What do you think?
Rate this book
Love Overboard
From USA Today, #1 Amazon, and BookTok bestselling author Kandi Steiner comes a sizzling, second-chance romance set on the high seas—perfect for fans of Below Deck and readers who crave angsty, high-stakes love stories.
Ember Reed is finally living her chief stew on a Mediterranean superyacht, sun-kissed days at sea, and the star of Close Quarters, the hottest new reality TV show. But just as she finds her stride, the producers throw her a curveball—by hiring the one man who nearly sank her.
Finn Pearson was the one that got away. The boy who kissed her like they had forever, then left without a word. But now he’s the chef in her new crew, and the cameras are watching their every move, innocent, or not.
Even on a superyacht, there's nowhere to hide from the past. Every stolen glance, every whispered argument, every lingering memory threatens to ignite what never fully burned out. And as the tension spills into their day jobs, even the dinner service is spiralling into disaster.
They’ve crashed before… but could eight weeks at sea be their second chance to get it right? Or will it be the storm that finally sinks them for good?
-------------------------------------------------
chancereality tvforced proximityforbiddenhigh stakesangstyBelow Deck vibes
Ember Reed is finally living her chief stew on a Mediterranean superyacht, sun-kissed days at sea, and the star of Close Quarters, the hottest new reality TV show. But just as she finds her stride, the producers throw her a curveball—by hiring the one man who nearly sank her.
Finn Pearson was the one that got away. The boy who kissed her like they had forever, then left without a word. But now he’s the chef in her new crew, and the cameras are watching their every move, innocent, or not.
Even on a superyacht, there's nowhere to hide from the past. Every stolen glance, every whispered argument, every lingering memory threatens to ignite what never fully burned out. And as the tension spills into their day jobs, even the dinner service is spiralling into disaster.
They’ve crashed before… but could eight weeks at sea be their second chance to get it right? Or will it be the storm that finally sinks them for good?
-------------------------------------------------
chancereality tvforced proximityforbiddenhigh stakesangstyBelow Deck vibes
444 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 21, 2026
1863 people are currently reading
19450 people want to read
About the author
Kandi Steiner
98 books15.5k followersKandi 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.
CONNECT WITH KANDI:
➜ NEWSLETTER: kandisteiner.com/newsletter
➜ FACEBOOK: facebook.com/kandisteiner
➜ FACEBOOK READER GROUP (Kandiland): facebook.com/groups/kandilandks
➜ INSTAGRAM: Instagram.com/kandisteiner
➜ TIKTOK: tiktok.com/@authorkandisteiner
➜ PINTEREST: pinterest.com/authorkandisteiner
➜ WEBSITE: www.kandisteiner.com
Kandi Steiner may be coming to a city near you! Check out her “events” tab to see all the signings she’s attending in the near future:
➜ www.kandisteiner.com/events
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.
CONNECT WITH KANDI:
➜ NEWSLETTER: kandisteiner.com/newsletter
➜ FACEBOOK: facebook.com/kandisteiner
➜ FACEBOOK READER GROUP (Kandiland): facebook.com/groups/kandilandks
➜ INSTAGRAM: Instagram.com/kandisteiner
➜ TIKTOK: tiktok.com/@authorkandisteiner
➜ PINTEREST: pinterest.com/authorkandisteiner
➜ WEBSITE: www.kandisteiner.com
Kandi Steiner may be coming to a city near you! Check out her “events” tab to see all the signings she’s attending in the near future:
➜ www.kandisteiner.com/events
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,891 reviews
April 24, 2026
bellow deck but make it a romance book!!!! 🌊🐠💦🚢⚓️
May 4, 2026
It’s honestly like reading about love island. It was fun while it lasted, Finn pissed me tf off tho, he could’ve moved way better
May 5, 2026
─── ୨ৎ 3.75 stars
⤿ .ᐟ spoiler-free review
⤿ ⋮ ⟢ started: april 16, april 25
𓈒𓏸.°• ── "some loves are inevitable—meant to be. and when you stumble upon that kind of love, it becomes an impenetrable force. nothing can break it—not trial or time or distance.”
── ⋆⋅𖤓 synopsis 🛳️
⌯✈︎┆Ember Reed has worked on luxury yachts for years but she finally receives the opportunity to be the Chief Stew, aka the head of the interior department of a luxury yacht for the summer. she is thrilled until she arrives only to find out that her ex, Finn Pearson will be working on the same yacht as head chef with her all summer. and to make matters even worse, their every word and action will be filmed for the reality tv show, close quarters.
── ⋆⋅𖤓 tropes ⛱️
⌯✈︎ forced proximity
⌯✈︎ second-chance romance
⌯✈︎ workplace romance
⌯✈︎ reality tv show setting
── ⋆⋅𖤓 thoughts ☀️
⌯✈︎┆this was so much fun. I loved the setting of the book being on a yacht so much, and the whole reality tv show aspect made everything even more entertaining and juicy. I was absolutely devouring the drama in this book which is surprising because I'm not one to love too much drama in a contemporary romance but it just worked so well with this one.
⌯✈︎┆I absolutely loved how each chapter started off as a mini interview with various characters. it really set the tone for each chapter and built a lot of anticipation for me to feel eager to keep reading. as someone who is a reality show fanatic, this really lived up to how I would want a book to recreate that vibe.
⌯✈︎┆I also really enjoyed the variety of characters as well! there weren't too many where it was overwhelming to keep track of them but there was just enough to keep it juicy and get to know all of these different big personalities well.
⌯✈︎┆my biggest problem is that I didn't love the fact that Finn had a girlfriend for most of the story. yes, she was genuinely terrible to him but it was hard for me to fully enjoy the tension between Finn and Ember in the beginning because of it.
── ⋆⋅𖤓 characters 👙
˗ˏˋ ꒰ ember reed ꒱ ˎˊ˗
"I've found me peace in you, firefly. you're my home."
I actually ended up liking Ember a lot. she was quite relatable and I loved her transparency. she battled with the pressure of pursuing what she loves and feeling like a disappointment to her family, especially her father because of it. she was messy and imperfect but so real and strong. her work ethic is something to be admired as well. her determination came through in everything she did and never gave in when many others would have.
˗ˏˋ ꒰ finn pearson ꒱ ˎˊ˗
"no one felt like Finn Pearson. no one could unlock me when he still held the key."
I was indifferent towards him for a while but damn if he didn't grow on me. another messy character but so easy to adore once you learn the truth about things. I adored the way he stuck up for Ember and eventually himself as well, speaking his truth. no, I do not agree with everything he did but a part of me does feel for him. the situation he was thrown into wasn't an easy one to navigate and he deserved so much more than the way Gisella treated him.
˗ˏˋ ꒰ ember + finn ꒱ ˎˊ˗
"we burned through the rules, through the wreckage, through every line that tried to tie us down. and what was left in our wake wasn't ash—it was new life."
this was a much better use of "right person, wrong time" compared to a love letter to whiskey. the tension between these two was so thick, the words they exchanged were beautiful, it was nearly impossible to not root for these two. their love genuinely felt real to me which is something that can often lack in standalone contemporary romances for me.
thank you so much to netgalley, keeperton and kandi steiner for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review. this book is now available to purchase or to read instantly on kindle unlimited!
⤿ .ᐟ spoiler-free review
⤿ ⋮ ⟢ started: april 16, april 25
𓈒𓏸.°• ── "some loves are inevitable—meant to be. and when you stumble upon that kind of love, it becomes an impenetrable force. nothing can break it—not trial or time or distance.”
── ⋆⋅𖤓 synopsis 🛳️
⌯✈︎┆Ember Reed has worked on luxury yachts for years but she finally receives the opportunity to be the Chief Stew, aka the head of the interior department of a luxury yacht for the summer. she is thrilled until she arrives only to find out that her ex, Finn Pearson will be working on the same yacht as head chef with her all summer. and to make matters even worse, their every word and action will be filmed for the reality tv show, close quarters.
── ⋆⋅𖤓 tropes ⛱️
⌯✈︎ forced proximity
⌯✈︎ second-chance romance
⌯✈︎ workplace romance
⌯✈︎ reality tv show setting
── ⋆⋅𖤓 thoughts ☀️
⌯✈︎┆this was so much fun. I loved the setting of the book being on a yacht so much, and the whole reality tv show aspect made everything even more entertaining and juicy. I was absolutely devouring the drama in this book which is surprising because I'm not one to love too much drama in a contemporary romance but it just worked so well with this one.
⌯✈︎┆I absolutely loved how each chapter started off as a mini interview with various characters. it really set the tone for each chapter and built a lot of anticipation for me to feel eager to keep reading. as someone who is a reality show fanatic, this really lived up to how I would want a book to recreate that vibe.
⌯✈︎┆I also really enjoyed the variety of characters as well! there weren't too many where it was overwhelming to keep track of them but there was just enough to keep it juicy and get to know all of these different big personalities well.
⌯✈︎┆my biggest problem is that I didn't love the fact that Finn had a girlfriend for most of the story. yes, she was genuinely terrible to him but it was hard for me to fully enjoy the tension between Finn and Ember in the beginning because of it.
── ⋆⋅𖤓 characters 👙
˗ˏˋ ꒰ ember reed ꒱ ˎˊ˗
"I've found me peace in you, firefly. you're my home."
I actually ended up liking Ember a lot. she was quite relatable and I loved her transparency. she battled with the pressure of pursuing what she loves and feeling like a disappointment to her family, especially her father because of it. she was messy and imperfect but so real and strong. her work ethic is something to be admired as well. her determination came through in everything she did and never gave in when many others would have.
˗ˏˋ ꒰ finn pearson ꒱ ˎˊ˗
"no one felt like Finn Pearson. no one could unlock me when he still held the key."
I was indifferent towards him for a while but damn if he didn't grow on me. another messy character but so easy to adore once you learn the truth about things. I adored the way he stuck up for Ember and eventually himself as well, speaking his truth. no, I do not agree with everything he did but a part of me does feel for him. the situation he was thrown into wasn't an easy one to navigate and he deserved so much more than the way Gisella treated him.
