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Beck Sisters #1
Float Plan
Critically acclaimed author Trish Doller's unforgettable and romantic adult debut about setting sail, starting over, and finding yourself...
Since the loss of her fiancé, Anna has been shipwrecked by grief—until a reminder goes off about a trip they were supposed to take together. Impulsively, Anna goes to sea in their sailboat, intending to complete the voyage alone.
But after a treacherous night’s sail, she realizes she can’t do it by herself and hires Keane, a professional sailor, to help. Much like Anna, Keane is struggling with a very different future than the one he had planned. As romance rises with the tide, they discover that it’s never too late to chart a new course.
In Trish Doller’s unforgettable Float Plan, starting over doesn't mean letting go of your past, it means making room for your future.
Since the loss of her fiancé, Anna has been shipwrecked by grief—until a reminder goes off about a trip they were supposed to take together. Impulsively, Anna goes to sea in their sailboat, intending to complete the voyage alone.
But after a treacherous night’s sail, she realizes she can’t do it by herself and hires Keane, a professional sailor, to help. Much like Anna, Keane is struggling with a very different future than the one he had planned. As romance rises with the tide, they discover that it’s never too late to chart a new course.
In Trish Doller’s unforgettable Float Plan, starting over doesn't mean letting go of your past, it means making room for your future.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published March 16, 2021
686 people are currently reading
48256 people want to read
About the author
Trish Doller
10 books2,152 followersHi, I'm Trish! I don't really visit goodreads too often, but you can find me on both Instagram and Twitter as @trishdoller. Instagram is my favorite, so look there first. I don't bite, so come say hello!
(Note: I'm sorry that don't have any review copies for my books. You'll have to contact the publisher.)
(Note: I'm sorry that don't have any review copies for my books. You'll have to contact the publisher.)
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February 23, 2020Advice givers always say you should write the book you want to read. This is it. I hope you like it.
May 31, 2022
What can a person expect more from a beautiful, heart wrenching, inspirational, promising second chances story?
Adorable characters!✅
Riveting, emotional, adrenaline pumping journey!✅
Well written dialogues with meaningful messages!✅
A unique second chances love story!✅
Yes you may find all of those at this novel! ✅
The summary of plot line: Two easily lovable characters set sail to complete a thrilling, adventurous voyage to visit spectacular places, experiencing brand new things, broadening their horizons, healing their past wounds, being shaken by the dangerous attacks of wild sea and sharpening their survival skills.
Anna lost her fiancée who committed suicide, leaving her job, family behind to finish the trip she’s planned with Ben( death fiancée), but she is emotional mess and her sailing experience cannot help her to accomplish her mission so she hires Keane.
Actually Keane finds and saves her after one of her most inappropriate situations she got herself into(getting drunk, hooking up with a man with a bar for one night stand but before the sex, thankfully the asshole’s wife calls and Anna runs away from the place without pants and the very same night and Keane finds her outside, arse naked, emotionally overwhelmed, carries her to her sailboat.)Anna thinks he’s already seen her worst so he can be trustworthy man who may help her to finalize her journey.
Anna suffers from grief as Keane tries to adjust his new and still active, adventurous life after losing one of his leg at the car accident.
They became their confidantes, close friends who share the secrets they haven’t told anyone before.
It was pleasure to see their slow burn, pure, heartwarming romantic relationship and the growing confidence of Anna who turns into one of the strongest persons after facing her fears, anger, resentment and sadness after losing her fiancée and she finds her inner strength as she discovers different islands, magnificent sightseeings and spending days with action packed activities.
And the most beautiful part of it, she found someone to share those remarkable experiences with her.
This story started as a four starred read but during the chapters, I was wooed by the characters, heartfelt, genuine dialogues, their intimate, special bounding. I loved the inspirational messages of the book and enjoyed the conclusion of the story.
It filled my eyes with tears and healed my soul. I wholeheartedly loved it and raising my stars to 5!
Anna and Keane’s beautifully heartwarming journey stole my heart!
Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/St. Martin’s Griffin for sharing this memorable ARC with me in exchange my honest opinions.
Adorable characters!✅
Riveting, emotional, adrenaline pumping journey!✅
Well written dialogues with meaningful messages!✅
A unique second chances love story!✅
Yes you may find all of those at this novel! ✅
The summary of plot line: Two easily lovable characters set sail to complete a thrilling, adventurous voyage to visit spectacular places, experiencing brand new things, broadening their horizons, healing their past wounds, being shaken by the dangerous attacks of wild sea and sharpening their survival skills.
Anna lost her fiancée who committed suicide, leaving her job, family behind to finish the trip she’s planned with Ben( death fiancée), but she is emotional mess and her sailing experience cannot help her to accomplish her mission so she hires Keane.
Actually Keane finds and saves her after one of her most inappropriate situations she got herself into(getting drunk, hooking up with a man with a bar for one night stand but before the sex, thankfully the asshole’s wife calls and Anna runs away from the place without pants and the very same night and Keane finds her outside, arse naked, emotionally overwhelmed, carries her to her sailboat.)Anna thinks he’s already seen her worst so he can be trustworthy man who may help her to finalize her journey.
Anna suffers from grief as Keane tries to adjust his new and still active, adventurous life after losing one of his leg at the car accident.
They became their confidantes, close friends who share the secrets they haven’t told anyone before.
It was pleasure to see their slow burn, pure, heartwarming romantic relationship and the growing confidence of Anna who turns into one of the strongest persons after facing her fears, anger, resentment and sadness after losing her fiancée and she finds her inner strength as she discovers different islands, magnificent sightseeings and spending days with action packed activities.
And the most beautiful part of it, she found someone to share those remarkable experiences with her.
This story started as a four starred read but during the chapters, I was wooed by the characters, heartfelt, genuine dialogues, their intimate, special bounding. I loved the inspirational messages of the book and enjoyed the conclusion of the story.
It filled my eyes with tears and healed my soul. I wholeheartedly loved it and raising my stars to 5!
Anna and Keane’s beautifully heartwarming journey stole my heart!
Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/St. Martin’s Griffin for sharing this memorable ARC with me in exchange my honest opinions.
August 2, 2023
Wow, this book was amazing.
Right away, I fell in love with Anna and how she was thinking about and digesting her husband' death, as well as how she was planning on moving forward.
Anna was realistic as well as a lovely character that made me enjoy watching her grow as a person and start loving herself again.
Ben was an interesting character that wasn't there but mentioned so much that it felt like he was present the entire time and it made everything more interesting.
Overall, all of Anna's thoughts about Ben, the boat, home and the letter made me emotional and think about my past as well as experiences similar to Ben's.
Keane was amazing. Until the last 5 chapters I didn't think he ever did anything wrong and I was starting to fall in love with his character and especially things he would say to Anna that made her realize that the past is the past and it is okay to move forward.
Right away, I fell in love with Anna and how she was thinking about and digesting her husband' death, as well as how she was planning on moving forward.
Anna was realistic as well as a lovely character that made me enjoy watching her grow as a person and start loving herself again.
Ben was an interesting character that wasn't there but mentioned so much that it felt like he was present the entire time and it made everything more interesting.
Overall, all of Anna's thoughts about Ben, the boat, home and the letter made me emotional and think about my past as well as experiences similar to Ben's.
Keane was amazing. Until the last 5 chapters I didn't think he ever did anything wrong and I was starting to fall in love with his character and especially things he would say to Anna that made her realize that the past is the past and it is okay to move forward.
June 11, 2021
"He planned an adventure he never intended to take, imagined a life he never intended to live. Instead he sailed out on a tide of pills and tequila."
Ooof. When a novel begins with an advisory about self-harm and suicide, you immediately brace yourself for a gut-wrenching (and potentially graphic) read. "Float Plan" is neither of those things, but rather an escapist story about moving on from loss.
Anna is a 25-year-old waitress at a "Hooters-like" restaurant whose fiance died by suicide within the last year. Rather than continue to wallow in place, she decides to leave her life behind and go ahead with a sailing adventure he had planned for the two of them. Readers become companions on her journey as she departs from Fort Lauderdale and sails the Atlantic, visiting ports in the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands, Trinidad, and others. Lucky for her (and us), she enlists the assistance of a professional sailor named Keane who quickly becomes more than just the hired help.
Ultimately "Float Plan" is a low-stakes gentle romance. We know where the story is headed, but the vivid setting aboard a boat in the Caribbean makes the journey more important than any destination. It's a fairly clean read (PG-13-ish), which is always my personal preference for this genre. I enjoyed the characters and would definitely follow them on any future adventures.
I'd like to thank the author and St. Martin's Griffin for the opportunity to read an advanced review copy via NetGalley.
Blog: https://www.confettibookshelf.com/
IG: @confettibookshelf
Ooof. When a novel begins with an advisory about self-harm and suicide, you immediately brace yourself for a gut-wrenching (and potentially graphic) read. "Float Plan" is neither of those things, but rather an escapist story about moving on from loss.
