We Ship It

De: Lauren Kay

Narrado por: Hope Newhouse

This rom-com debut has the fierce girl energy of the movie Booksmart, blended with the awkwardness of Kelly Quindlen’s Late to the Party, topped with a thrilling international meet-cute a la Love and Gelato.

Olivia Schwartz has a plan. It’s even color-coded.

And the plan is this: a perfect SAT score, a prestigious college, and a straight path towards her dream of becoming a doctor.

The last thing she wants to do—the summer before her senior year of high school, no less—is go on a cruise. Especially with her parents, younger brothers, and all the unspoken things between them since her older brother’s death so many years ago.

Then Olivia meets Sebastian. He’s everything she’s not: charming, exciting, willing to take risks and run with them. For the first time, Olivia feels like she can have fun...

But there’s a lot bubbling up under the surface on this cruise, and when past secrets begin to come to light, Olivia must face all the truths that she’s ignored for so long: about herself, Sebastian, her brother, the past she thought she understood, and the future she’s always planned.

©2023 Lauren Kay (P)2023 HarperCollins Publishers

Didn't expect to like it as much as I did

Expectations Going In:
The book's title and photo was intriguing, and I was looking for a different type of story that I normally don't listen to.

Who Should Listen:
If you have ever lost someone, this book is for you. If you are an overachiever and looking to solve problems this book is for you. If you want a story with romance without it being overly romantic, this is for you.

What I Loved:
I didn't expect to tear up as much as I did but the story of losing a sibling and trying to figure out why and to prevent someone else from going through it really touched me and made me fall in love with the main character.
The true New York references.
The bits of comedy that were thrown in.
The accurate medical references (I'm in the Healthcare field).
The attention to detail of the ship and the characters.

Final Thoughts:
The author Lauren Kay does an amazing job of telling a story that will leave you wanting more. Again, this is the type of book I normally wouldn't listen to but I'm happy I did. Lauren has a gift for storytelling, details, and captivating the audience. Let her "Ship" you out on a journey to sea that you will never regret.

I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Lauren Kay’s first YA novel is a winner. The story is written with warmth, humor, and emotional depth. Insights shared about love, life, and loss will resonate with teens everywhere.

A surprisingly touching read

I didn’t expect this book to be my thing. I don’t read many young adult romances— but this was so much more than that. I had to stop reading to cry at a number of spots as the main character addressed the loss and grief no kid/high schooler should ever have to face hut that many do. It was told beautifully, woven with a story of young romance and friendship really brilliantly.

It’s a great and tender read.

A Sweet YA Romance That Sets Sail With First Love & Family Drama

I’ll admit, I picked up We Ship It on a whim. The cover and title immediately had me reminiscing about a family cruise we took this past summer, and with the winter blues hitting early this year, I was craving something to bring back that warm, carefree vibe. What I didn’t expect was to find myself in the middle of a young adult, coming-of-age romance—a genre I haven’t read in years—but one that ultimately left me pleasantly surprised.

This book follows Olivia, a straight-A perfectionist whose family decides to take their first big vacation—a cruise—since the tragic loss of her older brother, Logan. While Olivia doesn’t think she has time for a “frivolous” trip, she reluctantly agrees for the sake of her twin toddler brothers. What starts as a reluctant family getaway quickly spirals into a story of grief, healing, and first love.

There are two major storylines woven throughout the book: Olivia’s first summer romance and her journey to uncover the truth about Logan’s death. Here’s what stood out to me:

The Summer Fling:

Ah, the classic vacation romance trope—and let me tell you, it works! Olivia meets Sebastian, the brooding yet sweet heartthrob who has just the right amount of teenage angst and charm. Their love story is sweet, addictive, and full of those butterflies-in-your-stomach moments that will take you right back to your own first love. Watching Olivia fall hard and fast felt nostalgic and authentic, and I found myself rooting for them even as the inevitable bumps appeared along the way.

The Family Drama:

While the romance shines, the emotional core of the story—Olivia grappling with her family’s loss and the truth about her brother Logan—felt a little lacking for me. The “big reveal” surrounding Logan was fairly easy to predict early on, and once I pieced it together, I found myself frustrated with Olivia for not seeing the signs sooner. That said, the moments between Olivia and her mom, as they worked through their shared grief and misunderstandings, hit the emotional beats I’d been hoping for. By the end, those moments redeemed this storyline for me and made me care more about Olivia’s family as a whole.

What I Loved:

• The romance: Sweet, emotional, and perfectly angsty. Olivia and Sebastian’s chemistry will make you swoon.
• The setting: The cruise ship vibes are on point! The author captures the fun, the chaos, and the magic of a family vacation on the high seas.
• The nostalgia: This book made me remember the thrill of first love and all the intensity that comes with it.

What I Didn’t Love:

• Predictable plotlines: The family drama felt a little too on-the-nose and lacked the nuance I wanted for such an emotional topic.
• Teen angst overload: Olivia’s perfectionist tendencies and over-the-top reactions felt exaggerated at times, even for a YA audience.

Final Thoughts:

This book is perfect for fans of YA romance and coming-of-age stories. If you love angsty teens falling in love and navigating big emotions, this one will hit the mark. However, if teenage drama isn’t your cup of tea, you might want to steer clear. That said, I’d happily recommend it to my teenage daughters or anyone who enjoys the genre.

Rating:
🌶️ (1/5 spice—it’s YA, after all!)
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.5/5 overall—rating this as my teenage self, not my almost 40-year-old self!)