5 stars. Let me start by saying that I loved this book. Love loved loved it, and I couldn't put it down. Honestly, I fell in love with both the FMC and MMC instantly. They were so damn multi-dimensional and so broken in their own ways. And I couldn't help rooting for both of them. What starts out as a one night stand accidentally turns into several days being lost at sea, and the tension between the couple was PALPABLE. There was so much going on, with their literally being lost at sea, and I truly could not wait to see how things would play out.

Now here's the thing, I do think that this book is going to be a bit polarizing, and it all comes down to the last 15% or so. In my opinion, Beth O'Leary is in a class of her own as a romance writer. Literally no one writes romance like she does. Nothing in her books are ever straight forward or as they seem, and there is often a big surprise that you just won't see coming. And along the way, she more often than not rips your heart out, in one way or another. So knowing this, I go into a Beth O'Leary book prepared and expecting to be a little tortured and a lot mind blown. And that definitely happened with Swept Away. But I do think that some of the things that happen in the last 15% of the book may be particularly unpopular, especially if you aren't expecting something major. But in my opinion, that last 15% is what made this a Beth O'Leary romance. I wanted the surprise, and I was totally 100% on board with it when it happened. So if you see mixed reviews, I largely suspect it's for that reason. I don't think many could find fault with the writing, the general plot, or the connection between the MCs. And all in all, I really enjoyed this, and I'm so glad I read it. For me, not only was this another winner from O'Leary, it was actually my favorite book that I've read from her.

Thank you so much to O'Leary, Berkley Romance, and netgalley for the complimentary copy.

👩🏻‍💻 ᗰY TᕼOᑌGᕼTS: 3.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

The concept of this story definitely caught my attention and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed Beth’s other books, especially her debt - The Flat Share. This book started out really strong! But somewhere in the middle, it just got a bit repetitive?

I like the story, I like the characters… and i know they’re stuck on the houseboat…. But…. It just went on a couple days too many? And I kept thinking to myself… ok somethings going to happen? Or maybe that was the point? To feel that desperation for SOMETHING to happen? 😅

After the 70% point, it REALLY picked up again, and the story has redeemed itself because i absolutely loved the last 3rd of the book!

𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸…
🌊One Night Stand
🌊Forced Proximity
🌊He Falls First
🌊’We’re not going to ☠️’
🌊Dual POV
🌊Minimal spice

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

While this book explored intriguing themes, I had a hard time connecting with the characters. However, that is obviously on me and not the book. I recognize that it has great potential to appeal to other romance readers and I encourage others to try it out! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book.

Swept Away
By: Beth O’Leary
4 stars

She’s 31. He’s 23. She’s just been asked to move out of her apartment that she shares with her best friend and her 4 year old daughter. He’s just bought back his dead father’s house boat as a way to manage his lifelong agony over their relationship. After a few too many drinks, they have a one-night stand in said house boat, only to wake up the next day lost at sea with no way of getting back, low provisions, and their only companion being a stranger.

This was honestly terrifying at times with all the obstacles Lexi and Zeke go through. I don’t know if I could have survived all that they did! What starts out as a casual fling leads us down a path of two complete strangers needing to become brutally honest fast in order to survive. With no reason to hide behind a facade out in the middle of the ocean, Lexi and Zeke open up about their pasts, their dreams, and hold on to small victories and nostalgia to overcome the ever growing fear of never being rescued.

The ocean setting really put these two to the test. Having low food provisions, low water, no radio, no battery, and between the two of them absolutely no idea how to navigate a ship, these two have to work together to manage the challenges that come their way. They quickly learn each other over the course of a few days and a level of intimacy comes with that that would take longer if not for their circumstances. Both Lexi and Zeke were truly lost in their lives before this unfortunate situation and coming close to near death multiple times really puts things into perspective for them. I could absolutely believe that after everything they went through that they grew to love one another in a short period of time.

There’s a surprise element towards the end of the book that was shocking, but not surprising to me. O’Leary did an amazing job of weaving it into the story and really kicking up an already dramatic story even higher! I was completely invested in the story from the very beginning and felt like I was viewing this story like a movie! I don’t think I’ve ever read a romance book like this and it’s definitely one of my favorites from her now.

Thank you Berkely Romance for the eARC and PRH Audio for the ALC.

