Sunk in Love

by Heather McBreen

A second chance at love sets sail when a couple on the verge of divorce pretend they’re still together for one last family trip, from the author of Wedding Dashers.

Roslyn and Liam met nine years ago and have been the perfect couple ever since. Through every up and down, every milestone—from Liam’s residency to the publication of Roslyn’s debut romance—they’ve been each other’s rocks. Until now.

Pulled apart by the untimely death of Roslyn’s mom and the undertow of grief, they’re now navigating the final wave in their divorce.

Heartbroken and unsure how to tell her family she’s called it quits with everyone’s favorite son-in-law, Roslyn keeps the impending split a secret. But when Roslyn’s grandparents ask if Liam can officiate their vow renewal ceremony aboard a Hawaiian cruise during their annual vacation, Roslyn needs to tell the truth or figure out a way to keep her secret. A week trapped at sea with her ex isn’t ideal, but neither Roslyn nor Liam want to rock the boat, so they concoct a plan—they’ll fake it.

After five years of marriage, they can figure out how to pretend for jungle hikes and mai tais, right? But when reality and make believe starts to blur, and old feelings begin to resurface, Roslyn and Liam have to decide whether it’s sink or swim for their marriage.

Genres: Romance, Second Chance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Audiobook, Forced Proximity, Fake Dating

427 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 27, 2026

About the author

Heather McBreen currently lives in Seattle, WA, but spent the best year of her life living in London where she completed an MA degree in arts and cultural management. When she’s not writing or reading books about kissing, she can be found surfing the web for travel deals and plotting her next adventure. Wedding Dashers is her debut novel.

Reviews

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

Loved her debut novel. Can’t wait to get my hands on this one!

RTC

💖Dual Timeline
💖“So Long, London" Vibes
💖Marriage in Crisis
💖Second Chance
💖Set on a Cruise Ship
💖Exes Fake Dating for Families Benefit

Expected Pub Date 1/27/26

[maria · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was really rooting for them… to get divorced :(

[Cara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sunk In Love written by Heather McBreen was emotional, beautiful, poignant, heart breaking, powerful, deeply moving, and heart warming. I have always wanted to go on a cruise, but there's just something about being in the middle of the ocean that gives me anxiety, but after reading Sunk In Love I'm so ready to pack my bags and have the time of my life on a solo cruise in Hawaii. Honestly, I didn't know what to expect going into this book completely blind, but let me just say that I didn't expect to cry as much as I did. I have never read anything by Heather McBreen before, but after loving Sunk In Love, I'm definitely going to read Wedding Dashers which many of my friends have loved and raved about. There's just something about reading a summer cruise ship love story in the dead of winter, it warmed my heart, it made me miss summer, and it made me bawl my eyes out. The minute I finished reading this beautiful story, it took me forever to gather my thoughts and write my review because I just couldn't see through the tears that were streaming down my cheeks. The cover artwork for this book is just breathtakingly stunning. If you love cruises, love stories, faking dating, and second chances, you better mark your calendars for January 27th, 2026 for the publication of Sunk In Love, and I better see this book on everyone's want to read shelf or I'm going to bully you until I see it being added.

THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND BERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!!

TRIGGER WARNING'S
~Alcohol Consumption~
~Divorce~
~Depression~
~An Abusive Romantic Relationship~ (not on page, but referred to)
~Parental Abandonment~ (not on page, but referred to)
~Death of a Parent~ (not on page, but referred to)

"❣️🌱Love was nothing without second chances and forgiveness❣️🌱".

"💜🦋Maybe real life happily ever afters look like going to therapy and asking for help💜🦋".

"💘😒Sometimes the people you love act like assholes💘😒".

"💗⃝🌕How are you supposed to act around someone you used to be so in love with that it hurt?💗⃝🌕"

"💞🍺If I am going to have to spend ten days lying about our relationship, it's not going to be sober💞🍺".

"😘🐸🜲Love is about taking risks. Sometimes that means kissing a few frogs before you find your prince😘🐸🜲".

Roslyn and Liam are going on a ten day cruise around the Hawaiian Islands which is Roslyn's annual family vacation, but this time her grandparents are going to renew their weddings vows in Hawaii and they want Liam to officiate their vow renewal, oh this is an all expenses paid for by Roslyn's grandparents. Liam and Roslyn met at Christmas time nine years ago, they have been married for five years, and now have been divorced for three months because broken promises and grief hurt their marriage. No one knows Roslyn and Liam are divorced, but they are going to fake being in love with each other for this cruise in order to watch her grandparents renew their wedding vows. On this cruise, Roslyn and Liam have a vacation fling "arrangement" where the sex has to stop when they go back home to Seattle, Washington, which their fake dating arrangement has an expiration date. This Hawaiian cruise excursion consists of Mai Tais, Luau's, sunrise yoga, hiking, snorkeling, and kayaking to fool Roslyn's family that they are in love with each other. As the ten day cruise went on, Roslyn and Liam finally had a chance to talk about how and why their marriage went downhill, I just love when two adults can communicate with each other. Nine years ago after their first date, it was supposed to be a one night stand but instead it was two vulnerable love birds falling in love with each other. Liam and Roslyn have matching tattoos on the back of their left shoulder in the same place which is a quote from Roslyn's debut novel-"forever isn't long enough when it's with someone you love". I absolutely loved watching these two focus on themselves in order to repair their marriage when that time comes. The vulnerability between these two was so beautiful and sad.

