I love the premise of this! One hit wonder band reuniting on a themed cruise ship for a show their song was featured on. The band imploded years ago, so there’s lots of re-union type feels for them to work though, as well as a budding romance between former best friends Micah, the lead singer, and John, the guitarist who’s been in love with her basically his whole life.

Overall this was just okay for me. I did like the romance from John’s perspective, but I couldn’t tell what was going on with Micah. I’m not sure she even liked him romantically or if she just wanted attention/her friend back.

There was some good spice and an interesting setting but I can’t say this was a true winner for me.

I have never been the biggest fan of celebrity/rockstar romances, but THIS ONE hit so good.

A broken up band back together again for a semi-reunion on a cruise ship. They’re openers - not even the main act - and that helped make this feel a bit more “real” for me. The drama, jealousy, pining, and spice all had me absolutely seated!!

I did a mix of audio/physical and I so wish the audio had dual narrators. Even though the book was in third person there was still a clear his vs her POV and two narrators would’ve made the audio SO good. I’d say stick to the physical read for this one.

This has second chance, childhood best friends, he’s always loved her written alllll over it, which all of that in one book is truly an absolute favorite of mine.

Read if you like:
🌶️ hot spice (3.5/5)
😮‍💨 pining
🫶🏼 he falls first and hard
👀 band drama
🏳️‍🌈 lgbtq+ rep
🎸 rockstar romance
🛳️ cruises
🤒 he takes care of her when she’s sick

Oh my gosh I had a blast with this one!! These two are so down bad and it was so fun watching them find their way back to each other. The sexual tension was off the charts in this book! The sheer amount of yearning and horniness Micah and John experience had me feeling so many things. I loved the bi rep and the mental health rep. Both topics were handled really thoughtfully. Band breakup books don’t always work for me but this one really did because the reason for their breakup was so realistic. It made so much sense to me especially given they were all so young when it happened. I couldn't put this one down because I was having such a good time. Definitely check trigger warnings because this book deals with some heavy topics (but the overall tone isn't heavy).

rockstar romances are SO BACK.

were they ever gone? IDK. but i’m so into them rn. the narrators killed it (positive) and the story itself was so entertaining!!

I love a good rockstae romance and this one did not disappoint. There is a friends to lovers, with so much longing. I really liked the main male character John and how he treated the people around him. Micah has a lot going on and a lot to apologize for but I still enjoyed her as well. Overall this is a fun, spicy romance like we've come to love from Alicia Thompson.

I have mixed feelings about Never Been Shipped. I absolutely loved some things, but then other times I was all really, ugh.

John is a treasure who needs to be protected and treated right forever. I loved Steve and Frankie.

My main character issue is Micah. She was a bit Yoko-ish with the way she blew up the band. But then I could sort of see why things happened how they happened (ugh, Ryder!)

I couldn't think of anything worse than being on a cruise ship, and then a cruise set around an old TV show and their fandom *shudders*

I was here for the romance (and even that, to me, was pretty meh). I didn't really feel much heat between them. Yes, I could feel the reconnection of the childhood friends, yeah there was some lust clouds, but I didn't feel the deep seated love between them - but that's a me thing.

So overall, it was good, but it didn't rock my world.

With Love, from Cold War was one of my favorite reads of 2023, so I was pleasantly surprised to realize that this book follows one of the characters introduced there. The summary of this one also sounded so fun! I know the author is a big Paramore fan and that made the premise even more intriguing. In Never Been Shipped, a band reunites for a novelty cruise with the lead singer reconciling with the band’s guitarist, aka her estranged childhood best friend.

When she was a teenager, Micah and her band had a viral hit after being featured in a popular TV show, only for them to messily break up after she declares she’s going solo. A decade later, an offer for the band to reunite for a novelty cruise comes up and she jumps on it to both right some wrongs and reunite with her childhood best friend and the band’s rhythm guitarist, John. John has always had a thing for Micah, and he can’t help but find this opportunity a chance for him to reconcile his feelings for her. Being stuck on a ship only allows for tension to grow, both between the bandmates and between the two of them.