Anna is a 25-year-old waitress at a "Hooters-like" restaurant whose fiance died by suicide within the last year. Rather than continue to wallow in place, she decides to leave her life behind and go ahead with a sailing adventure he had planned for the two of them. Readers become companions on her journey as she departs from Fort Lauderdale and sails the Atlantic, visiting ports in the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands, Trinidad, and others. Lucky for her (and us), she enlists the assistance of a professional sailor named Keane who quickly becomes more than just the hired help.
Ultimately "Float Plan" is a low-stakes gentle romance. We know where the story is headed, but the vivid setting aboard a boat in the Caribbean makes the journey more important than any destination. It's a fairly clean read (PG-13-ish), which is always my personal preference for this genre. I enjoyed the characters and would definitely follow them on any future adventures.
I'd like to thank the author and St. Martin's Griffin for the opportunity to read an advanced review copy via NetGalley.
Blog: https://www.confettibookshelf.com/
IG: @confettibookshelf
May 27, 2025
This is a Contemporary Romance/Women's Fiction/Mental Health, and this is the first book in the Beck Sisters series. This is so much more then just a romance. This book is about getting over grief. Anna starts sailing around to try to get over losing her boyfriend from him killing himself over a long battle of depression, and she meets Keane that is grieving the lost of his leg. I love this book so much. I know I was going to like it, but I did not see this book becoming one of my favorite books I have read this year. I really loved all the characters. This book was beautifully written and character-driven. I felt like I was on the boat with them, and I felt all the problems/drama. The book made you want to keep reading. I felt the romance was slow and heartwarming. I cannot say how much I enjoyed this book, and I have not read a book like this book. This book made me want to jump on a boat and island hop. I really love the cover of this book. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (St. Martin's Griffin) or author (Trish Doller) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review about how I feel about this book, and I want to send a big Thank you to them for that. Note: I also won an paperback ARC of this book from a goodreads giveaway.
I re-read this book by listening to the audiobook of this book, and I feel that the narrators did well good with this audiobook. I have to say that Keane's character comes to life with the audiobook. I loved re-reading this book.
I re-read this book by listening to the audiobook of this book, and I feel that the narrators did well good with this audiobook. I have to say that Keane's character comes to life with the audiobook. I loved re-reading this book.
January 10, 2023
(tw: suicide, depression)
I was a bit skeptic to start the book but surprise to find such an inspiring and amazing writing. Seeing how the female MC is going through grief from her dead fiancee at the hand of suicide, I'm expecting a more heavy and emotional ride. However, Doller managed to make the book readable, at the same time be sure not to miss out on the details of how a person who's griefing should be.
Characters
I love both of our MCs.
Keane... is wholesome and so considerate. He had his fair share of issues but I love how understanding he was of Anna. And how he never pushed her or himself on her despite the feeling he already felt at the time (which can be kinda insta-love if you think about it and I don't really have the trope in my best interest) but his characters truly compensate that.
Meanwhile Anna is a thoughtful and amazing woman. I love to see her character grows. Often times, we focused on the dead to a point we may forget about the people around the dead. It's always easy to dismiss them when their feelings were as valid. The grief that consumes you after you lose someone to suicide are overwhelming, it can feel like you have fallen into a deep hole. On that account, I love to see Anna who tries to get out of that hole by honouring what she and her fiance had planned before; though it takes her a lot of courage and strength to do so. Her character arc is something I find myself revelled in.
Romance
I am impressed at how Doller evolved the romance between the two since I'm expecting a very late bloom love story. But the book is bittersweet and starts at a steady pace. Doller doesn't need to build artificial tension in her plot to create drama, unlike many romance books. Indeed, it set forths on the movingly authentic struggles between her character's past and future, and whether or not her newfound beginning can accommodate a new companion.
Plot
I also enjoyed the way the author described the sea life, the living-on-the-boat, travelling adventures. They were all amazing and well written. I thought the marine life theme may not work well and might come out as boring but Float Plan proves otherwise. Doller certainly knows her Caribbean islands: her thorough travel record is entertaining and intriguing after months of epidemic sheltering. While there is a lot of sailing terminology and a few too many travel discourses that I could do without, the rest of the story is so compelling that it all fades away.
This book may not be for everyone seeing how it can be triggering at points, but it's still an intriguing, nuanced story that's worth reading. Great book, great characters! (ノ^∇^)
[3.75/5]
I was a bit skeptic to start the book but surprise to find such an inspiring and amazing writing. Seeing how the female MC is going through grief from her dead fiancee at the hand of suicide, I'm expecting a more heavy and emotional ride. However, Doller managed to make the book readable, at the same time be sure not to miss out on the details of how a person who's griefing should be.
Characters
I love both of our MCs.
Keane... is wholesome and so considerate. He had his fair share of issues but I love how understanding he was of Anna. And how he never pushed her or himself on her despite the feeling he already felt at the time (which can be kinda insta-love if you think about it and I don't really have the trope in my best interest) but his characters truly compensate that.
Meanwhile Anna is a thoughtful and amazing woman. I love to see her character grows. Often times, we focused on the dead to a point we may forget about the people around the dead. It's always easy to dismiss them when their feelings were as valid. The grief that consumes you after you lose someone to suicide are overwhelming, it can feel like you have fallen into a deep hole. On that account, I love to see Anna who tries to get out of that hole by honouring what she and her fiance had planned before; though it takes her a lot of courage and strength to do so. Her character arc is something I find myself revelled in.
Romance
I am impressed at how Doller evolved the romance between the two since I'm expecting a very late bloom love story. But the book is bittersweet and starts at a steady pace. Doller doesn't need to build artificial tension in her plot to create drama, unlike many romance books. Indeed, it set forths on the movingly authentic struggles between her character's past and future, and whether or not her newfound beginning can accommodate a new companion.
Plot
I also enjoyed the way the author described the sea life, the living-on-the-boat, travelling adventures. They were all amazing and well written. I thought the marine life theme may not work well and might come out as boring but Float Plan proves otherwise. Doller certainly knows her Caribbean islands: her thorough travel record is entertaining and intriguing after months of epidemic sheltering. While there is a lot of sailing terminology and a few too many travel discourses that I could do without, the rest of the story is so compelling that it all fades away.
This book may not be for everyone seeing how it can be triggering at points, but it's still an intriguing, nuanced story that's worth reading. Great book, great characters! (ノ^∇^)
[3.75/5]
April 10, 2022
APPLAUSE!! APPLAUSE!! APPLAUSE!!
( With a standing ovation!) What a great read!
Anna Beck can't make sense of her world. Her fiance, Ben, killed himself after battling depression all his life. Unable to get on with her life, Anna makes a rash decision to complete a trip that Ben had planned for them - which would have ended with their wedding ceremony on the sandy beaches of Trinidad.
But Anna soon realizes that she lacks the advanced sailing skills needed to make the long journey through the Caribbean's unpredictable waters, so she hires Keane Sullivan, a professional sailor to help her complete her odyssey.
There is a cute scene where it appears that the fates contrived to bring them together (no spoilers here - read it for yourself!) Keane is such a decent guy - and a true friend to Anna. Doesn't hurt that he is incredibly good-looking, too!
Time and again Keane is a shoulder Anna can lean on while she battles her still raw grief for Ben. Keane is someone who understands life-altering suffering, having lost part of his leg in a car accident a few years back. The descriptions of all the enchanting stops along the journey, and the many harrowing incidents on the trip itself, make for totally riveting reading.
There were so many quotable lines in this story. Both Anna and Keane have had to endure heartbreak and the shattering of their dreams. I love Trish Doller's clean, realistic writing style. Anna and Keane felt like real people, facing real problems, doing the best they could to find a new normal.
Highly recommended!!! I give this one a 8 out of 5 score: I was that engrossed and entertained!
My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
( With a standing ovation!) What a great read!
Anna Beck can't make sense of her world. Her fiance, Ben, killed himself after battling depression all his life. Unable to get on with her life, Anna makes a rash decision to complete a trip that Ben had planned for them - which would have ended with their wedding ceremony on the sandy beaches of Trinidad.
But Anna soon realizes that she lacks the advanced sailing skills needed to make the long journey through the Caribbean's unpredictable waters, so she hires Keane Sullivan, a professional sailor to help her complete her odyssey.
There is a cute scene where it appears that the fates contrived to bring them together (no spoilers here - read it for yourself!) Keane is such a decent guy - and a true friend to Anna. Doesn't hurt that he is incredibly good-looking, too!
Time and again Keane is a shoulder Anna can lean on while she battles her still raw grief for Ben. Keane is someone who understands life-altering suffering, having lost part of his leg in a car accident a few years back. The descriptions of all the enchanting stops along the journey, and the many harrowing incidents on the trip itself, make for totally riveting reading.
There were so many quotable lines in this story. Both Anna and Keane have had to endure heartbreak and the shattering of their dreams. I love Trish Doller's clean, realistic writing style. Anna and Keane felt like real people, facing real problems, doing the best they could to find a new normal.
Highly recommended!!! I give this one a 8 out of 5 score: I was that engrossed and entertained!
My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 23, 2021
"Float Plan" by Trish Doller is a Contemporary Romance with adventure and a feel good lift!
