אוף דה הוק

Never Harbor #1

by Julie Olivia, ג'ולי אוליביה (Author's Hebrew name), עדי אלמוג (Translator)

אני צריך שמרטפית, אבל אני צריך אותה יותר.
אני מודע לתדמית שלי בתור האב היחידני המתבודד של נבר הרבור, אבל יש לי כל מה שאני צריך : הבן שופע־הדמיונות שלי, הכלב שלי והקוטג' המחודש שלנו על שפת הים.

כלומר, היה לי הכול, עד שהשמרטפית שלי פרשה.

הארוסה לשעבר של אחי, וונדי דארלינג, היא מורה בבית ספר יסודי אשר פנויה במהלך הקיץ. הדבר האחרון שאני צריך זה להסתבך בבלגן שביניהם, אבל המשפחה שלי חושבת שהיא מושלמת לתפקיד. מתברר, שהיא מתאימה אפילו יותר ממה שיכולתי לדמיין.

וונדי היא לא מה שציפיתי. היא אדיבה והרפתקנית, עם צחוק יפהפה שמשכיח ממני את הסיוטים שלי. היא רואה מעבר לשתיקות שלי, את מי שאני באמת, וזה יותר ממה שנחשף בפני אחרים, מזה שנים. ובן השש שלי מתאהב בה באותה מהירות.

מערכת יחסים עם וונדי לא יכולה לקרות. לא כשאחי הצעיר הוא הארוס לשעבר שלה. לא כשהיא כל כך קרובה למשפחה שלנו. לא כשריכולים הם העיסוק העיקרי של עיירת החוף הקטנה שלנו.

אבל אחרי כל כך הרבה זמן באפלה, וונדי גורמת לי להרגיש משהו. להתאהב בה, גורם לי להרגיש שאני יודע לעוף.

אני יודע שסופים טובים קורים רק באגדות, אבל אני קרוב לגנוב אחד לעצמי.

אוף דה הוק הוא רומן גראמפי־סנשיין עם אב יחידני, והרבה סלואו ברן שובב! זהו הספר הראשון בסדרת נבר הרבור. סדרה של ספרים בודדים אשר שייכים לאותו עולם וסופגים השראה מפיטר פן.

Genres: Romance, Small Town Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Forced Proximity, Found Family, Friends To Lovers

429 pages, Paperback

First published October 26, 2023

About the author

Julie Olivia writes cozy love stories filled with humor, spice, and close friend groups that feel like a warm hug. She is a roller coaster fan, avid romance reader, and rainy day enthusiast.

Julie lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband and their very opinionated pets.

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She can be easily reached on Instagram at @JulieOliviaAuthor! Come say hi!

Visit her at JulieOliviaAuthor.com
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Reviews

[♥︎ Heather ⚔ (New House-Hiatus) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sigh. DNF around 65%. The MMC and FMC are both Mary Sues. I really tried to get into this one and wanted to love it because I really enjoyed another of the author's books, but I just couldn't connect to these two.

I wasn't a big fan of the fmc and how she was a little pushy when it came to the care of the child. Idk. It was for the benefit of the kid, don't get me wrong and it all works out... she just grated me. And then the spice was pretty cringe.

💙Single Dad x Nanny
💙Grumpy x Sunshine
💙Coastal Small Town
💙Ex-Fiancé's Older Brother
💙Wendy x Captain Hook Inspired
💙Age Gap

⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

[Juliana Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would read Julie Olivia’s grocery list at this point🥹🥹🤍

[glavreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

NO BECAUSE I ATEEEEEE THIS BOOK UP.

it had all the makings to be a favorite book: grumpy x sunshine, single dad x nanny, small town but it was really everythingggggg.

i just love when a grumpy hero secretly is so sweet and thoughtful but no one’s ever seen him for anything other than grumpy!!!

also, it’s a slow burn but the spice GAVE. like jasper can get it any day, any time, call me babe!!!

[Caroline Rohem · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶

✨️ Ex-fiancé's older brother
✨️ Small town
✨️Grumpy× Sunshine
✨️ Single dad × Nanny


Julie wrote one of my favorite series, so when she announced a new one, I was really excited to read it. And I have to say, it didn't disappoint.

Wendy is Jasper's younger brother's ex-fiancée. When she agrees to babysit Jasper's son, they start spending time together, and the chemistry between them becomes undeniable.

Jasper and Wendy are two characters I got attached to right from the start. They both have insecurities, but they manage to help each other overcome them.

