Cute and predictable, this was so many tropes all in one.

-forced proximity, Cinderella, forbidden love, I could go on and on…

It’s on a boat (superyacht) - and good girl, follows the rules Lucky Salerno has just been promoted to Head Steward(ess) by Captn Carl ahead of a busy yachting schedule for their new bosses. His biggest rule - keep an eye on his badly behaved niece. New deckhand, Hunter, complicates that immediately…and maybe she likes it.

I really enjoyed this one. Fun setting and likable characters. I like that Ms. Wilson gives her characters unique jobs and fun storylines. The romance was fun and kept me engaged. Overall, a fun escape and swoony romance!

I enjoyed this one. The setting was something I have no experience in, so I don't have any opinion on its authenticity, but it definitely made it more fun to read. The dual POV is always one I enjoy. Overall, a quick, easy read that was enjoyable and light.

Falling Overboard by Sariah Wilson is a light, escapist romance set against the picturesque backdrop of the Mediterranean. The forbidden love between Lucky, a hardworking chief stewardess with bakery dreams, and Hunter, the mysterious new deckhand, offers plenty of sparks and tension, but the story ultimately felt a bit predictable.

The setting aboard a luxurious superyacht was beautifully described and added a sense of adventure, making it easy to imagine the sun-soaked Mediterranean views. Lucky and Hunter’s witty banter and chemistry were enjoyable, but their romance developed quickly, leaving little time to explore their connection in greater depth.

The book’s central conflict—balancing career aspirations with personal desires—was relatable, but some of the plot twists felt rushed and a little too convenient. I also would have liked more depth to Hunter’s backstory, as the mystery surrounding him was intriguing but underexplored.

Overall, Falling Overboard is a fun, breezy read for fans of forbidden romance and stunning settings. While it didn’t completely sweep me off my feet, it’s an enjoyable escape for readers looking for a love story with a touch of Mediterranean charm.

This is what I am looking for in a romance novel- slow burn, playful banter, tender and thoughtful moments and seeing the person for who they are, flaws and all, and loving them fiercely ❤️ Add to this that they’re on a yacht in the Mediterranean and you can’t help but have a good time!

The writing was funny, scenes were set up beautifully and I was kicking my feet throughout reading!

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the e-ARC!

I always read Sariah Wilson's books and this was another great one! It was a fun romance with a HEA. I also learned a lot about what it's like to be an employee on a super yacht and thought that the story of Lucky and Hunter was so swoony and romantic.

I love Sariah’s books and this one was no exception. She is a must click for me! I live the chemistry between the characters!

I thoroughly enjoyed this heartwarming romance. While it’s set in a world of wealth and luxury, the emotional journey of the characters feels incredibly relatable. From struggles with anxiety to navigating trust issues, there’s something everyone can connect with. It’s the kind of book that invites you to immerse yourself in the joy of the happy ending, while watching the characters grow and find empowerment along the way.

The most perfect slow burn, forced proximity read ever. The setting made it interesting, and I really appreciated the MMC having gone to therapy and being emotionally mature and available for once. Only taking one star off because as a pun lover myself, it was still a bit overkill in the end. 10/10 would recommend!

Falling Overboard is a It’s a bit of a different setting than some of Wilson’s other books, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. It’s a story full of banter, tug of war feelings, and a forbidden romance. I liked the overall story and the HEA, but wish there had been a bit more in terms of character development.

Lucky only has one goal - to own her own bakery. In order to be able to do that, she gets a job on a superyacht to start saving money. What she doesn’t expect is forbidden bunkmate Hunter. They can’t help but feel attracted to each other.

This was a story that kind of reminded me of all of those romantic Hallmark movies - many ups and downs, and always an HEA.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy!

3.5* rounding up.

This was a cute read. Definitely a different setting than other books by this author but made for a fun read! Lucky works on a yacht and gets to help a couple of new employees learn the ropes. Unfortunately for her, she has to room with one of them, who just happens to be a guy. Thankfully they both have their own beds. But that doesn't stop the attraction that Lucky feels towards Hunter, and that Hunter feels towards her.

Hunter has a secret that he's trying to decide when the best time to tell Lucky is. Of course that kind of backfires a little on him. But he's a good guy and has been such a good friend to Lucky when she is in need, never asking for anything in return. Their friendship builds to more. Some of the other employees on the yacht aren't my favorite. There are some mishaps and such but I liked how it all played out. This isn't my favorite by this author but still a cute and lighthearted read.

Content: There is talk of drinking alcohol throughout the book and some of the characters getting tipsy. The main characters share a room but have separate beds. They do lay in the same bed watching movies but nothing happens except watching the movie and falling asleep next to each other a couple of times. They do share a hotel room together at one point and have a big make out moment then. There are innuendos throughout the book.

I received a copy from the publisher, Montlake, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

I absolutely adored this book. I have been a fan of Sariah's for many years and this is definitely one of my favorites. I loved the character growth and the simmering tension between Lucky and Hunter. There was a perfect mix of angst, romance, humor and happily ever after. Both Lucky and Hunter were flawed but loveable. I didn't want the book to end.

After watching Dr. Odyssey I really wanted a book with a similar setting and this delivered! It was unique and fun having it set on a super yacht and added to the forced proximity! This was a fun read with likable characters and a great romance. There is no spice and it didn't feel necessary, I enjoyed it. The slow burn was soo good and their banter was fun not cringey at all. Overall this was very heartwarming and just a nice read

I love this author's previous books and I especially fell in love with the cover. The premise for this book sounded promising - life on a superyaught! However, as I started reading I realized that Sariah has gone more 'open door' and 'crude' with sexual innuendos which I find off-putting. So many authors seem to be moving toward this new direction - which has become popular - but not all women want to read those kinds of books. I found that these extras took away from the storyline and made it 'cheap' - and I didn't respect the characters because of it.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

This is a fantastic read! I found myself completely hooked on this book. The characters I absolutely loved. I will definitly be recommending this book!