Anna Beck is frozen in her life since the tragic suicide of her fiancé, Ben, who fought a hard battle with depression. After being locked in self-imposed solitude for too long, Anna decides it's time to set sail for the Caribbean trip Ben had mapped out for them to take together.
On her first stop, Anna realizes she can't do this voyage on their sailboat alone and needs help. Her 'Mayday Call' comes in the form of very handsome and very Irish Seaman, Keane Sullivan, who has challenges of his own.
Are they both ready to set sale together or is this arrangement going to be a shipwreck waiting to happen?
Such an interesting premise and I love that these two main characters were brought together out of the blue. Their banter and day-to-day interaction is so entertaining. I love listening to Keane's Irish accent. It's mesmerizing! Why is it when someone speaks with an Irish accent they sound so full of wisdom and you're mesmerized by everything they say? Like every word is a song?
The journey these two characters take together is well worth checking out. It was a fun ride through the Caribbean via audiobook for me. Narrator, Sarah Naughton did an amazing job with all the voicing, whether it's gendered or Irish or the various Caribbean accents, she nails it all!
I listened to this one in preparation of reading book #2 in this author's 'Beck Sisters' series, 'The Suite Spot'
which is due to publish 3/8/22. These are both standalone stories so no need to read them in sequential order, I just wanted to and glad I did. It's always nice slipping in a lighter read once in a while just for fun. I highly recommend!
I'll be reading the ARC of book #2 shortly. Be sure to look for my review soon!
Anna Beck is frozen in her life since the tragic suicide of her fiancé, Ben, who fought a hard battle with depression. After being locked in self-imposed solitude for too long, Anna decides it's time to set sail for the Caribbean trip Ben had mapped out for them to take together.
On her first stop, Anna realizes she can't do this voyage on their sailboat alone and needs help. Her 'Mayday Call' comes in the form of very handsome and very Irish Seaman, Keane Sullivan, who has challenges of his own.
Are they both ready to set sale together or is this arrangement going to be a shipwreck waiting to happen?
Such an interesting premise and I love that these two main characters were brought together out of the blue. Their banter and day-to-day interaction is so entertaining. I love listening to Keane's Irish accent. It's mesmerizing! Why is it when someone speaks with an Irish accent they sound so full of wisdom and you're mesmerized by everything they say? Like every word is a song?
The journey these two characters take together is well worth checking out. It was a fun ride through the Caribbean via audiobook for me. Narrator, Sarah Naughton did an amazing job with all the voicing, whether it's gendered or Irish or the various Caribbean accents, she nails it all!
I listened to this one in preparation of reading book #2 in this author's 'Beck Sisters' series, 'The Suite Spot'
which is due to publish 3/8/22. These are both standalone stories so no need to read them in sequential order, I just wanted to and glad I did. It's always nice slipping in a lighter read once in a while just for fun. I highly recommend!I'll be reading the ARC of book #2 shortly. Be sure to look for my review soon!
July 7, 2021
2.5 stars. After seeing some really positive early buzz, I went into this one with pretty high expectations. Unfortunately though, it did not end up living up to the hype for me. I really liked the premise and all the different beautiful locations the story takes place in, but I struggled to care at all for either of our characters. I feel like both of our main characters felt really one dimensional, which only made it harder for me to root for their relationship. Overall, this wasn't the worst thing that I've read, but I clearly didn't care for it as much as I was hoping to and I most likely won't read any more from this author in the future. Big womp :(
CW: suicide, death of a loved one
CW: suicide, death of a loved one
July 17, 2022
⛵️ ⛵️ ⛵️ ⛵️ ⛵️
Wow, this book. Sometimes the right book is in your hands at the right time. It made me want to read all the love stories this summer. Anna’s story begins with the tragic and unexpected loss of her fiance, Ben. She flees all she knows and embarks on a sailing trip the two were to make together; however, Ben was much more knowledgeable about sailing. Anna’s journey is off to a rough start emotionally and physically when she hires an Irish stranger, Keane, to help her along her sailing journey.
As they island hop together, Anna and Keane become friends and their connection grows, both such lovable characters. One thing that sets this book apart is the sense of adventure through sailing around the Caribbean. It made me wish I knew how to sail, and it reminded me how much I love being on the water. Another thing I loved is the sense of independence and empowerment Anna gains through her sailing.
I also have to mention the named chapters (always love that) and the flawless writing. The pacing of this story flows like a dream, and it was so easy to pick up and hard to put down. The hype is real for this beautiful book, and I cannot wait to continue on with Rachel’s story. (As I post this review, I’ve already read and loved The Suite Spot, too, and hope to have my review up soon).
Many of my reviews an also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
Wow, this book. Sometimes the right book is in your hands at the right time. It made me want to read all the love stories this summer. Anna’s story begins with the tragic and unexpected loss of her fiance, Ben. She flees all she knows and embarks on a sailing trip the two were to make together; however, Ben was much more knowledgeable about sailing. Anna’s journey is off to a rough start emotionally and physically when she hires an Irish stranger, Keane, to help her along her sailing journey.
As they island hop together, Anna and Keane become friends and their connection grows, both such lovable characters. One thing that sets this book apart is the sense of adventure through sailing around the Caribbean. It made me wish I knew how to sail, and it reminded me how much I love being on the water. Another thing I loved is the sense of independence and empowerment Anna gains through her sailing.
I also have to mention the named chapters (always love that) and the flawless writing. The pacing of this story flows like a dream, and it was so easy to pick up and hard to put down. The hype is real for this beautiful book, and I cannot wait to continue on with Rachel’s story. (As I post this review, I’ve already read and loved The Suite Spot, too, and hope to have my review up soon).
Many of my reviews an also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
November 13, 2021
3.5*
AHOY! Are you ready to pull up anchor and set sail?😎
Anna thought she had her life thoroughly planned out. A once in a lifetime trip for her and her fiancé. An unbelievable chance to sail through the Caribbean in his sailboat. But when tragedy strikes, Anna suddenly finds herself very much alone. Once the fog of grief slowly lifts, Anna decides to take the boat herself and sail the Caribbean seas on her own.
Well…after the first leg of her dream cruise, Anna realizes she may not exactly be equipped to sail alone and searches for someone to be her 1st mate for the remainder of the trip .
Enter Keane. A troubled sailor just beginning to get past some of his own personal losses. Can the two heal themselves aboard their own little love boat? And maybe even heal each other?
This was a sweet read but a bit too heavy on the sailing jargon for me. As a die-hard romantic I would’ve rather un-covered more about the characters than how to sail. But then again…if you love sailing⛵️
I have book 2 The Suite Spot already queued up and ready to go! Happy reading!
A buddy read with Susanne
Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...
AHOY! Are you ready to pull up anchor and set sail?😎
Anna thought she had her life thoroughly planned out. A once in a lifetime trip for her and her fiancé. An unbelievable chance to sail through the Caribbean in his sailboat. But when tragedy strikes, Anna suddenly finds herself very much alone. Once the fog of grief slowly lifts, Anna decides to take the boat herself and sail the Caribbean seas on her own.
Well…after the first leg of her dream cruise, Anna realizes she may not exactly be equipped to sail alone and searches for someone to be her 1st mate for the remainder of the trip .
Enter Keane. A troubled sailor just beginning to get past some of his own personal losses. Can the two heal themselves aboard their own little love boat? And maybe even heal each other?
This was a sweet read but a bit too heavy on the sailing jargon for me. As a die-hard romantic I would’ve rather un-covered more about the characters than how to sail. But then again…if you love sailing⛵️
I have book 2 The Suite Spot already queued up and ready to go! Happy reading!
A buddy read with Susanne
Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...
July 27, 2025
I loved Float Plan which follows Anna, who takes a sailing trip through the Caribbean islands after her fiancé Ben dies by suicide. She is lost in grief and unsure of her next steps in life.
After a rough solo sail initially, Anna looks to hire help to get through the remainder of her journey and finds Keane, a professional sailor who seems too good to be true, though he is dealing with his own challenges.
“The stages of grief are not linear. They are random and unpredictable, folding back on themselves until you begin mourning all over again. I have bargained with a universe that is not listening. I have cried myself hollow. I have leaned into the belief that I cannot live without Ben Braithwaite, but kneeling here in the sand on a beach 400 miles from home says maybe I can — and that terrifies me.”
Float Plan is maybe a little bit predictable but I really liked both Anna and Keane, and enjoyed reading about their travels. I loved the theme of personal growth and the reminder of how people are powerful — We can often endure and overcome more than we give ourselves credit for — 4.5 stars
After a rough solo sail initially, Anna looks to hire help to get through the remainder of her journey and finds Keane, a professional sailor who seems too good to be true, though he is dealing with his own challenges.
“The stages of grief are not linear. They are random and unpredictable, folding back on themselves until you begin mourning all over again. I have bargained with a universe that is not listening. I have cried myself hollow. I have leaned into the belief that I cannot live without Ben Braithwaite, but kneeling here in the sand on a beach 400 miles from home says maybe I can — and that terrifies me.”