I loved how Jasper gradually opened up to Wendy. One thing I adored was how, through all of Jasper's actions, Wendy realized that she deserved more than she had previously received, especially with Peter. And seeing her gain confidence was amazing.

I have to say, at first, I didn't know what to think of Peter. But as the story progressed, I realized that he's not a bad person. He just needs to grow and liked how the story ended for him. Another character I had a similar feeling about was Izzy. I would love to read more about both of them.

I can't forget to mention how much I loved Jasper's and little pirate Sam's relationship. The scenes with Sam and Wendy also warm the heart.

All the characters are wonderful, and the story has funny, cute, and spicy moments. And I have to say, Jasper Daddy is *chef's kiss*.


I received an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review, but all opinions are my own.


Thank you Julie Olivia e Good Girls PR for sending me this ARC.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

Off the Hook was such a sweet book and featured many tropes I love. Single dad, nanny, age gap, and grumpy/sunshine, to name a few. It was also Peter Pan inspired.

Wendy Darling is a teacher off for her summer break, looking for work. Jasper Davies is a single dad who just lost his sitter for the summer. Wendy and Jasper have a different dynamic, as Wendy is Jasper’s brother’s (Peter) ex-fiancée. Wendy is still very much a part of the family, even though she broke it off with Peter.

I love Jasper’s loud and crazy family. Things get just a tad bit complicated when Jasper and Wendy realize they have feelings for one another, but they truly are just right for each other. I also adored Sam, Jasper’s son. This was my first book by Julie Olivia, and I’ll be reading more!

Audio book source: Hoopla
Story Rating: 4 stars
Narrators: Michelle Price & Sebastian Grove
Narration Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Romance
Length: 12h 23m

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 ★'s



Yup! I loved this one too. Julie Olivia is quickly becoming one of my favorite romance authors!

This book would be perfect in the summertime . It has Peter Pan themes throughout that are so cute.

I enjoyed every bit of this besides Peter being straight up gross towards the end there.

[Katie Beasley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I legit LOVED this book! I had seen it in one of my local bookstores and after reading some reviews decided to dive in. Not going to lie the fact that this series is a play on Peter Pan had me extremely intrigued. I also liked the grump to sunshine, and brother's ex fiance- I mean that sounds scandalous in the juiciest way. And it all panned out. This book was PERFECTION! The chemistry between Jasper and Wendy was spot on- their banter was top chef. The surrounding characters really added to the story- side note- I can't wait to see who everyone ends up with. The setting was wonderful. I just couldn't say anything bad about this one. I felt myself smiling the whole time I was reading it (minus a few scenes including the "breakup"). I loved watching Jasper coming out of his shell like he was literally drawn to Wendy and her optimism. He had been grumpy due to all of the unknown and the tragedy that he had encountered. He determined the best way to not get hurt was to not let people in until Wendy.

Wendy is on the market for a summer job. She is a teacher in Never Harbor which gives her the summer free but she can't afford to not work. So her ex fiance, Peter, who she is still friends with recommends she nanny for his brother Jasper. His son Sam who is 6 and goes to Wendy's school needs supervision. Wendy kind of waves off the offer. Jasper is a bit of an illusion to her- he has always been around since she has known Peter and his family but he has also never really been there. Then she gets the text- the offer to work for him for the summer- and she can't help but laugh at the nonexistent punctuation involved and finds herself saying yes. She doesn't understand how she never realized that Jasper is HOT. He works on boats all day and is a legit captain but she finds herself more captivated by his forearms that show up and the way that he is around Sam. He is so rigid. He feels like he is a ball about to explode. So Wendy starts pushing ever so slightly with him just to see what will happen. And magical things start to happen. She hears him laugh. Sees a stunning smile. Gets invited over for dinner. Starts thinkings wonderfully inappropriate thoughts about her boss. And even beyond that he starts opening up to her about his life. Gives her a nickname. Makes her shiver and melt in the best way. But where could this possibly go? She is untouchable. She is his brother's ex fiance. She wonders what could have happened if she had picked Jasper first but then they are caught and now she doesn't know what to do. She doesn't want to lose the only family she has ever known, but she also can't lose Jasper and Sam. Will they be able to make it through the turmoil together? Or will Jasper let her go without a fight?

