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Hooked on You
Pre-order the next book from the author of Love Overboard now!Ore has (almost) landed her dream job as an investigative reporter for the New Yorker. There’s only one catch – they’ll only give her the job if she can get the scoop on working for the elusive billionaire Harrison Marigold. To write the article, she’s got to spend two weeks on his luxury yacht off the coast of Australia, and convince the crew to spill the beans.
Daniel has (almost) landed his dream job as captain of a super yacht down under. There’s only one catch – he has to take one last job, chartering a yacht for an eccentric billionaire, and making sure an unfairly beautiful journalist doesn’t distract his crew from their work.
But making sure Ore doesn’t sink his chances of staying on course by sea-ducing his crew turns into a much harder job than Daniel expected. Ore’s also finding her assignment more difficult than she ever thought, thanks to the crew’s loyalty to Captain Daniel, but also, the waves of attraction towards him that keep crashing over her.
Daniel has (almost) landed his dream job as captain of a super yacht down under. There’s only one catch – he has to take one last job, chartering a yacht for an eccentric billionaire, and making sure an unfairly beautiful journalist doesn’t distract his crew from their work.
But making sure Ore doesn’t sink his chances of staying on course by sea-ducing his crew turns into a much harder job than Daniel expected. Ore’s also finding her assignment more difficult than she ever thought, thanks to the crew’s loyalty to Captain Daniel, but also, the waves of attraction towards him that keep crashing over her.
384 pages, Paperback
First published April 10, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
March 20, 2026
2.75 🌟 I’m honestly not sure what to say I really wanted to like this book however I just couldn’t connect to it don’t get me wrong I loved the plot and I really have Chuck he’s sneaky and not in a good way so I loved when Ore was going round interviewing people trying to get to the bottom of what Chuck is like as a person and a boss I did enjoy the connection between Daniel and Ore it almost felt like insta love because they are on a yacht and I love how Daniel really tried to protect Ore at every chance he got 🥰 other than that I don’t have anything else to say please keep in mind just because I didn’t enjoy this book doesn’t mean you won’t!!
Quotes I loved:
“I’m just happy, Daniel, like I've been rummaging around my life looking for something I've lost, and I've just found it, and it's even more special than I remembered.”
“You have such a beautiful way with words, Ore.”
“I don't think you can ever know how profoundly you've changed me, Ore. Before I met you, I was on a treadmill, sometimes walking, sometimes running, consistently into my future. But with you I learnt how to fly. And hopefully atter you, I can keep doing that, high enough so that I can see how beautiful everything is.”
Tropes:
⚓️ Grumpy x sunshine
⛴️ Workplace romance
⚓️ Friends to lovers
⛴️ Forced proximity
Quotes I loved:
“I’m just happy, Daniel, like I've been rummaging around my life looking for something I've lost, and I've just found it, and it's even more special than I remembered.”
“You have such a beautiful way with words, Ore.”
“I don't think you can ever know how profoundly you've changed me, Ore. Before I met you, I was on a treadmill, sometimes walking, sometimes running, consistently into my future. But with you I learnt how to fly. And hopefully atter you, I can keep doing that, high enough so that I can see how beautiful everything is.”
Tropes:
⚓️ Grumpy x sunshine
⛴️ Workplace romance
⚓️ Friends to lovers
⛴️ Forced proximity
August 14, 2025
With romance, oceans and some investigative journalism, this was an incredibly fun rom-com with some added mystery.
Ore's and Daniel's POV's were both great to follow and their romance very cute. While predictable, the investigation was also a fun added bonus.
Overall, this was a fun, somewhat slow burn romance read and one that is perfect for the summer season!
what to expect:
- journalist x luxury yacht captain
- forced proximity
- less grumpy x sunshine and more shy x confident
- super rich dude with shifty secrets
- dual pov
- summer vibes
Ore's and Daniel's POV's were both great to follow and their romance very cute. While predictable, the investigation was also a fun added bonus.
Overall, this was a fun, somewhat slow burn romance read and one that is perfect for the summer season!
what to expect:
- journalist x luxury yacht captain
- forced proximity
- less grumpy x sunshine and more shy x confident
- super rich dude with shifty secrets
- dual pov
- summer vibes
June 9, 2025
I needed something light and fluffy to help get me in the mood as the weather started warming up and this was a solid weekend read. Some slow burn romance, a little bit of intrigue, and a luxury yacht made for what I would dub a beach read.
Full review below
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Full review below
https://womenofcolorreadtoo.blogspot....
July 28, 2025
Interesting and cute, the perfect summer read! Though it didn’t really feel like grumpy x sunshine. It was more like shy x outgoing maybe? Wasn’t really funny either but it somehow works
April 13, 2025
Ore is a freelance journalist with a chance at a dream job thanks to landing an exclusive interview with an elusive tech billionaire. Happily, this comes with the chance to spend 2 weeks with him on his super yacht sailing around Australia. Except what initially sounded like a simple puff piece gives her a chance to discover that the billionaire's business dealings aren't as above the board as he claims. It will take Ore and the help of handsome Captain Daniel to get to the bottom of things, but will they have what it takes to make it public?
