Another wonderful book from Olivia Dade! I have loved every book in the Spoiler Alert trilogy. While I am sad to see this series end, I am so glad we got to go out with Maria and Peter,

Maria and Peter are both actors on Gods of the Gates (the very thinly veiled Game of Thrones show that exists in universe) and we start the book with them having a sexy one night stand. The journey continues over several years after that point and we get to know both Maria and Peter really well. The story is heavily character driven and I really enjoyed watching the two of them develop individually and as friends over the course of the book.

I really loved reading a romance with two fat main characters that were both very confident in their size and sexuality. Maria and Peter have a number of other insecurities and childhood pain - I cried a LOT reading this book - but they are not shamed for their size (outside of an incident with the asshat showrunners that have been doing this for three books) and have complicated but loving relationships with their family.

If you are interested in a quiet, complicated hero this is definitely the book for you.

Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for access to this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. Ship Wrecked will be released on November 15th, 2022.

If you’ve read Spoiler Alert and All the Feels, this is the third book following Maria and Peter’s story! It comes out November 15th, so set your calendars! (Trust me; I’ve already pre-ordered it!)

Maria and Peter start as a one-night stand with no idea that their insane chemistry will launch their careers as Vikings stuck on a deserted island for the hit TV show Gods of the Gates. Awkward, right?

Commence a slow burn… and I mean slow in the sense that this book spans years! And it works because shy, steadfast Peter and bold, loyal Maria utterly have each other’s backs after six seasons of being the only two actors filming on the remote Ireland island.

The spice throughout is amazing, and the chemistry between these two characters is undeniable from the start but it GROWS into that mixture of true fondness and love that takes time.

Maria and Peter are meant for each other. Is this a fated mates book? Technically no, but they *are* soulmates. It’s obvious. There’s also humor that involves Maria shaking a glass jar of picked herring from Peter’s face when he calls her Pippi, body positivity that is downright uplifting for virtually anyone, and of course the camaraderie of this show’s cast seen throughout the books.

If you want a spicy, hilarious, and extraordinarily heartfelt love story between a man from Wisconsin who struggles to reach out to others, and a bold Swedish woman who loves to bring people together, this is your late fall/winter read. An enthusiastic five stars! This is my favorite in a series that was already at the very top of my romance list.

The final installment in Olivia Dade's Spoiler Alert series, Ship Wrecked is a fantastic tale of two strangers, Peter and Maria, who have a steamy one night stand only to learn the next day that they're about to be coworkers. Not just coworkers, but actors playing Vikings marooned on a remote island alone together in a hit cable series called Gods of the Gates (very clearly patterned after Game of Thrones, right down to the terrible showrunners and rabid fanbase). After that steamy night there are definitely some romantic feelings on both sides... but also hurt feelings, and at least for Peter, an unwillingness to jeopardize their working environment. Working together so closely for six years turns these two erstwhile lovers into very close friends, and when their TV show finally comes to an end Peter's finally ready to get over his fears. But can he offer Maria enough to keep her in his life forever?

Whew, what a sexy and emotional end to an amazing series! Olivia Dade knocked it out of the park with this one. I loved seeing Peter and Maria's relationship grow over the years, as Maria created a little work-family out of their island film crew and slowly coaxed Peter out of his shell. I loved that they spoke openly about their emotional baggage and learned to help each other carry it instead of rejecting each other for not being "perfect". And as a plus size woman, I always love that Olivia Dade's characters are unapologetically fat and sexy as hell. Seeing characters who look like me being loved exactly as they are makes my heart glad. I'm super excited to share this book with friends, and I can't wait for her next series.

Thanks to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager for the opportunity to read this book!

I was so excited to be approved for an early copy of Ship Wrecked, because the Spoiler Alert series is probably my favorite rom-com series. As a plus sized reader, I love romances following plus sized main characters. So I was super happy to see that both the FMC and MMC are plus sized in the third entry.

