This was the perfect mix of romance and adventure. Guaranteed to keep you reading late into the night!

I don't understand why the rating for this book isn't higher. I really enjoyed it. If you like forced proximity, stranded together, he falls first, age gap romances then you are going to love this. I've heard some reviews stating that it was boring but I never found that to be the case for me. I was hooked from the beginning and finished this in a day. We follow two strangers who think that they are hooking up for a drunken one night stand, but when they fail to tie the boat to the dock they wake up floating in the middle of the ocean. Beautiful cover. Beautiful story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

I think I am perennially chasing after that high that The Flatshare gave me. This was okay. I found the premise unique, and it was interesting to see how the two leads would cope after being swept off to sea. Didn't really care for the additional drama at the end and it had a bit of "insta-love" feel to it which I really didn't care for.

Perfect for those that love:Forced Proximity (to the MAX)
Grumpy-Sunshine
Age Gap

2.75 stars! To preface I LOVE a forced proximity romance and a survivalist thriller. So a combination of the two genres? Right up my alley. Unfortunately Swept Away didn't meet my expectations. It wasn't a bad book by any means, I just didn't think the execution was great.

Obviously, since it's a romance, the survivalist aspect isn't going to be at the forefront, but I wish it was more "realistic." Some of the plot points/incidents were way too convenient for the sake of moving the story forward. I also didn't love either main character. The FMC had such a complex about being older than the MMC, which got super repetitive. They're both adults, and she really wasn't that much older than him. They didn't have the best chemistry and simultaneously, it felt very insta love. Though on a positive note, while it started a little bit slower, the pacing was solid throughout!

Thank you so much to Berkley Romance for sending me a copy of Swept Away. As always, my reviews are one hundred percent voluntary and all opinions are my own :)

It’s an age gap romance story — WHERE OUR FEMALE LEAD IS OLDER — reverse age gap 🤝 me

This is all I ever really need in a romance for it to absolutely make me feral for the story.

From the start, “Swept Away” was a wild story. Between knowing each other for ONE NIGHT and attempting to survive being stranded at sea, Lexi and Zeke have such wild circumstances and yet, the more I read, the more they went through, the more I absolutely loved everything about O’Leary’s newest book.

Obviously, we get a huge dose of forced proximity with these characters yet the way they respected each other, cared for one another, and worked together to survive provided such a unique story for the couple. As someone who is constantly reading, I found the plot of this book to be interesting and kept me wanting to read, responsibilities be damned.

I didn’t love something that pops up during the last, say 20% of the book, and for me, that cost this book a star. I won’t say much because it’s a huge spoiler. But if you are looking for a novel full of adventure, this book is it.

What an emotional read oh my goodness! This was much heavier than I expected. I liked it but it wasn’t a love.

A survival story with a romance... or is a romance with a fight for survival? No matter how you look at it, Swept Away is an engaging, compelling story about two strangers forced to rely on each other, who find the deepest of connections while struggling to stay alive while lost at sea. The story has humor and sweetness, but also scary situations and a lot of suspense. It's a great read by a talented author!

OK, confession time, this is the first Beth O'Leary book I've read, though I do have a few of her back-list titles sitting on my Kindle. I have not read any of her books before this, but I will certainly be reading more.

Despite a few issues I did thoroughly enjoy Swept Away it is ` a fun read, it didn't blow me away (or should that be swept me away?), it lacked something, I'm not sure whether it was in the plot of the characters but something was missing that I couldn't put my finger on, it felt as though there was major ingredient in the recipe was missing.

Maybe my reading tastes are changing as I find this happening more and more while reading contemporary/ women's fiction now, I am well and truly a historical lass.

Anyway, the characters felt a little off, they were quite selfish and incredibly shallow, and I did think that being swept away was the best thing to do with them both, and I dod that that sending them out to sea was just the thing needed to give them the kick up the arse and make them grow up. My opinion of them did change as the story moved steadily forward, and they did become more real and more likeable.

I do like a proximity romance, and being swept away and stranded at sea with someone whom you've just met and only intended a quick one-night-stand with - well, as you can imagine, sparks fly and tensions mount, mishaps and danger are also on the horizon. which brings the two characters closer and closer.

I did like the change to their perceptions, how they suddenly appeared to grow and become more mature with the more they had to deal with, and I really, really loved the premise of basically sending a couple out to sea to get on with it.

Overall, a fun, easy escapism read!

🛥️THINGS AND STUFF 🛥️
-age gap
-one night gone wrong
-houseboat lost at sea
-forced proximity
-grumpy sunshine
-found family
-secrets & drama
-survival atmosphere

Thank you Berkley for the advanced copy.

this was such a fun book! i was immersed from the beginning, and throughout the book i felt compelled to keep on reading, because i wanted to know what happened next! i did feel that they did entirely too little to get off the boat, and that they let a lot to fate. but in the end i didn't mind as much. definitely a book i can recommend, and i hope the next beth o'leary is just as fun again!

I didn't particularly enjoy the twist but the adventure stuff was fun. Do I buy them falling in love after 12 days lost at sea? Maybe. Still a fun book though.

Thank you Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

This is a survival story and a love story and a redemption story. Although it is not my favorite Beth O'Leary, that has remained The Switch for a light-hearted romance and The No-Show for the mind-blowing bait and switch. But Swept Away has its redeeming qualities; it obviously has the forced proximity and dire circumstance bringing two very different and wounded souls together, it has characters that bring out the best in each other and are better together, and it has love against all odds. It has more survival story than I prefer, since personally its not my favorite, and the characters were not necessarily my most favorite in the world, so I really slogged through the first 60%, but I'm glad I stuck around to see their HEA, and like Lexi says in the end, their "very modern family" and the life they built from the jagged pieces that life had left them.