It's an okay book that touches on a lot of difficult topics, which bogged down the romantic angle for me. You can't really focus on the sweetness between Ore and Daniel when SA and shady business dealings are constantly being brought to the front. I appreciate how it elevates the story overall, but I ended up getting tired of it and hoping to get more time just enjoying the characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the read!
It's an okay book that touches on a lot of difficult topics, which bogged down the romantic angle for me. You can't really focus on the sweetness between Ore and Daniel when SA and shady business dealings are constantly being brought to the front. I appreciate how it elevates the story overall, but I ended up getting tired of it and hoping to get more time just enjoying the characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the read!
June 21, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Okay, so this is the third or fourth book in this type of style and you would think I would learn my lesson. I don’t think I’m a romantic comedy type of woman or maybe it’s just the narration style. It put me in mind a “Tough Crowd” that I attempted to read last year and DNFed very quickly. Luckily I was able to finish this one but not without struggles.
First off, the FMC was insufferable. She was supposed to be this big and upcoming journalist. But yet it, she can be constantly quoted saying “her mind went blank with no questions to be asked” because she couldn’t think of any. I get it happening sometimes but it felt like every time the FMC went to interview someone this comment would appear.
The book also (this could change after release) needs a major edit. The timeline was a bit confusing and then there were times it had me scratching my head. For example, when Daniel and Ore met in person for the first time, Daniel already knew her name and had called her that but Ore introduces herself to him like he had no idea who she was. Also I’m not sure what the inspiration for the name Ore is.
The book also made comments such as this throughout its entirety and I don’t know but it just didn’t sit well with me.
“That’s not to say that she was immune to his good looks, but she’d had her fair fill of white boys at Columbia and the novelty had worn off.”
“Ore was no idiot, and she was a woman.”
“Then again maybe it was just always better received from someone who wasn’t white.”
“‘And it wasn’t some sort of jealous white-woman thing, well maybe a little bit, but mostly it was how easily you carried yourself.”
“Reciting her affirmations in the mirror every morning to reassure herself that being the youngest, blackest person in the investigations team did not mean she didn’t belong there.”
Overall, I did not enjoy this book and will not be reading any more of this author. The ending was a bit better but not by much. I don’t think this is writing style is for me and maybe the genre included. I was hoping for a more “Below Deck” vibe and got nothing even remotely in the same ballpark as that.
Okay, so this is the third or fourth book in this type of style and you would think I would learn my lesson. I don’t think I’m a romantic comedy type of woman or maybe it’s just the narration style. It put me in mind a “Tough Crowd” that I attempted to read last year and DNFed very quickly. Luckily I was able to finish this one but not without struggles.
First off, the FMC was insufferable. She was supposed to be this big and upcoming journalist. But yet it, she can be constantly quoted saying “her mind went blank with no questions to be asked” because she couldn’t think of any. I get it happening sometimes but it felt like every time the FMC went to interview someone this comment would appear.
The book also (this could change after release) needs a major edit. The timeline was a bit confusing and then there were times it had me scratching my head. For example, when Daniel and Ore met in person for the first time, Daniel already knew her name and had called her that but Ore introduces herself to him like he had no idea who she was. Also I’m not sure what the inspiration for the name Ore is.
The book also made comments such as this throughout its entirety and I don’t know but it just didn’t sit well with me.
“That’s not to say that she was immune to his good looks, but she’d had her fair fill of white boys at Columbia and the novelty had worn off.”
“Ore was no idiot, and she was a woman.”
“Then again maybe it was just always better received from someone who wasn’t white.”
“‘And it wasn’t some sort of jealous white-woman thing, well maybe a little bit, but mostly it was how easily you carried yourself.”
“Reciting her affirmations in the mirror every morning to reassure herself that being the youngest, blackest person in the investigations team did not mean she didn’t belong there.”
Overall, I did not enjoy this book and will not be reading any more of this author. The ending was a bit better but not by much. I don’t think this is writing style is for me and maybe the genre included. I was hoping for a more “Below Deck” vibe and got nothing even remotely in the same ballpark as that.
June 1, 2025
Thank you @NetGalley and @HarperCollins for the ARC. I could not stop reading this book. It is a dual point a view between Ore and Daniel. Ore wants to be an investigative journalist and hopes that her new piece on a rich tycoon will be her ticket to a permanent job. She is asked to sail on a yacht for two weeks to conduct interviews, but she did not plan on meeting Captain Daniel, who is told to babysit her and to make sure she only sees the good things. Ore realizes that things are not how they seem and wonders if Captain Daniel is hiding something sinister.
May 20, 2025
Hooked On You
Release date: 10th April 2025
Author: Ada Barume
Rating: 4.4/5
ARC REVIEW GIFTED BY AVON BOOKS
A enjoyable and fantastic romance that I thoroughly loved reading. We follow MMCs Ore and Daniel who both have the mindset of how this is going to be their ‘Last Job’ before they get their dream careers but will them meeting end up detailing their future plans? The characters eventually grew on me as at first I had trouble connecting with them but once I was able to I found that the story became more interesting.
I have never read anything from this author before but I will be picking up her other book Love Overboard and as I really enjoyed this one and believe I will like this one too.