˗ˏˋ ꒰ ember + finn ꒱ ˎˊ˗
"we burned through the rules, through the wreckage, through every line that tried to tie us down. and what was left in our wake wasn't ash—it was new life."
this was a much better use of "right person, wrong time" compared to a love letter to whiskey. the tension between these two was so thick, the words they exchanged were beautiful, it was nearly impossible to not root for these two. their love genuinely felt real to me which is something that can often lack in standalone contemporary romances for me.
thank you so much to netgalley, keeperton and kandi steiner for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review. this book is now available to purchase or to read instantly on kindle unlimited!
April 21, 2026
Love Overboard by Kandi Steiner
4/5 stars
Oh my, I just finished this beauty and I truly loved this one. It had drama, angst, longing, fun, laughter and so much yearning. I loved the combination so much and all the elements shined brightly beside one another.
Love Overboard is the story of Ember and Finn. They both work on luxury yachts and that is how they met two years ago. They had stunning and intense boatmance. But it abruptly ended destroying them both. Both have tried to move on, but both were unable to truly let go.
Fast forward to the present time. Ember finally landed the job of chief stew and she is finally ready to truly show her skills on the Sinking Sun. A reality tv show is being filmed, so there are cameras everywhere and a team is onboard to catch all the drama. Ember wants nothing more than to show her father that she is talented, that she is making a name for herself and that this job is worthy of admiration. That it's not an easy way out of a successful career. All she wants is his approval.
She meets the crew and she bunks up with the fun Gisella. Suddenly Finn boards and they are both shocked to their core. They both didn't know the other one would be a part of this season and they quickly realize the tv show set them up. Finn is dating Gisella and the recipe for disaster is set in motion by the tv show.
I really love how honestly reality shows are portrayed in this book. How they cut and edit clips for likes and attention. How they leave out vital things and only show what they wanna show. And how they use unaired clips to prolong the interest in the program. That was a huge plus point for me.
But of course Ember and Finn are at the heart of this story. The second they meet, everything rushes to the surface and both try to fight it really hard. But their sparks only shines brighter in every single scene. This is a true slowburn and I am so glad that there was no cheating in this novel. That really elevated this love story. Don't get me wrong, there is lots of drama, taunting and fighting amongst the entire crew. But Gisella doesn't get screwed over.
The secondary characters are just so fun. I loved going on this journey with them. They stole my heart and I loved their joyful presence. Their joy mixed with everybody's lust and attraction made this a wild and such a fun ride.
Near the end I was scared the story would take a 180. But luckily the author didn't touch that path and I was so relieved.
If you love drama, fun and a passionate slow burn love story then definitely pick this beauty up. It's worth the read and worth the hype.
4 big stars from me for this brilliant book. ♥
4/5 stars
Oh my, I just finished this beauty and I truly loved this one. It had drama, angst, longing, fun, laughter and so much yearning. I loved the combination so much and all the elements shined brightly beside one another.
Love Overboard is the story of Ember and Finn. They both work on luxury yachts and that is how they met two years ago. They had stunning and intense boatmance. But it abruptly ended destroying them both. Both have tried to move on, but both were unable to truly let go.
Fast forward to the present time. Ember finally landed the job of chief stew and she is finally ready to truly show her skills on the Sinking Sun. A reality tv show is being filmed, so there are cameras everywhere and a team is onboard to catch all the drama. Ember wants nothing more than to show her father that she is talented, that she is making a name for herself and that this job is worthy of admiration. That it's not an easy way out of a successful career. All she wants is his approval.
She meets the crew and she bunks up with the fun Gisella. Suddenly Finn boards and they are both shocked to their core. They both didn't know the other one would be a part of this season and they quickly realize the tv show set them up. Finn is dating Gisella and the recipe for disaster is set in motion by the tv show.
I really love how honestly reality shows are portrayed in this book. How they cut and edit clips for likes and attention. How they leave out vital things and only show what they wanna show. And how they use unaired clips to prolong the interest in the program. That was a huge plus point for me.
But of course Ember and Finn are at the heart of this story. The second they meet, everything rushes to the surface and both try to fight it really hard. But their sparks only shines brighter in every single scene. This is a true slowburn and I am so glad that there was no cheating in this novel. That really elevated this love story. Don't get me wrong, there is lots of drama, taunting and fighting amongst the entire crew. But Gisella doesn't get screwed over.
The secondary characters are just so fun. I loved going on this journey with them. They stole my heart and I loved their joyful presence. Their joy mixed with everybody's lust and attraction made this a wild and such a fun ride.
Near the end I was scared the story would take a 180. But luckily the author didn't touch that path and I was so relieved.
If you love drama, fun and a passionate slow burn love story then definitely pick this beauty up. It's worth the read and worth the hype.
4 big stars from me for this brilliant book. ♥
May 5, 2026
⋰˚☆ 5
ೃ⁀➷
I think I just read one of my favorite books of the year, so far. This book was an utter masterpiece. Idyllic. Superb. This is my first Kandi book, and it was the furthest thing from being subpar. I was captivated from page one.
ೃ🫧🐟
The setting was a phenomenon. It captured the boat life graciously. The ambiance was so aesthetically pleasing, I was envisioning myself on the boat adjoined with the staff. The premise sounding promising, and it thoroughly delivered. On the topic of staff, I absolutely loved the staff members, accept for Gisella. The banter between everyone was so comical, and simultaneously cute. Although towards the end of the book, everything sank, a bit, the elements of everyone’s friendship were cute.
ೃ🐠🪼
The consecutive drama was MADDENING. Never a dull moment. The book pivoting around reality tv was realistic. As someone who is religiously addicted to BRAVO, I can confirm this one succeeded around the reality concepts. The pot kept stirring until hell unleashed, not dramatically, but hilariously. Loved every second.
ೃ🌊⚓️
Ember & Finn. Gosh, I loved these two. I enjoyed this specific communication because it didn’t necessarily seem trivial. Two people that thought they were moving on, but rekindled their relationship. The constant jealousy had me kicking my feet!! The yearning. The nonverbal signals. These two wanted each other so desperately. The forced proximity was the cherry on top of this cake. Unanimously, Finn was emotionally cheating with his girlfriend, I was able to look past that. I won’t be negating their relationship, because Finn definitely could’ve handled it better, but the toxicity of it all was enjoyable. I gladly ate it up. These two were made for each other. I love them!!
“Don’t you want that?” he whispered. “Because I swear to God, Em… it’s all I want. You are all I want.”
ೃ🌅🪸- I need another book with this atmosphere. This is such a perfect book for summer.
ೃ⁀➷
I think I just read one of my favorite books of the year, so far. This book was an utter masterpiece. Idyllic. Superb. This is my first Kandi book, and it was the furthest thing from being subpar. I was captivated from page one.
ೃ🫧🐟
The setting was a phenomenon. It captured the boat life graciously. The ambiance was so aesthetically pleasing, I was envisioning myself on the boat adjoined with the staff. The premise sounding promising, and it thoroughly delivered. On the topic of staff, I absolutely loved the staff members, accept for Gisella. The banter between everyone was so comical, and simultaneously cute. Although towards the end of the book, everything sank, a bit, the elements of everyone’s friendship were cute.
ೃ🐠🪼
The consecutive drama was MADDENING. Never a dull moment. The book pivoting around reality tv was realistic. As someone who is religiously addicted to BRAVO, I can confirm this one succeeded around the reality concepts. The pot kept stirring until hell unleashed, not dramatically, but hilariously. Loved every second.
ೃ🌊⚓️
Ember & Finn. Gosh, I loved these two. I enjoyed this specific communication because it didn’t necessarily seem trivial. Two people that thought they were moving on, but rekindled their relationship. The constant jealousy had me kicking my feet!! The yearning. The nonverbal signals. These two wanted each other so desperately. The forced proximity was the cherry on top of this cake. Unanimously, Finn was emotionally cheating with his girlfriend, I was able to look past that. I won’t be negating their relationship, because Finn definitely could’ve handled it better, but the toxicity of it all was enjoyable. I gladly ate it up. These two were made for each other. I love them!!
“Don’t you want that?” he whispered. “Because I swear to God, Em… it’s all I want. You are all I want.”
ೃ🌅🪸- I need another book with this atmosphere. This is such a perfect book for summer.
April 17, 2026
this was my first time reading a book by Kandi Steiner and let me tell you it did not disappoint!!
this is the perfect summer read! i already knew i was going to enjoy it because it’s a second chance romance, and that’s my favourite trope ever.
as you can probably tell from the cover, the story is set on a yacht and it’s also a reality TV show! with new guests coming in every few days, the drama never stops. the forced proximity, the yearning, the jealousy… i was so here for all of it. the tension was tensioning, the angst was angsting literally everything i want in a book.
i definitely recommend picking this up when it comes out on april 21 • it was such a fun, addictive read!
💌 • thank you to Valentine PR and Kandi Steiner for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
this is the perfect summer read! i already knew i was going to enjoy it because it’s a second chance romance, and that’s my favourite trope ever.
as you can probably tell from the cover, the story is set on a yacht and it’s also a reality TV show! with new guests coming in every few days, the drama never stops. the forced proximity, the yearning, the jealousy… i was so here for all of it. the tension was tensioning, the angst was angsting literally everything i want in a book.
i definitely recommend picking this up when it comes out on april 21 • it was such a fun, addictive read!
💌 • thank you to Valentine PR and Kandi Steiner for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
5 stars
Kandi Steiner did it again! Messy and angsty in the best way possible, with a fun reality TV twist, Love Over Board was a book I adored!
Ember and Finn are exes, and they’re stuck working together on a boat/yacht. And it’s all being filmed. Yikes, am I right? Oye vey, the drama! It’s not just them, it’s Finn’s new girlfriend (double yikes) and a lovable cast of characters (mostly lovable, that is!).
This book had a thing or two I usually don’t love in romances, but for some reason, it still worked for me! I believed in this couple so much… that they were truly meant to be. I was so happy with the ending! Even though it did have a bit of angst and was stressful at times, it was also fun! Such a good balance. Overall, it was such a win for me, and a must-read!
Kandi Steiner did it again! Messy and angsty in the best way possible, with a fun reality TV twist, Love Over Board was a book I adored!
Ember and Finn are exes, and they’re stuck working together on a boat/yacht. And it’s all being filmed. Yikes, am I right? Oye vey, the drama! It’s not just them, it’s Finn’s new girlfriend (double yikes) and a lovable cast of characters (mostly lovable, that is!).
