4.5 stars!

Thank you so much to Penguin Books and NetGalley for the ARC!

When I found out that Beth O'Leary, one of my favourite authors, was releasing a new book I had to get my hands on it immediately! I have read all of her books and own all of them as well, so I was super excited to read this months before the release date.

'Swept Away' is very different compared to her other books. Sure, it is a fun romance book that touches on a lot of deeper themes compared to her previous novels. The central romance characters' dynamics were so uniquely different. There was so much character growth, for both of the characters and it's so refreshing to read books that show the characters' challenges and how they can overcome it.

I have nothing more to say. A true romance writer, that's what you are, Beth O'Leary. I cannot wait to read what you publish next and I know I'm going to love it.

One night of passion turns into a wild survival story when Lexi and Zeke get stuck on a drifting houseboat. Sparks fly in more ways than one as they navigate the unpredictable seas and even more unpredictable feelings.

Beth O’Leary’s newest novel continues her tradition of fun romances with a touch of depth to them. Unfortunately, I just really wasn’t a fan of this concept.

I definitely think that this is personal preference and that some people might love this one, but I can’t get behind a romance set entirely on a boat. Most likely because being stranded is a bit of a fear of mine and I just really don’t like boats.

Considering this, I’ll talk a little more about the characters and writing instead of the concept. I really liked our MMC, and found the FMC to be just fine. In saying that, I enjoyed their dynamic and I would say that the romance plot was good. However, I do think that setting it over a week made it a little unbelievable. O’Leary’s writing was good as usual and I liked her injection of humour alongside more serious elements.

If this concept sounds good to you then I’m sure you’ll like this one. Romance readers should give it a go, but make sure to check TWs before reading. 2.5/5

I love Beth’s writing really enjoyed this! The balance of romance and adventure was great and I loved how Lexi + Zeke challenged one another. The character growth and plot had me engaged the entire time.

What a book - I could not put it down

Beth O'leary is one of my autobuy authors - i would read her shopping list if she published it

The premise of this book is fantastic! In true Beth O Leary style, this is such a fun rom com with endearing characters and lots of banter.

I loved it!

I am still so undecided how I feel about this book and I have left time before writing a review

Due to the isolated nature of being shipwrecked on a houseboat there wasn't a lot of travel it was a lot of character exploration, something very different to what I was expecting.

There was a lot of humour, banter and fun, the perfect escape I didn’t know I needed.

Beth O'Leary fans get ready swept away will truely sweep you away

I was a little scared to start this as I LOVE Beth O'Leary's books and was afraid this wouldn't live up to the hype as she said it was the hardest/best book she's written..

ADORED it! It's like nothing I've read. The romance was so true and beautiful. The action/adventure had me holding my breath.

Now I have to wait til April to share it with everyone!

After meeting in a pub Lexie and Zeke agree to a one night stand, the next morning they wake up on a houseboat that may belong to Zeke or to Lexie’s friend Penny, they quickly discover that they have much bigger problems, instead of still being tied up in the harbour they are adrift in the North Sea with no land in sight. If they are to have any hope of getting home they will have to work together. While the story itself is well told, and you do want to keep reading to find out if they are rescued, the characterisation lets it down, one character does something that I would consider unforgivable but not only are they forgiven but they are granted forgiveness as soon as they admit what they have done, there are a couple of other incidents but as they would be spoilers I won’t mention them here.

Struggled a little with this one, the constant threat while they're at sea diminishes the romance and the infraction once returned seems too great ot surmount.

I loved this book, it was the perfect mix of romance and tension. The section on the boat was a rollercoaster of emotions and I found myself feeling anxious for them. I really liked the way it was told from both points of view. A really enjoyable read!

I love a forced proximity trope so this what connected me to this book. I cared about these characters and what happened to them.

Thanks to NetGalley & Penguin for this ARC. I loved this new romance from Beth O’Leary. The concept itself is outlandish - two strangers, after a one night stand, trapped at sea on a house boat. But as always, O’Leary pulls it off with her usual charm, realism & heart. There is a reason she is a must-read author for me!

The premise of the book was super unique for a romance. While I can appreciate the need for romances with minimal spice, I think it could have been improved to have added some in. I really enjoyed the character dynamics as Lexi was more head-strong and Zeke was more vulnerable than many traditional male counterparts, something that is extremely important to explore. I found myself skimming the last 30% of this book as the survival element was stronger than the resolution.

Loved this! I enjoyed the dynamic and depth to the two main characters and the realistic slow burn to their relationship in crazy circumstances! A certain plot point towards the end of the book felt too unrealistic which made me take away one star but other than that I highly recommend

I love a forced proximity story so I was excited to read this one and I wasn’t disappointed. Fresh and original, this brilliant, heartfelt love story is perfect for fans of Emily Henry.

I love Beth O'Leary's books, particularly The Flatshare and The Switch - and was delighted to have the chance to read Swept Away. The concept is great, the characters are extremely warm and likeable - however, I did find that after about a third of the novel had passed that the story started to lose direction. It was, perhaps, a little lost at sea. The chemistry between the two MCs is there, their love story feels plausible, but somehow the actual 'stuck on a boat' piece just lost momentum for me, and I found myself pulled out of the story a few time. The end twist felt a little hard to swallow, too. All in all, O'Leary always delivers a great romance with chemistry, but I found this setting didn't quite deliver as I'd hoped. Thank you for the opportunity to read!

I love Beth O’leary, and this book didn’t disappoint me. Zeke and Lexi just had what was supposed to be a one night stand, but they ended up in the middle of sea on a boat, just two of them. Zeke is younger and hopes to find real love. Lexi, a few years older than him, is dealing a loss and shut out herself from romantic possibilities.

I loved the contrast of these two and how slowly and gradually they started to open up to one another and fell in love. I kept rooting for Zeke, hoping his warmth and kindness would heal Lexi and help her open up more.

I know the author’s books have turned into TV shows previously. This book is probably better as a book than a movie as it’s really just two characters. Their dialogue and inner monologue. So I suggest not wait for TV adaptation and read the book!

This book has smash hit all over it! I loved the charcaters, how it made me feel, the angst. the tension, the unexpectec love. The writing was impeccable. Beth is a triumph!

I’m really sorry to have disliked it as much as I did. I really don’t know if it’s just the genre of slightly kooky adventure romance or the book itself. I always spot books by this author being read on public transport so I had high expectations but it really wasn’t for me. Too silly, the characters had names like those a teenage girl might choose when writing a book, and both the scenario they found themselves in and the outcome were just too much to fathom.