Ship Happens: A Second-Chance LGBTQ+ Romance Where Exes Are Stuck Together on an Alaskan Cruise

by Mason Deaver

From bestselling and award-winning author Mason Deaver comes a delightful second-chance romance with trans representation! Trapped on a cruise together, exes Owen and Jacob are forced to confront why their relationship went off course…but in such close quarters, maybe they’ll finally be able to right the ship.

A year ago, Owen Henson had a close-knit group of friends who felt like family and a boyfriend who made his heart race just by walking into the room. But now? Everything’s unraveling. His friends seem to be moving forward without him, and his happily-ever-after shattered when his boyfriend Jacob packed up and left for North Carolina to join a research team.

The last thing Owen needs is for Jacob to waltz back into the city like nothing happened, showing up at their friends’ annual Christmas party looking just as annoyingly handsome as the day he left. Or for their friends to spring a surprise six-day, seven-night cruise up the West Coast to Alaska as a bonding trip for the group. How is Owen supposed to keep it together around the man who broke his heart, all while pretending he’s fine? Totally fine. But then Jacob tells Owen that he’d like to be something even more complicated than exes. He wants to be friends. Skeptical, Owen agrees to the plan but as they spend time together among the gorgeous Alaskan backdrop and cruise-mandated activities, Owen feels his walls coming down and he might just discover that he can’t help but fall in love again.

An emotional second-chance romance set on a breathtaking cruise, where two former flames must decide whether to let go or risk it all for a love that refuses to sink.

Tropes

Forced proximityExesSecond chanceCruisesDating in secretMeddling friends

Genres: Romance, LGBT, Queer, Contemporary, Transgender, M M Romance, Second Chance

Kindle Edition

Expected publication August 18, 2026

About the author

Mason Deaver is a bestselling and award-winning author of young adult and adult romance novels. Their books have been awarded stars from Bookpage and Booklist, nominated for the Goodreads Choice Awards, and won the Pink News Best Young Adult Book Award.

Their first novel, I Wish You All the Best, named one of Cosmopolitan's 100 Best YA Books was made into a film directed by Tommy Dorfman. It premiered at the SXSW film festival in 2024 to rave reviews.

They currently live in San Francisco.

Reviews

[annes_mesmerizing_books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read most of Ship Happens on a plane ride, and it’s the perfect book for that. Bingable, charming, and I smiled so many times while reading. I loved the T4T rep, the arthritis rep, the bigger love interest, and there’s no third-act break-up! Above all, I loved that the romance doesn’t follow the usual route, even though I know not every romance reader will agree with me.

And that epilogue… the icing on the cake.

The only thing that kept pulling me out of the story was the cruise itself. They sail from San Francisco to Alaska in a single week at Christmas, and I was constantly confused about the weather, the daylight, and how the characters dealt with either. San Francisco isn’t that cold in winter, sure, but Alaska is freezing and dark, with only a few hours of daylight. There’s hardly any mention of it. Some details are simply off, like characters leaving the ship without coats, or Owen pulling a strand of grass from a park lawn in Juneau, Alaska, in the middle of winter. I even googled it and found out those cruises don’t run in winter at all. So take the cruise logistics with a grain of salt.

Anyway, I adored this story despite that critical note. If you don’t mind the setting being inaccurate, this is a wonderful read.

Thank you, Avon and NetGalley, for this lovely ARC!

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[Lance · Rating 4 out of 5]

E-ARC generously provided by Avon Books through Netgalley. Thank you so much!

4 stars. Swoony, set on an Alaskan cruise, and containing a found family of supporting characters that were just as compelling as the main couple, Ship Happens is yet another winner of a romance from Mason Deaver.

[katarina · Rating 5 out of 5]

*4.5 rounded up
Just know “Like a Fisting Tattoo?” and “A Loving and Healthy Relationship Between a Man and His Pastry” are tied for my favorite chapter title.

This book was so fun! I am a lover of second chance romances so the moment I saw the description of this book I just knew I needed it. I really liked the approach that Mason Deaver had to this trope in tackling the “getting back together” aspect, it just felt so real and right for the characters.

The tension in this was so gooooood. You could really feel it between Owen and Jacob as they deep down still desperately wanted to be with each other despite everything. This is one of the main reasons I love second chance romances because there is just that extra layer of want.

The friend group was so bubbly and I really enjoyed all their banter and dynamic. They were flawed at times but that is what made them interesting

The cruise setting of this was a fun choice especially when it came to the forced proximity of it all. Getting to read about Owen and Jacob doing all these extravagant cruise activities made me quite jealous. I loved the development as they started to give into their lasting feelings for each other.

Overall, I love love loved this book and all the representation in it.

(Mason Deaver please plan to write more adult romance books)

Thank you so much to Avon and HarperCollins for providing me with this eARC.

[Liz ✨ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books for the ARC of Ship Happens. I was so so excited for this one, I love me a good second chance romance and a t4t one?! Sign me up.

Unfortunately, this one didn’t live up to my expectations, and maybe my expectations were too high. Let’s talk about what worked for me:

1. I liked Jacob.. I thought he was super sweet.
2. The headers of the titles were funny.
3. I liked the different representation in the book like Owen and Jacob both being trans and Owen having a disability.

What didn’t work for me:

1. The way these two couldn’t for the life of me have an actual conversation AND that’s mainly Owen’s fault WHICH LEADS ME TO MY 2nd thing..

