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.

The perfect pool side read. Entertaining and full of fluff. Also can’t complain about the reverse age gap! Love that trope and it’s rare to find.

I absolutely loved this story!!! Soo romantic and beautifully paced. I loved the twist on the “one bed” trope with them being lost at sea and how they found each other through the struggle. I love that they also found themselves and realized the people they wanted to be. Soo much chemistry and love between Zeke and Lexi and I loved every moment of this!

3.25 stars

I wanted to love this one, because I do usually enjoy the author's books, but I tend not to like stories set on boats/out to sea. This is somewhat surprising given I don't really have a fear of the water, but there's something about being trapped in the middle of the ocean with no land in sight that is so anxiety inducing, which is not the feeling I want to have while reading a rom-com. This is exactly what happens, when in a moment of drunken miscommunication, Lexi and her supposed to be one night stand, Zeke, tie the ropes of the houseboat they both think is theirs to itself instead of the dock, and find themselves in the middle of the North Sea 10 hours later upon waking, with no cell service, emergency radios, or life vests on board. Never thinking they were going to see each other again, they now have to rely on each other to survive, which turns out to be just as big a nightmare as that sounds. This is forced proximity to the extreme, and opposites attract, with Lexi being hardened and gruff and Zeke being the most Harry Styles-esque dreamer Pisces on the cusp of Aquarius coded man I've ever read. If that wasn't enough to give me the ick, throw in reverse age gap, with Zeke being only 23 to Lexi's 31. Normally I'm a giant hypocrite and don't mind it when the woman is ✨ slightly ✨ older, but this gap felt a bit too large for me, especially with Zeke's wounded fckboi nature. With a third act breakup that really only served to showcase a few plot holes, this one left me with too many uncomfortable feelings instead of the lighthearted escapism one would expect from a rom-com.

Like the sea, the pacing of this novel is ever changing. There were many times where I considered DNFing, but I was given just enough suspense after lulls in the book to pull me to the finish line.

I’ve read three other Beth O’Leary books and this one did not give the same vibes/feeling as her others. It felt more scary, and more real considering our characters lives were at risk for the entirety of the novel.

I also honestly did not feel the romance was very believable between these characters. It felt more like a trauma bond than anything.

The plot twist at the end I DID not see coming AT ALL, and did boost my rating from a 2 star to a three star. So I do have to applaud the author for being able to completely take me by surprise.

I don’t think there is necessarily anything I personally would change about the book. It’s written well and has a cohesive story, but I personally just didn’t fall in love with it.

Beth O'Leary is an author I've read one other book from. I enjoyed The Wake-Up Call. So when I saw the cover of her new book Swept Away, I decided I had to check it out. I've been in such a romance phase lately. (I'm sorry thrillers and mysteries...I miss you guys) I decided I'd pick this up because obsessed with the cover. Plus I've never really read a survival romance. I'm sad to say that this took me longer to read then I excepted. I honestly almost dnfed it. The story is about Zeke and Lexi who have a one night stand and end up getting lost at sea together. Honestly, they made some really poor choices on that boat. I really couldn't wait for them to be rescued. I think majority of the book I was wondering about the nosy neighbor who was trying to help them in the beginning. I'm not sure what she could have done but clearly she would have noticed early on that the boat was missing? Anyway, that didn't happen so they're stuck on the boat for 12 days together. Honestly, I wish they didn't end up getting rescued because I think that was my least favorite part. All the information that we found out after just didn't sit right with me. I'm not sure if I'm the only one who didn't like it but it's a no from me. Plus the way it ended, I was like really?!? Overall didn't have a good experience with this one. I do have a couple of other books by Beth on my TBR that I still would like to give a shot. Hoping to enjoy them like I did The Wake-Up Call.

I love how Beth O'Leary writes - she gives her characters space to breath and she doesn't shrink away from them encountering real-life dilemmas. She's good with the tough stuff and the reader is better for it.

I loved this book and thought it was really well done.

So excited to sell this title. It is a wild ride from start to finish. they are truly the prime example of forced proximity as they are trapped on a narrow canal boat out at sea for the majority of the book. Appreciated the slight mystery aspect of the logs. Kept the story interesting. I really liked the last 1/4 of the book. I feel like the ending is so well done.

I unfortunately did not like :( I didn’t feel connected to the characters whatsoever and felt the story to be so bland and boring!!!

Beth O’Leary’s books have been a bit hit or miss for me, but Swept Away? 100% a hit! ✅ This story was the perfect mix of humor, heart, and unexpected survival drama—all wrapped up in a one-night-stand gone seriously off course.

Lexi, in her early 30s, is at a total crossroads. Her best friend just asked her to move out, and in a moment of impulsivity (and maybe a little heartbreak), she decides to have a night of no-strings-attached fun. Enter 23-year-old Zeke, the confident, easygoing guy who approaches her at a bar. A few drinks, a wild night, and one very unexpected morning later… they wake up on his houseboat, which has drifted far out to sea. 🌊🚤

What starts as a hilarious (and mildly terrifying) survival adventure quickly turns into something deeper. Lexi and Zeke aren’t just trying to find their way back to shore—they’re navigating their own emotional shipwrecks. Old wounds, hidden fears, and the unexpected spark between them make this so much more than just a stranded-on-a-boat story.

⚓ Things I Loved:
💙 The blend of humor and emotional depth
💙 The forced proximity—nothing like being literally stuck together!
💙 Watching Lexi & Zeke open up and grow together
💙 The self-discovery themes woven into their journey

That said, some plot points felt a little too convenient (things just falling into place), and oddly enough, I struggled to fully picture the characters at times. But despite that, I was absolutely rooting for them. Their journey—both literal and emotional—was so satisfying to watch unfold.

