Hmm. This one is hard to review. I think for me the whole story was too rushed. There was a depth and heaviness the plot and subject matter that I feel like got overlooked. And it all happening in less than two weeks was too quick for me. A little too insta lovey. And they are sort of trauma bonded in a way that it makes you question the insta live even more than normal.

That being said it was a cute book. I didn’t really love either character and the age gap and Gen Z slag was cringe. But if you ignored those things their relationship was cute. It definitely held my interest and was intriguing. I wanted to know how they would get off that boat and what would happen to them. I didn’t love the plot twist at first but the epilogue was super cute and made up for it. Mae was my favorite part thing in he whole book and Lexi’s devotion to her was her most likable and relatable characteristic and I wish they would have spent more time reflecting on her and Mae.

So overall, I liked it but I also had problems with it and I’m not sure really what else to say. I definitely think it’s one of those that’s up to the reader and you have to give it a chance and see for yourself what you think.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC of this title. I'm a big Beth O"Leary fan. I've read all her books (I believe). But let me tell you, I was not expecting this one! All her books are a wonderful love story and a wonderful adventure - but WOW! - Swept Away was an adventure on top of adventure on top of adventure (and a love story). I found myself thinking about these characters (and where I left them - eek!) during the day and couldn't wait to get home to keep reading. I think it's really challenging to find a book that feels really fresh and different while still giving you romance. Swept Away definitely is fresh, fun, wild, sort of terrifying, passionate - just WHEW! Loved it!

Lexi and Zeke think they're just on a wild one night stand with a stranger. The next morning begins an adventure neither of them expected or were ready for. Swept Away is a lost at sea adventure that grips you both with the developing relationship between the two, as well as the tension of their survival. It's a beautiful example of how to make the most of a bad situation, and to be present and brave in your life.

Lexi and Zeke, and their tumultuous 'meet cute' are going to stay with me for a long time.

This may be my favorite Beth O’Leary book so far! And I have loved her previous books (especially the Flatshare, the Switch). But this book is not just a simple romance. Instead, a one night stand on a houseboat leads to a heart-pounding adventure, lost at sea. November 2024 was a hard, bleak month, and this book helped me through it. I got lost in the story and wondering what would happen next. I loved the main characters, Lexi and Zeke, and really cared about what happened to them. I didn’t feel the usual sense, as in all HEAs, that the conclusion was inevitable, which really kept me glued to the pages. If you are looking for an absorbing, emotional and heartfelt book, don’t pass this one up.

This was such a unique & deep book. Really enjoyed getting to know these flawed and lovable characters. The adventure and quest to survive was exciting and hard to put down. Writing was great.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the advanced digital copy - all thoughts are my own.

Thank you for the ARC! Unfortunately this wasn't my cup of tea, and I DNF'd (for now). Maybe I'll return for another try when I'm more in the mood!

This was an interesting take on a romance, defenitely less fluffy than most since it was life or death stuff. I thought the character development was well done. I did feel that there was too much of the story on the water that didn't need to be there, but not so much I would say don't read it.

There are a few spicy scenes but they are short and not detailed.

I was swept away by Beth O’Leary’s latest romance, which takes place on a houseboat lost at sea after a one-night stand. Lexi and Zeke each have emotional crossroads to face, and they are forced to reckon with them together while they fight for their lives for 12 days.
I knew they’d get rescued and probably have some kind of happy-ever-after, but I didn’t anticipate the challenges along the way, the twists, or the suspense I felt wondering how they’d ever get out of this pickle.
I read this quite quickly because I had to know what happened next.
Thanks to the publisher for the advance copy—I love this author!

Beth O’Leary strikes again! I am always enthralled with her stories because she manages to create such unique plots that I would have never thought of. Swept Away is no exception and it had me going through every emotion I didn’t know I could feel in a romance. As per usual her writing is just perfection and I was struck by the amount of thought and care that must have gone into this. I did not expect this book’s twist even though I should have, she always throws a twist in there! If you love a book with some beautiful romance and emotion along with a little bit of suspense and survival … this is for you! Thank you to Berkeley Publishers and NetGalley for the eARC :)

Beth O’Leary is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. Her stories are always so charming and uniquely hers, I am obsessed. This book wasn’t my favorite of her whole collection but it was still remarkable.

O'Leary's Swept Away is just another example of "why" this author is one of my favorites to read.

Imagine you are lost at sea with the guy you pick-up at the bar for a no holds bar night of passion? That's exactly what happens to Lexi and Zeke on a houseboat they both have memories. Their open-sea adventure is filled with tension, emotions and harrowing feats that test their growing love for one another.

O'Leary gives the reader a reverse age gap love story, that's pleasantly refreshing in a contemporary romance. This couples HEA is not smooth sailing but its realistc with an unexpected twist. The scene stealer is definitely Eugene, the rescue Seagull.

Thank you, Berkley.

This novel is a departure for O'Leary, I think, because of how primary the setting is. I wondered how she was going to pull this off when I was halfway through and the setting hadn't changed. Exciting, poignant, romantic!

Beth has done it again! I will read anything by this woman. I do not give out 5 stars easily but 5/5 - Swept Away was fantastic. I went in blind and I'm so glad I did. I feel like I lived through the adventure of this book and I couldn't believe THE TWIST. So hard to pull off a great twist in a romance. So so good. I have already purchased this for our library and I will be recommending. Also - if you haven't read The Flatshare by Beth....GO. Right now. I'm already dreading starting my next read when I'm still living in Swept Away. Book Hangover for sure. Thanks so much for letting me read and review!

