I really loved this book! I was immediately invested in the characters and story. I really enjoyed reading from both Zeke and Lexi's point of views. The entire concept of this book was so unique and fun, and I honestly read it in one sitting. I couldn't stop reading. This was my first Beth O'Leary book and now I want to read more. I really loved how complex the characters were and how their stories interwove. This couldn't have been an easy book to write but it was done very well.

Beth O'Leary has remained a consistent, auto-buy author for me and this trend continues with SWEPT AWAY.

Lost at sea in a houseboat with last night's One-Night-Stand? Totally original. It had a bit of a slow start, but then it was go go go. There is tension on the high seas- between Zeke & Lexi as well as their quest for rescue. I appreciated the blend of adventure/thrill along with their chemistry filled love story. The 3rd act "twist" was pleasantly expected yet also unique.

MORE:
Reverse age gap
Emotional chemistry
Adventure/romance
Bit of a mystery/scavenger hunt
Swoony, sweet and harrowing
A fellow reader described it as " Think Life of Pi meets a Jennifer Aniston movie." Best description ever.

This book hooked me from
Chapter one and re-hooked me in the final third part of the book!
I’ve read a couple of O’Leary’s books but this one tops them all!
The chemistry between Lexi and Zeke from the beginning had me intrigued and then the rest of the book was a treat after!
Complicated, realistic characters brought together in crisis. Age gap, soul searching, drama& trauma at sea. I adore this book!
Highly recommend!
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Beth O'Leary's latest romance novel "Swept Away" blends intimate character study with survival drama. While O'Leary's previous works like "The Flatshare" and "The No-Show" masterfully balanced quirky setups with deep emotional resonance, this story of a one-night stand turned survival situation doesn't quite achieve the same harmony.

The Setup
The novel opens promisingly with Lexi and Zeke, two people with opposing romantic goals, meeting at a pub. Lexi seeks no-strings-attached fun, while Zeke hopes for lasting love. Their chemistry leads to a passionate night on a houseboat, but their morning-after awkwardness takes an unexpected turn when they discover they've drifted out to sea in the North Sea.

Strengths
+ Original Premise: The concept of forcing two virtual strangers together in a survival situation creates natural tension and strips away social pretenses
+ Initial Chemistry: The early scenes between Lexi and Zeke crackle with sexual tension and opposing motivations
+ Writing Style: O'Leary's trademark wit and sharp dialogue remain evident in the characters' interactions
+ Atmospheric Setting: The author effectively conveys the isolation and danger of being lost at sea

Areas for Improvement
+ Pacing Issues: For me, the middle section of the book dragged a bit. The story is heavily weighted toward the at-sea portions, leaving less time for exploring the aftermath and relationship development on land

+ Relationship Development: The romance feels stunted by the survival situation - it's difficult to believe in deep emotional connection when the characters are primarily focused on staying alive

Verdict
"Swept Away" demonstrates O'Leary's willingness to push beyond traditional romance novel boundaries. While the initial setup is promising and the writing remains solid, the extended survival sequence overshadows the romantic elements that typically make her work shine. Readers may find themselves, like the characters, eager to return to shore. It does stil still showcases her talent for creating memorable characters and situations. New readers might be better served starting with her earlier novels, which better demonstrate her ability to balance unique premises with satisfying romantic development.

It isn’t like Lexi to leave the bar with a one-night stand, but things have been strange lately since she moved onto a houseboat and out of her old place. She finds herself stumbling back to the boat with Zeke, a bit of a lost and enigmatic patron at her bar, and after a night of blissful connection, they wake to find up they’ve drifted out to sea. With no telephone connection, no sea knowledge, and truly strangers to each other, Lexi and Zeke have to fight the elements and work together, desperately trying to make it home.

OMG. What is this book?!? I haven’t read anything like it, really, that I can remember - it combines so many lovely different story elements - readers see the fumbling connection of two strangers in a bar, then forced proximity, a thrilling man v. elements main plot, a slow burn romance, and truly glorious dose of character development for both of them. I love Beth O’Leary’s writing style, and while Flatshare is my absolute favorite of her novels (that I’ve read thus far) this one has eeked into second place over the Road Trip. There were moments I had to step away from the thrill/terror/introspection that the plot forced into my brain - I started reading this as a rom-com and realized once I was in it, it was so much more - and it made me TRULY UNCOMFORTABLE, but in a delightful way. I highly recommend this novel! You will absolutely fall in love with the characters, their chemistry, and the unique adventure they go on!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Only Beth O’Leary can make being stranded on a houseboat with a one night stand full of laughter, tender moments, and love. Lexi and Zeke will hold a special place in my heart.

