This was a fun read, but I didn't love it as much as Dade's previous. I haven't read the first one yet! This is a fun cast of characters, but something about this couple didn't work for me. That doesn't mean it won't work for you!

I’d love to interview Olivia Dale for my podcast sometime this year. I’ve interviewed Annika Sharma, Intisar Khanani, & other authors. In ship recked two co stars have a one night stand. This book has an adorable second chance romance. Even though I usually don’t like second chance romances because I believe that the past should stay in the past but… Maria and Pete are an exception to this.

This book murdered me. It sucker punched me repeatedly and I begged for more. I don’t know who I’d love to date more Peter or Maria because they are both pretty solid.


As the third book in this series, you’d think that it’d be getting old by now. Nope. Absolutely not. I have no idea how they keep getting better and better but they do.

A word of warning… several actually, have the time set aside to read this in one sitting because it’s going to kill you to stop midway through.

SPOILERS


That being said, I suspect that there wont be anymore based on the ending. It really tied things up. Like overkill tied them up. On one hand I love all the characters and their interactions. The humor is insanely bright. But at the same time, the ending went out of it’s way to push each character to explain their lives and what the did over the course of their books/current plans for the future. It was a bit drawn out but I love all the characters so much that it was nice to see that everyone is getting their happy ending..

Admittedly, I clearly hadn’t noticed this was book three before selecting this book, but it didn’t prevent me from jumping right in.

Immediately from page one, we are tossed right into a steamy scene, and I was not prepared.

The relationship between our two stubborn MCs comes about from the unwitting costars whose undeniable chemistry is undeniable to everyone…but then. Much like You Had Me at Hola.

I loved the representation. I’ve read a handful of books now with a larger female lead, but a fat male lead, well, that was new and it’s about damn time!

I requested this ARC because I had read Spoiler Alert and thought that it was okay. But I think that her writing style just isn’t for me. So, instead of writing a review that bashes this book. I’m going to go over the things I love. The first scene. I love immediately starting with a one night stand. Probably the best scene in the whole book. The spice? Pretty freaking yummy. The overall concept? Sure. Love the idea. Plus size rep? Yes, we need more!

What lacked for me was the miscommunication/lack of it, character development, timeline weirdness. Maybe her books just aren’t for me and that’s totally okay.

I was lucky enough to be given an ARC of Ship Wrecked (I still don’t know how I got approved for any arcs). I think that Maria is such an interesting character. She is so unapologetically herself which makes the dynamic with Peter so fascinating to read. They are so similar and so different that they just work but they also put in work which I love to see. The timeline of this book does overlap with the timelines of Spoiler Alert and All the Feels so you got to see the perspectives from Maria and Peter on a few events.

The characters were so fleshed out, I was truly surprised. A lot of romance novels tend to throw character development to the wayside in exchange for more smut. I felt like we genuinely got to know both of the MCs (which is apparently a common theme for this author - I have never read a book by Olivia Dade before this).

The third act breakup/drama was completely unnecessary (as it is in most, if not all, romance novels). It’s getting to be a really tired trope and I’d like to see it go away.

3.5 rounded up to 4

The sex is redhot but the romance and conflict is lukewarm. This is the 3rd book in the Spoiler Alert series and it's definitely the weakest (though I will point out it's still a great vibe and worth reading over many other random romances I've tried but I'm reviewing from a technical POV). It's starts with a bang...literally. One-night stand realizes they're gonna be forced together for the forseeable future, great start, great trope, great ideas. Throw in a little bit of misunderstanding and a grumpy asshole/swedish sunshine setup and it's everything you want with the beautiful bonus of Dade's signature normalization of fat characters. Gimme.

Where it let me down was in the time jumps. There was too much lost in transitions. I was left wanting more from interactions over those 6 years. And it also swirls around the events of the other two books, the result being that you feel like you missed chapters. It just left me wanting, though it was still entertaining. There are great family interludes and plot points, both high and low, to bring depth, drama, and humor.

