Love, Lists, and Fancy Ships by Sarah Grunder Ruiz

I love when I find a book that is so different from all of the others out there. It has to be tough to craft a story that is a blend of women’s fiction and romance with a great balance of humor, family, fun, and a bit of heartbreak too.

This is the debut novel by the author and I am so happy I am able to get to know her writing through this story and review it. Below are my thoughts.

Love, Lists, and Fancy Ships by Sarah Grunder Ruiz
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Berkley (November 23, 2021)
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0593335420

OVERVIEW:
For the last year, yacht stewardess Jo Walker has been attempting to complete a bucket list of thirty things she wants to accomplish by her thirtieth birthday. Jo has almost everything she’s ever wanted, including a condo on the beach (though she’s the youngest resident by several decades) and an exciting job (albeit below deck) that lets her travel the world.

Jo is on track until the death of her nephew turns her life upside down, and the list falls by the wayside. But when her two nieces show up unannounced with plans to stay the summer, they discover her list and insist on helping Jo finish it. Though the remaining eight items (which include running a marathon, visiting ten countries, and sleeping in a castle) seem impossible to complete in twelve weeks, Jo takes on the challenge.

When she summons the courage to complete item number five–kiss a stranger–and meets Alex Hayes, all bets are off. As her feelings for Alex intensify and Jo’s inability to confront difficult emotions about her family complicates her relationships, she must learn to quit playing it safe with her heart before she loses what matters most.

Love, Lists, and Fancy Ships by Sarah Grunder Ruiz Review

This book was a big surprise to me. Unique jobs, unique family settings, and a growing love interest that pulls on the heartstrings. I love the thirty by thirty list! It was a beautiful way to tie the characters together and build on the foundation of friendship and family.

Ruiz manages to craft and captivate with her character development. Alex is a perfect dream guy and Jo balances him perfectly. I could feel the tension through the growing feelings and the fear as they worked through their emotional growth so they could take a risk. The supporting family and friends are witty and warm while working through their emotional upheavals too.

Much of this story also deals with grief in several different ways. While it is not a “sad” story, there are many instances where you will find yourself a bit weepy while relating to the intricacies of the emotion. The characters learn to grow through the pain with love and connection.

Love, Lists, and Fancy Ships is a delightful story with a strong, flirty, fun, yet healing message. It is not a heavy story and you will find yourself absorbing every word, holding your breath as they all figure out where to go from here.

4.5 STARS!

Disclaimer: Chris has personally reviewed the product listed above. She has not received any monetary compensation for her review but did receive a free ebook so she could evaluate and use it for this post. Her thoughts & opinions in this review are unbiased & honest and your opinions may differ.