Shipped by Angie Hockman

Shipped is the February Pick for the Brenda Novak Book Club.  The meeting was last week.  I couldn’t attend due to my Girl Scout Troop having a Winter Tubing Event, but luckily the meeting and interview with author Angie Hockman is online.  It was fun and entertaining to be a part of the meeting even after the fact.

 Shipped is a fun romantic comedy novel.  Henley Evans is busy at work and trying to earn her MBA.  She works for a global adventure cruise line and is trying to get a promotion to digital director.  The only thing standing in her way is Grahame Cracker-Collins.  He works remotely from Michigan but has seemingly been treading on Henley’s toes the entire time he has been with the company.  Their boss decides to send them on a cruise to the Galapagos to see who can come up with the best digital media proposal.  Who will come up with the best presentation?  How will the two get along on the cruise?

 Shipped is a workplace romance and enemies become lover’s trope.  I enjoy romantic comedies and this one was great.  The dynamic between Henley and Grahame was both magnetic and hilarious.  I really enjoyed how they had differences but were able to work through their misunderstandings for a better future.  That’s a lesson that the entire world needs right now!  I also loved Henley’s sister Walsh who is also along for the adventure.  She deserves a book of her own.

 I especially enjoyed the unique setting of an adventure cruise to the Galapagos.  The conservation aspects and how Henley worked them into her presentation were also wonderful.  I’m an environmental engineer and the environment and conservation are near and dear to my heart.  I loved this.  Even better was learning that author Angie Hockman works for a conservation cruise company and has been to Galapagos.  Her vivid descriptions are from real world experiences!

 I also liked the very real work dynamics that take place with a terrible boss.  Henley is put into a bad situation where she does a ton of work but is not recognized for it.  Grahame helps her to realize she needs to stand up for herself.  She uses her team of work friends to help her out and make it so that her potential can me seen.  I really, really enjoyed this. I think unfortunately a lot of us have had bad work experiences and I loved seeing how Henley was able to turn it into a good situation.

 Overall, Shipped is a fun, unique workplace romantic comedy is a fantastic setting.  I highly recommend it! This is author Angie Hockman’s first novel and I can’t see what she comes up with next.   

 

Book Source:  Purchased from Amazon.com