What brought it down to 3 stars, though, was the ultimate conflict between the character's relationship. I didn't agree with the reasoning for Maria's character. I'm not going to spoil anything, but I just kept thinking, "Wait, what did you expect? This is the job." It's addressed, slightly, but not to my satisfaction. The plot is left heavily on Peter and I still think, even though he was working through issues (which, yay, depth and emotional journey), he got the short end of the stick here.

Overall, though, it was a nice addition to the series. just not one I'm clamoring to reread like I did the others.

* I received a free early e-copy from the publisher.

I couldn't really get into this book. Both Maria and Peter felt extremely one dimensional and had very little (if any) character growth. I felt like the focus was on all the wrong things - the show, Peter's career, inside jokes and banter that weren't very funny, insults directed at each other's cultures in way that felt xenophobic but like the author thought it was okay because they were "punching up" and making fun of "white Europeans". The time jump felt very out of place. I felt that we didn't see Peter and Maria's relationship develop at all - one moment they aren't speaking and the next they are best friends who are (not so) secretly in love with each other. And most importantly, for me, is that this book fell into the "this could have all been resolved ages ago if you had an adult conversation without waiting to be pushed into a corner".

Being my first Olivia Dade book, I went in blind and ended up shocked. The very first scene was steamy, and while it did get my hopes up(just to let them down) I was shocked.

The lovers to friends to lovers wasn't my favorite, but I understand why it was done and it definitely did lead to an enjoyable book. Having Peter navigate his feelings and turn out to be a decent person after those first few chapters would have made this book worth it by itself. Throw in Maria, who seemed to be the perfect human(honestly, not how I like my characters) but who could go toe to toe with Peter, and the story really shown. The group chat, however, made the book. It was funny, it brought together the cast and it kept the book rolling along.

For fans of Olivia Dade’s Spoiler Alert and All The Feels who were fascinated and made curious by the dynamic between Peter and Maria, the co-stars of the previous novels heroes Marcus and Alex, you wish has been granted with Ship Wrecked, the can’t-miss conclusion to the Spoiler Alert series.

Set once again among the cast of the Game of Thrones-esque series Gods of the Gates, the novel follows the aforementioned Peter and Maria, whose roles call for them to spend the entirety of the show's run sharing scenes with virtually only one another on a remote Irish island. This wouldn’t be such an issue if the night before they were both cast, they hadn’t had a fantastic one-night stand, after which Maria snuck out and left Peter alone with no explanation.

Awkward to say the least.

But rather than letting the two of them wallow in their hurt for the length of the book - and by extension the six years they spent on the show - Dade lets Peter and Maria build a close, teasing friendship. One that never crosses the line, lest it interfere with their work. In this way, rather than them giving in to their desire for one another in a sudden burst of passion, when they do finally reconnect in that way, it feels inevitable in the most stomach-tingling, toe-curling kind of way. Not an “oh shit” kind of gasp, but a soft sigh of “finally”.

Of the three books in Dade’s Spoiler Alert series, Ship Wrecked ranks highest on the flame emoji and/or chili pepper scale. Not to say the first two weren’t also extremely hot (they absolutely were) but there was something so emotionally raw in the way Peter and Maria truly desire each other that took it over the top - no convoluted innuendo intended. When the fifth word of the book is “orgasm” you just know you’re in for a spicy ride. Plus a certain something happens at a certain moment and I was absolutely positive I was about to pass out from the vapors.

I loved their relationship so, so much. Not just the spice factor, but every aspect of it. The way they were both filled with pure desire for one another, but didn’t cross the line not just for their work but out of respect for the other. Also the way they never let that desire affect their ability to be friends, and to build up a solid foundation of friendship that made the inevitable romance all the sweeter.

Though speaking of sweet — or perhaps not so sweet — I’m afraid I have to side with Peter when it comes to salty Swedish licorice. I’ve never liked licorice and making it salty did not improve matters.