This book had a thing or two I usually don’t love in romances, but for some reason, it still worked for me! I believed in this couple so much… that they were truly meant to be. I was so happy with the ending! Even though it did have a bit of angst and was stressful at times, it was also fun! Such a good balance. Overall, it was such a win for me, and a must-read!
Audio book source: Book Funnel
Story Rating: 5 stars
Narrators: Hannah Chiclana & Walker Williams
Narration Rating: 5 stars
Genre: Romance
Length: 11h 30m
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Four months.
That's how long it took for me to fall in love with him.
Four minutes.
That's how long it took for him to wreck my whole world.
I went into this one already a little biased, because I absolutely love Steiner’s work. Like, I trust her to wreck me in the best way, so my expectations were sitting VERY high. Yacht setting, reality show chaos, second-chance tension??? It should’ve had me in a chokehold. 🙂↕️🙂↕️
One thing I will say right away, the structure? I loved that. The little interview snippets at the start of chapters, everyone speaking from the aftermath like something big already went down… it had me leaning forward the entire time. Like okay, what happened on this boat?? Who ruined what?? It built this suspense that kept me flipping pages. 👏🏼
And the tension? Oh, it was there. 🫣😏 Thick. Uncomfortable. The kind that presses on your chest. Watching everything tighten between Ember and Finn, knowing it was all going to snap eventually… that was probably my favorite part. That slow unraveling. That inevitable crash.
That exact flavor of emotional confusion where love twists into resentment but never actually leaves? Inject it directly into my veins.😝😝
Their connection was written in this almost tidal way—pulling, receding, & never fully gone
Like… in theory?? Stunning. No notes.
But things slowly started to slip for me. 😭 The cheating-adjacent situation…
I need to be honest here because this is a dealbreaker thing for me in books. There were lines crossed. And what made it sit wrong wasn’t just the actions—it was the mindset. Like yes, the emotions were there, the history was there, the pull between them was strong—but knowing that she believed there was still someone else involved and crossed that line anyway…… yeah. That didn’t sit right with me. At all. It just left this weight over everything for me. And I hate that, because it took moments that were supposed to feel intense and romantic and made them feel conflicted instead. It pulled me out of fully rooting for them, even when I wanted to.
{I know some people will say it wasn’t technically cheating, and maybe on paper it isn’t—but morally, it felt like it was. And I couldn’t ignore that}
(Oh and Gisella?? Respectfully (not)… I was genuinely infuriated every time she was on the page. Like, it went beyond messy into malicious, and I could not let that go. I wished her the worst at several points & I stand by that.😭😐🤚🏼)
But even with all that, there were moments I appreciated. Especially Ember’s growth. Watching her slowly peel away from needing validation, from trying to meet everyone else’s expectations… that felt real.
As for the romance… I see why it works for others. There’s this underlying inevitability to Ember and Finn.
It’s very “we were always going to find our way back.”And I wanted to fully buy into that. I really did. But between the emotional disconnect and the moral gray areas that didn’t land right for me, I never fully got there.
Still… I can’t say I didn’t enjoy parts of it.
It just left me feeling a little unsettled.
3 stars because it’s not something I would read again, but the writing is amazing & I would still recommend to a certain crowd.
things to know about the book ↓
🛥️ second chance
🛥️ forced proximity
🛥️ reality TV
🛥️ cheating
🛥️ OW drama (heavy)
🛥️ angsty
🛥️ single POV (hers)
spice rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
swearing: yes
Huge thanks to NetGalley, Keeperton, and Kandi Steiner for this arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
⸻⸻⸻
・❥・⁀➷ pre-read
you’re kidding me.
I can’t believe I got accepted for this arc. I actually screamed when I got the email 😭 anything I’ve read by Kandi has my heart. brb as I prep to cry through this
That's how long it took for me to fall in love with him.
Four minutes.
That's how long it took for him to wreck my whole world.
I went into this one already a little biased, because I absolutely love Steiner’s work. Like, I trust her to wreck me in the best way, so my expectations were sitting VERY high. Yacht setting, reality show chaos, second-chance tension??? It should’ve had me in a chokehold. 🙂↕️🙂↕️
One thing I will say right away, the structure? I loved that. The little interview snippets at the start of chapters, everyone speaking from the aftermath like something big already went down… it had me leaning forward the entire time. Like okay, what happened on this boat?? Who ruined what?? It built this suspense that kept me flipping pages. 👏🏼
And the tension? Oh, it was there. 🫣😏 Thick. Uncomfortable. The kind that presses on your chest. Watching everything tighten between Ember and Finn, knowing it was all going to snap eventually… that was probably my favorite part. That slow unraveling. That inevitable crash.
“I hated him.
Because I still loved him.”
That exact flavor of emotional confusion where love twists into resentment but never actually leaves? Inject it directly into my veins.😝😝
Their connection was written in this almost tidal way—pulling, receding, & never fully gone
“Always, I felt him.
And just like the sea, he unsettled me — familiar and wild, beautiful and dangerous, capable of saving me or pulling me under.”
Like… in theory?? Stunning. No notes.
But things slowly started to slip for me. 😭 The cheating-adjacent situation…
I need to be honest here because this is a dealbreaker thing for me in books. There were lines crossed. And what made it sit wrong wasn’t just the actions—it was the mindset. Like yes, the emotions were there, the history was there, the pull between them was strong—but knowing that she believed there was still someone else involved and crossed that line anyway…… yeah. That didn’t sit right with me. At all. It just left this weight over everything for me. And I hate that, because it took moments that were supposed to feel intense and romantic and made them feel conflicted instead. It pulled me out of fully rooting for them, even when I wanted to.
{I know some people will say it wasn’t technically cheating, and maybe on paper it isn’t—but morally, it felt like it was. And I couldn’t ignore that}
(Oh and Gisella?? Respectfully (not)… I was genuinely infuriated every time she was on the page. Like, it went beyond messy into malicious, and I could not let that go. I wished her the worst at several points & I stand by that.😭😐🤚🏼)
But even with all that, there were moments I appreciated. Especially Ember’s growth. Watching her slowly peel away from needing validation, from trying to meet everyone else’s expectations… that felt real.
“Maybe all it took for me to drop the weight of their expectations was to realize this was my life, to live the way I wanted to.”
As for the romance… I see why it works for others. There’s this underlying inevitability to Ember and Finn.
“We were current and tide - pulled by the same moon, bound to the same rhythm. No one else would fit. No one else would do.”
It’s very “we were always going to find our way back.”And I wanted to fully buy into that. I really did. But between the emotional disconnect and the moral gray areas that didn’t land right for me, I never fully got there.
Still… I can’t say I didn’t enjoy parts of it.
It just left me feeling a little unsettled.
3 stars because it’s not something I would read again, but the writing is amazing & I would still recommend to a certain crowd.
things to know about the book ↓
🛥️ second chance
🛥️ forced proximity
🛥️ reality TV
🛥️ cheating
🛥️ OW drama (heavy)
🛥️ angsty
🛥️ single POV (hers)
spice rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
swearing: yes
Huge thanks to NetGalley, Keeperton, and Kandi Steiner for this arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
⸻⸻⸻
・❥・⁀➷ pre-read
you’re kidding me.
I can’t believe I got accepted for this arc. I actually screamed when I got the email 😭 anything I’ve read by Kandi has my heart. brb as I prep to cry through this
April 16, 2026
4💫
i love a second-chance romance, especially when its full of drama!
our two main characters fell in love and fell apart when they were working a charter together, but the yachting world brought them back together two years later for a reality tv show called "Close Quarter," which is similar to Below Deck. this book was full of drama, angst, tension, and exciting moments.
i really enjoyed our two characters. I did not think i was going to like finn at first, but i adored him once i got to know him better. ember was so strong and i loved seeing how much she grew in the 4 months they were on this charter. their banter and chemistry was so good too!!
what really stopped me from enjoying this more was the fact that he had a gf for majority of the book.🥴the gf sucked and treated finn horribly, but still. emotional cheating is still cheating, and i can't fully get behind that, no matter how much history the two main characters have.
if you love toxic and messy, this is for you! i also absolutely love how each chapter started like the running of a reality show with the interviews and transcript. it added so much suspense for what was to come!
thank you valentine pr, hambright pr, and kandi steiner for the arc!!!!
i love a second-chance romance, especially when its full of drama!
our two main characters fell in love and fell apart when they were working a charter together, but the yachting world brought them back together two years later for a reality tv show called "Close Quarter," which is similar to Below Deck. this book was full of drama, angst, tension, and exciting moments.
i really enjoyed our two characters. I did not think i was going to like finn at first, but i adored him once i got to know him better. ember was so strong and i loved seeing how much she grew in the 4 months they were on this charter. their banter and chemistry was so good too!!
what really stopped me from enjoying this more was the fact that he had a gf for majority of the book.🥴the gf sucked and treated finn horribly, but still. emotional cheating is still cheating, and i can't fully get behind that, no matter how much history the two main characters have.
if you love toxic and messy, this is for you! i also absolutely love how each chapter started like the running of a reality show with the interviews and transcript. it added so much suspense for what was to come!
thank you valentine pr, hambright pr, and kandi steiner for the arc!!!!
Want to Read
April 20, 2026MY ARC REQUEST WAS...DECLINED 💖💗🥰💞
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
As someone who has seen every single episode of every single season of Below Deck and who also loves messy romances, I was so excited to pick this one up! First, I really loved how every chapter began with a confessional from the crew, where they were giving their reactions to what had happened on charter like they do in reality TV. This fit the vibes so perfectly. And did this book give us messy reality TV vibes? Yes, yes it did. I was definitely glued to the story and flew through the pages to see how things were going to end. I will say, this is only once POV (the heroine's) and I still feel like we didn't really get to know the hero all that much or see him pine that much (especially since he was dating someone else who was a really awful person for a majority of the book). I wish we got to see a bit more to him as a person and understand more of why he was with the other girl for so long. I have a hard time understanding why the MC would be with someone else when that someone else is just not a nice person at all.