This is a book that stays with you. A story full of hope and love that makes you want to hold onto all the small moments in life.

This is what I call a "Golden Ratio" book. It has the PERFECT balance of three main components - adventure, romance, and humour. I can't even begin to tell you how much I enjoyed this book. I would willingly lose my memories if it meant I could read this for the first time again.

First off - the plot was unique and got my attention from the first page. I mean, a one night stand that leads to them getting lost at sea? Who WOULDN'T want to read that?! Lexi, very much a black-cat FMC, and Zeke - a classic golden retriever MMC - will steal your heart from the first page. It's so obvious from the get-go how both of these characters are loving, caring people. Lexi has sacrificed so much in order to help support her best friend financially, and emotionally, when she unexpectedly got pregnant. Zeke is an absolute sweetheart who has gone through so much inner turmoil since he was always the "odd one out" in his family. Seeing both of them grow while simultaneously trying to survive was enrapturing and I couldn't get enough of it.

There was not a single moment throughout reading this that I felt bored. From the start, I was curious to get to know the characters better and was immediately hooked as Lexi and Zeke meet at the bar. From there, the action starts when they wake up the next morning only to find that they are lost at sea. Every chapter would bring on a new challenge the two would have to face, and the anticipation of what the next obstacle might be kept me at the edge of my seat.

Not only that, but I LOVED that there was a bit of a double-anticipation - 1) how would they survive, and 2) when would they give into their feelings for each other? It was a beautiful, heartfelt story about growth and facing your past, as well, which just added to the impact this book had on me.

I've been a huge fan of Beth O'Leary's work ever since I read "The Flatshare" back in early 2022, and then became a DIE HARD fan when I read "The No Show" a few months later. Her words always find their way to my heart, leaving me looking blankly at the wall for a solid 30 minutes with tears in my eyes once I flip the last page.

I desperately want "Swept Away" to become a movie... can you imagine how thrilling this would be? I'll start manifesting now!

Thank you so very much to the team at Berkley for blessing my eyeballs with this masterpiece. You did me a solid favor with this e-ARC, especially since it got me out of a MASSIVE reading slump that no other book was able to cure.

I was so invested and enjoying this story up until the ending. It really took me out of the story but how misplaced and not needed the twist was. Sad it fell flat but was still a fun and well written read.

Honestly, this is a hard one for me to review. I ate up the first 80% of the book. I went into it blind, but I'm a huge fan of this author so I felt good about it. This felt very different from her normal books but I was loving the adventure, the seriousness, I was really on the edge of my seat. When they were found, I read it over twice with tears in my eyes because I could really feel their anguish followed by shock and profound relief, and i was so so happy for them.

AND THEN

Wow, I honestly HATED the twist. It felt like taking a fantastic story, and throwing a classic romcom miscommunication trope at the end of it to completely ruin the first 80% of the book. Pulling lexi away minutes away from one of the biggest moments of her life- reuniting after being rescued, so many people wanting to cheer her on, camera crews available- and penny pulls her away to cry about her own things? Yeah nooo... basically until the epilogue, the rest of the book felt so off to me. It could have been them figuring out life with their families without the added need for that twist and I would have loveddd it.

the best use of the forced proximity trope!! There was humor mixed in with some deeper topics as Lexie and Zeke try to get to know one another since they end up spending several days together.

I love Beth O'Leary and 3/4th of this book were a 4 star read. The last bit about him being her friend's baby daddy was so not it. I found it to be such a let down. Also let's normalize not every book ending with a pregnancy. Will I read the next Beth O'Leary book? Yes, but I probably won't recommend this one to library guests.

When a one night stand turns into a sparkling romance while lost at sea, Lexi and Zeke get a lot more than they bargained for. Part sizzling romance, part sea faring adventure, Beth O'Leary does it again with an epic romance that is sweet, tender, and extraordinary.

5 stars. i loved this. i have had mixed feelings with o'leary the past couple reads, but now i am in it. the cover, the banter, the romance, ALL top tier. i've always liked o'leary's writing and swept away is no different. this blew me away and i am so thankful to have received an arc. cant wait to buy the physical copy <3

I was really excited to get approved for this ARC because I have really enjoyed Beth O'Leary's books in the past. This one started out really good, but I found that I was too stressed the majority of the book to really enjoy this. I also have personal baggage with this because a friend of mine lost her dad out to sea. I'm sure if I didn't have the anxiety reading the book or spent time thinking about my friend, I would have enjoyed this more.