Thank-you to @avonbooks for this Advanced Copy. Review will be posted on Amazon & Goodreads 📚
TikTok @jessrosefergusonbooks
Release date: 10th April 2025
Author: Ada Barume
Rating: 4.4/5
ARC REVIEW GIFTED BY AVON BOOKS
A enjoyable and fantastic romance that I thoroughly loved reading. We follow MMCs Ore and Daniel who both have the mindset of how this is going to be their ‘Last Job’ before they get their dream careers but will them meeting end up detailing their future plans? The characters eventually grew on me as at first I had trouble connecting with them but once I was able to I found that the story became more interesting.
I have never read anything from this author before but I will be picking up her other book Love Overboard and as I really enjoyed this one and believe I will like this one too.
Thank-you to @avonbooks for this Advanced Copy. Review will be posted on Amazon & Goodreads 📚
TikTok @jessrosefergusonbooks
Read
May 10, 2025This book takes place on a mega yacht sailing around the Australian coast. Ore is an investigative journalist and Daniel is the captain of the yacht. Both of them are together on this trip hoping their careers will expand after this. Ore is there to investigate the owner of the yacht and hopefully break a big story. As she tries to pin point what the shady owner is hiding Daniel has been told to keep an eye on her so she doesn’t find out too much. How will this all turn out? I definitely had trouble connecting with these characters but they did grow on me and I was invested to find out how everything turned out.
April 10, 2025
Hooked On You follows Ore and Daniel, an investigative journalist and a yacht captain respectively, who are both doing 'one last job' before they get into their dream careers; for Ore, working as an investigative journalist for the New Yorker, and for Daniel, being the resident captain on an easy-going family's yacht. But, will this 'one last job' derail their dreams for the future, or reimagine their future entirely?
For those of you who've been following me for a little while, you'll know that I read and adored Love Overboard, also by Ada Barumé, in summer 2024 (I was lucky enough to receive the eARC of Love Overboard too!!). Love Overboard was a lovely, light-hearted read full of enemies to lovers goodness (and food).
I actually think I preferred Hooked On You to Love Overboard, as the story was more in-depth and I felt like the outcome had higher stakes due to various factors. One thing Ada smashed in both books, though, was the characters' depth. In this one, Carlos was an absolute angel, and Mel was a classic teen (I loved her).
Overall, Hooked On You is a fantastic romance, and I absolutely adored it. This wonderful book is released on 10th April, and I would highly recommend you grab it as it's only £2.99 on kindle currently (and it's totally worth it - I may have my pre-order in already)<33
For those of you who've been following me for a little while, you'll know that I read and adored Love Overboard, also by Ada Barumé, in summer 2024 (I was lucky enough to receive the eARC of Love Overboard too!!). Love Overboard was a lovely, light-hearted read full of enemies to lovers goodness (and food).
I actually think I preferred Hooked On You to Love Overboard, as the story was more in-depth and I felt like the outcome had higher stakes due to various factors. One thing Ada smashed in both books, though, was the characters' depth. In this one, Carlos was an absolute angel, and Mel was a classic teen (I loved her).
Overall, Hooked On You is a fantastic romance, and I absolutely adored it. This wonderful book is released on 10th April, and I would highly recommend you grab it as it's only £2.99 on kindle currently (and it's totally worth it - I may have my pre-order in already)<33
April 11, 2025
2.5 ⭐️
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Avon and Ada Barumé for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
I really enjoyed this easy read, which is just perfect for the summer! What starts as a romance, turns into a lovely mystery that, as the reader, we really want to get to the bottom of. We find ourselves on a luxury yacht with a dual protagonist POV. One of which is from Ore, an investigative journalist hoping to catch her big break and the other, Daniel, our captain - who wishes to live a quite life and retire early.
Whilst Ore initially believes that she will be doing a biographical piece on the success of billionaire Chuck Regas, she finds out that there is a much darker story at play…
Whilst I really found this a gripping narrative past the halfway mark, the start to this book felt quite slow for me. It was definitely worth pushing through to the finish as I very much enjoyed the mystery element. I also adore the fact that there are short chapters, which makes any book easier to digest!
There is a slow burn romance between Ore and Daniel, which gets a little spicy and it is very sweet. I wish we’d have had more time to explore their romance, but the buildup was worth it! I really wanted to rate this higher but I was unfortunately a little disappointed by the end conclusion, since the whole book had been escalating to the pinnacle moment. There wasn’t an opportunity to see what happened to the villain - but perhaps a sequel is in the works?
A special shout out has to go to Carlos, as he was most definitely my favourite and funniest character! I love any book that is set on a ship, as it’s a scenery that we don’t often get to explore - particularly from a behind-the-scenes staff perspective.
This was an overall pleasant read, and I would definitely recommend it to those going on a beach holiday (and definitely to those going on a cruise)!
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Avon and Ada Barumé for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
I really enjoyed this easy read, which is just perfect for the summer! What starts as a romance, turns into a lovely mystery that, as the reader, we really want to get to the bottom of. We find ourselves on a luxury yacht with a dual protagonist POV. One of which is from Ore, an investigative journalist hoping to catch her big break and the other, Daniel, our captain - who wishes to live a quite life and retire early.
Whilst Ore initially believes that she will be doing a biographical piece on the success of billionaire Chuck Regas, she finds out that there is a much darker story at play…
Whilst I really found this a gripping narrative past the halfway mark, the start to this book felt quite slow for me. It was definitely worth pushing through to the finish as I very much enjoyed the mystery element. I also adore the fact that there are short chapters, which makes any book easier to digest!