Jasper is a little rigid some might say. He has rules and nets of safety for a reason. If he has rules for Sam, he can't get hurt. He can better control things. He can keep order and then not get hurt. But all of that is thrown out the window when Wendy starts nannying for him. It's like she has invaded his space. At first, she makes no attempts with him. She is all wild child with Sam and writing stories but as soon as he gets home she says bye and leaves. Which shouldn't irk him because that is her job but see it does irk him. Why doesn't her get to see her lovely smile? Or hear her stories? So he does the unthinkable, he throws a lifeline out. He starts talking with her. He invites her to dinner. He helps her without her asking. He kisses her and wants to do more. He can't stop thinking about her. He finds himself joining family dinners again. He finds himself wanting to ALLL of the things to make Wendy smile. He forgets who she is- she is his brother's ex fiance. But she is also his Little Bird. And he is not willing to just let her walk away after they are caught. He is ready to stand up for what he wants and believes in. But is she?

I like how this book addressed grief and the struggles of parenting. What do you tell children when bad things happen? Is it better to just not acknowledge it? I have found myself as a parent asking these very things. I loved how Wendy gave Jasper the freedom to feel like no matter what he is making the right decision because he is making it for Sam and that's what counts. The buildup in this one was almost unbearable but when it combusted it was HOT. I can't wait to read the rest of these- and if Peter and Tink work out- the world will be a better place LOL. If you haven't picked this one up- I highly recommend it!!

[Grecia Robles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Small Town Romance
GrumpyxSunshine
Single Dad
Nanny.


Los single dad son uno de mis tropes favoritos combinado con el de niñera YASS GURL 💅🏻🫶🏻

Él necesita una niñera para el verano ya que su hermana menor ha conseguido un nuevo empleo y su familia le sugiere a Wendy ya que ella es perfecta es maestra de la escuela local y por vacaciones estará desocupada, además a ella le va perfecto el dinero extra para poder pagar su renta.

Wendy Sam y Jasper tienen un verano perfecto el niño la adora y él se va abriendo más y sienten una atracción fuerte el único problema es que ella es la ex prometida de unos de sus hermanos menores por lo que todo grita prohibido.

El libro me encantó, es muy cute, amé la dinámica de los tres, el desarrollo del romance, lo único que no me gustó fue el drama, me causaba issues que ella fuera la ex del hermano y que en eso giró el problema.

Es la primera vez que leo a la autora y fue una grata sorpresa espero volver a leerla más adelante.

[Jen ♥ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐


Jasper (33), who is in need of a summer nanny, and Wendy (26), who is looking for work because teachers tend to be unemployed during this time of year. Though he was stubborn and refused to accept assistance, he eventually came to the realization that Sam (6), his godson, was meant to have fun this summer.

He doesn't want to hire Wendy because she's his brother's ex-fiancee, and she's still close to his family despite their breakup. He doesn't want to complicate her life or damage her relationship with his family, and he thought that hiring her would do that. Yet, she was the best fit for the position, so he eventually hired her.

The boss-nanny and grumpy-sunshine tropes worked well here. This was a really slow burn because, despite their mutual attraction, neither of them followed through on it. Although they fooled around, the actual deed took place around 70% of the book. I opened this book days ago and only picked it up again today, so I kind of forgot that this is a slowburn.

I really enjoyed the family dynamics, although I think this is to be expected in any small-town romance. I always loved the family-oriented moments. Additionally, I think children make the stories more fun, and Sam was just too cute. Reading about his relationship with Wendy and Jasper, as well as his character, was really interesting.

In terms of the romance, I think the chemistry only really picked up around 40% of the book, and while there was tension, it wasn't particularly palpable. Jasper was initially quite withdrawn, but he eventually learned to break down his walls around Wendy. The moment they gave in to their feelings was honestly endearing, and I appreciated how open and sincere they were with each other.

Of course, there are other things that I didn't like as well, like the incessant reminders of Jasper's former partner—or more accurately, her perception of him—during their relationship. It was annoying to hear comparisons like "Jessica was right" or "Jessica didn't like this" or "Jessica likes this" all the time. It was clear that Wendy was a better person than his ex.

Moreover, they can't stop thinking about Peter's response to their relationship. The fact that he is constantly on their minds bothers me. He didn't get to act butthurt about Jas and Wendy's relationship because he was kind of a douche with Wendy when they were still dating; he lost that right two years ago.

Last but not least, I didn't like the third-act breakup. Who likes this anyway? Well, obviously not me. The way they patch things made me cringe and got secondhand embarrassment, but this could be a me case.

The story was good overall; some parts were great, but others felt dragging. Honestly, I think this could have been a few pages shorter. I found it still enjoyable. But the HFN ending isn't for me, I want more info about their lives years later.

Anyway, this is a sweet small-town romance that I'm sure other readers would enjoy.