📚 Read this if you love:
✨ Instalove & forced proximity
✨ Stories of self-discovery
✨ Romances with adventure & survival elements

This was a cute read, although a bit unrealistic at times. I also think I went in with different expectations which may have been my fault. I enjoyed it, but it wasn’t my favorite from O’Leary. I know a lot of people who are going to love it though. :)

4.5 ⭐️

oof this was a wild ride!!!! never been so stressed reading a romance and yet, I couldn’t stop reading. I really enjoyed this! I wasn’t sure what to expect at first but I didn’t expect literal life and death at stake. the stakes are very high and the tension is even higher!! characters that are straight to the point, fiercely independent, and with so many layers are my drug of choice.

A one-night stand on a houseboat leads to an awkward morning after when they realize the boat wasn’t attached to the marina leaving them stranded at sea with a dead battery, no cell service, and little food and water.

Zeke and Lexi are both such complex characters with blunt humour, they matched each other’s energy so perfectly. I found them both to have a good balance of witty humour and also some more complex characteristics. their chemistry was off the charts and I mean, the forced proximity?? how could you not be obsessed.

This is not your traditional romance but more of a survival story with coming to terms with your past and healing together through a cutthroat situation. this was my first Beth O’Leary book and it won’t be my last! her books pack a punch and have some really good plot twists/engaging storylines that keep your attention.

Thank you Berkley, NetGalley, and the author for an aARC in exchange for an honest review! this comes out April 1st & I can’t wait for everyone to experience it

Seriously, my nerves are DONE! I've never been so stressed reading a romance, but somehow, I'm obsessed? This book is a crazy mix of romance and survival, and it totally works! I was practically living on that houseboat with Lexi and Zeke, feeling every bit of the tension. Beth O'Leary delivers on the hype—the twists, the emotional punches—it's all there. I laughed, I cried, I gasped, and I'm already craving more of her books!

After a miscommunication during a one-night stand, Zeke and Lexi end up tying their boat to itself instead of the dock. Now, they’re adrift at sea while basically strangers with very little food and a few leaks. Beth O’Leary is always great at character development and chemistry, and this is no exception. The high stakes danger added to the intrigue of the story but almost to the detriment of the afterward. The ending was a bit of a letdown after the intimate and intense setting of the sea. This book had enough tension, it didn’t need a surprise twist. Ultimately though, this is worth the read for Beth O’Leary fans and romance lovers.

I don't always love books with one setting for majority of the book, but the plotline of being stuck on a ship with your one night stand was too funny to pass up. I got a bit stuck at one third of the way in, but I'm glad I kept going with it.

4.5 stars!!!

veryyyy cute & wholesome but also SO chaotic haha

i absolutely loved the premise -- stranded at sea with your one night stand?? i mean talk about forced proximity to whole other level!! what i really enjoyed about this one was how loveable both zeke & lexi are!! & how undeniable their chemistry is 🔥 there were SO many hilarious & chaotic moments that can only be found in a romcom, but more than that, there was so much self-reflection and growth.

these two had so much to overcome emotionally (as well as you know... survive at sea!!) & i love how beth tackled each hurdle! i thoroughly enjoyed this one (even if yes some things did not seem realistic but like it's fictional so i give it a pass). i loved eugene. i loved each day at sea. i LOVE a man who cooks!! god give me a chef & i'm hooked...

thank you so much Berkley Romance & Netgalley for the arc. this my honest review.

I think I went into this book with a bit of the wrong mindset which may have affected my reading, While there is romance, this is more of a survival story and a story of coming to terms with the past. I did enjoy Lexie and Zeke as characters and I liked their relationship, but the survival aspect got repetitive and I wanted them to just be saved already. I also had some issues with the last 50 pages or so about Zeke's past-it was a bit of a third act extra plot thrown in. It was foreshadowed, but still felt overly convenient and thrown in for plots sake.
Overall this was a sold three star read and I enjoyed the writing and I will seek other other books by Beth O'Leary.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review: I LOVED this book. Beth O'Leary is easily one of my favorite authors. Romance has been a hard one for me recently, to find things I enjoy but she always knocks it out of the park and brings something new to the table. At a minimum, you should read this because it's a different type of romance story, and if you like more character driven romance this is worth the experience. There are two surprise elements one in the middle which I was obsessed with (which will sound bad once you read it but I just loved that it was so unique) and one at the end which I didn't love as much but was fine. Because of that last element I am trying to decide if this is a "new favorite 6 star" or a very high 5 star, I wanna sit on that a little bit before I decide.

There's so much to love about this book. It's written smoothly and in a common sense way. Their interactions are believable, clumsy at times but very human. That's the number one thing I require from my romance. They also rescue and take care of an animal and I dunno about you but sign me the fuck up. They overcome a lot of obstacles together in a very genuine way. I won't say much about the ending for obvious reasons but one thing I do want to mention that I think makes this book stand out is that they show some of the effects of the trauma the characters experienced. They don't just leave it and I really appreciate that. Although this is far from a survival genre story, I did LOVE those elements and it had more of them than I expected.

I loved this book and I truly think everyone else will. I think I need a copy for my shelf :)

oh god my nerves are shot!!! i have never been so stressed out reading a contemporary romance ever, but i think i loved it??? i truly felt like i was on that houseboat with lexi and zeke and actually fearing for my life!

this is one hundred percent a romance but it's also one hundred percent a survival story too!! the duality of a book!! i was on the edge of my seat but also kicking my feet! what a rollercoaster of emotions wow

this was my first beth o'leary book (and not my last!!) but i've been hearing that her books pack a punch and have really great reveals/plot twists and let me tell you, this one was punching and packing!! i cried, i laughed, i GASPED, and had an incredible time.

thank you Berkley Romance for this eARC, it's out everywhere on april 1!