2. Owen.. he was so unlikable it hurt.

3. The constant mention of Jacob’s weight??? Like why was that a thing???

4. THEY STILL DONT WORK THINGS OUT SPOILER OOPS.

5. Me just being picky but these two fly with just scanned passports/ids but ya girl couldn’t fly without her physical covid card once… so. maybe I’m just bitter.

Anyways, I don’t know how I feel about this one tbh. I didn’t love it but I didn’t hate it.

[Frances Welsh]

DNFd @ 28%. I couldn't stand Owen, and I was hoping he would grow on me some more as I continued, but that didn't happen, and I would rather stop reading before I potentially ended up hating it.

[Jace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm still learning to write a decent review, so bare with me. First, huge thanks to NetGalley and everyone involved in getting me access to an ARC of this book.

Okay, I wanna start the actual review by begging Mason Deaver to write more adult fiction. I always adore his work, but this book now sits as my favorite of his books. I adore our main characters, Jacob and Owen are both beautifully flawed and realistic characters. They don't even feel like characters, they feel like real people. Their chemistry bleeds off the page (screen?), and the will they won't they element is just enough to keep you on the edge of your seat. I also really love the friend group here, I love there being so many queer characters and it again feels like a real friend group. I'll admit that at moments I felt like maybe they'd be better off without each other, but they won me over in the end. I really enjoyed this book, and highly recommend it.

[Jenna-booklooksbyjenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

mason deaver you are soooo good at your job!!

[Jessica Porche · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved every second of this! I think second chance romance might be becoming a favorite trope of mine? I loved both main characters, their messy friend group, the chapter titles, and I *love* when a romance novel doesn’t follow a typical formula. I also loved the disability rep! 10/10

[Bethany Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you thank you thank you to my friend @mason_deaver for letting me take a SNEAKY PEAKY at their finished upcoming romance Ship Happens. Y’all, I was SO UNWELL READING THIS!!!!!!! I LOVE THEM SM!!! It’s a T4T, disability (done SO WELL and respectfully), second chance romance of my dreams.

One of my absolute favorite things Mason does in their books is giving me the *best* found family. My favorite thing in queer books for sure, but Mason did such an epic job in this one. These characters felt like a jumbled up family with problems and love and teasing and meddling and it was *perfect!*

Second - this second chance romance was absolutely wonderful. I was immediately bought into this dynamic and it is a *slow burn* with a great payoff. I even messaged Mason to say they were DIABOLICAL at one point cause I had to set down my kindle and shake my fist at the sky. But it’s worth it cause these two are 🥹😮‍💨🥵😏.

Owen and Jacob are not perfect. They are flawed people who try their best and their love for each other shines through everything. They have a lot of very mature discussions throughout the book and we love communication!!!! I also loved how the forced proximity really worked on these two (the massage day had me squealing) and I was positively giddy with delight every time they were thrown together.

The ending and epilogue made me cry. I don’t want to give any spoilers but I can absolutely say without a doubt - Mason has done it again. They are amazing. 🥹🥹😭😭

Thank you @mason_deaver for letting me freak out about your boys. My idiots to lovers. My sweet sweet angel babies. Truly obsessed.

Preorder this one folks!!!!

[Quilted.reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this romance and I’m honestly obsessed. This was my first book by Mason Deaver and now I already know I’m going to have to read everything else they’ve written.This story follows Owen and Jacob, two exes who are suddenly thrown back into each other’s orbit after a messy breakup. A year ago Owen had everything an amazing group of friends that felt like family and a boyfriend he was completely in love with. But when Jacob suddenly left for North Carolina to join a research team, Owen’s world basically fell apart.Fast forward to the present when Jacob unexpectedly shows back up and their friend group surprises them with a week long cruise to Alaska. Now Owen is stuck on a ship with the guy who broke his heart, surrounded by their mutual friends and forced to deal with all the unresolved feelings between them. Jacob wants them to be friends but the more time they spend together exploring the Alaskan scenery and doing cruise activities the harder it becomes for Owen to pretend he’s over him.This book completely pulled me in. The emotional depth, the forced proximity, and the second romance (am I fam of this trope now lol maybe) made it impossible to stop reading. I loved watching Owen slowly lower his walls and seeing the complicated feelings between him and Jacob unfold. The friend group and meddling moments added so much humor to the story too. I genuinely could not put this book down I stayed up until 3 AM finishing it because I had to know how everything turned out. If you love emotional second chance romances, forced proximity, and stories about finding your way back to someone you never really stopped loving, I highly recommend this one.
Such a great read and I’m officially obsessed. Now I want to go on an Alaskan cruise even more lol.

[Madalyn S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mason Deaver knocks it out of the park with their second entry into the adult romance space.

I've seen the memes all over their social about people who claim to hate second chance romance but loved Ship Happens and...yeah, count me in, folks.

Owen and Jacob went through a painful breakup, and now not only is Jacob back in San Francisco for Christmas, but they're going to be stuck together for a week. On a cruise. To Alaska.

A recipe for disaster, surely (and we know Owen loves his recipes, our baking king. A ba-king, if you will).

Except, it doesn't entirely go how they thought it would.

Ship Happens is a hilarious and heartwarming T4T romance with beautiful elements of found family, disability representation, and learning how to love and be loved in ways that are deep and meaningful, even if it's not easy. I absolutely devoured this book in a single day and have not been able to stop thinking about it. There's something infectious about a Mason Deaver book, it just worms its way into your brain and says "hello, I live here now."