I’ve enjoyed this author’s other books, and I thought they were pretty clean and sweet, I found this one to be a lot more trashy, and lacking in subtlety. The characterizations were just so repetitive and overt—this guy is a hottie, this girl is a player, this other girl is trying too hard. Too frustrating for me.

It’s not just the romance that makes this story so compelling, though. It’s the push and pull of pursuing your dreams versus giving in to what your heart desires. Wilson perfectly balances the heat between them with deeper emotional stakes that make you question what you’d be willing to sacrifice for love. The chemistry between Lucky and Hunter is undeniable, and their connection is the kind of slow burn that keeps you hooked from start to finish. All in all, this is an unputdownable read for sure.

Oh! A romance at sea. Yes, please! This book is fun and flirty and I adored the story. The setting around the Mediterranean is fabulous. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I loved this book! The story was really entertaining and the setting was perfect for the winter when all I want is warm weather.

I am very conflicted on this book. I wanted to like it more than I did because I love Sariah Wilson's writing, but the execution fells short for this reader. This one being dual POV (!!!!) instalove AND slowburn just did not work for me. They had a valid reason for keeping distance for it being slowburn, and yet, they didn't really because instalove. And then because it was Dual POV, the reader isn't sitting there thinking Hunter is a giant playboy because we *know*, so a lot of the tension was never there. Caveat: this is Ms. Wilson's first dual POV book and it was a decision made by the editor, not the author to do this. But for the love of God, can authors and editors realize that there IS a way to do dual POV and keep up tension??? The twist of who he really is, isn't a twist at all because of the dual nature of the book.

Dual POV. FMC panic attacks. Tall. Takes care of younger twin sisters. MMC has a dead sister. FMC has a dead mother. Neither of these is huge in the plot, but the fact they happen shape the characters, if that makes sense. Overwhelming attraction. Insta love but slow burn. (I kinda wish they’d just lie and be in denial about liking each other. That would've upped the tension. Instead it's like a sweet falling in love but you're also kind of like Why am I reading this? because what keeps them apart seems flimsy at best.

If instalove-slowburn isn't enough to turn off reader, I think the FMC will. Unfortunately, most of my complaints are about her. She's kind of dumb. Some select examples:

-No password on her phone?! She works on a charter boat in a foreign country with new people constantly coming and going.

-He tells the crew they’re together and she gets mad? He says it so the others will get off his back and she thinks all his flirting is a ruse? But it's really hard to believe when he's given ZERO indication of this possibly being a thing. And because it's dual, we really know it's not a thing.

-Actual quotes: “Why do you want to kiss me?” “Why do you want to touch me?” And she wonders why he says “Unlike some people I know when I’m being flirted with”?

The phone call with the sisters seemed a little mean? Just cutting them off with no warning. And then suddenly calling when she needed something (comfort.) It wasn’t like the reader sees Lucky texting them ever. It felt a little underdeveloped and underutilized in a narrative sense.

She compulsively takes the blame for things unnecessarily, like when Hunter messed up the bed spread because he didn’t know. He’s not getting fired. He’s the boat owner’s kid. She knows that by then. But “I did it because I loved him. Because I didn’t want him to miss out on what was important to him.” The problem is, she’s so concerned with being fired that I just don’t believe this part of her personality. Because then it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy and she doesn’t change. That’s terrible leadership.

But then at the end, she’s telling Hunter she left Portifino for this always-looking-out-for-others affliction she had, but that’s NOT why she left. She left to clear her head. She rewrites her history to fit the characterization that was *almost* there.

She’s incredibly insecure if one off-handed comment about Georgia never playing hard to get has her thinking she played a game with Hunter. But she twists it to Georgia suggesting that was what Hunter was doing.

She’s a little too self-aware but isn’t going to change. “But all I could think about was all the men who had tricked me before. Who had lied to me and used me and cheated on me. Maybe that was unfair to Hunter, that I was making him bear the brunt of my past heartache and broken trust.” “I’d let Georgia interfere too much already. It was her doubts and fears that she’d expressed to me just before I saw the kiss that pushed me toward disbelief. Not that I’d needed much of a push, with my dating past.”

She wishes she could’ve been more open with Hunter from the start at the end of the book, but she had. She told him about her, her sisters, her mom, her nonna, her ex…

And then, there is soooo much going on in the Third Act Conflict omg. The sCrew list, the no-dating policy, the “cheating,” the lying (twice), the firing… and it happens so late in the book. So late. But this is kind of a Sariah Wilson standard, so. The conflict from Hunter’s POV was kinda dumb too. “She’s just been waiting for me to screw up.” Well, yes, but this was very poorly foreshadowed. Like after that sentence, you can see backwards, oh yeah the author was trying to lay those crumbs, but not really because Lucky was always all in on Hunter. They just had to wait, and she was willing, but she was always all in.

The romance was a little cheesy and oh-so-sweet though. “No one else is here. You don’t have to pretend.” “I’m not pretending Lucky. I’ve never pretended with you.”

This book is intended to be a little raunchier than past Sariah Wilson novels, but it's still clean/no sex. I'm worried that it'll be a little too much for past fans but it's still very tame, very clean, very Sariah Wilson just a few more allusions to sex and more makeouts.

I am forever complaining about Montlakes copyediting team, and this novel is no exception.

Last complaint: Whyyyyyyy was this book not titled something about "Getting Lucky"?!?!?!?!

Anyway. If the editor reads this and is still wondering how to help Ms. Wilson break out and why it hasn't happened yet, call me babe.