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Never Been Shipped
The perfect summer rom-com to escape with! When two ex-bandmates reunite to perform on a cruise ship, sparks fly!
Micah’s relationship to music is… complicated. Her band took off after being featured on a teen TV show, but the group broke up in no small part thanks to Micah’s ex, the band’s guitarist. Having spent years of trying to make it solo, Micah is offered an opportunity to reunite with the band on a cruise and she reluctantly says yes, even though she’ll have to face the ghosts of her past.
John has been in love with Micah since they were kids making music together, but never said anything for the sake of the band, her old relationship, and to preserve their friendship. A life away from music has made him miss the way his heart sang with hers, so he boards the cruise too.
Onboard, Micah can’t help but see John with new eyes, and John’s feelings only intensify. As the discordant band’s tension grows to a breaking point and they’ll have to decide if their relationship is more than a one-hit wonder.
Micah’s relationship to music is… complicated. Her band took off after being featured on a teen TV show, but the group broke up in no small part thanks to Micah’s ex, the band’s guitarist. Having spent years of trying to make it solo, Micah is offered an opportunity to reunite with the band on a cruise and she reluctantly says yes, even though she’ll have to face the ghosts of her past.
John has been in love with Micah since they were kids making music together, but never said anything for the sake of the band, her old relationship, and to preserve their friendship. A life away from music has made him miss the way his heart sang with hers, so he boards the cruise too.
Onboard, Micah can’t help but see John with new eyes, and John’s feelings only intensify. As the discordant band’s tension grows to a breaking point and they’ll have to decide if their relationship is more than a one-hit wonder.
377 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 10, 2025
299 people are currently reading
27926 people want to read
About the author
Alicia Thompson
10 books1,446 followersAlicia Thompson is a writer, reader, and Paramore superfan. As a teen, she appeared in an episode of 48 Hours in the audience of a local murder trial, where she broke the fourth wall by looking directly into the camera. She currently lives in Florida with her husband and two children.
Annotations:
Also currently under consideration for other superfan distinctions, including but not limited to: Juliet, Naked (the movie), Phoebe Bridgers, Crash Bandicoot, Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael, Tegan and Sara, the audiobook for Sophie Kinsella’s I’ve Got Your Number, and taking really long naps
Does this sound creepy? You should’ve seen my face. It was really creepy.
Yes, I’ve seen an alligator in a neighborhood retention pond.
https://www.aliciathompsonbooks.com/
Annotations:
Also currently under consideration for other superfan distinctions, including but not limited to: Juliet, Naked (the movie), Phoebe Bridgers, Crash Bandicoot, Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael, Tegan and Sara, the audiobook for Sophie Kinsella’s I’ve Got Your Number, and taking really long naps
Does this sound creepy? You should’ve seen my face. It was really creepy.
Yes, I’ve seen an alligator in a neighborhood retention pond.
https://www.aliciathompsonbooks.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,314 reviews
March 9, 2025
1.5 stars, maybe this book would have been more interesting if they fell off the ship. that’s all im gonna say.
but if you like relationships that seem lust based with more shallowness than a kiddie pool (even though they liked each other since they were kids), it being vastly indiscernible if the mmc is in love with the fmc or her nipples, barely tangible longing, them having sex anytime and anywhere, no character development, essentially nothing to make up for the arduousness of getting through this, then you’ll probably like this! personally i couldn’t care less about anyone to the point where my favourite character is the ship.
okay i guess i was kidding when i said that was all i’m gonna say.
i do like the playlist consisting of paramore, the cure, phoebe bridgers, and the cranberries though. that part didn’t flop.
thank you to the publishers for the e-arc
-
not exactly sure why i applied for this arc but i got it anyway so lets see
but if you like relationships that seem lust based with more shallowness than a kiddie pool (even though they liked each other since they were kids), it being vastly indiscernible if the mmc is in love with the fmc or her nipples, barely tangible longing, them having sex anytime and anywhere, no character development, essentially nothing to make up for the arduousness of getting through this, then you’ll probably like this! personally i couldn’t care less about anyone to the point where my favourite character is the ship.
okay i guess i was kidding when i said that was all i’m gonna say.
i do like the playlist consisting of paramore, the cure, phoebe bridgers, and the cranberries though. that part didn’t flop.
thank you to the publishers for the e-arc
-
not exactly sure why i applied for this arc but i got it anyway so lets see
June 10, 2025
I’ll say this before my review just because I rated it 3 stars doesn’t mean it was a bad read!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️ It had its good moments and its meh ones. This review is just my honest take, and hopefully it helps you decide if it’s the right book for you based on my experience!
This book follows John and Micah, who were part of ElectricOh! a rock band that broke up years ago. After one of their songs becomes a viral sensation, they get the opportunity to reunite for a cruise performance. John and Micah were childhood best friends, but after the band split, they stopped speaking. This reunion not only brings the band back together but also slowly rekindles the connection between them, and let me tell you… the slow burn is good 🔥
Micah starts seeing John in a new light heheh feelings that were always there but she never let herself acknowledge. Meanwhile, John’s feelings for Micah have never faded. Watching her finally realize what’s been right in front of her was priceless 💕
Alicia gave us a beautiful story about childhood friends who drifted apart after leaving the band which they both loved. The way they cautiously tiptoe back into each other’s lives after so long was tender, emotional, and filled with real character growth. That moment when Micah was like “wait a freaking minute” and it clicks? I was into it 💖
Also, the cruise setting?! Summer vibes on point. ☀️🚢 I recommend this to anyone who enjoys a slow burn that starts with glances, builds with a few hesitant words, and then BOOM the emotional snowball begins.
Now, the reasons this was a 3-star read for me:
⇛ The slow burn, while amazing in parts, sometimes dragged. I found myself thinking, how obvious do we have to get for these two to realize they’re in love already?!
⇛ Micah was frustrating 89% of the time 😂 and while I get that her character was meant to be flawed and in need of growth, there were moments I wanted to scream, “Johnny boi, you deserve better!”
⇛ As for the spice… some scenes hit, but a few word choices were very repetitive and honestly took me out of the moment 🫣
Overall: I do think this is a good book! I loved the nostalgic band reunion, the cruise concept, and how an unfinished story between John and Micah got a second chance. 💫
tropes:
🎸 forced proximity
🎸 childhood friends to lovers
🎸 getting the band together
🎸 he falls first (it was always her)
🎸 mmc guitarist x fmc singer
⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.