[Jeeves Reads Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

This was such a SWOONY little treat! After loving Olivia's previous series, I was excited to dive into the start of something brand new. It's clear that the series is going to have some stellar small town/found family vibes, paired with a variety of off-limits relationships - starting with this first one. Falling for your brother's ex-fiancée is never a great idea, but it was easy to see all of the ways this couple was perfect for each other. The sunshine heroine brought out a lighter side of the grumpy, grieving hero, and everything between them felt so natural. I loved that their romance was a quieter one, and that they were truly getting to know each other for the first time. Though their history is a messy one, I really appreciated how it was handled. It was obvious that Wendy's ex simply wasn't the right fit, and there were no feelings between these two until the dynamic changed. I got wrapped up in the story with no trouble at all, and then I devoured it quickly. I loved it!

The story is loosely based on Peter Pan, but I found it distracting to look for all of the connections, so it was easier to enjoy it for exactly what it was. Essentially, the story follows Wendy, a sweet teacher from a small town whose ex-fiancé's family took her in as one of their own. Though Wendy and Peter ended their engagement a few years ago (he was always looking for the next adventure), the two have remained friendly. So when Peter's broody older brother, Jasper, is looking for a nanny for the summer, the family suggests Wendy fill the role. Wendy doesn't know a whole lot about Jasper - he's not an easy guy to get to know - but she's aware that he's trying to do his best as the guardian of a little boy, and he's clearly overwhelmed. As the two spend time together, it's obvious that they have a connection. Neither wants to cross lines that will tear their family apart, but staying away is easier said than done.

Some readers are wholeheartedly against brother swap romances, and I get that - but they can be pretty great sometimes, lol. In this case, Peter still had a lot of growing up to do, and I loved that Wendy knew she needed someone who would make her a priority. Jasper was up to that task right away, getting to know Wendy on a deeper level and understanding what was important to her. I loved the way she seamlessly fit into his little family unit, and the love between them progressed in the most effortless way. I've said before that forbidden relationships are often the strongest ones because they need to be worth the struggle, and that's definitely the case here as well - I never questioned that Jasper and Wendy were a perfect fit. It's a slowish burn with some moments of serious spice, and I adored how strong the emotional connection was. Jasper became a guardian when his best friends passed away, so he's doing the best for his new son but is still grappling with his own grief. There are some adorable family moments that upped the swoon-factor, as well as so many sexy ones and that underlying level of angst. It's a nuanced love story that has me very excited for more from the series, and it was definitely an enjoyable read.

[Ellen · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s entirely on me that I saw this was “Peter Pan inspired” and I read it anyway, because I do not enjoy fairy tale-inspired anything so I don’t know why I thought I’d like this. I don’t even know if I’ve seen Peter Pan all the way through in my lifetime. (Jasper is…Hook?? I assume?)

Wendy (a grown woman with a hair ribbon? Please) is boring but JESUS Jasper is boring. There’s no banter, there’s just “Oh Jasper decided to be nice to me today, finally” and we were off to the races. His dead “best friends” and their kid becoming his is so weird. A haunted widower would have been so much more believable.

Also after the breakup, when Wendy finally hears from his mom (who is like HER MOM too) she goes to their house but just immediately walks right through and leaves without talking to her/anyone?? It was honestly one of the strangest choices in a book I’ve read. And it only made Wendy more unlikable.

And this book fails at the “brother’s girl” trope so hard, there’s so much weird paternal treatment of Wendy.
Plus she’s such a doormat she just wavers back and forth between the two in a very irritating way. It felt like she didn’t have any agency. Like when Peter finally changes his point of entry into her home, it’s because HE decided to create that boundary with her. She didn’t ask for it. And maybe she didn’t need to tell us how attractive Peter is literally every time she sees him. It’s said twice within paragraphs of each other when he goes to confront her! WE GET IT. Stop finding him hot, doormat. I’m so tired of “the men have agreed to share you” narratives.

All in all this was a miss for me. I finished it, which is only bc I like this author and I liked the Honeywood series. But not a favorite for sure.

[☆Danielle☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was good but then dragged on way too long. also reminded me a lottt of it happened one summer

[Kaylee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m gonna need 7-10 business days to process how much I loved this. I truly don’t have the words to express how much I loved this story and these characters.

Jasper and Wendy mean everything to me. Wendy’s desire to be loved and fit in with a family and Jasper just wanting to be his best for everyone but not believing he was. They were perfect for each other.

I loved the whole dynamic amongst the Davies’ family. I completely understand why Wendy was so afraid of losing them. I’m so glad this is a series and there are so many siblings that will hopefully get their own books 👀

Julie Olivia’s writing is so so lovely. I can’t wait for more from this series but also to go back and read more of her other books. I definitely found a new favorite author.

