First off, huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC! I was so excited to get my hands on this one — I’d never read anything by Alicia Thompson before, but I’d heard nothing but great things, and that cover? Instant heart-eyes.

Now, onto my actual thoughts: I have pretty mixed feelings about this book. The premise was everything I want in a romance — band reunion, past feelings, forced proximity on a cruise — and I love a "pathetically down bad" male lead, which John absolutely delivered on. But despite all that, I found myself struggling to stay engaged.

Around the 70% mark, I seriously considered DNFing (full disclosure: I’ve been in a depressive episode, so that probably didn’t help). Still, I pushed through, only to find myself skimming the final 10% because I’d just lost interest. The chemistry was there in moments, and the spice? Top tier. But emotionally, the story didn’t land for me.

I think part of the disconnect was the third-person POV. It left me feeling like I was being told the story rather than experiencing it, and that made it hard for me to fully connect with the characters or their relationship arc.

That said, I can definitely see this book hitting home for a lot of readers. If you’re a fan of second chances, musicians pining, and a bit of angsty tension on the high seas, there’s still a lot here to enjoy — it just didn’t quite strike the right chord for me

Never Been Shipped by Alicia Thompson is a flirty, feel-good second chance romance that reunites two former bandmates (and childhood besties) on a themed cruise—and maybe, finally, gets them on the same page.

Micah and John haven’t spoken in a decade. She’s back for one last gig with their old band; he’s back to prove he’s more than the guy on the sidelines. There’s a lot of history, plenty of unresolved tension, and just five days at sea to figure out what the hell they’re doing. Childhood memories, adult chemistry, and a whole lot of unspoken feelings come to the surface in a story that mixes nostalgia, awkward reunions, and spicy slow burns.

Micah is openly bi, John is quietly pining, and the supporting cast (including a standout nonbinary character) rounds out a love story with heart and humor. The banter works, the heat builds, and while there’s some emotional weight, the vibe stays summery and low on the drama.

🎧 Audiobook note: I wish this had dual narration, but Ellie Gossage handled it well. Her character work made it easy to follow, and I loved how she captured both Micah’s uncertainty and John’s soft but steady yearning. I read and listened at the same time, and it made the story even more immersive.
If you’re into friends-to-lovers, band dynamics, and romance with heat and heart, this one deserves a spot in your summer stack.

Thank you @aliciabooks, @berkleypub, @berkleyromance, and prhaudio for the #gifted ebook arc and ALC. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley for an early reviewer copy of this fun read.

This was a cute concept- a one hit wonder emo band who got their hit song from performing on a Teen Wolf like show- who reunite to play their songs on a supernatural themed fan cruise. Micah is the former lead singer who broke up the brand, majorly due to her explosive breakup with her band mate ex, and John is the guitarist, her childhood BFF who has been waiting in the wings for her to realize her feelings for him.

This book wasn't overly complicated and felt like a very smooth read. There was some angst and some pining but it wasn't too slow burn for me. Micah and John are well fleshed out and feel like three dimensional characters. The spice was well done- I like a girl who takes what she wants! While there is some discussions around heavier topics- TW alcoholism- it's only a small piece of the book. Overall it felt like a smooth read, with Micah and John just making sense together.

It saw another reader describe this as an 'endearingly sweet' book and I couldn't agree more. I also love anything that brings nostalgia, and author Thompson's playlist- with a song to listen to for each chapter- kept me living on with Micah and John long after the book was finished. A really solid romance read. It definitely made me want to dive back into a re-watch of my favourite CW shows for angsty drama galore.

I will 100% read anything that Alicia Thompson writes, and this one was by far one of my absolute favorites. I've been eagerly anticipating it since hse revealed the cover and premise, and it was such an absolute joy to read and so wonderful to see Alicia get to write a book centering around music!

I absolutely loved this book. The yearning and pining between Micah and John was so tasty. I’m a sucker for a good friends-to-lovers slow burn, and this one is the definition of slow burn. They’ve known each other since they were twelve and have been secretly crushing on each other for basically their whole lives.

The cruise setting added such a fun layer to the story, giving it just the right amount of plot momentum and romantic tension. I also liked the fandom elements that were sprinkled in, the little nods felt natural and authentic, never cringy or overdone.

