What do you think?
Ship Happens
Trapped on a breath-taking Alaskan cruise together, these exes must decide whether to let go, or risk it all for a love that refuses to sink …
From bestselling and award-winning author Mason Deaver comes a delightful second-chance romance with trans representation!
A year after their break-up, Owen thought he'd never see Jacob again – let alone spend a week trapped on a cruise ship with him.
Determined to protect his heart, Owen agrees to one friendship. But the close quarters and breathtaking scenery make it impossible to ignore what they once had.
As the ship sails north through icy waters, will Owen keep his walls up, or risk everything for the one that got away?
ALL YOUR FAVOURITE TROPES
✅Forced proximity
✅Yearning
✅Second chance
✅Dating in secret
✅Found family
READERS ARE LOVING THIS STORY
'The ending was all I could hope for and more!'
'This was filled with so much yearning, I was eating it up!'
'Combines a heartfelt second chance romance with found family, queer representation, and a story about love, growing up, and choosing your own future'
'A deeply emotional, sweet, angsty, and incredibly swoony second-chance romance that I absolutely devoured'
From bestselling and award-winning author Mason Deaver comes a delightful second-chance romance with trans representation!
A year after their break-up, Owen thought he'd never see Jacob again – let alone spend a week trapped on a cruise ship with him.
Determined to protect his heart, Owen agrees to one friendship. But the close quarters and breathtaking scenery make it impossible to ignore what they once had.
As the ship sails north through icy waters, will Owen keep his walls up, or risk everything for the one that got away?
ALL YOUR FAVOURITE TROPES
✅Forced proximity
✅Yearning
✅Second chance
✅Dating in secret
✅Found family
READERS ARE LOVING THIS STORY
'The ending was all I could hope for and more!'
'This was filled with so much yearning, I was eating it up!'
'Combines a heartfelt second chance romance with found family, queer representation, and a story about love, growing up, and choosing your own future'
'A deeply emotional, sweet, angsty, and incredibly swoony second-chance romance that I absolutely devoured'
Audible Audio
First published August 18, 2026
About the author
Mason Deaver
13 books3,525 followersMason 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 566 reviews
August 15, 2026
Forgive me Mason Deaver, I wasn’t aware of your game 😮💨
Ship Happens is LOVELY! There’s no other descriptor for it. The found family, the friendships, the second chance romance, the setting… all of it was just working for me. 🥹 I think second chance romance is hard to pull off, but this one followed a non-traditional path that just made perfect sense to me! It also doesn’t hurt that the characters very much look like Jayce and Viktor from Arcane. 😂
The story follows exes Owen and Jacob as they are shipped off (haha) on a cruise with their friend group for New Years. After a year apart, the resentment and reluctant longing has had some time to marinate, and now the two are forced to cohabitate on a boat. I want to say shenanigans ensue (and they do), but there are also a lot of really tender moments and heartache in this story! The yearning and emotional turmoil is palpable. The friend groups’ dynamics help break up the tension with fun and banter though!
I loved how the second chance romance was handled. Both men knew why the breakup happened and why it was valid, even if it took them a while to talk about it. The author does warn that this is a slooooooow burn. 😂 However, the way everything was resolved felt so mature and refreshing!
Other things I loved include T4T rep, disability and chronic pain rep, and hilarious chapter titles (a personal favorite is A Loving and Healthy Relationship Between a Man and His Pastry ). Overall, Ship Happens is just a binge-able and heartfelt good time! 🩷
•••••••••••••
Thank you Avon | HarperCollins and NetGalley for the review copy! I am soooooo excited for this! 😍
Ship Happens is LOVELY! There’s no other descriptor for it. The found family, the friendships, the second chance romance, the setting… all of it was just working for me. 🥹 I think second chance romance is hard to pull off, but this one followed a non-traditional path that just made perfect sense to me! It also doesn’t hurt that the characters very much look like Jayce and Viktor from Arcane. 😂
The story follows exes Owen and Jacob as they are shipped off (haha) on a cruise with their friend group for New Years. After a year apart, the resentment and reluctant longing has had some time to marinate, and now the two are forced to cohabitate on a boat. I want to say shenanigans ensue (and they do), but there are also a lot of really tender moments and heartache in this story! The yearning and emotional turmoil is palpable. The friend groups’ dynamics help break up the tension with fun and banter though!
I loved how the second chance romance was handled. Both men knew why the breakup happened and why it was valid, even if it took them a while to talk about it. The author does warn that this is a slooooooow burn. 😂 However, the way everything was resolved felt so mature and refreshing!
Other things I loved include T4T rep, disability and chronic pain rep, and hilarious chapter titles (a personal favorite is A Loving and Healthy Relationship Between a Man and His Pastry ). Overall, Ship Happens is just a binge-able and heartfelt good time! 🩷
•••••••••••••
Thank you Avon | HarperCollins and NetGalley for the review copy! I am soooooo excited for this! 😍
April 10, 2026
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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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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Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
✧ Genre: Gay Romance
✧ Tropes: Second Chance • Forced Proximity • T4T (Trans for Trans)
✧ Rating: 4/5 ★
✧ Spice: 2/5 🌶️
✧ Summary:
Ship Happens follows Jacob and tattoo artist Owen, who broke up a year ago after Jacob moved overseas for work, and now they’re stuck together again on an cruise ship their extremely meddling friend group planned. The worst of all: Jacob wants to be friends with Owen. What follows are unresolved feelings, awkward tension, forced proximity, and a lot of yearning.
✧ First of all:
I start my review of by saying two things: First, I am not a fan of second chance romances, and secondly, I didn’t really enjoy Mason Deaver‘s writing style in I Wish You All The Best. I still gave this book a try, because the premise sounded promising, and the MCs have only been exes for a year or so which didn’t sound too frustrating. Also, I thought since this isn’t YA, I might like the writing better. And after reading Ship Happens I can say: this won’t be my last Mason Deaver book.
✧ Thoughts:
I really didn’t expect to love this one as much as I did, although I set my hopes pretty high. What I loved most about this book is how Owen’s and Jacob’s relationship isn’t weird or dramatic. This isn’t a “one huge misunderstanding” breakup. Owen and Jacob still love each other very obviously, but life pulled them in different directions and neither of them really knew how to handle it. And this hurt a lot. I could not not root for them. I loved them so much and I wanted them to get their happy ending.