Float Plan is maybe a little bit predictable but I really liked both Anna and Keane, and enjoyed reading about their travels. I loved the theme of personal growth and the reminder of how people are powerful — We can often endure and overcome more than we give ourselves credit for — 4.5 stars
January 20, 2022
The Float Plan by Trish Doller is a 2021 St. Martin’s Griffin publication.
After Anna’s fiancé, Ben, passes away, her life has been in limbo. When a reminder of a proposed round the world trip pops up, Anna makes a sudden, spur of the moment decision to take that trip, despite not being properly trained for such a journey. Reality sets in immediately after a scary near miss… or two.
Enter Keane, a professional sailor, who comes to Anna’s rescue after an embarrassing, drunken mistake. Anna hires Keane to help her navigate her journey, and to sail off on an unexpected, life altering journey of healing and new beginnings.
With so many reviews posted for this book, by now, you know this book deals with some very difficult subject matter. Please read and heed the trigger warnings before you decide to read this book.
That said, while the story does deal with grief, and the various stages we normally recite, not necessarily applying to everyone in the same way- the author manages to approach the premise with a light touch.
Keane is very much a catalyst for that tone, as he’s a steady rock for Anna, not only with his sailing skills, but with his ability to understand what this journey is all about for Anna, offering her support and patience, as she slowly finds her way.
There is much to love about this book. I thought it was well-written, and the character development is realistic and inspiring. I loved the romantic elements and the tender chemistry between Anna and Keane.
This is a dual journey- a scenic, nautical adventure on one hand and an emotional journey of healing, acceptance, growth, and romance.
Overall, a journey through grief, which leads to personal growth, strength and renewal, and a lovely new life of love and adventure.
4 stars
After Anna’s fiancé, Ben, passes away, her life has been in limbo. When a reminder of a proposed round the world trip pops up, Anna makes a sudden, spur of the moment decision to take that trip, despite not being properly trained for such a journey. Reality sets in immediately after a scary near miss… or two.
Enter Keane, a professional sailor, who comes to Anna’s rescue after an embarrassing, drunken mistake. Anna hires Keane to help her navigate her journey, and to sail off on an unexpected, life altering journey of healing and new beginnings.
With so many reviews posted for this book, by now, you know this book deals with some very difficult subject matter. Please read and heed the trigger warnings before you decide to read this book.
That said, while the story does deal with grief, and the various stages we normally recite, not necessarily applying to everyone in the same way- the author manages to approach the premise with a light touch.
Keane is very much a catalyst for that tone, as he’s a steady rock for Anna, not only with his sailing skills, but with his ability to understand what this journey is all about for Anna, offering her support and patience, as she slowly finds her way.
There is much to love about this book. I thought it was well-written, and the character development is realistic and inspiring. I loved the romantic elements and the tender chemistry between Anna and Keane.
This is a dual journey- a scenic, nautical adventure on one hand and an emotional journey of healing, acceptance, growth, and romance.
Overall, a journey through grief, which leads to personal growth, strength and renewal, and a lovely new life of love and adventure.
4 stars
March 16, 2021
Float Plan was not what I expected, especially because there were so many high rated reviews. Anna decides to set sail on a planned tip that her ex- boyfriend Ben had planned for them. He committed suicide and I do think that wild the book touches on grief, the romance was so forced.
The romance between Anna and Keane was so blatantly over their looks and their looks alone. They kept talking about how amazing the other one was but there was no reason or proof behind why they were amazing. They literally don’t know anything about each other. On top of that, Keane continues to say that he can’t be Anna’s rebound but then will continue to flirt with her. Make up your mind!!
I think the book would have been much stronger if it focused on Anna’s healing process with this trip and having Keane as a friend. The romance ruined it and their relationship was insufferable. The only thing I liked about the book was the trip that Anna decided to take through the Bahamas to Puerto Rico, etc which sounded super fun since I love a good travel adventure. That's the only thing that kept this from being a one star.
A lot of people seem to love this book so I would take this review with a grain of salt but I REALLY did not enjoy this book. Thank you to Netgalley and St. martin’s Press for the advanced copy! Buddy read with Jenny <3
The romance between Anna and Keane was so blatantly over their looks and their looks alone. They kept talking about how amazing the other one was but there was no reason or proof behind why they were amazing. They literally don’t know anything about each other. On top of that, Keane continues to say that he can’t be Anna’s rebound but then will continue to flirt with her. Make up your mind!!
I think the book would have been much stronger if it focused on Anna’s healing process with this trip and having Keane as a friend. The romance ruined it and their relationship was insufferable. The only thing I liked about the book was the trip that Anna decided to take through the Bahamas to Puerto Rico, etc which sounded super fun since I love a good travel adventure. That's the only thing that kept this from being a one star.
A lot of people seem to love this book so I would take this review with a grain of salt but I REALLY did not enjoy this book. Thank you to Netgalley and St. martin’s Press for the advanced copy! Buddy read with Jenny <3
March 16, 2021
float plan in one sentence: loved the setting, didn’t care for the characters.
before i begin my review, let us take a gander at some of the destinations anna hit on her trip:
bimini, bahamas (retrieved from here)
pirate’s cove, providenciales, turks and caicos (retrieved from here)
san juan, puerto rico (retrieved from here)
montserrat – british overseas territory (retrieved from here
les anses-d’arlet, martinique (retrieved from here)
random picture of a sailboat somewhere in the caribbean, just 'cause (i found it here)
the sentence at the start of my review pretty much summarizes my feelings for this book, though i anticipated having a lot more to say.
when i requested this, i was quite excited at the prospect of reading a story about a woman grieving for a lost love, who embarks on a journey across the caribbean to rediscover direction, passion, motivation for life.
annnnnd…. apart from approximately 10 pages at the start and 10 pages at the end when anna is finally, blessedly, on her own, the rest of the novel is essentially wish-fulfillment nonsense: an insta-love-adjacent story about two attractive people being attracted to each other—but denying it, of course.
no one is fooled.
◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️
➟ i wish there’d been more exploration of anna as an individual, sans the spectre of ben and sans keane.
➟ i wish anna hadn’t been immediately in lust/love with keane the minute she laid eyes on him (his face, according to her after 1 second of looking at it, was “a religious experience.” 🥴)
➟ i wish anna hadn’t been so damn possessive of keane when she was swearing up and down that she didn’t have feelings for him. instead of acknowledging anna’s obnoxious jealousy when keane flirted with another woman, the book tritely paints the other woman in a totally petty light. essentially the book says: anna’s not jealous, she’s just *looking out* for keane! because he’s disabled and most girls are mean and ableist—but anna’s *not like other girls*! in fact she’s just making sure the lucky lady is actually *worthy* of keane!
➟ lastly, i wish the ending hadn’t felt so rushed and so canned, so blithely happily-ever-after.
◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️
bottom line: i'm coming to realize that romances between thin hot white people are just not my thing :( hit my quota for these types of stories at least a few years back. that being said, float plan was a great escapist read for quarantine times!
buddy read with sheena!! 💖 many thanks to netgalley and st. martin’s press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
before i begin my review, let us take a gander at some of the destinations anna hit on her trip:
bimini, bahamas (retrieved from here)
pirate’s cove, providenciales, turks and caicos (retrieved from here)
san juan, puerto rico (retrieved from here)
montserrat – british overseas territory (retrieved from here
les anses-d’arlet, martinique (retrieved from here)
random picture of a sailboat somewhere in the caribbean, just 'cause (i found it here)
the sentence at the start of my review pretty much summarizes my feelings for this book, though i anticipated having a lot more to say.
when i requested this, i was quite excited at the prospect of reading a story about a woman grieving for a lost love, who embarks on a journey across the caribbean to rediscover direction, passion, motivation for life.
annnnnd…. apart from approximately 10 pages at the start and 10 pages at the end when anna is finally, blessedly, on her own, the rest of the novel is essentially wish-fulfillment nonsense: an insta-love-adjacent story about two attractive people being attracted to each other—but denying it, of course.
no one is fooled.
◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️
➟ i wish there’d been more exploration of anna as an individual, sans the spectre of ben and sans keane.
➟ i wish anna hadn’t been immediately in lust/love with keane the minute she laid eyes on him (his face, according to her after 1 second of looking at it, was “a religious experience.” 🥴)
➟ i wish anna hadn’t been so damn possessive of keane when she was swearing up and down that she didn’t have feelings for him. instead of acknowledging anna’s obnoxious jealousy when keane flirted with another woman, the book tritely paints the other woman in a totally petty light. essentially the book says: anna’s not jealous, she’s just *looking out* for keane! because he’s disabled and most girls are mean and ableist—but anna’s *not like other girls*! in fact she’s just making sure the lucky lady is actually *worthy* of keane!
➟ lastly, i wish the ending hadn’t felt so rushed and so canned, so blithely happily-ever-after.
◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️
bottom line: i'm coming to realize that romances between thin hot white people are just not my thing :( hit my quota for these types of stories at least a few years back. that being said, float plan was a great escapist read for quarantine times!
buddy read with sheena!! 💖 many thanks to netgalley and st. martin’s press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 6, 2021
3.5 Stars
TW for suicide.
