From USA Today, #1 Amazon, and BookTok bestselling author Kandi Steiner comes a brand new standalone. Fans of Below Deck will love this angsty, tumultuous romance between two exes surprised to find out they’re working on the same yacht for the season - and that their every interaction, innocent or not, is being filmed for a television show.
Kandi Steiner is a USA Today and #1 Amazon Bestselling Author living in Tennessee. Best known for writing “emotional rollercoaster” stories, she loves bringing flawed characters to life and writing about real, raw romance — in all its forms. No two Kandi Steiner books are the same, and if you’re a lover of angsty, emotional, and inspirational reads, she’s your gal.
An alumna of the University of Central Florida, Kandi graduated with a double major in Creative Writing and Advertising/PR with a minor in Women’s Studies. Her love for writing started at the ripe age of 10, and in 6th grade, she wrote and edited her own newspaper and distributed to her classmates. Eventually, the principal caught on and the newspaper was quickly halted, though Kandi tried fighting for her “freedom of press.”
She took particular interest in writing romance after college, as she has always been a hopeless romantic and found herself bursting at the seams with love stories she was eager to tell.
When Kandi isn’t writing, you can find her reading books of all kinds, planning her next adventure, or pole dancing (yes, you read that right). She enjoys live music, traveling, hiking, yoga, spending quality time with her family (fur babies included) and soaking up the sweetness of life.
I received an ARC of this book. It was just like watching an episode of Below Deck…only better. The drama. The charter guests. The crew antics. Have to admit, I’ve never teared up over an episode of Below Deck like I did this book. It was full of the feels and I felt them all!!!
This one feels like a vacation for the heart, full of cheeky chemistry, sun soaked tension, and characters who keep you grinning while they sort out their messy, lovable lives.
What to expect: *Second chance romance *Reality television show *Forced proximity
This is my first title by this author, she has been on my TBR for a while now, just haven’t had the opportunity to start anything until I received this book.
The FMC, Ember, is the head steward on a yacht, the MMC, Finn, is the head chef. They previously dated two years ago but broke up due to wanting different careers in different areas of the world. This story puts them back together, amongst a group that will be working with each other over a couple of months time frame while being filmed for a reality television show.
*****SPOILERS BELOW***** * * * * * * * I enjoyed the ending of the book, but I have to admit that the beginning frustrated me. For sixty percent of the book, the MMC has a girlfriend that is with him on the trip. I do not enjoy that trope at all. I like for my main couple to be together, not actively avoiding each other.
There was a lot of drama/angst in this title, not just OW and OM, but also from the side characters. It truly had the reality television drama down pat!
Overall, it was written very well and the last third of the book saved it for me! I am looking forward to reading more from this author.
Safety: Does have both OW and OM drama, MMC is in a relationship with OW for the majority of the book. No on page spicy scenes between them, he admits that once he sees the FMC he did not want to be with his girlfriend any longer and did not have sex with her on the trip. FMC goes on a date with OM to make the MMC jealous. No third act breakup.
Ember is stepping into a brand new role as chief steward on a luxury yacht, and this charter season comes with a full camera crew filming a reality show. She’s ready for demanding guests, long hours, and life at sea. But she isn’t prepared to discover that her ex, Finn, is part of the crew.
Finn is the man who broke her heart, and seeing him again brings every unresolved feeling rushing back. The tension between them is immediate and intense, and neither of them can pretend the past didn’t happen. Watching Ember and Finn navigate old wounds, lingering chemistry, and the slow, complicated path from exes to something more is completely addictive.
I loved every second of this story, the drama, the heartbreak, the longing, and the genuinely sweet moments woven in between. Their journey feels messy and real, and it takes time for them to confront what went wrong and decide what they still mean to each other.
Hannah Chiclana and Walker Williams absolutely shine as Ember and Finn. They capture every shift in their relationship, from guarded exes to tentative friends to more with so much emotion and authenticity. You can truly feel the love and tension in every scene.
If you’re a fan of angsty second chance romance packed with drama and swoony moments, this one is a must listen!