In Ship Wrecked, a thick-thighed LA actor and a curvaceous Swedish actress have a one night stand after meeting at an LA spa. When Maria leaves Peter without a word the next morning, she gets her comeuppance when they both end up at an audition for leading roles on "Gods of the Gates." They land the roles, and vow to keep things professional. But after 6 years of filming together on an Irish island, Peter and Maria will have to face their undeniable attraction for each other.

Disclaimer: If you haven't read Spoiler Alert and All the Feels, I would avoid reading Ship Wrecked. Moments in the novel definitely spoil not only big plot points of both prior books, but also the entire ending of Spoiler Alert. I do not view this as a series as standalones, because all three books are so intricately intertwined.

Ship Wrecked felt like a different animal than the first two novels for about 50% of the book. It starts off 6 years before the main events and jumps forward pretty quickly. Thankfully, Dade doesn't focus too much on flashbacks and mostly keeps us in the present after the jump -- which is super refreshing.

Where All the Feels is immediately connected to Spoiler Alert from the beginning, Ship Wrecked is alienated from the other two books (definitely by design) to really let the "marooned on an island together" feeling sink in. We don't interact with any of the fan favorite characters like Alex or Carah until more than halfway through the novel, which makes it feel different and like something's missing. But that is quickly remedied during the charity scene and carries on through the rest of the story. There was also less of a focus on fatphobia in this novel than the other two, which I appreciated. It is still discussed, but Maria is a body positive influencer who pushes to be taken seriously and doesn't back down from a fight. As a plus size reader, I want escapism with main characters who just happen to be fat.

As always, the leading couple is complex and romantic with their own real issues to work through together. I adore Peter and Maria just as much as I love Marcus/April and Alex/Lauren. Peter is devoted, sweet, and sometimes frustrating, while Maria is strong, self-assured, and a little sassy. Dade has a way of making such lovable, realistic characters. What I love the most is that her characters stay consistent throughout the novels. They're easily identifiable and their personalities shine (looking at Carah). I could read more books about this cast and crew and never get tired. (Please give us a Carah book! I'm begging!)

The Spoiler Alert series will forever be one of my favorites, and Ship Wrecked is a delightful addition. Though it might not top All the Feels as my favorite of the series, I still loved this installment. 4.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for my advanced review copy in exchange for an honest review.

After a one-night stand, Maria & Peter find themselves cast together in a popular TV show. They’ll be filming on small desolate island off the Irish coast… for six years.

Peter knows what this role could do for his career. He needs this to go well. He knows a failed relationship with Maria could ruin the show, could sabotage his career.

For years, they remain friends. But on their last night filming, the restraint & pining they’ve both done lays forgotten. Now they have to figure out if they can actually have a relationship despite their differences.

Read if you love…
- co-stars on a popular tv show
- lovers to friends to second chance lovers
- right person, wrong time
- dual perspective
- texts & group texts on page
- wit & banter
- Swedish humor & nicknames
- body positivity
- found family

I wanted to love this one, but something about it just fell flat for me. I genuinely think it was a mix of being a mood reader, not connecting with Maria & Peter, just the way this book was laid out logistically, and just how many times it was mentioned that both MCs are fat. I don’t know. It just didn’t do it for me.

Here’s the thing. I’m all for body positivity. I can understand it being mentioned a handful of times. But it got to a point where I was cringing because it was mentioned so. many. times.

I think the other big thing for me was I just couldn’t connect with Maria & Peter. I was bored. I didn’t want to pick up the book & when I did pick it up I didn’t want to read it (again, could be a mood reader thing too). I wanted both characters to be flushed out more, and it took the majority of the book before they were, and by that point I was annoyed enough that it didn’t redeem it.

Things I did love…
- the found family
- the wit & banter between Maria & Peter
- cameos from previous characters & the cast

This one can technically be read as a stand alone, but would make more sense if you read Spoiler Alert & All the Feels first.

Pub Date: November 15th!

