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, Forced Proximity, Fiction, Audiobook

Kindle Edition

Expected publication 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)]

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

💖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

[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!

[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.

[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.

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

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.

[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.”

[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.

[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.

[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 !! *

[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.❞

[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.

[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 · 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!

[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.

[jenna 💘✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

unreal. heather mcbreen is unreal. i am an emotional wreck. full rtc when i have recovered

[Val · Rating 3 out of 5]

a decent second chance romance between ex husband and wife that haven't yet disclosed their divorce to the family. this book is kind of what I wished the paradise problem by christina lauren to be. although good, sunk in love is afraid to be brave and truly sink into its themes and love. the author doesn't commit enough for a book that tries to reteach it.


thank you so much to the publisher 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.

[Lochi's Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heather’s debut novel Wedding Dashers was such a fun time that I knew I’d immediately pick up her second. Sunk in Love? It tore me apart and put me back together. This story dives deep into the pressures of grief, unresolved pain, and how anguish can quietly unravel a relationship.

We meet Liam and Ros at a breaking point. Their marriage is unraveling, they’re on opposite ends emotionally and physically, and neither knows how to bridge the growing divide. As a reader, you're right in the emotional turmoil and you can feel the tension and pressure. But when they’re forced together on a family vacation, they're finally given space and time to air their grievances and confront the miscommunication that’s been eating away at them.

Heather makes me cry in the best way (when an author can make me do that I often become a life long reader of their work). Sunk in Love captures the pain and beauty of life and love with such passion. There were so many quotes in this novel that had me nodding my head and whispering “yes” under my breath.

I’m floored and genuinely so moved. Outstanding. 2026 is going to start out strong with this book!

Thank you so much Berkley Publishing for the digital arc.

[London Sperry · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dazzling second chance romance from one of my favorite authors of all time!!!! Heather McBreen delivers on the gut wrenching heartbreak and swoony butterflies that come along with a story of falling back in love after falling apart. Liam can ruin me! Ros is an incredibly relatable and beautiful character who is morphed by heartbreak and grief. Together they tell a sensitive story of healing and growing back together after tragedy. There's flirting, and fighting, and cruise ship activities, and family drama, and GOOD GIRL. This book has EVERYTHING. READ THIS BOOK!!!!!

[Stephanie Wilen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Roslyn and Liam’s marriage has fallen apart, and divorce feels inevitable. Before they can truly move on, they’re invited on a Hawaiian cruise with her grandparents — where they pretend to still be together to spare her family’s feelings. Trapped at sea, old emotions resurface, forcing them to confront what went wrong and whether their love story is really over.

My Thoughts 💭
I loved Heather McBreen’s debut, The Wedding Dashers, so I went into Sunk in Love expecting a similar experience — but it didn’t fully work for me. While there were elements I appreciated, I struggled at times with Ros as a main character. The repeated references to her difficult childhood made parts of the story feel drawn out, and I found myself wishing she had more self-awareness, particularly when it came to acknowledging her own role in the issues she and Liam faced.

That said, the forced proximity trope was handled well, and the cruise setting — especially the excursions — added a sense of adventure that kept me engaged.

Read if you like...
• Second chance romance
• Forced proximity
• Marriage in trouble
• Emotional baggage
• Vacation setting

[Maven Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sunk in Love by Heather McBreen is a tender, emotionally rich second‑chance contemporary romance about Roslyn and Liam, a couple who once felt inseparable but now find their marriage unraveling in the wake of grief, miscommunication, and deep personal wounds, and who agree to pretend they are still happily together on a family cruise so Roslyn can avoid telling her loved ones they are separating, only to find that love does not stay still even when hearts have drifted apart. This story unfolds against sea breezes and Hawaiian sunsets, blending forced proximity, dual timelines, and heartfelt reflection on both love and loss.

What stayed with me most was how McBreen gave me a marriage that felt lived in and imperfect, not some glossy fairy tale that ignores how real grief and emotional distance can hollow out even the most beloved relationship. Roslyn’s struggle with her mother’s death and Liam’s quiet, British‑doctor steadiness created this push and pull that made my heart ache as much as it fluttered; I felt every tentative conversation, every flash of old affection, and every moment they had to choose honesty over avoidance. The cruise ship setting became more than just a backdrop, it felt like a place suspended in time where they had to face both their shared history and the fragile hope of rebuilding what they lost. I loved how the novel didn’t shy away from showing that healing takes messy conversations, vulnerability, and hard lessons about listening as much as loving. Roslyn and Liam’s lack of communication early on made their reconnection feel slow and raw, but that just made their eventual breakthroughs feel more rewarding and deeply felt.

