User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
Advice givers always say you should write the book you want to read. This is it. I hope you like it.
Rating: really liked it
What can a person expect more from a beautiful, heart wrenching, inspirational, promising second chances story?
Adorable characters!✅
Riveting, emotional, adrenaline pumping journey!✅
Well written dialogues with meaningful messages!✅
A unique second chances love story!✅
Yes you may find all of those at this novel! ✅
The summary of plot line: Two easily lovable characters set sail to complete a thrilling, adventurous voyage to visit spectacular places, experiencing brand new things, broadening their horizons, healing their past wounds, being shaken by the dangerous attacks of wild sea and sharpening their survival skills.
Anna lost her fiancée who committed suicide, leaving her job, family behind to finish the trip she’s planned with Ben( death fiancée), but she is emotional mess and her sailing experience cannot help her to accomplish her mission so she hires Keane.
Actually Keane finds and saves her after one of her most inappropriate situations she got herself into(getting drunk, hooking up with a man with a bar for one night stand but before the sex, thankfully the asshole’s wife calls and Anna runs away from the place without pants and the very same night and Keane finds her outside, arse naked, emotionally overwhelmed, carries her to her sailboat.)Anna thinks he’s already seen her worst so he can be trustworthy man who may help her to finalize her journey.
Anna suffers from grief as Keane tries to adjust his new and still active, adventurous life after losing one of his leg at the car accident.
They became their confidantes, close friends who share the secrets they haven’t told anyone before.
It was pleasure to see their slow burn, pure, heartwarming romantic relationship and the growing confidence of Anna who turns into one of the strongest persons after facing her fears, anger, resentment and sadness after losing her fiancée and she finds her inner strength as she discovers different islands, magnificent sightseeings and spending days with action packed activities.
And the most beautiful part of it, she found someone to share those remarkable experiences with her.
This story started as a four starred read but during the chapters, I was wooed by the characters, heartfelt, genuine dialogues, their intimate, special bounding. I loved the inspirational messages of the book and enjoyed the conclusion of the story.
It filled my eyes with tears and healed my soul. I wholeheartedly loved it and raising my stars to 5!
Anna and Keane’s beautifully heartwarming journey stole my heart!
Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/St. Martin’s Griffin for sharing this memorable ARC with me in exchange my honest opinions.
Rating: really liked it
"He planned an adventure he never intended to take, imagined a life he never intended to live. Instead he sailed out on a tide of pills and tequila."
Ooof. When a novel begins with an advisory about self-harm and suicide, you immediately brace yourself for a gut-wrenching (and potentially graphic) read. "Float Plan" is neither of those things, but rather an escapist story about moving on from loss.
Anna is a 25-year-old waitress at a "Hooters-like" restaurant whose fiance died by suicide within the last year. Rather than continue to wallow in place, she decides to leave her life behind and go ahead with a sailing adventure he had planned for the two of them. Readers become companions on her journey as she departs from Fort Lauderdale and sails the Atlantic, visiting ports in the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands, Trinidad, and others. Lucky for her (and us), she enlists the assistance of a professional sailor named Keane who quickly becomes more than just the hired help.
Ultimately "Float Plan" is a low-stakes gentle romance. We know where the story is headed, but the vivid setting aboard a boat in the Caribbean makes the journey more important than any destination. It's a fairly clean read (PG-13-ish), which is always my personal preference for this genre. I enjoyed the characters and would definitely follow them on any future adventures.
I'd like to thank the author and St. Martin's Griffin for the opportunity to read an advanced review copy via NetGalley.
Blog: https://www.confettibookshelf.com/
IG: @confettibookshelf
Rating: really liked it
This is a Contemporary Romance/Women's Fiction/Mental Health, and this is the first book in the Beck Sisters series. This is so much more then just a romance. This book is about getting over grief. Anna starts sailing around to try to get over losing her boyfriend from him killing himself over a long battle of depression, and she meets Keane that is grieving the lost of his leg. I love this book so much. I know I was going to like it, but I did not see this book becoming one of my favorite books I have read this year. I really loved all the characters. This book was beautifully written and character-driven. I felt like I was on the boat with them, and I felt all the problems/drama. The book made you want to keep reading. I felt the romance was slow and heartwarming. I cannot say how much I enjoyed this book, and I have not read a book like this book. This book made me want to jump on a boat and island hop. I really love the cover of this book. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (St. Martin's Griffin) or author (Trish Doller) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review about how I feel about this book, and I want to send a big Thank you to them for that. Note: I also won an paperback ARC of this book from a goodreads giveaway.
I re-read this book by listening to the audiobook of this book, and I feel that the narrators did well good with this audiobook. I have to say that Keane's character comes to life with the audiobook. I loved re-reading this book.