Thank you to Netgalley & Avon and Harper Voyager for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Trigger warnings: fatphobia; death of a parent, past

3.5

Binging through Olivia Dade's Spoiler Alert series has probably been the highlight of my week. I love her characters and the way she builds not just the romantic pairing but the friend group of this cast, and in this installment it is no different.

I will say, that I was expecting more slow burn angst for this pairing than we got. The book starts with Peter and Maria's one night stand and subsequent reintroduction at their final audition for Gods of the Gates. But then it pretty quickly cruises through their first season of filming before jumping to their last day of filming together six years later. While in hindsight this makes sense given the focus of the previous two books being the pre-release press for their show, I wanted to see more of their friendship dynamic before we went back to them being in a romantic relationship.

That being said, I liked Peter and Maria's relationship and the way they were able to work through the typical 3rd act breakup. I also loved the snippets we got of the rest of the cast, though I'm not sure how enjoyable those elements would be if I hadn't read the previous installments.

Romance is not my typical genre, especially if it's not queer, but based on this series alone Olivia Dade might be becoming an auto-buy author for me. Also I am really hoping she writes a Summer/Carah book next.

This is the third book in Olivia Dade’s “Spoiler Alert” series. I’ve read the previous two. “Spoiler Alert” - loved it, “All the Feels” – really liked it, “Ship Wrecked” – it’s ok. I am not a writer and I have the utmost respect for and awe of people who can put words to paper and then put their work out there for the world to see.

The characters in these books revolve around a wildly popular tv series, “Gods of the Gates”. They are actors, staff, fan fic writers and others related to the show. In “Ship Wrecked” the two main characters meet before they’re cast and have a wild one-night stand.

Things I loved about this book:
That cover! It’s really the main reason I requested this one.
Olivia Dade knows how to write the spice.
I really liked the Peter and Maria, the two MCs.
Liked the peripheral cast on the island.
Less fanfic than the previous books.
The body positivity, of course!

Things I didn’t really like:
The increasingly inane chatter of the previous book’s characters. Why are they even in this book? Didn’t they already get stories of their own? Those jokes aren't that funny. Why did the current MCs spend 6 years on and sometimes off a remote island and you barely read anything about that time? Yet an entire chapter is devoted to them all sitting around yammering. I wish I hadn’t had to sift through all that to read the final HEA I was looking for. I felt there were some major missed opportunities but like I said, I am not a writer.

Will I read more from Olivia Dade? Of course! Will many fans love this book, also YES!

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the chance to review this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. #ShipWrecked #NetGalley

I wanted to like this book because I liked previous books by Olivia Dade but I just couldn’t get into it. I liked Maria and Peter but I think their characters just couldn’t make me care about them.

It took me a while to get into this one - Viking drama is not something I am generally interested in. But I'm glad I stuck with it! The lives of the actors was interesting, as were the backstories of Maria and Peter. Their romance was satisfying after a will they/won't they for most of the book.

4.5 stars.
The first half of the novel was absolutely phenomenal. I adored the build-up and the friendship that formed between Peter and Maria. However, things were a bit too slow towards the middle and the conflict in the book felt as if it was a huge overreaction.
Overall, I had a positive experience and Olivia Dade has a way with characters and not only making you fall in love with their love story but with the characters themselves.

Olivia Dade is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors ever. When I learned we’d get a third book in the Spoiler Alert series, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it!

Up-and-coming actor Peter is hurt when Maria walks out without a word after their one-night stand. They find each other at an audition for the same show the next morning, and when they both land the roles that’ll catapult their careers, Peter realizes he’ll be stuck on an island with Maria for the foreseeable future. Over the next six years, Peter and Maria form an irreplaceable friendships, but Peter hasn’t got over their one night together. When they finally finish filming the finale of their show, Peter is done waiting.

Dade’s stories are very character-driven, and I love everything about them. Peter is an introverted grump. He’s never been interested in making friends or going out of his way to socialize with colleagues, but Maria forces him out of his shell and helps him realize what he’s been missing out on. These two form a found family with the cast and crew who spend the majority of six years filming on an Irish island together.

