Star Shipped

A Novel

By: Cat Sebastian

Narrated by: Joel Leslie

Cat Sebastian’s long-awaited foray into contemporary romance! A witty, emotional, and deliciously slow burn enemies-to-lovers romance between two costars on a popular sci-fi television series. Read by award winning audiobook narrator, Joel Leslie.

Simon and Charlie, actors on a long-running sci-fi show, can’t stand one another. Charlie is impetuous, outgoing, and basically feral, and Simon thinks he should have stayed in reality television where he belongs. They’ve spent the better part of a decade quarreling over the spotlight and pretty much everything else, and everybody in the industry knows it. Now that Simon’s contract is finally done, he can move to New York, start fresh with work he actually likes, and get away from Charlie.

Simon’s only problem is that people might assume he’s been pushed off the show due to being impossible to work with. And he is kind of difficult to work with. He doesn’t get along with people—unlike Charlie, who somehow tricked everyone on the show into adoring him despite some outrageously bad on-set behavior during the show’s first season. Simon would rather never have to see Charlie again, but reluctantly agrees to stage a very public friendship during the short time before he moves. When Charlie has to leave town to deal with a family emergency, this means Simon comes along. Their road trip brings Simon to places he would never have willingly chosen to visit—and he finds he’s actually not having a terrible time.

The more he gets to know Charlie, the more Simon suspects he’s underestimated his former coworker. Simon also realizes that after seven years, Charlie might know him better than anyone ever has. Even stranger, Charlie seems to be starting to actually like him, despite knowing him so well. Still, Simon is about to move three thousand miles away, so whatever’s starting between him and Charlie can’t really amount to anything... right?

Tropes:

Enemies to Lovers

Opposites Attract

Forced Proximity

Slow Burn

Out There🪐❤️🌌

I want to start by saying I love Cat Sebastian—easily one of my favorite authors. I was really excited to read her first contemporary romance, and with the Star Trek–behind-the-scenes vibes? I was all in.
I’d also just finished Dooryard Books before starting this, so the bar was set pretty high.
That said… this book was almost great. So close. I really enjoyed the fan Discord and the cast’s found family dynamic, but the romance felt a bit forced for me personally.
Joel Leslie was exceptional, as always.
Still worth the credit if you’re a Cat Sebastian fan :)

This audiobook is absolutely brilliant

I originally checked this out from my library, but loved it so much I promptly bought it at full price after listening to it. Didn’t even wait for a sale because I wanted to return it so the next person that had it on hold could enjoy it and I could immediately listen to it again. It is now one of my desert island books.

Another Cat Sebastian winner!

Relatable, authentic, well-developed characters and witty dialogue. A love letter to queer fandoms. Chef’s kiss!

A good story, problematic narration and a little something missing.

first I must say - I love this narrator, but I don't think he's a good fit for this story and these characters.
There was some nice fan service for the Sci-Fi community, and a good progression of the relationship, but the end was too abrupt and too "everyone is totally fine with gays in the open and everything is fine".

Great book!

Is this THE best grumpy-sunshine book ever? absolutely!
I laughed so hard that people on the train looked at me funny. Witty, funny, just plain fun fun fun.