Star Shipped
A Novel
Published on 23. April 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
384 pages
978-0-06-342958-1 (ISBN)
Description
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.
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
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
Reviews / Votes
"Cat Sebastian's writing positively sings. Filled with heart and humor, STAR SHIPPED is an absolute masterclass in enemies-to-lovers yearning. I couldn't love Simon and Charlie more." - BK Borison, New York Times bestselling author of First Time Caller and Good Spirits"Nobody does a road trip romance like Cat Sebastian! Star Shipped has all the humour, found family and quiet moments of agonising tenderness that Sebastian does so well--and in Simon it also has the most spiteful and delightful wet-cat hero I've ever come across, and I'm completely obsessed with him. This book is a tremendously enjoyable tale of growth, vulnerability, and what it means to be trusted with someone's story. I'll be rereading it whenever I need a sweet, sharp-edged dose of joy." - Freya Marske, USA Today bestselling author
"There's a slow burn, and then there's a Cat Sebastian slow burn, which is where I would spend the rest of my life if I could. Told with such exquisite, specific, tender care, Simon and Charlie's journey from homoerotically shipped costars and on-set enemies to friends and full-blown lovers is such a joy. Star Shipped is one of those books that will burrow its way into your heart and never, ever leave." - Alicia Thompson, USA Today bestselling author of Never Been Shipped
"Exquisite to read... The wonderful banter, sexy scenes, and tender care that are hallmarks of Sebastian's (You Should Be So Lucky, an LJ Best Book) historical romances also shine in her first contemporary romance, another outstanding queer love story." - Library Journal (starred review)
"Sebastian, beloved for her queer historical romances, makes her contemporary debut with this slightly steamy, banter-filled enemies-to-lovers story... Her top-notch character development is just as compelling in a 21st-century setting, as is her ability to portray deep, tender emotional connections between two people who are learning to truly see each other... a warm and masterful story that proves Sebastian is adept at cozy chemistry, no matter the time period... A swoonworthy contemporary gay romance from a beloved historical-romance author." - Kirkus, Starred Review
"No one builds characters like Sebastian does. The amount of love and care that has gone into these men is unreal. I couldn't not fall for Simon if you paid me a million dollars." - TJ Alexander, USA Today bestselling author of A Gentleman's Gentleman
"After delighting readers with her resplendent historical romances, Sebastian (You Should Be So Lucky, 2024) turns to contemporary romance with equally radiant results. Longtime fans and new readers alike will be captivated by the author's signature mix of snappy wit and smoldering sensuality as well as her new book's endearing duo of grumpy and sunshine protagonists. Simon and Charlie's relatable struggles with trust, belonging, and such mental health issues as social anxiety help elevate this love story to something exceptional in every way." - Booklist, starred review
"Star Shipped is a dazzling rom-com that makes you laugh through the banter and cry through the softness. With her signature warmth and wit, Cat Sebastian writes the love we all want: someone who knows every messy bit of your heart and stays anyway. The sort of romance that makes you fall in love with falling in love all over again!" - Chip Pons, author of Winging It with You
"Cat Sebastian is an author at the absolute top of her game." - Erin Sterling, New York Times bestselling author of The Ex Hex
"Cat Sebastian has a place on my keeper shelf!" - Tessa Dare, New York Times bestselling author
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Publishing group
HarperCollins Publishers Inc
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Dimensions
Height: 203 mm
Width: 133 mm
Thickness: 27 mm
Weight
290 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-06-342958-1 (9780063429581)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Person
Cat Sebastian is an award-winning author of queer romance. Cat's books include Star Shipped, We Could Be So Good and You Should Be So Lucky, and have received starred reviews from Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and Booklist. We Could Be So Good won a Lambda Literary Award in 2024. In her spare time, she acquires too many houseplants and misplaces things.