❝ “I would come back to you,” Jacob says. “The moment you ask me to; I’d come running back.” ❞
I really liked the side characters. I could’ve read another 300 pages of all of them just hanging out together. Although this is a romance novel, it also explores friendship a lot—and especially since Owen and Jacob did not only end their romantic relationship, but also their deep friendship, it comes with grief. The representation in this book was so well done, too. I’ve read a ton of books with trans and non-binary MCs, but not so many t4t romances. I loved that this topic is discussed, but not made a huge deal. Owen has a disability, and there are a lot of queer side characters. I also have to say that I like the chapter headings; they are funny.
Also… the YEARNING??? Okay, so, I said I didn’t like second chance romances, BUT—I might grew fond of it. For the same reason I like friends to lovers. They already know each other so well, they care for each other, still love each other—how could I not want them to get their happily ever after? That got me. I wanted them to get back together so bad. And I know some people will disagree with me, but I actually really liked the ending. Instead of trying to be perfect, it felt realistic. They don’t magically fix every problem overnight; they’re choosing each other again and figuring things out together. I think this is the perfect happy end for them.
✧ Thanks to the publisher, the author, and NetGalley for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
✧ Publication Date: 18th August, 2026
✧ Tropes: Second Chance • Forced Proximity • T4T (Trans for Trans)
✧ Rating: 4/5 ★
✧ Spice: 2/5 🌶️
✧ Summary:
Ship Happens follows Jacob and tattoo artist Owen, who broke up a year ago after Jacob moved overseas for work, and now they’re stuck together again on an cruise ship their extremely meddling friend group planned. The worst of all: Jacob wants to be friends with Owen. What follows are unresolved feelings, awkward tension, forced proximity, and a lot of yearning.
✧ First of all:
I start my review of by saying two things: First, I am not a fan of second chance romances, and secondly, I didn’t really enjoy Mason Deaver‘s writing style in I Wish You All The Best. I still gave this book a try, because the premise sounded promising, and the MCs have only been exes for a year or so which didn’t sound too frustrating. Also, I thought since this isn’t YA, I might like the writing better. And after reading Ship Happens I can say: this won’t be my last Mason Deaver book.
✧ Thoughts:
I really didn’t expect to love this one as much as I did, although I set my hopes pretty high. What I loved most about this book is how Owen’s and Jacob’s relationship isn’t weird or dramatic. This isn’t a “one huge misunderstanding” breakup. Owen and Jacob still love each other very obviously, but life pulled them in different directions and neither of them really knew how to handle it. And this hurt a lot. I could not not root for them. I loved them so much and I wanted them to get their happy ending.
❝ “I would come back to you,” Jacob says. “The moment you ask me to; I’d come running back.” ❞
I really liked the side characters. I could’ve read another 300 pages of all of them just hanging out together. Although this is a romance novel, it also explores friendship a lot—and especially since Owen and Jacob did not only end their romantic relationship, but also their deep friendship, it comes with grief. The representation in this book was so well done, too. I’ve read a ton of books with trans and non-binary MCs, but not so many t4t romances. I loved that this topic is discussed, but not made a huge deal. Owen has a disability, and there are a lot of queer side characters. I also have to say that I like the chapter headings; they are funny.
Also… the YEARNING??? Okay, so, I said I didn’t like second chance romances, BUT—I might grew fond of it. For the same reason I like friends to lovers. They already know each other so well, they care for each other, still love each other—how could I not want them to get their happily ever after? That got me. I wanted them to get back together so bad. And I know some people will disagree with me, but I actually really liked the ending. Instead of trying to be perfect, it felt realistic. They don’t magically fix every problem overnight; they’re choosing each other again and figuring things out together. I think this is the perfect happy end for them.
✧ Thanks to the publisher, the author, and NetGalley for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
✧ Publication Date: 18th August, 2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
*2.5 stars*
I feel like this book is going to be a love it or a hate it with people, and I can see a case for loving this book. The emotions are there, and there is an intensity that will resonate with readers. There is also a lot of good, with the trans rep and the disability rep that felt extremely authentic and nuanced. However, both the relationship and reading this book felt like work to me.
I'm not a huge fan of second chance romances, and this book is a good example as to why. When the backstory is already there between two characters, we don't get to see a relationship develop as readers. We have to play catch up and figure out the emotions that pre-date the story, and that doesn't always leave me invested in the romance. Here, the two MCs are exes, and there is a lot of tension and bickering that goes on for the first half of the story. Honestly, I found it to be exhausting. In my personal life, I'm not a fan of tumultuous relationships, whether it be with my significant other or friendships, and it felt like walking through mud to get these two guys to talk. There was very poor communication, and I honestly don't even know if they should be together now, even at the end of the story. Owen was also not the most likeable character. I think he was supposed to be that way (????), but I wanted to shake him more often than not. Jacob was more my speed, to be honest.
Also, and this killed me, but there are no commercial cruises to Alaska in the winter OMG whyyyyy. Like, just setting wise, it's dark for almost the entire day and super cold, so when they are casually sightseeing in December?? It really took me out of the story. Also, like a basic google search would have told you that cruises to Alaska only run from like May to October.
This is also just personal preference, but I wanted WAY more heat in the story. We only get one spicy scene, and it's at the very end of the book. I kept muttering to myself that if these two don't get down I was going to throw my Kindle. After days of reading, I was praying for some more smuttiness to break up the fighting, but my prayers were barely answered.
Look, if you like very hard-fought romances with a sort ofHEA, then this book is for you. These characters are fully fleshed out and the story was well written, it just isn't the type of romance I enjoy reading.
*copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
goodreads|instagram
I feel like this book is going to be a love it or a hate it with people, and I can see a case for loving this book. The emotions are there, and there is an intensity that will resonate with readers. There is also a lot of good, with the trans rep and the disability rep that felt extremely authentic and nuanced. However, both the relationship and reading this book felt like work to me.
I'm not a huge fan of second chance romances, and this book is a good example as to why. When the backstory is already there between two characters, we don't get to see a relationship develop as readers. We have to play catch up and figure out the emotions that pre-date the story, and that doesn't always leave me invested in the romance. Here, the two MCs are exes, and there is a lot of tension and bickering that goes on for the first half of the story. Honestly, I found it to be exhausting. In my personal life, I'm not a fan of tumultuous relationships, whether it be with my significant other or friendships, and it felt like walking through mud to get these two guys to talk. There was very poor communication, and I honestly don't even know if they should be together now, even at the end of the story. Owen was also not the most likeable character. I think he was supposed to be that way (????), but I wanted to shake him more often than not. Jacob was more my speed, to be honest.
