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Marooned
Not yet published
Expected 26 May 26Survivor meets The Charm Offensive in this contemporary LGBTQIA+ romantic comedy about love, strategy, and connection on a desert island reality show.
Ryan Levine is a contestant on the newest season of Marooned, the hit reality show where eighteen people are stranded on a desert island, competing in challenges and voting each other out until one is left to claim the million-dollar prize. All he cares about is bringing home the money, and he’s determined to not let anything stand in his way.
That all changes when he meets Cole Walker, his handsome tribemate with a ready smile and a quick laugh--and, of course, a perfect body. In other words, Cole is a distraction, and that's the one thing Ryan can't afford, not when the slightest mistake could get him voted out. Will he be able to navigate the twists and turns of the game and win the million? Or will he go home with nothing but empty pockets and a broken heart?
Ryan Levine is a contestant on the newest season of Marooned, the hit reality show where eighteen people are stranded on a desert island, competing in challenges and voting each other out until one is left to claim the million-dollar prize. All he cares about is bringing home the money, and he’s determined to not let anything stand in his way.
That all changes when he meets Cole Walker, his handsome tribemate with a ready smile and a quick laugh--and, of course, a perfect body. In other words, Cole is a distraction, and that's the one thing Ryan can't afford, not when the slightest mistake could get him voted out. Will he be able to navigate the twists and turns of the game and win the million? Or will he go home with nothing but empty pockets and a broken heart?
256 pages, Paperback
Expected publication May 26, 2026
5 people are currently reading
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 23, 2026
Marooned by Ben Chalfin hooked me immediately. It drops you straight into the reality-show survival setting without hesitation, and that instant immersion really worked for me. The direction of the romance feels clear fairly early on, but the journey is what matters here—and for the most part, I really enjoyed the slow burn.
The reality TV backdrop is one of the book’s strongest elements. The psychological side of the show—the performance of identity, the strategic alliances, the constant awareness of being watched—adds a compelling layer to the romance. At times there is quite a bit of exposition about the rules and mechanics of the show, which slightly slows the pacing, but it also reinforces the stakes and the structure the characters are trapped within.
If you enjoyed the dynamic and emotional tension in Charmed Offensive by Alison Cochrun, there’s a similar appeal here: high-pressure environment, complicated feelings, and a romance that simmers under public scrutiny.
The slow burn is satisfying for a long stretch—full of charged moments and near-confessions—but it does become a little drawn out in the middle. I found myself eager for the emotional payoff slightly before the characters were ready to deliver it. That said, when the story leans into its cheesier, more dramatic beats, it does so in a way that feels intentional and fun rather than cringey.
What I appreciated most was the suspense. Even heading into the final chapters, I genuinely wasn’t sure which direction the story would take. That uncertainty kept me invested right to the end.
Not flawless, but addictive, romantic, and surprisingly tense. A strong four-star read.
The reality TV backdrop is one of the book’s strongest elements. The psychological side of the show—the performance of identity, the strategic alliances, the constant awareness of being watched—adds a compelling layer to the romance. At times there is quite a bit of exposition about the rules and mechanics of the show, which slightly slows the pacing, but it also reinforces the stakes and the structure the characters are trapped within.
If you enjoyed the dynamic and emotional tension in Charmed Offensive by Alison Cochrun, there’s a similar appeal here: high-pressure environment, complicated feelings, and a romance that simmers under public scrutiny.
The slow burn is satisfying for a long stretch—full of charged moments and near-confessions—but it does become a little drawn out in the middle. I found myself eager for the emotional payoff slightly before the characters were ready to deliver it. That said, when the story leans into its cheesier, more dramatic beats, it does so in a way that feels intentional and fun rather than cringey.
What I appreciated most was the suspense. Even heading into the final chapters, I genuinely wasn’t sure which direction the story would take. That uncertainty kept me invested right to the end.
Not flawless, but addictive, romantic, and surprisingly tense. A strong four-star read.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 ⭐
• This is Reality TV done well. I really enjoyed being in Ryan's head, he was a really intelligent fun character who had depth, emotional maturity and empathy.
• I loved how high the stakes were, Ryan's chemistry with C and the friendship with all the other characters was soo good.
• I loved the games and challenges, they all were soo interesting!
❤️ Overall, A really fun book that provides the reality show experience.
•Single Pov.
💖 Thanks NetGalley for the ARC, all opinions are my own!
• This is Reality TV done well. I really enjoyed being in Ryan's head, he was a really intelligent fun character who had depth, emotional maturity and empathy.
• I loved how high the stakes were, Ryan's chemistry with C and the friendship with all the other characters was soo good.
• I loved the games and challenges, they all were soo interesting!
❤️ Overall, A really fun book that provides the reality show experience.
