family
❤️‍🔥 Forced Proxixmity

SHIP WRECKED releases 11/15/22! Thank you to Netgalley, Avon, and HarperCollins for allowing me to read this ARC.

Yet another hilarious and sexy hit from Olivia Dade.

She's incredible at writing characters that feel very human and believable, and are ones you want to root for (except Ian; we all hate Ian). Maria and Peter were obviously the stars but it's so fun to see more of our main couples from the previous books plus the whole Gods of the Gates core cast group in all their glory. And our new island family were such welcome additions!

I loved Maria and Peter's dynamic and it was so fun getting glimpses into how their relationship - and they as people - grew and changed over the course of 6 years. They're hilarious together and so well matched at the end of the day.

Maria's attitude towards her body and diet culture and Hollywood were such a breath of fresh air. Her take no shit but still very kind personality was a delight and Peter's heart never stood a chance. I also found many aspects of Peter's personality relatable and thoroughly enjoyed seeing him find a family and grapple with his fears.

As a sidenote, the way this book opened in a startling but great way.

Can we talk about the opening of this book?! Whew! Then whoa. Then where can we even go from here?! It goes! It went!

I’ve had to really sit and think about this book and how to review it. I think for that very reason it is a five star read.

One of the things that jumps out at me is the depth of the characters. Self aware but still learning and evolving and making mistakes and growing. I think thats what I’ve really been marinating on. Its this underlying layer thats just a little deeper.

I love Maria and Peter. I found their struggles real and refreshing. I didn’t know exactly what was to come next.

Olivia Dade, I cheer for you and look forward to your next series. I love the diversity you represent in your books.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book. My review is honest and my own.

Ship Wrecked by Olivia Dade
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The first time Peter saw Maria, sparks flew. After one night together, Peter wakes up alone. That same day he lands an amazing acting job. His costar? Maria.
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Another great story from Dade! Maria was such a girl boss and I loved that about her! She stuck up for herself and her coworkers, which quickly won me over.
I also loved how Maria won over surly Peter too. Peter was a bit of a tough nut to crack but once his back story came to life I could appreciate him and his take on life. I love Peter and Maria together.
And the bonus goodness of seeing the cast watch the series finale together was everything I had hoped it would be.
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4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I really enjoyed this story and look forward to reading more from this author. This book could be read as a stand alone but I read the books in order and I really enjoyed it that way. Pub date 11/15/22.

What a delight! This series and book have brought me joy over the past few years as the body positive love stories have made me feel seen in a way other contemporary romance novels have not done. I truly love the through line of characters from book to book, the mixed media telling, and the fantasy show tie in.
While sometimes overly saccharine, the cross cultural love story between Peter and Maria had deep emotional complexity and the twist on enemy to lovers was enjoyable!

"Ship Wrecked" has several truly wonderful components to the book. Olivia Dade is building off her Gods of Gates cast members from "Spoiler Alert" to "All the Feels". The scenery and world setting are fully established and she has showcased her skills for some truly snarky and hilarious dialogue. On an added level of complexity, Dade has integrated very real stigmas that everyday people encounter and brought them to the forefront of her storyline. My one criticism of "Ship Wrecked" is that the climax took a really long time to show itself.

The immediate dissension in the story is about poorly communicated expectations (okay, almost no communication), during a hookup. It becomes apparent that both Peter and Maria are still interested in each other and have personal issues that caused the miscommunication (again, I'm being generous). However, the readers are only given very vague references to past relationship trauma and an unidentified issues with parental upbringing. Around 65% of the way through the story, we finally learn the important details around Maria and then Peter's hangups. Only to have a (maybe) third(?) obstacle crop up in the last 15% of the book.

Do not get me wrong, this book was an enjoyable read and I will stupefy my friends with vague references to their "blue cupboards" for years to come. However, I kept waiting to understand why there were so many barriers to their relationship and it took a long time to come to a resolution when the underlying emotion of the story was the love between these two fragile and complex human beings.

Special thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC!

Likeable protagonists, found families, body positivity, wildly strong women, and Dade's signature slow burn to raging inferno romance. Yes, please!