This does have a huge cast of character, so it takes as bit to remember who everyone is, but I had a fun time watching their dynamics as they worked together and partied together! Knowing the expected hierarchy and dynamics of the chief stew with her stewardesses, I did find it a bit odd how much the heroine cared about her friendships and opinions of her stews when she was the boss, but they did add to the drama, conflict, and angst of the story, so I'm assuming its as for the sake of the plot (and that's just me being nit-picky as such a huge fan of Below Deck).
If you're looking for a fun, dramatic romance set on a yacht that's perfect to read this summer, I'd definitely recommend this one!
This does have a huge cast of character, so it takes as bit to remember who everyone is, but I had a fun time watching their dynamics as they worked together and partied together! Knowing the expected hierarchy and dynamics of the chief stew with her stewardesses, I did find it a bit odd how much the heroine cared about her friendships and opinions of her stews when she was the boss, but they did add to the drama, conflict, and angst of the story, so I'm assuming its as for the sake of the plot (and that's just me being nit-picky as such a huge fan of Below Deck).
If you're looking for a fun, dramatic romance set on a yacht that's perfect to read this summer, I'd definitely recommend this one!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
𐙚⋆°｡⋆♡ ── 4.25 stars
oh my gosh. kandi has done it again!!!!! a queen in angsty and messy stories
if you're a fan of ALLTW, messy second chance, first loves, ow / om drama (kinda cheating but not really, then check this out!! if not.. give it a try! the audiobook full cast is soso fun!
release date - april 21, 2o26
✧˖°🛟 ⋆｡˚꩜ 𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀
⤷ second chance
⤷ reality tv
⤷ forced proximity
⤷ forbidden
⤷ angst
𐙚⋆°｡⋆♡ ── pre read
i am sat for another angsty second chance by kandi! after loving and being wrecked by ALLTW last year - ik im gonna devour up!!!
and just had to do another buddy read with my bestie justine!!! adore a full cast audiobook and i know the drama will be amazing in this!!!
↪ started apr 2
thank u maverick audio for the ALC & keeperton/arndell for the e-ARC
oh my gosh. kandi has done it again!!!!! a queen in angsty and messy stories
if you're a fan of ALLTW, messy second chance, first loves, ow / om drama (kinda cheating but not really, then check this out!! if not.. give it a try! the audiobook full cast is soso fun!
release date - april 21, 2o26
✧˖°🛟 ⋆｡˚꩜ 𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀
⤷ second chance
⤷ reality tv
⤷ forced proximity
⤷ forbidden
⤷ angst
𐙚⋆°｡⋆♡ ── pre read
i am sat for another angsty second chance by kandi! after loving and being wrecked by ALLTW last year - ik im gonna devour up!!!
and just had to do another buddy read with my bestie justine!!! adore a full cast audiobook and i know the drama will be amazing in this!!!
↪ started apr 2
thank u maverick audio for the ALC & keeperton/arndell for the e-ARC
April 25, 2026
Ember is over the moon! She’s embarking on her dream job as Chief Stew on a luxury yacht. Nothing can get in the way of this becoming her defining moment.
Well… maybe just one little hiccup. Her ex, Finn, will also be working on board as the head chef. And wait for it… his new girlfriend will also be part of the crew. Anchors aweigh!
Normally, this wouldn’t be a big issue if Ember was over him. But the spark is still there. And now the trio are all stuck on the love boat together.
I don’t see a problem here…do you?
This was a fun, forced proximity, second chance romance.
🎧I listened to the audio, and my only issue was the male narrator was so soft spoken it was as though he whispered through the entire book.
✍️ Kandi Steiner
🎧 11 hours and 30 minutes
🎤 Duet narration by Hannah Chiclana and Walker Williams
🗓️ Anticipated release date: Available Now
📈 4/5🌟🌟🌟🌟
👉 Romance, contemporary
Thank you libro.fm and Simon Maverick
Well… maybe just one little hiccup. Her ex, Finn, will also be working on board as the head chef. And wait for it… his new girlfriend will also be part of the crew. Anchors aweigh!
Normally, this wouldn’t be a big issue if Ember was over him. But the spark is still there. And now the trio are all stuck on the love boat together.
I don’t see a problem here…do you?
This was a fun, forced proximity, second chance romance.
🎧I listened to the audio, and my only issue was the male narrator was so soft spoken it was as though he whispered through the entire book.
✍️ Kandi Steiner
🎧 11 hours and 30 minutes
🎤 Duet narration by Hannah Chiclana and Walker Williams
🗓️ Anticipated release date: Available Now
📈 4/5🌟🌟🌟🌟
👉 Romance, contemporary
Thank you libro.fm and Simon Maverick
April 20, 2026
𐔌 . ⋮ love overboard 🛟 .ᐟ ֹ ₊ ꒱
what to expect:
— reality tv show setting
— forced proximity on a yacht
— tension-filled group dynamics
— second chance romance
— workplace romance
— messy emotions and jealousy
— fast-paced, bingeable chapters
wow guys… this was my first kandi steiner book, and it definitely won’t be my last. while it wasn’t a perfect read for me, there was something so addictive about it that kept me turning the pages and wanting to know what would happen next. the writing was easy to sink into, the drama kept things interesting, and it completely pulled me into the world of the story. i can already tell i’ll be picking up more from this author in the future.
𐔌 . ⋮ summary 🛟 .ᐟ ֹ ₊ ꒱
love overboard follows ember reed, who is finally stepping into her dream role as chief stew aboard the luxury mediterranean superyacht sinking sun. her new job already comes with enough pressure, such as managing demanding charter guests, leading the interior crew, and proving herself in a high-stakes environment, but there’s an added twist: the entire season is being filmed for a reality tv show called close quarters.
ember is ready for a fresh start, until she discovers that the yacht’s new head chef is finn pearson, the ex who once completely shattered her heart. the two share a painful history from a previous season working together in greece, where they fell hard for each other before things ended badly. now, with cameras capturing every interaction, they’re forced back into each other’s orbit.
as the yacht sails through the mediterranean over the course of eight charter weeks, unresolved feelings, jealousy, lingering chemistry, and old wounds begin resurfacing. between chaotic dinner services, crew drama, producer manipulation, and the pressure of being watched by millions, ember and finn have to decide whether their connection deserves a second chance, or if their love is better left in the past.
𐔌 . ⋮ characters 🛟 .ᐟ ֹ ₊ ꒱
ember was such an easy heroine to root for. she’s hardworking, capable, and determined to prove herself as chief stew, but she also has a vulnerable side that made her feel very human. i loved how she balanced strength with emotion, and it was impossible not to want the best for her. watching her grow stronger and become the person that she is at the end of the book felt so satisfying, as she was finally able to let go of the need for her father’s validation.
finn had the charm that makes a romance hero instantly compelling. he’s talented, confident, and undeniably swoony, but there’s also depth to him beneath the surface. as the story unfolds, you really get to see the layers to his character, which made him even more enjoyable to read about.
as for the rest of the crew(not looking at you, gisella), they added so much life and energy to the story. every personality brought something different, whether it was humor, tension, friendship, or drama, and they made the yacht feel like a real, chaotic workplace. they really helped create the addictive atmosphere of the book and kept things entertaining from start to finish.
𐔌 . ⋮ writing 🛟 .ᐟ ֹ ₊ ꒱
honestly, i think the writing style was my favourite part of the book. each chapter starts with a confession tape (either during or after the show), and i loved how it instantly pulled you into the “reality tv” format. it made the whole story feel more immersive, like you were actually watching everything unfold instead of just reading it.
i also really enjoyed how the story shifts between present moments and these interview style reflections. it gave us little hints of drama and aftermath without fully spoiling anything, which kept me constantly curious about what had happened or what was still coming. it made the pacing feel super addictive and very bingeable.
the mix of dialogue, internal thoughts, and those confessional snippets gave the book a really dynamic flow. it felt fast-paced without being overwhelming, and it honestly worked perfectly with the chaotic yacht setting and all the crew drama happening at once.
𐔌 . ⋮ final thoughts 🛟 .ᐟ ֹ ₊ ꒱
overall, love overboard was such an addictive, bingeable read that completely delivered drama, tension, and entertainment value. while it wasn’t a perfect book for me, it was incredibly fun to read and honestly really hard to put down once i got into it.
i loved the reality tv format, the confessional-style chapters, and the messy energy of the crew. it all worked together to create a really immersive experience. ember and finn’s dynamic kept me engaged throughout, even when things got messy or frustrating, and i found myself constantly wanting to know how everything would unfold.
in the end, this was a solid 3.5 star 🌟 read for me. it wasn’t flawless, but definitely memorable and super entertaining. i’m really glad i picked it up, and i can totally see why so many people are talking about it.
publishing date: april 21st, 2026.
𐔌 . ⋮ pre-read ⚓️ .ᐟ ֹ ₊ ꒱
just got approved for this one and i’m SO excited!!
i’ve been seeing this book everywhere lately, and the hype is actually insane. i don’t even fully know what to expect yet, but i’m already seated 🪑
thank you to netgalley and keeperton for providing me with an arc of love overboard by kandi steiner in exchange for an honest review.
what to expect:
— reality tv show setting
— forced proximity on a yacht
— tension-filled group dynamics
— second chance romance
— workplace romance
— messy emotions and jealousy
— fast-paced, bingeable chapters
wow guys… this was my first kandi steiner book, and it definitely won’t be my last. while it wasn’t a perfect read for me, there was something so addictive about it that kept me turning the pages and wanting to know what would happen next. the writing was easy to sink into, the drama kept things interesting, and it completely pulled me into the world of the story. i can already tell i’ll be picking up more from this author in the future.
𐔌 . ⋮ summary 🛟 .ᐟ ֹ ₊ ꒱
love overboard follows ember reed, who is finally stepping into her dream role as chief stew aboard the luxury mediterranean superyacht sinking sun. her new job already comes with enough pressure, such as managing demanding charter guests, leading the interior crew, and proving herself in a high-stakes environment, but there’s an added twist: the entire season is being filmed for a reality tv show called close quarters.
ember is ready for a fresh start, until she discovers that the yacht’s new head chef is finn pearson, the ex who once completely shattered her heart. the two share a painful history from a previous season working together in greece, where they fell hard for each other before things ended badly. now, with cameras capturing every interaction, they’re forced back into each other’s orbit.
as the yacht sails through the mediterranean over the course of eight charter weeks, unresolved feelings, jealousy, lingering chemistry, and old wounds begin resurfacing. between chaotic dinner services, crew drama, producer manipulation, and the pressure of being watched by millions, ember and finn have to decide whether their connection deserves a second chance, or if their love is better left in the past.