➳ 𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱｡ꪆৎ ˚⋅ thank you Berkley for my eARC i might be entering my rock star era & it's childhood friends to lovers ayeeeee
This book follows John and Micah, who were part of ElectricOh! a rock band that broke up years ago. After one of their songs becomes a viral sensation, they get the opportunity to reunite for a cruise performance. John and Micah were childhood best friends, but after the band split, they stopped speaking. This reunion not only brings the band back together but also slowly rekindles the connection between them, and let me tell you… the slow burn is good 🔥
Micah starts seeing John in a new light heheh feelings that were always there but she never let herself acknowledge. Meanwhile, John’s feelings for Micah have never faded. Watching her finally realize what’s been right in front of her was priceless 💕
Alicia gave us a beautiful story about childhood friends who drifted apart after leaving the band which they both loved. The way they cautiously tiptoe back into each other’s lives after so long was tender, emotional, and filled with real character growth. That moment when Micah was like “wait a freaking minute” and it clicks? I was into it 💖
Also, the cruise setting?! Summer vibes on point. ☀️🚢 I recommend this to anyone who enjoys a slow burn that starts with glances, builds with a few hesitant words, and then BOOM the emotional snowball begins.
Now, the reasons this was a 3-star read for me:
⇛ The slow burn, while amazing in parts, sometimes dragged. I found myself thinking, how obvious do we have to get for these two to realize they’re in love already?!
⇛ Micah was frustrating 89% of the time 😂 and while I get that her character was meant to be flawed and in need of growth, there were moments I wanted to scream, “Johnny boi, you deserve better!”
⇛ As for the spice… some scenes hit, but a few word choices were very repetitive and honestly took me out of the moment 🫣
Overall: I do think this is a good book! I loved the nostalgic band reunion, the cruise concept, and how an unfinished story between John and Micah got a second chance. 💫
tropes:
🎸 forced proximity
🎸 childhood friends to lovers
🎸 getting the band together
🎸 he falls first (it was always her)
🎸 mmc guitarist x fmc singer
⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.
➳ 𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱｡ꪆৎ ˚⋅ thank you Berkley for my eARC i might be entering my rock star era & it's childhood friends to lovers ayeeeee
July 1, 2025
Could this book be described as Daisy Jones & The Six meets Titanic? Wait, scratch that! At least the ship doesn’t hit an iceberg, and Jack—pardon me, John—doesn’t freeze to death because his partner is too selfish to share her space. Okay, let’s stop comparing this book to other works and let me tell you how it made me feel.
I wanted to wrap John in a cocoon and protect him. From the beginning, I was firmly on his team. Micah, on the other hand, made some significant mistakes. She felt like the Yoko Ono of the group, tearing them apart a decade ago when they were rising stars at 17. She cut ties with everyone, released a solo album, and then disappeared from the music industry entirely. For years, she focused on living in Silver Lake (my personal opinion about that neighborhood aside) and helping her sister’s beauty salon while resting on her music industry fame.
Now, Micah’s father—also her manager—pushes her to accept a reunion gig, which involves performing on a cruise ship as part of a big TV show panel featuring their hit song. This means she must face her old bandmates, some of whom still hold grudges over the group’s breakup. Among them is Ryder, her ex-boyfriend, with whom she had a messy breakup. But the silver lining? She also gets to reunite with John, her former best friend, whom she hasn’t heard from in nearly a decade. Is John angry at her for ghosting him?
From John’s perspective, he’s been struggling to make a name for himself in the music industry. He shares a house with a large group of roommates who have become his makeshift family. John has quietly harbored feelings for Micah since they were kids. When she started dating Ryder, he kept those feelings bottled up and acted like nothing was wrong. Now, seeing Micah again and playing alongside her on the cruise reignites those old emotions. Can they still be friends after ten years of silence and exclusion? Or could they start over? The chemistry and tension between them are undeniable—so strong it feels like they might tear each other’s clothes off. But is this just chemistry, or is there something deeper that could change their futures forever? Should they take a chance on love again, even if it means risking everything?
Overall: I’m rounding up 3.5 stars to 4 for my love of band romances and second-chance romances! The cruise ship setting adds a fun and fresh dynamic. Once again, Alicia Thompson didn’t disappoint!
A very big thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for providing this lovely romance’s digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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I wanted to wrap John in a cocoon and protect him. From the beginning, I was firmly on his team. Micah, on the other hand, made some significant mistakes. She felt like the Yoko Ono of the group, tearing them apart a decade ago when they were rising stars at 17. She cut ties with everyone, released a solo album, and then disappeared from the music industry entirely. For years, she focused on living in Silver Lake (my personal opinion about that neighborhood aside) and helping her sister’s beauty salon while resting on her music industry fame.
Now, Micah’s father—also her manager—pushes her to accept a reunion gig, which involves performing on a cruise ship as part of a big TV show panel featuring their hit song. This means she must face her old bandmates, some of whom still hold grudges over the group’s breakup. Among them is Ryder, her ex-boyfriend, with whom she had a messy breakup. But the silver lining? She also gets to reunite with John, her former best friend, whom she hasn’t heard from in nearly a decade. Is John angry at her for ghosting him?
From John’s perspective, he’s been struggling to make a name for himself in the music industry. He shares a house with a large group of roommates who have become his makeshift family. John has quietly harbored feelings for Micah since they were kids. When she started dating Ryder, he kept those feelings bottled up and acted like nothing was wrong. Now, seeing Micah again and playing alongside her on the cruise reignites those old emotions. Can they still be friends after ten years of silence and exclusion? Or could they start over? The chemistry and tension between them are undeniable—so strong it feels like they might tear each other’s clothes off. But is this just chemistry, or is there something deeper that could change their futures forever? Should they take a chance on love again, even if it means risking everything?
Overall: I’m rounding up 3.5 stars to 4 for my love of band romances and second-chance romances! The cruise ship setting adds a fun and fresh dynamic. Once again, Alicia Thompson didn’t disappoint!
A very big thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for providing this lovely romance’s digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
September 1, 2025
I'm not sure that the hero and heroine really found love on a cruise ship... but they did find intercourse on the high seas.
This romance is about lead singer and band betrayer Micah getting the band back together for a reunion show on a cruise ship. She reunites with her ex who is awful, other band members whose names and personalities I can't recall, and John who is Micah's REAL love. I guess.
