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Love Overboard
The course of true love never did sail smooth. . .
Things on this yacht are about to get rocky…
When feisty chef Sophia and strait-laced first officer Jack are thrown together as the crew for a luxury yacht on the beautiful Amalfi Coast, it’s anything but smooth sailing. And after their first interactions end with one very soggy first officer and an all-out battle over strawberries, they vow to give one another a wide berth for the remainder of the season.
But even on a 154-foot yacht, space is tight – and, try as they might, Sophia and Jack are thrown together time and again. And when disaster strikes for their wealthiest guests, the pair are forced to put aside their rocky start for the good of the charter.
As the tides begin to turn, Sophia and Jack discover that they might just have more in common than they first thought. And maybe, just maybe, Jack might be the starboard to Sophia’s port . . .
After all, the most skilled sailors know that when the waters don’t run smooth, you simply need to chart a new course . . .
The perfect enemies-to-lovers for fans of Below Deck and Emily Henry’s Book Lovers.
Things on this yacht are about to get rocky…
When feisty chef Sophia and strait-laced first officer Jack are thrown together as the crew for a luxury yacht on the beautiful Amalfi Coast, it’s anything but smooth sailing. And after their first interactions end with one very soggy first officer and an all-out battle over strawberries, they vow to give one another a wide berth for the remainder of the season.
But even on a 154-foot yacht, space is tight – and, try as they might, Sophia and Jack are thrown together time and again. And when disaster strikes for their wealthiest guests, the pair are forced to put aside their rocky start for the good of the charter.
As the tides begin to turn, Sophia and Jack discover that they might just have more in common than they first thought. And maybe, just maybe, Jack might be the starboard to Sophia’s port . . .
After all, the most skilled sailors know that when the waters don’t run smooth, you simply need to chart a new course . . .
The perfect enemies-to-lovers for fans of Below Deck and Emily Henry’s Book Lovers.
384 pages, Paperback
First published July 30, 2024
13 people are currently reading
562 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
June 19, 2024
1.45!
I wasn't even going to review this book because I didn't find many things to like but since I got an arc I have to review it.
I was initially supposed to read this book in may, I made it past 20% but it was not grabbing my attention so I just blamed it on my exams and said I'll read when I'm free and now when I got free and did read.....I wish had just stopped at 20% because it just deteriorated further. The writing didn't really stick out to me it was just words on a paper for me, I felt nothing towards it. Literally, nothing. I was intrigued when I read the first 20% but after that I just wanted it to end because there are so many other books that I could read than this.
The characters and the romance were soooo disappointing!!!!!! I was so excited to read it ebcause of that but it disappointed me so much! like I felt nothing towards the characters, they felt like strangers who you could not relate too and drama between Jacks and Sophia was just so damn boring and cliche, like we almost always get these type of conflicts and it was just something that'd cause a vein to pop up on your forehead and when the romance begin it was so mid because one, I already had no connection with the characters and when the romance happened with all the conflict it just made me roll my eyes. There were so many unnecessary things that the author tried to add for character development but unfortunately failed.
*Thank you to Avon books for sending me an E-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review
(Sorry if I have been inactive these past two days I was busy with Eid prep)
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Two people on a yacht.....they might kiss 👀👀
I wasn't even going to review this book because I didn't find many things to like but since I got an arc I have to review it.
I was initially supposed to read this book in may, I made it past 20% but it was not grabbing my attention so I just blamed it on my exams and said I'll read when I'm free and now when I got free and did read.....I wish had just stopped at 20% because it just deteriorated further. The writing didn't really stick out to me it was just words on a paper for me, I felt nothing towards it. Literally, nothing. I was intrigued when I read the first 20% but after that I just wanted it to end because there are so many other books that I could read than this.
The characters and the romance were soooo disappointing!!!!!! I was so excited to read it ebcause of that but it disappointed me so much! like I felt nothing towards the characters, they felt like strangers who you could not relate too and drama between Jacks and Sophia was just so damn boring and cliche, like we almost always get these type of conflicts and it was just something that'd cause a vein to pop up on your forehead and when the romance begin it was so mid because one, I already had no connection with the characters and when the romance happened with all the conflict it just made me roll my eyes. There were so many unnecessary things that the author tried to add for character development but unfortunately failed.
*Thank you to Avon books for sending me an E-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review
(Sorry if I have been inactive these past two days I was busy with Eid prep)
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Two people on a yacht.....they might kiss 👀👀
May 18, 2024
☆☆.5
Love Overboard follows Sophia, a rising chef from London who is ready to make a big change in her life. She decides to go from Michelin star restaurant to being a chef on a yacht. During her first season on the boat, she meets first officer Jack and they immediately crash. There is a very thin line between love and hate, causing Sophia to question what she should do when the line becomes blurry even after she finds out the captains “no fraternizing with coworkers” rule.
𝙈𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨:
Love Overboard is Below Deck meets BookTok but I’m not sure it’s in the best way? This book tried very hard to be a forced proximity, enemies to lovers story but it just missed the mark. The characters fell very flat, and the connection just didn’t seem to be that strong. They came across more as a one time hook-up type of relationship instead a happily ever after. Some of the storylines, like Sophia’s relationship with alcohol seemed pointless and did not add to the plot or character building at all.
I did enjoy the side characters quite a bit. I wanted to know about Petra and Stuart as well as Declan and Patricio. There were so many crumbs dropped about Declan and Patricio that the relationship felt unresolved at the end.
I was REALLY hoping I’d love this book, especially since I’m a big Below Deck fan so this was definitely a let down.
Thank you NetGalley, the author Ada Barumè and the publisher Avon for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. 🫶🏻
Love Overboard follows Sophia, a rising chef from London who is ready to make a big change in her life. She decides to go from Michelin star restaurant to being a chef on a yacht. During her first season on the boat, she meets first officer Jack and they immediately crash. There is a very thin line between love and hate, causing Sophia to question what she should do when the line becomes blurry even after she finds out the captains “no fraternizing with coworkers” rule.
𝙈𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨:
Love Overboard is Below Deck meets BookTok but I’m not sure it’s in the best way? This book tried very hard to be a forced proximity, enemies to lovers story but it just missed the mark. The characters fell very flat, and the connection just didn’t seem to be that strong. They came across more as a one time hook-up type of relationship instead a happily ever after. Some of the storylines, like Sophia’s relationship with alcohol seemed pointless and did not add to the plot or character building at all.
I did enjoy the side characters quite a bit. I wanted to know about Petra and Stuart as well as Declan and Patricio. There were so many crumbs dropped about Declan and Patricio that the relationship felt unresolved at the end.
I was REALLY hoping I’d love this book, especially since I’m a big Below Deck fan so this was definitely a let down.