•Single Pov.
💖 Thanks NetGalley for the ARC, all opinions are my own!
February 17, 2026
Rating: 2.75 ⭐ (rounded to 3 ⭐ on platforms without half-stars)
Marooned is a contemporary LGBTQ+ romance set on a reality competition show in the vein of Survivor. The premise is fun: Ryan Levine enters the game determined to win the million-dollar prize at any cost, but his plans are derailed when he meets Cole Walker, a charming and distractingly attractive tribemate. What follows is a mix of strategic gameplay, budding romance, and survival challenges on a deserted island.
The setup has real potential. A queer romance unfolding amid the chaos of a reality competition should be compelling, and there are moments where it works. The romance between Ryan and Cole has sweet, tender beats that provide some genuine emotional highlights. There are also some fun structural choices that shake things up and keep the story from becoming too stagnant.
However, the execution falls short in several key areas. The pacing is relentlessly fast, often feeling more like reading a recap of events than actually experiencing them. The author rushes through major plot points while over-explaining less important details, making it difficult to stay immersed in the story. This breakneck speed leaves little room for the character development that a book like this desperately needs.
The characters, aside from a core few, feel anonymous and underdeveloped. Most contestants are introduced with only superficial details, making it hard to care about their fates or feel invested in the votes and eliminations. Without understanding their motivations for competing or what’s at stake for them, the dramatic moments lose their impact. Ryan is a serviceable protagonist, but the relationships and backstory that drive him could have been explored more deeply. Cole is compelling, but even his arc could have benefited from more development throughout.
The challenges themselves become repetitive quickly—too many puzzles that blend together without much variation or creativity. For a survival game show premise inspired by series like Survivor, The Hunger Games, or Squid Game (though far less intense), I expected higher stakes and more inventive competition design.
There are missed opportunities throughout. Dramatic moments that could have elevated the story are left unexplored, and key plot devices are introduced but never fully utilized or resolved. The writing itself is mediocre—not awful, but not particularly strong either. I found myself working harder to stay invested than a book should require.
That said, if you’re looking for a quick, light read that doesn’t require heavy investment, Marooned might work for you. It’s a fast-paced queer romance with a reality TV twist, and younger or less demanding readers may enjoy the breezy tone and central relationship.
Overall, Marooned is an entertaining concept hampered by mediocre execution. It’s not a book I’d personally recommend, but it has its moments—especially for fans of queer romance who don’t mind sacrificing depth for speed.
Spoiler Section
(Everything below contains spoilers — all spoiler text is italicized)
Thank you to NetGalley and Rising Action Publishing Co. for providing an advance copy of Marooned by Ben Chalfin in exchange for an honest review.
Marooned is a contemporary LGBTQ+ romance set on a reality competition show in the vein of Survivor. The premise is fun: Ryan Levine enters the game determined to win the million-dollar prize at any cost, but his plans are derailed when he meets Cole Walker, a charming and distractingly attractive tribemate. What follows is a mix of strategic gameplay, budding romance, and survival challenges on a deserted island.
The setup has real potential. A queer romance unfolding amid the chaos of a reality competition should be compelling, and there are moments where it works. The romance between Ryan and Cole has sweet, tender beats that provide some genuine emotional highlights. There are also some fun structural choices that shake things up and keep the story from becoming too stagnant.
However, the execution falls short in several key areas. The pacing is relentlessly fast, often feeling more like reading a recap of events than actually experiencing them. The author rushes through major plot points while over-explaining less important details, making it difficult to stay immersed in the story. This breakneck speed leaves little room for the character development that a book like this desperately needs.
The characters, aside from a core few, feel anonymous and underdeveloped. Most contestants are introduced with only superficial details, making it hard to care about their fates or feel invested in the votes and eliminations. Without understanding their motivations for competing or what’s at stake for them, the dramatic moments lose their impact. Ryan is a serviceable protagonist, but the relationships and backstory that drive him could have been explored more deeply. Cole is compelling, but even his arc could have benefited from more development throughout.
The challenges themselves become repetitive quickly—too many puzzles that blend together without much variation or creativity. For a survival game show premise inspired by series like Survivor, The Hunger Games, or Squid Game (though far less intense), I expected higher stakes and more inventive competition design.
There are missed opportunities throughout. Dramatic moments that could have elevated the story are left unexplored, and key plot devices are introduced but never fully utilized or resolved. The writing itself is mediocre—not awful, but not particularly strong either. I found myself working harder to stay invested than a book should require.
That said, if you’re looking for a quick, light read that doesn’t require heavy investment, Marooned might work for you. It’s a fast-paced queer romance with a reality TV twist, and younger or less demanding readers may enjoy the breezy tone and central relationship.