Also, and this killed me, but there are no commercial cruises to Alaska in the winter OMG whyyyyy. Like, just setting wise, it's dark for almost the entire day and super cold, so when they are casually sightseeing in December?? It really took me out of the story. Also, like a basic google search would have told you that cruises to Alaska only run from like May to October.
This is also just personal preference, but I wanted WAY more heat in the story. We only get one spicy scene, and it's at the very end of the book. I kept muttering to myself that if these two don't get down I was going to throw my Kindle. After days of reading, I was praying for some more smuttiness to break up the fighting, but my prayers were barely answered.
Look, if you like very hard-fought romances with a sort ofHEA, then this book is for you. These characters are fully fleshed out and the story was well written, it just isn't the type of romance I enjoy reading.
*copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
goodreads|instagram
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
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.
March 18, 2026
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.
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.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 2, 2026
A second chance romance with a trans lead! Owen and Jacob haven't spoken since their breakup years before, but Jacob's sister is Owen's best friend and she convinces them both to come on a cruise with her and her wife before they have a baby. Trapped on a ship together, the two are forced to confront what happened to their relationship and figure out if it might be possible to mend it.
I like the concept here and love that it includes trans rep with Owen. It's pretty slow-burn and I might have liked more resolution of some of the issues earlier on and the two getting together but I think it still works as is. The audio narration is done really well. I received a copy of the book for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
I like the concept here and love that it includes trans rep with Owen. It's pretty slow-burn and I might have liked more resolution of some of the issues earlier on and the two getting together but I think it still works as is. The audio narration is done really well. I received a copy of the book for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
August 21, 2026
3.5 stars.
*thank you to LibroFM for providing me with an ALC of this book
This was a lovely lovely read. I have read and absolutely adored I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST by Mason Deaver years ago. The way they write characters, relationship, found family and yearning is top tear so I was extremely excited to get my grabby hands on this one.
I loved that this was a t for t m/m romance, loved how vastly different both of their experiences were, because (shocking i know) queer people within the same identity group can be different, loved that this was second chance and loved that it didn’t follow the expected course of a romance novel. It was refreshing. This book also had me giggling and kicking my feet because the sense of humour was just how I like and the ridiculous situations the characters found themselves in made my romance loving heart happy.
The chronic illness rep was also on point and something we unfortunately do not get to read about enough. The found family component of it, especially with Owen and Jacob being part of the same group, and the shifting dynamics were really interesting to read about. Anyone who knows me knows found family is my kryptonite so seeing how all characters loved each other was heartwarming.
Being in Owen’s head was frustrating at times since I just wanted to shake him, but he is also so deeply human you can’t help but root for him. The exploration of his insecurities, the way his trauma affects his perspective and how he interprets things said and done. I both wanted to slap him awake (metaphorically of course) but also wrap him up in a blanket and protect him at all costs.
Now to the reason I didn’t love it as much as I thought I would: I expected and wanted more. More depth, more from the side characters, and especially more from Jacob, I think this book suffered a bit from not having Jacob’s perspective. But it also might just be me, since I prefer romance books to have both perspectives and always find them a bit less well rounded if they’re not.
All in all still, i would 100% recommend this book. It is funny, heartwarming and cute.
*thank you to LibroFM for providing me with an ALC of this book
This was a lovely lovely read. I have read and absolutely adored I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST by Mason Deaver years ago. The way they write characters, relationship, found family and yearning is top tear so I was extremely excited to get my grabby hands on this one.
I loved that this was a t for t m/m romance, loved how vastly different both of their experiences were, because (shocking i know) queer people within the same identity group can be different, loved that this was second chance and loved that it didn’t follow the expected course of a romance novel. It was refreshing. This book also had me giggling and kicking my feet because the sense of humour was just how I like and the ridiculous situations the characters found themselves in made my romance loving heart happy.
The chronic illness rep was also on point and something we unfortunately do not get to read about enough. The found family component of it, especially with Owen and Jacob being part of the same group, and the shifting dynamics were really interesting to read about. Anyone who knows me knows found family is my kryptonite so seeing how all characters loved each other was heartwarming.
Being in Owen’s head was frustrating at times since I just wanted to shake him, but he is also so deeply human you can’t help but root for him. The exploration of his insecurities, the way his trauma affects his perspective and how he interprets things said and done. I both wanted to slap him awake (metaphorically of course) but also wrap him up in a blanket and protect him at all costs.
Now to the reason I didn’t love it as much as I thought I would: I expected and wanted more. More depth, more from the side characters, and especially more from Jacob, I think this book suffered a bit from not having Jacob’s perspective. But it also might just be me, since I prefer romance books to have both perspectives and always find them a bit less well rounded if they’re not.
All in all still, i would 100% recommend this book. It is funny, heartwarming and cute.
July 2, 2026
⊱ now playing: "self control," frank ocean
↻ ◁ || ▷ ↺
"can't he just let this moment be? enjoy this pocket of time where nothing really has to matter except the two of them witnessing this once-in-a-lifetime view? he looks over at jacob, staring at the sky with a gleam in his eyes. beautiful, owen murmurs."
so the writing in this book blew me away. i haven’t read anything mason deaver since i wish you all the best, which i thought was just okay, and then the movie made me cry. (so we end up here with a second chance—haha!) ship happens holds honest character relationships with gentle conversations, reading as real dialogue and achingly relatable—that’s the driving factor in this story, as most of the characterization and plot is driven by what they say to each other. we’re sort of dropped into the story as it’s unfolding and owen is still processing. also, owen is struggling to find his footing in a world that pushes to reject him, his illness, and his inability to keep up with change. which, i mean, who doesn't feel in their adulthood?
this book has so many cozy settings, fun movement, with pacing that balances heavy weight and relieving breaths. it is so peaceful in telling a story of two past lovers trying to make amends and work around diverging life paths. it is genuinely fun to read but also devastatingly aching following owen as he struggles with his arthritis, feelings of abandonment, and trauma following a complicated relationship with his parents. he is not only super relatable but also very snarky and unique—he is easy to empathize and understand.
the only issue i have with this book is…that scene in chapter eighteen. ifykyk. it was…um…something! (egregious) the dialogue across the last couple of chapters also conveniently depleted in value and became heartstopper-esque. ("why are we like this?" sorry, nick and charlie).
that being said i also questioned how or why owen got off the boat that was so close to setting sail again and additionally in the middle of winter in alaska. him and jacob were honestly frustrating me in that chapter—especially with how they treated kaitlyn. they admitted themselves that they were glad for this opportunity to fix their relationship—why the sudden switch-up on her?
but also, i just didn’t love that being a plot point in general.
regardless, ship happens is both hilarious and hurtful and it works. the chronic health rep made me feel so seen. mason deaver is really doing it—so excited to see what else they have in store next!
