Star Shipped

A Novel

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

so good

I love everything Cat writes and this was no different. Her stories are so lonely and her characters are so interesting. I spend the enite weekend listening to the story and it did not disappoint!

Nearly Perfect! Representation that felt genuinely real!

As someone who lives with less-than-perfect mental health and struggles with migraines, I related deeply to Simon in ways I didn't expect. The representation Cat Sebastian provides is refreshingly realistic — not romanticised, not glossed over — and I was completely obsessed from start to finish.
What hit the spot in all the best ways: both characters are wonderfully unique, and the story lovingly shows how their so-called "oddities" are exactly what makes them work for each other. It's the kind of love story that feels earned and true.
Content-wise, it's mostly closed-door with some spice — nothing graphic — which made it easy to sink into the emotional journey without distraction. Highly, highly recommend.

Another Cat Sebastian winner!

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

Another Cat Sebastian winner!!

Beautifully written, smart, and funny. Cat Sebastian has such a talent for developing relationships in a way that doesn’t feel forced. The way Charlie makes Simon, who struggles with anxiety, migraines, and mild OCD, feel not like a fussy burden, but like someone he genuinely likes is so sweet and satisfying.
Love love love!!!

Narrator ruins it

I loved this story but I also preferred reading it over listening by a landslide. The narrator grunted and whined out every sentence and it was a very hard listen.