There is a slow burn romance between Ore and Daniel, which gets a little spicy and it is very sweet. I wish we’d have had more time to explore their romance, but the buildup was worth it! I really wanted to rate this higher but I was unfortunately a little disappointed by the end conclusion, since the whole book had been escalating to the pinnacle moment. There wasn’t an opportunity to see what happened to the villain - but perhaps a sequel is in the works?
A special shout out has to go to Carlos, as he was most definitely my favourite and funniest character! I love any book that is set on a ship, as it’s a scenery that we don’t often get to explore - particularly from a behind-the-scenes staff perspective.
This was an overall pleasant read, and I would definitely recommend it to those going on a beach holiday (and definitely to those going on a cruise)!
April 22, 2025
Thank you to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for the ARC of Hooked on You in exchange for an honest review.
Overall, I really really struggled getting into this one. While I found the concept to be interesting, the plot line just moved so slowly that I often had to go back and reread previous pages when I would pick the book back up because I just couldn’t grasp onto the storyline to the point where I couldn’t wait to come back for more. I did enjoy our FMC, Ore, who was assigned to spend time on a personal yacht to complete an investigative journal piece on a tech billionaire during which she uncovers some shady information implicating her subject.
On the other hand, our MMC, Daniel, was too much of a strait laced so good-er for my liking. As the captain of the yacht, it’s understandable that he is a rule abider, but I just could not get a feel for Ore’s attraction to him or what even made their relationship work. She most certainly held the relationship up, which made Daniel come off as juvenile and sometimes rather pouty.
While it took awhile to get there, by the time I hit 75%, I was fairly invested and I could not wait to see how Chuck, the tech billionaire, and his investors were going to get their comeuppance and if Ore’s investigation and risk taking would pay off (I also wanted to see if Daniel would actually grow a pair by the end of the book for Ore’s sake). With equal parts romance and mystery, this book had a solid foundation at its core, but unfortunately there just wasn’t anything major that grabbed me and stuck with me after it had ended. And speaking of the ending, I really wish we would have gotten more insight into what happened with Chuck. We spent the entire book cheering Ore on in her pursuit to bring him down, but the ending fell flat in our investment! I’m going to go ahead and assume he’s rotting in cell block 1 next to Drake..
Overall, I really really struggled getting into this one. While I found the concept to be interesting, the plot line just moved so slowly that I often had to go back and reread previous pages when I would pick the book back up because I just couldn’t grasp onto the storyline to the point where I couldn’t wait to come back for more. I did enjoy our FMC, Ore, who was assigned to spend time on a personal yacht to complete an investigative journal piece on a tech billionaire during which she uncovers some shady information implicating her subject.
On the other hand, our MMC, Daniel, was too much of a strait laced so good-er for my liking. As the captain of the yacht, it’s understandable that he is a rule abider, but I just could not get a feel for Ore’s attraction to him or what even made their relationship work. She most certainly held the relationship up, which made Daniel come off as juvenile and sometimes rather pouty.
While it took awhile to get there, by the time I hit 75%, I was fairly invested and I could not wait to see how Chuck, the tech billionaire, and his investors were going to get their comeuppance and if Ore’s investigation and risk taking would pay off (I also wanted to see if Daniel would actually grow a pair by the end of the book for Ore’s sake). With equal parts romance and mystery, this book had a solid foundation at its core, but unfortunately there just wasn’t anything major that grabbed me and stuck with me after it had ended. And speaking of the ending, I really wish we would have gotten more insight into what happened with Chuck. We spent the entire book cheering Ore on in her pursuit to bring him down, but the ending fell flat in our investment! I’m going to go ahead and assume he’s rotting in cell block 1 next to Drake..
February 22, 2025
With a mix of romance and mystery, Hooked on You's going to be a fun read for your summer getaway
Hooked on You follows Ore, a journalist who's about to get a job at the New Yorker, but the catch is she first needs to write a profile on the CEO of a big and powerful company. To do that, she's spending a few days on his yacht to interview him, the crew, and his guests. The captain of this yacht is Daniel, who always had his life perfectly planned out, that is until he meets Ore. As she digs deeper into this story and starts interviewing the crew, Ore realises that there is something off about this CEO and his associates, and this profile might turn into something bigger and more dangerous than she had anticipated.
This book does a good job of not leaving the plot only in the hands of the romance and the connection between the two main characters; sometimes, especially at the beginning, it doesn't even feel like it's the main thing going on, which I think is quite refreshing. Ore and Daniel shared an instant connection, but I like that their relationship isn't only based on their attraction for each other but also on their shared values and respect. I love Carlos, the yacht's chef, and his friendship with Ore, but I do wish we got to see more of it. Moreover, I will say some of the side characters feel a bit one-dimensional, especially Claude, one of the CEO's associates.
Hooked on You is a blend of romance and mystery set against the backdrop of a luxurious yacht - a fun summer read to take on your holiday!
Many thanks to Avon UK and NetGalley for the e-ARC!
Hooked on You follows Ore, a journalist who's about to get a job at the New Yorker, but the catch is she first needs to write a profile on the CEO of a big and powerful company. To do that, she's spending a few days on his yacht to interview him, the crew, and his guests. The captain of this yacht is Daniel, who always had his life perfectly planned out, that is until he meets Ore. As she digs deeper into this story and starts interviewing the crew, Ore realises that there is something off about this CEO and his associates, and this profile might turn into something bigger and more dangerous than she had anticipated.