💌 thank you to netgalley for providing me with a free arc in exchange for my honest review!
↻ ◁ || ▷ ↺
"can't he just let this moment be? enjoy this pocket of time where nothing really has to matter except the two of them witnessing this once-in-a-lifetime view? he looks over at jacob, staring at the sky with a gleam in his eyes. beautiful, owen murmurs."
so the writing in this book blew me away. i haven’t read anything mason deaver since i wish you all the best, which i thought was just okay, and then the movie made me cry. (so we end up here with a second chance—haha!) ship happens holds honest character relationships with gentle conversations, reading as real dialogue and achingly relatable—that’s the driving factor in this story, as most of the characterization and plot is driven by what they say to each other. we’re sort of dropped into the story as it’s unfolding and owen is still processing. also, owen is struggling to find his footing in a world that pushes to reject him, his illness, and his inability to keep up with change. which, i mean, who doesn't feel in their adulthood?
this book has so many cozy settings, fun movement, with pacing that balances heavy weight and relieving breaths. it is so peaceful in telling a story of two past lovers trying to make amends and work around diverging life paths. it is genuinely fun to read but also devastatingly aching following owen as he struggles with his arthritis, feelings of abandonment, and trauma following a complicated relationship with his parents. he is not only super relatable but also very snarky and unique—he is easy to empathize and understand.
the only issue i have with this book is…that scene in chapter eighteen. ifykyk. it was…um…something! (egregious) the dialogue across the last couple of chapters also conveniently depleted in value and became heartstopper-esque. ("why are we like this?" sorry, nick and charlie).
that being said i also questioned how or why owen got off the boat that was so close to setting sail again and additionally in the middle of winter in alaska. him and jacob were honestly frustrating me in that chapter—especially with how they treated kaitlyn. they admitted themselves that they were glad for this opportunity to fix their relationship—why the sudden switch-up on her?
but also, i just didn’t love that being a plot point in general.
regardless, ship happens is both hilarious and hurtful and it works. the chronic health rep made me feel so seen. mason deaver is really doing it—so excited to see what else they have in store next!
💌 thank you to netgalley for providing me with a free arc in exchange for my honest review!
August 13, 2026
08/12/2026-07/13/2026
Thank you Avon for the gifted physical proof and finished copies of “Ship Happens” by Mason Deaver 🚢
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
(Coming August 18th, 2026)
This one was so much fine in like an agonizing torturous agonizing slowburn kind of way! 🏔️😃
Seriously Owen and Jacob pissed me off every second of this book but I just couldn’t get enough of it nor could I look away. 😂
Me every five seconds about literally anything in this book: “IT’S ABOUT DAMN TIME” and “OPEN YOUR FUJKING EYES!!” 😂😭
Thank you Avon for the gifted physical proof and finished copies of “Ship Happens” by Mason Deaver 🚢
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
(Coming August 18th, 2026)
This one was so much fine in like an agonizing torturous agonizing slowburn kind of way! 🏔️😃
Seriously Owen and Jacob pissed me off every second of this book but I just couldn’t get enough of it nor could I look away. 😂
Me every five seconds about literally anything in this book: “IT’S ABOUT DAMN TIME” and “OPEN YOUR FUJKING EYES!!” 😂😭
July 30, 2026
Arc review 🛳️
Plot:
Owen feels stuck and like he doesn’t quite have adulthood figured out. He’s living at his best friend/ex boyfriend’s house since the break up and trying to figure out how to make owning a tattoo shop work. When all of a sudden, his best friend surprises him with a friend vacation!!! So exciting, except Jacob, Owen’s ex, will be there. Owen and Jacob both left things tense and they try to form a truce while being on vacation, but it doesn’t quite work. The love (and the lust) seems to be there still!
Thoughts:
I really wanted this to hit! The trans rep had me hooked in the synopsis, but the relationship itself didn’t grab me. It also took me a few chapters to get comfy and realize I was getting the flashbacks to their relationship before the break up. There were lovely and tender moments between them, but then they were also kind of bad to each other. They needed to communicate so badly!! Which I guess is real life, but I was yearning for even a small chat! Please communicate! Anyway, this might be for you if you want a lil cruise romp to Alaska, while some infuriatingly uncommunicative hotties try not to be in love 😂
Plot:
Owen feels stuck and like he doesn’t quite have adulthood figured out. He’s living at his best friend/ex boyfriend’s house since the break up and trying to figure out how to make owning a tattoo shop work. When all of a sudden, his best friend surprises him with a friend vacation!!! So exciting, except Jacob, Owen’s ex, will be there. Owen and Jacob both left things tense and they try to form a truce while being on vacation, but it doesn’t quite work. The love (and the lust) seems to be there still!
Thoughts:
I really wanted this to hit! The trans rep had me hooked in the synopsis, but the relationship itself didn’t grab me. It also took me a few chapters to get comfy and realize I was getting the flashbacks to their relationship before the break up. There were lovely and tender moments between them, but then they were also kind of bad to each other. They needed to communicate so badly!! Which I guess is real life, but I was yearning for even a small chat! Please communicate! Anyway, this might be for you if you want a lil cruise romp to Alaska, while some infuriatingly uncommunicative hotties try not to be in love 😂
March 12, 2026
*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.
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.
Did Not Finish
March 17, 2026DNFd @ 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.
![Profile Image for laurel [the suspected bibliophile].](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1645808644i/7494844._UX200_CR0,6,200,200_.jpg)
September 2, 2026
A very cute T4T contemporary romance where two knuckleheaded exes are tricked onto a cruise with a group of friends in the hope that they get back together. Sparks fly, decisions are reached, forced proximity happens.
I think I wanted to enjoy this a whole lot more than I did.
Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy it!