𐔌 . ⋮ characters 🛟 .ᐟ ֹ ₊ ꒱
ember was such an easy heroine to root for. she’s hardworking, capable, and determined to prove herself as chief stew, but she also has a vulnerable side that made her feel very human. i loved how she balanced strength with emotion, and it was impossible not to want the best for her. watching her grow stronger and become the person that she is at the end of the book felt so satisfying, as she was finally able to let go of the need for her father’s validation.
finn had the charm that makes a romance hero instantly compelling. he’s talented, confident, and undeniably swoony, but there’s also depth to him beneath the surface. as the story unfolds, you really get to see the layers to his character, which made him even more enjoyable to read about.
as for the rest of the crew(not looking at you, gisella), they added so much life and energy to the story. every personality brought something different, whether it was humor, tension, friendship, or drama, and they made the yacht feel like a real, chaotic workplace. they really helped create the addictive atmosphere of the book and kept things entertaining from start to finish.
𐔌 . ⋮ writing 🛟 .ᐟ ֹ ₊ ꒱
honestly, i think the writing style was my favourite part of the book. each chapter starts with a confession tape (either during or after the show), and i loved how it instantly pulled you into the “reality tv” format. it made the whole story feel more immersive, like you were actually watching everything unfold instead of just reading it.
i also really enjoyed how the story shifts between present moments and these interview style reflections. it gave us little hints of drama and aftermath without fully spoiling anything, which kept me constantly curious about what had happened or what was still coming. it made the pacing feel super addictive and very bingeable.
the mix of dialogue, internal thoughts, and those confessional snippets gave the book a really dynamic flow. it felt fast-paced without being overwhelming, and it honestly worked perfectly with the chaotic yacht setting and all the crew drama happening at once.
𐔌 . ⋮ final thoughts 🛟 .ᐟ ֹ ₊ ꒱
overall, love overboard was such an addictive, bingeable read that completely delivered drama, tension, and entertainment value. while it wasn’t a perfect book for me, it was incredibly fun to read and honestly really hard to put down once i got into it.
i loved the reality tv format, the confessional-style chapters, and the messy energy of the crew. it all worked together to create a really immersive experience. ember and finn’s dynamic kept me engaged throughout, even when things got messy or frustrating, and i found myself constantly wanting to know how everything would unfold.
in the end, this was a solid 3.5 star 🌟 read for me. it wasn’t flawless, but definitely memorable and super entertaining. i’m really glad i picked it up, and i can totally see why so many people are talking about it.
publishing date: april 21st, 2026.
𐔌 . ⋮ pre-read ⚓️ .ᐟ ֹ ₊ ꒱
just got approved for this one and i’m SO excited!!
i’ve been seeing this book everywhere lately, and the hype is actually insane. i don’t even fully know what to expect yet, but i’m already seated 🪑
April 24, 2026
Love Overboard? More like drama overboard. This was the first book I read from Kandi Steiner and she definitely has a way of hooking you in. If you live for drama, this is the book for you. We're talking full-on, drama llama action. 😂 I quickly morphed into a living popcorn eating GIF while reading this one. The drama was around every corner, and I found myself annotating, laughing, and saying “mm, mm, mmph” through every single chapter.
The story follows Ember, who is finally living her dream as Chief Stew on a Mediterranean superyacht for the hit reality show “Close Quarters”. But, of course, for the drama, the producers throw a total curveball by bringing her old flame from the past aboard. Her ex, Finn, is the new chef on her ship—and he didn't come alone. He brought his new girlfriend along, and she's assigned to be Ember’s roommate. Tensions fly off the charts and absolute chaos ensues. It is a total can’t-look-away type of vibe, keeping you glued to the page to see who will finally break under the pressure.
This is a perfect match for fans of the reality TV show Below Deck. Also, if you liked high-energy ship-based books like Without a Clue by Melissa Ferguson, Love Ahoy by Jo Lyons, or the sun-drenched romance energy of La Dolce Vita by Caitlin Alice Gilbert, you need to pick this up. This is a dream for anyone who loves jet setting travel romances, except this time the wanderlust vibes are focused entirely on a yacht. With Italy and sunny beach days as the backdrop, the work hard, play harder party culture feels so immersive. Underneath all the messy yacht antics, there is a beautiful heart to the story about choosing to love and to live for yourself instead of the expectations of others.
I think this would make a really entertaining audiobook, especially with the short scenes of the film crew interviewing the crew members at the beginning of each chapter. Kandi also shares a bonus chapter from Finn's point of view at the end of the book, and it was so good that I almost think it should have been added to the main story. Thank you to the publisher, Keeperton | Arndell, for an advanced reader copy of this book for review consideration. I am writing this review voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Perfect if you love:
🚢 Reality TV drama
📺 Below Deck vibes
💙 Second-chance romance with spice
🌍 Travel romances
😂 Chaos on yachts
👨🍳 Chef MMC (He’s Irish)
✨️ Chief Stew FMC
🩵 A drama-filled boat-mance
The story follows Ember, who is finally living her dream as Chief Stew on a Mediterranean superyacht for the hit reality show “Close Quarters”. But, of course, for the drama, the producers throw a total curveball by bringing her old flame from the past aboard. Her ex, Finn, is the new chef on her ship—and he didn't come alone. He brought his new girlfriend along, and she's assigned to be Ember’s roommate. Tensions fly off the charts and absolute chaos ensues. It is a total can’t-look-away type of vibe, keeping you glued to the page to see who will finally break under the pressure.
This is a perfect match for fans of the reality TV show Below Deck. Also, if you liked high-energy ship-based books like Without a Clue by Melissa Ferguson, Love Ahoy by Jo Lyons, or the sun-drenched romance energy of La Dolce Vita by Caitlin Alice Gilbert, you need to pick this up. This is a dream for anyone who loves jet setting travel romances, except this time the wanderlust vibes are focused entirely on a yacht. With Italy and sunny beach days as the backdrop, the work hard, play harder party culture feels so immersive. Underneath all the messy yacht antics, there is a beautiful heart to the story about choosing to love and to live for yourself instead of the expectations of others.
I think this would make a really entertaining audiobook, especially with the short scenes of the film crew interviewing the crew members at the beginning of each chapter. Kandi also shares a bonus chapter from Finn's point of view at the end of the book, and it was so good that I almost think it should have been added to the main story. Thank you to the publisher, Keeperton | Arndell, for an advanced reader copy of this book for review consideration. I am writing this review voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Perfect if you love:
🚢 Reality TV drama
📺 Below Deck vibes
💙 Second-chance romance with spice
🌍 Travel romances
😂 Chaos on yachts
👨🍳 Chef MMC (He’s Irish)
✨️ Chief Stew FMC
🩵 A drama-filled boat-mance
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Love Overboard
⤷ ⭑⭑⭑⭑.𝟮𝟱
🌊་༘࿐ Close Quarters is launching a new season featuring an exciting crew set to navigate the beautiful blue waters of the Mediterranean. Ember Reed is taking on the role of Chief Stew for the first time aboard the superyacht, Sinking Sun. She’s ready for the nonstop cameras, extravagant VIP demands, and crazy nights off. However, she didn’t expect to see her ex again as this season’s Head Chef, Finn Pearson.
Release Date: April 21, 2026 ⟢
⌞ What To Expect: ⌝
⌗ reality show
⌗ second chance
⌗ workplace romance
⌗ forced proximity
⌗ loads of angst
𓏲⋆🎥* I love my reality TV shows to be messy and filled with drama, and this book certainly delivered on that front. 'Below Deck' is a guilty pleasure of mine, and I never miss a chance to watch clips of the show whenever they appear in my feed. You can imagine how thrilled I was when I found out a book was being released with the same elements, so I know fans are going to eat it up this up!
This was my first Kandi Steiner book, and I must admit, I devoured it so quickly that it didn’t even take me a week, which is impressive considering my usual reading speed. Kandi did an excellent job portraying the reality TV aspects, allowing me to vividly imagine the cast as real people facing real-life scenarios. She also portrayed the other characters well, as each crew member had their own personality that contributed immensely to the plot! I'm not mad if we get a book about Captain Gary ♡
My favorite elements were the mixed media/confession tapes, and since I was gifted an audiobook copy by the wonderful team at Simon Maverick (credits to bestie Joni), I had an incredible immersive experience with the story's mixed-media elements. It felt like I was actually watching a reality show unfold. The inclusion of walkie-talkie segments was a fantastic touch!
The main issue I had with this book was that my morals conflicted with the actions of certain characters, particularly in the romance. I really loved Ember; her professionalism and motivation were truly inspiring. However, her yearning throughout the story felt a bit excessive. It seemed overdramatic for a four-month relationship that took place just two years ago, but that's just my opinion of it.
Finn, on the other hand, raised a few red flags for me. His mixed signals and passive-aggressiveness really bothered me. I’m glad I was able to discuss my concerns about Finn with Joni. Like, there were a couple of questionable decisions and actions that definitely crossed the line and could have been addressed up front. But that's what the drama is all about, and as I mentioned, he wasn't entirely bad, just very questionable since most of what he did was for his benefit.
જ⁀➴ Overall, I'm not gonna deny how addictive this was, and I am definitely gonna check out Kandi Steiner's other works after this one. Thank you to Netgalley, Keeperton for the e-arc, Simon Maverick for the ALC, and of course, Kandi Steiner for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Please remember that this opinion is my own. ⭑
𓇼 ⋆.˚ 𓆉 𓆝 𓆡⋆.˚ 𓇼
pre-read : another title i've been hearing so much about!! thank you, Keeperton, for the digital arc, and Simon Maverick for the audiobook arc ♡♡♡ also diving in to this with bestie joni (she's not getting rid of me yet) ₍ᐢ. .ᐢ₎ ₊˚⊹♡
⤷ ⭑⭑⭑⭑.𝟮𝟱
𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ𐀔 ❝ He loved lying with me almost as much as he loved lying to me. ❞
🌊་༘࿐ Close Quarters is launching a new season featuring an exciting crew set to navigate the beautiful blue waters of the Mediterranean. Ember Reed is taking on the role of Chief Stew for the first time aboard the superyacht, Sinking Sun. She’s ready for the nonstop cameras, extravagant VIP demands, and crazy nights off. However, she didn’t expect to see her ex again as this season’s Head Chef, Finn Pearson.
