REVIEW: Sunk in Love by Heather McBreen

In Sunk in Love by Heather McBreen, Roslyn writes happily ever afters for a living as a romance author, so you think she’d know the magic formula for her own life. Turns out, not so much. She and her husband Liam have been together for nearly a decade, married for the past five of those years. And it was great–until it wasn’t. Roslyn knew things wouldn’t always be so passionate and frenetic between them as they each furthered their careers. But after losing her mother suddenly, she just shut down emotionally. Not knowing how to navigate grief on such a deep level, Roslyn looked toward Liam, only to find him always working or researching, giving her “space”. What she needed wasn’t space, it was her husband. She knew as a rising star in the oncology field that he would be busy. And she’s never begrudged how hard Liam has worked. She just wishes he would have put that much effort into saving their relationship.

“Sometimes the people we love act like assholes. But it doesn’t mean we can’t continue to love them or forgive them.”

Now, Roslyn is still unable to write, nearly a year after her mother’s death and three months after asking Liam for a divorce. Her excuses to her family of why he’s never with her at their dinners are getting flimsier. Then the announcement is made: her grandparents are renewing their vows aboard a cruise to Hawaii. A cruise the whole family will be enjoying–which also includes Liam. Roslyn does the unthinkable and asks her almost-ex-husband to pretend nothing is wrong between them to keep up the ruse that she’s just fine, thank you very much. But after Liam somehow agrees, she realizes they’ll be cooped up in a tiny room on the ship. And forced to interact every single day. Roslyn isn’t sure if it’s a recipe for disaster or if it will be just the thing that will finally force them to communicate and possibly lead to at least closure, if not another try at their marriage.

“We were supposed to make it,” I choke. “I was supposed to be yours. I wanted to be yours.”
He cups my chin, commanding my gaze. “You are mine,” he says, his voice gritty with fresh determination. “Still mine. Always mine.”

A marriage-in-trouble novel with achingly heartfelt scenes of loss, grief, healing, and realization, SUNK IN LOVE explored what happens after you settle into a HEA only to have real life interfere.

‘Forever isn’t long enough when it’s with someone you love.’

CW: View Spoiler »Grief, depression, child abandonment (historical), domestic abuse (secondary cast), cheating (secondary cast), parental death, drinking « Hide Spoiler

Whew. SUNK IN LOVE was a deeply, deeply emotional journey. Told strictly from the heroine’s POV, Roslyn was shaken down to her core over losing her beloved mother in a tragic accident. And that grief–and subsequent depression–ravaged her life for nearly a year before her marriage also imploded. Author Heather McBreen showed us every messy, heartbreaking moment Roslyn experienced while trying to sort out her feelings and how she could move forward without the two people who had been her constants: her mom and her husband, Liam.

I won’t sugar coat things and say this was a laugh a minute romance. There were heavy subjects Roslyn, her family, and Liam all had to get through. But McBreen made sure there were some lighthearted, romantic, and downright steamy scenes that helped to keep this from getting overly dark. It also helped having a dual timeline, split between Now and Then. It was a smart way to show the juxtaposition between the utter joy Liam and Roslyn felt while falling in love nine years ago to them having been separated for three months presently. And as the story wore on, those feelings basically reversed themselves, showing how bad things had gotten between Roslyn and Liam over the past year while watching them fall in love all over again now on a Hawaiian cruise.

The tropes McBreen used were perfect for Roslyn and Liam’s romance. There was forced proximity, one bed, family drama, fake relationship, struggling author, a grand gesture, and of course marriage in trouble. It all worked exceedingly well. With Roslyn being a romance author, I think readers will be captivated by how authentic her struggles were with writer’s block and losing confidence in herself. Yes, I was frustrated with Roslyn (and Liam) a few times. But wow didn’t McBreen bring it all together at the end in a sweet, touching way that fit the couple–and their families–oh so well.

QOTD: Have you read a “marriage in trouble” romance before? If so, what did you think of the trope?

Book Info:

Publication: Published: January 27th, 2026 | Berkley |

A second chance at love sets sail when a couple on the verge of divorce pretend they’re still together for one last family trip, from the author of Wedding Dashers.

Roslyn and Liam met nine years ago and have been the perfect couple ever since. Through every up and down, every milestone—from Liam’s residency to the publication of Roslyn’s debut romance—they’ve been each other’s rocks. Until now.

Pulled apart by the untimely death of Roslyn’s mom and the undertow of grief, they’re now navigating the final wave in their divorce.

Heartbroken and unsure how to tell her family she’s called it quits with everyone’s favorite son-in-law, Roslyn keeps the impending split a secret. But when Roslyn’s grandparents ask if Liam can officiate their vow renewal ceremony aboard a Hawaiian cruise during their annual vacation, Roslyn needs to tell the truth or figure out a way to keep her secret. A week trapped at sea with her ex isn’t ideal, but neither Roslyn nor Liam want to rock the boat, so they concoct a plan—they’ll fake it.

After five years of marriage, they can figure out how to pretend for jungle hikes and mai tais, right? But when reality and make believe starts to blur, and old feelings begin to resurface, Roslyn and Liam have to decide whether it’s sink or swim for their marriage.