Definitely a book I will be recommending to my friends and impatiently waiting until August 18 to get a final copy. Deaver has solidified themselves into a must-read author for me.

Thank you so very much to Avon Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for a free and honest review. Side note: as someone who has taken a cruise to Alaska I was especially giddy to receive this particular book from an author I love. :)

[sky · Rating 4 out of 5]

AHHHH! Another hit by Mason Deaver! Honestly don’t think i’ve read a single bad book by them and I will continue buying every single one!

This is the first adult novel by Deaver and it didn’t disappoint! I really enjoyed the tension between Owen and Jacob, more so from Owen, at the beginning and clearly seeing that they definitely still had a thing they were both trying to work through. I love the trauma and guilt they were both going through. The mental health, disability and trans rep is also very well executed.

I think the setting being on a cruise was a nice touch and Owen trying to steer clear of Jacob the whole time but them ALWAYS ending up together is kinda funny. I was also not expecting them to get stranded.

I also really like how they don’t technically “get back together” at the end since not all relationships can just magically get repaired but they talked things through and were able to keep in touch and come back together in the end.

Thank you Netgalley, Avon and Harper Voyager for this eArc in exchange for an honest review.

[Kyle Hanes · Rating 4 out of 5]

So grateful to have gotten an ARC through NetGallery for this book. I have always been a huge fan of Mason Deaver and this book has only heightened my love for their books.
What I really appreciate about this book is the representation that it has. This is a story about queer people that focuses on happiness, and what that means for them.
As someone who has just begun transitioning this book felt like a warm hug. It felt like a look into the future of what my life could look like.
The dynamics between these characters is outstanding and incredibly human. The friendship between Owen and Kaitlyn is something truly unique and relatable to so many people. And the complexities between Jacob and Owen are so amazing to see and they really helped make this romance feel more like a true human story that has its ups and downs.
Overall, I loved this book and I’m so excited for the world to be able to read it. Thank you Mason Deaver for this amazing story.

[Quyen S · Rating 1 out of 5]

ARC review

This book was a miss for me, and was close to a DNF. The premise has promise (second chance romance! forced proximity!) but the main POV character of Owen is so unlikable that it made it difficult to grab my interest or continue. He was whiny and self-centered, with no communication that wasn’t drastically emotional. Stylistically, I didn’t like how so many characters were thrown at me from the start with no set up or explanation - I felt like I was picking up the 4th book in a series.

Thanks for the opportunity of an eARC - I hope this book finds its audience.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Avon for the advanced copy via NetGalley! All opinions are my own.

This was a good read!! I enjoyed this one. I thought the tension between Owen and Jacob was very well done. This is a great second chance romance! I also loved the found family dynamics of the story. I thought the friend group worked really well and had a lot of fun banter. Overall, this was a fun read and I would recommend it to fans of second chance romance!

[Ellen Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t know I liked second chance romance until I read this. This book was just perfect.

I was originally drawn in with the T4T and the Jayvik vibes but, my, did the plot reel me in. I absolutely adored the characters in this book and I just love the way Mason Deaver writes and describes everything.

This book was everything I needed right now!

Thank you Netgalley for providing the ARC of this book and the publisher for making it a read now!

[Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

DID MASON DEAVER JUST TURN ME INTO A SECOND CHANCE STAN?

okay i am obsessed with this book. It was the perfect balance of realistic, unhinged, hilarious, with all your fav tropes!

This book follows Owen and Jacob. Jacob is Owen’s best friend’s brother and also his ex boyfriend. Owen is a tattoo artist and always feels like he’s failing at life. When his best friend announces Jacob is back, she’s pregnant, and they are all going on a cruise together, Owen has no choice but to go. Because Jacob and Owen want to both follow their dreams in very different locations in the world, they don’t know how to even be friends let alone rehash the differences that broke them up. But SHIP HAPPENS and maybe the cruise is the chance to figure it out?

This book has
Trans rep
M/M romance
Only one bed
Already in love/never stopped being in love
Second chance
Disability rep

There’s just so much I love about this book, but I really loved Owen. I loved that no character was perfect and that there was so much room to grow. I loved that both Jacob and Owen had different experiences with being trans but because it was a second chance they already knew they both loved each other fully and were more focused on overcoming being apart. I loved the end of this book and how nothing felt forced or sacrificial for love. I loved how funny so many of the moments on the cruise were. Honestly nothing not to love. Mason Weaver painted a magnificent picture and I loved seeing it unfold. This is going to be the PERFECT summer vacation romance mark my words.

[Camille · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyagers for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately I feel like I’ve come away from this book with very little to say about it. This is a second-chance romance featuring exes with a complicated past stuck together on a cruise ship for a week and forced to confront the issues of their relationship. The book takes an interesting approach to its happily ever after in that it’s not a cut-and-dry, perfect ending for the two characters--even after committing to be back in each other’s lives, Jacob and Owen spend years apart before finally reuniting again in the epilogue. I don’t have any issue with that in concept, but this book’s characters didn’t feel strong or fully-realized enough for me to get much satisfaction out of it.

I always get frustrated when romance novel side characters are so obviously accessories to a couple and have very little going on in their own lives. Sometimes they don’t even seem to have thoughts or conversations ever that don’t pertain to the main couple. Owen, the protagonist and narrator, lives with Kaitlyn at the beginning of the story, the sister of his love interest, Jacob. Katilyn is married and she and her wife announce Kaitlyn’s pregnancy at the beginning of the book, with the Alaska cruise for the group of five friends being a sort of send-off to their youth before the baby is born. Owen and Jacob, exes who have been apart for about a year now, are both invited on the cruise, and the “twist” at the climax of the book is that Kaitlyn conceived of this cruise to try and get them back together.