Release Date: April 21, 2026 ⟢
⌞ What To Expect: ⌝
⌗ reality show
⌗ second chance
⌗ workplace romance
⌗ forced proximity
⌗ loads of angst
𓏲⋆🎥* I love my reality TV shows to be messy and filled with drama, and this book certainly delivered on that front. 'Below Deck' is a guilty pleasure of mine, and I never miss a chance to watch clips of the show whenever they appear in my feed. You can imagine how thrilled I was when I found out a book was being released with the same elements, so I know fans are going to eat it up this up!
This was my first Kandi Steiner book, and I must admit, I devoured it so quickly that it didn’t even take me a week, which is impressive considering my usual reading speed. Kandi did an excellent job portraying the reality TV aspects, allowing me to vividly imagine the cast as real people facing real-life scenarios. She also portrayed the other characters well, as each crew member had their own personality that contributed immensely to the plot! I'm not mad if we get a book about Captain Gary ♡
❝ These were the kind of charters I lived for. Every night had a theme, every guest had a dream of what their yacht experience would be like, and I was the one with the key to make it all happen. ❞ ⋆˚࿔
My favorite elements were the mixed media/confession tapes, and since I was gifted an audiobook copy by the wonderful team at Simon Maverick (credits to bestie Joni), I had an incredible immersive experience with the story's mixed-media elements. It felt like I was actually watching a reality show unfold. The inclusion of walkie-talkie segments was a fantastic touch!
࿐༉༉ ❝ I tried to fight it, this pull between us, but I’m helpless against it and I think you are, too. I can’t stay out of your business, Firefly. Because my business is you. Everything you say, everything you do—I’m tapped into it. I’m hanging onto every word. I’m silently begging for your eyes to find mine in a crowded room, for you to come close enough for me to make up some fecking excuse to touch you. ❞
The main issue I had with this book was that my morals conflicted with the actions of certain characters, particularly in the romance. I really loved Ember; her professionalism and motivation were truly inspiring. However, her yearning throughout the story felt a bit excessive. It seemed overdramatic for a four-month relationship that took place just two years ago, but that's just my opinion of it.
Finn, on the other hand, raised a few red flags for me. His mixed signals and passive-aggressiveness really bothered me. I’m glad I was able to discuss my concerns about Finn with Joni. Like, there were a couple of questionable decisions and actions that definitely crossed the line and could have been addressed up front. But that's what the drama is all about, and as I mentioned, he wasn't entirely bad, just very questionable since most of what he did was for his benefit.
જ⁀➴ Overall, I'm not gonna deny how addictive this was, and I am definitely gonna check out Kandi Steiner's other works after this one. Thank you to Netgalley, Keeperton for the e-arc, Simon Maverick for the ALC, and of course, Kandi Steiner for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Please remember that this opinion is my own. ⭑
𓇼 ⋆.˚ 𓆉 𓆝 𓆡⋆.˚ 𓇼
pre-read : another title i've been hearing so much about!! thank you, Keeperton, for the digital arc, and Simon Maverick for the audiobook arc ♡♡♡ also diving in to this with bestie joni (she's not getting rid of me yet) ₍ᐢ. .ᐢ₎ ₊˚⊹♡
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
જ⁀➴ 2.5 stars
Thank you to Arndell and Kandi Steiner for the NetGalley widget in exchange for an honest review. For full transparency, I am a part of the Arndell Creator Influencer Program and all thoughts are my own. Love Overboard will be officially published on April 21st, 2026!
𓂃 ོ⋆☀︎𓂃⛱𓂃 ོ⋆☀︎𓂃⛱𓂃 ོ⋆☀︎𓂃⛱𓂃 ོ⋆☀︎𓂃⛱𓂃 ོ⋆☀︎𓂃⛱𓂃 ོ⋆☀︎𓂃⛱𓂃 ོ⋆☀︎𓂃⛱𓂃 ོ⋆☀︎𓂃⛱
DON'T COME FOR ME GUYS😭 I'm definitely in unpopular opinion land over here with my low rating, I'm fully aware of that, and trust me, no one is more disappointed than I am for rating this book so low. This was my first Kandi Steiner book, and I knew going in that her books are full of high tension, angst, and drama to make you keep turning the pages. While I think she delivered on that front (and trust me, I love me some good drama in a story), I believe that there was a lot that could've been handled better, especially when it comes to um...let's just say, certain tropes in the story. If you're a big fan of reality TV, especially Below Deck, you'll definitely eat this book up, but this personally wasn't my cup of tea.
✎𓂃Full review to come soon!
𓂃 ོ⋆☀︎𓂃⛱𓂃 ོ⋆☀︎𓂃⛱𓂃 ོ⋆☀︎𓂃⛱𓂃 ོ⋆☀︎𓂃⛱𓂃 ོ⋆☀︎𓂃⛱𓂃 ོ⋆☀︎𓂃⛱𓂃 ོ⋆☀︎𓂃⛱𓂃 ོ⋆☀︎𓂃⛱
Thank you to Arndell and Kandi Steiner for the NetGalley widget in exchange for an honest review. For full transparency, I am a part of the Arndell Creator Influencer Program and all thoughts are my own. Love Overboard will be officially published on April 21st, 2026!
"We can't go back in time and change it, but for some reason, whether it was easy or not, we got our second chance. Don't let them tear us apart again. Not when we just found our way back."
𓂃 ོ⋆☀︎𓂃⛱𓂃 ོ⋆☀︎𓂃⛱𓂃 ོ⋆☀︎𓂃⛱𓂃 ོ⋆☀︎𓂃⛱𓂃 ོ⋆☀︎𓂃⛱𓂃 ོ⋆☀︎𓂃⛱𓂃 ོ⋆☀︎𓂃⛱𓂃 ོ⋆☀︎𓂃⛱
DON'T COME FOR ME GUYS😭 I'm definitely in unpopular opinion land over here with my low rating, I'm fully aware of that, and trust me, no one is more disappointed than I am for rating this book so low. This was my first Kandi Steiner book, and I knew going in that her books are full of high tension, angst, and drama to make you keep turning the pages. While I think she delivered on that front (and trust me, I love me some good drama in a story), I believe that there was a lot that could've been handled better, especially when it comes to um...let's just say, certain tropes in the story. If you're a big fan of reality TV, especially Below Deck, you'll definitely eat this book up, but this personally wasn't my cup of tea.
✎𓂃Full review to come soon!
𓂃 ོ⋆☀︎𓂃⛱𓂃 ོ⋆☀︎𓂃⛱𓂃 ོ⋆☀︎𓂃⛱𓂃 ོ⋆☀︎𓂃⛱𓂃 ོ⋆☀︎𓂃⛱𓂃 ོ⋆☀︎𓂃⛱𓂃 ོ⋆☀︎𓂃⛱𓂃 ོ⋆☀︎𓂃⛱
April 25, 2026
·❥·❝You and me against the world, remember?❞·
4.75 rounded up! 💫
Such a fun summer romance! ☀️ If you've watched Below Deck and you're craving some of that drama in a romance book setting, then this will be absolutely ideal for you. Or if you just want that angsty, second-chance love story, look no further. I had such a good time!
Thank you so much to Valentine PR and Kandi Steiner for the free ARC of this book. This is my honest, voluntary review.
‧₊ ᵎᵎ 🛥️ ⋅ ˚✮
🌊 ⌗ characters
I really liked Ember and Finn as the main characters. I knew what I signed up for when I picked up this book and that's exactly what I got: yearning, tension, chemistry, and so much drama in a reality television setting and on a superyacht. The tension between Ember and Finn was magnetic from their first scene together and it continues to build throughout the book. With the second chance element of the story, sometimes there can be doubt about whether or not the couple should be together. There are absolutely zero doubts here, these two are endgame and they deserve to be! ☀️💖 Some of my favorite scenes were the kitchen "meltdown" scene and the "I know a place" scene. 🤭😮💨 Also some tattoo moments...👀
The situation they find themselves in is very complicated, their circumstances are not straightforward, and to top it up: everything is recorded for a reality tv show. Of course, things get messy. 🫢 I enjoyed reading not only about the relationship between Ember and Finn but also their interactions with the secondary characters. Some characters are more significant to the plot than others, but they all have a role to play in making the story enjoyable for the reader. 💫
🌊 ⌗ writing
I'm no stranger to Kandi Steiner's writing and I feel like I've read several types of romance books from her so far; I've loved all of them which is fantastic. 🤭💞 This one combines refreshing writing with moments full of emotional impact. The book is easy to read and the story sucks you in. I was so invested and I simply HAD to know how this would end and if all my theories were correct about the outcome of the reality tv show. 👀
Speaking of writing, I loved all the sea imagery and the nautical metaphors which were incorporated in the story. LOVED that the author matched the language used with the setting of the book. It made me really happy for some reason! 😂💖
Another element I love whenever I read multiple books by the same author, are any Easter eggs or references to their other books. The show being called Close Quarters made me really excited as that's also a book by Kandi Steiner I love. It's also extremely bingeable so if you need a recommendation after finishing this book, definitely pick that one up! 😙
🌊 ⌗ ending and other notes
The ending was perfect for the story. It actually made me emotional and really proud of the two characters. The character development was evident and I felt like everything wrapped up perfectly!
I'm so excited to read more Kandi Steiner books and maybe reread some old faves! Her writing puts me in such a good mood and I still have several books of hers to go through 🥰.
Add this to your summer TBR! 🌊☀️📚
‧₊ ᵎᵎ 🛥️ ⋅ ˚✮
4.75 rounded up! 💫
Such a fun summer romance! ☀️ If you've watched Below Deck and you're craving some of that drama in a romance book setting, then this will be absolutely ideal for you. Or if you just want that angsty, second-chance love story, look no further. I had such a good time!
Thank you so much to Valentine PR and Kandi Steiner for the free ARC of this book. This is my honest, voluntary review.