Thank you NetGalley, the author Ada Barumè and the publisher Avon for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. 🫶🏻
March 22, 2024
I was so unbelievably disappointed by this. For the first 50% I was sold. I thought it'd be a 3, maybe a 3.5 star read. I enjoyed the enemies to lovers trope, I loved the setting and I was so interested in the yachting aspect of the plot. Taking these things into consideration, I was willing to overlook the oddly timed flashbacks and clunky dialogue.
But when the author randomly switched to Jack's perspective that's where it all started to go downhill. Having three random chapters be in the MMC's point of view to get insight into his head is lazy writing. To be clear, after those few chapters, you never get his pov again. All his perspective does is boringly recount the entire events of the novel so far and proceed to info dump the hell out of us.
When those chapters ended I was excited to get back into our FMC's head but that excitement was misplaced as the plot of the novel descended into absolute madness. I'd compare it to the silliness of a soap opera. Putting aside how ridiculous and unfair it was that the Captain as going to fire FMC for sleeping with the MMC (who predictably, wasn't even considered to have acted in a way that also warranted firing), most of the characters proved themselves to be ridiculous, facetious and rude. Someone was always irritated or snapping or saying something nasty in situations where it was completely unwarranted. One of the side characters ends up treating the FMC so meanly and unfairly because of some misconceived slight but it's all fine because he broke down crying and confessed that he was the MMC's long lost brother??? It was complete madness and not the fun kind.
There was some great opportunities to discuss some really important issues like discrimination in the work place or the unfair consequences for women when it comes to the fallout of sexual relationships but it never really followed through with the setup.
All in all, the first 50% of this was a 3 star read but the rest was unfathomably disappointing. I didn't enjoy it at all.
But when the author randomly switched to Jack's perspective that's where it all started to go downhill. Having three random chapters be in the MMC's point of view to get insight into his head is lazy writing. To be clear, after those few chapters, you never get his pov again. All his perspective does is boringly recount the entire events of the novel so far and proceed to info dump the hell out of us.
When those chapters ended I was excited to get back into our FMC's head but that excitement was misplaced as the plot of the novel descended into absolute madness. I'd compare it to the silliness of a soap opera. Putting aside how ridiculous and unfair it was that the Captain as going to fire FMC for sleeping with the MMC (who predictably, wasn't even considered to have acted in a way that also warranted firing), most of the characters proved themselves to be ridiculous, facetious and rude. Someone was always irritated or snapping or saying something nasty in situations where it was completely unwarranted. One of the side characters ends up treating the FMC so meanly and unfairly because of some misconceived slight but it's all fine because he broke down crying and confessed that he was the MMC's long lost brother??? It was complete madness and not the fun kind.
There was some great opportunities to discuss some really important issues like discrimination in the work place or the unfair consequences for women when it comes to the fallout of sexual relationships but it never really followed through with the setup.
All in all, the first 50% of this was a 3 star read but the rest was unfathomably disappointing. I didn't enjoy it at all.
July 13, 2024
This was just sooo boring and disappointing. I love the cover it’s what made me want to read it:/ I felt nothing towards the characters, they just felt like strangers and the drama between them was just so boring and cliche. It also just felt like they had no chemistry and the romance started way too late for a romance book. There were a few scenes I liked but overall the couple doesn’t feel like they will stay together after the last page
August 8, 2024
4⭐️
another very cute summer romance (i also read this in Cape Verde)
i love that it takes place on a yacht
another very cute summer romance (i also read this in Cape Verde)
i love that it takes place on a yacht
June 21, 2024
Sophia and Jack clash from the moment they meet in a little bar in Italy, so finding out they'll be working together in a chartered yacht isn't what Sophia was expecting. But she's taken the plunge and left her promising job at a Michelin-starred restaurant to explore a more exciting life at sea and she's not willing to let the handsome flirt get in her way. But forced proximity and honest chats lead both to realize that there's more to each other than they'd first judged and these enemies might just make better lovers.
It's a fun and stress-free read that manages to keep things light even when touching on sad topics. I loved how expertly Barumé handled the enemies-to-lovers aspect while showing clearly why Sophie was deadset on not letting Jack get to her while a couple of chapters from Jack's POV were all about how he was falling for her. It's a nice little balance to the things Sophia thinks are going through Jack's mind.
There's also the found family element of a group of mostly strangers coming together to work through all the challenges that being staff in a chartered yacht can create, both with the requests of the clients and the tight quarters. There are subplots for almost every single character and it makes getting to know them and seeing them change over the course of the story super satisfying. It added an extra bit of emotion and distance separate from the romantic piece that rounded out the overall feel of the book.
Overall, it's a solid romance set in an unusual place that gives the author a chance to have fun with the characters. It feels a bit like a palette cleanser after some heavy reads. A light and fun summer read.
Delighted thanks to NetGalley and Avon for the romantic read!
It's a fun and stress-free read that manages to keep things light even when touching on sad topics. I loved how expertly Barumé handled the enemies-to-lovers aspect while showing clearly why Sophie was deadset on not letting Jack get to her while a couple of chapters from Jack's POV were all about how he was falling for her. It's a nice little balance to the things Sophia thinks are going through Jack's mind.
There's also the found family element of a group of mostly strangers coming together to work through all the challenges that being staff in a chartered yacht can create, both with the requests of the clients and the tight quarters. There are subplots for almost every single character and it makes getting to know them and seeing them change over the course of the story super satisfying. It added an extra bit of emotion and distance separate from the romantic piece that rounded out the overall feel of the book.
Overall, it's a solid romance set in an unusual place that gives the author a chance to have fun with the characters. It feels a bit like a palette cleanser after some heavy reads. A light and fun summer read.
Delighted thanks to NetGalley and Avon for the romantic read!
March 25, 2024
"Love Overboard" is a romance written by Ada Barumé. A fast and light book, characterized by an effervescent prose and a brisk pace, which unfortunately did not convince me fully in its development. I liked the idea of setting the story aboard a luxury yacht, unlike the characters. The protagonists, as well as the secondary characters, seemed to me superficial and poorly portrayed. I was unable to bond with them and this prevented me from becoming passionate about their events. It's too bad, because the enemies to lovers had all the makings of winning me over, but the haste and lack of depth ruined everything a bit.
Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 20, 2025
Gostei, foi fofo e manteve-me entretida. É uma história fora do comum, mas esperava que me tivesse surpreendido mais.
A escrita é na 3.a pessoa e isso não me costuma incomodar, mas neste livro fez-me um pouco confusão e dei por mim a dispersar muitas vezes e a ter de reler o parágrafo (acho que foi a maior razão que me fez desconectar com o livro).