Maria is one of my favorite FMCs ever!!! She’s so unapologetically herself and has the sweetest heart. She’s a plus size heroine who advocates for body positivity and doesn’t allow anyone to try and change her. I aspire to be more like her 🥹 She’s Peter’s opposite in many ways, but I think that’s what makes them so perfect for each other. Peter’s spent most of his life chasing one goal: becoming a successful actor. Everything else—friends, family, joys outside of his career—have taken a backseat in his life, but Maria helps him realize what truly matters.

I think Ship Wrecked is my favorite of the series (and that says a lot because I LOVED Spoiler Alert and All the Feels). I just found these two MCs so relatable and authentic. Dade’s beautiful writing allows me to connect to her characters, but I found myself particularly drawn to Peter and his story. His past and inner monologue often left me teary eyed, and it was disconcerting to realize how much I related to his character.

The love between Maria and Peter is undeniable. Their transition from lovers to friends to lovers was smooth and moved at the right pace as their pasts are slowly revealed, and we learn why these characters are the way that they are. I loved these two so much and appreciated how genuine everything about this story was. Their grow together but also push each other to change for the person they love, and it was so sweet to witness 🥹

I’m so lucky to have received an eARC of Ship Wrecked from NetGalley and Avon. This book is out November 15, so you have plenty of time to read the first two in the series if you haven’t already!

First of all: I have never read an Olivia Dade story and I was very pleased with this! Although, some parts I felt dragged on a bit, I really liked this story line!

I LOVED how this story had fat characters. We don’t really ever see that in a book. That was one of the reasons I liked this!

The plot was different- and how she incorporated fan fiction was so funny. At the very end though I didn’t really like Maria as much as I did in the beginning. Maybe that’s just me.

I was almost tempted to give this a 3.75 because I didn’t feel as connected to the characters as I usually do.

Overall I give this a solid 4 stars out of 5! It was funny, romantic, interesting all the way through- I enjoyed it!

I received an advanced copy of this book, and I was so excited since I really enjoyed the first two books. I was definitely not disappointed, as this turned out to be my favorite book of the series. I loved that there were two fat main characters who were both presented as being attractive to the fans of the show, and it wasn't a big deal. A lot of times when there are fat women in romances, it includes a lot of instances to illustrate the fat phobia of the world around her, and that isn't the case here. Aside from some shenanigans from the showrunners, it doesn't really come up in the story. The relationship between Maria and Peter was so sweet and hot. I enjoyed seeing the progression of their relationship from one-night stand, to enemies (sort-of), to friends and then lovers. If you liked the first two books in the Spoiler Alert series, this will not disappoint!

After seeing this series everywhere, and being so excited for plus sized representation in a romance, I was so excited to get an ARC for this book.

Maria and Peter's one night stand would have been no big deal if they'd never see each other again. Unfortunately for them both, they got cast together in Gods of the Gates, a widely popular Viking style tv show. Peter, still bitter from waking up alone, has to spend the next six years filming on a desolate island with Maria. These two have to learn to not only be friends, but keep their attraction to each other in check. It works out perfectly... until filming is over and the rules are out the window.

Unfortunately, this book was cringey at least 80% of the time. I know that the series is fan fiction inspired, but it felt like I was literally reading a fanfic. There were also inserts of fan fiction written about the characters TV characters. I may have been the wrong audience for this style book, but I still felt it was a little too "try hard" at times. Reading about beets tasting like socialism was really not it for me.

I also wish Peter was better developed! Most of the time, if I'm not enjoying a plot, good characters will balance the experience. I felt like his character development was pushed into the last 25% of the book. The grown man needed therapy, and the couple over all needed better communication. They went ZERO TO ONE HUNDRED and it was giving me whiplash.

