This was such an entertaining and exciting ride filled with intrigue, secrets, hot tension, and sweet romance! What starts as something akin to a relaxing beach romance quickly becomes so much more! This is definitely a book to add to your Summer TBR!

Ore, a reporter aspiring to much more in the literary world, uncovers more and more as she writes a piece that started out much simpler than it finishes. Ore is ambitious, brave even in the face of uncertainty, and knows what she wants and doesn't fear chasing after it. As she investigates the characters on board the Thalassa, she discovers a far more provoking mystery. And that's even before the sweet and spicy Captain Daniel enters the scene. A man of many emotions, Daniel isn't afraid to own his emotions and allows himself to feel them even when they surprise him - and it's so refreshing to read a man like this!

Ada Barume created a cast of characters that were so vibrant and easy to imagine. I felt like I connected with the characters and appreciated the dual-POV as I took a glimpse into the lives of the crew. I was immediately hooked (pun totally intended!) and had to know who did what and where the story would lead. Every time I expected one thing to happen, I found myself shocked at how the story twisted and turned. As a reader, I crave surprise - make me feel something, make me cry; I want to feel my heart break - as the story unfolded, I found myself feeling everything!

"I'm just happy Daniel, like I've been rummaging around my life looking for something I've lost, and I've just found it, and it's even more special than I remembered." *Swoon*

Unfortunately, I DNF'd this one after the first chapter. I don't know if it was the shallow dialogue or the characters, but this was painful. I wanted to like this one because it reminded me of Below Deck, but I couldn't get far enough to know.

Ore and Daniel are both on the same superyacht. He is the captain and she is a journalist who gets more than she expected when she uncovers the truth about what is going on with the passengers. I like how it was told from both points of view.

Yacht rom-com seems to be a new trend lately, but this one has more depth that just a summer romance.

Ore and Daniel are great characters, there is a lot of romance, mystery and a crazy eccentric and his daughter. Ore thinks she's getting an insider article but learns there was a lot of dark happenings on board the yacht.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I enjoyed reading this book.

We meet Ore, she has nearly got the job she’s dreamed about, wanting to be an investigative reporter. First she has to the big story on Harrison Marigold, who is rich.

In order to do this, Ore has to be on his yacht for two weeks. When Daniel meets her, he’s suspicious of her as he wants a job, to be a captain of a fancy yacht.

When she begins to ask questions, Daniel does his best to make it harder for her, but then she comes across the sort of business that isn’t known to others that Harrison and his associates are doing, Ore discovers she has feelings for Daniel.

I recommend this book.

This book made the Below Deck fan inside of me very happy. I had a lovely time reading this and even though it had moments where I thought it was slow and I didn't know where it was going. I had a lovely time reading it.

Ore, a freelance journalist, is determined to build the career she wants. When she’s contracted to write a puff piece on billionaire Chuck Regas, she boards his yacht for two weeks of sailing. But a last-minute crew change brings in Captain Daniel Wilsons, who has one goal—complete his six-week assignment and move on.

As the days pass, tension builds between Ore and Daniel, and secrets about the crew, guests, and the billionaire owner begin to surface.

The romance felt natural—sometimes love stories feel rushed, but this one developed in a way that made sense. Ore and Daniel knew they were attracted to each other, but the story didn’t force them into an unrealistic whirlwind romance. One of the highlights was the banter between Ore and Daniel—it was sharp, fun, and started even before the romance truly kicked in.

The story also does a great job of building relationships beyond the main couple. We get to see Ore and Daniel interact with the crew, which makes the world feel fuller.

There are one or two spicy scenes, but nothing too explicit or kinky—I’d rate it about 2/5 spice. The intrigue surrounding the crew’s secrets also kept things interesting without overshadowing the romance.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would give it 4/5 stars!

At around page 90 the book piked my interest more.
Can’t stand vicky she’s a bit much … yeah okay ore is a journalist and there for snooping but if you really cared about the injustice that happened to your former colleague, Annie, then why won’t you speak to someone who could potentially bring justice for Annie ? I feel like she’s not REALLY bothered by what happened to Annie.
I’ve finished the book and oddly I only really almost enjoyed the last 100 pages… by day five I was very concerned for Ore‘s life and safety.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

⚓️ Hooked On You ⚓️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is an arc review and this book releases May 10th.

Hooked on You is a delightful contemporary romcom set on a luxury yacht. This follows Ore, an aspiring investigative journalist, tasked with writing an exposé on elusive billionaire Harrison. To do so, she must spend two weeks aboard his yacht and gain the trust and opinions of the crew. Meanwhile, Daniel, the yacht's captain, is determined to keep his crew focused and professional, despite the presence of the charming and determined Ore. As the two spend time together sparks fly, and they find themselves drawn to each other in unexpected ways.

This is a perfect, summer contemporary romance - below deck in romantic book form, bravo fans unite! I loved the banter and humour in this and it had the perfect balance of mystery and romance to keep me literally hooked (line and sinker). The tropes include grumpy x sunshine, workplace romance and enemies to lovers plus it’s in dual POV! Honestly it was sunshine in book form, definitely one to grab as a summer beach read.

This was okay. I don't necessarily believe that they love each other that fast. They don't really know that much about each other besides whats happening right then on the boat. It's not a bad book and I'm sure it will find its audience.

I received an arc through netgalley.

2/5 ⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and publishers for the ARC of this book.

The story had a lot of potential but unfortunately this one just did not land for me. On top of being very insta-lovey, all the characters only had surface level development and very little chemistry. The only interactions that I actually found interesting were between Ore, Mel and Agatha. Everyone else was just kind of bland.