[Supriya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first Julie Olivia book, and I’m hooked (pun fully intended). It’s such a delight.
This book is everything I love about romance: fun, heartfelt, and brimming with slow-burn tension that keeps you grinning like an idiot while you read.

The FMC Wendy is pure sunshine; hopeful and somewhat unsure of her worth. The MMC Jasper is a total grump; the calloused product of his past. He’s guarded, broody, and seems allergic to joy at first glance. But put the two of them in the same path, and magic starts. The opposites-attract trope can sometimes feel overdone, but here it’s fresh, tender, and deeply charming. Jasper’s gruffness softens in Wendy’s light, and Wendy’s optimism feels more grounded with Jasper beside her. Together, they’re magnetic.

What I adore most is the sincerity Olivia brought to the characters. This isn’t just banter and chemistry (though there’s plenty of that!); it’s two people genuinely bringing out the best in one another. Layered in it, is a journey of emotional growth. It is also slow burn done right - you feel every shift, every stolen glance, every tiny crack in Jasper’s armor. And when it finally pays off? Pure swoon.

If grumpy/sunshine is your trope, this one’s a dream. I can’t wait to dive into more Julie Olivia books.

4 stars 🌟

[winnie ₊ ⊹ · Rating 4 out of 5]

₊ ⊹ ”god, you’re like my star in the sky, wendy. my north star. always showing me the direction i should travel. i’ve never met someone like you before.” ₊ ⊹

wow i loved this! i was really excited when julie olivia announced this new series as a peter pan lover, and i’ve always loved the hook and wendy romances, and this was no different! this one is probably the sweetest retelling i’ve read so far, considering most of them tend to be darker romances (lmao) but i still really enjoyed this nonetheless! the story progression was spot on, and it was filled with so many sweet and angsty scenes that i fell in love with jasper and wendy immediately. they were absolutely incredible for each other! <3

i think my biggest irks with this were in the beginning; the pacing was a bit off and it felt very info dumpy for me. after the first 5 or 6 chapters though i fell seamlessly into the story! the beginning was just a smidge rough for me lol. overall, i really enjoyed reading this! the chemistry was amazing, the romance was so sweet, and i really loved the never harbor setting. i can’t wait to see who the next book is about!✨

[Sbuseigh · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF. I’m so bored with the Peter Pan references and the 2D MCs w/ zero chemistry 😭

[Abby Asselin · Rating 5 out of 5]

SUCH an unexpected 5 star read!!! why is nobody talking about this 😭 such a great summer romance/beach read & would be a great book to pull you out of a slump!

Jas has earned himself a spot on my list of fav book boyfriends 😩

love the found family, grumpy x sunshine, & forbidden romance tropes in this one. seeing Jas come out of his shell & his confidence/personality BLOOM was everything. I really felt like his grief was well represented too. Wendy is so sweet & I loved her character development as well. Peter was giving me the ickkkk but he came around in the very* end. And little Sam is PRECIOUS & has my heart! It was refreshing to have MCs who were older & relatable (aka, didn’t have their lives figured out/living normal lives). Maggie’s unconditional love for her family/found family is so touching 🥹

I really loved the banter & how easy it was to fly through this. I never wanted to put it down & I liked how quick moving the plot was without feeling rushed. the amount of spice was perfect & I loved how the forbidden romance aspect & the tension made it feel more risqué.

there were a lot of moments in this book where I thought Olivia was going to take one direction & she ended up doing something differently that made small parts of the plot less predictable & more interesting (*SPOILERS IN PARENTHESES* e.g., how it got revealed to Sam that Jas & Wendy were together, how Wendy & Jas were found out - I was CONVINCED it was going to be the scene where Jas & Wendy were on the green armchair & I thought Peter was going to come through the window), which I loved!

Super excited for the next book to come out in 4 days so I can get more of the Davies family 🫶🏼

[monica ✨ romantasyreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

jasper is a single guardian & captain and in need of a nanny for the summer. wendy is a teacher in need of a summer job… and jasper’s brother’s ex fiancée. andddd the tension was so so good.

