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Rock the Boat: the sexy beach read of the summer

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'I couldn't put Rock the Boat down! Olivia Harvey is my new favourite author' - Kirsty Greenwood, author of The Love of My Afterlife

A SIZZLING SUMMER READ FOR ALL FANS OF BELOW DECK AND EMILY HENRY.

Welcome to the messiest, sexiest love triangle you'll read this summer...

Hope and Adam are newbie crew members on the luxury yacht the wide eyed and hungry for adventure - and each other. They've been a couple for years, but rules on board stipulate no dating between crew members. Having to keep their relationship a secret only makes things more intoxicating ...

They haven't bargained, though, on how messy things can get below deck. And when cheeky, flirty Berry belatedly joins the crew, Hope finds herself questioning everything she's ever thought she wanted.

Maybe rules are meant to be broken after all ...

260 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 5, 2025

5 people are currently reading
73 people want to read

About the author

Olivia Harvey

10 books

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5 stars
5 (4%)
4 stars
30 (24%)
3 stars
63 (52%)
2 stars
20 (16%)
1 star
3 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
Profile Image for Cinta x.
32 reviews
did-not-finish
July 31, 2025
This could be an email.

Genuinely couldn’t give two shits about any of them.

DNF.
Profile Image for Samantha .
201 reviews55 followers
May 29, 2025
My Initial Thoughts

I was drawn into the book because the cover is stunning! I found myself quickly sinking into the storyline and couldn’t put the book down. I loved Hope straight away, I resonated with her and looking after siblings while younger causing her to grow up to quickly and have to much pressure. Adam at first was likeable and I was intrigued as to how their relationship will work on the yacht.

Plot

I really liked the plot and how Hope finds herself within the story. The fact that everything is not as it seems with Adam adds the intrigued into the plot. I liked learning what all the Yachties went through and just how much work was involved. Plot wise this is definitely a great summer read.

Characters

All the characters have their own personalities and even the people who stay on the yacht are completely different. I hated Marc from the second he set foot on the yacht. I loved Berry and the way she was described, her tattoos especially. Hope really discovers herself on the trip, who she is without needing to please everyone else, and make everything better/fixed for them regardless of how it made her feel.

Recommend

If you would like a breeze of a summer read, then this is one you need to pick up.

Favourite Quotes

“sometimes bad things, scary things, can turn into something more beautiful than you can imagine.”

Favourite Chapter/s

My favourite chapters were 16 and 24.

Summed up in one sentence

The perfect summer romance.

Overall Wrap up

I really enjoyed this and read it so quickly for me. The plot flows quickly and efficiently and has you entangled in Hope’s life as crew as well as Adam and Berry. I know for sure I would never cope as yacht crew and how these characters did was beyond me. My like for Adam lessened as time went on and you discover more about him and my resonating with Hope became stronger as she learnt how to find herself and not be everyone else shoulder.

Stars & Spice – 3 stars – 1 chilli but is fade to black.
Book Information – Rock The Boat by Olivia Harvey.

Genre – Romance.

Pages – 273 pages.

Tropes –
LGBTQ+ rep.
Workplace romance.
Love triangle.
Third act breakup – TWICE!

Available on Kindle Unlimited – Not available on kindle unlimited.

Available Formats – Available on kindle, audiobook and paperback.

Publishing Information – Due to be published on 5th June 2025 by Hot Key Books.

Format in Which I Read – Paperback.

Where my copy come From – Insta book tours.

POVs – Single POV – Hope.

Single/Dual/Multiple Timelines – Written on a single timeline.

1st or 3rd Person – Written in first person.

HEA, HFN or Cliff hanger – HEA.

Series or Standalone – Standalone.

Trigger Warnings – Please check content warnings before reading if necessary and please always remember that your mental health matters.

Profile Image for Abby.
39 reviews
July 27, 2025
Cute summer romance book. Reminded me of the reality series “below deck” Very simple to read was nice, but expected more from the ending. Was nice to read on vacation tho because you don’t have to pay too much attention.
Profile Image for Ari.
6 reviews
August 3, 2025
I really enjoyed this book and found that the boat setting always provided some fun story telling.