Overall, Marooned is an entertaining concept hampered by mediocre execution. It’s not a book I’d personally recommend, but it has its moments—especially for fans of queer romance who don’t mind sacrificing depth for speed.
Spoiler Section
(Everything below contains spoilers — all spoiler text is italicized)
Thank you to NetGalley and Rising Action Publishing Co. for providing an advance copy of Marooned by Ben Chalfin in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Edited 2-14-26: revising down to two stars. After reading two more books about reality TV shows after this one, The Compound and The Book of Luke, this book glaringly misses the mark.
2.5-3 stars.
I need to preface this review by saying that I would consider myself to be a Survivor semi-superfan (this means I’ve watched all the great American seasons twice, and all the Australian survivor seasons twice–but I don’t remember stats and records off the top of my head and refuse to watch post 2020 American Survivor). I think being this involved in Survivor knowledge/fandom heavily impacted my reading experience. This book is better suited for someone who doesn't know what Survivor is, or has watched a few seasons but wasn't invested.
Marooned is a reality TV show that, for all intents and purposes, is Survivor. 18 contestants are split into two tribes on an island in Samoa with a bag of rice, flint, and machete. Each tribe competes in challenges to win immunity and send the other tribe to tribal council, where one of the tribe members is voted out. It is a strategic game based on alliances, deception, and social capital. Strength is also a component needed to win immunity challenges and individual immunities later. The goal is to be one of the last two people standing. Then, all the people you’ve voted off vote for who should be the winner based on the best game played. If you’ve watched the show, you will recognize the Marooned host saying a lot of the iconic lines Jeff Probst is known for (with a few changes to fit Marooned).
In Marooned, we follow Ryan, a supposed superfan of the show (I say supposed because it’s appears he’s supposed to be the superfan archetype, but he does not come off as a superfan at all). He’s dreamed of being on the show since he was a kid and has watched every season. Now that he’s made it, he’ll do anything it takes to win. He starts building great connections with his alliance members, especially Cole. How can he win while maintaining a friendship (or more) when he's outside the game? I was hoping to see a unique take on this conflict, but the author plays it safe. The climax ended up feeling blah. With the amount of Survivor content available, there’s a lot of ways to subvert expectations.
From recalling the seasons I’ve watched, the author does a good job of creating a new “season,” but it does end up being a bit boring to read because nothing crazy happens (or I have too much knowledge of the game for this to be interesting). We only get Ryan’s perspective, but he’s not interesting enough to carry narrating the game. I would’ve been way more engaged if we had different perspectives so we could see how each player is interpreting the events (similar to the confessionals we get on the actual TV show). I wanted to see the Jury Villa gossip!!!!! Ryan and Cole’s relationship was cute, but I wasn't invested in their relationship because they barely interacted or played off each other. With such extreme circumstances, I would have expected heightened emotions, way more romance, or playing into the romance intentionally (thinking of Survivor Micronesia lmao). Overall, I had a fun time reading and yelling at the characters. I think someone who doesn't know that much about Survivor would have a good time reading Marooned.
Thank you Netgalley and Rising Action Publishing for the ARC in exchange for a fair review.
----------------------
Okay that’s the basic review, now I want to get to my reaction as a semi-superfan. Spoilers ahead.
Gahhhhh, I wanted so much more from this. I have no idea how familiar the author is with Survivor because I couldn't find the Author's note, so I don't know how forgiving I should be. A lot of my frustration stems from the "superfan" perspective we are reading from. I could've forgiven a lot of this if we were following someone who didn't know anything about the game and was desperately trying to keep up (but I still would've wanted to see that person learning all the metas we don't see discussed).
The game play is predictable and boring. There aren’t any amazing betrayals or blindsides. The first vote strategy is controversial in my opinion because usually the first vote is unanimous to keep tribe harmony (meta gaming). When Ryan and Cole are chosen to go on the reward the obvious way to avoid conflict is to talk as a team about what to prioritize, or do that and be SNEAKY! Production would usually give some kind of trade off, like you can take a jar of cookies for yourself, but you get less supplies for the team--then you have tension!
There have been 19 seasons of Marooned. There must be a game meta at this point and it’s never even discussed. I wanted to know the sleeping meta. We never learn who is sleeping next to who, which gives a lot of insight as to where alliances really lie and the hierarchy within the tribe. The one part that really annoyed me was contestants not immediately looking for hidden immunity idols before the clues are given. No one was looking for clues or idols at any of the rewards! No one seems to care about the idols! Ryan wasn't even ecstatic when he found an idol. This is a huge part of the game, and idol hunting has had so many interesting developments as the show has progressed. They do talk about the other team throwing, which was funny.