There was a good amount to like here. I really enjoyed the chemistry between Micah and John, especially their initial meeting in this book. You can feel the weight of what it means for them to see each other. I love the way the author wrote about the hero trying not to look at her. It was strangely memorable for me. And got me excited for the rest of the book.
And if I were looking for a lot of banging, I might have stayed excited. Because that's what this book quickly turned into. Without much fanfare or discussion, hero and heroine are sleeping together and professing their secret feelings for each other. And I knew we'd get there at some point, I just kind of wish we had more build up. They didn't need to hate each other ahead of time... I just would have enjoyed seeing more reasons that these two never admitted feelings for each other previously. And them SHARING those reasons with each other, prior to shucking each other's corn.
So like many books I pick up lately. This felt like a lot of sex, not a lot of relationship development. What this book has going for it though is a fun premise and at least fun to read sex.
This romance is about lead singer and band betrayer Micah getting the band back together for a reunion show on a cruise ship. She reunites with her ex who is awful, other band members whose names and personalities I can't recall, and John who is Micah's REAL love. I guess.
There was a good amount to like here. I really enjoyed the chemistry between Micah and John, especially their initial meeting in this book. You can feel the weight of what it means for them to see each other. I love the way the author wrote about the hero trying not to look at her. It was strangely memorable for me. And got me excited for the rest of the book.
And if I were looking for a lot of banging, I might have stayed excited. Because that's what this book quickly turned into. Without much fanfare or discussion, hero and heroine are sleeping together and professing their secret feelings for each other. And I knew we'd get there at some point, I just kind of wish we had more build up. They didn't need to hate each other ahead of time... I just would have enjoyed seeing more reasons that these two never admitted feelings for each other previously. And them SHARING those reasons with each other, prior to shucking each other's corn.
So like many books I pick up lately. This felt like a lot of sex, not a lot of relationship development. What this book has going for it though is a fun premise and at least fun to read sex.
Read
June 10, 2025I don’t really know what to make of this one. On the one hand, it’s a fun book about old friends getting the band back together for one last show, and on the other hand it’s about people who don’t seem to like each other being stuck on a boat. We know that Micah left the band to pursue a solo career in kind of a shitty way but our only insight into her thought process is that she feels bad about it. John has always been in love with her (or at least her nipples, which are referenced no fewer than 30 times (I checked)) but we aren’t told why he just, like, never said anything, or why he keeps telling her the sun shines out of her ass when it objectively doesn’t. John and Micah do hook up but it sort of happens out of nowhere, which is weird considering they never once discussed a mutual attraction despite being having been friends forever? I can’t imagine casually suggesting that my childhood best friend and I bang while on a cruise but maybe I’m just a prude. There isn’t really much conflict except for one comic book villain who leaves halfway through and Micah’s warring arrogance and imposter syndrome. I dunno, by the end I was just like ???
July 31, 2025
3.25
rtc…
—————————
The cover?
The premise?
The potential?
I’M SO VERY EXCITED TO READ THIS!!
rtc…
—————————
The cover?
The premise?
The potential?
I’M SO VERY EXCITED TO READ THIS!!
November 26, 2025
As a girl who sometimes composes/writes music, I was a HUGE fan of this book. I’ve read a few rockstar romance stories, but this one 100% takes the lead. The tension, the longing, the vulnerability… just ALL OF IT.
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
After years of being apart from her old band, Micah is invited to join a cruise for a week with her former bandmates to put on one last show for the fans. Not wanting to drag up the past, she initially declines… until she remembers John— her childhood best friend. After the band split up, she cut contact with him and holed up away from everyone. She misses their friendship greatly and now that she has the chance to see him again, she’s curious to see how things will pan out. John on the other hand has never forgotten about Micah—his first real friend, his first kiss… his first love. So when he’s asked to reunite with the band, he says yes solely because he knows he’ll have the chance to see Micah again.
Get ready to be sucked into a world of yearning, heat, and love as you follow these two, and watch them navigate their emotions as they learn how to open up and be honest not only with each other, but with themselves as well.
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
things to know about the book ↓
🎸 he falls first
🎤 childhood friends-to-lovers
🎸 rockstar romance
🎤 second chance
🎸 dual pov
A huge thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group and Alicia Thompson for allowing me to read this arc. These are all my honest opinions in this review.
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
After years of being apart from her old band, Micah is invited to join a cruise for a week with her former bandmates to put on one last show for the fans. Not wanting to drag up the past, she initially declines… until she remembers John— her childhood best friend. After the band split up, she cut contact with him and holed up away from everyone. She misses their friendship greatly and now that she has the chance to see him again, she’s curious to see how things will pan out. John on the other hand has never forgotten about Micah—his first real friend, his first kiss… his first love. So when he’s asked to reunite with the band, he says yes solely because he knows he’ll have the chance to see Micah again.
Get ready to be sucked into a world of yearning, heat, and love as you follow these two, and watch them navigate their emotions as they learn how to open up and be honest not only with each other, but with themselves as well.
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
things to know about the book ↓
🎸 he falls first
🎤 childhood friends-to-lovers
🎸 rockstar romance
🎤 second chance
🎸 dual pov
A huge thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group and Alicia Thompson for allowing me to read this arc. These are all my honest opinions in this review.
June 10, 2025
childhood best friends to strangers to lovers!!! and he’s been pining forever!!! and now they’re being reunited and the forced proximity on a cruise ship keeps them together. cannot get more juicy than that. the chemistry between these two had the tension exploding off the page.
I was living for a small flashbacks between these two. I loved their seeing their friendship explode into something more. John is such a sweetheart and Micah was fiery and anxious and I loved the two of them together. This feels like a perfect low angst summery read and it was exactly what I needed when I picked it up.
🎧 Ellie Gossage read for both John and Micah and that’s probably my only critique of the audiobook. I wish we had two narrators. But for what Ellie was given, I think she did a really great job. I was locked in and listened to this super quickly. Thank you penguin random house audio for the gifted audiobook!
what to expect
⟢ childhood best friends to strangers to lovers
⟢ forced proximity - have to reunite their band and perform on a cruise ship together
⟢ it’s always been her for him
I was living for a small flashbacks between these two. I loved their seeing their friendship explode into something more. John is such a sweetheart and Micah was fiery and anxious and I loved the two of them together. This feels like a perfect low angst summery read and it was exactly what I needed when I picked it up.