I am always so excited to read books with diverse representation and authors I haven't read yet, and I'm so grateful for the opportunity of checking this one out. I wish I felt as connected to this story as I wanted to be...

The main female character felt really hard to understand and like within the first few chapters - it didn't hook me and didn't make me root for her. I wasn't particularly interested in her story or her journey to achieving her goals and dreams at her job.

While I'm sure that there are many other readers that will love this one, unfortunately, it just wasn't for me.

such a lovely book. i really enjoyed this romance which felt at its core so much more than i thought it would be. it was built and explored and they both learn from each other and for each other. there was a respect and warmth to them. it was honest and deep and i really really loved there falling for each other.
but of course at the start they dont really appear to be on the same side. Ore wants her scoop. and to do so she needs to set saild on a billionaires yacht and interview the a powerful CEO. easy right. but that would be easy there wasnt clearly something going on behind the bosses rich facades. and just how deep and dangerous is Ore willing to get. and when after being on the boat and snooping around, will it stop being her choice as to how involved she is?
we also have Daniel. who is in the way. in far to complicated reasons. because hes something more than the captain. hes someone she is really starting to think of more. too much. too too much.
Daniel also has his first agender to being on the ship. hes got to nail this trip. hes worked his way up to being captain and this is the last run of the ladder to success. but he didnt plan on meeting Ore. and he certainly didnt plan on his mind wandering more to her than his career. what does he do now? can he let her in? should he? and what happens when they all get mixed up in the shady goings on with the boss.

This is a captivating blend of romance and mystery set aboard a luxurious yacht. Ore, a determined journalist, is on the verge of landing her dream job at The New Yorker—but first, she must write a profile on a powerful CEO. To do so, she embarks on his yacht, intending to interview the crew and guests. However, as she digs deeper, she realizes something is off about the CEO and his associates, turning what was supposed to be a simple profile into a much more dangerous investigation.

At the heart of the story is Ore’s unexpected connection with Daniel, the yacht’s captain, who has always lived by careful planning—until she disrupts his world. Their romance is built on more than just attraction; they share values and mutual respect, making their relationship feel organic and refreshing. While some side characters, like Carlos, the yacht’s chef, add charm, others, like Claude, feel underdeveloped.

With its mix of suspense, glamour, and romance, Hooked on You is an engaging summer read, perfect for those who enjoy high-stakes drama with a dash of love.

Firstly, thank you so much for sending me a early copy of Hooked On You.
In this wonderful story, we follow Ore, a journalist who has been asked to write a story on billionaire chuck. Little does she know there's a more than the story she has been sent to wrote about.
We also get the POV of thr captain of the ship Daniel. How he learns to let his guard down, and let people in, whilst helping Ore out.

Good mystery story following Ore has (almost) landed her dream job as an investigative reporter for the New Yorker but she has to get a scoop on elusive billionaire Harrison Marigold. To complete her mission she has to spend 2 weeks on Harrison's luxury yacht. She meets Daniel the captain and he is wary of Ore as he does not want her to scupper his chances of a job as captain of a super yacht down under.
As Ore starts to ask questions of the crew who are loyal to Daniel makes her job harder, but when she stumbles across the shady business Harrison and his friends are involved in she finds she is attracted to Daniel and sparks fly.
This is a really good mystery come romantic story that keeps you interested would highly recommend.

As someone who loves watching Below Deck, a book set on a boat was perfect. The politics of the crew along with an owner who controls everything including his own daughter gives rise to a great read with intrigue as to what is he hiding and will our heroine get to the bottom of it.

This was so much fun! This would be a great book to read in the summer, especially on vacation. So cute and sweet and some cheesy-ness but all so much fun!

Ore is on the verge of landing her dream job as an investigative reporter for The New Yorker. The only condition is that she must secure an exclusive scoop on the elusive billionaire Harrison Marigold. This means spending two weeks on his luxury yacht off the coast of Australia, winning over the crew and uncovering the truth behind his powerful empire.

Daniel is just as close to his dream job as captain of a superyacht. The only thing standing in his way is one final assignment, chartering a yacht for a billionaire and ensuring that a distractingly beautiful journalist does not interfere with the crew. But keeping Ore from disrupting his carefully charted course proves far more difficult than expected.

As Ore digs deeper, she starts to sense something unsettling about Marigold and his associates. What was meant to be a straightforward profile begins to feel much bigger and more dangerous than she had anticipated. Meanwhile, her growing connection with Daniel complicates everything further. Their chemistry is undeniable, but their bond is built on more than just attraction. It is rooted in shared values and mutual respect.

Hooked on You is more than just a romance. The blend of investigative journalism, mystery and slow-burning tension gives the book an added depth. The intrigue surrounding Marigold keeps the plot engaging, and while the romance develops naturally, it does not overshadow the wider story. Ore’s friendship with Carlos, the yacht’s chef, is a highlight, though it would have been great to see more of it. Some of the side characters, particularly Marigold’s associate Claude, feel a little underdeveloped, but overall, the book delivers a fun and compelling read.

Set against the backdrop of a luxurious yacht and the sparkling Australian coast, Hooked on You is a perfect summer read, balancing romance and suspense in a fresh and engaging way.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

An amazing exciting read based on board a super yacht. How I sympathised with someone trying to get a first break in a job. Well written with good chemistry between the maim characters and a tangled tale to unearth. Loved the super yacht setting.