I think that both Adam and Hope are flawed people given that they both went outside the boundaries of their relationship, but I couldn't help but be frustrated by Adam kissing someone else and being distant from the person he brough onto the boat to sneak around with (allegedly). In the grand scheme of the book it makes sense, but it really did dampen my like for him.

However, despite these feelings, it felt very bitter-sweet to me to watch Hope and Adam close their chapter for good on their relationship. A lot of history was left between them and when Adam says "keep in touch" to Hope as a farewell, it did hurt my heart to read.

Berry was by far my favourite character and she was written in a way that always made me feel like she was full of light. Everything she did and said felt true to her nature and you couldn't help but feel captivated by her (or feel heartbroken for her when she is hurt by Hope). I'm glad she got the ending she deserves
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Rosa.
144 reviews
July 18, 2025
This was a perfect pool/beach read. I read this in a day and it was entertaining. Very predictable apart from the fact that I thought one of the characters was female instead of male. It gave very strong ‘Below Deck’ vibes which was fun. The writing was a little simple but fine for a beach read.
Profile Image for char !!.
131 reviews2 followers
April 21, 2025
2⭐️

Getting a bit behind on some of my arcs so picked up this book publishing in June hoping for a fun summery read !! Kinda weird being the first goodreads reviewer for it hahaha

Going into this book, I initially had high hopes - with references to Emily Henry and Below Deck in the synopsis how could I not ? But overall, I felt very unsatisfied and did not particularly enjoy it at all.

The biggest thing for me was the boring, undeveloped characters. Hope and Adam are meant to have been in a relationship for many years before this summer yet they have no chemistry at all and honestly read like they've just met. Adam's whole character was very unlikable for me throughout this book even from the start - and Hope was not much better. All the characters interactions were just so dialogue heavy it sometimes felt more like I'm reading a tv show transcript rather than a book.

The comparison to Below Deck was very true and if you enjoy the show you'll probably find this an okay read. For me, I feel like the author was trying to replicate the pacing of the show which doesn't really work so much in a small amount of pages - the dramas and conflicts are rushed over so quickly it doesn't really give the reader much time to process them. Also with so many characters coming and going it's very easy to not get attached to this cast.

Also justice for Berry I feel like her character was just screwed over and brought into Adam and Hope's train wreck relationship. From the way this ended, I feel like the author could be setting up for a series ? I probably won't be continuing it but please give Berry something better than this lol

Thank you to Bonnier Books UK, Hot Key Books and NetGalley for this arc !!

*All opinions are my own !!*
Profile Image for Viola.
273 reviews12 followers
dnf
June 30, 2025
DNF @ 13%

Nothing wrong with the book. Just not feeling it.
143 reviews
July 10, 2025
Below deck fanfiction with mentions of harry styles and timothee chalamet
Profile Image for áine.
38 reviews8 followers
August 4, 2025
banter wasn't bantering they way banter needed to banter. otherwise good
Profile Image for Georgia.
359 reviews28 followers
June 5, 2025
When I requested this book I was in the mood for a summer read and that's exactly what I got!

This gave me all the vibes I was after. I wish I was reading it on a beach or by a pool but I was instead reading it in a rainy conservatory.

Hope and Adam have been a couple for years but on board Serendipity (the yacht) there are strict rules that you can't date a fellow crew member so they have to secretly hide their relationship from everyone. This won't be easy when newcomer Berry is thrown into the mix to stir up jealousy.

This book flows wonderfully and is really easy to get engrossed in. It's fast paced just like the show Below Deck which is a guilty pleasure of mine.

Adam isn't a very likeable character from the start and he didn't really grow on me throughout. Hope however has a special place in my heart. You really see her open up and look deep within herself and come to some realisations of what she wants.

4 out of 5 stars.

Thank you to Insta Book Tours, Hot Key books and the author for sending me this copy to read as part of the blog tour.