Roslyn Larsen comes from a family of doctors, so she wanted to pursue medical school to make her family proud and happy, but nine years ago Roslyn dropped out because she didn't feel passionate about medical school anymore. After dropping out of med school, Roslyn became a romance author and had a writing career (emphasis on had), but she hasn't written anything since her mom's death. This Hawaiian cruise is the first family vacation since her mom passed away just over a year ago. Roslyn's family loves Liam and they will always remind her that without Liam she's nothing more than the family disappointment. I loved the family dynamics, but I hated the fact that they made Roslyn feel like she was nothing without Liam. After Roslyn's life has gone to hell, she just hasn't been okay in a long time, I just wanted to reach into my kindle and give this poor girl the biggest hug because she just absolutely broke my heart. Roslyn loved her mom dearly, but she was so unreliable- her love life was a revolving door of interchangeably shitty men. Roslyn was the one who ended things with Liam first because he was never there while Roslyn was grieving alone after the death of her mom. After Roslyn told Liam she wanted to end their marriage, Liam just walked away without a fight a muted "fine", I get intentions were high, but if a man I ever married walked away from me without a fight, he's gone for good. I just loved and adored Roslyn throughout this book.

Liam Woods has dimples that make your knees go weak, he has a British accent (which is so hot), and he makes the world's best lasagna. Liam is a highly respected gynecological oncologist in the medical field, and he's everyone's favorite golden boy. Liam left England fifteen years ago when his dad kicked him out when Liam was just eighteen years old. Liam never talks about his family back in England, but once he tells his story about his childhood and his life back in England, it will just shatter your heart. Liam has a way with words that will just leave you completely speechless. Liam is such a relatable character, he uses the gym as a way to de-stress and deal with his anxiety. Liam never shares his feelings, he just keeps everything bottled up which also jeopardized his marriage with Roslyn. Liam Woods is not fucking okay- mentally he's struggling (his own words). Liam is many things, he's a superstar doctor, an amazing chef, and a terrific dancer, he's always happy but when things and life get too hard, Liam shuts down and he shuts Roslyn out so she can't seem him struggling. After Liam talked about his childhood family secrets back in England, my heart just broke for him, I just wanted to reach into my kindle and remind Liam that his parents secrets and actions don't define his life. As the story went on, Liam's character growth was truly so inspirational. It was so hard not to root and cheer for everyone in this book, I just loved it so much and I loved the characters, but I specifically loved Liam and Roslyn, they both grew so much throughout the book.

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored Heather McBreen’s debut Wedding Dashers—it was brazenly entertaining, packed with clever banter, adventurous pacing, and sizzling chemistry. So when I got the chance to read her second novel, I jumped right in.

Honestly, it exceeded my expectations in every way. This story made me laugh, cry (a lot), and completely melt over the breathtaking stream of emotions, vulnerability, and undeniable chemistry between Roslyn and Liam, a married couple on the brink of divorce. Their journey—told through both present struggles and past memories—is both heartbreaking and deeply moving, pulling us right into the anatomy of their relationship year by year.

Roslyn and Liam’s love story begins through mutual friends: Liam is on the cusp of graduating from medical school, while Roslyn has just dropped out of the same program to pursue her dream of becoming a romance writer—a decision that left her at odds with her career-obsessed family of doctors (her grandfather, brother, and even younger sister Bella all in medicine). Liam wins her heart quickly with sparks that fly from the very first meeting—his homemade lasagna becomes the start of something real. But Roslyn carries fears of love and heartbreak, shaped by her free-spirited mother who raised her while moving from town to town, with each of Roslyn’s siblings having a different father. Despite her shaky role models, Roslyn opens her heart to Liam, who himself carries the weight of a fractured family back in London.

Fast forward five years into marriage, and tragedy reshapes their lives in ways neither can control. Grief builds walls between them until Roslyn asks for divorce and Liam leaves their home. Three months into their separation, Roslyn’s grandparents announce they’re renewing their vows—on a Hawaiian cruise, no less—and want Liam to officiate. That means Roslyn’s cover story about his “illness” can’t hold anymore. Either she admits the truth about the divorce (and risks her family’s disappointment, since they adore Liam even more than her), or convinces him to pretend they’re still happily married for two weeks of family bonding.

To her shock, Liam agrees. Which means long days and nights of sharing the same cabin, snorkeling in Kona, zip-lining through Maui, hiking, yoga at sunrise in Honolulu, and, of course, battling unresolved feelings that never truly went away. The attraction simmers hotter than ever, the pain of their past cuts deep, and even the steamiest breakup sex isn’t enough to untangle what’s between them. The question lingers: can they rebuild trust, reopen their hearts, and take a second chance—or will Roslyn’s divorce papers become the final word?

This is the kind of romance that feels timeless, the kind Nora Ephron herself would smile at and applaud. It made me laugh, cry hard, and root fiercely for both Roslyn and Liam. Raw, tender, heartbreaking, and heartwarming all at once, this is second-chance romance at its very best. Without hesitation, I’m giving it five Mai Tai stars—and I can’t wait to see what Heather McBreen gifts us next.

A very huge thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing one of the best romances of 2026 that I truly adored and devoured in exchange for my honest thoughts.

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[TheConnieFox · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel is seriously the sweetest! I adored reading every minute of it. It came with great characters, a wonderful atmosphere and a terrific ending! As a couple is on the brink of divorce, they get to see if their marriage is worth saving or if it’s sunk into the ocean forever. I absolutely loved the dynamic of these two characters. It had me feeling hopeful, emotional and reflective. The two main characters go on one last family cruise together, creating a beautiful scenery in the novel.

This is all about a second chance romance, includes dual timelines and there is only one bed. The male main character is named Liam, who is British and a caring doctor. Then there’s the female main character, named Roslyn, who is a romance author. There is a lot of love and reflection between the main characters in this book, which makes it a wonderful one! I give this a 4 out of 5 stars! I highly recommend reading this one, especially if you love reading romance novels. It will just leave you feeling happy!