The emotional resolution to the conflict in the book is extremely thoughtful. Peter and Maria’s issues are not handwaved away or brushed aside with a general “we’ll make it work”. Neither of them is ever really “wrong” in how they feel, and rather must work to best convey their feelings to the other. Relationships are not easy, balancing professional wants with personal ones is not easy either, and we actually get the time to see Maria and Peter really try and make a go of it before we get that happy ever after.

As much as I adored Ship Wrecked, I’m now sorry I have to say goodbye to the Gods of the Gates crew — apart from the many, many rereads I anticipate once I have a physical copy in my hands. But Dade can rest easy knowing that unlike her Ron and RJ (and their perhaps less fictional counterparts), as far as this series goes, she definitely stuck the landing.

Ship Wrecked is out November 15, 2022. Special thanks to Avon Books for an advance copy for review purposes.

(Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for a copy of this E-book in exchange for an honest review.)

If I can count on Olivia Dade to deliver one thing, it’s a lighthearted, over-the-top romance about fat people falling in love. Her stories aren’t strictly about fatness, though; while her protagonists can and do experience fatphobia, it’s not the sum total of their life experiences. In fact, these characters all love their bodies, albeit in a world that doesn’t always love them back. Olivia Dade is one of romance’s body positivity queens, and we need far more authors writing stories like these in this genre.

Now, on to Ship Wrecked: It’s been fun seeing how all the characters’ stories have intertwined across these three books. I enjoyed Spoiler Alert but was disappointed by All the Feels, so I wasn’t sure what I was going to get with the third installment in this series. Thankfully, Ship Wrecked delivered in all the areas I was hoping for. Peter was the first fat male love interest in the series, stoic and grumpy and a fitting foil to Maria’s sunshine. His backstory was complex and relatable on a number of levels, and as a performer myself I empathized with his (often stubborn) ambition to pursue his dreams even at the expense of his personal life and relationships. On the other hand, his hard-headedness was a bit frustrating at times, making it difficult to fully understand what drew Maria to him in the first place.

Maria was a refreshing and empathetic protagonist, although I found her to be a bit *too* perfect. In retrospect, I don’t think I could name a single actual character flaw of hers. She also must have been, without a doubt, the single most preternaturally perceptive person in the history of the universe, understanding with a single glance every tiny nuance of Peter’s thoughts and feelings at any given moment. I wish their discovery of each other’s personalities had developed through more overt actions and dialogue (rather than, for example, extrapolating from a simple cough that Peter was in fact extremely protective of her and ridiculously attracted to her). Sometimes this kind of intuition between characters can read as romantic, but here it felt unnatural and read as a bit of a lazy workaround to actual relationship development.

While we got glimpses into Peter and Maria’s relationship as castmates over the years, the time jumps in this story felt very abrupt. I really missed seeing their friendship and trust and sexual tension build during the six years they spent filming together on the island. Even after their insane passion the first night they met, I found it difficult to take it as a complete given that they were still inexorably attracted to each other after all that time, especially after their history of mistrust and precarious civility early on.

(Also, the jar of herring thing was hella cringey. Yes, Maria is Swedish; I didn’t need it *literally* shoved in my face every other chapter.)

On a more positive note: the sex in this book was lovely—possibly the most steamy in the series so far, which is fabulous (if you’re a fan of that).

If you’re into body positivity and nerd culture, and if you were equally frustrated with how badly Game of Thrones went down the tubes over its past few seasons, you’ll find good company in this book! I recommend it for readers who enjoy a small but hearty dose of spice in their romance novels, as well as the mildest sprinkling of angst, and who enjoy leaning in to the dramatic nature of a quality showmance.

Very charming read! Both Maria and Peter were such great characters (though Peter could be a huge pain in the butt). I appreciate seeing more body representation like this in books, especially romance. The premise was very interesting, though I can't quite wrap my head around the premise of the show... This was my first Olivia Dade book and certainly won't be my last! Thank you for the opportunity to read and review!