What a crazy concept for a romance! I usually don't care for a ton of miscommunication in a book, but this one was handled well and lead to a hilarious and thrilling story. A one night stand turns into an episode of Survivor except you're on a janky boat in the middle of nowhere with no power, no camera crew, and no Jeff Probst. This story spans how they survive being lost at sea and the trials and tribulations they have to jump through to make it out alive. Following their rescue, secrets are revealed, bringing a harsh reality to Lexi, making her question everything she thought of Zeke. Can their relationship survive the real world or will it just be a memory she can never forget? This book was packed with adventure. Sometimes I wondered if this was taking a turn for a mystery/thriller, but just based on the cover you know it's gotta have an HEA!

Slight spoilers ahead... When they are back on land, and Penny drops her big secret about Zeke changing the trajectory of the story, I really didn't care for how the rest played out. I was hoping maybe it was Zeke's brother instead or something like that. This is when the biggest miscommunication started that I didn't love. But that did not stop me from enjoying this book overall.

Read if you like an age gap romance with tons of forced proximity. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review. This book releases 4/1!

Swept Away by Beth O’Leary
Rating: 5 stars
Pub date: 4/1

Thank you so much for the free book Berkley Romance!

Say hello to one of my new favorites! This is the kind of book that grabs you from the start and doesn’t let go.

What begins as a simple one-night stand between Zeke and Lexi quickly turns into an unexpected adventure when they wake up stranded at sea on a runaway houseboat. With limited supplies and no way back, they’re forced to work together—not just to survive, but to navigate the connection growing between them.

I absolutely adored Zeke and Lexi! Even with their eight-year age gap, their chemistry was effortless, and they felt well matched. Zeke is full of charm and passion, while Lexi is more cautious and loyal to a fault. They balance each other perfectly, pushing each other out of their comfort zones in the best way. Their banter, their emotional growth, and the slow burn of their romance had me hooked.

O’Leary’s signature humor and heartfelt storytelling make this such a fun, unique read. It’s more than just a stranded-at-sea romance—it’s about finding yourself, facing your fears, and learning to trust. And let’s not forget Eugene who added an extra layer of charm to the whole adventure.
I love adventure romances, and this one totally won me over. If you love forced proximity, witty banter, and characters who feel real, Swept Away is an absolute must-read!

Read if you like:
*forced proximity
*age gap
*adventure
*one night stand that turns into more
*dual POV

Thanks to @berkleypub and @berkleyromance for the gifted e-ARC and to @prhaudio for the ALC!

I’m so glad I listed to this one. The accents really brought the book to life. Even though I had to slow down from my usual 2x speed to catch every word, it was worth it.

Lexi and Zeke had so much chemistry. Their black cat/golden retriever energy was endearing. Lexi’s prickly demeanor made getting to know her rewarding. And Zeke was the sweetest boy/man ever. Their banter was excellent and the spice, though not too explicit was well done.

All the peril and drama stepped up the standard forced proximity plot. They were, quite literally, forced to depend on each other as the only human for miles. I really felt the fear that any bad decision or misstep could be their last! I was very invested in seeing these two survive!

I loved The Flatshare by this author, but after that her books sort of dropped off my radar till now. I definitely want to go back and read her entire backlist now!

Thank you Berkley Publishing Group for this arc.

Probably the premise is a little on the preposterous side. Possibly even leaning strongly toward unbelievable. But (almost all) of me didn’t care. I just sat back and enjoyed the ride. For four fifths of the book I was deeply invested and fully engaged. I didn’t really love the last act conflict but I came to understand it. I liked the ending but was pining for just a little more detail.

The parts where Lexi and Zeke are on the boat were my favourite. The stakes were high and they had to fight and win together.

I’m not sure what I imagined the ending would be but it wasn’t quite what ended up happening. I didn’t quite buy that Lexi would believe Zeke would behave that way, given what they had been through together and what they had disclosed to one another. I did understand the conflict she faced but I didn’t quite buy her reaction to it.

I still had some questions at the end about Zeke and his dad. I guess there are some things that just are and you don’t necessarily know all the whys and hows of it.