This book does a good job of not leaving the plot only in the hands of the romance and the connection between the two main characters; sometimes, especially at the beginning, it doesn't even feel like it's the main thing going on, which I think is quite refreshing. Ore and Daniel shared an instant connection, but I like that their relationship isn't only based on their attraction for each other but also on their shared values and respect. I love Carlos, the yacht's chef, and his friendship with Ore, but I do wish we got to see more of it. Moreover, I will say some of the side characters feel a bit one-dimensional, especially Claude, one of the CEO's associates.
Hooked on You is a blend of romance and mystery set against the backdrop of a luxurious yacht - a fun summer read to take on your holiday!
Many thanks to Avon UK and NetGalley for the e-ARC!
June 3, 2025
Set sail for flirtation, tropical tension, and one very inconvenient assignment in Hooked on You, Ada Barumé’s delightful rom-com debut.
Think Below Deck meets The Hating Game, with a journalist-on-a-deadline and a ship captain doing everything in his power not to fall overboard—emotionally speaking.
Ore is this close to landing her dream gig at The New Yorker, but first, she’s got to snag a behind-the-scenes exposé on elusive billionaire Harrison Marigold. That means two weeks on a luxury yacht with a tight-lipped crew and one distractingly competent, unfairly hot captain standing in her way.
Daniel, the captain in question, has one rule: don’t mess with the crew.
Ore, of course, is a walking temptation in heels and ambition, and the only thing more threatening than her questions is the undeniable chemistry between them.
💙 Why I was Hooked:
* Crackling slow-burn romance — no insta-love here, just a simmering build-up with delicious payoff
* Yacht-life escapism — Barumé paints the Aussie coast and life onboard with sun-drenched charm
* Dual POVs — both Ore and Daniel get to tell their side, making their internal battles and attraction even richer
* Tension that’s both career and emotional — the stakes feel real, the choices tough, and the growth satisfying
Hooked on You is the perfect escape read: smart, sexy, and full of longing glances over the open sea.
Barumé balances workplace ambition and romantic angst with an effortlessly fun tone. If you're in the mood for sandy feet, secret agendas, and a captain worth swooning for, this one's got your name on it.
Think Below Deck meets The Hating Game, with a journalist-on-a-deadline and a ship captain doing everything in his power not to fall overboard—emotionally speaking.
Ore is this close to landing her dream gig at The New Yorker, but first, she’s got to snag a behind-the-scenes exposé on elusive billionaire Harrison Marigold. That means two weeks on a luxury yacht with a tight-lipped crew and one distractingly competent, unfairly hot captain standing in her way.
Daniel, the captain in question, has one rule: don’t mess with the crew.
Ore, of course, is a walking temptation in heels and ambition, and the only thing more threatening than her questions is the undeniable chemistry between them.
💙 Why I was Hooked:
* Crackling slow-burn romance — no insta-love here, just a simmering build-up with delicious payoff
* Yacht-life escapism — Barumé paints the Aussie coast and life onboard with sun-drenched charm
* Dual POVs — both Ore and Daniel get to tell their side, making their internal battles and attraction even richer
* Tension that’s both career and emotional — the stakes feel real, the choices tough, and the growth satisfying
Hooked on You is the perfect escape read: smart, sexy, and full of longing glances over the open sea.
Barumé balances workplace ambition and romantic angst with an effortlessly fun tone. If you're in the mood for sandy feet, secret agendas, and a captain worth swooning for, this one's got your name on it.
April 10, 2025
This was such an entertaining and exciting ride filled with intrigue, secrets, hot tension, and sweet romance! What starts as something akin to a relaxing beach romance quickly becomes so much more! This is definitely a book to add to your Summer TBR!
Ore, a reporter aspiring to much more in the literary world, uncovers more and more as she writes a piece that started out much simpler than it finishes. Ore is ambitious, brave even in the face of uncertainty, and knows what she wants and doesn't fear chasing after it. As she investigates the characters on board the Thalassa, she discovers a far more provoking mystery. And that's even before the sweet and spicy Captain Daniel enters the scene. A man of many emotions, Daniel isn't afraid to own his emotions and allows himself to feel them even when they surprise him - and it's so refreshing to read a man like this!
Ada Barume created a cast of characters that were so vibrant and easy to imagine. I felt like I connected with the characters and appreciated the dual-POV as I took a glimpse into the lives of the crew. I was immediately hooked (pun totally intended!) and had to know who did what and where the story would lead. Every time I expected one thing to happen, I found myself shocked at how the story twisted and turned. As a reader, I crave surprise - make me feel something, make me cry; I want to feel my heart break - as the story unfolded, I found myself feeling everything!
"I'm just happy Daniel, like I've been rummaging around my life looking for something I've lost, and I've just found it, and it's even more special than I remembered." *Swoon*
Ore, a reporter aspiring to much more in the literary world, uncovers more and more as she writes a piece that started out much simpler than it finishes. Ore is ambitious, brave even in the face of uncertainty, and knows what she wants and doesn't fear chasing after it. As she investigates the characters on board the Thalassa, she discovers a far more provoking mystery. And that's even before the sweet and spicy Captain Daniel enters the scene. A man of many emotions, Daniel isn't afraid to own his emotions and allows himself to feel them even when they surprise him - and it's so refreshing to read a man like this!
