The Recommended Reading Order for Angie Hockman
Angie Hockman's books are standalone contemporary romance novels, meaning they do not share a single continuous narrative, recurring characters, or a shared universe. Because of this, you are free to pick up whichever book catches your eye first. However, to truly appreciate her evolution as a storyteller, the best way to experience her work is in order of release.
Here is the recommended publication order for Angie Hockman's books:
- Shipped (2021)
- Dream On (2022)
- Love or Bussed (Forthcoming / Announced)
Deep Dive into Angie Hockman's Novels
Shipped (2021)
As her widely acclaimed debut, Shipped introduces readers to Angie Hockman's signature combination of lush settings, professional rivalry, and sharp dialogue. The story centers on Henley Evans, a hardworking marketing manager at a cruise line who has dedicated her life to her career, leaving little room for romance or personal adventure. When a coveted promotion becomes available, she finds herself competing against Graeme Crawford-Collins, the company's social media manager and her ultimate workplace nemesis.
To determine who gets the job, their boss sends both of them on a cruise to the Galápagos Islands to draft a collaborative marketing proposal. Once trapped together in paradise, the academic boundaries of their professional rivalry begin to blur. Hockman uses her background in eco-tourism to paint a vivid picture of the Galápagos, weaving environmental conservation themes naturally into a classic enemies-to-lovers story. It is a perfect fit for fans of Sally Thorne's The Hating Game or the novels of Christina Lauren.
Dream On (2022)
Hockman's second novel, Dream On, takes a more whimsical, high-concept approach to contemporary romance. Cass Walker is a dedicated law graduate recovering from a major car accident that left her in a brief coma. When she wakes up, she has clear, detailed memories of a loving boyfriend named Devin. The only problem is that Devin does not exist—or so her friends and family tell her, attributing the memories to a hallucination from her brain injury.
A year later, Cass has tried to move on, but she unexpectedly crosses paths with Devin in real life. What follows is a clever, heartwarming exploration of fate, memory, and self-discovery. Set against the backdrop of a charming Cleveland flower shop, the novel balances romantic intrigue with Cass's career ambitions and her journey to finding herself. It offers a unique twist on the traditional rom-com structure while retaining Hockman's signature warmth and humor.
Love or Bussed (Forthcoming)
Announced as a future release from Gallery Books, Love or Bussed shifts the backdrop to a self-discovery road trip and home renovation project. The story follows Ann, a teacher who leaves her unfaithful husband and decides to rebuild her life by embarking on a long-held dream: converting a school bus into a tiny mobile home. Needing a helping hand, she teams up with her next-door neighbor to tackle the project. This upcoming novel promises to continue Hockman's trend of focusing on independent, ambitious heroines who discover love while pursuing their personal passions and dreams.
Themes and What to Know Before You Start
Before diving into Angie Hockman's novels, it helps to understand the recurring themes that set her books apart from standard contemporary romances:
- Vivid Settings as Characters: From the Galapagos Islands in Shipped to the cozy flower shops of Ohio and mobile school buses, Hockman's settings are deeply researched and play active roles in the plot. Her personal background in eco-tourism and travel shines through, giving her books an escapist, vacation-like quality.
- Ambitious Heroines: Hockman's protagonists are career-driven women—whether working in corporate marketing, law, or education—whose personal development and career goals are just as important as their romantic storylines.
- Discipline and Craft: Before publishing her debut, Hockman won the 2019 Romance Writers of America (RWA) Golden Heart Award for an unpublished romantic suspense manuscript titled The Hustler. While that specific book remains unpublished, it laid the foundation for the daily writing discipline she used to draft her breakout hit, Shipped.
The Best Starting Point for Readers
If you are new to Angie Hockman, the absolute best place to start is with Shipped. It is her most popular and defining book to date, showcasing her ability to write crackling enemies-to-lovers banter while transporting you to a beautiful remote corner of the world. It provides the perfect introduction to her style before you transition to the slightly more mysterious, concept-driven plot of Dream On.