Content warnings include grief and emotional trauma. This book gave me the movies “Sweet Home Alabama” and “Serendipity” vibes!

Thank you to NetGalley, author Heather McBreen and Berkley Publishing Group for this eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This book is expected to be published on January 27, 2026!

[Jayme C (Brunetteslikebookstoo) · Rating 4 out of 5]

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW:
Sunk In Love by Heather McBreen
Narrated by Brittany Presley
12 hours 6 minutes at 1x
8 hours 4 minutes at 1.5x

Two Happily Ever Afters?

Roslyn and Liam were the perfect couple until her mom died, and Roslyn struggled to process the untimely death of the woman she considered not just her mother but also her best friend. Liam did not know how to comfort his wife the way she wanted to be comforted, and the two began to drift apart until one day, in frustration, Roslyn says she wants a DIVORCE, and he packs a bag and moves out.

What she really wanted was for Liam to FIGHT FOR their relationship-not leave.

Fast forward six months and Roslyn’s grandparents are planning a family vacation on a Hawaiian Cruise-one where they plan to renew their vows-and they want Liam to officiate. Nobody in the family has been told that they have split up.

The solution?

Liam agrees to go on the Larsen Family trip-with the “couple” faking that they are still together. They can tell the family their news sometime AFTER the cruise-that is unless the “forced proximity” forces them to acknowledge some much larger TRUTHS-that neither really wants the divorce.

The story unfolds in TWO alternating timelines, both from Roslyn’s POV. In the PRESENT, we join the couple on the cruise from day one until it docks. In the PAST, we see how the couple met and the trajectory of the relationship from that day forward until we reach the current timeline.

Will this second chance help them to repair things and find their HEA (happily ever after) for the second time?

TEAM LIAM

I DID enjoy my first read by this author but I found it DIFFICULT to root for Roslyn. Telling someone who you vowed to spend forever with that you want a divorce is very hurtful and if you don’t want one-you shouldn’t use those words to TEST their commitment to you.

She would constantly refer to herself as the VICTIM because he didn’t fight to stay?

Anyone with any self esteem should not want to be with someone who doesn’t want to be with them.

Careful what you ask for!

But, since he wanted her back-I tried to get onboard.

Second, the references to their intimacy were plentiful and open door spicy-in terms that were a bit more blunt than I prefer.

Third, I probably would have preferred reading this one to listening. The narrator’s British male accent for Liam just didn’t sound convincing.

Still, it was an entertaining ROM-COM from their first AWKWARD conversation to their LAST, so for holding my interest it earns 4 stars despite its drawbacks.

This title is AVAILABLE NOW.

Thank You to the Chandler Public Library for the loan of this audiobook!

[Mira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roslyn and Liam have been together for nine years. They’ve always supported each other and had a happy marriage—until Roslyn’s mother passed away unexpectedly. She struggles to cope with the loss, and Liam doesn’t know how to help her. The couple is on the verge of divorce, but they have to go on a family trip together, pretending everything is fine.

I love realistic, emotional stories, so I couldn’t pass this one by! I think it’s quite difficult to write a story with the marriage in crisis trope, but Heather McBreen pulled it off beautifully. This book has it all: heartbreak, chemistry, humor, and yearning!! It’s told in dual timelines, which allows us to gradually fall deeper into their love story.

I adored the characters—my heart broke for Roslyn, and while I was a bit wary of Liam at first, I ended up wanting to give him a tight hug and never let go!

This was my first book by Heather McBreen, but definitely not my last!

𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
✓marriage in crisis
✓second chance
✓dual timeline
✓forced proximity
✓yearning

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group (Berkley) for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[ras 🔻 · Rating 1 out of 5]

should’ve signed the damn divorce papers

[Anna (annasbookstacks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

HAPPY RELEASE DAY TO MY FAVORITE!!! 💓

⚓️ 2nd read January 2026: I read this book for the first time in August 2025 on the beach, at a time when my heart needed it most. I don’t want to get too terribly personal, but this book hit very close to home for me at the time and it helped me get through a really hard time in my life. These characters and their story are so deeply personal to me. This book impacted me in a way most books don’t, only a rare few do. The second time reading this book is no different. Still so personal, so relatable, and so comforting for me to come back to. Books like this and how they can feel like a reflection of yourself and a comfort at the same time are why I love reading so much. I still echo everything I said in my first review. Everything about this book, from the writing to the pacing to the characters, is perfect to me. I had literally only gotten 15% into my second read of it and I was in tears. This book is my heart and soul. 💓

⚓️ 1st read August 2025: I’ve been avoiding writing a review for this one because I truly don’t think I have the words for how much I loved this and what it means to me. I read this book at a time when my heart needed it most and good lord did it impact me. Everything about this book was perfect. The writing, the pacing, the romance, the characters, the setting, the family dynamics. Truly no notes. A marriage heading towards divorce is not a common trope I read but I thought it was done beautifully in this book. I felt every emotion for these characters and found myself relating a lot. I could literally feel the chemistry coming off the page between Roslyn and Liam and was rooting for them so hard. Their story pulled at my heartstrings so badly. The dual timeline really added to their depth and made it all the more painful. I thought the cruise setting and the circumstances they were reunited was fun and added some lightheartedness to the story. I was invested in Roslyn’s life and her family struggles. I obviously loved the writing, the pacing, the storytelling, all of it. Every aspect of this book was perfect to me and is a book of my heart. I really don’t have words to do this story or these characters justice, but it is truly such a beautiful story. One of heartbreak, longing, healing, finding yourself, and doing what makes you happy. Already in my top 3 for the year!! I loved it so much.

[cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

”And I know with every shallow gasp and full-bodied moan, that the rest of my life will be divided into before and after.
Everything before this kiss. And everything after.”

I don’t think I’ve EVER been this emotionally invested in a couple’s marriage before. 😭 It didn’t feel like reading a romance novel at all. It felt like watching two real people unravel and somehow still try to hold onto each other by the smallest thread. From the first chapter, my heart just broke. Roslyn’s grief, the way she felt invisible, the way no one seemed to stand up for her… I swear I could feel the ache in my chest. 💔💔 And even knowing there are two sides to every hurt, I couldn’t stop being angry. Angry at Liam, angry at their silence, angry at how unfair grief can be. 😔😔

The back-and-forth between their past and present is what really messed with me. One page I would be smiling at how they fell in love, and the next I’d be sinking into how much they’ve lost. It threw me for a loop every time—happy memories crashing into painful reality. It made me want to cry (who am i kidding… I bawled 😭), but it also made me want them to fight harder, to communicate, to stop pretending they were “fine.”

Being stuck together and pretending everything was okay… it felt heavy, almost claustrophobic, but in a way I couldn’t look away from. (I’m serious. I stayed up all night reading this) Somewhere in all those forced smiles and awkward attempts at being “loving” again, they started slipping. The pretending turned into something real again, and it felt so fragile that I found myself rooting for every 👏🏼 tiny 👏🏼 step 👏🏼 forward 👏🏼. Watching them slowly talk (really talk) felt more intimate than any kiss could.

As messed up as it sounds, the best part? Realizing they were both hurting. Both failing in different ways. Both assuming instead of asking. ❗️Communication❗️or the lack of it 🙄, was practically its own character in this story. It showed how love isn’t always loud and sometimes healing requires more honesty than romance.

By the end, it didn’t just feel like a second chance love story. It felt like watching two people realize love isn’t lost unless they stop choosing it. And honestly? That hit harder than any swoony scene ever could.

This is a 5-star heartbreak-to-healing story that I’ll be thinking about for a longgggg time. ❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹

-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-favorite quotes-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-

”Home is a person, and he's mine.”

“My throat warms. "I still care about you too," I whisper. But I realize as the words leave my lips how insufficient they are. I can't imagine a day I won't think of you is more accurate. Because no matter what happens, no matter how many miles between us, or how many papers we sign, there will always be a part of my soul that's entangled with his.”

“Sometimes I think maybe my life didn't start until I loved Liam, until my heart learned to love and be loved, like maybe this was what I was made for.”

“Forever isn't long enough when it's with someone you love.”

“He reaches out, thumb tracing the soft pathway of my jawline, and my heart patters in my chest, the same tune it composed for him nine years ago.
His, his, his.”

-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-

things to know about the book ↓

✨ second chance marriage
✨ forced proximity (cruise)
✨ faking still-together
✨ slow emotional rebuild
✨ communication & healing romance
✨ dealing with grief
✨ single POV (hers)

A huge thank you to Netgalley, Berkley Publishing Group, and Heather McBreen for allowing me to read this arc. These are all my honest opinions in this review.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second chance romance while on vacation in Hawaii: hot.
Being stuck on a cruise ship with your entire family: not.

Two spouses veering towards divorce must pretend they’re still in love on a final family vacation—rather than let their family in on the truth and ruin their last trip together. Roslyn and Liam are a sworn pair. Together so long one could not think of one without the other. When a tragedy occurs, they face a reality where they aren’t or rather cannot be what each other needs. After months of avoidance and silence lead to a three month separation and encroaching divorce, they face telling Roslyn’s family. Both would rather push through the upcoming vacation than reveal the truth. But vacationing away from their lives is more difficult than they thought as Roslyn and Liam must question not is the love still there, but is it ever really over.

Sunk in Love, Heather McBreen’s sophomore novel is an achingly heartfelt second chance romance set alongside a scenic Hawaiian cruise. I make it no secret that second chance romance is my favorite romance trope. The possibilities are limitless and the angst even more so. Sunk in Love is another one to add to a growing list of flawless second chance stories. Tracking a present and past narrative between Liam and Roslyn as love is discovered, lost, and regained, McBreen charts the ups and downs of a family vacation and a love story all in one. McBreen understands the inherent hotness of the British accent, someone making you lasagna from scratch (on a first date no less), and a man who reads romance novels (I know). This is a gorgeous gorgeous second chance love story for the cautious hopeless romantics, yearners, and lovers of stoic men. Sunk in Love is proof you can have it all.

Read my review

thank you to edelweiss for providing the advance review copy.

Bookstagram | Blog

[hailee · Rating 5 out of 5]

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. all opinions are my own.

“I fell for him in the quiet. The still. In the moments when he made me feel safe and cared for. When he started to feel like home. Like someone who would always be there to catch me.”

heather mcbreen you GENIUS!!!! this was so, so good!! the romance, the family dynamics, the writing, the setting - all of it.

roslyn and liam were so realistic in their struggles (internally and together in their marriage). i absolutely adored their vulnerability and growth throughout the book - i (obviously) was rooting for them so hard.

the flashbacks were tough to read. watching each of them make honest mistakes and struggle through their hurt was so sad, but it really did make their growth together even more meaningful. again, everything was so realistic and well written!

ALSOOO liam has a way with words oh my god???? all of the speeches and confessions and little comments he would make had me biting my fist and screaming like he is THAT GUY!!!!

i also really appreciated the way the author portrayed complicated familial relationships and how hard it can be to ask for help when you’re struggling. again, it was very realistic and the way the characters worked through these feelings made my heart ache.

“Maybe the bravest thing we can be is hopeful.”

