This was a more serious read than I thought it was going to be but it was also a great story of resilience and survival. It was also a great reminder to appreciate the little things in life and to cherish the people you love. The twist toward the end had my jaw on the floor. An unlikely couple and all of their connections were interesting. I love how honest the characters get too with their own personal struggles. This was a very raw and emotional read.

I have to admit my love of the movie Cast Away got me excited for this one. I mean come on a houseboat gets lost at see forcing a one night stand couple to work together to stay alive. The premise was exciting and different. However, the execution was not it.

I think my real issue stems from how stupid both main characters are. I wish I could give examples but I don’t want to spoil anything just know that alcohol and knifes are involved. And yes I know it’s a work of fiction but be for real anyone with a working brain cell would know better. my other issue with our main characters I couldn't connect to either of them and felt like they didn't have any chemistry together as a couple.

Plus we have the twist at the end. which honestly didn't seem necessary and made the book longer than it needed to be. Even though this wasn't for me I still want to try more of Beths books. Big Thank you to NetGalley & Berkley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars

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

Stranded at sea with your one-night stand—what could go wrong? Zeke and Lexi planned for a single night of escape, but a miscommunication leaves them adrift on Zeke’s houseboat with no land in sight. As they navigate survival with limited provisions, they also discover an unexpected connection. Days on the open water force them to confront their pasts, their fears, and the possibility of love in this heartfelt and adventurous romance by Beth O’Leary.

Listen, I love the comforting predictability of romance plots, but my GOD, was it refreshing to read something that shakes up the formula in the best way. Oh, Zeke. The perfect youngest son, balancing a tender, relatable charm that isn’t about being overly masculine or feminine—just authentically him. Loved the age gap with an older woman, even though age gaps aren’t usually my thing. And can we talk about the conflict? Finally, a romance with stakes that feel real, not just a token third-act breakup. Hats off to Beth O’Leary for delivering a story that’s both familiar and delightfully surprising.

Forget the “one bed” trope—this is a “one houseboat stranded in the middle of the ocean” trope.

When Zeke and Lexi first meet, sparks fly. Lexi’s looking for a fun night with a stranger, so they head to Zeke's houseboat. But the next morning, just as she’s getting ready to leave and return to her life, they realize they’re stuck—surrounded by nothing but open water. The houseboat’s been swept out into the ocean!

I really enjoyed how this book puts a fresh twist on the usual romance story. The characters are thrown into a high-stakes situation, and each day presents a new problem for them to figure out. As they work through everything, the growth of their relationship feels believable.

Thirty-year-olds acting immature is a major turnoff for me in romance novels, but Lexi and Zeke are different. They learn to be honest with each other, and their struggles and pasts add real depth to their characters.

Overall, it was a fun read. It didn’t quite tug at my heartstrings, though, and at times the pacing felt a little slow. I’m also still not sure how I feel about the climax.

I stayed up till 1am reading Swept Away because it was irresistible. I’ve never read a romance like it!

It was mostly an adventure novel, about two people stranded at sea. But as Lexi and Zeke try to stay alive… there are some sweet & sexy moments interspersed.

Swept Away by Beth O'Leary was such a delightful surprise! The story is fun, heartwarming, and a bit unexpected in the best way. I loved how the characters’ relationship unfolds in this quirky, off-the-beaten-path adventure. It’s full of charm, humor, and a good dose of romance, but there’s also a deeper layer of personal growth and healing. O'Leary’s writing is easy to get lost in, and I found myself really rooting for the characters. If you're looking for a feel-good, page-turner with just the right mix of light and heartfelt moments, this one’s definitely worth a read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the arc of this book!

I love all Beth O’Leary’s books. I loved the premise of this book- it really carried the book- so creative and I love a forced proximity trope- and a house boat! Perfect. It starts off light but hits a lot of heavy topics which is often true of O’Leary’s books.
If you like O’Leary, enjoy a rom com but kicked up a notch with some depth to it, this book is for you.

Ever since The Flatshare, Beth O'Leary has been writing fun, creative romance in new and unique settings. Swept Away is no exception! Part romance and part adventure, this book follows Zeke and Lexi as they end up unexpectedly prolonging what was meant to be a one night stand into multiple days out at sea. Will they survive? And will they stay friends, or maybe even more? Get on board to find out!

A one night stand doesn’t end when Lexi and Zeke are literally swept out to sea. I finished this book in one day, I loved their whirlwind romance and didn’t feel like it was forced at all. The only downside for me was the 80% problem. It felt not great and I wish it had been some other problem, but all in all, I really liked them both and their romance

I enjoyed this book more than any romance I've read in quite some time. The situation was farfetched, the stakes were high, and the characters seemed like real, likable people reacting in the way people would in the same circumstances. I'll recommend this to library staff and customers once it's available in our catalog.

This was so cute and different from a lot of romances out there. Loved how realistic this was and how easily you could picture this in your mind.

the main character in this book annoyed the LIFE out of me like i think other people will be fine with her but for some reason she frustrated me a lot and i thought the miscommunication in the beginning was stupid

Wow - Beth O'Leary's latest book is a perfect mix of romance and adventure that will keep you reading late into the night! The story follows Lexi and Zeke, two people who meet by chance and end up stranded on a houseboat in the middle of the ocean. What starts as a simple one-night stand turns into a fight for survival that neither of them expected.

The story kicks off when Lexi, who helps raise her best friend's kid, meets the mysterious Zeke. He's in town dealing with his dad's old houseboat, and they hit it off right away. But their casual hookup takes a wild turn when they wake up to find themselves drifting at sea with no phone signal, barely any food, and zero idea how to handle a boat!

What makes this book special is how real Lexi and Zeke feel. Sure, there's plenty of attraction between them, but as they work together to survive, we get to see who they really are. They open up about their past hurts, their fears, and dreams they've given up on. Being stuck together forces them to be honest in ways they never planned.

