Ship Happens: A Novel

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, Contemporary, LGBT, Queer, Transgender, M M Romance, Adult

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

[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.

[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.

[Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

DID MASON WEAVER 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.

[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.

[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!

[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!

[Lindsay Bilyeu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you endlessly to Mason Deaver for letting me read Ship Happens early!!!
First, I need to talk about that stunning cover for a second! The title in the clouds?? Their PINKIES!! And the colors?? So gorgeous!
Y'all are not going to want to miss this one! It's so good!!

💜T4T!!!!!
🩵SECOND CHANCE ROMANCE
🩷FOUND FAMILY
💜DISABILITY REP
🩵TATTOO ARTIST
🩷MARINE BIOLOGIST
💜FORCED PROXIMITY
🩵MEDDLING FRIENDS
🩷IDIOTS TO LOVERS

✨️Owen and Jacob ... oh my goodness. I just loved them both so much. Both so different, but so lovable and relatable. They are complete opposites, yet still make sense together somehow. So many times I wanted to just hug poor Owen, the guy was just going the fuck through it lol.

They truly are no good at being exes, there's way too much love still there! Even when they were trying to be civil (but were NOT back together 🙄) on the trip, they were always taking care of each other and those were some of my favorite moments. So precious! Of course I also wanted to bonk them on their heads and yell at them to just talk to each other (Owen!!). Idiots to lovers truly lol.

The friend group is just the best!!! They are a big part of this story and even though they all seem to be moving on and doing their own things they are always there for each other. And *some* of them meddle where they shouldn't be! I loved how the beginning and end of the book had the friend group all together. The best found family.

This one is a sloooow burn but absolutely worth it in the end. Lots of silly moments and lots of sweetness with these two. And I think I sobbed through the last, like, 4 chapters and the epilogue, lol. So Fair warning!

I can't wait for everyone to read this when it's out in August! You can expect for me to be yelling about this book until then!! 💜🩵🩷
While you're waiting for this one, I recommend checking out Mason's debut adult romance, The Build-A-Boyfriend Project, it's delightful! ✨️

[Lindsay Bilyeu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you endlessly to Mason Deaver for letting me read Ship Happens early!!!
First, I need to talk about that stunning cover for a second! The title in the clouds?? Their PINKIES!! And the colors?? So gorgeous!
Y'all are not going to want to miss this one! It's so good!!

💜T4T!!!!!
🩵SECOND CHANCE ROMANCE
🩷FOUND FAMILY
💜DISABILITY REP
🩵TATTOO ARTIST
🩷MARINE BIOLOGIST
💜FORCED PROXIMITY
🩵MEDDLING FRIENDS
🩷IDIOTS TO LOVERS

✨️Owen and Jacob ... oh my goodness. I just loved them both so much. Both so different, but so lovable and relatable. They are complete opposites, yet still make sense together somehow. So many times I wanted to just hug poor Owen, the guy was just going the fuck through it lol.

They truly are no good at being exes, there's way too much love still there! Even when they were trying to be civil (but were NOT back together 🙄) on the trip, they were always taking care of each other and those were some of my favorite moments. So precious! Of course I also wanted to bonk them on their heads and yell at them to just talk to each other (Owen!!). Idiots to lovers truly lol.

The friend group is just the best!!! They are a big part of this story and even though they all seem to be moving on and doing their own things they are always there for each other. And *some* of them meddle where they shouldn't be! I loved how the beginning and end of the book had the friend group all together. The best found family.

This one is a sloooow burn but absolutely worth it in the end. Lots of silly moments and lots of sweetness with these two. And I think I sobbed through the last, like, 4 chapters and the epilogue, lol. So Fair warning!