[lexie · Rating 4 out of 5]

happy pub day to “happy place” and “the ex vows” love child!!!

this book was the epitome of “you’re losing me”by taylor swift! spent majority of this book in a puddle of tears 😃 but we needed MORE of the mmc (yearning, groveling, emotional vulnerability, YOU NAME IT!!!!!) this is a second chance that felt truly earned and we love to see it 🥰

a million thank you’s to netgalley and berkley for the arc!!

[Anna (annareadit) · Rating 5 out of 5]

my rating: 4.75 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Tropes:
— second chance
— marriage in crisis
— forced proximity
— yearning
— dual timeline

This book tells the story of a couple on the verge of divorce. After nine years of what seemed like a happy marriage, everything begins to fall apart following Roslyn’s mother’s death. Not wanting to share their problems with family, they go on a family vacation together, pretending they are still happily married.

This story beautifully captures the pain of loss, the stages of grief, and a relationship going through a crisis. And then there is the yearning… I absolutely loved the flashbacks to their first meeting, the chemistry was incredible. 💞

I really appreciated how the author explored the importance of being open not only about the good parts of yourself but also the messy ones, how those sides shape who you are now, and how vital it is to have the support of loved ones along the way.

I also loved the storytelling and how my feelings toward the characters shifted with every chapter, from confusion to deep empathy.

This was my first book by the author, and now I can’t wait to read her debut novel.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Kelsey S · Rating 3 out of 5]

▹TL;DR Review: A thoughtful, emotional romance that didn’t fully work for me, but will absolutely hit home for many readers.

▹My ⭐ Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
▹Format: 📱 eReader
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions. This book comes out January 27, 2026!
─────────────────────────

○★○ What to Expect from This Book: ○★○

– About: Roslyn and Liam have been married for years, but grief and secrets have pulled them apart. When her grandparents ask Liam to officiate their vow renewal on a Hawaiian cruise, Roslyn convinces him to pretend they’re still happily married—just for the trip. As they spend one last week “together,” old feelings resurface, and they have to decide whether to save their marriage or let it go.
– FMC: Roslyn (pet name: “baby”). Dropped out of med school to become a romance author, despite growing up in a family of doctors. Raised by an unreliable single mother, along with her half-siblings. Feels inadequate and unworthy. Grieving.
– MMC: Liam. Gynecological oncology doctor. Born in England, but has been living in the US for over a decade. Hides parts of his past, which causes him to be emotionally constipated.
– Location: Partially in Seattle, Washington; partially on a cruise ship in Hawaii
– POV: Single first-person and dual-timeline
– Spice: 3-4 open-door spicy scenes (not overly explicit, but descriptive)
– Tropes: marriage in crisis, second chance, only one bed, he yearns, hidden past (MMC), forced proximity
– Content warning: death of parent (semi on page), grief, anxiety/panic attacks, depression, impending divorce, unsupportive family, car accident, domestic abuse (off page, not a main character), spouse withholding information, being raised by an unreliable parent
– Representation: LGBTQ+ side characters, woman romance author, therapy

─────────────────────────

↻ ◁ || ▷ ↺ 1:00 ──ㅇ────── 4:12

Now Playing: Fix You by Coldplay

╰┈➤ ❝And the tears come streamin' down your face; When you lose somethin' you can't replace; When you love someone, but it goes to waste; Could it be worse?❞

─────────────────────────

★○ If You Like the Following, You Might Like This Book ○★

➼ For readers who liked The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren, You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle, and Happy Place by Emily Henry

─────────────────────────

⍟»This or That«⍟

Character Driven———✧————————Plot Driven
Fast Burn———————✧————Slow Burn
Sweet———————✧————Spicy
Light/Fluffy——————✧—————Heavy/Emotional

─────────────────────────

🎯 My Thoughts:

Sunk in Love is a heartfelt marriage-in-crisis romance that I think will hit home for many readers. It’s emotional, sometimes cathartic, and still carries Heather McBreen’s signature humor and sincerity that I loved in Wedding Dashers.

For me personally, the story felt heavier and more frustrating than I expected. Both main characters struggled with communication in ways that made it hard for me to stay connected to their relationship. The FMC’s approach to healing and the MMC’s extreme lack of openness—especially about major parts of his life—made their dynamic feel uneven, and I had trouble rooting for them at times. While Liam’s growth arc is meaningful, I wished more of that progress showed up in the “now” timeline.

The mental-health themes are handled gently and with care, but they still didn’t land as well for me as I’d hoped. And although the book has its own unique voice, I’ve read similar stories this year that resonated more.

That said, I genuinely believe many readers will find this book moving, relatable, and even uplifting. It simply wasn’t the perfect fit for me—but it will be for plenty of others.


Some of my favorite quotes (despite my critiques, I love Heather's writing style):

╰┈➤ ❝...sometimes the people we love act like assholes. But it doesn't mean we can't continue to love them or forgive them.❞

╰┈➤ ❝We're two misshapen, jagged-edged shards of glass. We've cut one another before. But here, in his arms, I feel my sharpest edges dull.❞

╰┈➤ ❝I wish I could carve out these memories, the once-sweet ones that now feel like tender bruises, and put them in a box under the bed, where I can pretend they don't exist.❞

[Clare Gilmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

SUNK IN LOVE will meet second chance romance readers at the trope’s altar.

From the fizzing tension that grows tauter with every turn of the page to the enchanting vacation backdrop that had me desperate for a taste, I devoured every word. I can’t articulate all there is to adore here, but nothing so much as Liam and Roslyn’s painstakingly earned happily ever after.

Everyone should be paying attention to Heather McBreen.

[bean · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the book for Happy Place & The Ex Vows girls. All the second chance romance book while on a vacation vibes.