I do love Olivia Dade books for having a fat main character so people like me who aren’t supermodel thin can relate. The beginning of this book had me I was invested and I liked the characters and pining for each other they had. Yet … the story and characters fell off for me about half way through. The FL was getting annoying and Peter deserves better. I just couldn’t vibe with it from middle through end. I really had to force myself to finish it. 2.5 for me

Ship Wrecked by Olivia Dade took the unusual approach of sex on page one. Since I’m not a huge fan of open bedroom doors, I was … disconcerted. Had I accidentally agreed to read erotica? And how would I maintain my “finish every ARC” vow if I had to read pages and pages of super-explicit sex? But Dade surprised me. She used the scene for character development and it is remarkably effective. We quickly get to know who Maria is: she’s the sunshine to her love interest’s grump. She’s funny, proudly, uncompromisingly independent, and unabashedly sexual. This body-positive woman is confident, asks for what she wants, and doesn’t compromise.

Getting that view into Maria is critical to this story, because it is told primarily from Peter’s POV and, as such, we only learn what he tells us/Maria. He is a grump with baggage that complicates their relationship but Dade does not rely on tired tropes like drunk sex or failure to communicate to draw out a thin plot. Instead, she has created a storyline that requires these two characters to figure each other out while working in close quarters for years.

It’s a concept that you might think would not work: two characters who literally had sex on page one but despite significant attraction, can’t become lovers because they have to work very closely. They fight, they grow close, they become important to each other but they don’t sleep together again for about six years. Dade uses fanfic and group chat to build extended relationships and show us how Peter learns to open up and establish a community, perhaps even found family, primarily through Maria’s influence.

If you like lots of explicit sex, you might be disappointed by this book. Not that there isn’t explicit sex. Oh boy, is there ever … but it isn’t the main character (so to speak). There’s so much more to this story, including really lovely body positivity.

If you liked The Love Hypothesis, Mr Wrong Number, or Hook, Line and Sinker, I think you’ll love this grump/sunshine story. Pre-order now through your favorite indie bookstore.

I received a digital ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

What can I say about Ship Wrecked other than I freaking loved it! I have not read Olivia Dade but you know I immediately bought the three preceding books after finishing this beauty. When I tell you this was HOT HOT with a capital everything.

I like the timeline changes, I did not feel like I was missing anything at all. I really really enjoyed everything. Some spoilers for characters introduced in previous books but not spoiled so much that I am not going to read their stories.

Would certainly recommend it!!!

This new installment to the Spoiler Alert series definitely grabbed my attention from the first line, but my interest slowly faded. While the resentment from the male main character's perspective was well explained, it fell flat to hold value in the story. His resentment seemed more rooted in his own insecurity and the challenging of his masculinity. I couldn't root for the relationship after this realization, and disliked the character from that point forward. When you dislike 1/2 of the pairing, and that doesn't change throughout the unfolding of the romance, it is hard to enjoy the book as a whole.

Everything Olivia writes is gold. This book is the ultimate slow burn love story to shippers everywhere.

SHIP WRECKED by Olivia Dade doesn't come out until November (I think?) but Fortune smiled upon me and granted me an eARC.

The third installment in the Spoiler Alert universe, this one tells the story of Maria and Peter, who we don't see a ton of in the other books, because their part on the GoT-ish series they're in is filmed on a tiny Irish island. Once again we have a lovely, unique fat female main character, this time falling in love with her fat co-star. One of my favorite things about Dade's books is not just that they depict fat people as whole people, worthy of love, but that each one is unique. So often in media it's just like "the token fat sidekick" but each of these women are their own people, with different body types and sizes and feelings about them...just like real people. They really are lovely books.

I adored this book. I am a huge fan of Olivia Dade and this is definitely now one of my favorite of her books. I loved Peter and Maria so much. After having a one night stand that ends with one of them ghosting the other, they wind up cast as two characters stranded on an island together for years as they yearn for each other. Life quickly resembles fiction and the desire and tenderness they feel for each other is lovely. What I appreciated even more was how often I laughed out loud at their banter. Every press conference had me in stitches. It was great to see the rest of the cast of Gods of the Gate but I also appreciated that the fan fiction and other drama were toned down in this book. Sad to see this series but cannot wait to see what Dade writes next

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.