🎧 Ellie Gossage read for both John and Micah and that’s probably my only critique of the audiobook. I wish we had two narrators. But for what Ellie was given, I think she did a really great job. I was locked in and listened to this super quickly. Thank you penguin random house audio for the gifted audiobook!
what to expect
⟢ childhood best friends to strangers to lovers
⟢ forced proximity - have to reunite their band and perform on a cruise ship together
⟢ it’s always been her for him
January 29, 2025
OBSESSED
if this flops i stg!!!!!
this is my second book of alicia’s and ive been really hoping for John’s book after meeting him in with love from cold world, i was high key obsessed with him and his little cameos and my god his story did not disappoint 🤭
i was hooked on this book from the moment i started it till i finished, i actually had to force myself to stop reading it at 9:30 last night because i knew that if i didnt stop then id stay up and binge read the thing in one go 😂
john and micah had off the charts chemistry so much so that it made me feel like i wanted to explode from the second these two were finally in the same room as one another after a decade of being not talking or seeing each other. i really enjoyed that they didnt beat around the bush in getting together, there were the obvious few little hiccups that come with a second chance but nothing major and it was such a nice change of pace from what i feel im used to in other books.
(also these two are just fucking hot as hell ok, the smut had me foaming at the mouth)
i saw another reviewer say that alicia writes romances for the anxious girlies and i wholeheartedly agree, there was something just so comforting about reading this the entire time, it was like even though i KNOW theres high stakes involved here i also knew that everything was gonna be totally fine.
im seriously looking forward to when i can get my hands on the audiobook of this bc hearing john & micah come to life?!?! itll be such an insane experience 🤭
if this flops i stg!!!!!
this is my second book of alicia’s and ive been really hoping for John’s book after meeting him in with love from cold world, i was high key obsessed with him and his little cameos and my god his story did not disappoint 🤭
i was hooked on this book from the moment i started it till i finished, i actually had to force myself to stop reading it at 9:30 last night because i knew that if i didnt stop then id stay up and binge read the thing in one go 😂
john and micah had off the charts chemistry so much so that it made me feel like i wanted to explode from the second these two were finally in the same room as one another after a decade of being not talking or seeing each other. i really enjoyed that they didnt beat around the bush in getting together, there were the obvious few little hiccups that come with a second chance but nothing major and it was such a nice change of pace from what i feel im used to in other books.
(also these two are just fucking hot as hell ok, the smut had me foaming at the mouth)
i saw another reviewer say that alicia writes romances for the anxious girlies and i wholeheartedly agree, there was something just so comforting about reading this the entire time, it was like even though i KNOW theres high stakes involved here i also knew that everything was gonna be totally fine.
im seriously looking forward to when i can get my hands on the audiobook of this bc hearing john & micah come to life?!?! itll be such an insane experience 🤭
dnf
August 13, 2025DNF at 27% :( While I absolutely loved the concept of Never Been Shipped (teen bands, a reunion, Paramore references), unfortunately I wasn't hooked. The pacing moved quite slowly, and I would've liked to see more initial chemistry between the characters. It felt like they spent so much time standing around the cruise ship making veiled digs at each other for unknown things that happened in the past. I didn't feel connected to the characters, nor did I understand their motivations. I'm trying to come up with descriptive personality traits for the FMC and MMC but it's blank. Maybe I'll come back to this though when I'm in the mood, since I've enjoyed the author's other work.
January 24, 2025
DNF @35%
Romance in the third person should be illegal. This is so shallow. I don't even care to know anything about the characters.
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕻𝖗𝖊-𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
I've heard so many good reviews about this author let's hope I love it. Received the eARC from Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group 🫶🏻
Romance in the third person should be illegal. This is so shallow. I don't even care to know anything about the characters.
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕻𝖗𝖊-𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
I've heard so many good reviews about this author let's hope I love it. Received the eARC from Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group 🫶🏻
August 11, 2025
“we’ve never even been shipped” tumblr: oh my sweet summer child
also that guitar pick scene? im still looking👁️👁️
Bookstagram | Blog
also that guitar pick scene? im still looking👁️👁️
Bookstagram | Blog
September 5, 2025
3.5⭐️. There is just something special about a friends-to-lovers story marked by one-sided pining, and Alicia Thompson’s newest brought that and more. I enjoyed the cruise ship setting and slow burn build-up to our HEA, but even more so, the way heavier themes were addressed in a very real and emotionally raw way with the fragility and care needed. While it was a little bit slower of a start, and I didn’t feel as much of an emotional connection to the MCs as I had hoped to, this was still a solid read and one I would recommend.
Read if you like:
▪️friends to lovers
▪️forced proximity
▪️unrequited feelings
▪️rockstar romance
▪️all the spice
▪️queer rep
Thank you Berkley Romance and PRH Audio for the gifted copies.
Read if you like:
▪️friends to lovers
▪️forced proximity
▪️unrequited feelings
▪️rockstar romance
▪️all the spice
▪️queer rep
Thank you Berkley Romance and PRH Audio for the gifted copies.
June 10, 2025
happy pub day to the steamiest book of the summer!!
with jessica james, alicia thompson, ashley poston, danica nava, and kate golden, berkley really said rock star romance rights 2025 😭
the plot was incredibly boring i will say that. i was here for the romance and as they were childhood friends, there’s still a bit of that lingering connection but it took til the literal last chapter for that to come to fruition in an emotional way. all the smut beforehand though…didn’t know miss alicia got down like that holy shit??? 🔥🥵 they were kinky little rascals and i was just along for the ride! 🤭
thank you to netgalley and berkley for the arc!!
with jessica james, alicia thompson, ashley poston, danica nava, and kate golden, berkley really said rock star romance rights 2025 😭
the plot was incredibly boring i will say that. i was here for the romance and as they were childhood friends, there’s still a bit of that lingering connection but it took til the literal last chapter for that to come to fruition in an emotional way. all the smut beforehand though…didn’t know miss alicia got down like that holy shit??? 🔥🥵 they were kinky little rascals and i was just along for the ride! 🤭
thank you to netgalley and berkley for the arc!!
June 10, 2025
Never Been Shipped…gah, how clever! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this, despite what my rather long consumption time might tell you😂. If you’re a fan of right person right time, band romances, a little drama, spice, and Alicia Thompson’s writing absolutely pick up this book when it releases on June 10!