My only issue was that I could not possibly grasp why these two ever got married in the first place lol. SOWWWY.

[abby :) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75/5 (maybe 4)

the word knickers is my enemy...

second chance romances with dual timelines are some of my absolute favorite books. that being said, i have insanely high expectations and requirements for them because i know what i like and what makes one perfect to me. through all the early reviews and posts about this book i thought it was gonna be a home run but i think only getting the story through roslyn's eyes and lack of communication, caused me to not totally love this.

ros and liam are going through a divorce because grief has taken over their relationship. on the annual family vacation, ros's grandparents are renewing their vows so her and liam have to pretend everything is good. thankfully they have a heart to heart on like day two and by day four they're already sleeping together again. i think the speed in which everything happens between them did put me off a bit. i did enjoy seeing them talk about what went wrong and be candid about what each other needs to move forward. these conversations are not easy and i think they were written very well. the connection between the two was very present and i was rooting for their reconnection, i just had some questions...

- spoilers-
to start, i think it's weird that these two were together for nearly a decade and liam didn't open up about his familial issues once. yes it was implied but how do you marry someone who leaves so much of his past secret from you. its traumatizing and i understand why he was hesitant to share but that isn't really the basis of a strong marriage. moving on, i think ros acting like she was the only one who was grieving her mothers death was strange. i feel like i've known that people grieve differently since i was twelve. it was kinda weird of her to act like her siblings didn't miss their mother just because they weren't acting like her, even though she never told them she was struggling anyway????
-spoilers over-

okay that rant makes it seem like i hated this book, i swear i did not. the love story was very sweet and the author truly can write a lovely romance. i highlighted so many lines, mostly liam talking to ros, he's incredibly sweet. reading the epilogue and seeing all of them as a big, happy, family had me grinning!! i really want to pick up this authors debut and i think if you like emotional romances, set on a cruise/beach, you need to pick this up for a little summer getaway in january!!

*thank you netgalley and berkley for the copy !! *

[Lina · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 / 5 Stars
This was a real rollercoaster ride for me. I spent 75% of the book thinking that these two were deeply emotionally incompatible and should not get back together and then the last 25% crying because I was so moved by the ending (mostly with her siblings) that I think I ultimately enjoyed it. This is a marriage in crisis story about Liam and Roslyn. They have been married for nine years and when Roslyn’s mother passes away in a tragic accident, everyone’s world shifts. Roslyn just wants Liam to be there for her emotionally and Liam has some of his own trauma he hasn’t dealt with which makes it hard for him to do anything but give Roslyn space. When Roslyn asks for a divorce, Liam doesn’t fight it. Three months later, they have to pretend to still be together for Roslyn’s grandparents’ vow renewal.

You will probably like this book if you like:
⛴️ Marriage in crisis romances
⛴️ Second chance
⛴️ Dual timeline
⛴️ Cruise ship setting
⛴️ Books about books (she’s a romance book writer)
⛴️ Oops, there’s only one bed
⛴️ Discussions of grief and complicated family relationships

I think marriage in crisis books are the hardest reads for me because the stakes are so high and because it is so emotional. These are not teenagers who broke up when they were 18 years old – these are grown ass adults who were married for nine years. This whole book, my heart was in my stomach as they tried to navigate their relationship. Nothing wrong with that but I always have to tread lightly with these books and be in the right headspace. There was a ton of complexity and nuance in the situation which I appreciated but it did hurt my heart sometimes.

I think the dual timeline aspect of this was done really well. I find that when too much time is spent in the past, there isn’t enough time to develop the current relationship and everything feels rushed. The dual timeline here just showed us the most important moments from the past which I appreciated. Their physical intimacy still felt a bit rushed to me but alas.

The way the author navigated the discussions of grief and depression were really well done. There is so much complexity in grieving someone you love deeply who was also deeply flawed and that was explored here in a really beautiful way.

But man, did I go back and forth on the actual romance. I truly thought that their lack of communication and specifically lack of Liam’s emotional availability was insurmountable. We would get a nice scene of them reconnecting and then we’d go back in time to see the ugliness of their fight or how they were subtly disconnected for years and I’d be like “you all love each other, but please stay broken up.” This man built up a wall for NINE years. I get it – trauma is exceptionally hard to deal with – but Roslyn is a stronger woman than I am because I couldn’t do it for nine years. I feel like he was British so that I could be distracted by some of his British charm because if he was American, boy oh boy, would I have been extra mad. I still am not sure I believe their relationship lasts and works but I think maybe that was some of the point – we can make mistakes in relationships and then try our best to be brave and to correct them.

Then why is this four stars? It was beautifully written. I cried which I almost never do in books. And I read this in one sitting which I also almost never do. And that means something to me.

Thank you Berkley and NetGalley for providing this eARC! All opinions are my own.
Publication Date: January 27, 2026
_________________

Pre-Read Thoughts: There are so many bad things that happen on cruises (I’ve seen all of the documentaries), so I feel like having to pretend to still be with your ex is the least bad of the bad things 😂

[Meagan (Meagansbookclub) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rounding up from 3.5

Classic bang it out second chance romance. Cute and heartfelt but way too long and needed more conflict imo.

[jenna 💘✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Berkley & Netgalley for the ARC!

The Wedding Dashers was a stand out read for me in 2025, and Sunk in Love was no different. Heather McBreen's writing is absolutely delectable in every possible way. Sunk in Love follows Roslyn & Liam, two ex's on the cusp of divorce, who are stuck on a family cruise. The kicker? No one in Roslyn's family knows they're getting divorced. As Roslyn & Liam are forced to pretend, the line between fake & real begins to blur & second chances come into play.