And the found family? Chef’s kiss. Both the dynamic within the band (even with all the time and distance between them) and John’s friend group were so well done. The emotional support, the loyalty, it all just hit the right note

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

I had to sit with this one for a bit, then I reread on audio once it published to see if that helped me form my opinions. first thing first, I LOVE Alicia Thompson’s writing! she writes deep, loving characters that always go one a journey of some kind that awakens them to new and better opportunities whether in love, life, circumstance, etc. that said,

that said, this book didn’t hit the mark for me in some instances. while I loved the dual pov and getting to see Micah’s character really blossom, I really didn’t feel like I understood John beyond the surface level or in reaction to Micah until like the 3/4ths mark of the book. I also really had an hard time understanding why he seems to have always been into Micah when we don’t really see much of that in his past or present actions. his pov helped a little here, but again it didn’t really go beyond surface level reactions. and I had a really hard time connecting with the side characters here as well because I couldn’t really see past what their surface level personalities were.

like I said though, I loved seeing Micah’s character development throughout the book. she’s been through a lot and not always made the right decisions but she seems to really want to try now: try keeping herself happy and safe, try keeping the band content on this ship, and try seeing if something’s there with John.

overall, I did enjoy this book as a spicy, (kinda) second chance romance, I thought it was unique and fun. but I just couldn’t really connect with the characters other than Micah, or really see the love and romance between Micah and John beyond their physical relationship.

thank you for the ARC, because this is a critical and not fully recommending review, I will not be posting this full review on my instagram or tiktok, but will be posting to Goodreads and Storygraph.

I really enjoyed this! It was sweet and funny and very sexy. I adored how nostalgic it felt. Romances where the characters already have a history are my absolute favorite and this definitely fit the bill.

It's not a traditional second chance romance because Micah and John were never actually a couple, which I thought was a fun dynamic, and the tension between them at the beginning was great. I wish things hadn't gotten physical quite so quickly (although that first scene was hot!) and I would have loved a little more emotional depth between them, because everything was very low angst and easy and I just wanted to FEEL a little more. Overall though this was a really fun read!

I do wish I'd known it was loosely connected to one of Alicia's previous books first, but it definitely works as a standalone because I didn't even realize until the acknowledgements. I just like reading books in order. 😂

This was really cute, and was different than most of what I’ve read recently. The cruise ship aspect was unique and made for a shorted but intense timeline. I loved the funny moments, and the ending was great.

(4.5 Stars) Huge thanks to Berkley Romance and PRH Audio for the gifted advanced digital and audio copies of this beautiful, nostalgic, and heart-tugging second-chance romance. Alicia Thompson proves once again why she’s an auto-buy author for me.

You know those iconic songs that instantly transport you back to your favorite teen drama? As teenagers, Micah, John, and their bandmates rocketed to fame with the hit song of a generation tied to a cult-favorite TV show. But as quickly as their star rose, it all fell apart, taking friendships (and hearts) with it.

Now, a decade later, the show is hosting a reunion fan cruise and the band is reuniting for the event. Five days on the open sea, surrounded by superfans, unresolved feelings, and the ghosts of their past? What could go wrong… or finally go right?

Micah and John’s story is EVERYTHING. The “friends-turned-strangers-turned-something more” slow-burn tension, the aching vulnerability, the rekindled connection! It’s tender, electric, and deeply emotional. I loved how Alicia balances fun and introspection, fame and intimacy, nostalgia and healing. Her male characters are always so emotionally open in a way we don’t see enough.
If you loved The Art of Catching Feelings, this book brings that same mix of heart, hope, and heat - with a cruise ship, a boy band reunion, and a whole lot of feelings. I smiled, I swooned, I felt every page.

🎧 Audiobook Notes: Ellie Gossage is a new-to-me narrator and I was blown away by her performance. Her delivery of both Micah and John’s voices felt nuanced, emotional, and completely captivating. It’s one of those audiobooks you don’t want to stop listening to. (Runtime: 10h 10min)

LOVE THIS BOOK. This one just really grabbed me, I loveeeeee me a down bad man, even if he isn't ready to admit how downed he is. The yearning in this one is absolutely top notch... GIVE ME MORE.

I love a friends-to-lovers romance and was excited to read this because this one sounded a little different. Micah and John were best friends. Ever since they met in school, they were each other's confident, person to hang out with, and then, eventually, bandmate. They haven't talked in years ever since Micah broke the band up to go solo. The two are reuniting with the remainder of the crew for a cruise featuring a hit TV series and one of the band's hit singles.

I usually don't love a book featuring musicians, but this one really worked. There weren't a ton of song lyrics throughout. Micah and John weren't perfect people, but fully formed characters. They each had flaws, hurts, and backstories. The reason they hadn't kept up the friendship for years was very believable as was their rekindling of their friendship. I really liked John, in particular. He was sweet and vulnerable. His honesty with Micah and his protection of self was refreshing. The setting on the cruise was great and the inclusion of the hit TV show characters was a lot of fun. As with any Alicia Thompson book, there was a lot to like about this one. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys friends to lovers, forced proximity, he falls first, or only one bed. I love seeing how Thompson always comes up with something slightly unique and different and can't wait to see what comes next.