I can't wait for everyone to read this when it's out in August! You can expect for me to be yelling about this book until then!! 💜🩵🩷
While you're waiting for this one, I recommend checking out Mason's debut adult romance, The Build-A-Boyfriend Project, it's delightful! ✨️

[Samantha (damnfinesam) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! My first book by this author & definitely not my last. Finished this in one sitting!!! I’ll be honest, I’ve never actually read a book with Trans characters where they’re intimate. I’ve mainly read YA, so I was hesitant as I did not know how I would respond being as I know so little about sex with a Trans person, let alone two, there’s many ways to be Trans so I was unsure what the dynamics would be. I’m here to say it didn’t change or affect the story negatively at all for me. I felt the same butterflies, the same attraction, the same yearning & anticipation as I would have with any other 5 star romance book. I loved Owen & Jacob so much & I could see them & every scene so clearly in my eye without it being overly descriptive. I am a weirdo & do wish I had some more description of their face structure & outfit style just to really complete the picture because I’m one of those people that see what I read as a movie. That being said my favorite scene of the book, & something I really wanna draw, is the scene on the deck where they’re holding hands under the northern lights. So beautiful!!!! I’m normally not a fan of second chance but I loved that they both just wanted the other to be happy, their mistake was thinking each others presence weren’t required for that happiness. Finally, I love love loved the found family aspect & the humor throughout. I was cackling my dude!! I looked forward to the chapter titles & the accompanying jokes, every one was so good. 5 star book, I think my only small complaint, & this is a personal thing, is I do wish it weren’t third person. It loses its intimacy in this style & I think the emotions & depth could’ve been relayed a lot deeper in first person narrative. Especially based on the plot which is essentially parent trapping them together & seeing how their feelings eventually come to the surface. Personal preferences aside, it was an amazing book & I can’t wait for people to read this one!!

[_Kayreads_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, thank you so much Mason Deaver as well as Avon or Harper Voyager for allowing me to read this Arc copy of the book. I am so grateful and honored.

Second, I want to say while this isn't my first Mason Deaver book, I believe this might be my favorite. I enjoyed the story and the characters so much. I like the overall in depth of learning something new as well as various aspects of relationships.

For Owen and Jacob, they are similar but so different. I like the fact that we see them learn to communicate better and grow even within the small-time frame. I was so scared that they were going to give up their hopes and dreams for others like so many people do in the romance genre, but I love that this one went a different way. A more complicated but overall true to the characters and their needs. It shows that you can be in love with someone and that sometimes, timing needs to work for each other and its okay each want your own needs and wants to be met before you are ready to be in a relationship that is ultimately, what is meant to be in whatever capacity that is meant for you both.

I wasn't expecting the overall drama with the best friends, but I do love that they were called out.
I would like to add I love how drawn out the wait for the physical aspects of the relationship were. I love each friend sharing their thoughts but not overly, trying to push their own prerogative on it.
I love the ending of the book. It was such a fantastic way to wrap it up and show that no matter how long, what it is meant to be for each character and the main couple.
Thank you again so much!

[Patti · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. So hard to put down, I read it in almost no time at all

Second chance romance with MC trans rep, MC with arthritus, forced proximity in a travel setting
Also the hit of a mix of found and blood family that care so much they can’t stop meddling - very much feeling Kaitlyn, who wanted nothing more than her brother and her best friend to get back together

The chapter titles are everything, a great bit of levity to balance things out
(Plus it’s so fun getting to the context for each one)

This book hit the perfect sweet spot of angst with a happy ending for me

Almost a must for me with second chance romance - neither of them was ‘the bad guy’ in the breakup. While they weren’t perfect, admittedly Owen in particular lashes out when feeling hurt, it’s circumstances that are mostly to blame. They never stopped loving each other, and (like them) I was desperately wishing they could work things out

Owen is tied to his location by work, medical needs, and a genuine discomfort with change. Jacob needed to leave for a lifetime job opportunity that he’d been working towards for years, that unfortunately was on the opposite side of the world, with future new locations likely.