This didn’t work for me for a lot of reasons. Kaitlyn is supposed to be Owen’s best friend, but their relationship and conversations are all telling, telling telling. “Why haven’t you talked to him?” “How do you feel?” “What’s going on with you?” “What do you want?” If they were such close friends, living together for a year, they wouldn’t realistically need to have conversations like this, but more than that, it’s not interesting to read at all. Midway through the book, Owen goes to the cruise’s gym with their friend Kevin, and the entire conversation they have there is rehashing the plot of the book and Owen’s very obvious feelings and hold-ups and struggles that the reader is already totally aware of. It’s not a judicious use of space, and it certainly doesn’t do anything to develop Kevin as a character. It felt superfluous, and it was frustrating for the book to devote so much time to telling us what the characters are like rather than having the characters actually do much of anything.

Jacob is the other problem here as well. He doesn’t have quite the depth I was hoping for. I definitely prefer books that are from a single POV, as multiple POVs can sometimes be a bit lazy in romance, but there was never any tension about what Jacob was thinking or what he would do. His life is his marine biology career--which is basically incidental in the book, as the migration themes they’re trying to draw in don’t really integrate by the end of the book--and his relationship with Owen. Even Jacob and Kaitlyn, who are siblings, share so little in common, talk infrequently, and have no conflicts outside of, once again, Jacob and Owen’s relationship. It prevents either of them from feeling like real people.

I appreciate and see the value in the representation in this book: I have to admit, I was surprised they were both trans. It’s beyond rare to see T4T romance depicted anywhere, and I do think the gender and sexuality aspects of the book were handled well, obviously by an author who cares and is either part of or connected to the trans community. Also, Owen’s struggles with psoriatic arthritis (a condition my brother has) was interesting, and I like the way his disability was handled and naturally accommodated by the people in his life. But there was a bit of unbalance here, with Owen being so developed, the other characters’ flatness was cast into stark relief.

I have been curious about Deaver’s books in the past, so I may check out others, but this one was not really for me.

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mason Deaver does it again with Ship Happens, an achingly written, charming and honest second-chance romance featuring a pair of exes who are really, really terrible at being exes. I loved every page of it.

I was lucky enough to also read The Build-A-Boyfriend Project last year early on NetGalley, and it ended up one of my top reads of the year. There's something about how Mason Deaver writes characters and interpersonal relationships, weaves in timely but not tired pop culture references, and crafts a romance you truly want to root for—so I knew that, when he announced Ship Happens, I wanted to read it immediately.

It doesn't hurt that the main characters echo tropes that feel like they're crafted for me in a lab—the story follows Owen, a chronically ill, snarky tattoo artist with visions of running his own shop who's doing...not his best when his best friend tells him that her brother is coming back home for the holidays after a year away. Said brother is actually Owen's ex, Jacob; the pair parted ways when Jacob was offered a lucrative job in his field abroad and Owen wouldn't give up his life to move away. Maybe they both could have tried harder. Point is, after a chaotic holiday, Jacob's sister announces she's planned a cruise for their friend group to have one last vacation before she and her wife have a baby. Trapped. On a cruise ship. To Alaska. With your ex. It'll go great.

And it does. It is really, really great. Second-chance romances I feel are hard to crack—so often, you're faced with the autopsy of a relationship between two people and realize that maybe it actually was the right thing for them to break up. That something was inherently wrong at the core of their love together, which makes it hard to believe they could ever get back to that place. That wasn't the case with Owen and Jacob. Deaver writes each of their characters and their unique flaws and arcs in a way that makes it clear where they went wrong a year ago, and shows that they're willing to examine that and find a better way through if they're hoping to try again.

And it takes a lot for them to try again. It's not easy—the whole relationship feels earned. Owen is a character struggling with difficult family troubles and health issues, trying to find his place in the world as his friends move forward and he starts to feel left behind. Jacob is a man unable to sit still, going from one place to another while attempting to please everyone around him with no thought of the consequences to himself or others. The story follows them as they try to co-exist, then maybe be friends again while all avoiding the elephant in the room: they're still in love with each other.

The side characters, while less consequential, were delightful and well developed enough that I believed the little friend group/family that all of them felt so strongly about that putting up with awkward interperonal relationships makes it worth it. I would have loved to see even more of that, but not at any fault of the book—it was just so good I found myself wanting more. Also, not for anything, but as an AVID cruiser, that part of the plot was really catered to me. My only single complaint is that they had SO many good tv and movie options for a cruise. The last cruise I went on, I think I had to watch Trap like, 8 times in a week. I never caught the whole thing all at once. It was glorious. (This is obviously not a real problem, I'm just jealous of their fake cruise.)

I would easily read another book about this couple and this friend group and found myself grinning ear to ear at the story's end. Thank you so much to the publisher for letting me read this early in exchange for my honest review!

[Kelsie ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Avon for letting me read and review this book early. All thoughts are my own!!

Ship Happens is a T4T second chance romance set on a cruise ship following Owen and Jacob as they decide how to move forward after they broke up. This book has the funniest chapter titles, and I am always to excited when an author includes them in a book. The book itself is also just hilarious, and I appreciate when an author is effortlessly funny in their writing.