Thank you, Kandi Steiner, Arndell Books and Simon Maverick Audio for the ALC/ARC.
"Fans of Below Deck will love this angsty, tumultuous romance between two exes surprised to find out they’re working on the same yacht for the season - and that their every interaction, innocent or not, is being filmed for a television show."
“He understood me like no one else. This was why we were inevitable.”
Love Overboard was angsty, emotional, and pure chaotic fun in the best possible way. From the very first chapter, I was hooked on this wild, Below Deck setup, where every character brings their own brand of drama to the yacht—and every camera is ready to catch it. Ember, our Chief Stew with a bruised heart and a spine of steel, walks onto the boat only to come face to face with the one man she never wanted to see again: Finn, the chef who shattered her a few years back. The second their eyes meet, the tension snaps tight, and from there the pressure only builds as the rest of the crew boards and the reality TV chaos kicks into high gear.
“No one felt like Finn Pearson. No one could unlock me when he still held the key.”
The longing between Finn and Ember is palpable from the moment they collide again. It’s that delicious, slow burn ache—the kind that simmers under every lingering glance, every sharp comment, every moment they pretend they’re totally fine when they’re absolutely not. Their chemistry is undeniable, even when they’re trying to bury it under snark, professionalism, or sheer stubbornness. Add in the messy dynamics of the rest of the crew, the constant presence of cameras, and the emotional landmines from their shared past, and you’ve got a powder keg just waiting for the spark.
“I can’t stay out of your business, Firefly. Because my business is you.”
And when it blows? Oh, it blows.
“He chose me even when he knew the whole world would judge him for it. And I chose him, too.”
I was obsessed with this book. The angst and heartbreak practically became their own characters, threading through every scene and pulling me deeper into the story. Finn and Ember are passionate, flawed, vulnerable, and so achingly real. Watching them navigate the ghosts of their past—both together and separately—was emotional in a way that felt raw and honest. Their growth, their pain, their fire… I was completely enthralled.
“There was no past and no future. It was just us, right here, right now, forever, unending.”
Love Overboard is a messy, addictive, emotionally charged ride that delivers everything I want in a second chance romance set against the backdrop of reality TV chaos. If you love tension that crackles, chemistry that refuses to die, and characters who feel everything with their whole hearts, you’re going to want to climb aboard this yacht immediately.
Love Overboard by Kandi Steiner (April 21, 2026) Thank you, @simonmavrick for the gifted audiobook!
Ember finally has the opportunity to be chief stew of a Mediterranean superyacht - ensuring the guest experience is best-in-class. It has been a huge goal and dream. The yacht’s crew will have their every move recorded for a reality TV series and it isn’t until she’s on the ship that she learns the on-board chef is Finn - the love of her life who broke her heart on a previous crew - and he’s brought along his girlfriend who is now your bunkmate. No one on this ship knows about Ember and Finn - but that doesn’t last long and soon everyone can see the undeniable connection between them. Things are about to get messy.
I have discovered that reality tv show themed books are something I really enjoy and this book was a ton of fun. It was my first by Kandi Steiner but won’t be my last! The forced proximity of everyone on this “Below Deck” vibe book amped up the drama. At the core is the slow-burn second chance romance and love triangle but there is also a found family among the crew and tons of hijinks in service of the wealthy clients who cycle through each week. Although it takes a beat to get all of the characters straight, by the end I really adored them all. Overall, a fun little read.
🎧 Audiobook Thoughts: Hannah Chiclana and Walker Williams narrate this one in duet and it is the perfect format for the audiobook. (11h 30m)
Where do I even start with Ember and Finn's love story?
This book is the reason I love angsty romance. It's the reason I adore Kandi Steiner's books and always will. She doesn't pull any emotional punches and the tension she is able to establish between the two main characters is masterful. I would encourage everyone to pick this book up if they want to experience a love story that truly makes them in believe in the power of love triumphing over everything.