When this book starts, Anna is reeling from the loss of her fiancé to suicide. This is a very heavy start to this book, so please be aware going in. Anna decides to go on the sailing trip she had planned with her fiancé and ends up hiring Keane to help along the way. For most of this book, it definitely read as a women's fiction novel with Anna learning to live without Ben and give up some control over her life. It was nice, but I felt like the story lagged a bit as Anna went from place to place. The romance as super slow and not even really slow burn until halfway through. Then, it took even longer for anything to happen. But once the last 50 pages hit, I feel like the story then went too quickly and wrapped up so fast. I would have liked the pacing to be a bit faster through the first half and slower at the end. The romance was nice and I did really love Keane. I think the book would have been even stronger if we had Keane's POV and got to learn even more about his past and his family. That was part of my favorite part of the book, so I wanted more. Keane also has a prosthetic leg, and I love how that was discussed in this book. Overall this was a nice read, but I wanted more from it.
TW for suicide.
When this book starts, Anna is reeling from the loss of her fiancé to suicide. This is a very heavy start to this book, so please be aware going in. Anna decides to go on the sailing trip she had planned with her fiancé and ends up hiring Keane to help along the way. For most of this book, it definitely read as a women's fiction novel with Anna learning to live without Ben and give up some control over her life. It was nice, but I felt like the story lagged a bit as Anna went from place to place. The romance as super slow and not even really slow burn until halfway through. Then, it took even longer for anything to happen. But once the last 50 pages hit, I feel like the story then went too quickly and wrapped up so fast. I would have liked the pacing to be a bit faster through the first half and slower at the end. The romance was nice and I did really love Keane. I think the book would have been even stronger if we had Keane's POV and got to learn even more about his past and his family. That was part of my favorite part of the book, so I wanted more. Keane also has a prosthetic leg, and I love how that was discussed in this book. Overall this was a nice read, but I wanted more from it.
May 3, 2023
"The sea is languid and the air is light, it's a perfect day for running away from home."
This is an emotional story about loss, grief, and new beginnings. It's Anna's journey in the aftermath of her boyfriend's suicide.
Full review at LucyKnowsThings.com.
This is an emotional story about loss, grief, and new beginnings. It's Anna's journey in the aftermath of her boyfriend's suicide.
Full review at LucyKnowsThings.com.
November 23, 2022
A couple weeks back NetGalley offered a read now galley of Trish Doller's latest book, Off The Map, which is book 3 of the Beck Sisters series. I grabbed it even though I hadn't read the first two and to my delight Overdrive had book 1, Float Plan available to download so I figured I best get to it and am I glad I did.
This was a done in one day book, what more can I say?
Okay, I'll say a few more things.
Anna Beck is wrecked with grief. It's been ten months since her boyfriend and love of her life committed suicide. She has hardly been able to get out of bed since then. Working at a Hooters type establishment is her only form of social life.
The day before Thanksgiving she receives a notification reminding her of the sailing voyage her and Ben were suppose to go on. On a whim she decides to go against her better judgment and sail her way through the Caribbean just as they had intended. It's time to do something, anything to get her out of her rut.
The first few days at sea don't go quite as she planned and she realizes that this isn't something she'll be able to do alone with so little experience. She pops an ad up at local beach resort for someone willing to assist her in sailing to Puerto Rico.
In walks Keane Sullivan, with his Irish accent, scruffy beard, and heart of gold. Keane is also dealing with a loss of his own and together the two build a friendship that would warm anyone's heart. Will this friendship help heal their wounds? Will this friendship blossom into more? You'll have to read this to find out!
I adored this story. I adored the characters. I adored all those beachy vibes. I picked the most perfect time of the year to have read this as this takes place between Thanksgiving and New Years so I got all the holiday vibes with a tropical background that had me wishing for my own Caribbean Christmas adventure. I worried that the sailing aspect would be too much for me as I have never sailed in my life but it didn't deter my reading experience in the least. Needless to say I am so excited to continue this series and guess what? The Suite Spot is now available to download to me so I'm packing my bags and heading to Kelleys Island! Bring on the swoon! 4 stars!
Thank you to Overdrive for the loan!
This was a done in one day book, what more can I say?
Okay, I'll say a few more things.
Anna Beck is wrecked with grief. It's been ten months since her boyfriend and love of her life committed suicide. She has hardly been able to get out of bed since then. Working at a Hooters type establishment is her only form of social life.
The day before Thanksgiving she receives a notification reminding her of the sailing voyage her and Ben were suppose to go on. On a whim she decides to go against her better judgment and sail her way through the Caribbean just as they had intended. It's time to do something, anything to get her out of her rut.
The first few days at sea don't go quite as she planned and she realizes that this isn't something she'll be able to do alone with so little experience. She pops an ad up at local beach resort for someone willing to assist her in sailing to Puerto Rico.
In walks Keane Sullivan, with his Irish accent, scruffy beard, and heart of gold. Keane is also dealing with a loss of his own and together the two build a friendship that would warm anyone's heart. Will this friendship help heal their wounds? Will this friendship blossom into more? You'll have to read this to find out!
I adored this story. I adored the characters. I adored all those beachy vibes. I picked the most perfect time of the year to have read this as this takes place between Thanksgiving and New Years so I got all the holiday vibes with a tropical background that had me wishing for my own Caribbean Christmas adventure. I worried that the sailing aspect would be too much for me as I have never sailed in my life but it didn't deter my reading experience in the least. Needless to say I am so excited to continue this series and guess what? The Suite Spot is now available to download to me so I'm packing my bags and heading to Kelleys Island! Bring on the swoon! 4 stars!
Thank you to Overdrive for the loan!
November 20, 2021
Review posted to blog: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...
Ho-Hum.
Coined as “Unforgettable” - I would actually beg to differ. There was nothing fun, cute, or exciting about Trish Doller’s debut about Anna, who decides to set sail on the open sea, start over and do her best to find a reason to go on after the loss of her husband, except perhaps Queenie, the cute dog she rescues, in this contemporary romance.
Perhaps my expectations were set too high. That must have been it. Whatever it was, I felt that “Float Plan” was a little lackluster.
While I appreciate the care that this book took to dive into suicide and grief, I didn’t feel any sparks or romance between Anna and Keane and wish this novel had taken a different turn altogether. I am, however, only one reader and most others really enjoyed this novel, thus I urge you to read other reviews if this premise is of interest.
This was a buddy listen with Ms. Kaceey.
Thanks to my library for loaning me a copy of this audiobook.
Published on Goodreads and Twitter.
Ho-Hum.
Coined as “Unforgettable” - I would actually beg to differ. There was nothing fun, cute, or exciting about Trish Doller’s debut about Anna, who decides to set sail on the open sea, start over and do her best to find a reason to go on after the loss of her husband, except perhaps Queenie, the cute dog she rescues, in this contemporary romance.
Perhaps my expectations were set too high. That must have been it. Whatever it was, I felt that “Float Plan” was a little lackluster.
While I appreciate the care that this book took to dive into suicide and grief, I didn’t feel any sparks or romance between Anna and Keane and wish this novel had taken a different turn altogether. I am, however, only one reader and most others really enjoyed this novel, thus I urge you to read other reviews if this premise is of interest.
This was a buddy listen with Ms. Kaceey.
Thanks to my library for loaning me a copy of this audiobook.
Published on Goodreads and Twitter.
January 22, 2021
tw: death of a loved one by suicide (including the suicide note and descriptions of how he passed)
3.5 stars
This is the second grief story where the main character 's fiancee has died that I have read this month, but grief stories where people are re-discovering themselves after a major loss have some of my favorite themes. This is a quick read about Anna, who is sailing the Caribbean on a trip she planned to take with her fiancee, and Keane is the man she ends up hiring to help her sail. I enjoyed the trip aspect of this, along with how kind Keane is, the depictions of his disability as he has a prothetic limb, and how their relationship blossomed. I loved the pacing of this for most of it, but the last 15% was way too rushed for how slowly it was built up, and that did take the enjoyment down a notch for me. If you enjoy grief stories mixed with romance, you'll likely enjoy this.
3.5 stars
This is the second grief story where the main character 's fiancee has died that I have read this month, but grief stories where people are re-discovering themselves after a major loss have some of my favorite themes. This is a quick read about Anna, who is sailing the Caribbean on a trip she planned to take with her fiancee, and Keane is the man she ends up hiring to help her sail. I enjoyed the trip aspect of this, along with how kind Keane is, the depictions of his disability as he has a prothetic limb, and how their relationship blossomed. I loved the pacing of this for most of it, but the last 15% was way too rushed for how slowly it was built up, and that did take the enjoyment down a notch for me. If you enjoy grief stories mixed with romance, you'll likely enjoy this.
June 24, 2021
Float Plan
, Trish Doller's adult fiction debut, is a poignant and romantic story about finding the strength to pick yourself up after tragedy.
