Heather W. Adams’ Missing the Boat is a quietly powerful novel about how people navigate the complexities of queer and polyamorous relationships.

What starts with a missed ferry ride becomes an honest look at what happens when people talk about what they want — and when they don’t. The story follows Becca, a 38-year-old Canadian woman who has been friends online for years with Morgan, a Welsh digital nomad living on her sailboat with her partner, Lynn. They don’t drift aimlessly; Adams shows how much intention and skill it takes to build a life — and a relationship — on the water.

When a work trip brings Morgan and Lynn close to Becca’s town, the three finally meet in person. At first, everything feels full of possibility. But when Becca misses her ferry home and accepts a ride on Morgan’s boat, old online fantasies run up against real-world uncertainty. From there, the characters have to navigate more than just rough seas — they have to talk honestly about consent, boundaries, and desires.

One of the book’s most striking qualities is how it explores themes like sexual consent and communication within kink and BDSM dynamics, especially from the perspective of an inexperienced character who’s discovering what they want — and what they don’t. Adams handles these moments with care, showing how trust and clear agreements are central when the usual rules don’t apply.

Gender identity and sexual orientation are woven into the story naturally — all three main characters are queer, and their different identities shape how they see each other and themselves. The novel also gently examines different relationship models, from polyamory to the subtle ways friendship, romance, and desire overlap.

Adams writes in a clear, sincere style that makes every conversation feel real. There are no big twists or dramatic reveals — just honest, imperfect people figuring out what they need and how to ask for it.

Missing the Boat is for readers who appreciate quiet, character-driven stories about intimacy, respect, and care. It’s about queer people making space for each other’s boundaries, exploring desire without shame, and discovering that real connection takes courage and trust — no matter what shape the relationship takes.