Roslyn & Liam are two impeccably written main characters. The two of them have depth & backstories that make me want to bawl my eyes out, hold them in my arms, & protect them from the world.

Ros's struggles with her career, her grief journey, her fears & insecurities when it comes to love and relationships was all so well-done & relatable. I think a lot of people will find some comfort & healing in how Roslyn struggles with grief. I loved her so much!!! I loved her personality & her vulnerability, & her healing journey. She is so special to me!!! Liam's backstory & his family issues was handled with care and intent. The way those issues carried over into his relationships, the fears & insecurities that were created, all of it is relatable & vulnerable. Learning more about him, seeing beneath the golden boy facade was so lovely. I loved seeing his growth & healing. He is so amazing & wonderful & sweet. I love him!!!!!

It is no secret that I am a big lover of the second chance romance trope, and BOY OH BOY. DID THE ROMANCE DELIVER IN THIS ONE!!! Ros & Liam's love story is a masterclass in yearning, intimacy, and soulmates. Their relationship is filled with desire, understanding, gentleness, & an unspoken connection. I loved the way Heather wrote their story, allowing us insight to the big moments of their past & the things that tore them apart (even though it made me cry my eyes out). I loved getting to see them work through their issues, heal old wounds, and open their hearts back up to each other!!!! Not to mention they are hot as all get out & I am literally obsessed with them!!!! They are everything to me!!!!

I truly cannot recommend this book enough. It is a literal masterpiece of a second chance, "marriage in trouble", forced proximity romance. It has all the angst, yearning, desire, and unwavering love you want to see in a book. If you take ONE recommendation from me literally EVER, please let it be this!!!!

[megan ◡̈ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 (the entire book was phenomenal but ros really made me mad for a moment towards the end so 😭)

i am an absolute SUCKER for the marriage in crisis trope, i love every last angsty moment, letting it squeeze the soul out of me and rip me apart. i devoured this book to put it quite plainly. i started this book a little after 8 pm on saturday and refused to put it down till i fell asleep reading at 36% and then jumped right back into it the moment i woke up getting to 80% before falling back asleep again that night. this book had me in such a chokehold i couldnt put my kindle down for one second unless i had to.

when i first started the book i was feeling super frustrated with liam, i was basically ros just screaming as my kindle for him to show up and fight — obviously i knew he would at some point, obviously i knew he didnt want them to be over that there was some underlying thing ya know, but i was just like bashing my head against the wall over not being able to be inside of his head and get his point of view to see this for myself faster. WELL, i happened to be at a talk last night with one of the angst queens herself kandi steiner and she brought up the great point of when you only get the singular POV it makes things angstier and more frustrating, you really get to feel everything that the MC is and that you arent always meant to know both sides or everything just yet and even though i was at this point long past knowing what was going on with liam it really hit me good and truly made me think about that earlier experience and reflect that however frustrating it was it was PERFECT and gave me everything i needed it to in the moment.

this is one of those books where i dont want to sit and yap about every single detail i loved bc it is better off experienced without knowing everything to come. if you are a marriage in crisis lover theres zero doubt in my mind that you will love this book with everything in you. if you love fake dating your soon to be ex husband and forced proximity you are going to be captivated. i simply cannot recommend this read enough and i am forever grateful to my friend monica for putting it on my radar bc this was 100% one of my favorite reads this year!

[Angela | nerdslovebooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall, 4.5 stars, this book had me in a total vice grip. Roslyn's pain and hurt was so raw and real, I was hurting throughout the whole book. This book wasn't just about Roslyn's marriage; it was also about her grief and her relationship with her family and her place within it. The dual timeline was really sweet, giving glimpses of how Roslyn and Liam's relationship started versus where they are now. My favorite parts of the book were the conversations and fights between Roslyn and Liam. I teared up during several of those scenes from the raw vulnerability and the overwhelming emotions radiating off them.

This book is not your usual happy two people falling in love romance. It's about a marriage on the verge of collapse and the hard work it takes to either save the marriage or let it go. I absolutely loved that this book talked about how much hard work goes into making a marriage work. Love helps, but love cannot conquer all.

Will share my favorite quotes once this book is published!

*Marriage in crisis
*Fake "dating"
*Second chance
*Dual timeline
*Grief

Format: ebook

Thank you so much NetGalley, Heather McBreen, and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC!

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. I received this as an advanced reader copy and I'm so thankful.

This was beautiful and I highly recommend it, tho if you're like me, you will cry a lot.

This is single POV told in first person from Roslyn's perspective. We don't get to hear what's going on with Liam until Roslyn hears from him.

This is a book about second chances but also about grief and trauma response. Both of them have some fucked up childhood trauma that influences how they deal with the fallout of Roslyn's mom's death.

So much of this book describes heartbreaking experiences and I sobbed quite a bit.

These two's journey back to each other is wrapped up in healing for their own selves. We get to see some of it, but it's obvious there is so much more to come.

I took off 1/2 star because some of the resolution felt too pat and easy. We spend so much time with sorrow and unhealthy communication patterns that it's a little hard to trust that these two are so good to go at the end.

It's beautiful and hopeful and I loved it.

Safety deets
- both have only been with each other since they met. They have a 3 month separation before the book starts but there's no one else.
- we get to see them happy together and working things out at the end.
- therapy is needed and gotten.