The ocean setting adds so much excitement to their love story. Each day brings new challenges - from running out of food to surviving storms - and watching them face these problems together is both nerve-wracking and sweet. The whole "lost at sea" thing really matches how lost they both feel in their regular lives, which makes their growing connection even more meaningful.

There's also a surprise twist near the end that adds a whole new layer to their story. It makes you look at everything differently and shows just how deep their struggles go. O'Leary handles this turn perfectly, keeping you totally invested in what happens to these characters.
This book is a must-read if you love stories where romance meets adventure. It's about finding love in crazy situations and learning to trust again. The way O'Leary writes makes you feel like you're right there on the boat with Lexi and Zeke, rooting for them to make it through both the stormy seas and their return to normal life.

O'Leary has really outdone herself here. The book is fresh, exciting, and touching all at once. It's definitely one of the best romance novels of the year - perfect for anyone who wants a love story with some real adventure mixed in!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this amazing book's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange of my honest thoughts.

I've been sitting here trying to come up with an opening line for this review that will accurately describe how I feel about the book, but every word I can think of falls short. It was heart-pounding, fantastic, suspenseful, swoon-worthy and spectacularly wonderful. It has immediately shot to the top of my favorite books of 2024 list. And that's saying something, since I've read 160 books so far this year.

When Lexi and Zeke stumble onto his house-boat for a one-night stand, they have no idea that they are going to be swept out to sea. But when they wake up the next morning surrounded by nothing but ocean, they must quickly figure out how to survive. Over the course of two weeks they face obstacles that test their strength, while being stripped down to the most basic elements of their human nature. Together they fight to survive while developing a bond that they believe can never be severed.

I absolutely devoured this book, falling in love with the characters while simultaneously feeling sick with worry over their safety. There was a twist about 80% of the way in that I never saw coming, and it added an emotional layer that I absolutely loved. I was on the edge of my seat, eagerly anticipating how the story would play out, and Beth did not disappoint. I couldn't have asked for a better ending. I will be telling absolutely everyone to read this book. You will not regret it!

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley for the arc of this book in exchange for my honest opinions!

3.8. We start off meeting Lexi and Zeke, both honest and open that they are attracted to one another and open for a night of fun. The night of fun quickly goes rogue when they wake up the next morning lost at sea.

Lexi and Zeke definitely had some chemistry there and I absolutely loved Eugene and Lexi’s love of Mae. Zeke also had some very unique perspectives that made his POV interesting.

The premise for this book is there. I can see exactly what the author wanted to do with this plot however, it sometimes fell a little flat for me. The characters are in fight or flight for a vast majority of the book. They are not sure if they are going to survive or even what the next day would look like. For them to fall in love in 11 days really didn’t seem right to me. At day 3 of being stuck on the boat I was really ready for them to be done.

There were some attempts at character growth but so many things kept happening that just didn’t allow for it to be organic.

Overall, I had an okay time and hope the best for Lexi and Zeke.

Thank you to netgalley and Berkeley publishing for this ARC. All thoughts are my own.. #netgalley #sweptaway

This started off really good. A houseboat out at sea with 2 strangers- what’s not to love?

But then it just lacked the excitement that I thought it would have. I also wasn’t really feeling the chemistry between them. I think the premise of this was so promising, but it fell a little flat for me.

It also seemed extremely too long. This could have been about half the length it was. I will try this author again, but this wasn’t my fav.

Thank you to netgalley for this free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I have loved many of O'leary's books, but this one was not for me. I couldn't get into the chemistry. between the two main characters.

This has got to me one of the most unique and original romance books I have ever read! I was so hooked right from the start. This book kept me on the edge of my seat, which I’ve never said about a romance book before, but this had so much suspense to it.

We’ve got Lexie and Zeke who stumble onto Zekes houseboat for a one night stand after meeting in Lexies pub. In their drunken state neither of them tied the boat up properly and the next morning they awake to being out in the wide open sea. From there the story is heavy with emotions from their pasts, family trauma and the whole surviving at sea with extremely limited boat knowledge and resources.

You will literally be reading this story, falling for these characters and their love story while simultaneously constantly wondering if they will survive. I could feel the emotions written in this book. I could feel the fear that these two characters felt while reading these. Beth O’Leary completely immerses the reader into Lexie and Zekes story of love and survival. I truly don’t have anything negative to write. Thank you so much NetGalley for giving me an advanced readers copy of this book. I truly devoured it in two days!

Thank you to @netgalley, @berkleypub, and @berkleyromance for my advanced copy of this book. 🫶🏻

This book was so different from anything I’ve read before. It’s such an alluring premise: getting lost at sea with someone you had a one night stand with. 😳

This has heavier themes than I was initially expecting; it’s not a lighthearted read, so keep that in mind. That being said, I was here for the drama. I was captivated throughout the whole book. I kept thinking that main characters were being put through the WRINGER; they could not catch a break!

There really were quite a few unique and shocking events, including a twist at the end that I actually did not see coming. Who doesn’t love a side of survival with their romance? 🤣

Even though the story starts with a one night stand, the romance after that is a bit of a slow burn. It’s so well woven, though, and truly feels realistic in the face of all the characters are experiencing.

…speaking of characters, I wasn’t a huge fan of the FMC, Lexi. She started growing on me, only for a miscommunication trope and third act breakup to hit at the end, rendering her immature and judgmental. It wasn’t my favorite thing.

Outside of this, though, I really think people will love the ingenuity and uniqueness this book offers. And, come on, have you ever seen such a gorgeous cover?!? 🤩

AHHH! Beth O' Leary is a favorite with many of our readers. Thank you for allowing me to review this... Full review to come!