If you were that person in 2007 secretly (or not-so-secretly) shipping Hayley Williams with literally any member of Paramore… oh boy, do I have a story for you.

This book is like a love letter to that era of eyeliner-smudged band crushes, messy feelings, and slow-burning chemistry that makes your heart ache in the best way. Think: fiery frontwoman energy meets emotionally repressed bandmate vibes. It’s delicious.

Trust me—you’re gonna be obsessed.

what an electrifying romance from Alicia Thompson! this was my first read from her and it certainly didn't disappoint. if you're a fan of pop culture, childhood friends-to-lovers and DRAMA, this one's for you. 'Never Been Shipped' sets sail on June 10th 🚢

as teenagers, ElectricOh! took off after being featured on a popular TV show. A decade later, after a tumultuous break-up, the band reunites to perform on a cruise for fans of the TV show that launched their career. not only is Micah (lead singer) forced to reunite with her ex-boyfriend Ryder, but also her childhood best friend John.

i have never read a book set on a cruise, this was so fun and unique! i was hesitant about the third person, but it was dual POV and i still felt like we got a lot of insight into what Micah and John were thinking.

this was funny, self-aware and lively! i loved the parts about fame, performing, and fandom. i find there's often a fine line between being current and cringey when it comes to books about famous people and fandoms, and I didn't find this one to be cringey! i loved the part where Micah was reflecting on fan accounts, as someone who has always run fan accounts. Micah's love for music is a complicated one, and I loved delving into that. I could definitely see some Hayley Williams influence in Micah's character.

the spice is so good!! they have been WAIIIIITING for this, the tension is insane.

also the REPRESENTATION! Micah is bisexual and Frankie (another member of the band) is non-binary and i loved that rep a lot.

I am definitely interested in reading more from Alicia Thompson in the future!

thank you Berkley Romance for the eARC!

Alicia forever has my heart with her deep emo Paramore knowledge. It’s like we are kindred spirits.

It was impossible for me to NOT picture the members of Paramore during this (IYKYK) but oh man did I fall for John because he possesses everything I go feral for

✨ plays guitar
✨ super hot
✨ kinda a simp
✨ thoughtful
✨ good in 🛌

The tiny details that Alicia included with Micah and her anxiety were just the best. It made me relate to Micah and absolutely feel for her and everything she has gone through 🥹

Never Been Shipped is without a doubt my favorite Alicia Thompson book yet 🤘🏻🤘🏻

This book was actually everything I could have possibly wanted. It’s like I dreamt it up in my head. Love the setting of it, it adds a whole new level of fun

I've read a lot of romances set in the music world and this was a good one. I liked the characters, their relationship made sense, as did what had kept them apart.

If the cover wasn’t enough to suck you in… Rockstar Romance with an MMC who plays the guitar, need I say more? I didn’t think so.

Instantly obsessed with Alicia Thompson’s writing. 👏🏼 Micah and John’s chemistry was off the charts. I usually am not the biggest fan of second chance romance but their childhood-friends to lovers story had me in a chokehold and I legit could not put this one down.

Never Been Shipped had it all!!! - Swoony MMC, spice that is spicing, banter and character development that will have you cheering for the main characters until the very end.

Unfortunately this book didn't work for me. It felt like it dragged on and on and it was super slow. I can see how this would be enticing for some however I felt bored. I didn't get the chemistry that I was expecting. I don't like giving negative reviews but unfortunately I have to be honest. It was giving "camp rock" vibes but not in the way I would have liked.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Alicia Thompson for feeding us some good romcom food !!!!

Thompson is an auto-read author for me and she’s never let me down. I love how much Alicia Thompson loves Paramore and I’d like to thank her for giving me Tayley headcanon whether intentional or not. Weirdly enough I pictured Micah as Tamara from that MTV show Awkward. I loved getting to go back into Asa and Lauren’s world for a bit and explore their housemate John’s lore. John and his band were so much fun to read about and while a couple of plot points seemed to shake out very conveniently, I was so invested and having so much fun with them that by the end of things, I didn’t care. The entire time I was reading this, I was wishing I could be reading it while on a cruise…gonna have to reread when I book a cruise in 3-5 business years.