Maximum sad pining potential reached - They’re both undeniably still in love with each other, but know why it didn’t work before and that situations are still the same

It’s a journey for them, and ultimately satisfying in the conclusion
It felt like a realistically happily ever after, as opposed to hand-wavy magical one - But I will say, my heart could have used a couple more chapters post epilogue

Thank you to Avon for the ARC

[Alec Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mason Deaver is one of my favorite authors so I was thrilled when I got approved for the ARC of Ship Happens. It was one of my most anticipated releases of the year and it exceeded my expectations. This quickly became my favorite Mason Deaver book. I was constantly giggling and kicking my feet. There are so many quote-able moments that for the first time ever I used the highlight feature on my kindle. The tension between Owen and Jacob was so intense and you could really feel the love between them. The reason why they broke up in the first place made sense, and Owen and Jacob worked through the flaws in their relationship in a mature manner which felt super refreshing. All of the supporting characters felt fleshed out, their friend group was super sweet. The trans and disability representation is top notch. I have a similar disability to the main character and I felt that the representation was really well done and realistic. The book was also really well paced; once I started reading I couldn’t put it down. I would love to see a short story about their lives after the book ends. If you like lgbtq+ reads, you should definitely pick up this book! Even if you don’t typically like second chance romances, you should give it a chance, it is done so differently than anything I’ve read before with that trope. Special thanks to Netgally and Avon for giving me the chance to read this book! Ship Happens releases August 18th 2026.

[L.A. Dupier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my…I’m crying, I’m crying, I’m crying. I don’t even know if I possess the words to explain how much this book lit up my soul. What a beautiful love story, a wonderful second chance, a perfect depiction of a love that is honest and tender and belonging to Jacob and Owen and no one else. Romance as a genre allows us to believe in so many things and this is a beautiful representation of a love story that doesn’t fit the mold but is unique and wonderful in its own way. Sometimes the timeline doesn’t match up in the moment but being willing to overcome so much to keep your person in your life…It’s beautiful.
Owen tore at my heartstrings. I relate to him so much and the hurt he’s been through. He’s a beautifully raw and honest character. And then Jacob is the man I think anyone would hope to be able to say is theirs. Like a drop of sunshine with a beard and sexy chest hair. He’s not afraid to lay everything out there for the man he loves and to hope for the best outcome. What a treasure.
And then Kevin. What a gem. What a hidden genius. The comedic relief. All of the side characters were great but Kevin has me hooked. He’s pretty okay for a seemingly straight guy.
I can wholeheartedly say that this will be a story I will revisit again and again and one that will stay with me for a long time to come.

Thank you to Mason Deaver for giving them to us.


Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this tile.

[chloecanread · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Avon and NetGalley for the ARC!

So when I say I don't like second chance romance, I mean I REALLY don't like second chance romance. BUT! This is a second chance romance written by Mason Deaver so I had to give a chance. I love Deaver's works, and I frequently reread them, so I was very excited to read Ship Happens!

Ship Happens follows two exes, Owen and Jacob, who end up on a cruise ship together with their friends. Owen is a tattoo artist who feels like he's failing at life, and Jacob is his ex, a marine biologist, who left to go pursue his research on squid. As the story unfolds on the cruise ship, we get some flashbacks to what their life was like prior to the breakup, and why they broke up in the first place. The characters feel so real and I adored watching these two work their way back together. Although I am admittedly not a fan of second chance romance, I think this was handled very well, and I was really rooting for the two of them.

Mason Deaver writes incredible characters and amazing found family and this book is no different. I think this is going to be a frequent reread of mine, and I sincerely hope Mason keeps writing adult books because this was incredible. Also, LOVED the chapter titles. They were so funny.

This book was a funny, sappy, a little steamy read, and I know I'm going to be rereading it again and again. Highly recommend picking this one up.

[Caitlynn Burnaman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ship Happens explores the quiet, enduring connection between two people who once found home in each other and the journey of finding their way back.

Owen's had the wind knocked out of his sails and nothing has been quite right since he and Jacob separated. Jacob, however, chased his career dreams and in the midst of success, still found himself with Owen-shaped holes in his life. A surprise cruise vacation brings the friends together and when forced proximity is ... emotion filled tension and yearning are sure to follow!

Ship Happens leans into introspection, examining identity, communication, and the emotional realities of personal growth. It places particular emphasis on the importance of honesty with oneself and others. The story also contributes to broader conversations around representation, offering a perspective that remains underrepresented in mainstream romance.

