Angie Hockman

Potyczki w raju

The Unhoneymooners meets The Hating Game in this witty, clever, and swoonworthy novel following a workaholic marketing manager who is forced to go on a cruise with her arch-nemesis when they’re up for the same promotion. Between taking night classes for her MBA and her demanding day job at a cruise line, marketing manager Henley Evans barely has time for herself, let alone family, friends, or dating. But when she’s shortlisted for the promotion of her dreams, all her sacrifices finally seem worth it. The only problem? Graeme Crawford-Collins, the remote social media manager and the bane of her existence, is also up for the position. Although they’ve never met in person, their epic email battles are the stuff of office legend. Their boss tasks each of them with drafting a proposal on how to boost bookings in the Galápagos—best proposal wins the promotion. There’s just one catch: they have to go on a company cruise to the Galápagos Islands...together. But when the two meet on the ship, Henley is shocked to discover that the real Graeme is nothing like she imagined. As they explore the Islands together, she soon finds the line between loathing and liking thinner than a postcard. With her career dreams in her sights and a growing attraction to the competition, Henley begins questioning her life choices. Because what’s the point of working all the time if you never actually live? Perfect for fans of Christina Lauren and Sally Thorne, Shipped is a fresh and engaging rom-com that celebrates the power of second chances and the magic of new beginnings.

Shipped

Abigail | 

María | @AltroReader

Nabila Azahra

it’s not an enemies to lovers romance if it only revolves one character getting whiny & grumpy because of their cynical assumptions about the other..

Marcy Pursell 

No spice, but a nice enemies to lovers story.

lexie

GREAME >>>> ANYONE ELSE. NIKOLAI’S FUNNY

kels

Yasmin Dunnewind

In the beginning I didn't know it was a mix of The Unhoneymooners and The Hating Game. While I haven't had the time to read the Unhoneymooners, I have read the Hating Game and I didn't like it. But this was a very sweet book, with some touches of family, money, priorities and learning to stand up for urself. 

I didn't like the use of all the emojis, i know it's what we do all the time, but I just can't stand it in books. I get such a icky feeling with it.

Quotes:

Graeme Cracker_Collins: To the woman who inspired me to rejoin the world, “thank you” will never be enough.

I can’t wait for the stars to align to start living the life I want

Jordan

This was the perfect wanderlust romance for quarantine! Synopsis: Henley is up for a promotion for her dream job at Seaquest Adventures. The only catch? She has to beat out her arch nemesis, Graeme, for the position AND she has to travel with him on a company cruise. Determined to put her best game face on, she is surprised to find that her "enemy" is actually quite handsome and dare she admit...kind and funny. This book is sure to bring you lots of laughs and swoon-worthy moments. Graeme and Henley's chemistry was off the charts and their adventures around the Galapagos Islands were breath-taking. I would definitely recommend reading Graeme and Henley's enemies-to-lovers adventure!

Cute, good romance and a well-written story. Pretty much exactly what I expected it to be, but I enjoyed reading it nonetheless. 

Alyssa deRaad

Petaco

MC is a bit of a shrew. I didn't care for her at all. Didn't like the ending either.

Crystal L

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5 Stars) 

Review: 

Henley is a hard-working, career-driven woman who has one major problem... Graeme! Graeme, the man who seems to love nothing more than getting on Henley’s bad side, taking praise for Henley’s ideas and generally making her life more miserable. 

The story takes place between Seattle, where Henley lives, and where her job at a cruise line is based; and on the actual cruise to the Galápagos. I loved the cruise setting, ensuring that the characters must communicate, because... well.. there’s nowhere else for them to go. This is the classic enemies-to-lovers, career-focused romance. The characters were diverse and felt believable, but something about this story just didn’t catch my attention in the way I’d hoped. Generally Shipped is a really cute book that I think others will really enjoy. 

Publishing Information: 

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. Shipped will be published on January 19, 2021.

Joana da Silva

I have a really hard time giving bad reviews to books. I always think the author is going to read it (because Goodreads it's just as social media-y as all of the others) and somehow I'm going to ruin their day with my opinion. But I've got to say this: If you're hoping for a Hating Game on a ship, don't read this. Yes, it's a enemies-to-lovers in a workplace, but it's nothing like Hating Game. On the first pages, Henley was downright pissing me off. Oh boy, was she getting on my nerves. When I learned her motivations, I made my peace with her. (But only about half, she was still making me roll my eyes.) The most interesting thing in this book is the stuff about the Galápagos and even that looks like an advertisement in the middle of a romance. It's so sad when a book doesn't match my expectations, but oh well, plenty of books out there.

Sarah Selvaratnam 

This book was enjoyable. I would say that the romance felt secondary to Henley’s professional and personal development, and many times felt less important than her relationship with friends and family. 
This is not exactly a beachy read despite the title as the vacation aspect of it falls more in the adventure category than the sun soaked bliss of tropical paradise. 
Overall I liked the book and would rate it a 3.5.

Millie Roberts

bella <3

3.5 ** GRAEME!! henley was a little quirky in the beginning but it’s okay bc she mellowed out by the end. TW millennials.

celene

Shareca

Shipped by Angie Hockman is a fantastic read! It has a tremendous female narrative, with a cute story alongside it. I think what I love most is that the feminine narrative is inclusive, it shows a confident narrative, and I enjoyed that. I thought the romance was believable in that I almost fell in love too; what a great winter read!