Never Been Shipped follows a band reunion on a cruise- and if that’s not interesting enough. There are EXES IN THE BAND. This book was drama, a vacation, and cutie little music makers. 🎸🛳️🌴
In terms of the character profiles, I loved the inclusion of the LGBTQ+ community. Micah, our bi queen, is very out and proud!! And in the spotlight (love!). Frankie, a non- binary member of the band, their character & how they handle conversations with other band members about their identity is perfect & respectful. There are more, but I’ll leave it up to you to read about them 😉
Micah & John, you are so cute! I didn’t always feel the chemistry (heat?) between them, but at the end of the day real love isn’t all pure lust & sex. When we started getting into their backstories, their current lives, and how feelings shifted, it was AMAZING to see their growth. Individually & together. ❤️
Together this book was 4 stars for me. I took a star off because it seemed to be quite lengthy and I felt like I was chasing the story. I wanted it to move just a bit faster!
Thank you Berkley Romance, Alicia Thompson, and Netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Never Been Shipped follows a band reunion on a cruise- and if that’s not interesting enough. There are EXES IN THE BAND. This book was drama, a vacation, and cutie little music makers. 🎸🛳️🌴
In terms of the character profiles, I loved the inclusion of the LGBTQ+ community. Micah, our bi queen, is very out and proud!! And in the spotlight (love!). Frankie, a non- binary member of the band, their character & how they handle conversations with other band members about their identity is perfect & respectful. There are more, but I’ll leave it up to you to read about them 😉
Micah & John, you are so cute! I didn’t always feel the chemistry (heat?) between them, but at the end of the day real love isn’t all pure lust & sex. When we started getting into their backstories, their current lives, and how feelings shifted, it was AMAZING to see their growth. Individually & together. ❤️
Together this book was 4 stars for me. I took a star off because it seemed to be quite lengthy and I felt like I was chasing the story. I wanted it to move just a bit faster!
Thank you Berkley Romance, Alicia Thompson, and Netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
March 11, 2025
First and foremost, a huge thank you to NetGalley, the talented Alicia Thompson, and the wonderful Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with an eARC of Never Been Shipped! I was thrilled to access this book on my Kindle in exchange for my honest review.
Let me say, when I received the approval, I was over the moon! The book centers around one of my all-time favorite romance tropes: friends to lovers and second chance romance. Swoon alert 💕! And can we talk about that cover? It is absolutely perfection! 😍
This was my first book by Alicia Thompson, but I can assure you it definitely will not be the last. The plot execution was exceptional, weaving a rich tapestry of music, nostalgia, and romance. The flow felt seamless, making it difficult to put down. You really feel the electricity between the characters, enveloping you in their journey from the get-go 🔥.
Publication Date: June 10, 2025 – mark your calendars, because this is one release you won’t want to miss!
Blurb Recap
The story revolves around Micah, a musician whose relationship with music is layered with complexity. After her band skyrocketed to fame as teenagers, they fizzled out just as quickly. Now, over a decade later, they're reuniting for a performance on a themed cruise. Micah is determined to avoid past mistakes—particularly with matters of the heart.
Enter John, Micah's former best friend and bandmate, who has always been a supportive shadow in her life. After years apart, he finds himself longing not just for the music but for Micah as well. The cruise is a melting pot of emotions, where they both must navigate their feelings and decide if their chemistry sparks something much deeper than just music 🎶.
My Thoughts
The way Thompson captures the complexities of friendship and romance is commendable. The characters felt genuine and relatable—each dealing with their vulnerabilities while simultaneously facing old emotions. The tension onboard the cruise, paired with the time limit of their time together, creates an engaging backdrop that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.
Micah and John’s character development is beautifully done, as they both confront their pasts and re-examine their relationship. The dialogues were witty and heartfelt, making every interaction feel significant.
In a world that often prefers clear-cut endings, this story expertly treads the line of uncertainty, inviting readers to remain hopeful ❤️. The emotional stakes were high, and I found myself rooting for them to embrace their second chance.
In conclusion, Never Been Shipped is an enchanting blend of nostalgia, romance, and music that will resonate with anyone who has ever felt 'what if.' I can’t recommend this enough to fans of contemporary romance or those who cherish tales of second chances. Prepare to be swept away! 🌊
Let me say, when I received the approval, I was over the moon! The book centers around one of my all-time favorite romance tropes: friends to lovers and second chance romance. Swoon alert 💕! And can we talk about that cover? It is absolutely perfection! 😍
This was my first book by Alicia Thompson, but I can assure you it definitely will not be the last. The plot execution was exceptional, weaving a rich tapestry of music, nostalgia, and romance. The flow felt seamless, making it difficult to put down. You really feel the electricity between the characters, enveloping you in their journey from the get-go 🔥.
Publication Date: June 10, 2025 – mark your calendars, because this is one release you won’t want to miss!
Blurb Recap
The story revolves around Micah, a musician whose relationship with music is layered with complexity. After her band skyrocketed to fame as teenagers, they fizzled out just as quickly. Now, over a decade later, they're reuniting for a performance on a themed cruise. Micah is determined to avoid past mistakes—particularly with matters of the heart.
Enter John, Micah's former best friend and bandmate, who has always been a supportive shadow in her life. After years apart, he finds himself longing not just for the music but for Micah as well. The cruise is a melting pot of emotions, where they both must navigate their feelings and decide if their chemistry sparks something much deeper than just music 🎶.
My Thoughts
The way Thompson captures the complexities of friendship and romance is commendable. The characters felt genuine and relatable—each dealing with their vulnerabilities while simultaneously facing old emotions. The tension onboard the cruise, paired with the time limit of their time together, creates an engaging backdrop that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.
Micah and John’s character development is beautifully done, as they both confront their pasts and re-examine their relationship. The dialogues were witty and heartfelt, making every interaction feel significant.
In a world that often prefers clear-cut endings, this story expertly treads the line of uncertainty, inviting readers to remain hopeful ❤️. The emotional stakes were high, and I found myself rooting for them to embrace their second chance.