Not only did Kandi reach into my chest to squeeze her wicked hand around my heart, but she also wrote such a fun story! I love the reality show format at the beginning of every chapter, the side characters are often hilarious and the setting on a luxury yacht lends the entire story a sense of globetrotting adventure from the comfort for your living room.
Love Overboard is officially my top favourite Kandi Steiner romance and I've read nearly all her books! Do yourself a favour and preorder this or snag it on release day, I guarantee you adore Ember and Finn!
reading love overboard felt like i was watching a reality tv show - it was messy, chaotic and something you couldn't look away from. i can imagine working in close quarters on a boat can be crazy, but throw in cameras too? that'll be a whole other level of mess. and that's what made this book so much fun. there were laugh out loud moments, emotionally intense scenes, and some really hot moments between ember and finn (although this book toes a fine line between flirting and going into cheating territory, and personally, i'm not a fan of that).
nevertheless, this was a really cute, fun romance and the perfect way to relax after reading some heavy and emotional fantasy books. love overboard is the first book i've read from kandi steiner and probably not the last, because her writing was soo fun. can't wait to try out more of her books in the new year!
***i work as a bookseller and received a physical arc through my workplace***
Two years ago, Ember was living her dream, working on a yacht. She met Finn and everything just clicked. She found love. She was so happy. But then….
Love Overboard takes you on a journey. The characters are working on a yacht, private charters, while also being filmed for a reality show. While the team sits for interviews, and answers questions about their experience on the yacht, simultaneously the story is being told. A story of a new team coming together for a couple of months, dealing with anything, and everything, that can happen at sea. Add in the cameras and mics, and the goal of any reality television show…drama..and you quite the story.
LOVED everything about this book. It was fresh, great concept, unique, entertaining, funny, and heartfelt. It truly was a journey. Lot of fun to read. Great book! Thank you #ArndellBooks #Keeperton
The tension and angst between Finn and Ember built throughout the story. I was rooting for them to be able to work things out and get their happy ending together.
I really enjoyed the interviews with the crew that were placed throughout the story. It gave some added insight into what was going on while the show was being filmed. I also enjoyed the flashbacks to Finn and Ember, showing what happened between them and what lead them to their present situation.
I listened to the audio version of this book, narrated in duet by Hannah Chiclana and Walker Williams. This was my first time listening to both of these narrators, and wow! They were both amazing. There were so many characters and different accents and these narrators nailed them all! They did a wonderful job of bringing these characters to life and showing all of the emotions in this story.
This book blew me away. It’s a solid 6‑star, 10/10 read. Kandi delivered everything—sharp banter, real emotion, and characters that stay with you. The opening interviews don’t spoil a thing; they just make the journey even more fun. The spice is next‑level, the suspense hits just right, and the epilogue ties everything together beautifully. Chefs kiss (pun intended).I loved A Love Letter to Whiskey, but this feels like Kandi at her absolute best. She poured her whole heart into it, and it shows. I’ll be first in line for the audiobook. -- HUGE THANK YOU to Edelweiss+ and Arndell for allowing me to receive this ARC!
This was the chaotic, angsty read I was in the mood for. I couldn't put it down, the drama had me hooked from start to finish.
I loved the messy crew dynamics mixed with the over the top charter guests. It felt like a reality show meets romcom with the perfect mix of chemistry, tension, and emotional weight.
Ember and Finn were compelling leads and their magnetism leapt off the page. I was so invested in their journey and rooting for them to overcome the obstacles to finding their way back to each other.
I had so much fun reading this book! I love the premise centered around a reality TV show on a yacht, following the crew and their charter guests. The interviews with each crew member, plus the endless drama and antics, kept me completely invested. I felt like an honorary crew mate along for the wild ride. I could totally picture myself there, watching everything unfold in real time. What I enjoyed most was watching the two main characters, who are exes, navigate seeing each other again after two years and figuring out their reality TV yacht life with nowhere to hide. Totally messy and stressy, my kind of vibe. 😎 Just put me on the beach and give me more of this tea, please. 🏝️🍹✨
Thank you to Kandi Steiner and Edelweiss for the ARC copy!