I love Alicia Thompson books and Never Been Shipped has forced proximity with childhood crushes is just my cup of tea. If you love musicians as main characters we have TWO and they are both glorious! Keep reading this book review of Never Been Shipped for my full thoughts.
Summary
Micah’s relationship to music is complicated. As teenagers, her band took off after being featured on a popular TV show, but the group barely released their sophomore album before breaking up. Now, over a decade later, the band is reuniting for one more performance on a themed cruise, and Micah is determined to learn from her past mistakes — no losing herself in the music, and no losing her heart along the way.
John misses playing in a band, and mostly he misses Micah, who’d been his best friend until the music stopped. Back then, he didn’t take the lead, either in his guitar parts or while he sat back and watched her date another bandmate. John’s never been one to rock the boat, but he’s faced with another chance now that this cruise has brought music — and Micah — back in his life.
Onboard, Micah can’t help but see John with brand new eyes, and John’s feelings only intensify as the discordant band’s tension grows to a breaking point. With five days at sea, there’s a ticking clock on anything that might develop between them, and they’ll have to decide if their relationship is destined to be more than a one-hit wonder.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Never Been Shipped has a premise which combines second chances, childhood crushes, musicians, and forced proximity. I adored experiencing the distance between the now Micah and John. The way it’s always been them, but there were all these factors and obstacles thrown in the way. All the things we never said and those memories haunting us. Never Been Shipped encapsulates their last memories and layers of distance. I’m a sucker for childhood sweethearts and the forced proximity of the cruise and looked forward to reading this every evening.
In many ways, Never Been Shipped is about the act they have to perform. The feelings they have to hide, and the love of music they have to return to. With fantastic spice, Never Been Shipped has some of my favorite romance characters. I also loved the side character cameos from With Love from Cold World. If you’ve ever felt like you’ve self-sabotaged or wanted to be done with people having a hold over us and our feelings, this is for you. I adored the music angle and the way music brings us back to who we are, where we need to be. While I wish we had a bit more character development for John, it was a joy to witness Micah’s realization that she deserves good things – love.
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How hard it can be to hope and be brave. Never Been Shipped is perfect for fans of musicians and this will go on my faves of Alicia Thompson! Find Never Been Shipped on Goodreads, Storygraph, Amazon, Blackwells, & Libro. fm.