Ship Wrecked: A Novel

by Olivia Dade

After All the Feels and Spoiler Alert, Olivia Dade once again delivers a warm and wonderful romantic comedy about two co-stars who once had an incredible one-night stand—and after years of filming on the same remote island, are finally ready to yield to temptation again…

Maria’s one-night-stand—the thick-thighed, sexy Viking of a man she left without a word or a note—just reappeared. Apparently, Peter’s her surly Gods of the Gates co-star, and they’re about to spend the next six years filming on a desolate Irish island together. She still wants him…but he now wants nothing to do with her.

Peter knows this role could finally transform him from a forgettable character actor into a leading man. He also knows a failed relationship with Maria could poison the set, and he won’t sabotage his career for a woman who’s already walked away from him once. Given time, maybe they can be cooperative colleagues or friends—possibly even best friends—but not lovers again. No matter how much he aches for her.

For years, they don’t touch off-camera. But on their last night of filming, their mutual restraint finally shatters, and all their pent-up desire explodes into renewed passion. Too bad they still don’t have a future together, since Peter’s going back to Hollywood, while Maria’s returning to her native Sweden. She thinks she needs more than he can give her, but he’s determined to change her mind, and he’s spent the last six years waiting. Watching. Wanting.

His shipwrecked Swede doesn’t stand a chance.

• ISBN10: 006321587X
• ISBN13: 9780063215870
• Publish Date: 5 January 2023 (first published 15 November 2022)
• Publish Status: Active
• Out of Print: 4 August 2023
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Avon Books
• Format: Paperback
• Pages: 400
• Language: English

Reviews

[Berls]

This is such a hard book to review because it was so INCREDIBLE and I'm pretty sure I can't capture what made it so great without spoiling the hell out of it. I feel like I must note that Olivia Dade is just fantastic and I'm so grateful I didn't wait too long to read her books. What's she's doing for body positivity through the stories she's telling warms the heart of this lifelong plus size reader.

That said - this book outdoes all the others I've read thus far by Olivia Dade. The characters, their personal demons, their growth trajectory, their romance, their dialogue and the humor are all just PERFECTION.

First and foremost Maria. Maria is a goddess y'all. She's a stage actress coming to Hollywood from Sweden for the first time to star on God's of the Gates (the same show as the other two book's characters). She's a foreigner, new to TV acting, and plus size and none of that phases her for even a minute. She radiates confidence and intelligence. She's just so fierce and knows herself. She's also so warm and outgoing, like a sunshine that just pulls everyone into her warmth. All this is even more amazing when you learn her history. The cherry on top? She's fucking hilarious.

Then there's Peter. He does not make you fall for him immediately like Maria. In fact, quite the opposite. Which makes sense because in so many ways he is her opposite. He's closed off and introverted. His insecurities have shaped him in many ways. But over the course of the 6 years (yes 6 years) that they are filming together, we see that those insecurities we initially saw are not who he is, but they are just preventing him from being vulnerable. And once you learn his history, you fully understand.

The best part is watching them both grow - personally and together. It's so easy to love them individually and as a couple. You couldn't help but cheer for them at every victory, worry for them at every obstacle, and adore them as they reach their HEA.

I buddy read this with Lenore and we both were blown away, giving it 5 stars each. I listened and the narration only added to my enjoyment. Kelsey Navarro equally brought Maria's vivacious personality, complete with a believable accent, and Peter's reserved personality to life. I would readily listen to her narration in the future.