A escrita é na 3.a pessoa e isso não me costuma incomodar, mas neste livro fez-me um pouco confusão e dei por mim a dispersar muitas vezes e a ter de reler o parágrafo (acho que foi a maior razão que me fez desconectar com o livro).
August 10, 2024
Shit book
July 22, 2024
3.5 stars rounded up.
June 14, 2024
Love Overboard follows Sophia, a rising chef, as she decides to take her life in a new direction cheffing aboard a luxury yacht. This all seems easy but, with a non-fraternization policy and a handsome (and very infuriating) first officer aboard, can things stay professional or will things take a turn?
If there is one thing that can be said about me it's that I love an enemies to lovers story. Another less well-known thing about me, to the booksta community at least, is that I love food. Therefore, is it really a surprise that I adored this book? The descriptions of the food Sophia was making sounded truly delightful, and the tension was something special.
Another plus of this book has got to be the side characters. Petra especially won my heart; we love girlies supporting girlies over here. And Patricio? Such a babe. Honestly, they were all so well-written, I felt like I truly knew them all.
Overall, I loved this book and recommend you grab yourself a copy for release in June; it's currently 99p to pre-order so what are you waiting for?
If there is one thing that can be said about me it's that I love an enemies to lovers story. Another less well-known thing about me, to the booksta community at least, is that I love food. Therefore, is it really a surprise that I adored this book? The descriptions of the food Sophia was making sounded truly delightful, and the tension was something special.
Another plus of this book has got to be the side characters. Petra especially won my heart; we love girlies supporting girlies over here. And Patricio? Such a babe. Honestly, they were all so well-written, I felt like I truly knew them all.
Overall, I loved this book and recommend you grab yourself a copy for release in June; it's currently 99p to pre-order so what are you waiting for?
May 27, 2024
Love overboard follows the story of a chef, Sophia, who begins a new job on a yacht as a live-in chef. On her first night before joining her team on the yacht, she meets Jack, who is the first officer on the ships, unbeknown to her at the point at which she throws her drink all over him.
The book follows the two of them as the tension builds on the boat. Issue after issue crops up, forcing the two of them to spend more and more time together despite their dislike for one another. Jack saves Sophia in the kitchen and the ocean, and Sophia saves Jack emotionally. As a lover of the show ‘Below Deck’ and the relationships which happen there too, I could really imagine how the close proximity really increased the tension between the two of them to the point it became unbearable. I enjoyed the imagery used throughout, with the orangeries and different little towns along the Amalfi Coast which really made me want to book a holiday!
I only give the book three stars for a couple of reasons as all in all it was beautifully written, however I just couldn’t really get fully into this book. I repeatedly put it down and returned to it later in the day in another attempt to get into it. I also got frequently frustrated at the miscommunication between the two of the them which really prolonged their suffering with one another.
Thank you to Ada Barume and NetGalley for the ARC.
Publisher: Avon Books
Publishing Date: 20-06-24
The book follows the two of them as the tension builds on the boat. Issue after issue crops up, forcing the two of them to spend more and more time together despite their dislike for one another. Jack saves Sophia in the kitchen and the ocean, and Sophia saves Jack emotionally. As a lover of the show ‘Below Deck’ and the relationships which happen there too, I could really imagine how the close proximity really increased the tension between the two of them to the point it became unbearable. I enjoyed the imagery used throughout, with the orangeries and different little towns along the Amalfi Coast which really made me want to book a holiday!
I only give the book three stars for a couple of reasons as all in all it was beautifully written, however I just couldn’t really get fully into this book. I repeatedly put it down and returned to it later in the day in another attempt to get into it. I also got frequently frustrated at the miscommunication between the two of the them which really prolonged their suffering with one another.
Thank you to Ada Barume and NetGalley for the ARC.
Publisher: Avon Books
Publishing Date: 20-06-24
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November 29, 2024I don't want to give this a star rating because it isn't something I'd usually read, but I bought it after seeing the author at a panel event and she was so nice I wanted to give it a go. It is a bit all over the shop and I sometimes wasn't sure on the continuity but I loved that it was about a Black woman finding true joy, in her work and in love. I think seeing books in all genres by Black writers is such a big deal and I'm glad I finished this because it was fun and warm, even if it isn't what I'd normally pick up!
August 23, 2024
3.5 ✨
"Something about the dawn, between the night and the day, I can feel her in the air. She always loved to get up with the sun, ' he continued softly.' I guess in that way it's not really alone time I'm looking for.' He turned and looked straight at Sofia. A shiver fizzled down her spine.' Maybe I'm looking for company.'"
"Something about the dawn, between the night and the day, I can feel her in the air. She always loved to get up with the sun, ' he continued softly.' I guess in that way it's not really alone time I'm looking for.' He turned and looked straight at Sofia. A shiver fizzled down her spine.' Maybe I'm looking for company.'"
September 25, 2024
This was such a cute, easy summer read for any enemies to lovers trope fan! I loved that I started reading it whilst I was on a cruise because the yachting life vibes were just perfect! It was quite slow paced at parts but I did enjoy following the journey between Sofia & Jack for sure🙌🏻 I also just loved the character Petra, she was an absolute icon & just made me laugh with her antics😅 I’d definitely recommend it if you’re looking for a holiday/beach read🛳️
July 20, 2025
A sweet rom com about starting over and finding yourself while being "lost" at sea! Ok, so not really lost, but working on a yacht serving the super-rich, but in a beautiful area with beautiful people. An eclectic cast of characters who are all running from something or looking for something missing in their lives. Definitely a bit of close proximity, enemies to lovers with a healthy dose of miscommunication or rather lack of communication. It is interesting how quickly things can spiral when you only look at things through your own personal lens while forgetting that the other people involved have their own perspectives and experiences that clutter their view of the same situation. Being trapped on a boat together definitely makes the whole thing feel a bit like speed dating, but it definitely makes for witty banter, funny situations, scary experiences all with heightened emotions. The plot was fun, but also quite heartfelt. I definitely recommend take a charter on this Love Boat to enjoy the fun times yourself!
April 4, 2024
Love Overboard is a light and cute rom com. It’s about a chef named Sofia, who leaves her Michelin star restaurant to be a chef on a charter yacht. Here is where she meets Jack, a proverbial flirt and first officer on the yacht. They start off as rocky coworkers that turns into something more as they begin to learn each other. I rate this a 4 star and a 2 for spicy. The beginning of the book felt like it dragged little until it started picking up pace, once the first yacht charter trip began. But once the adventure began, I thoroughly enjoyed the banter and character development.
April 9, 2024
Thank you to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for the Arc of Love Overboard in exchange for an honest and independent review.