I’ve always enjoyed how Alicia Thompson writes her characters. The voices in each character’s point-of-view are so distinct, and you really feel like you’re in Micah’s and John’s shoes. They have a lot of history too, and it’s all detailed without being over-excessive. I liked learning more about their lives, both in the past during the band’s heyday and now as they’re settled into their lives as adults. I also loved the Asa/Lauren cameos!

The romance was really good in that regard, because part of knowing them as characters also reveals how Micah and John feel about each other. They’ve been best friends since childhood, then they formed the band and lost contact after Micah went scorched-earth. Still, that familiarity and intimacy exists between then, only now it leans closer and closer to romantic tension.

Never Been Shipped was a fun romance with strong characterizations and great tension. I’m not much for dual POV books, but I enjoyed reading both Micah’s and John’s chapters. If you’re intrigued by a childhood-friends-to-bandmates-to-estranged-bandmates-to-lovers romance, then you should check out Never Been Shipped!

“You play games of what if what if what if, but like, what if everything was just…good. What if it did actually work out.”

I just love Alicia Thompson. Her books are full of fun characters with realistic flaws that always feel relatable. And she doesn’t have a book I don’t love.

This has such a fun premise and I loved the friends-to-lovers romance aspect. A decade has passed since Michael and John, and the rest of their band, have seen each other so it’s great when they see each other with new eyes. There’s tension in the beginning but throughout the story you see the walls start to come down.

There’s a lot of drama surrounding the band, but since Micah and John were once best friends it’s hard for them to see each other. John’s harbored feelings for Micah for so long and they all come flooding back. But there’s so much they need to work through. Throughout the journey, the complexity of romance and friendship is explored in a really meaningful way.

Micah and John have such great character development that fuels their reconciliation and romance. There are beautiful, honest conversations that happen to solidify their relationship. They have a lot of baggage from the shared and separate pasts which is examined perfectly to get them to their happy ending.

I'm really sad because I have loved this author before but this book just didn't work for me. The opening act did grab me, the romance didn't feel fueled by anything special, and I didn't feel compelled to pick it up.

Alicia Thompson can do no wrong! Loved Never Been Shipped! This would easily make a great TV Show/Series/Movie!

Alicia Thompson's Never Been Shipped is a heartfelt and nostalgic romance that strikes all the right chords. Set aboard a themed cruise, the story reunites former bandmates Micah and John, rekindling old feelings and offering a second chance at love. Thompson masterfully blends humor, longing, and emotional depth, creating a narrative that's both engaging and emotionally resonant. The chemistry between the protagonists is palpable, making their journey from friends to lovers both believable and swoon-worthy. For fans of romantic comedies with a musical twist, this novel is a must-read.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for this digital e-arc.*

Never Been Shipped
Alicia Thompson
Pub: 6/10/25
3.5-4☆

#gifted @Berkleyromance @prhaudio #BerkleyPartner #Berkley

If you’re in the mood for a second chance, band romance that brings with it bit of drama and some good spice… here ya go. This one will have you feeling nostalgic.

This was my first read by Thompson and I look forward to more. Never Been Shipped was a fun read. I enjoyed the musical aspects, the themed cruise ship setting, and most of the characters. 😉

All in all an entertaining read with a good mix of fun and flirty while also tackling some real life complexities.

What I enjoyed;
🎸 Second Chance
🎸 Slow-Burn
🎸 Band Romance
🎸 Childhood Friends to Lovers
🎸 Queer Rep

I enjoyed a mix of reading formats on this one. Ellie Gossage's narration was really well done so I mostly gravitated to the audiobook.

Thank you Berkley Romance, PRH Audio, and NetGalley for the gifted copies.