I was expecting a low angst, cute small town romance but the angst??? the will they, won’t they was delicious. I also loved the peter pan sprinkles.

jasper felt like a misunderstood broken boy and wendy was so loving & accepting and I loved their relationship development sm. jasper also was super accepting of wendy’s dreams and supporting & seeing her the way she needed. sam was such a cutie and I love when kids in single parent romances have funny little personalities and add to the story.

the whole thing with peter (the brother) low key gave me the ick? he was acting entitled to wendy way after they broke up? boy pls. get out of here. the rest of the fam dynamics were cute and I’m excited for the rest of the series.

read if you like
✨ single guardian x nanny
✨ small town
✨ brother’s ex fiancée
✨ grumpy x sunshine
✨ slow burn

[Danielle Overly Backlogged · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were so many things I wanted from this book, I think maybe my expectations were a little too high. I've always loved Peter Pan so retellings always pique my interest. Actually, I'll take any kind of fairytale retelling if done right. This one really wasn't. As a matter of fact, aside from Wendy's childish "never gonna grow up" flakey ex-boyfriend's name being Peter, there were no real connections to the original story.

With retellings I expect the original story to peek its head into the narrative from time to time, I mean, why else would you bother with a retelling in the first place, am I right? I need more than just the characters names to mirror the book, I need to feel that original story breathing life into the new version.

Aside from the above, the reason I wound up giving this three stars instead of one or two was due to the writing, which was actually quite competent. I'll read this author again because while retellings may not be her forte, I have faith that she can put together a solid read. With my new rule about DNF'ing books that don't suck me into their worlds being forefront in my mind, it speaks volumes that I completed this novel.

I reserve judgement on this author's body of work until I've read something outside of this series, which seems to be focused on fairytale retellings.

[Alli B · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a surprise and magical delight!

[Kae | reads.with.kae · Rating 5 out of 5]

The worst part of this book is that it’s over. I loved this silly, beautiful, crazy family so so much.

Jasper had my heart from the beginning. He presents a tough exterior, but he’s so so gentle. Gentle with Wendy. Gentle with Sam. Grumpy. But gentle.

Wendy is such a beautiful character. Her desire to be loved and put first was such an important part of this story. And from the way she treats everyone, she deserves a person to put her first.

The Davies crew is just so delightful. They are some of the most fantastic siblings I’ve ever seen written. I hope we get some more of their stories.

Off the Hook comes out on Thursday. But I’m never shutting up about it. Thank you to Julie and to Good Girls PR for the ARC!


🩵🩵🩵

[Carrie Dozier · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️Just because of awkward ex fiancé’s brother trope and the mention of the hero’s ex so much. So much comparison(not in a bad way) but stop already🙄
Ok other than that awkwardness this really is a cute book!
Wendy is really close with her ex fiancé(Peter) and his family. They basically took her in when she was a young girl since her parents paid her no attention😔Peter and Wendy start dating years later and get engaged. Peter was caught flirting one to many times and she breaks off the engagement with him👏🏻
She moves on and starts dating again until her boyfriend cheats on her, then she moves back home!

Jasper our Grumpy hero(Peters older brother)is raising his best friends son, and is needing a nanny for the summer. Wendy is a school teacher who needs extra money for the summer. Peter pushes them together so she can help his brother and so she can earn extra $$

I loved watching Wendy slowly opening Jasper up. He was so closed off and really struggling with the loss of his friends. All that he cared about was being the best “dad” to his boy. His ex girlfriend, Jessica, was with him during this loss but not supportive and they eventually broke up. I got a little tired of him constantly saying “Jessica never did that”…etc
Wendy was so wonderful with his son. She loves writing and telling stories. Eventually Jasper can’t stay away and they fall for each other, knowing it is wrong but can’t help how they feel.
Close proximity✔️
Ex fiancé older brother✔️
Single dad✔️
Found family✔️
No OW drama at all🙌🏻
I’m still not a big fan of Peter, even though Wendy seemed to be ok and move on, the hurt was still there. I don’t think I’ll read his book. I can already see who the author will probably pair him with…

[Micronova · Rating 5 out of 5]

Off the Hook, book one in the new Never Harbor series-

My rating is a 4.5 stars, rounded up to five due to the rule of halves!

This is the first book I’ve read by Julie Olivia and I was not disappointed. Who knew that a contemporary romance, reimagining of Peter Pan could be done AND done so well?? I was immediately sucked into the world of Never Harbor and the lives of the Davies family and Wendy Darling. I loved the way so many Peter Pan aspects were weaved into this story…the characters, Skull Rock, The Hideaway etc…

I could not get enough of Jasper and Wendy. The grumpy, brooding, single-dad and the soft, radiant, teacher-turned-nanny, really brought out the best in each other. And Sam!! What an adorable kid!!
I don’t want to spoil this novel for those who haven’t read it so I’ll just say that this book was great. I was expecting it to be somewhat cheesy but it was far from it. It was a fast, enjoyable read and the plot and pacing were perfect. I loved the dynamic between Jasper, Wendy (and Sam,) the character and relationship development were on point. There was a large cast of support characters that were everything and really embodied the found family trope. We were given enough tidbits about the other characters that leave so many options for future novels in the series. The happy ending wrapped the story up nicely and I cannot wait to see who the next book will focus on.