Ada Barume created a cast of characters that were so vibrant and easy to imagine. I felt like I connected with the characters and appreciated the dual-POV as I took a glimpse into the lives of the crew. I was immediately hooked (pun totally intended!) and had to know who did what and where the story would lead. Every time I expected one thing to happen, I found myself shocked at how the story twisted and turned. As a reader, I crave surprise - make me feel something, make me cry; I want to feel my heart break - as the story unfolded, I found myself feeling everything!
"I'm just happy Daniel, like I've been rummaging around my life looking for something I've lost, and I've just found it, and it's even more special than I remembered." *Swoon*
April 2, 2025
Ore, a freelance journalist, is determined to build the career she wants. When she’s contracted to write a puff piece on billionaire Chuck Regas, she boards his yacht for two weeks of sailing. But a last-minute crew change brings in Captain Daniel Wilsons, who has one goal—complete his six-week assignment and move on.
As the days pass, tension builds between Ore and Daniel, and secrets about the crew, guests, and the billionaire owner begin to surface.
The romance felt natural—sometimes love stories feel rushed, but this one developed in a way that made sense. Ore and Daniel knew they were attracted to each other, but the story didn’t force them into an unrealistic whirlwind romance. One of the highlights was the banter between Ore and Daniel—it was sharp, fun, and started even before the romance truly kicked in.
The story also does a great job of building relationships beyond the main couple. We get to see Ore and Daniel interact with the crew, which makes the world feel fuller.
There are one or two spicy scenes, but nothing too explicit or kinky—I’d rate it about 2/5 spice. The intrigue surrounding the crew’s secrets also kept things interesting without overshadowing the romance.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would give it 4/5 stars!
As the days pass, tension builds between Ore and Daniel, and secrets about the crew, guests, and the billionaire owner begin to surface.
The romance felt natural—sometimes love stories feel rushed, but this one developed in a way that made sense. Ore and Daniel knew they were attracted to each other, but the story didn’t force them into an unrealistic whirlwind romance. One of the highlights was the banter between Ore and Daniel—it was sharp, fun, and started even before the romance truly kicked in.
The story also does a great job of building relationships beyond the main couple. We get to see Ore and Daniel interact with the crew, which makes the world feel fuller.
There are one or two spicy scenes, but nothing too explicit or kinky—I’d rate it about 2/5 spice. The intrigue surrounding the crew’s secrets also kept things interesting without overshadowing the romance.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would give it 4/5 stars!
April 9, 2025
So, this book is a 4/5 star read for me. Not absolutely mind-blowingly amazing, but it was a decent read and I enjoyed it. Let's get into my thoughts on this book. It was good, and I enjoyed it. I really liked Ore, Daniel, and Mel. It was an entertaining story that kept my attention. However. The first 15ish percent was really hard to get into for me. It just didn't hold my attention. After that is when it got intriguing. I also liked Daniel and Ore's relationship. The entire book was different, but in the best way. The main issue is that the first part was really slow and from there it seemed too rushed. It was good, but it just felt like you were going in big circles and then all of a sudden everything hit and it just felt like wow, that was too quick. It didn't feel like there was actually enough time for things to develop and build properly. Everything just kind of happened without the proper build up to it and gradual increase of relationships and information. So while the book was good, I enjoyed it, and I would recommend it, I also think that it could have been done a little differently and be better. Overall, yes this was a good book and I would definitely recommend!
February 8, 2026
This was an enjoyable book, but I just felt as though I wanted more from it.
I wasn't totally convinced by the chemistry between Ore and Daniel, and for a book set on a super yacht, I was hoping perhaps from a bit more of the places that were being visited, especially when it's on a trip around New Caledonia, so nice and exotic for this reader!
That being said I loved the investigative journalistic instincts that Ore has, as she was sent to write a puff profile piece on the billionaire Chuck, but then feels that there is far more to the story than she first thinks.
I though struggled to take to most of the characters, some by design, and although I was happy enough reading this book, and on paper it should have been something that I would have devoured and been raving about - it just fell a bit flat for me.
I think I just had too high expectations for this book that stood no chance in reality. I enjoyed the author's writing style though and would be interested in perhaps reading another in the future from from her.
Thank you to Avon and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
I wasn't totally convinced by the chemistry between Ore and Daniel, and for a book set on a super yacht, I was hoping perhaps from a bit more of the places that were being visited, especially when it's on a trip around New Caledonia, so nice and exotic for this reader!
That being said I loved the investigative journalistic instincts that Ore has, as she was sent to write a puff profile piece on the billionaire Chuck, but then feels that there is far more to the story than she first thinks.
I though struggled to take to most of the characters, some by design, and although I was happy enough reading this book, and on paper it should have been something that I would have devoured and been raving about - it just fell a bit flat for me.
I think I just had too high expectations for this book that stood no chance in reality. I enjoyed the author's writing style though and would be interested in perhaps reading another in the future from from her.
Thank you to Avon and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
April 1, 2025
⚓️ Hooked On You ⚓️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is an arc review and this book releases May 10th.