In conclusion, Never Been Shipped is an enchanting blend of nostalgia, romance, and music that will resonate with anyone who has ever felt 'what if.' I can’t recommend this enough to fans of contemporary romance or those who cherish tales of second chances. Prepare to be swept away! 🌊
Read
October 28, 2025DNF i fear I may be in a reading slump and this book wasn’t doing it for me🤷🏼♀️
October 17, 2024
my favorite alicia thompson yet <3 although i got anxiety as soon as i typed that because i love all of them
August 25, 2025
As a teenager, Micah was part of a semi-famous band. They were far from A-listers, but they performed in the prom episode of a cult classic teen TV show. More than a decade later, the now-defunct band gets offered a gig they can’t turn down. They’ve been asked to perform on a themed cruise for fans of that show, and they could all use the money. The only issue is John, one of the band’s guitarists. He and Micah were best friends until she ditched the band to do a solo album and completely ghosted him. How is she supposed to face him when he probably totally hates her?
But Micah soon discovers that John is the same kind, easygoing guy he always was. And she’s surprised to find that friendship isn’t the only thing she feels for him. John’s gotten seriously hot. Better still, he’s into her too. But with vastly different ideas of what they want from the future, could they ever actually work as a couple?
This was a fun and engaging read. I definitely recommend it to my fellow 1990s babies, not just because the band is SO Paramore-coded, but because this book really gets at the millennial feeling of looking around and feeling like “wait, how am I an actual adult all of a sudden?” The female main character has an anxiety disorder, and it’s portrayed with sensitivity and realism. The banter is delightful, the vacation vibes are spot on, and, as in all the best romances, the main characters make each other better people. Rom-com readers, check this one out!
Thank you to the publisher for giving me access to an eARC of this book.
But Micah soon discovers that John is the same kind, easygoing guy he always was. And she’s surprised to find that friendship isn’t the only thing she feels for him. John’s gotten seriously hot. Better still, he’s into her too. But with vastly different ideas of what they want from the future, could they ever actually work as a couple?
This was a fun and engaging read. I definitely recommend it to my fellow 1990s babies, not just because the band is SO Paramore-coded, but because this book really gets at the millennial feeling of looking around and feeling like “wait, how am I an actual adult all of a sudden?” The female main character has an anxiety disorder, and it’s portrayed with sensitivity and realism. The banter is delightful, the vacation vibes are spot on, and, as in all the best romances, the main characters make each other better people. Rom-com readers, check this one out!
Thank you to the publisher for giving me access to an eARC of this book.
May 14, 2025
Brave of me to read this when I have a DEEP and INTENSE aversion to songs in books. Also musicians terrify me bc what if they SING to me with EYE CONTACT. Lol but it was fun! And the narrator didn’t sing thank GOD.
There really wasn’t much to the relationship? No angst, not a lot of drama, and it was once again very sweet (a theme of 2025 releases). Which is ~fine but JUST fine in my opinion since I’m looking for Big Emotions. For a band with a big breakup, there wasn’t much to it honestly. There was one token dick, but even then he was dealt with pretty cleanly and he didn’t really do too much on the page.
But if you’re looking for a low angst summery read, I think it’ll fit the bill. I’ve enjoyed every book from Alicia and this was really no different, I just wasn’t blown away. Both MCs began the book in love with each other so it was kinda just like…okay now kiss. But I loved that we got to see Asa and Lauren again!! And I always wanted to be reading the book and was never annoyed.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️*/5
*I can always trust Alicia to write a hot sex scene and she definitely delivered here. 2+ explicit scenes with (very) light pain/breath play exploration.
I received an ALC, eARC, and finished copy from the publisher. All opinions are honest and my own.
There really wasn’t much to the relationship? No angst, not a lot of drama, and it was once again very sweet (a theme of 2025 releases). Which is ~fine but JUST fine in my opinion since I’m looking for Big Emotions. For a band with a big breakup, there wasn’t much to it honestly. There was one token dick, but even then he was dealt with pretty cleanly and he didn’t really do too much on the page.
But if you’re looking for a low angst summery read, I think it’ll fit the bill. I’ve enjoyed every book from Alicia and this was really no different, I just wasn’t blown away. Both MCs began the book in love with each other so it was kinda just like…okay now kiss. But I loved that we got to see Asa and Lauren again!! And I always wanted to be reading the book and was never annoyed.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️*/5
*I can always trust Alicia to write a hot sex scene and she definitely delivered here. 2+ explicit scenes with (very) light pain/breath play exploration.
I received an ALC, eARC, and finished copy from the publisher. All opinions are honest and my own.
June 10, 2025
those two stars are for john and john alone
August 13, 2025
This was such a cute, fun read with a romance that had me rooting for John and Micah from the start. I loved the unique cruise ship setting and it gave the story such a charming backdrop. The chemistry between them was top tier, and some of their moments together were just chef’s kiss. I loved watching them reconnect.
That said, a few parts could’ve used more oomph. Some conflicts felt underdeveloped and wrapped up too quickly for how big they were. A couple of flashback scenes would’ve really helped me connect with their shared past. Plus, a slower burn would’ve made their reunion even sweeter. I mean… they hadn’t talked in years! The first half totally hooked me, but the second half… yeah, it dragged just a bit.
Still, if you’re into second chance and friends to lovers romances, you’re gonna wanna hop on board. And can we just take a moment for the cover? I’d hang it on my wall.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT:
❤️🔥 Friends to Lovers
❤️🔥 Forced Proximity
❤️🔥 He Falls First
❤️🔥 Guitarist x Singer
🚨🚨 TW: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment
That said, a few parts could’ve used more oomph. Some conflicts felt underdeveloped and wrapped up too quickly for how big they were. A couple of flashback scenes would’ve really helped me connect with their shared past. Plus, a slower burn would’ve made their reunion even sweeter. I mean… they hadn’t talked in years! The first half totally hooked me, but the second half… yeah, it dragged just a bit.
Still, if you’re into second chance and friends to lovers romances, you’re gonna wanna hop on board. And can we just take a moment for the cover? I’d hang it on my wall.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT:
❤️🔥 Friends to Lovers
❤️🔥 Forced Proximity
❤️🔥 He Falls First
❤️🔥 Guitarist x Singer
🚨🚨 TW: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment
May 14, 2025
I had read another of Alicia’s books and really enjoyed it, so I was pretty excited for this one.
I love love loved Micah and John. She’s so unsure and he’s so steady and together they have a lot of history banded together with so much chemistry. I loved getting to be in each of their heads while the story unfolded. And I also really loved so many of the secondary characters.
Plot wise, it was the most deliciously slow burn (that you can have over a 5 day span). The history of Micah and John, not to mention the band as a whole, never really blew up in the way I expected. The angst was minimal, the yearning was off the charts, and there were so many open conversations, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.