Rating: really liked it
(tw: suicide, depression)I was a bit skeptic to start the book but surprise to find such an inspiring and amazing writing. Seeing how the female MC is going through grief from her dead fiancee at the hand of suicide, I'm expecting a more heavy and emotional ride. However, Doller managed to make the book readable, at the same time be sure not to miss out on the details of how a person who's griefing should be.
Characters I love both of our MCs.
Keane... is wholesome and so considerate. He had his fair share of issues but I love how understanding he was of Anna. And how he never pushed her or himself on her despite the feeling he already felt at the time (which can be kinda insta-love if you think about it and I don't really have the trope in my best interest) but his characters truly compensate that.
Meanwhile
Anna is a thoughtful and amazing woman. I love to see her character grows. Often times, we focused on the dead to a point we may forget about the people around the dead. It's always easy to dismiss them when their feelings were as valid. The grief that consumes you after you lose someone to suicide are overwhelming, it can feel like you have fallen into a deep hole. On that account, I love to see Anna who tries to get out of that hole by honouring what she and her fiance had planned before; though it takes her a lot of courage and strength to do so. Her character arc is something I find myself revelled in.
Romance I am impressed at how Doller evolved the romance between the two since I'm expecting a very late bloom love story. But the book is bittersweet and starts at a steady pace. Doller doesn't need to build artificial tension in her plot to create drama, unlike many romance books. Indeed, it set forths on the movingly authentic struggles between her character's past and future, and whether or not her newfound beginning can accommodate a new companion.
Plot I also enjoyed the way the author described the sea life, the living-on-the-boat, travelling adventures. They were all amazing and well written. I thought the marine life theme may not work well and might come out as boring but Float Plan proves otherwise. Doller certainly knows her Caribbean islands: her thorough travel record is entertaining and intriguing after months of epidemic sheltering. While there is a lot of sailing terminology and a few too many travel discourses that I could do without, the rest of the story is so compelling that it all fades away.
This book may not be for everyone seeing how it can be triggering at points, but it's still an intriguing, nuanced story that's worth reading. Great book, great characters! (ノ^∇^)
[3.75/5]
Rating: really liked it
APPLAUSE!! APPLAUSE!! APPLAUSE!!
( With a standing ovation!) What a great read!
Anna Beck can't make sense of her world. Her fiance, Ben, killed himself after battling depression all his life. Unable to get on with her life, Anna makes a rash decision to complete a trip that Ben had planned for them - which would have ended with their wedding ceremony on the sandy beaches of Trinidad.
But Anna soon realizes that she lacks the advanced sailing skills needed to make the long journey through the Caribbean's unpredictable waters, so she hires Keane Sullivan, a professional sailor to help her complete her odyssey.
There is a cute scene where it appears that the fates contrived to bring them together (no spoilers here - read it for yourself!) Keane is such a decent guy - and a true friend to Anna. Doesn't hurt that he is incredibly good-looking, too!
Time and again Keane is a shoulder Anna can lean on while she battles her still raw grief for Ben. Keane is someone who understands life-altering suffering, having lost part of his leg in a car accident a few years back. The descriptions of all the enchanting stops along the journey, and the many harrowing incidents on the trip itself, make for totally riveting reading.
There were so many quotable lines in this story. Both Anna and Keane have had to endure heartbreak and the shattering of their dreams. I love Trish Doller's clean, realistic writing style. Anna and Keane felt like real people, facing real problems, doing the best they could to find a new normal.
Highly recommended!!! I give this one a 8 out of 5 score: I was that engrossed and entertained!
My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: really liked it
"Float Plan" by Trish Doller is a Contemporary Romance with adventure and a feel good lift!
Anna Beck is frozen in her life since the tragic suicide of her fiancé, Ben, who fought a hard battle with depression. After being locked in self-imposed solitude for too long, Anna decides it's time to set sail for the Caribbean trip Ben had mapped out for them to take together.
On her first stop, Anna realizes she can't do this voyage on their sailboat alone and needs help. Her 'Mayday Call' comes in the form of very handsome and very Irish Seaman, Keane Sullivan, who has challenges of his own.
Are they both ready to set sale together or is this arrangement going to be a shipwreck waiting to happen?
Such an interesting premise and I love that these two main characters were brought together out of the blue. Their banter and day-to-day interaction is so entertaining. I love listening to Keane's Irish accent. It's mesmerizing! Why is it when someone speaks with an Irish accent they sound so full of wisdom and you're mesmerized by everything they say? Like every word is a song?
The journey these two characters take together is well worth checking out. It was a fun ride through the Caribbean via audiobook for me. Narrator, Sarah Naughton did an amazing job with all the voicing, whether it's gendered or Irish or the various Caribbean accents, she nails it all!