The age gap between the couple didn’t bother me either. Zeke was an old soul kind of guy and Lexi had been kind of stuck, not really moving on because of her commitment to Mae and Penny, so they felt like they had similar maturity. Zeke didn’t come across as irresponsible or flighty. Probably before he had started therapy he would have but he’d been working on himself and was pretty self-aware. Still, he did struggle with the internalised belief he was stupid. Lexi was very good for him in pointing out all the ways he was extremely smart. They had to improvise and innovate on the ocean and they survived. They survived because they were at turns brave, clever, inventive and resilient. Both of them were forever changed by the experience but the raw materials were always there.

I loved this book. I think it might be even better than The Flatshare. Beth O’Leary has become an auto-read for me and Swept Away is an example of why. Grade: A-

Swept away was a book i was SO excited to resd being a previous fan of Beth O'Leary. However; I couldn't take their relationship seriously as they didn't seem bothered about being stranded. The book felt like it was dragging and I couldn't wait to hit the "end."

3.5/5 stars. Unique storyline, good dialogue, but the plot really dragged out and the FMC’s hyperdependence on her best friend and daughter started to annoy me by the end. Would LOVE to see this as a cute Netflix film though.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Once again, Beth O'Leary sweeps me away and into one of her emotional and immersive romances.

After an instant spark that led to a one-night stand, Lexi and Zeke wake up to find themselves lost at sea, quite literally. They realize their houseboat wasn’t tied to the docks during their night of passion, and it led them adrift into uninhabited territory and uncharted waters. Throughout their journey, they find an inevitable, fierce connection that may be their path to survival.

I was not expecting this to be a survival story with romance, but as a huge fan of the TV show Lost, I found myself anxiously flipping pages, gripped by this intense story.

At times, the narrative leaned towards action-packed with heart-pounding, shocking moments, then shifted to scenes showing tenderness, vulnerability, and strength. The impact overall was a WILD emotional ride. By the end, the journey these two went through left me tearing up and desperately rooting them on.

If you are looking for a thrill-seeking, angsty romance with all the feels, definitely check out this new romantic read!

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*

Okay...let me first start off by saying that I had a new fear unlocked by this book. I personally have a healthy fear of the ocean and you will never catch me on a boat after reading this. I was so completely distracted by these two being LOST AT SEA and just chilling...falling in love, while being in an extremely dangerous situation. It required far too much suspending of reality, I could not put my deep fear and like anxiety around their situation aside to enjoy the romantic elements of the book. I think it's an interesting use of setting as a literary device to create tension and isolation between the characters. But unfortunately it just didn't hit for me. There's a lot of building up of secondary characters through the point of view of the FMC and MMC. Then eventually when you do meet those characters in "real" life...woof. They are VERY flawed people in a way that made me want to scream. The part of the book I really enjoyed was the last 20%, thats where I really think some interesting tension and conflict begins to occur, but it's far too rushed at that point in the book!

This book follows Lexi and Zeke after a one night stand leads to a mishap - the boat wasn’t tied to the dock!

I will say that I found some part sweet and funny but the cover doesn’t match the vibes of the story AT ALL.

There was tension and chemistry although I’m not sure all of the scenes were entirely realistic while on a boat out at sea just drifting, I still had generally a good time! There’s only so much one can do when you’re stuck out at sea with someone for two whole weeks on the verge of death. 😂

I don’t think that last wrench in the plot was necessary at the end but maybe someone will love it!

3.5 ⭐️

When Lexi’s boss Marissa, spots an intriguing young man in the bar, she encourages Lexi to go outside of her comfort zone, and enjoy a “no strings attached” night of fun. Thirty One year old, Lexi never dates, or does anything for herself, really, as she has committed to helping to take care of her best friend’s 4 year old daughter, Mae, since Penny is a single mom. In fact, I thought her attachment to Mae was a bit unhealthy.

Twenty Three year old Zeke is only in town for the weekend to buy back his late father’s houseboat. Because of something he experienced at the age of sixteen, he keeps people at a distance as a self preservation tactic. “One Night Stands” are just his thing. I have never met a 23 year old guy who was this self aware-but maybe his past and therapy has made him grow up quickly. He often seemed more mature than Lexi.

Each is upfront about what they expect from the night, and they head back to the houseboat. But, what they didn’t expect after their passionate night was to wake up to miles and miles of ocean-with no land in sight!

The boat was not provisioned with the things you would need at Sea, and Zeke and Lexi must figure out how to survive and get back home, something that will bond them-whether or not that was the original plan!

