Much like fans who are eager to tune into the brand-new season of their favorite television series, Olivia Dade's readers will be thrilled once again to follow her behind the scenes of her fictional TV show “Gods of the Gates” --- and into the private lives of its stars.

This time, the focus is on Maria and Peter, whose chance encounter in a hotel sauna leads to a pretty steamy one-night stand --- which is fated to go no further when they realize, the next day, that they are about to be cast as the romantic leads in the new season of “Gods of the Gates.” The two play Cassia and Cyprian, mythological figures marooned on a remote island. As they discover when they arrive on location, shooting the program might kind of feel like that, too.

"Whether or not this is the end of this series arc, it's clearly not the end of the road for this talented author. Her inclusive, celebratory approach to body types in romance novels should be an inspiration to writers, readers and publishers alike."

Even though the actors have undeniable chemistry, they can't act on their attraction. With a multi-season character arc, they can't afford the disruption it would cause the whole cast and crew if a real-life relationship were to go sour. So instead, they spend years becoming best friends (while secretly longing for one another). When the series comes to a conclusion, will they realize the hopes of hundreds of fanfic writers and finally pursue a relationship off-screen? And what does real life even look like when you've spent more than half a decade living out a fantasy?

As in her prior Spoiler Alert novels, Dade offers readers a bold and exciting mix of humor, steaminess and body positivity. This is especially true in SHIP WRECKED, where both Maria and Peter are fat actors who are eagerly embraced by viewers because of their size, not in spite of it. Maria, in particular, is fearless when it comes to standing up to the capricious showrunners, who inevitably lose sight of why they hired her in the first place. When they ask her to lose weight and, later, to remove her body hair, she flat-out refuses. She uses her privilege to advocate for other actors --- and people in general --- who look like her and to carve out the space that she knows she and others deserve.

The book also tackles questions of abandonment, trauma and trust --- all without losing its sense of humor and fun. This is conveyed in large part through the fanfic, text message threads and transcripts that close out many chapters and give readers glimpses into the continuing stories of the other characters Dade has featured before. She is particularly adept at adding comic relief via supporting characters, in this case the many colorful crew members who help support one another during the years of filming the show.

The concluding chapters of SHIP WRECKED feel like a series ender, with featured characters past and present gathering together to give readers one more glimpse of what they've been up to --- and to reinforce several happily-ever-afters. Whether or not this is the end of this series arc, it's clearly not the end of the road for this talented author. Her inclusive, celebratory approach to body types in romance novels should be an inspiration to writers, readers and publishers alike.