I think my issue was that I had thought this was going to be more of a comedy than it was—funny things did happen, but were more real-life "oh dang" instead of slapstick haha, if that makes sense? Additionally, the majority of conversations ended up being each character focusing on Owen and his many, many, many woes of inadequacy (look bro, I feel you, I really do, but c'mon), with the majority of their arcs and time spent on page aiding Owen on his life journey (and yes, the other characters had agency and life paths, but that was mostly told instead of shown).
The writing was similar to Casey McQuiston and EL Massey, in that bare bones, present-tense tell not show style that when done effectively works VERY well.
Anywho, it WAS good. The issues I had were minor!
Owen is an interesting character with a lot of incredibly relatable things going on, Jacob was a hot mess, and Kevin was the surprise straight MVP of the bunch, after Dani the ringer. Ultimately, though, I'm with Owen in that I have no fucking clue what to DO on a cruise (I've been on two, they were each hell, never again).
How Owen and Jacob navigate their relationship—in all its awkward, exy, second-chance-in-hell way, was very heartwarming, and incredibly well thought out. A matter of timing, indeed (IYKYK).
Also, the cruise was to ALASKA, not Antarctica (not clue how I got that messed up when it's literally in the subtitle).
I think I wanted to enjoy this a whole lot more than I did.
Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy it!
I think my issue was that I had thought this was going to be more of a comedy than it was—funny things did happen, but were more real-life "oh dang" instead of slapstick haha, if that makes sense? Additionally, the majority of conversations ended up being each character focusing on Owen and his many, many, many woes of inadequacy (look bro, I feel you, I really do, but c'mon), with the majority of their arcs and time spent on page aiding Owen on his life journey (and yes, the other characters had agency and life paths, but that was mostly told instead of shown).
The writing was similar to Casey McQuiston and EL Massey, in that bare bones, present-tense tell not show style that when done effectively works VERY well.
Anywho, it WAS good. The issues I had were minor!
Owen is an interesting character with a lot of incredibly relatable things going on, Jacob was a hot mess, and Kevin was the surprise straight MVP of the bunch, after Dani the ringer. Ultimately, though, I'm with Owen in that I have no fucking clue what to DO on a cruise (I've been on two, they were each hell, never again).
How Owen and Jacob navigate their relationship—in all its awkward, exy, second-chance-in-hell way, was very heartwarming, and incredibly well thought out. A matter of timing, indeed (IYKYK).
Also, the cruise was to ALASKA, not Antarctica (not clue how I got that messed up when it's literally in the subtitle).
September 17, 2026
⋆˚࿔ ship happens review 𝜗𝜚˚⋆
┆ ⤿ 4 stars
When I saw this as an Libro FM influencer option I just had to grab it. The cover is so so cute and I've been on a craze for second chance romances. This contemp romance stars two exes who are forced to take a cruise with their group of friends, every one of them of course rooting for the couple to make up. The queer representation was great and I loved reading about two trans men not only falling in love but finding their way back to each other again.
I wish Jacob had a bit more character development I felt like I truly learned so much about Owen and really really felt connected with him and his feelings. I wish I had that for Jacob as well. I enjoyed how realistic their breakup felt, there was no huge miscommunication or a bunch of drama, it was just simply life. And I really liked how it had a matching resolution that also felt so realistic!
Jason June's narration was great and gave so much character! I'm definitely going to read more books by Mason Deaver!
Thank you Libro FM for an ALC and Avon Books for a physical copy <3
┆ ⤿ 4 stars
When I saw this as an Libro FM influencer option I just had to grab it. The cover is so so cute and I've been on a craze for second chance romances. This contemp romance stars two exes who are forced to take a cruise with their group of friends, every one of them of course rooting for the couple to make up. The queer representation was great and I loved reading about two trans men not only falling in love but finding their way back to each other again.
I wish Jacob had a bit more character development I felt like I truly learned so much about Owen and really really felt connected with him and his feelings. I wish I had that for Jacob as well. I enjoyed how realistic their breakup felt, there was no huge miscommunication or a bunch of drama, it was just simply life. And I really liked how it had a matching resolution that also felt so realistic!
Jason June's narration was great and gave so much character! I'm definitely going to read more books by Mason Deaver!
Thank you Libro FM for an ALC and Avon Books for a physical copy <3
June 16, 2026
mason deaver you are soooo good at your job!!
August 26, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
✨ Thank you to NetGalley and Avon/Harper Voyage for the ARC of Ship Happens! This review represents my honest perspective.✨
Ship Happens was an endearing and sweet second chance, forced proximity, travel romance that ultimately felt a bit too YA and messy for my liking, but that did an excellent job of capturing the reality of early love and coming of age as a young queer person.
There were parts of this novel that felt very YA to me, and the narrator, a young trans man figuring out his complicated feelings towards his ex-boyfriend who is suddenly back in his life physically and emotionally, sometimes read as immature or whiny. That being said, both of the characters, especially the MMC, really grew on me as the book went on and they were able to more effectively communicate with one another. There was some nice growth and recognition among both of them in terms of how to care for their own - and each other's - hearts without sacrificing their own needs (we love to see it!). I was hoping for a bit more chemistry and spice, but the banter that existed was well-crafted and creative.
This book reminded me vividly of being in my early 20's and being insecure about my own wants, needs, and desires towards complicated romantic situations. Ship Happens will likely really resonate with someone in this age range, and for that I am chuffed it exists. Books always need to find their perfect reader, and it's OK that I wasn't necessarily that target audience.
The atmosphere and setting were excellent if you enjoy travel and cruises - I liked picturing where the main characters were at any given moment, and there were some fun educational nuggets both about marine biology and Alaska tucked into the pages. I liked the found family element of this novel, as well. Ship Happens is a great reminder for young folks that you can surround yourself with people who love you and care about you, even if they are in different places in their lives. The side characters were rich and funny, and a nice addition to the background of this romance.
There's a lot that happens here; while I appreciate the representation of both trans* characters and individuals living with chronic illnesses (and though not explicitly stated, neurodivergence rep), this sometimes made the book feel like it had bitten off more than it could chew. Characters, like people, are complex and made up of multitudes (I say this as a LGBTQ+ person with a chronic illness myself), but I think the book itself would have been better served had it potentially focused in a more comprehensive way on one of these issues instead of moving in so many different directions at once. Regardless, I appreciated the thoughtful approach to the chronic illness storyline and showing the reality of a dynamic disability - Owen's life isn't defined by his illness, but it is impacted by it and that is a unique and true-to-life experience for those of us living with these types of autoimmune conditions.
