Ship Wrecked

Shipwrecked by Olivia Dade

Published in 2022

Main Couple: Maria and Peter

The Story: The day after Maria ghosts Peter following their night stand, Maria and Peter find themselves cast as love interests on a major TV show. How will their chemistry (both sexually, and emotionally) affect their working relationship? Will they ever overcome their history and professional pitfalls?

The Sex: Any book that STARTS will the couple banging grabs my attention. This book was fun! These two have great chemistry. Peter is committed to Maria’s pleasure. That always makes for a fun scene. They talk about aspects of sex that don’t always get mentioned (ex. Getting sweaty) as par for the course and as something sexy, which it is and which they are. This book doesn’t make sex performative. There are jokes about outrageous sex scenes as written in fanfic, and that makes what happens between the two of them that much better. These two characters are both self described as fat. This isn’t a story about them learning to love themselves, they already do. We get to see two incredibly confident people own their physicality and how that works during their intimacy. I loved the way their bodies in intimacy are described. How parts of them touch, like their stomachs. That’s REAL! There’s nothing wrong with that.

Favorite Lines:

“When Maria’s hazy brown eyes blinked back open after her orgasm, Peter held her gaze for another dozen thrusts. Then, braced on his forearms, fingers tangled in her hair, he pushed deep one last time and groaned into her mouth.” Chapter 1 Y’all! This is literally the first line in the book. I was fucked HOOKED!

“Too bad he was a jerk, because she wanted to lick him like an ice cream cone.” Chapter 4 What a great fucking line!

“But desire wasn’t consent, and neither was a hard dick.” Chapter 9 Say it louder for the people in the back!

“‘I’ll make you come a dozen times before I slide in side you the first time.’ It was a murmur, filthy and low. ‘Our second round, you’ll come on my cock.’” Chapter 12 Considering how he delivers, this is a sexy promise.

“Burying his face between her legs, he ate her, his mouth and tongue.” Chapter 15 Something about that italicized word struck me

“All broad shoulders and generous belly, strength wrapped in softness, with the hardest, thickest erection she’d ever seen.” Chapter 15 Oddly, the vagueness of what his actual size for me was refreshing. I’m over the (clearly) too big dicks writers expect us to believe are totally normal and easy to take.

“He’d encouraged her to bite earlier, so she had.” Chapter 15 Yes! They’re able to tell each other what they want, and they act upon it. What generous lovers!

“There were nuances to her position, and in her panic and grief and hurts she’d considered and explained exactly zero of them to Peter.” Chapter 26 That’s what makes me so mad when she explodes at him. But I appreciate this awareness.

Least Favorite Lines:

“He loved her. Just not enough.” Chapter 24 My note to myself said - This is where my brain hurts.

“‘You say you love me. But real love wouldn’t require ,me to give up my dreams and ambitions.’ | Such a tender gesture for such a harsh judgement. | She returned the latter in kind. ‘Maybe so. But in that case, real love wouldn’t require me to be alone when being alone make me happy.’” Chapter 24 These people are so in their feels. They are being unreasonable with each other.

“He’d failed to listen, informed her that he intended to re-create the worst horrors of her life, and then fucking raged at her when she’d balked. So there she’d been, perched uncomfortably on a too-small upholstered armchair, bent over and huddled in on herself, hiding behind her fucking hands as hoarse, broken sobs wrenched from her throat and convulsed her body. | Because of him. Entirely because of him.” Chapter 25 No. Not entirely because of him. You absolutely are also at fault in this.

Final Thoughts:

This was such an enjoyable book. I saw the cover and when I read that first line in the bookstore, I knew I had to have it. This book describes the work it takes to build a relationship. I think so often these books show a flash in the pan and not the effort it takes to build a life with a parter. These two start off as a one night stand, move into work colleagues, then get together. That happens just over halfway. The second half is how do they share with each other and overcome their baggage. While I wanted to throw my book at some moments, and definitely moaned in frustration when I thought they were being ridiculous, there are just some things you take too personally. Building a lasting relationship means working through your own shit so you can be a better parter. BOTH of them have to, and DO do this. Last two things I loved: The use of the word placket. Look it up! And the mention of Maria’s parents active sex life. Sex doesn’t stop at 40!!!! And long terms partners also have satisfying sex lives.

Spice Level: 3/5

Kinks Explored: None

Voices Heard: I’m going to say plus sized. Because they aren’t usually given the chance to be the romantic lead in a story, and they should be.

Did I like it? Adored it!!!