I could see the Cole blindside coming from a mile away, and we don't even get Ryan needing to choose between moving to the next round or voting off Cole. We barely get to know the other characters, so it’s not painful or emotional when they are voted off. Ryan's alliance dominates the game the whole way, so the scramble and tribal councils are boring. He gets to be an annoying middle player. There was no tension because he was never at risk of being voted out, and he never even thought he might be voted out. It was so frustrating to see the contestants outside the alliance not even trying to find a crack somewhere or using a vote split against the alliance in control. When Ryan comes up with the "genius" three way tie split that no one else could come up with, I was rolling my eyes a bit. That is basic split vote theory.
Also Ryan thinking he wouldn't win against Cole at final tribal when Cole made zero moves the whole game. The jury cares about GAME PLAY not personal allegiances. Honestly, I would've voted for Rhonda to win--she had that alliance locked down. Both pitches were pretty mediocre though.
I wanted to see the reaction to edited and aired version of the season. I know a lot of past Survivor players have talked about the impact the edit had on them. The wasn't an exploration of the trauma caused by starving for a month under extreme paranoia and how the transition back to the real world really difficult. There is zero discussion of how the game had a lasting impact on Ryan and Cole's relationship outside the game.
2.5-3 stars.
I need to preface this review by saying that I would consider myself to be a Survivor semi-superfan (this means I’ve watched all the great American seasons twice, and all the Australian survivor seasons twice–but I don’t remember stats and records off the top of my head and refuse to watch post 2020 American Survivor). I think being this involved in Survivor knowledge/fandom heavily impacted my reading experience. This book is better suited for someone who doesn't know what Survivor is, or has watched a few seasons but wasn't invested.
Marooned is a reality TV show that, for all intents and purposes, is Survivor. 18 contestants are split into two tribes on an island in Samoa with a bag of rice, flint, and machete. Each tribe competes in challenges to win immunity and send the other tribe to tribal council, where one of the tribe members is voted out. It is a strategic game based on alliances, deception, and social capital. Strength is also a component needed to win immunity challenges and individual immunities later. The goal is to be one of the last two people standing. Then, all the people you’ve voted off vote for who should be the winner based on the best game played. If you’ve watched the show, you will recognize the Marooned host saying a lot of the iconic lines Jeff Probst is known for (with a few changes to fit Marooned).
In Marooned, we follow Ryan, a supposed superfan of the show (I say supposed because it’s appears he’s supposed to be the superfan archetype, but he does not come off as a superfan at all). He’s dreamed of being on the show since he was a kid and has watched every season. Now that he’s made it, he’ll do anything it takes to win. He starts building great connections with his alliance members, especially Cole. How can he win while maintaining a friendship (or more) when he's outside the game? I was hoping to see a unique take on this conflict, but the author plays it safe. The climax ended up feeling blah. With the amount of Survivor content available, there’s a lot of ways to subvert expectations.
From recalling the seasons I’ve watched, the author does a good job of creating a new “season,” but it does end up being a bit boring to read because nothing crazy happens (or I have too much knowledge of the game for this to be interesting). We only get Ryan’s perspective, but he’s not interesting enough to carry narrating the game. I would’ve been way more engaged if we had different perspectives so we could see how each player is interpreting the events (similar to the confessionals we get on the actual TV show). I wanted to see the Jury Villa gossip!!!!! Ryan and Cole’s relationship was cute, but I wasn't invested in their relationship because they barely interacted or played off each other. With such extreme circumstances, I would have expected heightened emotions, way more romance, or playing into the romance intentionally (thinking of Survivor Micronesia lmao). Overall, I had a fun time reading and yelling at the characters. I think someone who doesn't know that much about Survivor would have a good time reading Marooned.
Thank you Netgalley and Rising Action Publishing for the ARC in exchange for a fair review.
----------------------
Okay that’s the basic review, now I want to get to my reaction as a semi-superfan. Spoilers ahead.
Gahhhhh, I wanted so much more from this. I have no idea how familiar the author is with Survivor because I couldn't find the Author's note, so I don't know how forgiving I should be. A lot of my frustration stems from the "superfan" perspective we are reading from. I could've forgiven a lot of this if we were following someone who didn't know anything about the game and was desperately trying to keep up (but I still would've wanted to see that person learning all the metas we don't see discussed).
The game play is predictable and boring. There aren’t any amazing betrayals or blindsides. The first vote strategy is controversial in my opinion because usually the first vote is unanimous to keep tribe harmony (meta gaming). When Ryan and Cole are chosen to go on the reward the obvious way to avoid conflict is to talk as a team about what to prioritize, or do that and be SNEAKY! Production would usually give some kind of trade off, like you can take a jar of cookies for yourself, but you get less supplies for the team--then you have tension!