Owen is a tattoo artist who wants to open his own shop. He also has arthritis, which I hadn’t really ever seen represented in a romance novel before! I related so hard to his internal struggle of feeling left behind by all his friends as they move on and are accomplishing their goals. I also really related to his struggle of stepping outside his comfort zone and trying new things like traveling. Truthfully, Owen read as autistic, but I’m not sure if that was intentional. So many of his character traits were ones that I connected with as an autistic person, and I just really loved watching him open up to his friends more and be willing to try new things.

Jacob is working out of the country for a few years, and it’s his dream job. Even though Owen and Jacob still love each other, it really felt extremely realistic for them to breakup the way they did and for the reasons they did. Neither of them wanted to compromise on their work, and you can’t even blame them! They deserve to follow their dreams! Kaitlyn mentions early on that she thinks they gave up on their relationship too easily and that they could’ve fought a little harder. While it can appear that way, it’s clear both of them needed that time apart to figure out what they were willing to do for each other.

I loved watching these two orbit each other unable to ever fully let go. I enjoyed how obvious it was that they still loved each other, even when Owen was denying anything would happen between them. I also just have to say that Jacob being a golden retriever of a Big Boy was absolutely so perfect, and I adored him. The amount of times Owen fixated on Jacob’s body was so real and honestly adorable. They’re both hot, and I love them!!

The friend group in this book is so fun and felt so real. I felt connected to all of them, which isn’t always the case when there are that many side characters. Kevin, Abigail, and Kaitlyn are on the cruise with Owen and Jacob. Ravi and Hailey aren’t as present as they have a child to take care of, but the reader can still connect to them. I love the dynamic they all had together, and I loved that even when there was conflict between them, they handled it like adults and communicated with each other.

The way it ended was not what I was expecting, but I really loved it!! It felt extremely realistic for the build up of the book, and I was so satisfied by the ending. I’ve never read a second chance romance that handled the resolution that way, and it was really great!

I’m so looking forward to Mason Deaver’s next book, and I’m so excited for everyone to read Ship Happens!!

[river !! · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Specifically I think my rating is around a 4.5 but I’m rounding up!)

As a longtime fan of Mason Deaver’s work, I can definitely attest that the switch to adult novels has been an amazing choice! Both this book and “The Build-a-Boyfriend Project” flow very nicely and I can tell it’s a more comfortable place for them to write in.

For the setting and overall storytelling, I’m a huge fan of Mason’s ability to set stories in the real world with tasteful, realistic details about pop culture, jokes, and technology use, while also keeping the world feel far enough away that the story is still fun and stays relevant! Owen is an understandable and relatable character. His personality, humor, and transness are very real, like they came straight from myself or someone in my actual life. And I admit I was really touched at the inclusion of his arthritis and mobility aid usage. I’m a cane user with chronic pain and it made me realize how much I needed to have casual representation like this. Truly I think my favorite, or one of my favorite, details in the whole book. (Maybe also the SJ Sharks mention… The future is teal!)

The only thing I found missing in regards to Owen was a little deeper of a dig into his mind. He has a *lot* of self doubt/insecurity and anxiety, and that stays pretty consistent throughout. Realistic for the shorter timeframe of this story, but I also was hoping for a moment or scene(s) that push him a little harder. Especially from Jacob. We see how Jacob is put to the test, and he really seems to grow, but Owen’s growth feels more off-page and slid under the rug. Owen has a habit of wanting to run from things, and I wish just once someone really snapped or pushed him a little further so he can grow out of it. I think his growth is there, for sure, I see it, and we’re told it, but I wish I saw more of it directly. More of his internal dialogue changing and working things out in “real time.” There were a few times where I felt this distance from him really did a big disservice in providing satisfying transitions in his feelings.

However, that being said, I really enjoyed reading this story overall. I literally read it in like one session, all day, because I couldn’t put it down. (And that’s after a streak of struggling to leisure read — very grateful for this to spark that again!!) There were so many delicious cliche-esc scenes that I absolutely ate up. Owen and Jacob’s chemistry is wonderful, so realistic, and just overall sweet. I’m very satisfied in their dynamic at the end; I think it’s wonderful to see something like that in a romance book — it was the best ending Mason could’ve written for them, I think. The supporting cast are strong too, and it was always enjoyable to read the friendship dynamics between everyone.

I had fun!! Thank you so much to Avon and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book early!

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars rounded up.

I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.

This was a tender, heartfelt, and emotional character-driven story that shows the beauty of second chances and gives new meaning to right person, wrong time. Combined with the beautiful backdrop of an Alaskan cruise, you really can't help but be drawn into this story and these characters.

I love the broody and artistic type. So, as far as characters go, Owen was right up my alley. All of his self-doubt and self-deprecatory comments were deeply relatable. There were many times throughout the story I found myself relating heavily to his "quarter-life crisis." Some of the things he said or thought were things that I vividly remember going through myself. Reading stories like these about characters like Owen really makes you appreciate what you went through. It is hard to feel like you are standing still while everyone else seems to be passing you by. I loved that throughout the story, his friend and Jacob were consistently showing up for him without being too upfront in their approach. Ultimately, the character growth that we saw from Owen was really inspiring and authentic.

The relationship between Jacob and Owen was very sweet and tender. I think it was clear the first time we saw the two of them on page together that they weren't over each other. Creating that kind of chemistry and tension in a second-chance romance can be difficult, but this knocked it out of the park. And, as always, we appreciate a romance that doesn't have a third-act breakup. The problems that both Owen and Jacob had to overcome, both internally and externally, were realistic. The dialogue between them was pretty mature, all things considered. Even when there were disagreements, they were still respectful of each other, which made the choices they agreed upon ultimately more believable. Their romance had a heartwarming HEA that felt appropriate for the pair. I loved how they still committed to each other even after so much time had passed. That kind of magic is hard to find in another person. There were several times their actions and conversations brought tears to my eyes.