If you're a fanfic reader, this is probably going to be right up your alley.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon, and Olivia Dade for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
↠ 2.25 stars

I love this book! The banter and the slow burn between Maria and Peter was SO GOOD. This entire series has been EXCELLENT and so beautifully written. Olivia Dade can’t miss!

I love this whole series by Olivia Dade! I hope she keeps them coming! This book will hit you in the feels if you've ever felt bad about your body.

Ship Wrecked is a flirty and exciting romance between two costars. Olivia Dade always finds a beautiful balance between comedy and swoon-worthy romance.

Maria and Peter have a one-night stand. The following day Peter wakes up alone. It's triggering because his ex left him without a heads up. At least he had a fun night and doesn't have to worry about seeing her again. Well, that's what he thought. He is shocked when he sees Maria on the set of 'God of the Gates'.

It turns out that Maria and Peter are costars and main characters in the show. Maria doesn't want things to be awkward but is a bit hurt when Peter starts to ignore her and act rude when they are around. Yes, he is using his behavior as a defensive mechanism but it's fun to see Maria take on the challenge of breaking him.

I love their chemistry throughout. Even though they did hookup in the beginning, there is still a slow burn. The show's success leads to six years of filming and building friendships as well as denying their attraction. I think they would both choose to have a friends-with-benefits relationship if they weren't so worried about the repercussions of a bad breakup.

When they complete filming, will they be able to say goodbye? Will they finally give in to their feelings? I can't' wait for yall to find out. I applaud Olivia Dade for writing fat characters. It's always exciting and refreshing to read about books with real bodies. And she does it in a way that doesn't keep screaming 'oh don't forget these characters are fat'.

I give Ship Wrecked 4 stars. I'm such a fan of this series and enjoyed this third book. It's a slow burn that has you begging for more. The characters are so easy to read and root for.

This was adorable and so charming. I love a slow burn, and a friends to lovers is always wonderful. There were a few character things that I was concerned about (some decisions seemed so nonsensical) but the author would then give the context and it worked! Appreciate characters who do therapy, and do the work on themselves. Was also worried about the 3rd act breakup, but it was handled so well.

Also, an unapologetic fat female lead, an unapologetic fat male lead, and both of them being viewed as sexy to more than just each other. So so so well done.
Comment

I really enjoyed this book. I love the other two books in the Spoiler Alert series, and I love that this book brought them all together and paid homage to the other two. I love how Dade writes plus sized heroines and how they are always strong and confident women. They always love themselves for who they are, not who society tells them they should be. This book is hilarious, adorable, and yes, very steamy. I will definitely be recommending this to customers in November when it is released.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the first two installments of Olivia Dade's Spoiler Alert series, but even I wasn't expecting to find that Ship Wrecked is my favorite book in the series.

Though it stars with a one-night stand, Ship Wrecked is an incredibly compelling slow burn romance between two actors who are perfect for each other, even if circumstances keep them apart for far too long. I both wanted Maria and Peter to be together instantly, and I also wanted to work through their own feelings and journeys so that they would be ready for each other. This kind of tension instantly elevates any romance, and Dade pairs it with well-realized character arcs, sparkling banter, and the kind of television inside-baseball that makes me wonder if she ever secretly worked on Game of Thrones.

I also want to highlight the fact that both main characters in Ship Wrecked are fat. This is clear on the page and it's central to the narrative -- though the plot never revolves around either Peter or Maria being self-conscious about their weight. Instead, their bodies bring them great joy. I adored the passages in the beginning of the novel when both Peter and Maria are admiring each other's bodies. Especially when it comes to men's bodies in romance, I'm so used to six-packs and toned muscles that Maria's loving appraisal of Peter's strength and size and softness was not only unique, but instantly pulled me into the world and their story. I wish more authors would feature diverse bodies, though now they'll have to describe them as beautifully as Olivia Dade does.

I am so happy that this book exists, and thrilled to have gotten to read and enjoy it. Ship Wrecked is truly a special novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for an advance review copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.