I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be reading more of Julie Olivia’s work!

I received an advance reader copy and am leaving my review voluntarily.

[Alli · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars! 3/5 🌶️ I love you, Julie Olivia, for creating fictional small towns with big groups of friends and family that I just lose myself in every single time.

TROPES GALORE!!!
- grumpy x sunshine
- ex's older brother
- single dad x nanny
- age gap

I feel like you rarely see a single dad book where the single father is actually the guardian of the child, not the biological parent and that makes this book so unique! Seeing Jasper's character development not only with Wendy but with his relationship with his son, Sam, made my heart melt.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Off the Hook
4✨

[arpit · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️

This was such a fun read! I loved how it was inspired from Peter Pan.
If like me you enjoy single parent and found family trope you'll enjoy this.

[Martina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid 4⭐ book ❣️

I think I really needed some sweetness and with this romance I totally got it🩷

This is an unexpectedly Peter Pan inspired book, with a grumpy Captain and a sunshine Wendy (Little Bird).
Single dad + nanny
Found family
Ops he fell in love with his brother's ex fiancée.

I got a little emotional here and there, but I've been emotional on my own because ormones 🥲
Also: things get a little frisky but in an elegant way. It is an open door romance, but not too out there descriptive.
Still, the Captain was HOT.

I'm very eager to get to know the stories of all the other siblings.
I already love this family 🫶🏼🥹

[Sarah (The Kindred Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Updated review, 4/2025

[5 Stars🤩] Off the Hook was even better the second time around. I'm so glad I reread this one after receiving the special edition from a friend for my birthday! 🥰
____________________________________
Details:
💘Contemporary romance
>>>🎈Romantic comedy
>>>🏡Small town romance
👀Dual, first-person POV
😇Book boyfriend
🌦Darker themes and elements
🧚‍♀️Fairytale reimagining
🥀Third act breakup (Yes)
🙌Would re-read
🌟Favorite

Tropes:
🌪️Broody MMC
🫦Boss/employee
>>>🧸Single dad x nanny
🪢Family ties (Ex-fiancé's brother)
⛔Forbidden love
📍Forced proximity
🧩Found family
🧲Opposites attract
>>>🌤Grumpy/sunshine
🪃Return to hometown
👩‍👧Single parent/guardian
❌The Ex Factor

Spice:
🧨Slow burn
🔥Explicit content (hot)
____________________________________
Emoji Ranking System:
🤩Fantastic (4.75-5.00)
😍Great (4.25-4.75)
😊Good, but not great (3.50-4.25)
😒Just OK (2.75-3.50)
😑It's A No (1.00-2.75)
🚫DNF

Original review, 10/2023
[4.5 Stars😍] I loved Off the Hook by Julie Olivia so much, and I am so glad that I received the ARC! I enjoyed Julie Olivia's writing and the overall plot and relationship development, and the Peter Pan reimagining was just whimsy enough to keep me smiling the entire time I read this book!

I loved Jasper and Wendy's dynamic and how they wanted to be the best versions of themselves for (and because of) the other, and I loved the depiction of a true partnership. Wendy's character growth from people-pleaser to boundary setter was incredibly satisfying, and the consideration she had for Jasper and Peter's entire family was so sweet.

Jasper is the Jane Austen-esque broody-with-a-heart-of-gold book boyfriend (Helloooooo, Mr. Darcy!), and Wendy is his sweet and sunshine-y counterpoint that infuses life into Jasper and Sam's lives. The way Jasper thinks about Wendy is SO swoony, and there were so many small moments throughout Off the Hook that endeared me to him. I loved the push/pull, will they/won't they tension and angst between them, and the slow burn was perfection.

The fact that there will be more books in this series makes me giddy (I'm impatiently waiting on your book, Milo....), and I cannot recommend Off the Hook enough.