✨ Thank you to NetGalley and Avon/Harper Voyage for the ARC of Ship Happens! This review represents my honest perspective.✨
Ship Happens was an endearing and sweet second chance, forced proximity, travel romance that ultimately felt a bit too YA and messy for my liking, but that did an excellent job of capturing the reality of early love and coming of age as a young queer person.
There were parts of this novel that felt very YA to me, and the narrator, a young trans man figuring out his complicated feelings towards his ex-boyfriend who is suddenly back in his life physically and emotionally, sometimes read as immature or whiny. That being said, both of the characters, especially the MMC, really grew on me as the book went on and they were able to more effectively communicate with one another. There was some nice growth and recognition among both of them in terms of how to care for their own - and each other's - hearts without sacrificing their own needs (we love to see it!). I was hoping for a bit more chemistry and spice, but the banter that existed was well-crafted and creative.
This book reminded me vividly of being in my early 20's and being insecure about my own wants, needs, and desires towards complicated romantic situations. Ship Happens will likely really resonate with someone in this age range, and for that I am chuffed it exists. Books always need to find their perfect reader, and it's OK that I wasn't necessarily that target audience.
The atmosphere and setting were excellent if you enjoy travel and cruises - I liked picturing where the main characters were at any given moment, and there were some fun educational nuggets both about marine biology and Alaska tucked into the pages. I liked the found family element of this novel, as well. Ship Happens is a great reminder for young folks that you can surround yourself with people who love you and care about you, even if they are in different places in their lives. The side characters were rich and funny, and a nice addition to the background of this romance.
There's a lot that happens here; while I appreciate the representation of both trans* characters and individuals living with chronic illnesses (and though not explicitly stated, neurodivergence rep), this sometimes made the book feel like it had bitten off more than it could chew. Characters, like people, are complex and made up of multitudes (I say this as a LGBTQ+ person with a chronic illness myself), but I think the book itself would have been better served had it potentially focused in a more comprehensive way on one of these issues instead of moving in so many different directions at once. Regardless, I appreciated the thoughtful approach to the chronic illness storyline and showing the reality of a dynamic disability - Owen's life isn't defined by his illness, but it is impacted by it and that is a unique and true-to-life experience for those of us living with these types of autoimmune conditions.
August 29, 2026
Ship Happened and I fucking loved it!!
September 18, 2026
3.5 stars.
"Ship Happens" by Mason Deaver is a second-chance, forced-proximity queer romance that I liked quite a bit. There are a lot of adorable, sweet, tender moments of reflection, self-discovery, and love. Deaver always writes such lovely characters who have good banter and chemistry with one another. I did enjoy Jacob (a sciencey-type person!!) and Owen (a tattoo artist who wants to open his own shop), who broke up over a year ago when Jacob moved across the pond for a job opportunity. Their break-up was full of hurt, but nothing overly dramatic happened between them. They both loved each other, but they recognized it was time to let each other go for the time being. Now, a year later, Jacob's sister/Owen's best friend, Kaitlyn, is about to have a baby with her wife and wants them all to go on a cruise before that happens, one final hurrah for the friend group. I think the forced proximity aspect, being stuck on a boat with your ex who you might still be in love with!!, is a good one, but I think it's a little all over the place. I had some issues with the pacing, too. The majority of this book is slow, but some of the most important parts feel like they happen way too quickly! There is a lot of miscommunication between Owen and Jacob. To me, it felt like they just couldn't get their words out in any conversation they had. They say so much without saying anything. It got to be a little frustrating, especially when it felt like nothing truly got resolved by the end of the book when it comes to their constant miscommunication. That said, the best part of this book, for me, was the representation. I loved the t4t representation. I loved the arthritis representation. Deaver goes far beyond what most books do when mentioning chronic pain diseases. Usually, authors mention pain in passing, and that's about it. Deaver, however, goes into great detail about arthritis, including what it feels like to be medically gaslit, to be gaslit and not believed by your loved ones, how chronic pain makes relationships difficult, socialization often impossible, and schooling even more so. They also include the names of specific medications and detail the harsh, agonizing realities facing people with this horrible disease. As someone with rheumatoid arthritis, I felt totally and completely seen by this. I, unfortunately, identify with everything that happens when it comes to chronic pain in this book, and then some. I felt for Owen something fierce on that aspect! Overall, this is a mostly good book with a couple of slower moments.
Thank you to NetGalley, Mason Deaver, Avon, and Harper Voyager for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
"Ship Happens" by Mason Deaver is a second-chance, forced-proximity queer romance that I liked quite a bit. There are a lot of adorable, sweet, tender moments of reflection, self-discovery, and love. Deaver always writes such lovely characters who have good banter and chemistry with one another. I did enjoy Jacob (a sciencey-type person!!) and Owen (a tattoo artist who wants to open his own shop), who broke up over a year ago when Jacob moved across the pond for a job opportunity. Their break-up was full of hurt, but nothing overly dramatic happened between them. They both loved each other, but they recognized it was time to let each other go for the time being. Now, a year later, Jacob's sister/Owen's best friend, Kaitlyn, is about to have a baby with her wife and wants them all to go on a cruise before that happens, one final hurrah for the friend group. I think the forced proximity aspect, being stuck on a boat with your ex who you might still be in love with!!, is a good one, but I think it's a little all over the place. I had some issues with the pacing, too. The majority of this book is slow, but some of the most important parts feel like they happen way too quickly! There is a lot of miscommunication between Owen and Jacob. To me, it felt like they just couldn't get their words out in any conversation they had. They say so much without saying anything. It got to be a little frustrating, especially when it felt like nothing truly got resolved by the end of the book when it comes to their constant miscommunication. That said, the best part of this book, for me, was the representation. I loved the t4t representation. I loved the arthritis representation. Deaver goes far beyond what most books do when mentioning chronic pain diseases. Usually, authors mention pain in passing, and that's about it. Deaver, however, goes into great detail about arthritis, including what it feels like to be medically gaslit, to be gaslit and not believed by your loved ones, how chronic pain makes relationships difficult, socialization often impossible, and schooling even more so. They also include the names of specific medications and detail the harsh, agonizing realities facing people with this horrible disease. As someone with rheumatoid arthritis, I felt totally and completely seen by this. I, unfortunately, identify with everything that happens when it comes to chronic pain in this book, and then some. I felt for Owen something fierce on that aspect! Overall, this is a mostly good book with a couple of slower moments.