I cannot lie, there were times reading this book where I loved it and couldn’t stop reading and other times where it literally put me to sleep. It really was black or white, no grey area. However, everyone loves a good enemies to lovers trope, and Love Overboard is no exception.
Ready to escape big city culinary life, Sophia accepts a head chef position on a yacht that sails VIPs along the coast of Europe. Looking for a do over, Sophia jumps at the opportunity to leave the drama of her old life behind in search of some self discovery. What she doesn’t immediately realize is that being sequestered on a yacht in the middle of the sea with the same small group of people makes for its own interesting level of drama. Add in a frustratingly good looking and ill tempered crew mate with an anti-fraternization policy to boot, and you’ve got yourself a great plot line set on the Italian coast and loads of shenanigans to spare!
There were many parts that were laugh out loud funny in this one. There were also parts that were downright dull and brutal to get through. But all in all, I really loved the ending, which is why I landed with a 3.5 star (rounding up) review. While I did like the main character’s perspective, it was rather chaotic when she would shift back to telling a story from years past without any warning. And then, mid book, the author decides to switch the perspective to Jack, the grumpy love interest in question. Why you ask? I have absolutely no freaking idea. While I really enjoyed Jack’s chapters, I ended up wishing there had been more like that. Maybe a missed opportunity? At the end of it all, it was an enjoyable read with just the right amount of humor and a touch of spice to keep things interesting. Excuse me while I go Google prices of European yachting vacations because girl can dream, can't she?
I cannot lie, there were times reading this book where I loved it and couldn’t stop reading and other times where it literally put me to sleep. It really was black or white, no grey area. However, everyone loves a good enemies to lovers trope, and Love Overboard is no exception.
Ready to escape big city culinary life, Sophia accepts a head chef position on a yacht that sails VIPs along the coast of Europe. Looking for a do over, Sophia jumps at the opportunity to leave the drama of her old life behind in search of some self discovery. What she doesn’t immediately realize is that being sequestered on a yacht in the middle of the sea with the same small group of people makes for its own interesting level of drama. Add in a frustratingly good looking and ill tempered crew mate with an anti-fraternization policy to boot, and you’ve got yourself a great plot line set on the Italian coast and loads of shenanigans to spare!
There were many parts that were laugh out loud funny in this one. There were also parts that were downright dull and brutal to get through. But all in all, I really loved the ending, which is why I landed with a 3.5 star (rounding up) review. While I did like the main character’s perspective, it was rather chaotic when she would shift back to telling a story from years past without any warning. And then, mid book, the author decides to switch the perspective to Jack, the grumpy love interest in question. Why you ask? I have absolutely no freaking idea. While I really enjoyed Jack’s chapters, I ended up wishing there had been more like that. Maybe a missed opportunity? At the end of it all, it was an enjoyable read with just the right amount of humor and a touch of spice to keep things interesting. Excuse me while I go Google prices of European yachting vacations because girl can dream, can't she?
May 2, 2024
Thank you to Avon Books UK for the ARC of this book!
I was so surprised by this book and I really enjoyed it. It felt easy to read and the characters felt well rounded.
There were a few grammatical errors but easily overlooked!
The plot was fun and exciting. The characters seem to have my bad luck but that made me want to keep reading!
I found the relationship between Jack and Sofia very frustrating to begin with as they went from love to hate and back again often but it made the plot that much more exciting by the end.
I loved Petra and Sofia’s friendship and
I enjoyed reading about lots of strong female characters.
I felt Jack and Sofia developed and grew a lot together and it was really nice to be a fly on the wall for that. I normally hate the miscommunication trip but I love the way the author made it dramatic and “almost Shakespearean” at the end; it eased the tension a lot. The romance was fun and a bit whirlwind and slow burn at the same time but I enjoyed it overall! Would definitely recommend!
I was so surprised by this book and I really enjoyed it. It felt easy to read and the characters felt well rounded.
There were a few grammatical errors but easily overlooked!
The plot was fun and exciting. The characters seem to have my bad luck but that made me want to keep reading!
I found the relationship between Jack and Sofia very frustrating to begin with as they went from love to hate and back again often but it made the plot that much more exciting by the end.
I loved Petra and Sofia’s friendship and
I enjoyed reading about lots of strong female characters.
I felt Jack and Sofia developed and grew a lot together and it was really nice to be a fly on the wall for that. I normally hate the miscommunication trip but I love the way the author made it dramatic and “almost Shakespearean” at the end; it eased the tension a lot. The romance was fun and a bit whirlwind and slow burn at the same time but I enjoyed it overall! Would definitely recommend!
March 18, 2024
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC copy of this book.
This book took me a bit to really get involved, but I was actually pleasantly surprised after the first couple of chapters. I definitely felt the enemies to lovers and was ready to kind of hate Jack right off the bat. I loved that he softened and that Sophia put her preconceived notions aside.
There were some spots that dragged for me throughout. Overall a good read though.
This book took me a bit to really get involved, but I was actually pleasantly surprised after the first couple of chapters. I definitely felt the enemies to lovers and was ready to kind of hate Jack right off the bat. I loved that he softened and that Sophia put her preconceived notions aside.
There were some spots that dragged for me throughout. Overall a good read though.
March 16, 2024
I'm pleasantly surprised!
When I first started this book, I was a little wary when the MMC Jack presented as kinda Chad. Though he turned out sweet in the end.
This book was a little bit of an emotional roller-coaster. The enemies to lovers tension was a bit on and off for my taste. And I'm not a huge fan of the miscommunication trope.
But it made me feel feelings. All in all, I enjoyed the read.
When I first started this book, I was a little wary when the MMC Jack presented as kinda Chad. Though he turned out sweet in the end.
This book was a little bit of an emotional roller-coaster. The enemies to lovers tension was a bit on and off for my taste. And I'm not a huge fan of the miscommunication trope.
But it made me feel feelings. All in all, I enjoyed the read.
May 30, 2024
Tropes: Enemies to lovers, Workplace Romance, Forced Proximity, Slow burn, Interracial Couple, Witty Banter
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I’m not a fan of Below Deck as I have only seen a few episodes. However, Love Overboard is a low stakes romance between the chef (Sofia) and first Officer (Jack) of a luxury yacht crew. Ever since reading Knives, Seasoning and Dash of Love by Katrina Kwan, I’ve had my eye out for a chef/kitchen/restaurant like romance and this fit the bill. All while having a unique location to really mix things up. The way the FMC relates to the ocean is so calming and really resonated with me as it's nice to see the indescribable way I feel about the ocean on paper. This slow burn, low stakes romance will be a great summer read. I cannot wait to see what Ada Barume' puts out next!