All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Tyler Marshall.
929 reviews52 followers
June 13, 2025
wow what a fun read!

This was such a plot driven novel, I picked this up as a summer read and it's safe to say I devoured this. Harvey really paid attention to detail with this read, every chapter felt captivating and like I needed to read on, I was so hooked that I finished this within a day when my plan was just to get a couple chapters in. I really enjoyed the characters in this novel especially Hope who I felt instantly drawn too, her back story made it easy for me to connect as I too felt like I grew up too quickly after having to partly take care of my younger siblings.

If you like books that have just the right amount of drama and intrigue, unique characters and a plot that will keep you hooked then definitely pick this up asap, this is the perfect summer read, whether you are at home sun bathing or abroad on holiday.
Profile Image for Andreea-Maria.
129 reviews4 followers
September 28, 2025
This fast-paced summer beach read was entertaining, steamy, and angsty. From the get-go I became very involved in the story and started suspecting something wasn’t quite right in the main characters’ relationship. It seemed like Adam was too keen on keeping it a secret… So I wasn’t too happy with him from the beginning, but you find out why he behaves as he does. And Hope, bless her, tried to be there for him while she was going through her own self-discovery.
On the other hand Berry was a very intriguing character and I really loved her. I want more of her 😭

Overall a fun steamy summer read with LGBTQ+ rep set on the high seas that will have you longing for the summer sun.☀️

Thank you to @hotkeybooks, @instabooktours, and @kerisfox for the review copy! All thoughts are my own.
Profile Image for Kels.
29 reviews1 follower
June 10, 2025
I've been on the lookout for some light, fun summer books so when I got the chance to read Rock The Boat for the instabooktours book tour, I was very happy! I've never seen Below Deck (should I start it?!) but this was so much fun and made me imagine being in the sun and eating good food. 😂

There is a lot more to the book than sun and food though - the drama! It initially follows Hope and Adam, a young couple who are spending their summer working on a luxury yacht for the first time. With the rules stating that there's to be no dating between crew members, they decide to keep their relationship secret.

However, as the book goes on, Adam seems to change - he's becoming more withdrawn towards Hope, and struggles to adapt to being a yachtie. While Hope flourishes, Adam becomes more unhappy.

And when Hope finds herself becoming closer to her bunkmate Berry, things get even more complicated between her and Adam.

This was such an easy book to read, perfect for a summer's day. The whole crew on the yacht had their own personalities and I found them all interesting, and even some of the yacht's guests were fun (also some who were much less fun!). I especialy loved Berry - she was a very easy character to warm to!

All in all, I really enjoyed this book and would definitely look out for more books by the author! 💕

Thank you so much for the chance to be on the blog tour 😃
Profile Image for Diana Alexandra.
14 reviews
August 10, 2025
decent. cute, sapphic romance thats an easy read for the summer. its kinda like a netflix romcom in book format. short, sweet, but no substance or anything too deep. good to take the edge off after reading a more serious/depressing book

now, i honestly wouldve rated this 4 stars but the 3 steamy scenes in the first 20 pages of the book really threw me off. almost didnt continue reading cause of it

this does have a plot (kinda), so its not just written p0rn, but there are a lot of sexy scenes so if youre not looking for that get another book.
Profile Image for Amy Edlin.
68 reviews3 followers
July 5, 2025
Cute, short steamy summer romance, does what it says on the tin! Very much Below Deck inspired and a bit wattpad but nothing wrong with that for a quick fun time!
If you enjoy Below Deck and want a pallet cleanser between other reads, this would fit the bill.
Profile Image for Kim.
8 reviews
August 13, 2025
Fun summer read, even better because I loved watching Below Deck and it's definitely inspired by it. In the beginning I didn't really care about the characters at all but eventually I did get invested. Still a bit to much drama for my liking🫣
Profile Image for Danielle Amor.
742 reviews4 followers
May 28, 2025
The story in emojis: 🛥️🌊🩵

3 things about this book:
•Nautical Adventure
•Some spicy content
•Self discovery

ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rock the Boat absolutely ‘rocks the boat’ in this story of self discovery aboard the Serendipity a luxury yacht.