***A HUGE thank you to Julie Olivia and Good Girls PR for the ARC of Off the Hook! All thoughts in this review are my own.***
____________________________________
Details:
💘Contemporary romance
👀Dual, first-person POV
😇Book boyfriend
🌦Darker themes and elements
🌹No 3rd Act breakup
🙌Would re-read
🌟Favorite

Tropes:
🌗Age gap (7 years)
🫦Boss/employee (nanny)
🧚‍♀️Fairytale reimagining
🧩Found family
🌤Grumpy/sunshine
💙He falls first (and harder)
🪃Return to hometown
👩‍👧Single parent
🧨Slow burn
🏡Small town

Spice:
🔥Explicit sex (hot)
____________________________________
Emoji Ranking System:
🤩Fantastic (4.75-5.00)
😍Great (4.25-4.75)
😊Good, but not great (3.50-4.25)
😒Just OK (2.75-3.50)
😑It's A No (1.00-2.75)
🚫DNF

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished my reread, and I fell even more in love with Jasper, Sam & Wendy! 🎀

🌻 I’m off to start my ARC of Out With the Tide!

📖 𝙊𝙛𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙃𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙗𝙮 𝙅𝙪𝙡𝙞𝙚 𝙊𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙖

"𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝, 𝚖𝚢 𝚆𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚢 𝙱𝚒𝚛𝚍? 𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚜 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚊𝚗 𝚊𝚠𝚏𝚞𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚋𝚒𝚐 𝚊𝚍𝚟𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎." ⛵️

🪝 𝑱𝒂𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒓 “𝑯𝒐𝒐𝒌” 𝑫𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒔 moved back to his home town of Never Harbor 4 years ago when his best friends died at sea leaving him with custody of his 2 year old godson Sam. That was the day he put away his career and started prioritizing Sam above all else. Now Sam is 6 years old and needs a nanny for the summer. When his family pushes him to hire Wendy Darling, a long time family friend, he reluctantly agrees.

🎀 𝑾𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒚 𝑫𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 is a school teacher on summer break looking for a job to help pay for her little bungalow. Wendy grew up in Never Harbor and ever since middle school spent all her time with the Davies family because her family didn’t care about her. When she falls in love with Peter Davies she thought she had finally found her forever person. Unfortunately their engagement wasn’t meant to be. Wendy is still friends with the Davies family and when Jasper asks her to nanny Sam, she has no reason to say no.

🩶 This story was such a fun read! There was a feeling of adventure that I always got from reading fairytales as a kid. It was fun to pick out all of the homage to Peter Pan! Jasper and Wendy were an unlikely match, but they were each what the other needed. Jasper is such an amazing dad even if he can’t see it. He is super relatable in all of his self doubts and parenting guilt. His relationship with Sam and how Sam calls him Captain is so heartwarming, I could just melt into a puddle right now!

This is an open door romance! (Spice level: 2🌶️)

🔥"𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚖𝚎? 𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚗, 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚐𝚎𝚝 𝚖𝚎, 𝙲𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚊𝚒𝚗.”

This is the first book in the 𝑵𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝑯𝒂𝒓𝒃𝒐𝒓 series which will consist of 5 books following the Davies children on their quests to falling in love! I can’t wait for the next book! I freaking love bookish Milo! 📚

Tropes: Peter Pan inspired, single dad + nanny, life after loss, summer romance, grumpy x sunshine, best friend’s older brother, found family, spicy romance, forced proximity, dual POV

🩶 Thank you to Julie and Good Girls PR for my eARC in exchange for this honest review!

[Pia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4.25✨
Spice: 2🌶

Thank you to the author & Good Girls PR for the eARC opportunity. Like always, this review is voluntary & honest.

Okay, wow. What a beautiful love story! This book has got grumpy/sunshine, age gap, SINGLE DAD & NANNY and ... Ex-Fiancé's older brother 👀 and it is a Peter Pan inspired story, focusing on Hook & Wendy. Add all of these up & I can wholeheartedly say this was such a wholesome & incredible read. And I just want to add that the found family trope in this book was absolute perfection & it had my heart feeling full & happy.

Wendy Darling is sunshine personified. She is one of those characters that you want to wrap up in a huge hug & tell her she is perfect the way she is & that she is loved SO MUCH. The way she brightened up any room she walked into, was friends with all the town folk of Never Harbor, she truly has a heart of gold. And that's not to say she was the PERFECT character, she had her insecurities, she had her troubles, but she had such sweet growth that I truly adored.

Jasper, I want one like him, where can I find one? The way he was a grumpy man but smiled only around her, it made me MELT. Also, his love languages? Gift giving and physical touch? I would be a puddle on the floor for him. But also, his growth & his journey while healing and grieving? To believe he was deserving of love & to realize he was more than enough as he was. Gosh, this man made me fall hard for him.

The Davies family stole my heart, some more than others. The town of Never Harbor was perfection & I cannot wait to visit it again with the next book in the series. Definitely give this romance read a shot! 🩵