Never Been Shipped is a story filled with tropes I don’t normally love, but that were executed so well. I absolutely adored this story. Friends to Strangers to Lovers was so enjoyable to read. Normally music and a cruise ship are not plot devices and settings that I enjoy, but I happen to really love how they aligned in this love story. The music, even though they were singing did not brother me at all because it focused so much more on the dynamic during the performance versus the actual performance and the lyrics. I also enjoyed that they didn’t focus too much on the fame despite being on a cruise ship with obsessive fangirls. I just felt like Alicia did such a great job with the setting and the plot. I was obsessed the entire time.

As for our characters, I loved both John and Micah’s relationship so much. They went from best friends to nothing in the blink of an eye and are now figuring out how they fit into each other’s new lives. I loved watching them awkwardly being up things of the past and fall back into their old friendship. They have each other’s backs and I loved to see it. They made me so emotional. While friend’s to lovers normally is not my favorite, I really love the depth adding the stranger’s aspect brought. The hard conversations are my favorite.

The rest of the band (for the most part) was also great and I truly wish them the best. I had so much fun with this story. It was empowering, heartbreaking, funny, endearing, romantic, and I just adored every second. This was my first Alicia Thompson book, but will not be my last.

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley for an earc. All opinions are my own.

thank you Berkley Romance and NetGalley for the digital arc!!

I was so excited to get this arc, it sounded DELICIOUS and the perfect read to open summer with! Alicia’s storytelling and writing is so addictive, and I ended up staying up late to read more and finish this book!

Micah and John’s story and their relationship profession from former band mates to strangers to lovers was so entertaining and fun and salacious at times, I was giggling kicking my feet!! Their slow burn, forced proximity was just what I needed!

I also LOVED the side characters (not Ryder though, boo Ryder)! Steve and Frankie seemed like the BEST band mates to have, and I loved how they were solidly behind Micah and stood up for her!

I absolutely recommend this book, and everyone needs to pick a copy up from a bookstore or the library when it releases Tuesday (6/10/25)!

I really really enjoyed this. Childhood friends to lovers will always be a top tier trope for me and add on the forced proximity of being on a cruise together? Perfection. I thought their chemistry was great, not only the romance of it, but their friendship as well. The laying in bed together reminiscing was so sweet. Really just gave me all the warm, fuzzy feelings.

I loved all the queer rep this book had! And not sure whether or not it was intentional, but the cover is giving major bi vibes and I'm in love with it.

I did feel like the book dragged on towards the end, the last 30% felt really slow to me. It felt like the majority of the conflict had been resolved by the 70% mark and, while I still enjoyed it, I wouldn't have minded a little more tension.

I always love a playlist, but this one gets bonus points because each chapter had a corresponding song. I will definitely be reading more from this author!

Never Been Shipped by Alicia Thompson was such a feel-good read. It had me laughing, cringing (in the best, most relatable way), and totally rooting for the characters from start to finish. As someone who’s definitely fallen down a few fandom rabbit holes, I loved how this book explored the world of shipping and online obsession without making it feel silly or over-the-top. The romance was sweet and swoony, but also grounded in real emotion and growth. It hit that perfect balance of funny, heartfelt, and just a little messy. If you're a fan of fandom culture, second chances, or just love a rom-com with heart, this one’s definitely worth picking up.

Alicia Thompson's latest romance takes the reader out to sea for a band reunion with a dash of romance.

Micah and John became fast friends as kids, bonding over music and eventually a band that became a midlevel hit. Then it implodes. They haven't talked since.

But nostalgia reigns, and they all get roped back in for a cruise tied to a hit show that used one of their songs. How will it all work out??

This is not a sequel, more of a same universe as one of Thompson's previous books, but it's so nice to get little updates on the main characters of that book while we dive into John's life (we met him in With Love, From Cold World).

In John and Micah, we meet two people at frozen moments in their lives-- but finding ways to exist without living-- until they choose to join the reunion (both unknowingly only doing it to see each other).

Thompson is so good at crafting characters that are flawed without getting in their way and without resorting to cliched tropes.

Never Been Shipped is sweet and romantic, emotional and spicy. Such a great read.