I listened to this one in preparation of reading book #2 in this author's 'Beck Sisters' series, 'The Suite Spot'
which is due to publish 3/8/22. These are both standalone stories so no need to read them in sequential order, I just wanted to and glad I did. It's always nice slipping in a lighter read once in a while just for fun. I highly recommend!
I'll be reading the ARC of book #2 shortly. Be sure to look for my review soon!
Rating: really liked it
2.5 stars. After seeing some really positive early buzz, I went into this one with pretty high expectations. Unfortunately though, it did not end up living up to the hype for me. I really liked the premise and all the different beautiful locations the story takes place in, but I struggled to care at all for either of our characters. I feel like both of our main characters felt really one dimensional, which only made it harder for me to root for their relationship. Overall, this wasn't the worst thing that I've read, but I clearly didn't care for it as much as I was hoping to and I most likely won't read any more from this author in the future. Big womp :(
CW: suicide, death of a loved one
Rating: really liked it
⛵️ ⛵️ ⛵️ ⛵️ ⛵️
Wow, this book. Sometimes the right book is in your hands at the right time. It made me want to read all the love stories this summer. Anna’s story begins with the tragic and unexpected loss of her fiance, Ben. She flees all she knows and embarks on a sailing trip the two were to make together; however, Ben was much more knowledgeable about sailing. Anna’s journey is off to a rough start emotionally and physically when she hires an Irish stranger, Keane, to help her along her sailing journey.
As they island hop together, Anna and Keane become friends and their connection grows, both such lovable characters. One thing that sets this book apart is the sense of adventure through sailing around the Caribbean. It made me wish I knew how to sail, and it reminded me how much I love being on the water. Another thing I loved is the sense of independence and empowerment Anna gains through her sailing.
I also have to mention the named chapters (always love that) and the flawless writing. The pacing of this story flows like a dream, and it was so easy to pick up and hard to put down. The hype is real for this beautiful book, and I cannot wait to continue on with Rachel’s story. (As I post this review, I’ve already read and loved The Suite Spot, too, and hope to have my review up soon).
Many of my reviews an also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
Rating: really liked it
Wow, this book was amazing.
Right away, I fell in love with Anna and how she was thinking about and digesting her husband' death, as well as how she was planning on moving forward.
Anna was realistic as well as a lovely character that made me enjoy watching her grow as a person and start loving herself again.
Ben was an interesting character that wasn't there but mentioned so much that it felt like he was present the entire time and it made everything more interesting.
Overall, all of Anna's thoughts about Ben, the boat, home and the letter made me emotional and think about my past as well as experiences similar to Ben's.
Keane was amazing. Until the last 5 chapters I didn't think he ever did anything wrong and I was starting to fall in love with his character and especially things he would say to Anna that made her realize that the past is the past and it is okay to move forward.
Rating: really liked it
3.5*
AHOY! Are you ready to pull up anchor and set sail?😎
Anna thought she had her life thoroughly planned out. A once in a lifetime trip for her and her fiancé. An unbelievable chance to sail through the Caribbean in his sailboat. But when tragedy strikes, Anna suddenly finds herself very much alone. Once the fog of grief slowly lifts, Anna decides to take the boat herself and sail the Caribbean seas on her own.
Well…after the first leg of her dream cruise, Anna realizes she may not exactly be equipped to sail alone and searches for someone to be her 1st mate for the remainder of the trip .
Enter Keane. A troubled sailor just beginning to get past some of his own personal losses.
Can the two heal themselves aboard their own little love boat? And maybe even heal each other?This was a sweet read but a bit too heavy on the sailing jargon for me. As a die-hard romantic I would’ve rather un-covered more about the characters than how to sail. But then again…if you love sailing⛵️
I have book 2
The Suite Spot already queued up and ready to go! Happy reading!
A buddy read with Susanne
Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...
Rating: really liked it
I had such a great time listening to this audiobook of FLOAT PLANl. It was my first book by Trish Doller, but it won’t be my last.
I was intrigued by the premise of a sailing trip to the Caribbean. I haven’t travelled in ages and getting to experience it all via a book was right up my alley. And I’m glad to report that the book delivered on all fronts.
First, Anna and Keane were both wonderful characters. Strong personalities, funny, relatable and likeable. Both had their share of emotional scarring. Anna tried to get over the loss of her fiancé, and Keane was considering what to do next. They were on crossroads with hard decisions ahead of themselves, and they realised that everything was easier when not alone.
Second, Anna and Keane’s friendship was wonderful. They clicked. And it was so easy to see their connection grow into something more. I’m not a big fan of FRIENDS TO LOVERS, but FLOAT PLAN was an example of how it’s done right. The connected between them was based on common interests, trust and friendship. Neither was ready to jump into something more, but they slowly opened up to each other. So well done!! And there was some real character development going on.