Hooked on You is a delightful contemporary romcom set on a luxury yacht. This follows Ore, an aspiring investigative journalist, tasked with writing an exposé on elusive billionaire Harrison. To do so, she must spend two weeks aboard his yacht and gain the trust and opinions of the crew. Meanwhile, Daniel, the yacht's captain, is determined to keep his crew focused and professional, despite the presence of the charming and determined Ore. As the two spend time together sparks fly, and they find themselves drawn to each other in unexpected ways.
This is a perfect, summer contemporary romance - below deck in romantic book form, bravo fans unite! I loved the banter and humour in this and it had the perfect balance of mystery and romance to keep me literally hooked (line and sinker). The tropes include grumpy x sunshine, workplace romance and enemies to lovers plus it’s in dual POV! Honestly it was sunshine in book form, definitely one to grab as a summer beach read.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is an arc review and this book releases May 10th.
Hooked on You is a delightful contemporary romcom set on a luxury yacht. This follows Ore, an aspiring investigative journalist, tasked with writing an exposé on elusive billionaire Harrison. To do so, she must spend two weeks aboard his yacht and gain the trust and opinions of the crew. Meanwhile, Daniel, the yacht's captain, is determined to keep his crew focused and professional, despite the presence of the charming and determined Ore. As the two spend time together sparks fly, and they find themselves drawn to each other in unexpected ways.
This is a perfect, summer contemporary romance - below deck in romantic book form, bravo fans unite! I loved the banter and humour in this and it had the perfect balance of mystery and romance to keep me literally hooked (line and sinker). The tropes include grumpy x sunshine, workplace romance and enemies to lovers plus it’s in dual POV! Honestly it was sunshine in book form, definitely one to grab as a summer beach read.
February 9, 2025
Ore is relatively new to journalism and hits the jackpot when she's commissioned to write a profile on successful businessman and Billionaire Chuck. Chuck has invited her to stay on his super yacht to interview him and those around him for the piece, but she soon realises that nobody is allowed to say very much and also discovers a bigger story lurking behind the scenes.
Whilst on board, the handsome but reserved captain Daniel catches her eye, and a slow burn attraction between them unfolds.
I found the first 40% of this book a little slow and for me it felt more like a mystery/thriller, with the romance being a secondary storyline. The second half of the book was much more engaging and I flew through it, desperate to know what would happen.
Thanks to Avon books and Netgalley for providing an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
Whilst on board, the handsome but reserved captain Daniel catches her eye, and a slow burn attraction between them unfolds.
I found the first 40% of this book a little slow and for me it felt more like a mystery/thriller, with the romance being a secondary storyline. The second half of the book was much more engaging and I flew through it, desperate to know what would happen.
Thanks to Avon books and Netgalley for providing an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
March 24, 2025
Good mystery story following Ore has (almost) landed her dream job as an investigative reporter for the New Yorker but she has to get a scoop on elusive billionaire Harrison Marigold. To complete her mission she has to spend 2 weeks on Harrison's luxury yacht. She meets Daniel the captain and he is wary of Ore as he does not want her to scupper his chances of a job as captain of a super yacht down under.
As Ore starts to ask questions of the crew who are loyal to Daniel makes her job harder, but when she stumbles across the shady business Harrison and his friends are involved in she finds she is attracted to Daniel and sparks fly.
This is a really good mystery come romantic story that keeps you interested would highly recommend.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 7, 2025
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Hooked on You was such a vibe! Ada Barume brings a fresh and fun story with characters you can’t help but root for. The romance is sweet and slow-building, which I really enjoyed it felt genuine without rushing into things. The banter and chemistry between the leads definitely kept me hooked.
The plot moves along nicely, with enough twists to keep things interesting, though a few parts felt a bit predictable. Still, the writing style is smooth and easy to get lost in, making it a perfect cozy read.
I’m giving it 4 stars because it’s a solid, enjoyable romance that hits all the right notes but just missed that extra spark to push it to five. Definitely worth a read if you’re into heartfelt, feel-good stories!
❤️shaye.readss
Hooked on You was such a vibe! Ada Barume brings a fresh and fun story with characters you can’t help but root for. The romance is sweet and slow-building, which I really enjoyed it felt genuine without rushing into things. The banter and chemistry between the leads definitely kept me hooked.
The plot moves along nicely, with enough twists to keep things interesting, though a few parts felt a bit predictable. Still, the writing style is smooth and easy to get lost in, making it a perfect cozy read.
I’m giving it 4 stars because it’s a solid, enjoyable romance that hits all the right notes but just missed that extra spark to push it to five. Definitely worth a read if you’re into heartfelt, feel-good stories!
❤️shaye.readss
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 16, 2025
Hooked on you really surprised me. When I started the book I wasnt sure it was for me.
The start felt a little slow but something kept telling me to read on.
About half way through the pace started to pick up I was obsessed and I couldnt put the book down I just wanted to find out how it ends.
I enjoyed this book, I found the plot really interesting and I loved seeing each characters development.
I love this authors writing style and I cant wait to pick up other books by this author.
I highly recommend this book its an enjoyable read and the romance is just adorable.
*Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books for providing me this Arc in return for an honest review*
The start felt a little slow but something kept telling me to read on.
About half way through the pace started to pick up I was obsessed and I couldnt put the book down I just wanted to find out how it ends.