Many thanks to Berkley for the digital review copy of Swept Away. Oh my goodness, this book! Beth O'Leary is one of the few authors whose dual POV writing I really love. She captures Zeke and Lexi both so well, and I loved being able to see what each of them was thinking throughout the story.

The premise keeps things interesting as we watch Lexi and Zeke get to know one another in the unique circumstance of being lost at sea. This presents just the right amount of challenges for them to overcome, and I liked how O'Leary makes you think about the small logistics of being trapped on a houseboat in the middle of the ocean.

This book delivers on the slow burn vibes, as much of the book is really about that emotional connection building as Lexi and Zeke learn to trust each other. Each of them has their secrets and their reasons for only wanting a one-night-stand, and we slowly see them start to open up given they've no one else to talk to.

There is a good bit of action with this one, and I was genuinely worried for the two of them several times. The plot took me on some twists and turns I definitely wasn't expecting, in the best way. I laughed, I cried, I stayed up past bed time to finish Swept Away.

I absolutely recommend Swept Away to anyone looking for a beautiful, emotional novel with an interesting premise and a slow-burn romance build-up. Beth O'Leary delivers again with this one, and I enjoyed every moment of the wild boat ride she took us on. Swept Away came out on April 1st, so you can grab a copy quick as you like.

3.5⭐, 1.5🌶️

Okay if you would have asked for my review for the first 8 hours of the book. I would have loved it! I loved the chaos and drama of a one night stand turned into forced proximity because they are STRANDED AT SEA! I had so much fun listening to the characters manage their panicking while both getting injured (over and over, like seriously guys chill). But where this book lost me was when they get rescued...that drama was not needed. Not necessary, and made my eyes roll. Zeke and Lexi were doing so good and then Lexi had to go an become blindly frustrating due to drama that could have been resolved with A SIMPLE CONVERSATION!

Seriously, just end the book once they are "rescued" and youll love the book more.

💜One Night Stand
🩷Forced Proximity - Literally
❤️Age Gap - She's Older

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Beth O'Leary's "Swept Away" is a captivating adventure that unexpectedly charted a course straight to my heart. From the moment I turned the first page, I was utterly absorbed by the unforeseen predicament of Zeke and Lexi. Two individuals with no intention of a second meeting find themselves in a perilous situation, waking up marooned on a drifting houseboat with no hope of immediate rescue. Their casual encounter swiftly transforms into a gripping fight for survival, where the vast and seemingly endless ocean becomes both a source of awe and a relentless adversary.

Adrift on miles of open sea, with no land in sight, Zeke and Lexi are forced to rely solely on each other. I felt the weight of their anxiety and desperation, yet amidst the danger, subtle moments of connection began to emerge. Their dire circumstances paradoxically created an intimate space for them to truly see beyond initial impressions. The tension was palpable, yet so too were the instances of shared laughter, playful banter, and the gradual dawning that perhaps destiny had a unique design for their lives.

The story's conclusion unfolded at a satisfying pace, though my eagerness to witness the final outcome had me turning pages with fervent anticipation. This speaks volumes about my connection to the characters and the depth of my investment in their journey. Ultimately, I was profoundly moved and thoroughly enjoyed the direction the narrative took. Beth O'Leary has once again demonstrated her mastery of crafting unforgettable romance, delivering a story that is both deeply heartwarming and exhilarating.

For readers who appreciate tales brimming with adventure, the compelling intimacy of forced proximity, and a romance that feels divinely ordained, "Swept Away" is an absolute essential.

I am such a fan of Beth O'Leary's writing, but this book was unfortunately not up to par with her other works. It started out as a cute premise, but the story lacked believability and substance. My favorite side character - seagull Eugene - was lost much like the plot.

The age gap didn't work for me, and the reveal at the end felt completely unnecessary. I'm hopeful for Beth's next book and crossing my fingers that this was a fluke.

Thank you to Berkey Romance for the gifted copy. All thoughts are my own.

I loved this. It’s a survival romance and not a rom-com. Maybe that’s the issue? Don’t go into this expecting light and fluffy.

Lexi and Zeke make an agreement: one-night, no strings, no expectations. That’s until they wake up and find Zeke’s houseboat drifted to sea while they slept. They have no clue where they are and no means to contact anyone. They have to survive this disaster, stuck out at sea with a near stranger.

This book is heavy. Survival, fear, grief, but it’s a testament to Beth O’Leary’s writing that she also found ways to make it lighthearted. I was rooting for Lexi and Zeke as individuals and as a couple. It was a journey of self discovery as well as endurance.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 Beth O'Leary is a forever fave. No one knows how write an emotional romance they way she does! I really enjoyed this. If you love Brit-lit you'll love this.

I loved this book! I actually haven't met a Beth O'Leary book that I didn't like and this was no exception. Fun, sweet, a little bit of adventure -- fun read!

This is a gripping romance, two words that don’t often go together but absolutely apply here.
Zeke goes to a small seaside town where his father’s houseboat is docked. He suspects that the answer to a family secret might lie in papers his dad kept on board. Lexie lives in town, and when the two meet they end up having a one night stand on the houseboat.
Unfortunately, the mooring comes off and they wake up to find themselves at sea, with few provisions onboard in a boat that’s not meant to leave the dock.
They manage to survive until they’re rescued, but they face hardships and near death experiences. It’s fascinating to read the details of their journey. When one of them flagged, the other one took charge. The heightened emotions they experience under such unusual circumstances are natural and completely believable.
The writing is excellent and I didn’t want to put the book down. I highly recommend reading this one!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley, I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.