A review by briannareads1342
Ship Wrecked by Olivia Dade

emotional funny reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

 This review is admittedly a little late, seeing as I finished this book late last year. But there was no way I was crossing that picket line considering what was going on with the Harper Collins Union and the publisher. A strike has since been resolved by the publisher agreeing to the sensible and fair terms the union requested. 

Because Avon is an imprint of the publisher, I wanted to stand in solidarity with the union. 

Anyway, without further ado, it’s time to talk about the third entry in Olivia Dade’s Spoiler Alert-verse! 

Ship Wrecked is an interesting entry into the verse, offering a glimpse over seasons at life on a set where the only two cast members working on the set are parties who knew each other intimately before formally meeting each other. 

What follows is a slow burn romance with a lot of growth and so much depth not only for these characters but their relationship as well. Something that really threw me is that I didn’t instantly fall in love with these characters like I have in Spoiler Alert and All the Feels. 

I loved Maria so much and my appreciation for her grew as we learned more about her. She never put on any airs or minced words, embracing who she was and clearly stating her expectations for every scenario. The moments when she stands up to the creators, telling them exactly where they can stick their misogynistic beauty ideals, are particularly wonderful. 

Peter’s growth is more noticeable, as we get to see the source of his hang-ups and insecurities. It’s partly why it took me longer to warm up to his character. 

Peter’s a jerk once he realizes who Maria is in the aftermath of being ghosted in the morning after a one-night stand. What’s worse or rather makes it worse is the things he says to try to get under her skin. It’s the pretentious celebrity persona that April from Spoiler Alert was afraid Marcus would be bogged down with. 

I get the hurt feelings, but the words were tough. Maria has more grace, forgiving him and trying to make their filming experience on that Northern Ireland Island a lot less antagonistic. 

Though I will say, I appreciate that by his own admission he was a complete dick and sees Maria’s attempts at extending an olive branch. There are moments when we see the sweet, thoughtful Peter shine through. The first time he goes to dinner with the crew is a fitting example of that. The way Maria still tries to help him connect with the crew is so tooth achingly sweet. 

Overall, I appreciate that the book seemingly spans over seasons and years moving along with Maria and Peter’s time as Cassia and Cyprian on the show. It gives readers time to see how they grow together and work through a lot of past hurts to find themselves in a good place together. 

And best of all, it’s dealt with in a healthy way! 

I absolutely love that the intimacy coordinator comes into play towards the end of Maria and Peter’s time on Gods at the Gates. A nice peek into the intricacies of what goes into love scenes on screens, normalizing the need for them on sets in a fun way. 

The fact that we get to see the first two books’ events intertwined into Ship Wrecked is fun and adds more depth to the world. I can’t wait to see how this universe expands further in the future and get more glimpses of these couples.