I enjoyed this book, I found the plot really interesting and I loved seeing each characters development.
I love this authors writing style and I cant wait to pick up other books by this author.
I highly recommend this book its an enjoyable read and the romance is just adorable.
*Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books for providing me this Arc in return for an honest review*
April 1, 2025
Two and a half stars from me.
Sorry Spoiler 🫰🏽
At around page 90, the book piked my interest more.
Can’t stand vicky she’s a bit much … yeah okay ore is a journalist and there for snooping but if you really cared about the injustice that happened to your former colleague, Annie, then why won’t you speak to someone who could potentially bring justice for Annie ? I feel like she’s not REALLY bothered by what happened to Annie.
I’ve finished the book and oddly I only really almost enjoyed the last 100 pages… by day five I was very concerned for Ore‘s life and safety.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
Sorry Spoiler 🫰🏽
At around page 90, the book piked my interest more.
Can’t stand vicky she’s a bit much … yeah okay ore is a journalist and there for snooping but if you really cared about the injustice that happened to your former colleague, Annie, then why won’t you speak to someone who could potentially bring justice for Annie ? I feel like she’s not REALLY bothered by what happened to Annie.
I’ve finished the book and oddly I only really almost enjoyed the last 100 pages… by day five I was very concerned for Ore‘s life and safety.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
May 14, 2025
Back in the world of charter boats from Ada Barumé we meet tenacious journalist Ore who joins a sailing in Australasia to compose a profile on a tech giant Chuck. What she discovers is mystery, intrigue, and love with handsome Captain Daniel.
I really enjoy learning about the boat world, and find the crew set up and boat life quite fascinating.
Ore was a great FMC who brought plenty of heart to the story as she battled with her insecurities and staying true to her beliefs.
I loved having an epilogue set 6 months later to just tie up some ends for other side characters.
This was a really enjoyable read that I'd absolutely recommend.
I really enjoy learning about the boat world, and find the crew set up and boat life quite fascinating.
Ore was a great FMC who brought plenty of heart to the story as she battled with her insecurities and staying true to her beliefs.
I loved having an epilogue set 6 months later to just tie up some ends for other side characters.
This was a really enjoyable read that I'd absolutely recommend.
April 6, 2025
Yacht rom-com seems to be a new trend lately, but this one has more depth that just a summer romance.
Ore and Daniel are great characters, there is a lot of romance, mystery and a crazy eccentric and his daughter. Ore thinks she's getting an insider article but learns there was a lot of dark happenings on board the yacht.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.
Ore and Daniel are great characters, there is a lot of romance, mystery and a crazy eccentric and his daughter. Ore thinks she's getting an insider article but learns there was a lot of dark happenings on board the yacht.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.
April 14, 2025
Ore is on a boat trying to get a story about a billionaire. She meets the captain of the boat, Daniel, as soon as she arrives and is puking over the side of the boat. In her quest to get a real story, Daniel is assigned to accompany her while she interviews the crew. She has a hunch that there is more to the billionaire’s story. She and Daniel fall for each other while uncovering the story.
I enjoyed this story. There was a good love story and a little bit of suspense.
I enjoyed this story. There was a good love story and a little bit of suspense.
April 25, 2025
This was very different to the first book. Had an almost mystery vibe to it and honestly it wasn’t what I wanted. I would have loved a similar vibe to the first book but honestly this just fell flat.
It took forever to me to read as I didn’t want to continue but I did.
As a book goes it wasn’t bad, however again, it just wasn’t anything like the first book and I kind of assumed it would be.
Ore is a journalist who finds herself on a luxury yacht interviewing a billionaire. She’s got some chemistry with the boat captain who’s very reluctant to get involved with anyone and anything as he’s got a new job lined up and doesn’t want to do anything to jepodise that future. However Ore thinks something doesn’t add up with her billionaire and is set on finding out what and exposing it. She soon discovers that having money means never having to face the consequences to your actions and is determined to bring him down. Can she make everyone agree with her?
🌟🌟🌟
It took forever to me to read as I didn’t want to continue but I did.
As a book goes it wasn’t bad, however again, it just wasn’t anything like the first book and I kind of assumed it would be.
Ore is a journalist who finds herself on a luxury yacht interviewing a billionaire. She’s got some chemistry with the boat captain who’s very reluctant to get involved with anyone and anything as he’s got a new job lined up and doesn’t want to do anything to jepodise that future. However Ore thinks something doesn’t add up with her billionaire and is set on finding out what and exposing it. She soon discovers that having money means never having to face the consequences to your actions and is determined to bring him down. Can she make everyone agree with her?
🌟🌟🌟
March 24, 2025
In this wonderful story, we follow Ore, a journalist who has been asked to write a story on billionaire chuck. Little does she know there's a more than the story she has been sent to wrote about.
We also get the POV of thr captain of the ship Daniel. How he learns to let his guard down, and let people in, whilst helping Ore out.
We also get the POV of thr captain of the ship Daniel. How he learns to let his guard down, and let people in, whilst helping Ore out.
March 31, 2025
This was okay. I don't necessarily believe that they love each other that fast. They don't really know that much about each other besides whats happening right then on the boat. It's not a bad book and I'm sure it will find its audience.
I received an arc through netgalley.
I received an arc through netgalley.
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