Anna had planned for a life with her fiancé, Ben. She was completely rocked by his death, and has been consumed by grief for the last 10 months. But when she gets a reminder about the trip they had planned, to sail from Florida to the Bahamas, she decides to make the trip alone, in their sailboat, much to the worry of friends and family.
Anna has never sailed without Ben but she feels this is the release—and the relief—she needs. After a few close calls and one treacherous night of sailing, she realizes she needs a co-captain. She hires Keane, a professional sailor, who has been trying to rebuild his life after a tragedy of his own.
Close quarters, emotionally vulnerable people, beautiful scenery, and a touch of adversity—aren’t those the ingredients for a perfect romance? But this isn’t an insta-love story. It’s a compelling, emotional look at how you find the strength to move on when there’s still part of you that doesn’t want to, and how it’s still okay to grieve what you’ve lost. And it's also a book about realizing you still can be happy if your life doesn't turn out how you planned it to be.
Float Plan really was a beautiful book. These characters were so appealing and so complex, I was definitely rooting for them. And I so appreciated that there wasn’t any real melodrama, which I totally expected given the plot. (Do you ever find yourself waiting for something bad to happen in a book or movie?)
This was just so good!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2020 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2020.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the last decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
Anna had planned for a life with her fiancé, Ben. She was completely rocked by his death, and has been consumed by grief for the last 10 months. But when she gets a reminder about the trip they had planned, to sail from Florida to the Bahamas, she decides to make the trip alone, in their sailboat, much to the worry of friends and family.
Anna has never sailed without Ben but she feels this is the release—and the relief—she needs. After a few close calls and one treacherous night of sailing, she realizes she needs a co-captain. She hires Keane, a professional sailor, who has been trying to rebuild his life after a tragedy of his own.
Close quarters, emotionally vulnerable people, beautiful scenery, and a touch of adversity—aren’t those the ingredients for a perfect romance? But this isn’t an insta-love story. It’s a compelling, emotional look at how you find the strength to move on when there’s still part of you that doesn’t want to, and how it’s still okay to grieve what you’ve lost. And it's also a book about realizing you still can be happy if your life doesn't turn out how you planned it to be.
Float Plan really was a beautiful book. These characters were so appealing and so complex, I was definitely rooting for them. And I so appreciated that there wasn’t any real melodrama, which I totally expected given the plot. (Do you ever find yourself waiting for something bad to happen in a book or movie?)
This was just so good!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2020 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2020.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the last decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
May 19, 2022
"I'm starting to understand how sadness and happiness can live side by side within a heart. And how that heart can keep on beating."
°•*⁀➷
I've read so many good books in the last few years, but there's one thing that has stood out to me most in all of my favorites. It's that sometimes, when you get a feeling that it's time to read a book, it means that book is telling you that it's going to leave a profound impact on your heart. Your soul. And your mind for the rest of your life. I've always been a mood reader, going from book to book as they strike me. I rarely read books at a regimented pace unless an author I love releases something and I have to devour it before anyone else can say a word.
This book is one that called out to me. That said "hey, it's my time" and I listened. and I'm so glad I did.
I just read You've Reached Sam and was wishing I could read a book about grief from the perspective of someone my own age. Something with a similar premise and outcome. I picked this one up having no idea it was the exact book I was looking for, and now I just feel so incredibly full of life and love. It's crazy how a book can do that. Heal all of those pieces inside of you that you didn't know needed fixing. Or tending, for that matter.
Anna is the embodiment of a girl lost, confused and heart broken at the start of this story. And she grows into a girl choosing to be lost (is nomadic a better way to explain that?), knowing where her path is going to lead, and understanding that sometimes all a heart can be is mending. It's such a beautiful journey through grief and strength with the metaphor of a boat sailing through the ocean. You can feel in every word Trish Doller writes how much she loves to sail. And in that love, I fell in love too.
And Keane is just, he's probably going to be so special to me for the rest of my life. He never rushes her, always lets her know he'll never ask her to forget her Ben. He's comforting, and kind, and goes into everything full-hearted even with a lost leg. It's a story about how missing a part of yourself physically doesn't hinder you anymore than missing a part of yourself mentally. Seeing them both go through those emotions together, yet separately, is just. Wow. The implementation of both stories melding into one while still being so singular was so powerful for me.
I rarely see mental health and physical health compared in such a subtle way. Showing that both affect our abilities in the same ways. Sometimes we choose the path that takes us out of the world because of both, and sometimes we choose to fight like hell to get to a good place. Both hurt, both hinder, and both can be overcome with resiliency and strength. And every way, though one more tragic than another, happens, and shouldn't be judged. Trauma comparison is so difficult to read because of how rarely it's written correctly, but Doller wrote it perfectly in Float Plan. I simply cannot stop thinking: wow.
I can't imagine a life where this book didn't call out to me. I can't wait to read another Trish Doller book. I love Anna and Keane. and I love the comfort books will always give me, no matter what form they take.
- Paige
°•*⁀➷
I've read so many good books in the last few years, but there's one thing that has stood out to me most in all of my favorites. It's that sometimes, when you get a feeling that it's time to read a book, it means that book is telling you that it's going to leave a profound impact on your heart. Your soul. And your mind for the rest of your life. I've always been a mood reader, going from book to book as they strike me. I rarely read books at a regimented pace unless an author I love releases something and I have to devour it before anyone else can say a word.
This book is one that called out to me. That said "hey, it's my time" and I listened. and I'm so glad I did.
I just read You've Reached Sam and was wishing I could read a book about grief from the perspective of someone my own age. Something with a similar premise and outcome. I picked this one up having no idea it was the exact book I was looking for, and now I just feel so incredibly full of life and love. It's crazy how a book can do that. Heal all of those pieces inside of you that you didn't know needed fixing. Or tending, for that matter.
Anna is the embodiment of a girl lost, confused and heart broken at the start of this story. And she grows into a girl choosing to be lost (is nomadic a better way to explain that?), knowing where her path is going to lead, and understanding that sometimes all a heart can be is mending. It's such a beautiful journey through grief and strength with the metaphor of a boat sailing through the ocean. You can feel in every word Trish Doller writes how much she loves to sail. And in that love, I fell in love too.
And Keane is just, he's probably going to be so special to me for the rest of my life. He never rushes her, always lets her know he'll never ask her to forget her Ben. He's comforting, and kind, and goes into everything full-hearted even with a lost leg. It's a story about how missing a part of yourself physically doesn't hinder you anymore than missing a part of yourself mentally. Seeing them both go through those emotions together, yet separately, is just. Wow. The implementation of both stories melding into one while still being so singular was so powerful for me.
I rarely see mental health and physical health compared in such a subtle way. Showing that both affect our abilities in the same ways. Sometimes we choose the path that takes us out of the world because of both, and sometimes we choose to fight like hell to get to a good place. Both hurt, both hinder, and both can be overcome with resiliency and strength. And every way, though one more tragic than another, happens, and shouldn't be judged. Trauma comparison is so difficult to read because of how rarely it's written correctly, but Doller wrote it perfectly in Float Plan. I simply cannot stop thinking: wow.
I can't imagine a life where this book didn't call out to me. I can't wait to read another Trish Doller book. I love Anna and Keane. and I love the comfort books will always give me, no matter what form they take.
- Paige
April 6, 2021
I don't know much about boats and sailing. I do know something about grieving for someone you loved and lost, and this hauntingly beautiful book made me feel all sorts of emotions in recognition of how hard it is to let go your past and take a chance on a new, unimagined and unplanned future.
Anna is a twenty five year old waitress from Fort Lauderdale whose fiance Ben committed suicide after a long bout of depression. Ben planned to sail to Trinidad and have lots of amazing experiences on the way. When Anna's alarm alerts her that this is the day Ben chose for their departure, she packs her bag and leaves knowing full well that she isn't ready to let go of her grief, whatever her family and friends may think. Anna's sailing experience is woefully inadequate. After narrowly escaping a full on collision with another boat, she advertises for a guide. She also finds herself in a risky situation. Call it two narrow escapes in a day. This time she is saved and aided by a kind stranger, Keane Sullivan, who she hires to help her make her way to Puerto Rico. What follows is an amazing journey from an emotional turmoil and darkness to the 'state of grace', with love, hope, sadness and happiness finding their rightful place in Anna's heart.
Float Plan is one of the best books I have read this year. The characters are impossible not to fall in love with. Anna's grief is all-encompassing, and yet, she is trying hard to listen to her heart, and learn how to go on living. At first, she keeps thinking about Ben's wishes and what he would have thought of this place or that, but gradually allows herself chart a new course, wherever it may lead. She is so kind, honest and grateful, that her state of mind rubs off on the reader. I felt so immersed in her story, her journey (or rather I should say their journey) that I didn't want it to end. Her relationship with Keane develops naturally and takes as much time as they both need to be ready for their future. I haven't said much about Keane so far, because I'd love the reader to have no preconception, but just see him through Anna's eyes.
This was my first book by Trish Doller and I was amazed by the ease and beauty of her writing style. Some of her lines rang so true to what I felt in my time of grief and mourning, others gave me time and space to breathe in the spindrift and feel the healing power of 'salt water- sweat, tears or the sea'.