Deaver balances emotional weight with moments of warmth and humor, highlighting the significance of chosen family, supportive friendships, and the spaces where humans are allowed to exist fully as themselves. Ship Happens will resonate most with readers who appreciate character-driven narratives that prioritize emotional depth and representation alongside tender romance.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon, and Mason Deaver for the opportunity to read and review.

[Dev (lit.lark) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Avon for an early copy of this book!

I am such a sucker for second chance romance, so I was super excited for this one. I loved the set up of the two MCs being stuck on a cruise together with their closest friends. I think overall this story was really fun and such an easy read (complimentary). It was easy to get immersed back into the story every time I picked it up, and there was such a good amount of humor mixed in with one liners and chapter titles. While the characters do discuss some heavier personal topics, the vibe of the story stays pretty light.

I loved the found family aspect, because while they all very clearly loved each other, they were also very realistic characters that messed up sometimes and I think showing that even with good intentions you can hurt the people you love was refreshing.

I enjoyed both MMCs, though if you don't like miscommunication (or.. refusal to communicate lol) you may not enjoy this one as much. I think the back and forth and uncertainty both Owen and Jacob had with each other was very realistic and while sometimes I did wanna yell "OMG JUST TALK" at the end of the day, their romance and reconnection is very sweet and made me so happy to read.

I am so glad I read this one and while this one doesn't come out until August make sure you add to your tbr now!

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and Mason Deaver for the ARC!!

When Owen gets gifted an all inclusive cruise trip with his best friends, he's anxious about leaving his safe bubble, but excited and happy to spend time with his people. The only catch? His ex boyfriend (who he might still be in love with) is going on the trip too. With their complicated past and unresolved feelings, it makes for an awkward vacation; and the two of them are forced to face each other, and face their feelings.

Me personally? I love a second chance romance! There's just something about people growing, learning and finding each other again. Owen and Jacob were definitely working through a lot, both in their personal lives and around their relationship. I absolutely loved getting the glimpses into their past and seeing how much they had been through together. Owen's struggles with his anxiety around trying new things, and Jacob's desire to explore and follow his passions are both incredibly relatable; and it made their entire situation understandable. The ending was incredibly sweet and realistic, which is very refreshing in a contemporary romance. It was also amazing to see not one, but TWO trans characters!

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

Being trapped on the same cruise ship as my ex would be unthinkable. Sleeping in the same suite?! UNTENABLE. Fortunately for Owen and Jacob, their problems were surmountable.

I found this book to be a sweet exploration of two imperfect people finding their way back to each other. Although I personally think Owen was a bit more at fault for the initial breakup, the eventual talk and subsequent healing that took place felt natural and a bit like closure. The T4T representation is awesome, and not something you see often in mainstream media (though Deaver seems to be working hard to change that).

The inability for our main characters to have an honest conversation for a lot of the book needled at me. Owen was constantly interrupting Jacob’s attempts at discussion, and it seemed like Jacob needed to fit himself into Owen’s life perfectly in order for the two to get back together. (I understand that Owen has depression and juvenile arthritis, and that makes his life more difficult. I still feel like he should be able to make a few concessions for the people he loves.) The miscommunication was saved by the ending’s solution - it felt like both men were able to learn and grow before coming back together completely.

Kevin is my MVP.

[Jo B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in one, sometimes tear filled, sitting.

These characters are really delightfully human. Owen and Jacob are both likeable and relatable and also selfish and bad at communicating. Human. Too often, there’s a tendency with this kind of second chance romance to make characters very flat - very “I’m a totally different person now so our relationship can proceed with zero issue!” I much prefer Mason Deaver’s path where the characters do have a lot of the same hang ups and issues that lead to their initial break up, but they now have the motivation and ability to work through them.
I felt like the side characters in this book were also really well fleshed out without the book becoming overrun with plots.
This book also has such a reassuring message that’s so apt for people in their late 20s/early 30s - it’s super easy to feel like you’re not doing what you’re “supposed to” and kissing these supposed life milestones. But at the end of the day, what matters is figuring out what you want regardless of what you’re “supposed” to want.
Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for this eARC!