I was expecting Never Been Shipped to read similarly to The Art of Catching Feelings. Unfortunately, this book didn't hold up to my expectations. I wasn't fully invested in Micah and John's relationship. I just didn't feel the chemistry between them. I wanted the tension between them to be built up more. I wasn't fully convinced that they were in love with each other. The third person narrative made it difficult to connect to their characters and relationship. Micah and John weren't as developed as I wanted them to be. The main and secondary characters feel flat. I didn't feel drawn in by them. I thought this story had a lot of potential, especially with the band. Sadly, the band aspect of the story didn't hook me in. I did think the plot was unique and the setting was fun. Although I didn't care for this book, I will still give the author another shot. Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC.

Rating: 3/5 stars

Thank you Berkley for the eARC!
Never Been Shipped is childhood friends-to-lovers, pseudo-second chance romance about Micah, the former lead singer of the band, and John, the former second guitarist of the band. Ten years ago, Micah bought out the other four members of the band and embarked on a solo career, which kind of flopped, and ended her friendships with all of her bandmates. Now, 10 years later, the band has been asked to attend a themed cruise for a supernatural teen TV series where the band had one song on the sound track all those years ago. They all begrudgingly agree, even though none of them is really over how things previously ended.
This was my first book by Alicia Thompson and listen, I think it had a lot of potential but it really fell flat with me in several ways.
To start, I received this book through the Berkley hub for underrepresented voices (as an LGBTQ+ reader/book) and I received another book from Berkley ~6 months ago called For One Night Only by Jessica Joyce, and Never Been Shipped felt like I was reading a copy-paste version of that last book, except this time it was on a boat. Let me be extremely clear that I am NOT accusing either of these authors of any sort of idea-stealing, plagiarism, etc., etc., but it was very surreal reading two books that felt so similar from the same ARC program, you know?
Secondly, I sometimes don't enjoy 3rd person POV, especially in a contemporary romance, and I've stated such in other reviews I've left, but this book specifically highlighted why- the characters feel SO one-dimensional and there was a lot of "telling not showing" going on with some of the description. In that same vein, I felt like the romantic tension between the characters was well constructed but the sexual tension was nonexistent, in my opinion. Like I did not see the chemistry there AT ALL. These two people haven't seen each other in 10 years since she single-handedly blew up their band, and on their second meeting (the first being 5 minutes outside the office when the band agreed to this cruise ship reunion show), they have dinner together "for old time's sake" and following dinner, she drops "I'm just SO horny" on him....like girl what??? That's insane imo. I'm not sure she's even apologized at this point??? It just did not make any sense to me, not to mention the fact that he just is down with that. Just no.
Third, and last thing, the writing just had a lot of repetition for me. And I try not to be too judgmental of ARCs with those kind of critiques because I know they technically aren't final copies and still might have a couple of rounds of edits, but I honestly don't think this is something that was going to be changed. And when I say repetitive I mean it would be something like "it was so weird seeing John in white instead of his typical black, he almost seemed like an angel" and then 3 paragraphs later there'd be something like "the white shirt was just so striking on him, he really looked like an angel", like girl you already said that? And it wasn't something worth repeating? And that happened SEVERAL times throughout the book and it just grated on me a bit.


I still gave it 3 stars, despite the long-winded rant above, because I did like the actual STORY and I thought it ended up being cute. But yeah, the main characters just weren't it for me, especially when it came to the spicy stuff.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing the ARC.

Oh my goodness, this book.

I have been a fan of Alicia Thompson for a while. I loved WIth Love, From Cold World and The Art of Catching Feelings. I knew she would approach this story with a lot of care and emotional depth. But this story hurt in all of the best ways. Micah was so real to me as a character, as someone who imploded their world as a teenager and is still grappling with the guilt and shame of that as an adult along with her inability to pull herself out of the rut she's been in creatively, mostly due to the pressure she's put on herself. and John, who had every reason to stay silent and stoic due to his upbringing, found a way to say the words that she most needed to hear in order for her to heal. This book was emotional, poignant and so, so, so tender, I am absolutely here for it.

This book is not to be missed.