Did I sneak chapters at work? Absolutely.
Did I want more? Yes.
Was the ending and epilogue perfect? For me, it was.
Overall, this was exactly what I wanted to read and I know I’ll be coming back to this story again and again.
**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**
I love love loved Micah and John. She’s so unsure and he’s so steady and together they have a lot of history banded together with so much chemistry. I loved getting to be in each of their heads while the story unfolded. And I also really loved so many of the secondary characters.
Plot wise, it was the most deliciously slow burn (that you can have over a 5 day span). The history of Micah and John, not to mention the band as a whole, never really blew up in the way I expected. The angst was minimal, the yearning was off the charts, and there were so many open conversations, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.
Did I sneak chapters at work? Absolutely.
Did I want more? Yes.
Was the ending and epilogue perfect? For me, it was.
Overall, this was exactly what I wanted to read and I know I’ll be coming back to this story again and again.
**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**
March 1, 2025
3.75/5
i swear i don't read this fast, i just keep forgetting to mark books when i actually start them
the only reason i requested this arc was the cover... the art is spectacular and i will be thinking about it forever !! the band reuniting aspect of this book didn't fully grab me but i looked past it. i have heard a lot about this authors books but i haven't picked any of them up. because we met asa and lauren in this book, i will probably look into their book plus she has a sports romance so...
micah and john had so much chemistry that their romance alone would be a five star. like hello alicia thompson, i was not familiar with your game. the first sixty percent of this book had everything, tension, pining, great chemistry, and it was just fun. sadly the last forty percent lost me a bit but i still really enjoyed seeing the love story. micah was a character i wasn't expecting to completely fall for but i did almost immediately. she is such real character, her thoughts on life and what she has or hasn't achieved made so much sense to me. like i said the band element didn't really grab me but she was perfect and i wanna her a huge hug/get lunch and be besties!! john was pretty okay, i liked how different he was to the average male main character but i wanted more from him... idrk..
i haven't mentioned the second chance element of this book but i really ate it up. had this just been about them reconnecting, without the band revival, i would've been so much more in love with this. so yes this was a really good romance but the other aspects were kinda meh.
*thank you net galley and berkeley for the arc!*
i swear i don't read this fast, i just keep forgetting to mark books when i actually start them
the only reason i requested this arc was the cover... the art is spectacular and i will be thinking about it forever !! the band reuniting aspect of this book didn't fully grab me but i looked past it. i have heard a lot about this authors books but i haven't picked any of them up. because we met asa and lauren in this book, i will probably look into their book plus she has a sports romance so...
micah and john had so much chemistry that their romance alone would be a five star. like hello alicia thompson, i was not familiar with your game. the first sixty percent of this book had everything, tension, pining, great chemistry, and it was just fun. sadly the last forty percent lost me a bit but i still really enjoyed seeing the love story. micah was a character i wasn't expecting to completely fall for but i did almost immediately. she is such real character, her thoughts on life and what she has or hasn't achieved made so much sense to me. like i said the band element didn't really grab me but she was perfect and i wanna her a huge hug/get lunch and be besties!! john was pretty okay, i liked how different he was to the average male main character but i wanted more from him... idrk..
i haven't mentioned the second chance element of this book but i really ate it up. had this just been about them reconnecting, without the band revival, i would've been so much more in love with this. so yes this was a really good romance but the other aspects were kinda meh.
*thank you net galley and berkeley for the arc!*
May 23, 2025
𝟑.𝟓 ★
picture this: you’re a teenager in the early to mid 2000s playing in a battle of the bands with your friends from high school. while you didn’t win, you’re discovered by a producer and begin rising to stardom until tensions hit a boiling point. the fame fizzling out just as quickly as it appeared.
enter our fmc and mmc - micah and john respectively. after spending their teenage years together, being each others first kiss and going through all the growing pains together as best friends being able to experience fame together was everything they ever imagined. until it wasn’t. micah started dating a fellow band member and things quickly spiraled, leaving micah to break up the band sending everyone in separate directions and not speaking for years. after everyone has moved on, building separate lives and opportunity arises for the band to come back together on a themed cruise. years have passed, but old feelings have come to the surface and this time, they can’t be ignored.
typically childhood friends to lovers is pretty hit or miss for me but god damn this one was a bullseye. what i really appreciated about it in this book was that when talking about the past there was very clear romantic interest, there wasn’t any moment that reeked of desperation which is usually a huge turn off for me. it felt very realistic in the awkwardness of being no contact for so long followed up by a sensible build up to them becoming more comfortable with each other again, confronting and talking about the past.
“𝒊 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒊 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒍𝒇-𝒈𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒕𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒆𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇. 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒊 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒊 𝒇𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒕𝒘𝒐 𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒌𝒔 𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓, 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒊 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒈𝒐𝒕 𝒖𝒑 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒌 𝒕𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖.”
the way that the characters were written also felt very realistic, despite the book only being about 400 pages. whether it be micahs complicated relationship with music and success, or john wanting to feel security with his place in the world and the choices that he’s made there was never a moment where the characters fell flat.
“𝒕𝒓𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒇𝒖𝒄𝒌 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒖𝒑 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆,”
this book was so close to being four stars for me, but in the end it just didn’t get there. it wasn’t a writing or plot problem, its honestly a me problem. this was my first musician romance and it by the end of it i realized that it just isn’t my favorite thing. i will definitely be reading any other books she releases because my god can she build up tension and i will come back for more of it every. single. time.
thank you alicia thompson and berkley romance for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. 🫶🏻
picture this: you’re a teenager in the early to mid 2000s playing in a battle of the bands with your friends from high school. while you didn’t win, you’re discovered by a producer and begin rising to stardom until tensions hit a boiling point. the fame fizzling out just as quickly as it appeared.
enter our fmc and mmc - micah and john respectively. after spending their teenage years together, being each others first kiss and going through all the growing pains together as best friends being able to experience fame together was everything they ever imagined. until it wasn’t. micah started dating a fellow band member and things quickly spiraled, leaving micah to break up the band sending everyone in separate directions and not speaking for years. after everyone has moved on, building separate lives and opportunity arises for the band to come back together on a themed cruise. years have passed, but old feelings have come to the surface and this time, they can’t be ignored.
typically childhood friends to lovers is pretty hit or miss for me but god damn this one was a bullseye. what i really appreciated about it in this book was that when talking about the past there was very clear romantic interest, there wasn’t any moment that reeked of desperation which is usually a huge turn off for me. it felt very realistic in the awkwardness of being no contact for so long followed up by a sensible build up to them becoming more comfortable with each other again, confronting and talking about the past.