Now this is a slow burn! Even though Peter and Maria's relationship started with a hot one night stand, they quickly cooled things off after they learned they were costars in an upcoming big budget film. I liked that the story takes place over a few years, but at times there's a little lag in the story's development. Ship Wrecked has an awesome cast of characters in this book, and I love how the Olivia Dade writes fat characters. Overall, this is a nice addition to the Spoiler Alert series, and there are cameos from some of the main characters in the other books!

Maria and Peter are actors who had a sexy one-night-stand and end up stuck on an island together filming a new TV series. Maria left the morning after their hook up without a trace, leading the duo to an enemies-to-lovers style relationship. Peter is a brooding Viking, while Maria is a sunshiney, Swedish butterfly. This was a fun read with surprising emotional depth and has a fabulous supporting cast of characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and AvonBooks for the ARC of this title! Ship Wrecked is the first book I've read by Olivia Dade, and it certainly won't be my last. The story follows Peter and Maria, co-stars on a hit TV show that also happen to be each other's best one-night-stand. Part friends-to-lovers, part second-chance-romance, this was an altogether great romcom!

Things I loved about this book...
- Both MC's are plus-size and the body positivity was off the charts! I loved reading a book where size isn't shied away from, but embraced.
- The banter! Maria and Peter's dialogue had me laughing consistently throughout the book. I aspire to be as badass and sassy as Maria one day.
- Heavy topics like childhood and relationship trauma were handled well and (I thought) realistically.
- The steam! This book starts off HOT, cools off for a while, then delivers again. No cringeworthy moments or secondhand embarrassment to be found here.
- The cast of characters was diverse in several aspects. No cookie-cutter characters here!

Things I didn't love...
- The book felt a bit long. It's hard to tell since ARCs don't show a page count, but based on the time estimate my Kindle gave, it was significantly longer than most romcoms I've read.
- I wish jumps in the plot timeline were denoted at the beginning of chapters. Without them, it was hard to tell where we were in time since there were some chapters that seemed to jump ahead several months, sometimes years.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It did take me a while to get through the first 25% or so, but after that I flew through. I don't think it was the book's fault per se, but had more to do with the fact that I had so many other books going and knew this one wasn't "due" for a while. I look forward to reading more of Olivia Dade's backlist!

Four and a Half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒
Ship Wrecked by Olivia Dade is the third book in her popular Spoiler Alert series but can easily be read as a stand-alone. I love this series, and Ship Wrecked is a wonderful addition.

Story Recap:
Maria has a one-night stand with Peter, both knowing it will be the last time they see each other. However, a bit later, they realize they have both been cast in a television show that will take them to a remote island for six years!

Peter knows that this part will give him much better choice roles when he’s done that will give him the financial stability he’s been looking for. He won’t do anything to ruin his chances, so he decides to stay away from Maria, no matter how strong his attraction is. Can Maria and Peter work together for six years while denying their chemistry?

My Thoughts:
This slow-burn romance was a lot of fun to read. It starts right in the middle of their one-night stand in Los Angeles and then continues on the Island where they film the television show. I thought filming a television show for six years was a bit much, but the author convinced me that this happens. It’s not like they are on the Island the entire six years either, as they have breaks for holidays etc.

I liked this romance very much as there was certainly chemistry, and on the show, they were lovers, so they had to pretend to love each other, while both vowing to keep their hands off each other in real life. This caused quite a push-pull for the romance during the book.

I also enjoyed the appearances of the previous characters in the series as it’s always comforting to see that they are still together and happy. Their correspondence between each other and the new characters in the tv show was hilarious.
Recommendation:
I highly recommend Ship Wrecked to anyone who enjoys romance. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I couldn’t put “Ship Wrecked” down. Peter and Maria have a beautiful story of being able to see past first impressions and learning to love someone for who they truly are. I loved that their Gods of the Gates characters were isolated, so they were isolated, and we got to dig deeper into their relationship with each other without major outside distractions.

My only gripe that brings this down to a 4 is that sometimes the body positivity talk can have the opposite effect of the seeming intent. Both characters being plus size is excellent, because there should be more plus size representation. However, some of the commentary almost feels like body shaming, even if that’s not the intent of the author. Fat isn’t a four-letter word but in some instances it feels like it’s being wielded that way.

Ultimately I love the universe Dade has created, I love the cameos that the others made in this third book, and I hope that we will get more from it. I just hope that the future books will bring more of a feel of acceptance for someone’s body and not the feel of being “other”.