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I’m not a fan of Below Deck as I have only seen a few episodes. However, Love Overboard is a low stakes romance between the chef (Sofia) and first Officer (Jack) of a luxury yacht crew. Ever since reading Knives, Seasoning and Dash of Love by Katrina Kwan, I’ve had my eye out for a chef/kitchen/restaurant like romance and this fit the bill. All while having a unique location to really mix things up. The way the FMC relates to the ocean is so calming and really resonated with me as it's nice to see the indescribable way I feel about the ocean on paper. This slow burn, low stakes romance will be a great summer read. I cannot wait to see what Ada Barume' puts out next!
April 16, 2024
I love the enemies-to-lovers trope and adore stories set on ships, so this book seems like a win-win. Unfortunately, the execution was a bit choppy (pun intended) and could use some refinement. "Love Overboard" by Ada Barumé is a sweet romance that incorporates several tropes besides enemies-to-lovers, such as forced proximity, work colleagues, slow-burn, and emotional scars.
English Chef Sophia quits her successful job to accept a position as Chef aboard Captain Mary's luxury yacht. Her co-workers include Petra - the head steward, Patricio - the steward, Declan - the deckhand, Stuart - the chief engineer, and Jack - an American and the first officer. She doesn't get off to a great start, thanks to altercations with Jack the evening before. A fight over strawberries escalates hostility between the two, leading to the decision to go their separate ways: she stays below deck, and he above to avoid conflict. Things go downhill from there as they continue to bicker over nonsense. As fate keeps throwing them together, and they go on two trips with the guests, Sophia starts to wonder if there is more to Jack than meets the eye.
Overall, it was a quick and fun read. The book is written in the third person from Sophia's perspective, interspersed with sudden flashbacks to her past. Toward the middle of the book, there are a couple of chapters written in the third person from Jack's perspective. While I enjoyed reading Jack's inner thoughts, it did disrupt the flow of the story. Additionally, the jumps between times were not smoothly done.
In terms of characters, I found the heroine to be childish, quick to make assumptions, judgmental, and prone to overreacting or acting foolishly at times. Throwing a glass of wine on a complete stranger just because she didn't like his approach was a bit too much. She knew she couldn't handle alcohol, yet she drank anyway. Some of the side characters also behaved oddly, alternating between giving hot and cold shoulder with silly reasons and just being rude overall. Not that Jack was holier-than-thou; sometimes, he was portrayed as grumpy and overbearing.
Moreover, there were some stereotypes present, such as Jack being initially depicted as a rich and entitled white guy, while the brown skin color of the heroine was emphasized too much. Also, it was pointed out a few times that the heroine felt connected to another colored guy because they shared the same skin color, which I found jarring. I don't choose my friends based on their color and I wondered if her first reaction to Jack would have been different were he the same color as her. I don't think it was done intentionally, but it did make one wonder.
While I enjoyed some of the banter and loved the ending, some dialogue was juvenile. There were also a couple of erotic scenes (including a dream) that didn't contribute to the story much. However, I did appreciate the developed relationship between the two women aboard, as well as the exploration of themes such as alcoholism, loss, discrimination of women in the workplace, and sexual assault. The setting, including the yachting aspect of it, was well done. I found the Captain's rules one-sided and odd. Additionally, I liked the two trips to the ports and the background stories of the characters, which added depth to the story.
The book could have used tighter editing for minor typos, misspellings, and errors such as a lack of space between words and a sentence repeating itself. Overall, it was a good solid read, one I enjoyed despite its flaws. Therefore, I rate the book 3.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to fans of steamy romance.
* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.
* The review on my Blog: https://galibookish.blogspot.com/2024...
English Chef Sophia quits her successful job to accept a position as Chef aboard Captain Mary's luxury yacht. Her co-workers include Petra - the head steward, Patricio - the steward, Declan - the deckhand, Stuart - the chief engineer, and Jack - an American and the first officer. She doesn't get off to a great start, thanks to altercations with Jack the evening before. A fight over strawberries escalates hostility between the two, leading to the decision to go their separate ways: she stays below deck, and he above to avoid conflict. Things go downhill from there as they continue to bicker over nonsense. As fate keeps throwing them together, and they go on two trips with the guests, Sophia starts to wonder if there is more to Jack than meets the eye.
Overall, it was a quick and fun read. The book is written in the third person from Sophia's perspective, interspersed with sudden flashbacks to her past. Toward the middle of the book, there are a couple of chapters written in the third person from Jack's perspective. While I enjoyed reading Jack's inner thoughts, it did disrupt the flow of the story. Additionally, the jumps between times were not smoothly done.
In terms of characters, I found the heroine to be childish, quick to make assumptions, judgmental, and prone to overreacting or acting foolishly at times. Throwing a glass of wine on a complete stranger just because she didn't like his approach was a bit too much. She knew she couldn't handle alcohol, yet she drank anyway. Some of the side characters also behaved oddly, alternating between giving hot and cold shoulder with silly reasons and just being rude overall. Not that Jack was holier-than-thou; sometimes, he was portrayed as grumpy and overbearing.
Moreover, there were some stereotypes present, such as Jack being initially depicted as a rich and entitled white guy, while the brown skin color of the heroine was emphasized too much. Also, it was pointed out a few times that the heroine felt connected to another colored guy because they shared the same skin color, which I found jarring. I don't choose my friends based on their color and I wondered if her first reaction to Jack would have been different were he the same color as her. I don't think it was done intentionally, but it did make one wonder.
While I enjoyed some of the banter and loved the ending, some dialogue was juvenile. There were also a couple of erotic scenes (including a dream) that didn't contribute to the story much. However, I did appreciate the developed relationship between the two women aboard, as well as the exploration of themes such as alcoholism, loss, discrimination of women in the workplace, and sexual assault. The setting, including the yachting aspect of it, was well done. I found the Captain's rules one-sided and odd. Additionally, I liked the two trips to the ports and the background stories of the characters, which added depth to the story.
The book could have used tighter editing for minor typos, misspellings, and errors such as a lack of space between words and a sentence repeating itself. Overall, it was a good solid read, one I enjoyed despite its flaws. Therefore, I rate the book 3.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to fans of steamy romance.
* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.
* The review on my Blog: https://galibookish.blogspot.com/2024...
May 28, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher, for providing a free ebook in exchange for an honest review.
Sofia, deciding she needs a change, leaves her job at a high end restauraunt in to work as a chef on a charter ship. The night before she starts, she crashes in Jack, another member of staff on the ship. What follows is fifteen days of fights, opening up and discovering things about herself and her new friends whilst cooking, swimming, and enjoying all the sights that the Italian Coast has to offer.
