We Ship It - by Lauren Kay (Hardcover)

About the Book

"The last thing highly organized Olivia Schwartz wants to do the summer before her senior year of high school is go on a cruise with her parents and younger brothers, so when Olivia meets charming, exciting Sebastian, she feels like she can have fun, but when past secrets come to light, Olivia must face the long-ignored truths about herself, Sebastian, her older brother's death years before, the past she thought she understood and the future she's always planned"--

Book Synopsis

This rom-com debut has the fierce girl energy of the movie Booksmart, blended with the awkwardness of Kelly Quindlen's Late to the Party, topped with a thrilling international meet-cute a la Love and Gelato.

Olivia Schwartz has a plan. It's even color-coded.

And the plan is this: a perfect SAT score, a prestigious college, and a straight path towards her dream of becoming a doctor.

The last thing she wants to do--the summer before her senior year of high school, no less--is go on a cruise. Especially with her parents, younger brothers, and all the unspoken things between them since her older brother's death so many years ago.

Then Olivia meets Sebastian. He's everything she's not: charming, exciting, willing to take risks and run with them. For the first time, Olivia feels like she can have fun...

But there's a lot bubbling up under the surface on this cruise, and when past secrets begin to come to light, Olivia must face all the truths that she's ignored for so long: about herself, Sebastian, her brother, the past she thought she understood, and the future she's always planned.

Review Quotes

"A fresh and emotional story about first love and loss. Kay perfectly crafts a heartfelt romance, one infused with moments of warmth and bittersweetness." -- Dustin Thao, author of You've Reached Sam

"I laughed out loud and cried reading Lauren Kay's deep and moving debut. We Ship It has all the electricity and awkwardness of new romance, and offers a vital lesson in letting go and enjoying the present--all while shedding light on a pressing public health crisis." -- Jordyn Taylor, award-winning author of The Paper Girl of Paris and Don't Breathe a Word

"Lauren Kay's writing beautifully balances the joy of first love with the ache of long-held grief. We Ship It is a poignant and powerful debut that will capture your heart and refuse to let go."
-- Kristy Boyce, author of Hot British Boyfriend and Hot Dutch Daydream