There have been 19 seasons of Marooned. There must be a game meta at this point and it’s never even discussed. I wanted to know the sleeping meta. We never learn who is sleeping next to who, which gives a lot of insight as to where alliances really lie and the hierarchy within the tribe. The one part that really annoyed me was contestants not immediately looking for hidden immunity idols before the clues are given. No one was looking for clues or idols at any of the rewards! No one seems to care about the idols! Ryan wasn't even ecstatic when he found an idol. This is a huge part of the game, and idol hunting has had so many interesting developments as the show has progressed. They do talk about the other team throwing, which was funny.
I could see the Cole blindside coming from a mile away, and we don't even get Ryan needing to choose between moving to the next round or voting off Cole. We barely get to know the other characters, so it’s not painful or emotional when they are voted off. Ryan's alliance dominates the game the whole way, so the scramble and tribal councils are boring. He gets to be an annoying middle player. There was no tension because he was never at risk of being voted out, and he never even thought he might be voted out. It was so frustrating to see the contestants outside the alliance not even trying to find a crack somewhere or using a vote split against the alliance in control. When Ryan comes up with the "genius" three way tie split that no one else could come up with, I was rolling my eyes a bit. That is basic split vote theory.
Also Ryan thinking he wouldn't win against Cole at final tribal when Cole made zero moves the whole game. The jury cares about GAME PLAY not personal allegiances. Honestly, I would've voted for Rhonda to win--she had that alliance locked down. Both pitches were pretty mediocre though.
I wanted to see the reaction to edited and aired version of the season. I know a lot of past Survivor players have talked about the impact the edit had on them. The wasn't an exploration of the trauma caused by starving for a month under extreme paranoia and how the transition back to the real world really difficult. There is zero discussion of how the game had a lasting impact on Ryan and Cole's relationship outside the game.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Can someone find real love amongst a group of people all competing for $1 million? The story follows Ryan and his adventure on a competitive TV show similar to survival. Him and 17 other individuals all go up against each other competing for $1 million, they all eventually have to put aside the friendships that they’ve made and personal feelings that they have about one another to put themselves first in order to win this competition. In the end, they’re gonna only be one winner. Friendship is one thing but love makes it much more complicated. When Ryan starts falling for one of his competitors, Cole, he finds it difficult to put those feelings aside and focus on the challenge.
This book focuses more on the challenge of the TV show side of everything rather than the romance. The romance is more so a sub plot, but nonetheless cute. Though, I did find it hard to believe that Cole and Ryan could actually be in love with one another, Ryan had said a lot of times that he has to scrutinize every little thing that the players are saying because in the end, they are all going to put themselves first to win this competition. So when Cole comes forward and tells Ryan that he has feelings for him, Ryan jumps in and doesn’t second-guess it are both immediately head over heels for one another and promising to take each other to the final two.
Before the love confession, there was very limited interaction amongst the two so I find it very hard to believe in this romance. The couple quickly promises to continue on with a relationship after the show airs and is done, but Ryan doesn’t stop to question if Cole is merely just trying to get cozy with somebody who he thinks is going to win the $1 million. And when Ryan does inevitably win the competition, he doesn’t stop to think that maybe, possibly, Cole is just manipulating him in hopes that he could be with someone who about to come into a lot of money. That’s my biggest concern, with the book. I just don’t understand how that wasn’t a concern for Ryan going in.
I did enjoy the book. I did enjoy the aspects of what it would be like to be on a TV show such as this one, but the book is categorized and marketed as a romance book, but the romance is very unbelievable and much of a sub plot. It was still very sweet in the end, but I can’t help but wish there was a little bit more interaction between the two characters and a little more instances that show that these two truly do love each other and their romance is much more solid.
It was still a fun and quick read, I just wish I could believe in their romance, a little bit more.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This book focuses more on the challenge of the TV show side of everything rather than the romance. The romance is more so a sub plot, but nonetheless cute. Though, I did find it hard to believe that Cole and Ryan could actually be in love with one another, Ryan had said a lot of times that he has to scrutinize every little thing that the players are saying because in the end, they are all going to put themselves first to win this competition. So when Cole comes forward and tells Ryan that he has feelings for him, Ryan jumps in and doesn’t second-guess it are both immediately head over heels for one another and promising to take each other to the final two.
Before the love confession, there was very limited interaction amongst the two so I find it very hard to believe in this romance. The couple quickly promises to continue on with a relationship after the show airs and is done, but Ryan doesn’t stop to question if Cole is merely just trying to get cozy with somebody who he thinks is going to win the $1 million. And when Ryan does inevitably win the competition, he doesn’t stop to think that maybe, possibly, Cole is just manipulating him in hopes that he could be with someone who about to come into a lot of money. That’s my biggest concern, with the book. I just don’t understand how that wasn’t a concern for Ryan going in.