I was so excited about this book. I love anything that is forced proximity, enemies to lovers, and I loved the idea of an interracial relationship. Unfortunately, the entire book fell flat. It is unusual that i find it a drag to read a romance novel, but I struggled to finish this. To start with, both charcaters felt like caricatures of their nationalities. Jack is a hyperbolised American who fits into every single stereotype out there. Sofia was written as an mixed African/British, however her British side is hyperbolised and her African heritage is brushed over in a very quick and perfunctuary manner, where the author had an opportunity to really build on Sofia's background and heritage to make her a more well-rounded character.
Let's talk about Sofia. I really struggled with her. Not only was her peprsonality just that tiniest bit too irritating she was also shallow, selfish, assumed everything was about her or a conspiracy against her and made a habit of sleeping with men she worked with once and then assuming with zero communication that she and the man she slept with were exclusive. She prioritizes men over her own career and is as obnoxious as her American counterpart. The worst part of it is that she sees that she is selfish but does absolutely nothing to change her behaviour and become a better person. She also had a huge chip on her shoulder, which, instead of making her quirky or relatable, just made her irritating.
Jack, on the other hand, just comes across as an incredibly shallow man who has severe unresolved mummy issues. This could have worked if there was depth to his character but he slept with almost every woman on the boat, loudly claimed that sleeping with Sofia was a mistake and then got upset when she left the room, allowing another member of staff to mistreat her on his behalf. The fact that he slept with Sofia literally hours after comparing her to HIS MOTHER screams 'another white man who needs therapy' to me.
The rest of the book was incredibly clumisly written, from the bisexual storyline (unresolved) to the SA storyline, which was so badly done that the main character came off as seriously uneducated on all matters to do with SA and consent. The sex scenes felt rushed and just very surface level, probably because there was little to no chemistry between the actual characters. Fighting and arguing constantly does not equal sexual tension, and that was clear in this book. Two of the side characters had more chemistry in the entire book than the main characters did.
All that being said, I do want to give an honourable mention to Milly, who was THE best character of the entire book. She was funny, relatable (despite the intention being that she's unrelatable) and just such a well written character. If she had been the main character of this book, I would have devoured it.
Taking the main characters out of the equation, this book had a beautiful premise. I loved the idea of the forced proximity, and perhaps with a little more time and editing, this book really could have been something special. If you took away the miscommunication, the instant love, and the cringe renencments of British and American culture, this really could have been a good read.
2.5 stars.
Sofia, deciding she needs a change, leaves her job at a high end restauraunt in to work as a chef on a charter ship. The night before she starts, she crashes in Jack, another member of staff on the ship. What follows is fifteen days of fights, opening up and discovering things about herself and her new friends whilst cooking, swimming, and enjoying all the sights that the Italian Coast has to offer.
I was so excited about this book. I love anything that is forced proximity, enemies to lovers, and I loved the idea of an interracial relationship. Unfortunately, the entire book fell flat. It is unusual that i find it a drag to read a romance novel, but I struggled to finish this. To start with, both charcaters felt like caricatures of their nationalities. Jack is a hyperbolised American who fits into every single stereotype out there. Sofia was written as an mixed African/British, however her British side is hyperbolised and her African heritage is brushed over in a very quick and perfunctuary manner, where the author had an opportunity to really build on Sofia's background and heritage to make her a more well-rounded character.
Let's talk about Sofia. I really struggled with her. Not only was her peprsonality just that tiniest bit too irritating she was also shallow, selfish, assumed everything was about her or a conspiracy against her and made a habit of sleeping with men she worked with once and then assuming with zero communication that she and the man she slept with were exclusive. She prioritizes men over her own career and is as obnoxious as her American counterpart. The worst part of it is that she sees that she is selfish but does absolutely nothing to change her behaviour and become a better person. She also had a huge chip on her shoulder, which, instead of making her quirky or relatable, just made her irritating.
Jack, on the other hand, just comes across as an incredibly shallow man who has severe unresolved mummy issues. This could have worked if there was depth to his character but he slept with almost every woman on the boat, loudly claimed that sleeping with Sofia was a mistake and then got upset when she left the room, allowing another member of staff to mistreat her on his behalf. The fact that he slept with Sofia literally hours after comparing her to HIS MOTHER screams 'another white man who needs therapy' to me.
The rest of the book was incredibly clumisly written, from the bisexual storyline (unresolved) to the SA storyline, which was so badly done that the main character came off as seriously uneducated on all matters to do with SA and consent. The sex scenes felt rushed and just very surface level, probably because there was little to no chemistry between the actual characters. Fighting and arguing constantly does not equal sexual tension, and that was clear in this book. Two of the side characters had more chemistry in the entire book than the main characters did.
All that being said, I do want to give an honourable mention to Milly, who was THE best character of the entire book. She was funny, relatable (despite the intention being that she's unrelatable) and just such a well written character. If she had been the main character of this book, I would have devoured it.
Taking the main characters out of the equation, this book had a beautiful premise. I loved the idea of the forced proximity, and perhaps with a little more time and editing, this book really could have been something special. If you took away the miscommunication, the instant love, and the cringe renencments of British and American culture, this really could have been a good read.
2.5 stars.
June 24, 2024
Sofia is a British chef who's quit her job in London because of a one night stand with a colleague and is now embarking on a new job in Italy as a chef on a private yacht charter. Here she meets Jack, an American, who has been working on private yachts for the past decade and finally made it to First Officer. But Captain Mary has a rule that means no relationships between staff.
When Sofia and Jack first encounter one another, it's at a bar the night before they're due to be on the yacht, so they don't realise they're colleagues. Jack is struck by Sofia immediately but Sofia isn't so sure about Jack and pretty much pegs him as an overconfident, American playboy. She's shocked and little embarrassed when she meets him onboard the next day but he's rather aloof towards her which puts her on the backfoot slightly.
The two of them are very hot and cold with one another until one night they sleep together and after Jack wakes up and Sofia is gone, he goes looking for her. But he runs into the Captain and blurts out what happened, apologising and telling Mary that it was a one night thing and it didn't mean anything. Of course, Sofia overhears all of this and is incredibly hurt by what she hears. As the reader, we know that's not how Jack feels as we get a couple of chapters from Jack's point on view after they sleep together. But it seems once again, two grown ass adults cannot communicate with each other at all.
I didn't particularly like Sofia as a character, she was very self-involved and even though she said she wanted to make friends with the people onboard, she wasn't really that concerned with the lives and feelings of anyone else around her. When she finds out that Jack got Patricio a job on the boat, but he was told not to tell anyone, she immediately thinks that he was told not to tell her specifically and she becomes fixated on this and what it could possibly mean.
Overall this book was ok, the writing was ok and the story and the characters were ok but there was no real depth to the characters or the story.
Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
When Sofia and Jack first encounter one another, it's at a bar the night before they're due to be on the yacht, so they don't realise they're colleagues. Jack is struck by Sofia immediately but Sofia isn't so sure about Jack and pretty much pegs him as an overconfident, American playboy. She's shocked and little embarrassed when she meets him onboard the next day but he's rather aloof towards her which puts her on the backfoot slightly.
The two of them are very hot and cold with one another until one night they sleep together and after Jack wakes up and Sofia is gone, he goes looking for her. But he runs into the Captain and blurts out what happened, apologising and telling Mary that it was a one night thing and it didn't mean anything. Of course, Sofia overhears all of this and is incredibly hurt by what she hears. As the reader, we know that's not how Jack feels as we get a couple of chapters from Jack's point on view after they sleep together. But it seems once again, two grown ass adults cannot communicate with each other at all.
I didn't particularly like Sofia as a character, she was very self-involved and even though she said she wanted to make friends with the people onboard, she wasn't really that concerned with the lives and feelings of anyone else around her. When she finds out that Jack got Patricio a job on the boat, but he was told not to tell anyone, she immediately thinks that he was told not to tell her specifically and she becomes fixated on this and what it could possibly mean.
Overall this book was ok, the writing was ok and the story and the characters were ok but there was no real depth to the characters or the story.
Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
April 24, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️
thank you to netgalley and avon books uk for this arc!!!
I had super high hopes for this one, and while I did end up enjoying it, there were many things that fell flat.
I first off want to say that I absolutely LOVE the concept of this plot. The forced proximity that a yachtie crew has makes this the perfect rom-com setting. the most well written part of this book is actually Sophia’s back story and I think that could’ve been a book in and of itself. the found family dynamic is really enjoyable (rather incestuous to refer to it as a family tbh). I was content with the ending, and I think the setting allows for a bit of insta love to slip through without being a major eye roll.
unfortunately, the pace of the book just felt off to me in regards to the relationships. additionally, the enemies to lovers was unconvincing and just borderline uncomfortable. the banter was not bantering. I felt like I was in the middle of two hostile teens who are mean to each other for NO REASON. there was a point in the book when I genuinely was more interested in the relationship between Milly and Brian, the guests.
towards the 60% mark things start to pick up and that was this book’s saving grace honestly. the second the two main characters hooked up they were like actually capable of being tolerable human beings??? I just wish Sophia was portrayed as more level headed honestly. Her character had so much potential, and by the end I did really like her but she was seriously intolerable for the first half of this book. I don’t have much to say about Jack… he was just kinda there.
anyways, I think this book has crazy good potential. I think with more time, this author has the potential to put out some really creative, well thought out rom-coms.
thank you to netgalley and avon books uk for this arc!!!
I had super high hopes for this one, and while I did end up enjoying it, there were many things that fell flat.
I first off want to say that I absolutely LOVE the concept of this plot. The forced proximity that a yachtie crew has makes this the perfect rom-com setting. the most well written part of this book is actually Sophia’s back story and I think that could’ve been a book in and of itself. the found family dynamic is really enjoyable (rather incestuous to refer to it as a family tbh). I was content with the ending, and I think the setting allows for a bit of insta love to slip through without being a major eye roll.
unfortunately, the pace of the book just felt off to me in regards to the relationships. additionally, the enemies to lovers was unconvincing and just borderline uncomfortable. the banter was not bantering. I felt like I was in the middle of two hostile teens who are mean to each other for NO REASON. there was a point in the book when I genuinely was more interested in the relationship between Milly and Brian, the guests.
towards the 60% mark things start to pick up and that was this book’s saving grace honestly. the second the two main characters hooked up they were like actually capable of being tolerable human beings??? I just wish Sophia was portrayed as more level headed honestly. Her character had so much potential, and by the end I did really like her but she was seriously intolerable for the first half of this book. I don’t have much to say about Jack… he was just kinda there.
anyways, I think this book has crazy good potential. I think with more time, this author has the potential to put out some really creative, well thought out rom-coms.
May 18, 2024
The Plot: 2/5 The Characters: 2/5 The Setting: 3/5 The Writing: 3/5
Thoughts:
Thank you Avon Books UK & NetGalley for this advanced readers copy! 🤗🤗
I was really intrigued by the Below Deck *TV show* vibes this had going on!
This is a story about Sofia, a chef who has travelled from London to the Almalfi Coast to work a season on the yacht called’ Lady Ixchil’ (which means the goddess of love in Mayan). Here, Sophia navigates the friendships and relationships with her new crew members.
The plot isn’t at all plain sailing and I think that some parts were a bit jumbled and rushed. The dynamic between the main characters was confusing most of the time and I feel like the intimate scenes came out of nowhere! Then expect the I love you’s to pop into the scene after a short 15 days 😅
Sofia & Jack did grow on me by the end of the story but it was a shame that the reader isn’t able to delve further into the personalities of the main characters, things stay pretty surface level throughout the book :(
Tropes:
Enemies to Lovers
Forced Proximity
Workplace Romance
Miscommunication
Pros & Cons:
Pros: Short chapters! The life on sea setting was fun.
Cons: I wanted so much more from this read! I also think that the 2 random chapters with Jack’s POV could have been made more exciting? There wasn’t much said that we didn’t already know, so this could have been harnessed as an opportunity to switch things up a bit more and provide a deeper insight to the character!
Thoughts:
Thank you Avon Books UK & NetGalley for this advanced readers copy! 🤗🤗
I was really intrigued by the Below Deck *TV show* vibes this had going on!
This is a story about Sofia, a chef who has travelled from London to the Almalfi Coast to work a season on the yacht called’ Lady Ixchil’ (which means the goddess of love in Mayan). Here, Sophia navigates the friendships and relationships with her new crew members.
The plot isn’t at all plain sailing and I think that some parts were a bit jumbled and rushed. The dynamic between the main characters was confusing most of the time and I feel like the intimate scenes came out of nowhere! Then expect the I love you’s to pop into the scene after a short 15 days 😅
Sofia & Jack did grow on me by the end of the story but it was a shame that the reader isn’t able to delve further into the personalities of the main characters, things stay pretty surface level throughout the book :(
Tropes:
Enemies to Lovers
Forced Proximity
Workplace Romance
Miscommunication
Pros & Cons:
Pros: Short chapters! The life on sea setting was fun.
Cons: I wanted so much more from this read! I also think that the 2 random chapters with Jack’s POV could have been made more exciting? There wasn’t much said that we didn’t already know, so this could have been harnessed as an opportunity to switch things up a bit more and provide a deeper insight to the character!