Never Been Shipped is a swoon-worthy friends-to-lovers romance between Micah and John, best friends when they were kids, former bandmates, and now basically strangers brought back together on a werewolf-themed cruise (unlikely, but it works!). Micah was the lead singer in ElectricOh! her band that took off when they were still in high school, and then she blew it all up by going solo, and hasn't really had a career in music since. She's reluctant to see her former bandmates--especially John--but the cruise in celebration of the hit teen werewolf drama "Nightshifters" seems like a pretty sweet gig. All she and her band have to do is perform a couple of songs, including the one they played at the Nightshifters prom that helped catapult them into stardom. They just have to figure out how to play together again without reigniting old arguments.

There's a lot of tension initially between Micah and the rest of the band, given that she hasn't spoken to them at all for years, and they've all grown up and apart. I appreciated that while there was definitely friction, Micah and John eased back into the easy camaraderie of best friends with their shared experiences and reminiscing. This time though, they find it's a lot harder to ignore the sexual tension between them. The whole story takes place over a pretty short period of time, with the tight quarters on the cruise and their performances giving the band a lot of time together again--unfortunately, including with her jerk of an ex, Ryder. (Readers will be very satisfied with how his story goes). Once Micah and John give in to a little bit of the attraction they've felt since they were teenagers, they're swept up in it, carrying the readers along for the ride.

This will appeal to a lot of fans of contemporary romance, especially readers looking for bisexual characters in their books. Fans of Alicia Thompson's With Love from Cold World will be pleased to learn the story of Asa's enigmatic roommate, but it isn't necessary to read that book to enjoy the high seas and romance here.

It gave Daisy Jones meets… Titanic?

I felt compelled to keep going to understand why Micah broke up the band, why she ran and came back a bit of a shell of herself. I love how despite what was done and not said, John was kind, understanding and patient,

Such a cute, fun read and perfect for any TBR!

I am absolutely, ferally obsessed with this book. I stg it will NOT FLOP!

Alicia Thompson was really in her bag with this one. If you follow her and read her newsletter, you just could tell this one was going to be good by her love and knowledge of music. It of course had her signature humor that we know and love, and great characters who you really want to root for! I was trying to savor every page, but I could not get enough so I tore through this in a day, and am now suffering a severe book hangover. I miss them already!

This story follows John, who we met in With Love, From Cold World, and Micah. John and Micah are childhood friends who started a band together when they were in high school, and drama and life ensued and they became estranged. Now, years later, they are reunited with each other and their former bandmates for a cruise where they will be performing.
I loved the premise of their reunion, all the secondary characters and their villains, and of course, really liked the cameos from Cold World.

This was absolutely friends to lovers at its peak and finest form.

What I loved loved loved the most about this story was the characterizations of our MCs. Their overall chemistry, to me, was incredible. I found myself really drawn to how they talked about their past, especially pre-band, and you could feel the palpable love they had for each other then. It made me feel nostalgic for my own lifelong friendships and what it means to know someone almost better than yourself. It felt very real and had me refelecting on that feeling of when you are together, it feels like no time has passed.
Sure, it is true that they have been estranged for only reasons they can justify, and they don’t know each other now, but I think there was a fine balance really well illustrated in this story of a comfortableness in knowing a person so wholly, and also the trickiness of reconciling past selves with who they have grown up into- it made them coming back together much more conflicting and emotional.
You get to go on this wonderfully complicated and emotional journey with them while they reconcile their past, and begin to figure out how they may fit into each other’s future.