I did enjoy the book. I did enjoy the aspects of what it would be like to be on a TV show such as this one, but the book is categorized and marketed as a romance book, but the romance is very unbelievable and much of a sub plot. It was still very sweet in the end, but I can’t help but wish there was a little bit more interaction between the two characters and a little more instances that show that these two truly do love each other and their romance is much more solid.
It was still a fun and quick read, I just wish I could believe in their romance, a little bit more.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A fun, easy to read novel. The book does a good job of coming up with scenarios that are plausible for a reality TV show minus the gay romance and it’s also very good at building suspense. For a moment, I almost forgot that this was not a real reality TV show. Also, the weird speaking style of the host is way too realistic, dipping straight into the uncanny valley.
The romance starts earlier than I would have liked, and Ryan grows too attached for my taste. Dude, you’ve known him for 2 days. There’s no way his abs are that hot. No way. The blurb for the book almost gives an enemies-to-lovers vibe, but it’s anything but. Personally, I don’t care, but I know some people who really like enemies-to-lovers, so I’m saving those types of people from disappointment, assuming they read my review. Outside of constantly being distracted by Cole, Ryan is actually pretty competent, and his bias towards Cole does become more reasonable as the romance is developed further. He’s not a genius by any means, but he’s fairly smart and it’s interesting to see him ponder his next move.
This is just me nitpicking, but Katie coming out in the beginning kind of bothered me. Of course, trans people are cool and all that, but felt very random and unnecessary. If you transitioned 5 years ago, surely there are more interesting things about you than your gender? Why would you come out to people you just met? Idk, just my 0.02$. As I said, I’m just nitpicking because that’s what I do. This probably won’t annoy most people as much.
In the end, even if this novel may not be the deepest, most thought-provoking piece of literature out there, it is still very entertaining and is worth a read in my opinion. I also thought the ending is satisfying and well-earned.
The romance starts earlier than I would have liked, and Ryan grows too attached for my taste. Dude, you’ve known him for 2 days. There’s no way his abs are that hot. No way. The blurb for the book almost gives an enemies-to-lovers vibe, but it’s anything but. Personally, I don’t care, but I know some people who really like enemies-to-lovers, so I’m saving those types of people from disappointment, assuming they read my review. Outside of constantly being distracted by Cole, Ryan is actually pretty competent, and his bias towards Cole does become more reasonable as the romance is developed further. He’s not a genius by any means, but he’s fairly smart and it’s interesting to see him ponder his next move.
This is just me nitpicking, but Katie coming out in the beginning kind of bothered me. Of course, trans people are cool and all that, but felt very random and unnecessary. If you transitioned 5 years ago, surely there are more interesting things about you than your gender? Why would you come out to people you just met? Idk, just my 0.02$. As I said, I’m just nitpicking because that’s what I do. This probably won’t annoy most people as much.
In the end, even if this novel may not be the deepest, most thought-provoking piece of literature out there, it is still very entertaining and is worth a read in my opinion. I also thought the ending is satisfying and well-earned.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
ARC REVIEW –
Based in a reality TV show that is Survivor, Ben is determined to win but also on the island with him is Cole…
I went into this book thinking this was going to be a romance set to the backdrop of Survivor. However, the story was extremely heavy on the Survivor and left me wanting so much more from the romance
I really enjoyed the game-show aspect of the story. I enjoyed reading along the challenges and the strategising of the game. I thought this was also well written and easy to imagine and follow when usually this type of story loses my attention quick smart. I enjoyed this more than I thought, especially when I became more invested in the breakdowns of alliances etc.
However, the romance element felt underdeveloped, unrealistic and the pacing felt extremely off. I was not invested in the character’s relationship and the story barely explored why they even liked each other beyond each of them thinking the other one was cute. There were some cute points but they had barely spoken (and when they did the dialogue felt clunky) let alone developed a relationship and there was already talk of falling for him? I think there were also some missed opportunities to intertwine their relationship more into the strategising of the game?
If I knew this was going to be a book more about the game show than the romance, I think I would have felt less disappointed when the epic romance didn’t come and I could just enjoy it for the main Survivor element. In saying that, I did power through this book and still enjoyed it.. it’s just not much of a romance.
Thanks NetGalley and all for the ARC!
Based in a reality TV show that is Survivor, Ben is determined to win but also on the island with him is Cole…
I went into this book thinking this was going to be a romance set to the backdrop of Survivor. However, the story was extremely heavy on the Survivor and left me wanting so much more from the romance
I really enjoyed the game-show aspect of the story. I enjoyed reading along the challenges and the strategising of the game. I thought this was also well written and easy to imagine and follow when usually this type of story loses my attention quick smart. I enjoyed this more than I thought, especially when I became more invested in the breakdowns of alliances etc.