Rating: 4 out of 5. I chose this score because Sunk in Love made me feel so intimately the heartbreak and beauty of rediscovering a love you once thought was gone, and left me with a warm ache that resonated far beyond its pages. If you crave romances that feel like real life with all its vulnerability, longing, and hope, this one will wrap around your heart in the best way.

[Leslie Ann (lalasbookishlife) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED the author's debut romance, so I had high hopes for this one, and it didn't disappoint. If you're obsessed with season 3 Conrad Fisher, you will SWOON over this book. LOVED!

[Leora Korn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cried 4x in the last 10% so ya 5⭐️

I absolutely loved this book. You already know I am a second chance TRUTHER, and this story was perfect. The relationship between Roslyn and Liam was so deeply emotional it had me constantly wanting to pick the book up, flying through large chunks in one sitting, crying, laughing, and just having a great time.

Generally speaking, I love dual timeline books. Being in the past gives such a great layer of depth to the present, and I found the flash backs added a lot to the already complex story. I saw so much of myself in Roslyn (pathological people pleasers unite), and just wanted to give her a big hug and tell her that this too shall pass. Liam is literally Dr. Yearn, oh my GOSH this man was everything! This book beautifully portrayed the grief associated with unexpected loss, and the ways that complicated family dynamics affect us and our relationships. And it took place on a cruise in Hawaii HELLO fun.

I really enjoyed Heather’s debut Wedding Dashers, but she absolutely knocked it out of the park with this one. Thank you SO much to Heather & Berkley Romance for the opportunity to review this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Katie’s Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

"He's kissed and touched every inch of m skin, but it's my heart where his fingerprints are most prominent. Where his touch still weights heaviest."

Oh my god I loved this. I think the marriage-in-trouble trope is great when it's done well, and here it was just done so well. I was thinking through the other books with this trope that I enjoy and honestly this might be my new favourite of the bunch

Rosyln and her husband of five years, Liam, have been separated for three months. The fissures in their marriage came to light after Rosyln's mother died and she found herself drowning in grief, with Liam being less than supportive and barely present. Her family however doesn't know that he's moved out. When her grandparents propose a family-wide cruise and ask that Liam perform their vow renewal, Rosyln asks Liam to fake their relationship for one week.

I think the grief made this plotline a little more believable than it would have been otherwise? First of all, the fact that no one in Rosyln's family has noticed that Liam is no longer living at home. By her own account Rosyln has been pushing away friends and family so I guess none of them stopped by the house- but surely one of them would have noticed?!

The absolute angst and pining we had here was wonderful. This book is only from Rosyln's pov so Liam came off as a little iffy at first- however he gets goodvery quickly because it's obvious to the reader how much he cares, even if it's not obvious to Ros.

I thought the flashbacks worked really well here! We get so see some glimpses of Ros and Liam through the years, some moments more meaningful- the night they might, the night Liam proposed- and some more mundane, but no less heartfelt- Liam taking care of Ros when she was sick, just the two of them unpacking their new apartment. Moments throughout their relationship that worked to show us how good they were together, but also that their communication problems weren't new, but long in coming. This worked SO well for me, because one of the biggest complaints I have with a second chance/marriage in trouble trope is not being given a proper glimpse at the relationship. Like if it was too awful and had a terrible break up, can we believe the characters are really capable of change? And if it's too small of an issue, why are they even separated? But here the lack of communication and lack of emotional support that Liam gave and also asked for felt valid. And the growth, where he takes time, realizes what he lost and begins to actively work on himself felt very realistic

I did take off a .5 here because things at the end of the story felt a bit repetitive. Ros thinks and even says to Liam multiple times that perhaps they don't need to have an end date, maybe they could have a second chance. Liam poured his heart out multiple times, apologized for how his behaviour and his part in the collapse of their marriage and explained himself. And then Rosyln just kept saying things like "we can't talk about this now" or "we can't do this". Like girl, your marriage fell apart from a lack of healthy communication and emotional support, and now you're shutting Liam down when he does try and talk to you? She also said she felt like he left in the end because maybe she wasn't enough for him, maybe he no longer wanted to be married etc. And even after he says MULTIPLE times that this is not true, she would think the same things like the next chapter? It felt like she was begging him to open up and then once he started to she didn't actually listen

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishing team for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This was a beautifully written, deeply emotional romance that both warmed my heart and frustrated the absolute heck out of me. I can’t truthfully say that it was 100% for me, but I think most readers are going to absolutely love it.

First of all, Sunk in Love has a lot to enjoy. I’m an absolute sucker for a second chance romance with dual timelines, and in this it was done in a very intense and heart wrenching way. This is the story of a marriage in crisis, the couple driven to separation and the brink of divorce due to intense grief and trauma that they are unable to work through. The dual timeline really helps us understand how dramatically their relationship has changed. In the first few flashbacks, they were clearly soulmates and best friends. Alternately, their first meeting in the present was painful for her, painful for him, and painful for me as the reader. It set the tone perfectly and had me immediately invested in seeing how they possibly could have gotten to that place, and how they would work to repair it.