The descriptions of the places Anna and Keane visit on their journey were absolutely spellbinding and provided a welcome emotional escape. Above all, the book filled me with calm with its carefully chosen, sparse words, its sincerity and quiet belief that the person you lost doesn't have to disappear completely, but you can build something new alongside the old memories.
Anna is a twenty five year old waitress from Fort Lauderdale whose fiance Ben committed suicide after a long bout of depression. Ben planned to sail to Trinidad and have lots of amazing experiences on the way. When Anna's alarm alerts her that this is the day Ben chose for their departure, she packs her bag and leaves knowing full well that she isn't ready to let go of her grief, whatever her family and friends may think. Anna's sailing experience is woefully inadequate. After narrowly escaping a full on collision with another boat, she advertises for a guide. She also finds herself in a risky situation. Call it two narrow escapes in a day. This time she is saved and aided by a kind stranger, Keane Sullivan, who she hires to help her make her way to Puerto Rico. What follows is an amazing journey from an emotional turmoil and darkness to the 'state of grace', with love, hope, sadness and happiness finding their rightful place in Anna's heart.
Float Plan is one of the best books I have read this year. The characters are impossible not to fall in love with. Anna's grief is all-encompassing, and yet, she is trying hard to listen to her heart, and learn how to go on living. At first, she keeps thinking about Ben's wishes and what he would have thought of this place or that, but gradually allows herself chart a new course, wherever it may lead. She is so kind, honest and grateful, that her state of mind rubs off on the reader. I felt so immersed in her story, her journey (or rather I should say their journey) that I didn't want it to end. Her relationship with Keane develops naturally and takes as much time as they both need to be ready for their future. I haven't said much about Keane so far, because I'd love the reader to have no preconception, but just see him through Anna's eyes.
This was my first book by Trish Doller and I was amazed by the ease and beauty of her writing style. Some of her lines rang so true to what I felt in my time of grief and mourning, others gave me time and space to breathe in the spindrift and feel the healing power of 'salt water- sweat, tears or the sea'.
The descriptions of the places Anna and Keane visit on their journey were absolutely spellbinding and provided a welcome emotional escape. Above all, the book filled me with calm with its carefully chosen, sparse words, its sincerity and quiet belief that the person you lost doesn't have to disappear completely, but you can build something new alongside the old memories.
December 12, 2020
Thank you to St. Martin's Griffin & NetGalley for this advance copy. All opinions are my own!
What begins as a woman undertaking a journey by sea that her now-deceased boyfriend planned for them becomes a journey that is so much more than undertaking closure and honoring his life. Anna grieves what she's lost and finds closure, yes, but she finds and discovers so much more about herself, about her resilience, her passions, and her hopes for her future.
This was a beautiful journey through grief and healing, witnessing growth and friendship and new love. I felt so deeply connected to Anna, and I fell for Keane right along with her. It was such a fascinating contrast between the man she'd lost and was learning to let go of and the man who began as a partner on her journey, then a friend, and who she ultimately opened her heart to. Keane was a man of faith, but quite human and imperfect; he was kind and caring and steady and a dreamy Irishman. I also loved the disability rep in his amputation and prosthesis; while I can't speak to the accuracy of the representation, the author note indicates she undertook research and it all felt very respectful, empowering, and plausible, while not skirting the truth that all of us, disabled or otherwise, battle internalized ableism.
From a content warning perspective, having someone close to me who died by suicide, I can say that I felt this was generally a respectful narrative around suicide, and that for anyone for whom this is a triggering subject matter this will definitely be an emotional read. That said, it felt very forward-oriented, not dwelling on grief or railing on the man she lost to suicide. It was a story about how we learn to accept that sometimes we lose and that grieving that loss is nonlinear and complicated and personal and sometimes transformational.
I'm totally enamored with Doller's prose. Her writing is fluid, natural, confident, and incredibly relatable. I felt so easily drawn in, and as I've said deeply connected to Anna's perspective.
My final praise is how vividly this evokes the power of community, the joy of relationships, and the truth that some people are in our lives for finite times but unforgettable ways, even when their moment with us is brief. I highlighted a number of passages that I know will stick with me, but here are a few of my favorites (please note this is an ARC and thus content is subject to change):
“I reckon if you stay in one place too long, you might start taking it for granted... But if you keep moving, everything holds its wonder."
and
"The stages of grief are not linear. They are random and unpredictable, folding back on themselves until you begin mourning all over again. I have bargained with a universe that is not listening. I have cried myself hollow. I have leaned into the belief that I can’t live without [him] but kneeling here in the sand on a beach four hundred miles from home says maybe I can—and that terrifies me."
FLOAT PLAN is out March 2. If you're ready for a story that draws you right in on a journey of healing, growth, and love, look no further.
What begins as a woman undertaking a journey by sea that her now-deceased boyfriend planned for them becomes a journey that is so much more than undertaking closure and honoring his life. Anna grieves what she's lost and finds closure, yes, but she finds and discovers so much more about herself, about her resilience, her passions, and her hopes for her future.
This was a beautiful journey through grief and healing, witnessing growth and friendship and new love. I felt so deeply connected to Anna, and I fell for Keane right along with her. It was such a fascinating contrast between the man she'd lost and was learning to let go of and the man who began as a partner on her journey, then a friend, and who she ultimately opened her heart to. Keane was a man of faith, but quite human and imperfect; he was kind and caring and steady and a dreamy Irishman. I also loved the disability rep in his amputation and prosthesis; while I can't speak to the accuracy of the representation, the author note indicates she undertook research and it all felt very respectful, empowering, and plausible, while not skirting the truth that all of us, disabled or otherwise, battle internalized ableism.
From a content warning perspective, having someone close to me who died by suicide, I can say that I felt this was generally a respectful narrative around suicide, and that for anyone for whom this is a triggering subject matter this will definitely be an emotional read. That said, it felt very forward-oriented, not dwelling on grief or railing on the man she lost to suicide. It was a story about how we learn to accept that sometimes we lose and that grieving that loss is nonlinear and complicated and personal and sometimes transformational.
I'm totally enamored with Doller's prose. Her writing is fluid, natural, confident, and incredibly relatable. I felt so easily drawn in, and as I've said deeply connected to Anna's perspective.
My final praise is how vividly this evokes the power of community, the joy of relationships, and the truth that some people are in our lives for finite times but unforgettable ways, even when their moment with us is brief. I highlighted a number of passages that I know will stick with me, but here are a few of my favorites (please note this is an ARC and thus content is subject to change):
“I reckon if you stay in one place too long, you might start taking it for granted... But if you keep moving, everything holds its wonder."
and
"The stages of grief are not linear. They are random and unpredictable, folding back on themselves until you begin mourning all over again. I have bargained with a universe that is not listening. I have cried myself hollow. I have leaned into the belief that I can’t live without [him] but kneeling here in the sand on a beach four hundred miles from home says maybe I can—and that terrifies me."
FLOAT PLAN is out March 2. If you're ready for a story that draws you right in on a journey of healing, growth, and love, look no further.
December 19, 2022
Ten months after the death of her fiancé, Anna decides to take the sailing trip Ben had planned for them by herself. She quickly realizes that she’s not nearly as strong a sailor as he was, so, while she survives the first part of the journey, it was more harrowing than it should have been. Instead of calling it quits, she hires a professional sailor, Keane, to help her travel to various islands.
Keane has also faced a tragedy that has forever changed how he saw his future. The close quarters helps them quickly become friends and, eventually, more.
Despite some heavy topics, this is actually a light, fun read about continuing not just to live after heartbreak but to grow and thrive.
Keane has also faced a tragedy that has forever changed how he saw his future. The close quarters helps them quickly become friends and, eventually, more.
Despite some heavy topics, this is actually a light, fun read about continuing not just to live after heartbreak but to grow and thrive.
September 27, 2021
On Thanksgiving Day, Anna Beck awakens to an alarm reminder her boyfriend Ben Braithwaite set three years earlier. It was to be the day they set sail in his restored Alberg 37 to travel to the Caribbean and back. But Ben committed suicide ten months and six days ago and Anna has barely left her bed. She’s struggled to find something to motivate her to get on with her life and Ben’s plan suddenly gave her focus. Anna gets up, shops for supplies, cleans the boat and sets sail…all alone. She calls her family to let them know and, of course, they have a predictable reaction.
I have to believe that if Anna hadn’t been so miserable she’d never have undertaken a trip like this on her own. Her decision was born of grief and loss, an attempt to gain the ground back under her feet. Her life was Ben and now she had to figure out how to live without him. By the time Anna made it to Bimini, she knew she needed help after some close calls in the open waters. She hires on an Irishman named Keane Sullivan who’s looking for a ride to Puerto Rico. He’s got lots of experience, stories and his own disappointments but he’s just the grounding Anna needs. I loved how authentically Anna expressed her sadness, grief, despair and anger about Ben’s decision to take his life. I’ve never experienced that kind of loss but I connected with her sense of being rudderless after the death of someone important in your life. There were moments when I got emotional because I remembered what she was feeling in those moments.