However, the romance element felt underdeveloped, unrealistic and the pacing felt extremely off. I was not invested in the character’s relationship and the story barely explored why they even liked each other beyond each of them thinking the other one was cute. There were some cute points but they had barely spoken (and when they did the dialogue felt clunky) let alone developed a relationship and there was already talk of falling for him? I think there were also some missed opportunities to intertwine their relationship more into the strategising of the game?
If I knew this was going to be a book more about the game show than the romance, I think I would have felt less disappointed when the epic romance didn’t come and I could just enjoy it for the main Survivor element. In saying that, I did power through this book and still enjoyed it.. it’s just not much of a romance.
Thanks NetGalley and all for the ARC!
February 17, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Rising Action Publishing Co for this ARC.
I really thought this would be lots of fun to read but it was just so dull. A reality tv/romance book can be done so well, adding drama to the relationship and really using the forced proximity for all it’s worth, whilst highlighting the conflicting motives of the main characters. Books that have done this brilliantly are Winging it With You by Chip Pons and The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun.
This isn’t badly written but it was definitely just a blow by blow of a series of Survivor with a very minimal romance tacked on rather than an actual romance novel - it was really missing the charm and humour that bring these books to life. There’s barely any actual relationship shown, one late night conversation and an incredibly speedy last minute reconciliation.
Added to this, Ryan is an incredibly boring POV character - he’s just so reasonable and considers everything so thoroughly that I was increasingly desperate for him to do anything at all interesting. None of the other characters have any more to them, and their relationships are not really explored in any detail. Instead I think a good third of the book is spent discussing the possible voting tactics for eliminations from the show and how they play out. Add to that the fairly repetitive tasks and it all just ultimately feels like a wasted opportunity for a much better book.
I really thought this would be lots of fun to read but it was just so dull. A reality tv/romance book can be done so well, adding drama to the relationship and really using the forced proximity for all it’s worth, whilst highlighting the conflicting motives of the main characters. Books that have done this brilliantly are Winging it With You by Chip Pons and The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun.
This isn’t badly written but it was definitely just a blow by blow of a series of Survivor with a very minimal romance tacked on rather than an actual romance novel - it was really missing the charm and humour that bring these books to life. There’s barely any actual relationship shown, one late night conversation and an incredibly speedy last minute reconciliation.
Added to this, Ryan is an incredibly boring POV character - he’s just so reasonable and considers everything so thoroughly that I was increasingly desperate for him to do anything at all interesting. None of the other characters have any more to them, and their relationships are not really explored in any detail. Instead I think a good third of the book is spent discussing the possible voting tactics for eliminations from the show and how they play out. Add to that the fairly repetitive tasks and it all just ultimately feels like a wasted opportunity for a much better book.
January 30, 2026
If you are looking for the most accurate portrayal show Survivor in fiction, this is it. Chalfin clearly knows the mechanics of the game inside and out. Unfortunately, that is exactly where the compliments end.
This book doesn't feel like a novel; it feels like a fan fiction script.
While it captures the pacing of a reality show perfectly, it fails to utilize the medium of a book to actually go deeper.
Everything is surface-level. We get the "what" and the "where," but never the "why."
There are no plot twists, no literary "gotchas," and zero suspense. You know exactly what is going to happen before it happens.
Any hint of conflict is resolved within a few sentences. There’s no tension because the stakes never feel real.
The main character doesn't drive the story; he just stumbles through it. He doesn't make things happen,things simply happen to him until the book ends.
The "romance" was perhaps the most jarring part of the experience. The characters barely interact in any meaningful way for the majority of the book. They share a few scenes of basic dialogue, and then, suddenly, at the end, they are deeply in love?
It felt forced, unearned, and honestly, quite boring.
This book doesn't feel like a novel; it feels like a fan fiction script.
While it captures the pacing of a reality show perfectly, it fails to utilize the medium of a book to actually go deeper.
Everything is surface-level. We get the "what" and the "where," but never the "why."
There are no plot twists, no literary "gotchas," and zero suspense. You know exactly what is going to happen before it happens.
Any hint of conflict is resolved within a few sentences. There’s no tension because the stakes never feel real.
The main character doesn't drive the story; he just stumbles through it. He doesn't make things happen,things simply happen to him until the book ends.
The "romance" was perhaps the most jarring part of the experience. The characters barely interact in any meaningful way for the majority of the book. They share a few scenes of basic dialogue, and then, suddenly, at the end, they are deeply in love?
It felt forced, unearned, and honestly, quite boring.
February 20, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Had this book been presented as some sort of coming of age tale, or lesson in team work or anything but romance, I would have probably enjoyed it. However, this was presented as a full on romance book when really, 95% of it was focused (and with excruciating detail) the reality television show.
