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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
You know when you finish a book and sit there thinking, "Okay, what exactly did I just read?" That’s kind of how I feel about More Than Clickbait by Philippa Young. It's the second book in the Below Deck series, and even though you can read it without the first, I'd recommend starting with More Than Shipmates. It gives you a juicy background on Tom and his history. Oscar, with Eliza, sets the stage for everything in this book. Plus, props to the author for including a recap—honestly, more authors should do that!
So, Tom is now a social media sensation (TikTok, Instagram...something in that world) after going viral. The only problem? He’s terrible at managing his new fame. Meanwhile, we meet Gemma (who’s going by “Megan” for reasons), Oscar’s little sister, who’s had a bit of a public meltdown on a dating show and has escaped to the cruise ship for some peace and quiet. Naturally, sparks fly between her and Tom, even though they both know it’s a terrible idea—hello, Oscar would not be thrilled. But they can’t keep away from each other, and soon enough, Gemma/Megan is helping Tom with his social media...and things start heating up.
I really wanted to love this one as much as I did the first book, but something was missing. Tom’s point of view was refreshing since we usually get the female perspective in romance, but even with that switch, I felt like Gemma never fully came into focus. Her character remained mysterious, especially when it came to her dating show disaster, and when we finally found out what happened, it was a bit underwhelming. I needed more depth, more of her grappling with the fallout rather than just glossing over it.
Another thing that threw me off? Tom and Eliza’s friendship! They had this awesome spiritual bond in the first book, but it felt like they barely interacted here. And when they did, it was awkward. I missed their cute banter, and seeing that connection fizzle out was weird. Thankfully, Tom’s bromance with Jack made up for it a little. Jack was a standout character, and I’m looking forward to seeing his story unfold.
On the plus side, Tom himself was super sweet in this one. His patience with Gemma, especially given her nerves, was heartwarming. He was respectful, took things slow, and grew as a character. The slow burn between them was almost torturous but in a good way!
The cruise ship setting remained fun, and I enjoyed seeing different parts of it through Gemma’s eyes since she worked in a different department. Plus, the whole dating show subplot brought some Love Island vibes, which was entertaining, though Tom’s reaction to it wasn’t my favourite at first. He did redeem himself, though!
Was it as good as More Than Shipmates? Not quite. But it was still a fun, fast read with plenty of spice, sweet moments, and some quirky pop culture references that kept things interesting. If you loved Book 1, you’ll probably enjoy this one, too, but it didn’t quite hit the same high for me. Still, I’m all in for more stories from this cruise ship crew—especially Jack’s!
So, Tom is now a social media sensation (TikTok, Instagram...something in that world) after going viral. The only problem? He’s terrible at managing his new fame. Meanwhile, we meet Gemma (who’s going by “Megan” for reasons), Oscar’s little sister, who’s had a bit of a public meltdown on a dating show and has escaped to the cruise ship for some peace and quiet. Naturally, sparks fly between her and Tom, even though they both know it’s a terrible idea—hello, Oscar would not be thrilled. But they can’t keep away from each other, and soon enough, Gemma/Megan is helping Tom with his social media...and things start heating up.
I really wanted to love this one as much as I did the first book, but something was missing. Tom’s point of view was refreshing since we usually get the female perspective in romance, but even with that switch, I felt like Gemma never fully came into focus. Her character remained mysterious, especially when it came to her dating show disaster, and when we finally found out what happened, it was a bit underwhelming. I needed more depth, more of her grappling with the fallout rather than just glossing over it.
Another thing that threw me off? Tom and Eliza’s friendship! They had this awesome spiritual bond in the first book, but it felt like they barely interacted here. And when they did, it was awkward. I missed their cute banter, and seeing that connection fizzle out was weird. Thankfully, Tom’s bromance with Jack made up for it a little. Jack was a standout character, and I’m looking forward to seeing his story unfold.
On the plus side, Tom himself was super sweet in this one. His patience with Gemma, especially given her nerves, was heartwarming. He was respectful, took things slow, and grew as a character. The slow burn between them was almost torturous but in a good way!
The cruise ship setting remained fun, and I enjoyed seeing different parts of it through Gemma’s eyes since she worked in a different department. Plus, the whole dating show subplot brought some Love Island vibes, which was entertaining, though Tom’s reaction to it wasn’t my favourite at first. He did redeem himself, though!
Was it as good as More Than Shipmates? Not quite. But it was still a fun, fast read with plenty of spice, sweet moments, and some quirky pop culture references that kept things interesting. If you loved Book 1, you’ll probably enjoy this one, too, but it didn’t quite hit the same high for me. Still, I’m all in for more stories from this cruise ship crew—especially Jack’s!
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It was better than the first one. I feel like Tom redeemed himself in my eyes cos I didn’t like him in the first book. Loved the drama from the reality TV show.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
3 It was the Plant Stars ⭐
Spicy Level: 🌶️🌶️.5/5
So I have been sitting on this review for a long time because I really don't know how to review it...