Thank you to NetGalley, Mason Deaver, Avon, and Harper Voyager for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
August 8, 2026
Loved it so much (rounded up)
Okay, this was my first Mason Deaver book, but it absolutely will NOT be my last. They made a fan for life out of me.
“Just because you don't know what you're doing doesn't mean that you're doing something wrong.”
🩵 FtM x 2 Rep
🚢 MM Romance
🦴 Arthritis Rep
📏 Size Difference
🚫 No 3rd Act Breakup
💔 Second Chance Romance
⏰ Right Person, Wrong Time
💍 Unconventional HEA (but still an HEA!)
🚪 Forced Proximity
😂 Meddling Family
🫶 Found Family
The way Jacob and Owen talked about themselves and their relationship and to each other just felt REAL.
They didn't break up because of some massive betrayal or explosive fight. It was the very real, very painful kind of breakup where sometimes you love someone and life just gets in the way. I've actually been on both sides of the decision they had to make, and I've lived the difference between a breakup and a breakup WITH RESENTMENT. So, yeah, I think they made the right choice and that made watching them find their way back to each other SO much more meaningful.
The fluff, humor, and ridiculousness balanced out the heavier moments perfectly, and I LOVED watching Jacob and Owen remember why they fell in love in the first place. They never stopped loving each other, they're just (as they say) really bad at being exes.
And underneath all of that was this beautiful exploration of what happens when your dreams change. How do you chase a dream when you don't even necessarily want it anymore? Or want it in it's current form? How do you figure out what you actually want when you finally get there and it's not what you imagined? How do you keep moving forward when you feel stagnant, left behind, or completely alone, even when you're surrounded by people?
And that epilogue? I loved that it gave us an unconventional HEA while still being very much an HEA. Because HEA doesn't have to mean a proposal, a wedding, 2.5 kids, and a white picket fence 3 years after the story ends.
Sometimes HEA is just finding the life that actually makes YOU happy.
And I HAVE to talk about Jason June's narration because... 👏🏻 the frustration, the manic energy, the heartbreak. I felt all of it. I wanted to reach through my headphones, gently tuck Owen against my side, and tell them everything was going to be okay. Jason June didn't just narrate Owen. They brought Owen to life.
Thank you so much to @netgalley, @harpervoyagerus, @libro.fm, and @masondeaver for the ARC & ALC!
Okay, this was my first Mason Deaver book, but it absolutely will NOT be my last. They made a fan for life out of me.
“Just because you don't know what you're doing doesn't mean that you're doing something wrong.”
🩵 FtM x 2 Rep
🚢 MM Romance
🦴 Arthritis Rep
📏 Size Difference
🚫 No 3rd Act Breakup
💔 Second Chance Romance
⏰ Right Person, Wrong Time
💍 Unconventional HEA (but still an HEA!)
🚪 Forced Proximity
😂 Meddling Family
🫶 Found Family
The way Jacob and Owen talked about themselves and their relationship and to each other just felt REAL.
They didn't break up because of some massive betrayal or explosive fight. It was the very real, very painful kind of breakup where sometimes you love someone and life just gets in the way. I've actually been on both sides of the decision they had to make, and I've lived the difference between a breakup and a breakup WITH RESENTMENT. So, yeah, I think they made the right choice and that made watching them find their way back to each other SO much more meaningful.
The fluff, humor, and ridiculousness balanced out the heavier moments perfectly, and I LOVED watching Jacob and Owen remember why they fell in love in the first place. They never stopped loving each other, they're just (as they say) really bad at being exes.
And underneath all of that was this beautiful exploration of what happens when your dreams change. How do you chase a dream when you don't even necessarily want it anymore? Or want it in it's current form? How do you figure out what you actually want when you finally get there and it's not what you imagined? How do you keep moving forward when you feel stagnant, left behind, or completely alone, even when you're surrounded by people?
And that epilogue? I loved that it gave us an unconventional HEA while still being very much an HEA. Because HEA doesn't have to mean a proposal, a wedding, 2.5 kids, and a white picket fence 3 years after the story ends.
Sometimes HEA is just finding the life that actually makes YOU happy.
And I HAVE to talk about Jason June's narration because... 👏🏻 the frustration, the manic energy, the heartbreak. I felt all of it. I wanted to reach through my headphones, gently tuck Owen against my side, and tell them everything was going to be okay. Jason June didn't just narrate Owen. They brought Owen to life.
Thank you so much to @netgalley, @harpervoyagerus, @libro.fm, and @masondeaver for the ARC & ALC!
August 7, 2026
Thank you so much to Avon, Libro FM, and Mason Deaver for the ALC!
This book was so cute. I adored the cruise ship plot and the characters so much. I loved the main characters and the many unique, chaotic, and loveable side characters. The massage scene absolutely had me howling and I absolutely binged the whole book!
I adored Jacob and Owen. Their relationship was so raw and real. From the way they met, to the breakup, to their reunion, and throughout the cruise as they fell in love again while trying so hard not to. I thought this book was just so emotional, raw, and just so so so cute.
Second chance romances can be tricky because the reason for the breakup and reunion has to make sense to the reader. I think that Mason did this trope very well and it was relateable, real, and genuine.
Masons writing is such a pleasure to read every time I pick up one of their books! I can’t wait to see what they write next and I highly recommend you go read this book!
This book was so cute. I adored the cruise ship plot and the characters so much. I loved the main characters and the many unique, chaotic, and loveable side characters. The massage scene absolutely had me howling and I absolutely binged the whole book!
I adored Jacob and Owen. Their relationship was so raw and real. From the way they met, to the breakup, to their reunion, and throughout the cruise as they fell in love again while trying so hard not to. I thought this book was just so emotional, raw, and just so so so cute.
Second chance romances can be tricky because the reason for the breakup and reunion has to make sense to the reader. I think that Mason did this trope very well and it was relateable, real, and genuine.
Masons writing is such a pleasure to read every time I pick up one of their books! I can’t wait to see what they write next and I highly recommend you go read this book!