John is so tenderhearted, with a bit of tongue in cheek wickedness- it is always the quiet ones!!! Micah has her armor up, and for good reason. I really related to Micah’s fatal flaw of fearing success. I felt like I was being called out in the back end of the book (don’t want to spoil) when she faces the music (hehe) of her situation and her views on success and how you can let yourself have nice things with no conditions or addendums or but what ifs. That very much hit home for me.

Micah and John had such palpable physical chemistry as well, and it made me alskdjfa;ksdjgasldkgj combust. This is definitely Alicia Thompson’s sexiest book to date and I found myself having to shut my kindle and squeal/kick my feet/blush multiple times throughout. ADORE!

Overall, this book was comforting in places, steamy in others, funny, nostalgic, and just fun. I really enjoyed myself while reading this and I highly, highly recommend you pick up a copy. It had me geekin out. LOVEEEE! I could talk more about it and really dive deep but I fear I can’t do that without spoilers. Read it!!!

My Never Been Shipped Playlist

- Full Time Cutie by Summertime Dropouts
- Velcro by Single File
- If Only They Knew by A Rocket To The Moon
- Thunder by Boys Like Girls
- Homecoming by Hey Monday
- I Must Be Dreaming by The Maine
- Kids in Love by Mayday Parade
- Like We Used To by A Rocket To The Moon
- Clairvoyant by The Story So Far
- Painting Flowers by All Time Low
- Risque by Cute is What We Aim For
- Mr. Right by A Rocket To The Moon
- Be There by Allstar Weekend
- Ultraviolet by The Stiff Dylans
- Dare4Distance by Never Shout Never!
- House of Memories by Panic! At The Disco
- Bruised and Scarred by Mayday Parade
- Stab My Back by All American Rejects
- i love you more than you will ever know by Never Shout Never!
- A Daydream Away by All Time Low

Thank you so so much to the publisher for the early copy. All opinions are my own!

‘With Love, from Cold World’ is probably my favorite Alicia Thompson book and I’ve been absolutely dying to read John’s story ever since she announced it was coming. Blessedly, it did not disappoint. (And I also want to go on another cruise now more than ever.)

Sweet, tender yearner John. I love him so much. He is the definition of a good, kind man. He is the antithesis of who raised him because he knew he deserved better and he has held fast in his determination to be better. He is deeply emotional and deeply understanding. He is not a pushover, he knows when to stand his ground and won’t hesitate to do exactly that. At the same time, he’s calm and measured and not reactionary. It’s a battle worth fighting if he’s pushing for or against something. And Micah has been worth the battle to him for as long as he’s known her, even when they haven’t spoken in years.

Micah is and has been a bit lost in the years since the band broke up. (One might say adrift. There are a lot of at-sea metaphors and ways this could go if I allowed myself.) Being in the same space as John is like resurfacing for her. I’m trying to resist too many nautical mentions at the risk of sounding like I’m joking, but he truly is like a lighthouse for her. His presence in her life guides her through the work she needs to do for herself. The way they reconnect is beautiful and begins to heal something in her. It’s also hot because John is a “quiet one” on the surface and it really is always the quiet ones…

Some quick notes before this gets too much longer. I love seeing Asa and Lauren living happily, and getting moments with all the housemates in the best little found family for John. Also, the epilogue brought me a lot of joy and feels so fitting for John and Micah’s story.

Thank you to Berkley via NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

There is something just so good about Alicia’s writing!! It’s so tender and soft and quiet and there is so much depth and every time I read her books it just feels so good! I also feel like whenever I come to write about how much I love these books I don’t know what to say!! Other than I simply loved every single second of this book. It was a second chance, but not in the traditional sense, but also in more ways than just one!! I loved Micah and John and seeing them find their way back to each other. The backdrop was fun!! And I loved the cast of characters!! I LOVED seeing Asa and Lauren and the whole Orlando crew!!