June 20, 2024
Love Overboard follows Sofia who is a chef and Jack who is a first officer on a luxury yacht. They are thrown together as a part of the crew where they sail to the Amalfi Coast. They get into an argument and vow to not interact with each other while on the boat for the rest of the season. There is a disaster with one of their guests which forces them to put aside their rocky starts for the rest of the charter.
Sofia and Jack discover they may have more in common than they first thought.
There are a lot of tropes in this book for sure! Enemies to lovers, forced proximity and work colleagues.
Although I did finish the book, I did find that I was skimming it more often than not. Both of the characters I thought were unlikeable and super judgemental. I sometimes felt like the story was being forced or it stuttered in some places. They were both kinda childish but not willing to change their actions.
There was also a sudden shift to Jack's point of view in the middle of the book which was kinda annoying. I am normally really into a dual POV but normally, it switches between chapters. It sort of stopped the flow of the story and felt choppy.
It was a quick read and did feel like an episode of Below Deck! I think this would be great as a YA book but could use a little editing as the layout is a bit strange. If it went into a bit more depth, there is a lot of promise for this book.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon for my ARC in exchange for an honest review. Views are my own.
Sofia and Jack discover they may have more in common than they first thought.
There are a lot of tropes in this book for sure! Enemies to lovers, forced proximity and work colleagues.
Although I did finish the book, I did find that I was skimming it more often than not. Both of the characters I thought were unlikeable and super judgemental. I sometimes felt like the story was being forced or it stuttered in some places. They were both kinda childish but not willing to change their actions.
There was also a sudden shift to Jack's point of view in the middle of the book which was kinda annoying. I am normally really into a dual POV but normally, it switches between chapters. It sort of stopped the flow of the story and felt choppy.
It was a quick read and did feel like an episode of Below Deck! I think this would be great as a YA book but could use a little editing as the layout is a bit strange. If it went into a bit more depth, there is a lot of promise for this book.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon for my ARC in exchange for an honest review. Views are my own.
August 21, 2024
Love Overboard is a cute enemies to lovers romance novel by Ada Barume.
💖 Blurb -
When feisty chef Sophia and strait-laced first officer Jack are thrown together as the crew for a luxury yacht on the beautiful Amalfi Coast, it’s anything but smooth sailing. And after their first interactions end with one very soggy first officer and an all-out battle over strawberries, they vow to give one another a wide berth for the remainder of the season.
But even on a 154-foot yacht, space is tight – and, try as they might, Sophia and Jack are thrown together time and again. And when disaster strikes for their wealthiest guests, the pair are forced to put aside their rocky start for the good of the charter.
As the tides begin to turn, Sophia and Jack discover that they might just have more in common than they first thought. And maybe, just maybe, Jack might be the starboard to Sophia’s port . . .
After all, the most skilled sailors know that when the waters don’t run smooth, you simply need to chart a new course.
❤️ Review -
This was such a cute read, it's the perfect book to read over the summer months. The pacing was just right. I loved the author's story telling and the place setting in the book sounded beautiful. I loved the story, which was easy to follow and it had a good mix of characters.
Overall, a brilliant novel that I would recommend to other readers. I look forward to reading more by the author.
💝 Thank you to Avon books and the author, Ada Barume for my copy of the book and having me on the Avon Summer Of Love campaign.
💖 Blurb -
When feisty chef Sophia and strait-laced first officer Jack are thrown together as the crew for a luxury yacht on the beautiful Amalfi Coast, it’s anything but smooth sailing. And after their first interactions end with one very soggy first officer and an all-out battle over strawberries, they vow to give one another a wide berth for the remainder of the season.
But even on a 154-foot yacht, space is tight – and, try as they might, Sophia and Jack are thrown together time and again. And when disaster strikes for their wealthiest guests, the pair are forced to put aside their rocky start for the good of the charter.
As the tides begin to turn, Sophia and Jack discover that they might just have more in common than they first thought. And maybe, just maybe, Jack might be the starboard to Sophia’s port . . .
After all, the most skilled sailors know that when the waters don’t run smooth, you simply need to chart a new course.
❤️ Review -
This was such a cute read, it's the perfect book to read over the summer months. The pacing was just right. I loved the author's story telling and the place setting in the book sounded beautiful. I loved the story, which was easy to follow and it had a good mix of characters.
Overall, a brilliant novel that I would recommend to other readers. I look forward to reading more by the author.
💝 Thank you to Avon books and the author, Ada Barume for my copy of the book and having me on the Avon Summer Of Love campaign.
May 6, 2024
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️☆ 3.5/5
Thank you netgally for the arc in exchange for my honest review. ♡
Pub date: 20th June 2024
Sofia is a chef who has worked her way up through the ranks into a Michelin star restaurant. A relationship ended badly with a coworker, which led her to the decision to leave, and she found herself working on a yacht as a head chef. What she didn't expect was that one of her new colleagues was the guy she threw a drink over at the bar the previous night. Jack is pretty thrown off by her presence, too. They clash and agree to keep to their own sides of the yacht. But that won't work for the full six weeks.
This was adorable. The story was cute, and the characters were lovable. I loved getting a few chapters of jacks pov to see how he felt about things that had previously happened.
I loved millie and Brian (the couple who had chartered the yacht). I found myself invested in them 😂 and the sea urchin had me laughing.
I just felt that some things had been left out or not explored enough, and some of the flashbacks weren't a clear cut.
It's a great read, though 🤍
💙
"You should never judge a book by its chiselled cheekbones, Sofia."
"And I knew that Brian was the one, because he made me fearless, still does, like he makes me feel like it's OK to fail, because even if I do he'll still be there. It's really amazing what you can do once you're not afraid to fail anymore.'
Thank you netgally for the arc in exchange for my honest review. ♡
Pub date: 20th June 2024
Sofia is a chef who has worked her way up through the ranks into a Michelin star restaurant. A relationship ended badly with a coworker, which led her to the decision to leave, and she found herself working on a yacht as a head chef. What she didn't expect was that one of her new colleagues was the guy she threw a drink over at the bar the previous night. Jack is pretty thrown off by her presence, too. They clash and agree to keep to their own sides of the yacht. But that won't work for the full six weeks.
This was adorable. The story was cute, and the characters were lovable. I loved getting a few chapters of jacks pov to see how he felt about things that had previously happened.
I loved millie and Brian (the couple who had chartered the yacht). I found myself invested in them 😂 and the sea urchin had me laughing.
I just felt that some things had been left out or not explored enough, and some of the flashbacks weren't a clear cut.
It's a great read, though 🤍
💙
"You should never judge a book by its chiselled cheekbones, Sofia."
"And I knew that Brian was the one, because he made me fearless, still does, like he makes me feel like it's OK to fail, because even if I do he'll still be there. It's really amazing what you can do once you're not afraid to fail anymore.'
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