I felt like there was zero buildup between Ryan and Cole beyond a couple of conversations, and Ryan's inner monologue talking about how good Cole looked. It was very superficial and not at all helpful in moving the romance along. If you could even call it that.
Things got very repetitive. We really didn't need so many detailed accounts of the challenges or tribals. It really just made the book suffer. If this book is going to be marketed as a romance, it needs to be, ya know... romantic. This missed the mark.
Had this book been presented as some sort of coming of age tale, or lesson in team work or anything but romance, I would have probably enjoyed it. However, this was presented as a full on romance book when really, 95% of it was focused (and with excruciating detail) the reality television show.
I felt like there was zero buildup between Ryan and Cole beyond a couple of conversations, and Ryan's inner monologue talking about how good Cole looked. It was very superficial and not at all helpful in moving the romance along. If you could even call it that.
Things got very repetitive. We really didn't need so many detailed accounts of the challenges or tribals. It really just made the book suffer. If this book is going to be marketed as a romance, it needs to be, ya know... romantic. This missed the mark.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Ok, so real talk. I love gay romance fiction of all sorts. But I love Survivor even more. And as someone who unabashedly has watched the first 49 seasons of Survivor, for me the biggest drawback was the word-for-word Survivor quotes. It might have well just been called Survivor... It also meant that beat-for-beat the main narrative followed Survivor, which I mostly enjoyed - particularly in the descriptive reimagining of games and contests as well as the behind-the-scenes style sections.
As a romance, its just ok - because really, as its written, it's a Survivor story with a romance subplot. And maybe that's ok. But I wanted/needed more of Cole and Ryan as a driving force for this to really hit.
*I received an arc from netgalley in exchange for an honest review
As a romance, its just ok - because really, as its written, it's a Survivor story with a romance subplot. And maybe that's ok. But I wanted/needed more of Cole and Ryan as a driving force for this to really hit.
*I received an arc from netgalley in exchange for an honest review
February 5, 2026
ARC provided by NetGalley and this is my honest review.
Honestly, this just wasn’t very good. Compared to similar books - Winging It With You, Charm Offensive, or Winner Baked All series - Marooned really falls short. Basic writing and plot with a romance I wasn’t really invested in.
It’s also just so blatantly Survivor and doesn’t offer anything new or any exciting takes like the aforementioned books.
The best thing I can say is that it did feel like I was getting a behind the scenes look at Survivor. But, it was a really boring season of Survivor other than the Cole blindside.
Two and a half stars.
Honestly, this just wasn’t very good. Compared to similar books - Winging It With You, Charm Offensive, or Winner Baked All series - Marooned really falls short. Basic writing and plot with a romance I wasn’t really invested in.
It’s also just so blatantly Survivor and doesn’t offer anything new or any exciting takes like the aforementioned books.
The best thing I can say is that it did feel like I was getting a behind the scenes look at Survivor. But, it was a really boring season of Survivor other than the Cole blindside.
Two and a half stars.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
2.75/5
Sadly, I was disappointed with this.
I was really expecting to love this. It sounded like a lot of fun: a romance novel that takes place on a Survivor-esque tv show?! That sounds so fun!
But I found these characters to be so flat (and weirdly immediately into each other, and I always hate that) that I really couldn't root for them. I just didn't care.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
Sadly, I was disappointed with this.
I was really expecting to love this. It sounded like a lot of fun: a romance novel that takes place on a Survivor-esque tv show?! That sounds so fun!
But I found these characters to be so flat (and weirdly immediately into each other, and I always hate that) that I really couldn't root for them. I just didn't care.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I want to thank netgalley for this arc.
Marooned was a very cute story at the beginning. I was loving it and enjoying the vibes because I love romance books with a reality show setting. However, the motives that led to the end of the book, which resulted in a 2-star rating, were that there was no intention for a third at the breakup, and they should have stayed together until the end.
The writing is amazing, and the characters are really relatable.
Marooned was a very cute story at the beginning. I was loving it and enjoying the vibes because I love romance books with a reality show setting. However, the motives that led to the end of the book, which resulted in a 2-star rating, were that there was no intention for a third at the breakup, and they should have stayed together until the end.
The writing is amazing, and the characters are really relatable.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was a quick read because I couldn't put it down once I got into it! The mechanics of the game were so well explained and the author really captured the tension and complexity of Ryan and Cole's relationship well. It felt like so much more than just a simple romance story. There was growth, psychological layers, and the intrigue of the competition.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Such an fun and complex romance! The Survivor-like competition was really well described (as someone who has only seen a few episodes), and now I want to watch more of that show. Absolutely fell in love with the characters and I simply must have a sequel one day!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
cute and heartwarming romance story with great character development <3
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