[fromthestudyof · Rating 5 out of 5]

hey so I adored this

Marriage in trouble is not really a trope I seek out (literally never. May even actively avoid) but there was just something about the first few pages of this book that sucked me in

The chapters alternate between “Now” and the beginnings of the couples relationship - time jumps aren’t usually something I enjoy but damn THIS WORKED

I loved seeing this couple meet and fall in love the first time & then again when they come back together. I was rooting for them & booing them (when they were being dumb! which is my right!!) & cheering for them when they finally got their shit together.

overall just a really beautiful love story

Tropes:
- marriage in trouble
- he’s British!!!! & a doctor!!!! & hot!!!
- single FMC pov
- faking to still be together for a family vacay
- forced proximity
- only one bed
- “never stopped loving you”

[jenny reads a lot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two beautifully messy and broken people, in the forced proximity situation they need in order to work through their mistakes and get the hard earned happily ever after they deserve!

This is a perfectly executed marriage in crisis romance!

The characters are flawed and relatable. They’ve made mistakes that are valid reasons for the dissolution or their relationship, but those mistakes are un-fixable! Most importantly they are willing to (and do) put in the work needed to repair their marriage!

This is also a great exploration of grief and family trauma. It navigates complicated parental relationships in a way that feels real and relatable.

And as a certified dual-timeline hater, I have to say this is one of the best executed dual timelines I have ever read! Each flashback is perfectly placed and gives just enough backstory and information to really cement your understanding of their relationship.

Whats to love…
- marriage in crisis
- well executed (just enough, never too much) dual timelines
- forced proximity
- laugh out loud funny
- emotional and swoony
- a prim and proper MMC with an absolutely filthy mouth
- TOP TIER TENSION!
- Bookish-book (she’s a romance author)
- blonde MMC (sorry not sorry I love them)

What might not work for some…
- Just as a mini-warning, I hated the MMC at first. Trust the process and keep reading. I promise he’s fantastically broken and worth the effort.

5⭐️| IG | TikTok |

Thank you Berkley for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.

[Kayleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

♾️⭐️!!!!

I haven’t loved a book to the point of staying up until 3am in quite a long time!!! With so much depth, vulnerability, and maximum levels of yearning, Liam and Roslyn are one of the strongest and most authentic book couples I’ve had the privilege of reading about. No matter who you are, I think you can find pieces of yourself in this book. It expertly portrays grief, heartbreak, love, and family. Sunk in Love is an absolute banger of a second-chance/marriage-in-crisis romance; Heather McBreen, pat yourself on the back girl!! (This is coming from the World’s #1 second-chance romance fan so you can take my word for it.) I’m going to leave it at that because I feel like no words can express just how perfect this book was to me. Please, please add this book to your tbr!

Release date: January 27, 2026

Thank you so much to Berkley and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review; forever indebted to you both.

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to netgalley for the arc 🫶🏼

Marriage in trouble is one of my favorite tropes ever, so I was so excited for this. This was amazing in every way. Heathers writing has improved even from her first novel, which I also enjoyed, and I ATE THIS UP,

This had a good mix of banter and emotional depth, covering very important topics like grief and abuse. There are a lot of family dramas and dynamics, as well as being set on a cruise ship, which both added a lot to the story. I was so happy they finally decided to communicate and work together because they are SOULMATES!!!!! I have so many highlights on my kindle, I am just in love.

[Gosia · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars cause I stayed up way too late too keep reading and finished it in around 12h (with sleep in the meantime, lol)

Omg this was a journey full of heartbreak, grief, heartbreak and even more heartbreak.
I love marriage in crisis trope when you can see and more importantly FEEL the characters’ emotions.
I’m still super angry at Liam and I think he should have groveled and tried 10 times more than he did but even with all my anger towards him, I’m still marking it as a 5 star read.
Oh boy but do I have notes for him. While I can admit the love between Ros and Liam was there, big and true and all that, I can’t exactly get over how royally he fucked up.
Dude, she told you she wanted to talk to YOU about her grief and struggles, and you were keeping avoiding her and giving her more and more space? It could be somehow forgiven but not when she specifically told him she needed him.
His trauma was used to much as of an excuse and I think he should do more to redeem himself. Way too little actual talking and him opening up, way too big emphasis on the physical connection they had and trying to work out their issues with sex but with all that said (and me still not fully forgiving Liam for how he treated Roslyn for literal months), they did work out at the end and I could see them having great marriage.
Bonus points for pointing out that successful marriage is a work in progress and is not easy.

Go read it but be prepared for a lot of heartbreak and grief.

(I’m still not over how Liam dealt with Roslyn’s grief, him not standing up for her in front of her family etc. Like dude, those are basic obvious things, she shouldn’t have asked you to do it (also she did ask him to talk and he refused, oh boy I’m still so angry it’s actually pathetic, I need to go touch grass cause I can’t be so angry at fictional characters, lol))

[ellanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

HAPPY RELEASE DAY!!! hey siri, play “I miss you, I’m sorry” by Gracie Abrams ❤️‍🩹

this book is about perfectly imperfect people who are in a marriage crisis 🥹 coming from a family where I haven’t seen the best example of fighting for love in marriage this one hit me in the gut, but not for the reason you may think. our MMC and FMC are truly made for each other, but after the loss of a loved one and unvoiced past trauma, their marriage begins to fall apart. later, the way they begin to express their feelings and past hurts made me deeply wish I got to see this in real life growing up. Ros and Liam are so brave and resilient, I have the utmost admiration for how Heather wrote these two lovable people, they feel so incredibly real to me! this book was healing for me in many ways and will forever have a special place in my heart.

Heather executes the dual timeline and this second chance love story brilliantly! I truly beg you pick this one up!!! you certainly won’t be disappointed 🩷

tysm NetGalley and Berkley Romance for the free ARC
____________

1/11/26 initial thoughts: hi so, I need everyone to just trust me and pick this one up on release day 🩷

marriage crisis, second chance, faking being together for a family trip, dual timeline, and HOT HOT HOT.. you will eat up every crumb!!!