I love a man who YEARNS. And John really is that man!!! I loved them together. I loved that we got to see them through their memories, and see how close they were! I loved how nervous they both were to see each other?? And then how SEAMLESSLY they were able to slip back into their best friendship! And how quickly and easily it turned into more!!

The whole band aspect was fun! Not every part of course that was the point, right?? But seeing them reunited and having to face each other, and specifically for Micah seeing her face her fears surrounding the band was written so well!!

Thank you so much to Berkley for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

I love all of Alicia Thompson's books and I think this one is the most romantic one yet. A pining hero? Childhood friends to bandmates to lovers? Forced proximity on a cruise ship? Sign me up.

Thank you for the free book, Berkley Romance!

John and Micah are former members of a band that broke up under less than friendly circumstances. The band has been asked to reunite for a special reunion cruise, and neither of them feels particularly excited to see the other despite harboring secret feelings. They were friends for years, and five days on a boat together might rekindle their friendship or deeper feelings, if they are willing to take the chance.

I really enjoy Alicia’s sense of humor and writing. She approaches her characters in a very realistic and well-rounded way so that they are flawed but still likable. This book had a fun nostalgic feel to it that will really appeal to music fans. I also chose to read this book while vacationing on a cruise, which added to my enjoyment and really helped soak in the unique setting. If you’ve been on a cruise, you’ll appreciate the nods to cruise ship travel. Fans of open door romance, friends to lovers, and rock band/once famous main characters will enjoy this book!

Sadly, this novel was really lackluster to me. Things between John and Micah were slow going and, much like being on a huge cruise ship, I started to feel trapped.

These two used to be best friends with an underlying sexual attraction, but they never dated or anything, so it's not truly a second chance romance. Ok. But soooo much of their buildup was just a rehashing of things that happened between them prior to the start of the book. Was I expected to care...? I live in the Now, so what's happening NOW to create tension and connection? Not much, not even banter.

The reunion band plotline was forgettable, much like the rest of the band members—except for Ryder, who was such an unrepentant dickhead that I wish someone had shoved him overboard. I was, however, pleasantly surprised to run into Asa and Lauren again (from With Love, From Cold World); I hadn't recognized John as Asa's roommate!

I am now 1 for 4 on Alicia Thompson novels. I feel confident in saying that this is where I stop.

honestly i loved it!
Could the relationships be a little deeper, yes.
Did that make it any less fun to read? Absolutely not.
The last couple chapters left me with a huge smile on my face!
Loved the variety of characters , and just loved the setting! Super cute story!

It is impossible to not smile while reading this book. I was smiling like a fool in public and had no shame! One of the best I’ve read this year.

Never Been Shipped was my first book by Alicia Thompson, but unfortunately it didn't work for me.

I enjoyed the premise a lot, and I love second chance romances. But I found the main characters, particularly Micah, to be shallow and unlikeable. This may admittedly be due to my own bias against characters who seemingly don't need to work and have a "woe is me" mentality.

I enjoyed the musical elements of the story, and it gave me nostalgia for the era of CDs and mix tapes. The cruise took a bit of a backseat to the story, but I enjoyed the shuffleboard game and interactions with the fans.

The romance was more lust than relationship development and lacked believability for me. I know many people who love this and other of Alicia's books so I think this is an issue of me being the wrong audience for this book.

Thank you to Berkley Romance for the eARC. All thoughts are my own.

The nostalgia and longing in this book was so good!!

Micah and her former bandmates reunite for a performance on a cruise.
John, once her best friend and quiet admirer, sees this as his second chance to finally be the guy who doesn’t stand on the sidelines.

John’s quiet pining absolutely stole the show!! It was so sweet.

I loved the flashbacks, they really showed their history and how he’s always been there.

The friends to strangers to lovers trope was done SO well!

Also - the title is so perfectly clever and fitting.

If you love second chances, music filled nostalgia, this one’s a must-read.

Thank you Berkley and NetGalley for the free ARC.