“𝒊 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒊 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒍𝒇-𝒈𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒕𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒆𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇. 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒊 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒊 𝒇𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒕𝒘𝒐 𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒌𝒔 𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓, 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒊 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒈𝒐𝒕 𝒖𝒑 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒌 𝒕𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖.”
the way that the characters were written also felt very realistic, despite the book only being about 400 pages. whether it be micahs complicated relationship with music and success, or john wanting to feel security with his place in the world and the choices that he’s made there was never a moment where the characters fell flat.
“𝒕𝒓𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒇𝒖𝒄𝒌 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒖𝒑 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆,”
this book was so close to being four stars for me, but in the end it just didn’t get there. it wasn’t a writing or plot problem, its honestly a me problem. this was my first musician romance and it by the end of it i realized that it just isn’t my favorite thing. i will definitely be reading any other books she releases because my god can she build up tension and i will come back for more of it every. single. time.
thank you alicia thompson and berkley romance for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. 🫶🏻
August 14, 2025
This book cover immediately drew my attention when it was released earlier this year, so when my library hold came up I knew I had to get right on it.
📕 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Never Been Shipped by Alicia Thompson
📙 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: Standalone
📗 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀: E-book on Kindle.
Borrowed via the Libby app.
📘 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: Contemporary romance
📔 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀: Rockstar romance, friends-to-strangers-to-lovers, vacation vibes.
📖 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: Micah and John haven’t seen each other since their band imploded. But now they’re booked on a fan cruise to play, and the close quarters force them to confront the past.
🌟 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: I’m always real in reviews so I’ll be honest. Alicia Thompson’s last book is on a list of books I’m so irrationally mad about I still glare at it when I see it on a shelf at the store. But I am glad to say this book was much more enjoyable.
If you like that kind of low angst, low drama romance, this one is for you. There’s plenty going on… the pacing is great and there’s a ton of moments where the tension is thick and delicious… but there’s not a huge amount of deep dark emotional stuff.
All said and done, this was a cute story. John was a complete simp, and Micah was blind to it the entire time. The cruise supplies a backdrop of nostalgia and forced proximity. And the ending was really well defined all around. I’d be happy to pick up another Alicia Thompson book if they continue to slap like this!
𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹: 3/5 🌶🌶🌶
📕 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Never Been Shipped by Alicia Thompson
📙 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: Standalone
📗 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀: E-book on Kindle.
Borrowed via the Libby app.
📘 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: Contemporary romance
📔 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀: Rockstar romance, friends-to-strangers-to-lovers, vacation vibes.
📖 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: Micah and John haven’t seen each other since their band imploded. But now they’re booked on a fan cruise to play, and the close quarters force them to confront the past.
🌟 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: I’m always real in reviews so I’ll be honest. Alicia Thompson’s last book is on a list of books I’m so irrationally mad about I still glare at it when I see it on a shelf at the store. But I am glad to say this book was much more enjoyable.
If you like that kind of low angst, low drama romance, this one is for you. There’s plenty going on… the pacing is great and there’s a ton of moments where the tension is thick and delicious… but there’s not a huge amount of deep dark emotional stuff.
All said and done, this was a cute story. John was a complete simp, and Micah was blind to it the entire time. The cruise supplies a backdrop of nostalgia and forced proximity. And the ending was really well defined all around. I’d be happy to pick up another Alicia Thompson book if they continue to slap like this!
𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹: 3/5 🌶🌶🌶
September 22, 2025
There wasn't much romance in this second chance romance, which I found disappointing. Lust and banging, yes. Romance and swooning, no.
So there's this once upon a time successful band founded by two best friends. They've been close since they were kids, but grew apart when the band formed since the lead singer started dating another band member. Well, lead singer breaks up the band for her own solo career and they all go separate ways. Years later, the band gets back together to play on a cruise, and these two former best friends are tip toeing over the one that got away.
That is, before they end up banging like the second night of the cruise and then just...keep banging....while barely talking about anything.
The past is revealed really slowly throughout the story, which I GUESS is compelling, but I just didn't care for all the spice without a foundation.
So there's this once upon a time successful band founded by two best friends. They've been close since they were kids, but grew apart when the band formed since the lead singer started dating another band member. Well, lead singer breaks up the band for her own solo career and they all go separate ways. Years later, the band gets back together to play on a cruise, and these two former best friends are tip toeing over the one that got away.
That is, before they end up banging like the second night of the cruise and then just...keep banging....while barely talking about anything.
The past is revealed really slowly throughout the story, which I GUESS is compelling, but I just didn't care for all the spice without a foundation.
February 25, 2025
This was hands down one of my favorite reads I’ve had the pleasure of reading in months. When I go into a book the best things to look for are a compelling story, captivating writing and characters I can stand behind and see the layers they have. And this book not only had that all but completely knocked it out of the park for me. I felt the plot was one of the most unique I have read in awhile. A reunion on a cruise ship with the tension and angst to die for, an ex best friend and what years of regret can do to you. Each character is this story was so complex and I found myself completely falling for them each time one layer got pulled back and I got know more about them. The story that somehow had you living in both the past and the present along side the characters without getting side tracked in the history is hard to do but I found myself wanting 200 more pages of just them. I love the diversity in this book and how every character had a backstory you couldn’t help but adore. Micah was such a beautiful character who has been dealt a hard hand in life that she sunk into a less version of herself and how in discovering and opening up about the past helps her grow again in the future. John has such a beautifully quiet personality but when you spoke you hung onto every word he said because you knew he spoke with such feelings. The tension and easy banter between these two had me rooting for them to get it together and info their way back to each other but I love how easily they made sure their friendship was their first foundation to their relationship. Absolutely wonderful book. This is my first read by this author and now I need to go back and read all their work.
May 17, 2025
This is an instant favorite!! I loved the longing and melancholic tone of this book. John had a mouth on him that was unexpected but I loved it. Micah was an unapologetic (in some ways) strong women who needed to heal from the people she hurt. I loved seeing these 2 find their way back together. This is a beautiful estranged friends-to-lovers and I’m so grateful to netgalley for the early read! Thank you!
Want to read
February 1, 2025saw the dedication on tiktok and now it’s a must read
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