The setting of the cruise ship was also fun to read about, forcing a beautiful proximity on our main couple and supporting characters. There were many times that I found myself laughing at everyone's antics. Reading about all their activities on and off the cruise ship made me want to take an Alaskan cruise myself.

Overall, this story was worth the read. There were so many highlights that I loved. I think anyone who is a fan of Sara Raasch's writing will also enjoy this story. The easy-to-love characters and storytelling reminded me of their books.

[Lydia · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Owen’s ex-boyfriend, who also happens to be his roommate (and best friend)’s brother, arrives for Christmas, the agony of being hung up on your ex — and trying to act like you’re not — is almost too much. When his roommates announce they’ve also planned a surprise cruise for everyone? It’s hard to know just how he’s going to make it through the full week.

As the backstory of their relationship unfolds throughout the book, we get snippets at a time: the tender beginnings of Jacob and Owen’s relationship, Jacob’s career-driven international move, an attempt at long distance, and the multitude of feelings on both sides that led to a breakup.

Many of the relationship challenges revolve around very real problems: conflicting career goals, the question of what it means to sacrifice one’s future for someone else, and even geographical comfort. In order for the relationship to work this time, they need to navigate those challenges — but they also need to grow as individuals.

In addition to the exquisite queer yearning and agony of forced proximity with your ex who you’re maybe still in love with, SHIP HAPPENS is chock-full of queer joy. I love nothing more than a romance novel with a robust and entertaining group of friends who add to the main characters’ development, and SHIP HAPPENS brings this energy in full force. The full cast of characters is a hoot, each with a robust personality that adds, rather than detracting, from the narrative.

In fact, while I loved Owen and Jacob, their friends brought some of my favorite moments in the book. In many romances with meddling friends, for example, there can be an “all’s well that ends well” feel — that because it ended in a relationship, no matter how invasive or inappropriate, the well-intended meddling was a good thing to do. SHIP HAPPENS handles this much more adeptly, with emotional intelligence and sensitivity that considers the characters’ humanity. There’s a clear arc of genuine apology and forgiveness, that adds to the warmness of the novel.

With all of the drama and growth and backstory throughout, the pacing felt off at times. In particular, the most chaotic misadventure of all takes place so late in the book and at a quicker clip than what comes before. It was the perfect opportunity for our main characters to grow together, and it felt like we were being rushed through it, rather than being given the opportunity to savor it. Especially considering how deeply I felt the angst and tension (again, very well done!), I would have loved more time in the relief and joy of a relationship reunited.

Adventurous, angst-filled, funny, and tender, SHIP HAPPENS is worth the read for both the romance and friends we make along the way.

Thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager for an advanced copy!

[Andreia · Rating 4 out of 5]

✎✧˚ Thank you to the author, Mason Deaver, and Netgalley for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ship Happens by Mason Deaver is a swoony, emotionally layered second-chance romance that perfectly balances angst, humor, and heartfelt character growth. Set against the dreamy backdrop of an Alaskan cruise, the novel uses its forced proximity premise to full advantage, trapping exes Owen and Jacob in close quarters where unresolved feelings inevitably resurface.

What truly drives the novel is its emotional tension. Deaver handles this "getting back together" story with care, allowing both characters the space to grow rather than rushing toward reconciliation. The way we get to witness them finding a middle ground in their relationship, giving themselves time rather than abandoning their mutual feelings for good, feels refreshing in a way we don’t see enough of in adult romance fiction.

The supporting cast is equally captivating. The friend group brings a vibrant found family dynamic, full of humor, meddling, and genuine love. Their banter adds lightheartedness while also grounding the story in a sense of community that feels real and lived-in.

More importantly, the representation shines, as queer and trans identities are woven naturally into the narrative, enriching the characters without defining them. Owen’s disability is also handled with the utmost respect, as he’s never made to feel inadequate or a burden – in fact, his health issues are explained in detail and every character is compassionate and kind towards his condition.

The cruise setting enhances both the romance and the escapism, offering scenic descriptions and fun, intimate moments that push the characters closer together. Yet, the emotional stakes remain at the center of the narrative. Owen’s gradual vulnerability and Jacob’s attempts to rebuild trust create a believable, satisfying story that never feels forced.

Ship Happens is a heartfelt and engaging romance about love that lingers despite distance and pain. It’s tender, funny, and full of yearning – and even though there are a few moments that might make you gently suggest everyone drink a glass of water, it’s a swoon-worthy ride that might just leave you craving your own Alaskan cruise… preferably with a little less chaos at the end of it.

"Not everyone knows what they’re doing. And that’s okay. There’s no time limit; there’s no finish line you’re supposed to reach." The words are soft, and yet they feel like they carry the weight of the world. "What matters is that you’re happy."

[drea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Avon for the ARC!

Second chance romance + forced proximity is my kryptonite so I knew I just had to read this one!! There was a lot that I liked about this and I can't wait to read more from this author.

Right off the bat, I loved the diverse cast of characters and the different types of representation that we got in this book. Firstly, with our main couple, Owen and Jacob, both being trans men, but also through Owen's disability. There's nothing I appreciate more than reading outside of my own experience, especially when it's handled with such care like in this book. Also, the side characters definitely added to that as well!