When I read this premise, I was hesitant to request this book. As a flight attendant, I am trained in water survival skills, and believe me, it would not be fun and games. So, I really had to suspend disbelief and just go with this. In reality, there would probably be a lot more tears, fear and doubt, but these two stay mostly optimistic despite the dire circumstances.

This is a Rom-Com after all!

But, I put aside my concerns because this is Beth O’Leary, and I have loved all but one of her books! She writes great characters and puts them in awkward situations, and I could not take a chance on missing out! Even though this one wasn’t a favorite for me, I did mostly enjoy it, and am glad I took a chance on it.

Expected publication date: April 1, 2025

Thank You to Berkley for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts!

This was a nice surprise, I enjoyed the book more than I thought i would. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me this arc.

A stupid mistake after a one-night stand leaves Zeke and Lexi stranded at sea on a houseboat...that they both think they own. Talk about awkward! But having to depend on each other's skills and resilience for almost 2 weeks at sea builds a sparking fire into a bonfire of attachment. Once off the boat and back to their real lives, can they find their way back to each other?

I have learned that I am not a fan of “survival” romances. Stranded in a boat together? Triggered my commitment issues. I would’ve checked out so fast.

If you were to ask me if this couple is actually in love or trauma-bonded, I wouldn’t know.

The random conflict thrown in at the 90% mark?? I was not a fan 😀.

Honestly this book simply wasn’t my cup of tea, and that’s ok. Maybe others will enjoy this better than I did but personally it’s a pass

Thank you Berkley and NetGalley for the free e-arc in exchange for a review!

3.5 rounded up💫

“I get it, what it means. Welcome home.” She points to me. “It means you brought home back.”

Beth O’Leary books I either tend to LOVE or feel meh about…and this leans meh. NOT that that means I didn’t like it, because I DID! Just that I enjoyed it while I was reading it but will promptly forget it🤷🏻‍♀️🤭

Imagine waking up after a one-night stand on a houseboat only to find that no one tied it to the dock…and now you’re stuck in the middle of the ocean together😅😳nooo thank you!!!

The problem with this book was it could be repetitive given its set up - there’s no changing scenery, no side characters for the MCs to talk to, etc. Just Zeke and Lexi and the sea!!

HOWEVER the last ~40% was very good! The growing tension, the bold survival ideas, the rescue, the aftermath! so if you stick it out I think it’s worth it, just won’t be a new favorite for me!

Swept Away by Beth O'Leary

Beth O'Leary can write fun romance while including some very hard hitting emotional trauma and she's done it again with this story. On the surface, the whole "one night stand turns into an adventure at sea" fiasco is interesting in a disastrous way but I had to close my brain off to the very real trauma that one of the characters experienced when he was a teen. Still, that character, twenty three year old Zeke, has been taking steps to get past emotional hurts of the past, so we don't have to think he's just free floating (ha ha) through life without addressing his past.

When Zeke and thirty one year old Lexi meet and almost instantly decide to sleep together, they each think they know the boat where they are going to tryst. And they do know the boat, it's just that there has been a mix-up concerning the boat, one of about a zillion mix-ups to come. These two seem to be able to mess up a bad situation about as badly as a bad situation can be messed up. They are good at this, making a mess of things, but are still able to almost segue into a song and dance scene or something like that, at will.

They seem to be able to compartmentalize which allows them to be able to have a boatload (bad pun again) of fun doing all kinds of weird and wacky things during this very danger fraught adventure they accidently embark upon. While I'd be in a corner trying to brainstorm how to get help one hundred percent of the time, these two find time for fun, games, pretend adventures, good (ish...kinda) food, and very deep talks. This could almost be a therapy cruise of sorts, if only we could know there would be an ending where everyone survived.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley and NetGalley for this ARC.

This was a great read! I knew I needed to read this after that premise. It sounded so interesting and unlike anything else I've read so far. I mean a one-night stand romance lost at sea together? That's has to be interesting.

I think fans of reverse age gap. forced proximity, he falls first and grumpy x sunshine tropes will fall head over heels for this. Lexi & Zeke have fantastic chemistry (hence one-night stand) but they also develop a great emotional connection too. I ended up really enjoying this couple.

The plot was what drew me to this book and it kept me intrigued the whole time. I was so invested in how they were going to make it home/to safety. The second half of the book really upped the suspense and drama. I thought O'Leary did a wonderful job crafting this plot.

Overall, a great & unique romance that will sweep readers away.