Kristen Claiborn

My hats off to yet another absolutely wonderful romance. Henley is a lovable, hard-working character who finds herself in adorable adventures with her not-so-nemesis. Everything about her cruise was fun to read. Everything about her interactions with Graeme was fun to read. The girl power was fun to read. Everything about this book was a joy to read.

Aleksandra

Although there was not as much romance as I’d like there to be, the ending was so cool.

Katie

This is more like a 3.75/4 stars read for me. I will admit that it is right on the marketing for being The Unhoneymooners meets The Hating Game. So, if you are a fan of either of those or one, then you will love this book. 

I just wish there was more fleshed out in the story. It felt like it rushed through some aspects and didn't give us enough backstory or it gently touched some topics but did not go deep enough as I was expecting it to. However, Graeme and Henley, I would die for! The connection between them was undeniable and it was built up nicely that I was always rooting for them! Like I said before, I just wish there was a little bit more to this story and not so rushed. 

But honestly, pick it up if you need something that will make you laugh and cry!

Aditi

TW: death of a parent, ALS, mentions of a previous abusive relationship, ocean/deep water anxiety, sharks

This was a very quick read which is one of the only good things about it. 

The main character, Henley was really annoying and ungrateful from the start and she didn't get much better. The romance was really bland, the banter was fun at the beginning but ultimately it didn't really feel like a rivals to lovers story since the competition is mostly just in Henley's head and it was pretty clear from the start who was going to get the position. I didn't care about the love interest though he's a decent person unlike in most hate to love romances so he has that going on for him. 

The writing wasn't for me, its a lot of telling with no showing. So many unnecessary details that didn't add anything to the story. There was a lot of work talk which took time away from developing the romance. 

I don't think the comparison to The Hating Game and The Unhoneymooners is fair since it sets way too high expectations which this one completely failed to meet.

Sheena

Not since ‘You Deserve Each Other’ did any book ever come to par with ‘The Hating Game’ and when the blurb of ‘Shipped’ was released, I was like YAAAAAAAAAAAAAS! This might be the next big thing but… yes there is a but—it didn’t live up to the hype and now all the hopes and dreams I had had for this love child is now shattered and blown to smithereens.

Sure, it’s justifiable as to why this book is marketed for fans of ‘The Unhoneymooners’ by Christina Lauren and ‘The Hating Game’ by Sally Throne. They all share the same elements: enemies turned lovers/arch-nemesis, bitter rivalry, misunderstandings, family drama, and yada yada yada. And what set this novel apart was the fact that it failed to deliver. 

It was easy to follow, straightforward and had all the elements I usually gravitate towards. What essentially makes or breaks a novel are the characters and the romance which is what killed this read for me. It lacked depth, there was little to no build-up and the tension was laughable at best. And lets talk about how there were pretty much zero interactions between Graeme and Henley (unique names I give it that) besides the generic work meeting that happened once a week (with the hero tuning in remotely) prior to the cruise. How would anyone consider them ‘bitter rivals’? It just didn’t do it for me and though I wouldn’t say it was terrible (it was cute to some degree), I will probably forget everything that happened in this book within a week.

Overall, it was a meh and unmemorable read.

Aslı

started great and had some really funny parts but i thought the ending was lackluster and everything happened too fast, too generic of a happily ever after.

lindy strauss

I… am in disbelief. I cannot believe with my own eyes I read this insane tumblr-post like book. I wanted to give two stars but I’m giving three for the sheer fact that I laughed at how ridiculous many of the plot points were. 

The most ridiculous and wonderful parts of the book:

“For anyone who’s looking for a little after-dinner entertainment make your way to the lounge. We’re having a lip-sync battle.”

YES. There is literally a lip-sync battle in this book where the love interest lip-syncs “Take a Chance on Me” by ABBA and the main character absolutely SWOONS. 

“Who am I? I'm Henley Evans. And don't you forget it."

In the most ridiculous fashion, Henley’s boss has been stealing her work for years. She gets to show him up in a board meeting where she tells him off and essentially everyone stands and applauds. 

——

The dialogue is so cringe-worthy. Every five minutes I was YELLING saying “NO FREAKING WAY” at the unrealistic and absurd things that were being said. 

There is also a russian character who’s dialogue is spelled out like he is the terminator. It is so hard to read. Also an australian character who says “Mate” almost everytime he speaks. What is it with the overly stereotypical accents? 

Also, did I mention that there is LITERALLY a lip-sync battle? Highlight of the book for me. It’s like watching a train wreck. This book wanted to be the hating game so bad. Even stealing the human resources joke.

There is so much to be made fun of about this book but oh my good god the love interests name is GRAEME!!!!!! WHY IS IT SPELLED THAT WAY????

Megan 

** spoiler alert **
           I have no idea how to rate this book. On one hand I want to give it 5 stars because it had everything: slow burn, nice guy but acts grumpy, beachy setting, and I really appreciated the fact that neither of them really quit their jobs because I feel like that happens so much in workplace romances. But on the other hand it didn’t give me that butterfly, cutesy feeling and it didn’t suck me in either.

Emilie Adele Rognmo

this was such a good book, and i absolutely loved the work aspect of it. especially henley’s ambition. also, graeme is so sweet and i really loved how their relationship evolved. 

and now fml i wanna go on a cruise soooo badly. literally everything they did, i wanna do rn. damn it.

Potyczki w raju

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