August 21, 2026
Ship happens by Mason Deaver
Audiobook arc by Libro FM
-love all the tattoo talk it sounds so interesting I know nothing about tattoos lol
-the arthritis rep 🫶🏾 I also have arthritis ❤️🩹
-love Owen and Caitlyn’s friendship
-want to go on a cruise now
-the tension and memories between them 🥺
-their banter is chef’s kiss 😂💋
-Owen’s past my Sheila 😭
-I want to go whale 🐳 watching now
-this was an adorable and beautiful second chance romance wow
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Audiobook arc by Libro FM
-love all the tattoo talk it sounds so interesting I know nothing about tattoos lol
-the arthritis rep 🫶🏾 I also have arthritis ❤️🩹
-love Owen and Caitlyn’s friendship
-want to go on a cruise now
-the tension and memories between them 🥺
-their banter is chef’s kiss 😂💋
-Owen’s past my Sheila 😭
-I want to go whale 🐳 watching now
-this was an adorable and beautiful second chance romance wow
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Read
July 13, 2026As someone who lives with Psoriatic Arthritis and is also a bitch, I have never felt so connected to a character as I do with Owen. He desperately needs therapy but I adore him so much.
Also as someone who does not like second chance, I fully approve this love story. I really enjoyed the balance of the flashbacks and then seeing them reconnecting. I really really enjoyed this book.
Also as someone who does not like second chance, I fully approve this love story. I really enjoyed the balance of the flashbacks and then seeing them reconnecting. I really really enjoyed this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was so cute and very fun! I’m not typically a big fan of second chance romances but had faith Mason deaver could convert me, and this seemed like a realistic and understandable second chance!
I loved the representation as well - the disability and trans rep is so well done. I didn’t know both main characters were trans going in, so that was a lovely discovery.
The build a boyfriend project was one of my favourite books of last year, so my hopes were very high. And while I loved a lot of this, I found the pacing and plot moved along quite slowly, with very little growth shown for the main character Owen. I think we were told a lot more than we were shown, which was a let down. I wanted to get to know these characters a lot more. I also felt like the side characters fell a little flat for me.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read and I laughed a lot -Deaver’s sense of humor is delightful. It just wasn’t a favourite for me personally.
Thank you NetGalley & Avon for an e-arc.
…
Somewhere between 2.5-3. Still thinking. This was cute, but unfortunately a bit of a let down after the build a boyfriend project for me.
I loved the representation as well - the disability and trans rep is so well done. I didn’t know both main characters were trans going in, so that was a lovely discovery.
The build a boyfriend project was one of my favourite books of last year, so my hopes were very high. And while I loved a lot of this, I found the pacing and plot moved along quite slowly, with very little growth shown for the main character Owen. I think we were told a lot more than we were shown, which was a let down. I wanted to get to know these characters a lot more. I also felt like the side characters fell a little flat for me.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read and I laughed a lot -Deaver’s sense of humor is delightful. It just wasn’t a favourite for me personally.
Thank you NetGalley & Avon for an e-arc.
…
Somewhere between 2.5-3. Still thinking. This was cute, but unfortunately a bit of a let down after the build a boyfriend project for me.
March 25, 2026
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.
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.
June 12, 2026
I went into this book blind, requesting it only because it was by Mason Deaver, not realising it was T4T and I ADORED IT.
Every moment in this book felt like a warm hug with all my found family. The friendships, the second chance element, the setting - honestly Mason let me live inside your brain please.
The pacing was perfect, the second chance development well thought out and I left the novel feeling as though Jacob and Owen would last for the long haul. The disability rep (arthritis) was seemingly done very well (I do not know much about it but feel I know a lot more after this book!) and there were enough funny moments filled with banter and wit to make it easy to breeze through.
So, no pressure Mason, but what's next? Because you're for sure an auto-buy author for me now.
Every moment in this book felt like a warm hug with all my found family. The friendships, the second chance element, the setting - honestly Mason let me live inside your brain please.
The pacing was perfect, the second chance development well thought out and I left the novel feeling as though Jacob and Owen would last for the long haul. The disability rep (arthritis) was seemingly done very well (I do not know much about it but feel I know a lot more after this book!) and there were enough funny moments filled with banter and wit to make it easy to breeze through.
So, no pressure Mason, but what's next? Because you're for sure an auto-buy author for me now.
September 9, 2026
Safe to say that Mason Deaver is now officially off my (s)hit list. I held a grudge over his YA book that was so bad I couldn't believe it but after reading both of his recent pivots into adult romance and enjoying them both, he's now one of the authors I'll be looking for new releases from.
Ship happens was both funny and melancholic in a way. I appreciated how both characters were written, they were so palpable and their characterizations were so true to life. You should have seen how excited I got 2 chapters in when I realized this was a t4t gay romance!
This was such a good summer read and I'm thankful to have gotten an arc from Avon and Harper Voyager in exchange for an honest review.
Ship happens was both funny and melancholic in a way. I appreciated how both characters were written, they were so palpable and their characterizations were so true to life. You should have seen how excited I got 2 chapters in when I realized this was a t4t gay romance!
This was such a good summer read and I'm thankful to have gotten an arc from Avon and Harper Voyager in exchange for an honest review.
Did Not Finish
August 13, 2026DNF @ 17%
Sadly, this just was not for me! The third-person single POV made it really difficult for me to become attached to either character (but obviously especially Owen, who’s POV we ARE getting). I just felt detached as a reader.
On top of that - I feel like there were a lot of characters really quickly introduced, without much or any of a backstory, for us to get to know them and how they play into the story.
Also random but I’m like 99% sure Alaskan cruises don’t happen in December/January?? Honestly something I could have looked past, but it just took away from the story even more, leaving me to knowing I just don’t think this story is for me.
Thank you Avon & Harper Voyager for the arc!
Sadly, this just was not for me! The third-person single POV made it really difficult for me to become attached to either character (but obviously especially Owen, who’s POV we ARE getting). I just felt detached as a reader.
On top of that - I feel like there were a lot of characters really quickly introduced, without much or any of a backstory, for us to get to know them and how they play into the story.
Also random but I’m like 99% sure Alaskan cruises don’t happen in December/January?? Honestly something I could have looked past, but it just took away from the story even more, leaving me to knowing I just don’t think this story is for me.
Thank you Avon & Harper Voyager for the arc!
August 11, 2026
One of the only second chance romance books I liked! I can only accept two reasons to get back together: they were closeted for safety reasons or they had a long distance relationship and it didn’t work out over the distance. Both of these are not genuine reasons they shouldn’t be together imo.
I loved to read about their struggles and how they both were still so in love with each other.
Not working out immediately, but still keeping in touch and having a different approach to a solution for them was perfect!
I loved to read about their struggles and how they both were still so in love with each other.
Not working out immediately, but still keeping in touch and having a different approach to a solution for them was perfect!
November 23, 2025
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!!!!
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!!!!
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