I also loved the whole premise. Stuck on a cruise ship with your ex and your nosy, meddling friend group?? Sold. I liked all the rom com-esque antics that they got into and how it allowed Jacob and Owen to slowly find their way back to each other. This was definitely a slowww burn and there was only one spicy scene but my god it was so hot!! Well worth the wait lol.

While I did like a lot of this, I wouldn't be writing an honest review unless I mentioned how much of this fell flat for me. I think the potential was there for a lot and it just missed the mark. The forced proximity element could have been explored better. I feel like there wasn't enough tension considering their close quarters, often time the energy between them didn't feel charged like I'd hoped and just awkward more than anything.

I wanted to love Owen so bad, but he just was not my cup of tea. I think I'm too sensitive for his snark and general lack of warmth. I'm glad Jacob loved how sarcastic, dry, and sorta mean he could be, but it just wasn't for me. I did very much relate to him when it came to his feelings towards large crowds and how introverted he was though - maybe he was too much of a mirror for me lol. Jacob was so sweet and I loved how passionate he was about marine biology. His profession in general really intrigued me and it was so fun to read about.

The ending was also kind of unsatisfying. It felt like we were building up to so much more and then we get to the epilogue, and it still felt like only the start of something. Like, I can obviously make my own assumptions on what their life would look like after that, but I really needed a true epilogue, a glimpse into their future where they're finally actually together.

All that being said, I still enjoyed a lot and would absolutely check out more from this author!

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m going to preface this by saying that I work for a cruise line and I read this book, in its entirety, on a cruise. So I may be a little biased, but not necessarily in the way you might think.

I’m generally not a romance reader, but this book had everything I would want to convince me to pick it up - queer and trans representation, an interesting setting, an existing relationship, and hilarious chapter titles. I’m happy to report that this book was an absolute delight.

Owen and Jacob are just precious. I love these two idiots, and I just wanted to see them happy. There’s some good, healthy exploration here about what makes someone happy OUTSIDE of their relationship - and how sometimes, the best choice at the time is to let something go.

As a regular cruiser and someone in the industry, I did have to suspend my disbelief a bit at our climax of the story - but it worked, and hopefully folks take some very important lessons about all-aboard time.

One area I thought was lacking was descriptions of the incredible Alaskan setting that this cruise occurred in. We have a (brief) lovely depiction of the Northern Lights, but Alaska is FULL of beauty, even in the winter! I’d have loved scenic descriptions of snow-capped mountains, beautiful mid-day twilight, etc - heck, just look at the cover! Very little mention was made of how Alaska is specifically in the winter, when this cruise takes place - the few hours of daylight, how most towns are seasonal (winter cruises are rarer in comparison), so every shop and location most likely wouldn’t be open, etc. All of these would have really brought the setting to life. Aside from the Northern Lights scene, this cruise could have been in the Caribbean.

The representation here is off the charts, and it’s so good. Not only are Owen and Jacob both trans, but Owen has a disability that plays a central role in the story. Their friend group is diverse and supportive.

I have a feeling that readers will LOVE Jacob and will find Owen “unlikable.” Honestly, we need more unlikable MCs. We need to represent the breadth of human personalities, and some of them are snarky and whiney and also make delicious baked goods. Owen isn’t sunshine and rainbows - he’s struggling, he’s depressed, he’s rudderless. He’s REAL. I love Jacob, and I really love him as a warm comfort for Owen.

Thank you to Goodreads and Avon for a giveaway copy of this book.

[Crystal Emerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book—so much so that I flew through it in no time because I just couldn’t put it down.

It’s a second-chance romance featuring trans rep, a main character living with arthritis, and a forced proximity setup in a travel setting—basically a combination that completely worked for me. There’s also that perfect blend of found family and blood family who care so much they can’t help but meddle. Kaitlyn especially stood out—she just wanted her brother and best friend to find their way back to each other.

The chapter titles were such a highlight—fun, clever, and a great touch of levity that balanced out the heavier moments. I loved getting the context behind each one as the story unfolded.

Emotionally, this book hit the perfect sweet spot of angst with a satisfying, hard-earned happy ending. One thing I especially appreciated (and honestly is a must have in a second-chance romance) is that neither of them was “the bad guy” in the breakup. I love that both of them have their flaws because it speaks truthfully to the human experience. Owen, in particular, tends to lash out when he’s hurting—but ultimately, it was their circumstances that pulled them apart.

They never stopped loving each other, and I found myself rooting for them the entire time, hoping they could make it work. This book shows demonstrates that saying “right person, wrong time” and shows us when it’s the right time, it can work. Owen is deeply tied to his home—through his job, medical needs, and a real discomfort with change—while Jacob had to leave for a once-in-a-lifetime career opportunity on the other side of the world, with an uncertain, constantly shifting future.

The pining? Absolutely devastating in the best way. They both know exactly why things didn’t work before, and that those same obstacles still exist—but the love is still undeniably there.

Watching their journey unfold was incredibly satisfying, and the ending felt genuinely earned. It gave me a realistic happily-ever-after rather than something overly convenient or magical. That said, I wouldn’t have complained about a couple more chapters after the epilogue—my heart wasn’t quite ready to let them go.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon books for my ARC copy. Receiving an ARC copy did not impact my opinion of this book.