This is book 2 in the Below Deck series and while it could "technically" be read as a standalone, I would HIGHLY recommend that you read book 1, More than Shipmates first. It sets the foundation of who Tom is and gives insight into a lot of his backstory that isn't really explained in this. It also gives you a front-row scene of what happened between him, Eliza and Oscar. It was sweet that Philippa Young included a summary of Book 1 at the start. I hardly see authors do this and IT HELPS SO MUCH.
𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨:
It's been a few months since the end of More Than Shipmates and Tom has become famous on TikTok/Insta (The app is not exactly clear but it's ONE OF THESE). The problem is he doesn't know much about social media management and doesn't know how to cope with his sudden stardom after going viral. Gemma (Who is going by "Megan") is Oscar's little sister, and she has escaped to work on the ship after a PR disaster on a dating show. The first night Tom is back on board he is immediately drawn to Gemma Megan but knows that she is off limits because she is Oscar's sister and Oscar already doesn't like him... But one night the two end up together and "experiment" and can't keep their hands off each other. So when it's suggested to them that "Megan" help Tom with his social media - how long will the two be able to resist each other?
𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨:
The spark that was there in Book 1 was missing. We hardly see Gemma's POV as most of the book is in Tom's POV - this was a refreshing change since most books are always predominately FMC-focused. But even when we are in Gemma's POV you hardly get to learn who she is as a character. The big faux pax she did that made her run away is so "secretive" even in her own POV that for almost all of the book you're wondering what would have been so bad for people to want to cancel her... that when the reveal happens, it felt lacklustre.... Do not get me wrong, the treatment of her was appalling and it's sad that people think they can treat "celebrities" that way... but she just felt very surface level as we weren't given her processing and dealing with the incident and showing us the nitty gritty details. It verged on at the end of being "told" in a quick chapter basically to having the whole "trauma" laid out to the reader from the start.
Secondly, WHERE WAS TOM AND ELIZA'S FRIENDSHIP???? All that cute PLATONIC banter and friendship they developed after she started dating Oskar was just poof, gone. They hardly interact with each other and when they do it feels stilted and weird...and considering she is his supposed "best friend", when he hardly sees, speaks or interacts with her felt off... We see more of the bromance between Jack and him than his friend. And don't get me wrong I love Jack and I cannot wait to see what happens in his book - his involvement in the relationship between Tom and Gemma was monumental and unmatchable...and he is such a good friend to both of them... but like he's not the one the story keeps saying is his best friend... -_-
I loved that Tom grew into a little reformed Man Whore and was so sweet to Gemma and HE IS THE KING OF CONSENT and making a woman feel pressured. When he saw our scared, nervous and innocent Gemma and his willingness to take it so slow with her... it was adorable even if the slow burn to the eventual payout was tortuous bliss...
𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▶ Dual Pov
▶ Forced Proximity
▶ Hidden Identity
▶ Best Friend's Boyfriend's Sister
▶ Social Media Coach
▶ Roommate Sharing is Caring
▶ Voyeurism
▶ Social Media Celebrity Romance
▶ Use Me
▶ Fast Burn to SLOW BURN
Overall I didn't hate this...I was disappointed given how much I loved More than Shipmates. This series is fun to read and the naughty antics this crew get up to are on par with ANY REALITY TV DATING SHOW... It's addictive, enticing and unputdownable...
I will DEFINITELY be reading book 3....
Spicy Level: 🌶️🌶️.5/5
So I have been sitting on this review for a long time because I really don't know how to review it...
This is book 2 in the Below Deck series and while it could "technically" be read as a standalone, I would HIGHLY recommend that you read book 1, More than Shipmates first. It sets the foundation of who Tom is and gives insight into a lot of his backstory that isn't really explained in this. It also gives you a front-row scene of what happened between him, Eliza and Oscar. It was sweet that Philippa Young included a summary of Book 1 at the start. I hardly see authors do this and IT HELPS SO MUCH.
𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨:
It's been a few months since the end of More Than Shipmates and Tom has become famous on TikTok/Insta (The app is not exactly clear but it's ONE OF THESE). The problem is he doesn't know much about social media management and doesn't know how to cope with his sudden stardom after going viral. Gemma (Who is going by "Megan") is Oscar's little sister, and she has escaped to work on the ship after a PR disaster on a dating show. The first night Tom is back on board he is immediately drawn to Gemma Megan but knows that she is off limits because she is Oscar's sister and Oscar already doesn't like him... But one night the two end up together and "experiment" and can't keep their hands off each other. So when it's suggested to them that "Megan" help Tom with his social media - how long will the two be able to resist each other?
𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨:
The spark that was there in Book 1 was missing. We hardly see Gemma's POV as most of the book is in Tom's POV - this was a refreshing change since most books are always predominately FMC-focused. But even when we are in Gemma's POV you hardly get to learn who she is as a character. The big faux pax she did that made her run away is so "secretive" even in her own POV that for almost all of the book you're wondering what would have been so bad for people to want to cancel her... that when the reveal happens, it felt lacklustre.... Do not get me wrong, the treatment of her was appalling and it's sad that people think they can treat "celebrities" that way... but she just felt very surface level as we weren't given her processing and dealing with the incident and showing us the nitty gritty details. It verged on at the end of being "told" in a quick chapter basically to having the whole "trauma" laid out to the reader from the start.
Secondly, WHERE WAS TOM AND ELIZA'S FRIENDSHIP???? All that cute PLATONIC banter and friendship they developed after she started dating Oskar was just poof, gone. They hardly interact with each other and when they do it feels stilted and weird...and considering she is his supposed "best friend", when he hardly sees, speaks or interacts with her felt off... We see more of the bromance between Jack and him than his friend. And don't get me wrong I love Jack and I cannot wait to see what happens in his book - his involvement in the relationship between Tom and Gemma was monumental and unmatchable...and he is such a good friend to both of them... but like he's not the one the story keeps saying is his best friend... -_-
I loved that Tom grew into a little reformed Man Whore and was so sweet to Gemma and HE IS THE KING OF CONSENT and making a woman feel pressured. When he saw our scared, nervous and innocent Gemma and his willingness to take it so slow with her... it was adorable even if the slow burn to the eventual payout was tortuous bliss...
𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▶ Dual Pov
▶ Forced Proximity
▶ Hidden Identity
▶ Best Friend's Boyfriend's Sister
▶ Social Media Coach
▶ Roommate Sharing is Caring
▶ Voyeurism
▶ Social Media Celebrity Romance
▶ Use Me
▶ Fast Burn to SLOW BURN
Overall I didn't hate this...I was disappointed given how much I loved More than Shipmates. This series is fun to read and the naughty antics this crew get up to are on par with ANY REALITY TV DATING SHOW... It's addictive, enticing and unputdownable...
I will DEFINITELY be reading book 3....
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, Violence, Alcohol
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Death of parent
• More Than Clickbait
By Philippa Young •
☆☆☆☆.5
* MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS *
▪︎I was kindly gifted a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are completely my own.
• When health-and-fitness influencer Gemma Harvey’s dream of being selected for a reality TV dating show turns into a nightmare, she sets sail on a cruise ship with a whole new identity, ready to spend the next six months working with her brother, out of the public eye. Tom’s struggling to maintain his social media presence onboard the ship following the success of a viral stand-up comedy clip, until he meets "Megan" – the one woman he doesn’t know yet he can’t have – who could be the key to his success…as long as her brother never finds out their little secret.
• Firstly, I was such a huge Oscar fan in book one that I wasn't sure on reading a book from Tom's POV.
BOY WAS I WRONG!
•Tom is sweet, funny and spicy!
I loved the story line and how the reality of social media was shown, social media can be a wonderful thing however, it can also be hell for some people and I love how the author has shown this and handled a serious subject with humor, compassion and sensitivity.
I finished this book in two sittings and was ready for more.
My request is that we get Jack's POV next
By Philippa Young •
☆☆☆☆.5
* MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS *
▪︎I was kindly gifted a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are completely my own.
• When health-and-fitness influencer Gemma Harvey’s dream of being selected for a reality TV dating show turns into a nightmare, she sets sail on a cruise ship with a whole new identity, ready to spend the next six months working with her brother, out of the public eye. Tom’s struggling to maintain his social media presence onboard the ship following the success of a viral stand-up comedy clip, until he meets "Megan" – the one woman he doesn’t know yet he can’t have – who could be the key to his success…as long as her brother never finds out their little secret.
• Firstly, I was such a huge Oscar fan in book one that I wasn't sure on reading a book from Tom's POV.
BOY WAS I WRONG!
•Tom is sweet, funny and spicy!
I loved the story line and how the reality of social media was shown, social media can be a wonderful thing however, it can also be hell for some people and I love how the author has shown this and handled a serious subject with humor, compassion and sensitivity.
I finished this book in two sittings and was ready for more.
My request is that we get Jack's POV next
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Do not let the cover of this book fool you. The font may be cutsie and YA, but the content… is not. I just know someone is going to pick this up this it’s a sweet little rom com and then get smacked in the face when they get to the first *group activity.* I was completely compared to give this book a 4 out 5 rating but I don’t think I’d change a thing about it. It has so many layers and nuances that makes it incredibly special.
The exploration of social media and reality television was a really interesting addition to what could be a perfectly enjoyable romance book. I particularly appreciated the flashbacks to the FMC’s time and emotional response to going on what should have been a perfectly normal dating reality tv show.
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes