[Review] Star Shipped - Cat Sebastian

Summary: 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? (Pub Date: Mar 03 2026)

3+

This was a nice romance. I was a little confused at first about the dynamic between the two because Charlie and Simon have been acting on a scifi series for many years and they never got along. But now Simon has decided to leave the show, Charlie started acting almost like he might actually like Simon. But when rumors of a tumultuous set threaten to spread, they decide to make sure the public sees they are very good friends, eating out together and even taking a road trip.

A great couple, a good story, a very good development, but it's all very wordy. Moreover, as we feel we're getting to the end, it starts feeling like the end will never come. So I'd say pacing is the greatest fault in this book. Plus, I think I would have liked to see more of Charlie and Simon before they start getting closer. We do get a few chapter before it happens, but it's mostly of them living their lives separately, very little space for interaction. My favorite part was when Charlie thought Simon was a fan of some dragon romanthasy book and posts about also reading it thanks to his recommendation on Instagram. That was pure gold! Knowing better how before was instead of just hearing their account would have made their getting together more enjoyable—although it still was because because thanks to their chemistry.

I'm sure people will like even the wordiness because it allows the book to feel more complete. The patience to make sure we understand their internal conflicts, to slowly get them to their happy ending, many readers will see it as the book's best features. I can't deny that it was wholesome. 

Great couple, interesting setup, wholesome story. Fans of queer romance shouldn't skip this one.

Honest review based on an ARC provided by Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.

Rating: 3 out of 5.