Honestly, I should’ve DNFed this one. I was bored the whole time and couldn’t bring myself to care about any of the characters. There was barely any character development, and I never connected with Micah or John. It felt like there was nothing to them—no depth, no spark, nothing that made me root for them.

They were supposedly best friends growing up, hadn’t seen each other in almost a decade, and then suddenly they’re just into each other? I needed way more. More about their history, more buildup to the friendship reconnecting, something to make me feel invested. Instead, it just jumped straight to the romance with no real foundation. This one just fell flat for me. I did love the cruise ship setting, though!

I am such a sucker for a friends to lovers, missed chance/second chance type of book it is not even funny.

I had such a fantastic time reading this I literally devoured it in one day. There are so many millennial moments and John and Micah both act like actual real people with lives and fears and hopes who cannot simply drop everything and disappear indefinitely while they figure themselves out.

The way they fell back into each other’s friendship so easily after the way they fell apart was a testament to what they’d once meant to each other. And even when they (specifically Micah) were hesitant to define what was happening between them, they stayed determined to be friends and maintain contact while they moved forward.

I also loved the (kind of meta) way their past albums were addressed - the way the most popular ones are not always the ones that mean the most to the creators, the way we sometimes put our entire heart into our work and are afraid to share it as a result. Because even if you are world-famous, it is still scary to be vulnerable.

It’s a rockstar romance but make it soft and nostalgic.

I really wanted to love this! The synopsis sounded so fun but, unfortunately, this just didn't work for me. The early 2010's references to pop-punk culture were fun and I liked the subtle LGBTIA+ representation that felt authentic to the character's backstories, Overall, I felt the pacing was weird and the leads got together way too quickly which made the rest of the book feel completely unnecessary to me.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a fun escape! It's got cult-status teen TV shows, emo bands, friends to lovers and I loved it all!

Thank you Berkeley Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced copy of Never Been Shipped.

Don’t you love the cover? It drew me in and I knew I needed to read about John and Micah’s love being shipped. I also enjoy cruise vacations so finding a romance book with a setting on a cruise was a perfect opportunity to read.

If you enjoy second chance romances then you’ll love this one too! John and Micah revisit the past while reuniting the band on a themed cruise. I enjoyed the writing and pace of the author. Their relationship was entertaining and funny making them both see themselves together. Their realistic banter set the pace as I read this book.

Now I’m stoked for a future cruise and people watching. Do you do that too? Eavesdropping on vacation is so fun. Hopefully you won’t bump into them again so you enjoy piecing together their conversation and mannerisms.

This is what I like to see from childhood friends to lovers. It's obvious to everyone that they're meant for each other. They've both been secretly pining over the other but they're too scared and anxious to mess up the friendship to act on the feelings.
Lots of LGBTQ+ rep! We love to see it! The band members were all great (except one. You know which one) and their personalities were fun. You could really see why they decided to make a band together in the first place. And despite the distance, they all just picked up where they left off after some apologies and actual discussion.

This was the perfect read during my trip to Vegas (iykyk).

I adored these two so much and John was the most precious guy ever. Loving her from when they first met as children truly made my heart melt. I think Micah was an amazing character with flaws and issues and felt so human. I know I know, the miscommunication got to me to at some points, but honestly, they worked through it pretty well and the whole plot line was incredible. Idk what it was but this book was really good, but not like “omg best book I’ve read all year” hence the four stars. I do recommend picking this one if it sounds interesting to you!! I did really enjoy it and thought the premise was soooo good!

Alicia Thompson is a solid romance author. I have loved 2 of her books and have been less enthusiastic about the other two. Unfortunately this book is in the latter group and I never fully connected with the characters. I loved the music backdrop and cruise setting for a reunion show. I loved the MMC but felt luke warm about everyone else. Regardless of how I felt about this one, I'll still keep betting on Alicia Thompson and her next book will be an auto read for me.

I did like the title of the book, the hidden meaning revealed in the story as well as it's play on words related to the cruise.

The ElectricOh! band broke up 10 years ago and best friends/former bandmates John & Micah haven't spoken since. Now, the band is reunited to play on a cruise ship for fans of a paranormal TV series where ElectricOh! had a featured song. The tensions are high as the band breakup is rehashed and the pressure is on to perform as a group again without any prior rehearsals.

Second chance romance is one of my favorite tropes & I adored this one. Micah and John have such a long history together filled with tender moments of friendship and something more. The cruise ship setting was different and fun, but it confirmed that I still have no desire to ever go on a cruise. This book had the perfect amount of spice and I will definitely be starting Alicia Thompson's backlist! Oh, and it also has a playlist at the beginning, one song for each chapter, and I loved that!

Thank you NetGalley, Berkley Publishing, and the author for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.