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Shipped

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"Shipped" by Angie Hockman follows the story of two co-workers, Henley and Graeme, who are competing for the same promotion at a unique cruise line. They are tasked with boosting the company's Galapagos destination adventure cruise and go on the cruise together, experiencing magical moments while also dealing with witty banter and humorous situations. The book explores their journey towards a happily ever after as they navigate their rivalry, personal growth, and budding romance amidst the backdrop of the Galapagos Islands.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style utilizes a first-person perspective filled with details that sometimes detract from the story, leading to a mix of engaging and less impactful narrative elements.

Plot/Storyline:

The story centers around workplace rivalry and evolving relationships as two co-workers compete for a promotion while navigating various challenges on a company cruise.

Setting:

Set primarily on a cruise in the Galapagos Islands, the vivid descriptions of the setting enhance the adventure and romantic elements of the plot.

Pacing:

The pacing of the story is uneven, with slower moments due to excessive detail and a lack of urgency in developing the main relationship.
The door beside me opens with a wash of music and laughter. I jolt and my bag slips down the slick fabric of my raincoat to the crook of my elbow, wrenching my arm, and I almost drop my phone. Fumblin...

Notes:

The heroine, Henley Evans, works in marketing for a cruise line while pursuing her MBA.
The story features an enemies-to-lovers theme with Henley and Graeme competing for the same promotion.
The setting is primarily on a cruise to the Galapagos Islands, which inspires a lot of interesting situations and descriptions.
Henley is portrayed as ambitious, focused, and at times, unlikable, especially in her interactions with others.
Graeme is depicted as pleasant and supportive, contrasting Henley's defensiveness.
The book is criticized for lacking depth in character motivations and the romance not feeling organic.
There is a humorous dynamic between Henley and Graeme characterized by email exchanges before they meet face-to-face during the cruise.
The novel explores themes of work-life balance and the consequences of being overly career-oriented.
The story also touches on issues of misogyny and conservation, adding layers to the plot beyond romance.
Many readers expressed that the book is a light beach read despite mixed reviews regarding its execution.

From The Publisher:

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.

Ratings (13)

Loved It (3)
Liked It (6)
It Was OK (3)
Did Not Like (1)

Reader Stats (41):

Read It (16)
Want To Read (22)
Did Not Finish (1)
Not Interested (2)

2 comment(s)

Did Not Like
1 month

It wasn't my cup of the. Loved the hating game didn't care much for the unhonymooners. Was an okay romance bit not a couple I "ship"

 
Loved It
4 months

4.5 stars. I'm in the minority, but I really enjoyed the romance. It was just the pick-me-up I needed.

 

About the Author:

Angie Hockman is a 2019 RWA Golden Heart Winner. Her professional background includes stints in law, education, and eco-tourism, but these days you can find her writing romantic stories, enjoying the outdoors with her family, or dreaming of her next travel adventure. To learn more, visit AngieHockman.com or follow Angie on Instagram and Twitter @Angie_Hockman.

 
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