And third, the book was a wonderful mix of lighter moments. I loved the wonderful visuals and descriptions of sailing and the different islands they visited. The novel also gave fantastic background information on the Caribbean for someone who hasn’t visited yet. But it also covered more emotional topics such as death of a loved one, suicide, depression, grief and amputation. The author did a marvellous job of keeping the story uplifting and perfectly balanced.
This romance was so much more than I expected. And because of it I would recommend the book to anyone, even readers who don’t usually read romance. The book has so much to offer. And it’s one of the romances that are truly memorable.
___________________________________
I received a copy of this book from the publisher for free in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
You can find me on my blog and on Bookstagram
Rating: really liked it
I loved
Float Plan which follows Anna, who takes a sailing trip through the Caribbean islands after her fiancé Ben dies by suicide. She is lost in grief and unsure of her next steps in life.
After a rough solo sail initially, Anna looks to hire help to get through the remainder of her journey and finds Keane, a professional sailor who seems too good to be true, though he is dealing with his own challenges.
“
The stages of grief are not linear. They are random and unpredictable, folding back on themselves until you begin mourning all over again. I have bargained with a universe that is not listening. I have cried myself hollow. I have leaned into the belief that I cannot live without Ben Braithwaite, but kneeling here in the sand on a beach 400 miles from home says maybe I can — and that terrifies me.”
Float Plan is maybe a little bit predictable but I really liked both Anna and Keane, and enjoyed reading about their travels. I loved the theme of personal growth and the reminder of how people are powerful — We can often endure and overcome more than we give ourselves credit for.
Rating: really liked it
Float Plan was not what I expected, especially because there were so many high rated reviews. Anna decides to set sail on a planned tip that her ex- boyfriend Ben had planned for them. He committed suicide and I do think that wild the book touches on grief, the romance was so forced.
The romance between Anna and Keane was so blatantly over their looks and their looks alone. They kept talking about how amazing the other one was but there was no reason or proof behind why they were amazing. They literally don’t know anything about each other. On top of that, Keane continues to say that he can’t be Anna’s rebound but then will continue to flirt with her. Make up your mind!!
I think the book would have been much stronger if it focused on Anna’s healing process with this trip and having Keane as a friend. The romance ruined it and their relationship was insufferable. The only thing I liked about the book was the trip that Anna decided to take through the Bahamas to Puerto Rico, etc which sounded super fun since I love a good travel adventure. That's the only thing that kept this from being a one star.
A lot of people seem to love this book so I would take this review with a grain of salt but I REALLY did not enjoy this book. Thank you to Netgalley and St. martin’s Press for the advanced copy! Buddy read with Jenny <3
Rating: really liked it
float plan in one sentence: loved the setting, didn’t care for the characters.before i begin my review, let us take a gander at some of the destinations anna hit on her trip:
bimini, bahamas (retrieved from here)
pirate’s cove, providenciales, turks and caicos (retrieved from here)
san juan, puerto rico (retrieved from here)
montserrat – british overseas territory (retrieved from here
les anses-d’arlet, martinique (retrieved from here)
random picture of a sailboat somewhere in the caribbean, just 'cause (i found it here)
the sentence at the start of my review pretty much summarizes my feelings for this book, though i anticipated having a lot more to say.
when i requested this, i was quite excited at the prospect of reading a story about a woman grieving for a lost love, who embarks on a journey across the caribbean to rediscover direction, passion, motivation for life.
annnnnd…. apart from approximately 10 pages at the start and 10 pages at the end when anna is finally, blessedly, on her own, the rest of the novel is essentially
wish-fulfillment nonsense: an insta-love-adjacent story about two attractive people being attracted to each other—but denying it, of course.
no one is fooled.
◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️
➟ i wish there’d been more exploration of anna as an individual, sans the spectre of ben and sans keane.
➟ i wish anna hadn’t been immediately in lust/love with keane the minute she laid eyes on him (his face, according to her after 1 second of looking at it, was “a religious experience.” 🥴)
➟ i wish anna hadn’t been so damn possessive of keane when she was swearing up and down that she didn’t have feelings for him. instead of acknowledging anna’s obnoxious jealousy when keane flirted with another woman, the book tritely paints the
other woman in a totally petty light. essentially the book says: anna’s not jealous, she’s just *looking out* for keane! because he’s disabled and most girls are mean and ableist—but anna’s *not like other girls*! in fact she’s just making sure the lucky lady is actually *worthy* of keane!
➟ lastly, i wish the ending hadn’t felt so rushed and so canned, so blithely happily-ever-after.
◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️
bottom line: i'm coming to realize that romances between thin hot white people are just not my thing :( hit my quota for these types of stories at least a few years back. that being said, float plan was a great escapist read for quarantine times!buddy read with sheena!! 💖
many thanks to netgalley and st. martin’s press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