[Reina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ship Happens is one of my most anticipated reads of 2026, and with good reason. I’ve yet to read a Mason Deaver book I didn’t like, and with that JayVik-ass cover? A T4T second chance romance? Oh, I was in. I was so in.

Imagine my utter glee when I received this ARC just in time for the first day of the Trans Rights Readathon.

Book one of TRR2026 is going to be hard to top. Anytime I can have Disability rep and Trans rep at the same time brings me closer to ascending from this mortal coil. Owen, our tattoo artist protagonist, exudes black cat energy in a way that charmed me immediately, and he has his golden retriever match in Jacob, a marine biologist who has already broken Owen’s heart. Neither expects to be trapped on a weeklong cruise together, but they’re determined to be as civil as possible. And only civil.

But. You know. Ship Happens.

This book is a fantastic, spicy romance for fans of grumpy/sunshine and forced proximity tropes, bad puns made by a thick-thighed scientist, and mozzarella stick tattoos. If you’re looking for trans masc T4T rep especially, pick this one up when it’s published in August!

Thanks so much for the ARC, Mason and Harper Collins!

[Theo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read every single book by Mason Deaver that has been published, but I can say with complete and utter confidence that this is hands down the best book he has ever written. It's not often that you see a T4T story that encapsulates chronic illness, found family, and the ever-enjoyable 'forced proximity' trope, so coming across "Ship Happens" was like seeing a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. Of course, having all of those checkboxes ticked doesn't necessarily mean that the book will have an enjoyable plot, lovable characters, and an ending worth waiting for, but in this case, it very much does!

Deaver does a wonderful job of keeping the reader hooked throughout the novel, to the point that this reader didn't put it down until it was finished. Owen and Jacob were perfectly imperfect, mirroring what real life looks like for couples navigating difficult situations. I really enjoyed that things weren't always neat and clean, because humans aren't always like that. Sometimes we're messy, and sometimes being in love doesn't mean things will be perfect.

Every moment reading this book was deeply enjoyable, and I will be recommending it to anyone and everyone.

[scriptedknight · Rating 4 out of 5]

rating: 4/5 stars
~
I'll be the first to admit it: I'm not (usually) a huge exes to lovers fan. However, I am a Mason Deaver fan, so they had me from the get go. While reading this, I appreciate greatly that Owen and Jacob are written as real adults; their circumstances are true to life (I've never met someone who loves aquatic life as much as Jacob, but I trust those people are out there), and their ability to speak like adults in stressful situations is refreshing beyond belief. Their struggle to label their relationship is something I rarely see in fiction, even if it exists extensively in real life, but more than that is the fear of what this label-less relationship means.

The self-sacrificing character arc which led to their breakup is believable, if a tad overdone, but the growth during their time apart is apparent and so nice to see. Overall, I adored reading this (also shout out to the t4t representation, love) and now I'm go to go wallow that I finished it.

Thank you for NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

[RK · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a sweet book!

It had all the classic romance tropes: second chance, forced proximity, best friend's brother, and (nearly) one bed.

I knew I had to read this as soon as I found out a majority of the book was taking place on an Alaskan cruise. As an Alaskan, and someone who lived in Juneau in the winter for two years, there are details in here that might take you out of the story because they're inaccurate. However it's easy enough to overlook those tiny nitpicky things and just chalk them up to Romance Reasons. They don't detract from the story and your average Lower 48er isn't going to know any better.

In the end it was a pleasure to read Owen and Jacob's fraught, but sweet reunification and the hijinx that ensued.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mason Deaver has done it again 👏🏽👏🏽

Just know in the future when I say I'm not a fan of second chance romance I in no way shape or form mean this book. I was sucked in from the very beginning (let's be real I was sucked in from the second this book even started being teased, purely based on my love for The Build-A-Boyfriend Project). One of my all time favorite tropes is forced proximity so when I knew it was a second chance where the main character and his ex are basically trapped together on a cruise I just knew this was going to work for me.

Also I gotta give some props to the chapter titles. They were super entertaining and each time I reached a new chapter and read the title I then felt like well I cant pause here I need to know the context to that quote - which may have lead to me reading this entire thing in like three hours.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon/HarperVoyage for the eARC