Overall this was a fun summer read, but scratch away at the surface and you come face to face with some really heavy subjects - I won’t spoil it!

Adam was such an awful character, but we needed him to be the bad guy in order to see how good things could be for Hope.

I really enjoyed this book especially the self discovery/ character growth which ultimately made it an exploration of sexuality with the LGBTQ+ relationship element.

I definitely recommend this as a perfect summer sizzle of a book!
Profile Image for Laura Bartels.
21 reviews
June 19, 2025
Perfect book to read during your summer vacation. Not very special, but nice and easy to read by the pool.
Profile Image for Tiina A.
134 reviews1 follower
August 4, 2025
Ehkä vähän liiankin kevyt kirja minun makuuni.
Profile Image for Erin Grigson Baylis.
1,051 reviews6 followers
December 28, 2025
This book was 100% Below Deck the tv show, but in book form.
I liked the relationships of all the crew, but I didn't love the lying.
8/10 If you want a yacht romance, this is a good one.
Profile Image for Samantha.
139 reviews24 followers
September 6, 2025
My Initial Thoughts

I was drawn into the book because the cover is stunning! I found myself quickly sinking into the storyline and couldn’t put the book down. I loved Hope straight away, I resonated with her and looking after siblings while younger causing her to grow up to quickly and have to much pressure. Adam at first was likeable and I was intrigued as to how their relationship will work on the yacht.

Plot

I really liked the plot and how Hope finds herself within the story. The fact that everything is not as it seems with Adam adds the intrigued into the plot. I liked learning what all the Yachties went through and just how much work was involved. Plot wise this is definitely a great summer read.

Characters

All the characters have their own personalities and even the people who stay on the yacht are completely different. I hated Marc from the second he set foot on the yacht. I loved Berry and the way she was described, her tattoos especially. Hope really discovers herself on the trip, who she is without needing to please everyone else, and make everything better/fixed for them regardless of how it made her feel.

Recommend

If you would like a breeze of a summer read, then this is one you need to pick up.

Favourite Quotes

“sometimes bad things, scary things, can turn into something more beautiful than you can imagine.”

Favourite Chapter/s

My favourite chapters were 16 and 24.

Summed up in one sentence

The perfect summer romance.

Overall Wrap up

I really enjoyed this and read it so quickly for me. The plot flows quickly and efficiently and has you entangled in Hope’s life as crew as well as Adam and Berry. I know for sure I would never cope as yacht crew and how these characters did was beyond me. My like for Adam lessened as time went on and you discover more about him and my resonating with Hope became stronger as she learnt how to find herself and not be everyone else shoulder.

Stars & Spice – 3 stars – 1 chilli but is fade to black.
Book Information – Rock The Boat by Olivia Harvey.

Genre – Romance.

Pages – 273 pages.

Tropes –
LGBTQ+ rep.
Workplace romance.
Love triangle.
Third act breakup – TWICE!

Available on Kindle Unlimited – Not available on kindle unlimited.

Available Formats – Available on kindle, audiobook and paperback.

Publishing Information – Due to be published on 5th June 2025 by Hot Key Books.

Format in Which I Read – Paperback.

Where my copy come From – Insta book tours.

POVs – Single POV – Hope.

Single/Dual/Multiple Timelines – Written on a single timeline.

1st or 3rd Person – Written in first person.

HEA, HFN or Cliff hanger – HEA.

Series or Standalone – Standalone.

Trigger Warnings – Please check content warnings before reading if necessary and please always remember that your mental health matters.

10 reviews
October 30, 2025
I was very interested when I was reading the small summary on the back. So that’s why I started reading this book, but at some point the story was going a bit slow for me. But I still managed to finished it.

I had to change it from 4 to 3 stars.

I won’t spoil anything, because I think that you should just read the book, because it is a good book to read. Especially for in the summer!
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews

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