In addition, Roslyn is also struggling with a complicated family dynamic, while all of the characters are held in forced proximity aboard a cruise ship for a vacation that should be a lighthearted celebration of love. The juxtaposition of intense emotional scenes with the typical fun cruise ship itinerary kept the story feeling a little bit lighter, so I thought that the setting was very well done.

All that being said… I spent the majority of this novel so incredibly frustrated. Most of the conflict is based around emotional withdrawal and lack of communication, and it was very difficult for me to tolerate at times. So many problems could have been solved by the characters simply having honest conversations with each other. I can’t go into too much detail without getting into spoiler territory, but I still don’t know that I fully forgive Liam for the secrets he kept or the many times he stayed silent. I was also bothered by how they went from being so completely in love to deciding to get a divorce without even trying to go to therapy. It was so painfully obvious from the beginning that neither of them actually wanted to end their marriage. Given the depth of grief, trauma, and unresolved issues they were carrying, therapy was desperately needed, both individually and together.

Despite these issues, however, by the end of the book I could (albeit sometimes grudgingly) understand the underlying causes of their communication problems and feel softness toward both of them. I was emotionally invested, and truly cared about the characters and their relationships - not just with each other, but with their families as well. Although Liam and Ros tested my patience, I ultimately did enjoy Sunk in Love, and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys stories featuring:

-Marriage in crisis
-Forced proximity
-Fake relationship
-Second chance romance
-Dual timelines
-Vacation romance
-Complicated family dynamics
-Grief

Thank you so much to Heather McBreen, Berkeley Publishing Group, and NetGalley for allowing me to read this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

[Mackenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Heather McBreen's debut, Wedding Dashers, and Sunk in Love has officially cemented her as an auto-buy author for me. Just like Wedding Dashers, Sunk in Love was filled with witty banter and undeniable chemistry that had me laughing out loud and smiling while reading. But underneath the fun flirting and sizzling spice, is a deeply emotional story about a couple not only finding their way back to each other, but also discovering (and fixing) pieces of themselves in the process.

Roslyn and Liam have made me a fan of second chance romance. Their love was tender and timeless, and the pain of their separation was so raw and gut wrenching it could be felt through the page. Normally I love yearning men in my romance books, but seeing these two yearn so desperately for each other was something else entirely. I also really enjoyed the dual timeline, I found it elevated the storytelling here. In the beginning I couldn't see how their marriage had fallen apart, it/Liam seemed so perfect! But slowly seeing things unravel, and knowing we were approaching the dreaded divorce conversation + present day timeline added a layer of anticipation that made the book impossible to put down.

Another element I love about McBreen's writing is that there is more to the story than just the main characters. Seeing both Roslyn and Liam navigate their own journeys of healing with their families helped amplify the love between them. Their familial baggage and trauma formed a wedge between them before, and it was really inspiring to see them do the hard work of reflection and confrontation so they could become better partners to each other. It was its own piece of fighting for their relationship, and a message I think many will be able to take away and apply to their own lives/relationships.

I know this will be a book I come back to time and time again. I am so happy I had the opportunity to read an advanced copy, it has become one of my favorite books of the year. I think fans of Emily Henry style romance (re: a deeply emotional love story blended with wit and charm) or more specifically, The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce will love this book. I can't recommend it enough! Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an ARC in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own. Expected publication is January 27, 2026.

[Julia ౨ৎ ⊹ ࣪ ˖ ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5!!

I LOVED this! I have seen such amazing reviews for this book, so I had very high expectations going into this. I flew through it and found myself always wanting to get right back into the story once I put it down. This is my first Heather McBreen book, and it certainly won't be the last!

As a second-chance romance enthusiast, this checked all of the boxes for me. The depth, characters, setting, plot, and pacing were all sooo good. I loved the way we were given past and present timelines, and this did a great job of establishing Roslyn and Liam's relationship. I truly felt the pain and YEARNING from both of the characters. Their marriage in crisis definitely showed how both Roslyn and Liam were suffering from their own issues that they needed to work through before they could fix their marriage. I thought that the pacing was great, and it gave them both the necessary time to communicate and figure things out. Most of this book centered around miscommunication and a tendency to solve issues through physical intimacy, a common issue in marriages. However, I thought they did an okay job of working through this. I loved Roslyn as an fmc! Liam was okay to me, and I truthfully didn't fully love him. I thought he was a little selfish and that Roslyn deserved better than him lol. Overall though, I had a great time reading this story and I can't wait to read this author's debut novel soon!

[Madison (madinotmaddiereads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

got me crying on a crosswalk helloooo 😭