This was my first book by this author and definitely will not be my last! It was such a fun read and I really enjoyed the characters a lot.

In this adventurous rom com, a one night stand turns into high stakes survival when Zeke and Lexi are on a houseboat that becomes lost at sea. After their night of passion, they go to part ways only to discover that land is nowhere in sight. They quickly develop a friendship as they come to depend on one another for survival, but they decide that it shouldn’t go beyond a platonic level. After long nights at sea, they both begin to question that decision as rescue prospects seem further out of reach.

This was my first book from Beth O’Leary, but now I want to snatch up her entire backlist! Wow, I loved this book and devoured it so quickly. The combination of a one night stand with the survival element and forced proximity and caretaking was perfection. I loved the characters, the humor, the banter, and the balance of intense moments with lighthearted ones. This book was just what I was in the mood to read and would make an excellent choice to bring along on a vacation or even just a perfect weekend read.

Thank you to Beth O’Leary and Berkley Romance for the arc and opportunity to be an early reader and reviewer.

3.5 stars

I have so many conflicting feelings about this story.

The premise of two strangers being swept out to sea on a house boat after a one night stand is fantastic. The forced proximity, the hurt/care, the dangerous situation making all their feelings that much more intense.. all of that was gold. I loved the romantic tension between them, the will they won't they, it was great! The humour was great as well. Oh and this is an age gap romance and she's older!! loved that.

I did like the characters, but I felt like they could have been explored in more depth. I didn't really connect to either of them.

My true issue with this book, and why I can't give it more than a 3.5 star rating is the last maybe 25% (I didn't think to check where I was at while reading). I feel like where the author chose to go with the story was unnecessary, and unfortunately didn't work for me..

I would say overall the story is great, with funny and sweet moments between the two characters, and really great romantic tension. I would still recommend it, but I'm sure I won't be the only one who feels the way I do about the last quarter of the book.

Truthfully, Beth O’Leary could publish her grocery list and I’d rush to read it! I was so excited to be approved for an arc to read ahead of publication (thank you, NetGalley!) and, as usual, she didn’t disappoint. Lexi and Zeke meet at the bar that once belonged to Lexi which she recently sold. They agree to a one-night stand, on his nearby houseboat. Or is it her houseboat? They never sort that out, and it really doesn’t seem to matter, because, one night only, right? Except when the morning arrives, they are horrified to realize the boat has drifted from its mooring, and they are stranded at sea without power or cell signal.
Now Zeke and Lexi must work together to survive on a boat which holds strained memories for them both. Zeke just bought his dad’s boat again after selling it five years earlier, hoping to find answers to questions he’s wrestled with his entire life. Lexi has just moved out of the home she’s shared with her best friend, Penny, and the little girl, Mae, they raise together after Mae’s father abandoned them.
The daily struggle against the elements and their growing feelings for one another brings urgency to Zeke and Lexi’s tale. Can they maintain their boat long enough to be rescued, and will life ever be the same again? Do they even want that? I loved this story! My biggest issue was balancing the desire to savor the adventure slowly (how long until O’Leary’s next book??) and to devour it to learn the surprising outcome. Well done! Highly recommended.

Lord this book had me SWEATING from stress 😅

As someone who is terrified of the ocean, if I were in a situation like Lexi and Zeke, I can tell you I would’ve been of zero help. I would’ve been consistently scared and worried. So props to them for keeping their cool during high stress times lol.

But anyway! I loved this one. Even amidst all the chaos Zeke and Lexi got to know each other on such a level maybe nobody else has. Their conversations always felt natural, genuine, and they connected to each other on a soul level. This books took so many twists and turns but they were the BEST team! If I ever get stranded I need a Lexi or Zeke by my side. I love love love love them.

This is my fourth Beth O’Leary book, and it’s another win. Her concepts are always so unique and they keep you engaged the entire time. I’m always lined up to see what she does next!

I was late to work because I could not put this book down! There was more adventure than I was expecting-Lexi and Zeke had to work hard to stay alive. I liked both of them as characters and felt like they both matured during their ordeal. I've enjoyed all of Beth O'Leary's books and look forward to reading more of them.