‧₊ ᵎᵎ 🛥️ ⋅ ˚✮
🌊 ⌗ characters
I really liked Ember and Finn as the main characters. I knew what I signed up for when I picked up this book and that's exactly what I got: yearning, tension, chemistry, and so much drama in a reality television setting and on a superyacht. The tension between Ember and Finn was magnetic from their first scene together and it continues to build throughout the book. With the second chance element of the story, sometimes there can be doubt about whether or not the couple should be together. There are absolutely zero doubts here, these two are endgame and they deserve to be! ☀️💖 Some of my favorite scenes were the kitchen "meltdown" scene and the "I know a place" scene. 🤭😮💨 Also some tattoo moments...👀
The situation they find themselves in is very complicated, their circumstances are not straightforward, and to top it up: everything is recorded for a reality tv show. Of course, things get messy. 🫢 I enjoyed reading not only about the relationship between Ember and Finn but also their interactions with the secondary characters. Some characters are more significant to the plot than others, but they all have a role to play in making the story enjoyable for the reader. 💫
🌊 ⌗ writing
I'm no stranger to Kandi Steiner's writing and I feel like I've read several types of romance books from her so far; I've loved all of them which is fantastic. 🤭💞 This one combines refreshing writing with moments full of emotional impact. The book is easy to read and the story sucks you in. I was so invested and I simply HAD to know how this would end and if all my theories were correct about the outcome of the reality tv show. 👀
Speaking of writing, I loved all the sea imagery and the nautical metaphors which were incorporated in the story. LOVED that the author matched the language used with the setting of the book. It made me really happy for some reason! 😂💖
Another element I love whenever I read multiple books by the same author, are any Easter eggs or references to their other books. The show being called Close Quarters made me really excited as that's also a book by Kandi Steiner I love. It's also extremely bingeable so if you need a recommendation after finishing this book, definitely pick that one up! 😙
🌊 ⌗ ending and other notes
The ending was perfect for the story. It actually made me emotional and really proud of the two characters. The character development was evident and I felt like everything wrapped up perfectly!
I'm so excited to read more Kandi Steiner books and maybe reread some old faves! Her writing puts me in such a good mood and I still have several books of hers to go through 🥰.
Add this to your summer TBR! 🌊☀️📚
‧₊ ᵎᵎ 🛥️ ⋅ ˚✮
Read
April 27, 2026I LOVED THIS AND HAVE NEVER SEEN MORE THAN A FEW BELOW DECK EPISODES
April 22, 2026
3.5-4⭐️ When a reality tv series set aboard a luxury yacht brings exes Ember and Finn (and his new girlfriend) back into each other’s orbits, sparks fly, words are had, and feelings are re-examined.
This is the epitome of the summer read, perfect for breezing through poolside with a cocktail in hand. The reality tv aspect brought the drama almost as much as the sizzling tension between our MCs, Ember and Finn. And as a sucker for second-chance romance, the angsty nature of the push and pull had me fully invested.
🎧 The graphic audiobook is an absolute must. Featuring what feels like a full-cast audio, it has a cinematic quality that makes for such a fun experience.
Read if you like:
▪️ocean setting
▪️second chance
▪️workplace romance
▪️forced proximity
▪️reality television
▪️foodie romance
Check out my Bookstagram post here ♥
Thank you Arndell Books and Simon Maverick Audio for the advanced copies.
This is the epitome of the summer read, perfect for breezing through poolside with a cocktail in hand. The reality tv aspect brought the drama almost as much as the sizzling tension between our MCs, Ember and Finn. And as a sucker for second-chance romance, the angsty nature of the push and pull had me fully invested.
🎧 The graphic audiobook is an absolute must. Featuring what feels like a full-cast audio, it has a cinematic quality that makes for such a fun experience.
Read if you like:
▪️ocean setting
▪️second chance
▪️workplace romance
▪️forced proximity
▪️reality television
▪️foodie romance
Check out my Bookstagram post here ♥
Thank you Arndell Books and Simon Maverick Audio for the advanced copies.
dnr
April 23, 2026Self note: second chance where they broke up (or he dumped her???) for whatever reason, except he has a gf for 70% of the book and he rubs it in the fmc’s face and im supposed to consider this a romance ? Yall need to get your heads checked
May 2, 2026
Love never stood a chance against bad timing and two scared kids trying to figure out who they were.
Thanks to NetGalley and Keeperton for sending me an ARC of Love Overboard in exchange for an honest review.
The Goodreads description of this book tells you everything you need to know about the story, so I’ll jump directly to my thoughts.
After reading Love Overboard, I can only assume that Kandi Steiner is a superfan of Below Deck, to which I say “bravo.” (See what I did there? 😄) Reading this book was like speeding a highlight season of the show. Ember is the classic perfectionist chief stew, in this case driven by the need to get the validation she never got from her father. Finn is the temperamental, passionate chef. Captain Gary is Captain Lee in everything but name, the father figure on the boat and in Ember’s life. Snarky second stew Bernard is a delightful blend of Josiah and Fraser. And Gisella is here to prove, among other things, that the position of deckstew is impossible and certain to disappoint the chief stew and the bosun forever and always. And all the classic beats from a charter season are here too: the crew drama and crazy guests; beach outings, stormy days, and nights out; broken galley appliances and sick crew; crew confessionals and the reunion show. It’s all here and yet, as someone who’s watched every season (including all the spinoffs), I could have easily read another hundred pages diving deeper into the charter hijinks and the deckhands, especially their bosun Palmer.
The main story in Love Overboard, the second chance romance between Ember and Finn, works as well. Ember knows she still has feelings for Finn even though two years have passed since their four-month boatmance went wrong on the last night of the season. Their breakup then made sense, but I liked that over the course of the story the reader and Ember learn that it was more complicated than she understood at the time and that Finn was not the asshat she thought he was at the time. I also liked their whole ‘being with you is worth being the villain’ vibe as they have to navigate not only their crewmates’ reactions, but the way they’ll be portrayed when the season is televised.
If you’ve never seen an episode of Below Deck 1) you should, and 2) there’s still plenty to enjoy in Love Overboard. And if you’re a fan of Below Deck, Love Overboard is a must read. Recommended.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Kandi Steiner, Keeperton | Arndell, and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
4 / 5 ⭐
This was such addictive reality trash-tv in book form.
Love Overboard brings us on a journey much like Below Deck, but much more addictive! Cameras, yachts, interviews.. It was just so reminiscent of reality TV. I ate it all up.
This was such a lovely second-chance romance! Not gonna lie, the entirety of the first half pissed me off sooooo bad because of the OW/OM drama, the miscommunication, and the angst added on top of it. But it really picked up and began to make sense after the last half.
Ember, our FMC is sooo determined. I loved her and felt for her during the entire journey. She was such a strong-willed character!
Finn... Boy pissed me the hell off for SOOO long. He was such a dick in the beginning, but once his rough exterior began to crack, I fell so in love with him!! His petname for Ember was so cute. I melted.
Overall a really good read!!
♡ pre-read ♡
Another ARC buddy read with Jay! Sooo excited!
4 / 5 ⭐
This was such addictive reality trash-tv in book form.
Love Overboard brings us on a journey much like Below Deck, but much more addictive! Cameras, yachts, interviews.. It was just so reminiscent of reality TV. I ate it all up.
This was such a lovely second-chance romance! Not gonna lie, the entirety of the first half pissed me off sooooo bad because of the OW/OM drama, the miscommunication, and the angst added on top of it. But it really picked up and began to make sense after the last half.
Ember, our FMC is sooo determined. I loved her and felt for her during the entire journey. She was such a strong-willed character!
Finn... Boy pissed me the hell off for SOOO long. He was such a dick in the beginning, but once his rough exterior began to crack, I fell so in love with him!! His petname for Ember was so cute. I melted.
Overall a really good read!!
♡ pre-read ♡
Another ARC buddy read with Jay! Sooo excited!
April 29, 2026
book 9 of my 24hr arc readathon!
i literally wanted to dnf this so badly once i figured there was cheating involved but i told myself to see it through.. don't know why i thought i had to torture myself... but anyways i didn't like this at all.. everytime gisella was mentioned, i just wanted to push her out the window and have a truck run her over..
so i guess full hate review to come??
⤷ thank you to netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶˗ˋ୨♡୧ˊ˗︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶
₊˚⊹♡ pre-read ♡⊹˚₊ ↴
24/04/2025 — okay so i'm getting mixed reviews from goodreads and now im lwk scared.., all of my friends on here rated it a 1 or 2, fml.. please do pray
20/04/2026 — literally everyone and their mom's loved it on booksta so i had to request it! it's my first kandi book so idk what to expect? im hoping it delivers???
i literally wanted to dnf this so badly once i figured there was cheating involved but i told myself to see it through.. don't know why i thought i had to torture myself... but anyways i didn't like this at all.. everytime gisella was mentioned, i just wanted to push her out the window and have a truck run her over..
so i guess full hate review to come??
⤷ thank you to netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶˗ˋ୨♡୧ˊ˗︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶
₊˚⊹♡ pre-read ♡⊹˚₊ ↴
24/04/2025 — okay so i'm getting mixed reviews from goodreads and now im lwk scared.., all of my friends on here rated it a 1 or 2, fml.. please do pray
20/04/2026 — literally everyone and their mom's loved it on booksta so i had to request it! it's my first kandi book so idk what to expect? im hoping it delivers???
Currently Reading
May 6, 2026super excited for this one esp after nadine and annie said it was amazing🥳
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
5 ★
Kandi Steiner did it again you guys!! When she dedicated this book to angst lovers, I’m fully convinced she meant me personally, cause I ate it up.
Not that I’m surprised — I knew I was going to love it. You should’ve seen me checking my inbox 20 times a day waiting for the eARC to finally appear there 🌚
Love Overboard is a messy, angsty second-chance romance, set on a yacht, where a reality TV show is being filmed, tracking every single move of the main characters. Truly, what’s not to love?
・❥・ Ember
Oh, how I loved her. An insanely ambitious girl, who found her passion in life and was willing to pursue at the cost anything of anything — including some of her closest relationships. She loved her job and was incredible at it.