[RUTH GUCKIEAN · Rating 4 out of 5]

putting your exes on a boat and making them DEAL WITH IT is genuinely the most unhinged friend group behavior i've ever seen and i am so here for it.

ship happens knows exactly what it is and leans all the way in. owen and jacob are exes with unfinished business, their friends are gleeful agents of chaos, and there is literally nowhere to escape on a cruise ship. the forced proximity is doing WORK here. every awkward run-in at the buffet, every excursion where they somehow end up paired together, every quiet moment on deck with alaska being stupidly beautiful in the background—deaver milks every single ounce of tension out of this setup and i respect the craft.

owen's emotional arc is really where this book earns its stars. the way he's holding it together with both hands while clearly falling apart? the "i'm fine, totally fine, never been better" energy while the love of his life is standing right there being annoyingly handsome and wanting to be FRIENDS? devastating. deaver writes that specific kind of heartbreak—the one where you're grieving someone who's still alive and present and asking you to pass the salt at group dinner—with so much specificity that it physically hurt.

jacob is easy to root for too, which is crucial because in lesser hands the one-who-left could feel like a villain. instead he feels like someone who made a complicated choice and is now trying to figure out what's left. the dynamic between them has real weight and real warmth and when the walls start coming down it feels earned.

where i dock slightly: the friend group, while charming, occasionally veered into meddling territory that felt more like plot mechanics than organic behavior. and the pacing in the middle stretch sagged a tiny bit—there were a few cruise activity scenes that could have been tightened without losing anything.

but honestly? this is a warm, funny, emotional second-chance romance with great trans rep that made me want to book a cruise just so i could read it on the actual ocean. deaver understands that the best second-chance romances aren't really about whether the couple gets back together—they're about whether the person you became in the wreckage is someone capable of loving differently this time. and that's exactly the story this tells.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[megan ◡̈ · Rating 4 out of 5]

as a second chance romance lover i fully expected this trope to be my absolute favorite of the book however meddling friends absolutely knocked this one out of the park for me. i am fully obsessed with this friend group in every single way. force proximitying your bestfriend and brother in hopes they will get back together?? YES PLS MORE OF IT!! i think the characters in this book are probably my favorite friend group/found family ive read in a hot minute. i loved how supportive everyone was of others just trying to navigate life, wanting what was best for each other and trying to help nudge things along.

this book was chaos in the best of ways, it honestly kept me on my toes and i never knew what was going to happen or what was going to come out of someones mouth next lol. i really enjoyed that this book didnt follow the typical romance book formula, it made it quite frustrating at times yes but it did in fact make the ending that much more sweeter and the full circle of it all from chapter one to the epilogue made me tear up a little bit i really adored how it all played out.

this book felt very realistic and messy in the best of ways, i already know that owen’s going to get a lot of shit from people and honestly? rightfully so at times. however i do really see a lot of myself in him, i love to say “communication is key!” but 9 times out of 10 i also shut down and go on the defensive in the same way that he does, know that im being unfair to the other person in the way that he does and as much as i wish i reacted differently sometimes its just impossible for me to. so as frustrating as it could be to read and kind of reality check myself through out it was also really lovely to see his growth through out and to see him get his happily ever after in the end.

jacob was just the sweetest/cutest guy ever, i mean it was so impossible not to love him right from the beginning. its like apart of you wants to be mad at him for being the one to leave but hes literally just a cutie lil nerd who loves marine life and squids and wants to help them 🤏🏼. i loved him your honor.

this representation in this book was phenomenal, i expected nothing less honestly but somehow was still just in awe and in love with the inclusivity!! t4t, wlw, disability!!!! it was just everything and more to me. this was my first book of masons and it most certainly will not be my last. i truly adored their writing and im already looking forward to rereading this book with the audio later this year!

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars! Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for this advanced copy! You can pick up Ship Happens on August 18, 2026.

A good second-chance romance makes you root for the protagonists to get together. A great second-chance romance sucker punches you in the gut with yearning before healing you with emotional love confessions and forbidden "we really shouldn't" make-up sex. Mason Deaver delivers a great second-chance romance with Ship Happens, which follows a San Franciscan tattoo artist named Owen who's stuck on a cruise ship with the (ex) love of his life for a week.

Owen and Jacob suffered through a horrible break-up a year ago, but as part of the same friend group/family, they get roped into going on a big family cruise up to Alaska. Owen harbors a lot of hurt for the way he and Jacob left things, and especially because he knows little can change for their future. Jacob has the job of his dreams, requiring him to travel for work, while Owen has a steady support system/idea for his future in San Francisco.

What I really appreciated about this book is how, in such a short time, we get truly emotional conversations and moments between Owen and Jacob. In such a confined space, there are only so many places where you can run away from your feelings, and eventually, the duo realizes they can try to heal together and work their way towards being friends again. But neither has truly let the other go emotionally, leading to some truly fantastic tension and yearning from both parties.

While some of the actions from the characters can feel frustrating, they're also totally understandable and relatable given the situation Owen and Jacob are in. Their circumstances haven't changed in the last year, but each has individually grown so much as a person that they're willing to explore this new dynamic and make it work for them. I just love this new approach to a happy ending, and how realistically it portrays the way life isn't always set in stone.

Aside from the depth of the relationship and character growth, this book also had fantastic queer representation, with both protagonists being trans. The way Mason wove in mentions of top scars and medicine/shots was seamless, and a wonderful testament to the rise in LGBTQIA+ stories we're seeing across the romance genre (I need 14 million more of them asap).

All in all, if you want a second-chance romance between a T4T couple with massive amounts of yearning and emotional angst, this is the book for you!