Keane and Anna’s relationship is what made this story even more special. To categorize it as friends to lovers trivializes what I found to be a lovely growth of friendship, respect and admiration between two strangers who somehow found each other at the right time, in the right place. It wasn’t about a romance as much as it was their individual self discoveries and that led to their loyalty to one another. By the time they drifted into something more, it felt right. I enjoyed everything about this story, including the narrator who seemed to capture Anna’s youth, naïveté and sorrow. I liked how she handled the gradual transitions of her emotions. And, I learned a lot about sailing, enough to know definitively that I’d never attempt this kind of trip on my own.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
I have to believe that if Anna hadn’t been so miserable she’d never have undertaken a trip like this on her own. Her decision was born of grief and loss, an attempt to gain the ground back under her feet. Her life was Ben and now she had to figure out how to live without him. By the time Anna made it to Bimini, she knew she needed help after some close calls in the open waters. She hires on an Irishman named Keane Sullivan who’s looking for a ride to Puerto Rico. He’s got lots of experience, stories and his own disappointments but he’s just the grounding Anna needs. I loved how authentically Anna expressed her sadness, grief, despair and anger about Ben’s decision to take his life. I’ve never experienced that kind of loss but I connected with her sense of being rudderless after the death of someone important in your life. There were moments when I got emotional because I remembered what she was feeling in those moments.
Keane and Anna’s relationship is what made this story even more special. To categorize it as friends to lovers trivializes what I found to be a lovely growth of friendship, respect and admiration between two strangers who somehow found each other at the right time, in the right place. It wasn’t about a romance as much as it was their individual self discoveries and that led to their loyalty to one another. By the time they drifted into something more, it felt right. I enjoyed everything about this story, including the narrator who seemed to capture Anna’s youth, naïveté and sorrow. I liked how she handled the gradual transitions of her emotions. And, I learned a lot about sailing, enough to know definitively that I’d never attempt this kind of trip on my own.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
February 4, 2022
3.5 stars
I liked this one, even if it was a bit slow at times for me. I love a good slow burn, but I don’t like when the story feels slow if that makes sense. The hero was great and it was a sweet story, though a little heavy sometimes. Overall this was good, not as good as this authors YA in my opinion, but a solid read.
I liked this one, even if it was a bit slow at times for me. I love a good slow burn, but I don’t like when the story feels slow if that makes sense. The hero was great and it was a sweet story, though a little heavy sometimes. Overall this was good, not as good as this authors YA in my opinion, but a solid read.
Audio book source: Libby
Story Rating: 3.5 stars
Narrators: Sarah Naughton
Narration Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 7h 18m
February 5, 2021
4.5 Stars
It being February, I had decided last night to double down on my romance reads for the next couple of weeks and somehow managed to remember I had a copy of this on the ol’ Kindle. When I woke up this morning it was around 50 degrees, but by 9:00 it was 30, dropping and the snow was blowing so hard it was a near whiteout. That right there is what you call the gods smiling upon your choice to read a book set somewhere warm.
Float Plan is the story of Anna who has barely been going through the motions for nearly a year after her fiancé Ben’s suicide. As a last ditch effort to propel herself through the final stages of the grieving process, she decides to set sail – literally . . . .
And takes the boat he painstakingly prepared for one epic journey through the Caribbean. However, it doesn’t take much more than making it to her first port before she becomes painfully aware that this was not meant to be a solo task. Enter Keane – a man suffering his own loss who responds to Anna’s advertisement seeking a skilled sailor who will help her get at least to Puerto Rico. Of course eventually this happens . . . .
♫♫♫And your lips taste like Sangria♫♫♫♫
Sorry, got sidetracked for a second there.
Anyway, this is a super slow roller with a little bit of melancholy (which I really sort of dig) and almost fade-to-black sexytimes with two very likeable characters . . . .
“In a matter of days, you’ve solo sailed across the Gulf Stream, dodged a one-nighter with a married man, eaten flying fish, and scaled a mountain. Granted, it was a wee hillock of a mountain, but how many mountains would you have scaled otherwise?”
“None.”
“So maybe you know more than you think.”
“God, you’re like an Irish Mary Poppins with facial hair.”
Who are both hoping to eventually find a “State of Grace.”
It loses a half star because the added conflict was simply thrown in for dramatic purposes only and the timeline immediately prior to the happily for now got waaaaay rushed compared to the remainder of the story.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
It being February, I had decided last night to double down on my romance reads for the next couple of weeks and somehow managed to remember I had a copy of this on the ol’ Kindle. When I woke up this morning it was around 50 degrees, but by 9:00 it was 30, dropping and the snow was blowing so hard it was a near whiteout. That right there is what you call the gods smiling upon your choice to read a book set somewhere warm.
Float Plan is the story of Anna who has barely been going through the motions for nearly a year after her fiancé Ben’s suicide. As a last ditch effort to propel herself through the final stages of the grieving process, she decides to set sail – literally . . . .
And takes the boat he painstakingly prepared for one epic journey through the Caribbean. However, it doesn’t take much more than making it to her first port before she becomes painfully aware that this was not meant to be a solo task. Enter Keane – a man suffering his own loss who responds to Anna’s advertisement seeking a skilled sailor who will help her get at least to Puerto Rico. Of course eventually this happens . . . .
♫♫♫And your lips taste like Sangria♫♫♫♫
Sorry, got sidetracked for a second there.
Anyway, this is a super slow roller with a little bit of melancholy (which I really sort of dig) and almost fade-to-black sexytimes with two very likeable characters . . . .
“In a matter of days, you’ve solo sailed across the Gulf Stream, dodged a one-nighter with a married man, eaten flying fish, and scaled a mountain. Granted, it was a wee hillock of a mountain, but how many mountains would you have scaled otherwise?”
“None.”
“So maybe you know more than you think.”
“God, you’re like an Irish Mary Poppins with facial hair.”
Who are both hoping to eventually find a “State of Grace.”
It loses a half star because the added conflict was simply thrown in for dramatic purposes only and the timeline immediately prior to the happily for now got waaaaay rushed compared to the remainder of the story.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
June 14, 2021
Float Plan by Trish Doller is a contemporary romance or women’s fiction title. Just one glance at this one I new it should be a great read for me being someone that loves boating and travel so I just had to pick it up.
Anna has spent the last year nursing her broken heart and thinking she will never recover from the death of her fiancé. When a reminder goes off for a trip that the couple was supposed to take together Anna decides that she needs to still go on her own.
Anna packs up their sailboat and heads out on her own but before long she realizes she’s in over her head thinking she will make it all the way to the Caribbean on her own. Anna meets Keane who happens to be a professional sailor so she decides to hire him for the rest of her journey.
Thankfully this is one of those times I saw a cover that caught my eye and it turns out that I found a real winner. Float Plan was a beautiful story of personal growth and healing that happened to also have a little romance. I don’t think I even need to mention that the setting of this story out on the ocean and along the islands was absolutely wonderful. This definitely would make a lovely beach read with the summer season upon us right now.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Anna has spent the last year nursing her broken heart and thinking she will never recover from the death of her fiancé. When a reminder goes off for a trip that the couple was supposed to take together Anna decides that she needs to still go on her own.
Anna packs up their sailboat and heads out on her own but before long she realizes she’s in over her head thinking she will make it all the way to the Caribbean on her own. Anna meets Keane who happens to be a professional sailor so she decides to hire him for the rest of her journey.
Thankfully this is one of those times I saw a cover that caught my eye and it turns out that I found a real winner. Float Plan was a beautiful story of personal growth and healing that happened to also have a little romance. I don’t think I even need to mention that the setting of this story out on the ocean and along the islands was absolutely wonderful. This definitely would make a lovely beach read with the summer season upon us right now.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
July 18, 2021
TITLE: FLOAT PLAN
AUTHOR: Trish Doller
SERIES: Standalone
RELEASE DATE: March 2, 2021
GENRE: Contemporary Romance
TROPES: Suicide, Grief, Travel, Friends-to-Lovers
RATING: 5 Stars
CLIFFHANGER: No
This was my first book by Trish Doller and I'll be back for more - I can promise you that it won't be my last. FLOAT PLAN was heartbreaking, emotional, sweet and educational. I had such a great time with this story.
Anna's courage to take her late boyfriend's boat after his suicide and travel to the Caribbean was inspiring. Learning about all those small islands and cultures was wonderful and made this book such a rich experience Keane you'll want to travel there.
Keane, a sailor in every cell of his body, has his own loss to deal with. After an accident in which he lost his leg it's hard for him to be hired on boats because only few people think he can handle the physicality of it. These two go on a journey of friendship, healing and falling in love again. This could have been a depressing story but the author balanced all aspects really well and wove some humor and uplifting moments into it that it was nothing but beautiful.
Trish Doller's voice is very engaging and I had no issues staying in the moment. If you have the blues because of the travel restrictions still imposed due to COVID and are in need of an inspiring, moving, emotional story full of hope and love grab this!
“I'm starting to understand that some people come into your life when you need them, and go when it's time."
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