She is the chief stew, meaning it’s her job to ensure every service on deck is provided flawlessly, and that the guests leave blown away by the experience.
And honestly, I loved getting to read about the different aspects of her job almost as much as I enjoy the love story. The writing was just so captivating I could read 200 pages more of just the crew working and rate that 5 stars as well.
・❥・ Finn
It’s always harder to form an opinion on a character whose POV you don’t get, but reading about him through Ember’s eyes? Oh I was swooning.
Not a perfect character, it wouldn’t be as messy and as angsty if any of them were, but real and passionate and that’s the true way to my heart.
There is one chapter you can experience from his point of you and if I weren’t sold on him already (which, obviously, I was) would’ve sealed the deal for me.
・❥・ Their Relationship
What can I say… right person wrong time, second chance, forced proximity, angst, yearning, and jealousy — what more could a girl want?
I’m a sucker for a little “nothing will ever or has ever compared to you” moment and I wasn’t disappointed.
I will say I could see being put through a little bit more pain here (not that there wasn’t pain, I just like my books to shred my heart to pieces after they rip it out), but I’ll let it slide cause these two were already put through hell before the book even started.
・❥・ The Writing
There are not many things I love in this world more than Kandi Steiner’s writing. She has the power to have hooked from the dedication all the way to the acknowledgments.
Also, if there is anything I love it’s an original idea, and come on a story happening on a yacht, with new guests every few days and a reality TV show being filmed? , that’s an original idea if I ever read one. And it was done so well 😫
Y’all are lucky that I’m legally not allowed to share a million quotes with you (yet) since this was an ARC , cause this review would be filled with the most gut-wrenching, beautifully written sentences.
・❥・To summarize — 5 starts, immaculate vibes, a perfect summer read with just the right amount of drama
・❥・Do yourselves a favor: add it to your TBR and mark April 21st in your calendars cause that’s when it comes out!!
Biggest thank you to Kandi Steiner herself for writing this masterpiece, and to the Ardnell & Keeperon Teams for giving me this ARC, and for choosing me to be part of the Steiner’s Sweethearts Team <3
Kandi Steiner did it again you guys!! When she dedicated this book to angst lovers, I’m fully convinced she meant me personally, cause I ate it up.
Not that I’m surprised — I knew I was going to love it. You should’ve seen me checking my inbox 20 times a day waiting for the eARC to finally appear there 🌚
Love Overboard is a messy, angsty second-chance romance, set on a yacht, where a reality TV show is being filmed, tracking every single move of the main characters. Truly, what’s not to love?
・❥・ Ember
Oh, how I loved her. An insanely ambitious girl, who found her passion in life and was willing to pursue at the cost anything of anything — including some of her closest relationships. She loved her job and was incredible at it.
She is the chief stew, meaning it’s her job to ensure every service on deck is provided flawlessly, and that the guests leave blown away by the experience.
And honestly, I loved getting to read about the different aspects of her job almost as much as I enjoy the love story. The writing was just so captivating I could read 200 pages more of just the crew working and rate that 5 stars as well.
・❥・ Finn
It’s always harder to form an opinion on a character whose POV you don’t get, but reading about him through Ember’s eyes? Oh I was swooning.
Not a perfect character, it wouldn’t be as messy and as angsty if any of them were, but real and passionate and that’s the true way to my heart.
There is one chapter you can experience from his point of you and if I weren’t sold on him already (which, obviously, I was) would’ve sealed the deal for me.
・❥・ Their Relationship
What can I say… right person wrong time, second chance, forced proximity, angst, yearning, and jealousy — what more could a girl want?
I’m a sucker for a little “nothing will ever or has ever compared to you” moment and I wasn’t disappointed.
I will say I could see being put through a little bit more pain here (not that there wasn’t pain, I just like my books to shred my heart to pieces after they rip it out), but I’ll let it slide cause these two were already put through hell before the book even started.
・❥・ The Writing
There are not many things I love in this world more than Kandi Steiner’s writing. She has the power to have hooked from the dedication all the way to the acknowledgments.
Also, if there is anything I love it’s an original idea, and come on a story happening on a yacht, with new guests every few days and a reality TV show being filmed? , that’s an original idea if I ever read one. And it was done so well 😫
Y’all are lucky that I’m legally not allowed to share a million quotes with you (yet) since this was an ARC , cause this review would be filled with the most gut-wrenching, beautifully written sentences.
・❥・To summarize — 5 starts, immaculate vibes, a perfect summer read with just the right amount of drama
・❥・Do yourselves a favor: add it to your TBR and mark April 21st in your calendars cause that’s when it comes out!!
Biggest thank you to Kandi Steiner herself for writing this masterpiece, and to the Ardnell & Keeperon Teams for giving me this ARC, and for choosing me to be part of the Steiner’s Sweethearts Team <3
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
pre-read:
Thank you to NetGalley, Kandi Steiner and Keeperton| Arndell for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Budding reading this with the lovely Berry🍓!
I have never read anything by this author before and i really enjoyed my time reading her writing style. I have heard many people say that this book gives"Blow Deck" and they were correct. As an avid "Below Deck" fan i thoroughly enjoyed seeing the dynamics between chief stew and the chef. From the first interview i knew that Ember would be my girl. I'm glad that we got to see her relationship with her dad and how that affects how she sees herself. At first I despised Finn, but as we started to see more of their relationship i grew to like him. The way that he defended Ember and how unconditionally he loved her was beautiful. I'm glad that they got what they dreamt of.
Thank you to NetGalley, Kandi Steiner and Keeperton| Arndell for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Budding reading this with the lovely Berry🍓!
I have never read anything by this author before and i really enjoyed my time reading her writing style. I have heard many people say that this book gives"Blow Deck" and they were correct. As an avid "Below Deck" fan i thoroughly enjoyed seeing the dynamics between chief stew and the chef. From the first interview i knew that Ember would be my girl. I'm glad that we got to see her relationship with her dad and how that affects how she sees herself. At first I despised Finn, but as we started to see more of their relationship i grew to like him. The way that he defended Ember and how unconditionally he loved her was beautiful. I'm glad that they got what they dreamt of.
April 16, 2026
Second chance romance, but make it a reality tv show on a luxury yacht with no way to distance yourselves from your ex because you're working together?? Sign me up!
As a dedicated Below Deck fan I absolutely had to read this book and it did not disappoint. I loved the drama and the tension between not only the main characters, Ember and Finn, but also the other crew members on the yacht. It was giving all of the messy reality TV show vibes. The confessionals from the crew at the beginning of each chapter was such a fun addition and really sold the reality tv show aspect of the book. It was also neat to get a little bit of perspective from each character throughout the story. To be completely honest, I was sure how I was going to feel about Finn when he was first introduced, but he seriously grew on me and by the end I was rooting so hard for him and Ember.
This book was so fun and I love how it read like you were watching a reality show. It was exactly the vibes I was hoping for and loved every minute of it. I highly recommend this book for any reality TV fan, especially Below Deck, and anyone looking for a fun summer romance.
As a dedicated Below Deck fan I absolutely had to read this book and it did not disappoint. I loved the drama and the tension between not only the main characters, Ember and Finn, but also the other crew members on the yacht. It was giving all of the messy reality TV show vibes. The confessionals from the crew at the beginning of each chapter was such a fun addition and really sold the reality tv show aspect of the book. It was also neat to get a little bit of perspective from each character throughout the story. To be completely honest, I was sure how I was going to feel about Finn when he was first introduced, but he seriously grew on me and by the end I was rooting so hard for him and Ember.
This book was so fun and I love how it read like you were watching a reality show. It was exactly the vibes I was hoping for and loved every minute of it. I highly recommend this book for any reality TV fan, especially Below Deck, and anyone looking for a fun summer romance.
April 10, 2026
Below Deck fans will devourrrrrrrr this!!
I had the absolute pleasure in dual reading the ARC and then going back to listen to the ALC chapter by chapter. I’ve never read a book like this before and it truly added to the experience. The audio was impeccable!
I absolutely loved and ate up every single word of this story. I had the perfect Below Deck cast picked out and running through my head the entire time. The tension was tensioning, the angst was extra angsty, and the drama was leaping off the pages. This was everything I was hoping it would be and so much more.
Thank you to the author, publishers, Valentine PR for the ARC & Libro.FM for the ALC!
I had the absolute pleasure in dual reading the ARC and then going back to listen to the ALC chapter by chapter. I’ve never read a book like this before and it truly added to the experience. The audio was impeccable!
I absolutely loved and ate up every single word of this story. I had the perfect Below Deck cast picked out and running through my head the entire time. The tension was tensioning, the angst was extra angsty, and the drama was leaping off the pages. This was everything I was hoping it would be and so much more.
Thank you to the author, publishers, Valentine PR for the ARC & Libro.FM for the ALC!
April 22, 2026
LOVE OVERBOARD is a slow burn second chance romance set in the yachting world 🛥️
📺 I love reality TV, but haven’t seen Below Deck before. It’s been on my “to-watch” list for a while and I’ll definitely be moving it to the top of the list after reading this 🙌
Each chapter begins with a talking head interview with one of the cast members. They brought the chapters together seamlessly and provided fun commentary from the characters 👏
It’s no surprise at this point that I’m a sucker for second chance romance. Ember and Finn being exes, thrust back into each other’s lives on a reality show called Close Quarters, leads to some fun heated encounters!
The tropes —
🛥️ second chance
🛥️ forced proximity
🛥️ workplace romance
🛥️ yearning
Fans of Below Deck are going to LOVE this story. There’s love, DRAMA, and fun behind-the-scenes antics!
📺 I love reality TV, but haven’t seen Below Deck before. It’s been on my “to-watch” list for a while and I’ll definitely be moving it to the top of the list after reading this 🙌
Each chapter begins with a talking head interview with one of the cast members. They brought the chapters together seamlessly and provided fun commentary from the characters 👏
It’s no surprise at this point that I’m a sucker for second chance romance. Ember and Finn being exes, thrust back into each other’s lives on a reality show called Close Quarters, leads to some fun heated encounters!
The tropes —
🛥️ second chance
🛥️ forced proximity
🛥️ workplace romance
🛥️ yearning
Fans of Below Deck are going to LOVE this story. There’s love, DRAMA, and fun behind-the-scenes antics!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,891 reviews