Ok, so parts of this had odd pacing and some of it didn't make total sense but I still loved it. Obviously this is going to be made into a movie... Right?! It would be SUCH a good movie. The whole time I was reading it, I could picture it and I would 100% watch this. Can we cast Anna Kendrick as the lead and... Maybe some funny young dude as her co-star? I'm already making plans to go see it so somebody needs to make this happen!

Imagine stumbling to your houseboat for a one night stand and waking up the next morning out to sea. Realizing something went very wrong for this totally not sea worthy boat to be floating and not docked, you try to figure out where you went wrong. Oh, and who is the stranger you went home with last night?

Taking stock of emergency supplies, life vests, a radio, etc and realizing you have NOTHING is totally cause to panic. But what good would that do? Cuteness and chaos ensues and it's just a fun read.

Read this if you don't mind a little far fetched fun.

Thank you to netgalley for a copy to enjoy!

I don’t normally read this kind of book, but a friend recommended it. It was well off my usual track. With the way the world is now, this kind of diversion is very much appreciated.

ℕ𝕖𝕥𝔾𝕒𝕝𝕝𝕖𝕪 𝔸ℝℂ ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨: 𝕊𝕨𝕖𝕡𝕥 𝔸𝕨𝕒𝕪🌊⛵️

Thank you so much @netgalley, @berkleypub and @betholearyauthor for the opportunity to read and review this book. 🫶🏻

I had not read a Beth O’Leary book before this novel, honestly what’s wrong with me, this book was amazing! I will be reading more of her books in the future.

I will admit the first 80 pages I thought the pacing was a bit off, but the concept and chemistry between Zeke and Lexi kept me going. Once they were officially lost at sea and singing drunk to Disney music I was hooked, sneak peek at that romantic scene on the cover. I also loved that Zeke was described as a Bridgerton looking guy (someone get Luke Newton on the phone if this becomes a movie!)🎬

This was an age gap romance which is something I wasn’t expecting, but I was surprised in a good way. Despite their differences both Zeke and Lexi were struggling with the direction of their lives, moving on from the past so that they can fully embrace what they want in the next chapter of their lives, which is something I can relate too.

Also did I mention that there is really cute seagull sidekick? Anyway when this book comes out I highly recommend my romance girlies check it out. 🫧🌊⛵️

Genre: Romance
Spice: 🌶️
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Who Will Love This Book?
🌊 readers who like an age gap romance
🌊 readers who saw Cast Away and loved it
🌊 Disney and Bridgerton fans

#SweptAway #NetGalley #ARCReview #qotd #bookblogger #readersofinstagram #readerlife #bookstagram #booklover #eread #kobo #readinginthebath #cutecup #fish #shellpainting🖌️🐚🐠 #netgalleyreads #netgalleynovember #booknerd #booknerd #bookcommunity #bookrecommendations #romancereader #bridgerton #disney #agegapromance

A one night stand on a houseboat leads to multiple days and nights lost at sea. Lexi and Zeke learn how to survive in harsh conditions all while drawing closer together emotionally. As they become friends, they share their struggles back at home and what they want their life to be, if they survive.

The characters were endearing. O'Leary does a fantastic job of digging deep into their feelings. The characters quirks and fears are relatable and realistic. I enjoyed the forced proximity and romantic tension it brought to the story.

As a whole, this book was entertaining and filled with drama to the very last page. I love O'Leary's books, but this one wasn't necessarily for me. My critiques of the book relate to overall pacing of the story, and the sudden reveals in the last quarter that felt a little forced and were there more for shock value. However! This is a story that I think many people will enjoy. It's not often that a romance book includes risk of severe injury, emotional trauma, and death for the main characters.

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

I got completely engrossed in this book and stayed up way too late to finish it. But I had to know if everyone was okay! Beth O'Leary's new romance is original and somewhat high-concept: imagine that you have a one-night stand on a houseboat, and in the morning you wake up to find that you've drifted out to sea. You have no power, no cell signal, and no way to get home. You are now trapped with a virtual stranger, whom you must depend on for survival.

This is O'Leary's best work since The Flatshare. I look forward to seeing what she comes up with next.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

I’m a big fan of this author and this book made no exception! The perfect book to read in the summer! Loved the chemistry between Lexi and Zeke! I’m always a sucker for forced proximity and this book did it perfectly. Highly recccomend

There is just something about Beth O'Leary's books that I love. You get to laugh a little, learn something a little, and at the end of the book sit back with a contented sigh. Swept Away is another such book where hilariously enough the girl was supposed to knot the ropes of the houseboat to the bulkhead . . . and instead somehow tied them to themselves and the next morning her and her one night stand find themselves "swept away" in the middle of the sea. Such a cute rom-com book about life and what it throws at you and how you react to it. Another solid read by Beth O'Leary.

Thank you to NetGalley, Beth O'Leary and Berkley Publishing for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinions. Pick this fun book up and enjoy a couple of nights at sea learning how to survive with no phones, a small leak and loads of fun.

4.5 stars!

Only Beth O'Leary could write something this unique and pull it off!!!!! This was a masterclass in the beauty of forced proximity and real love doesn't need much time at all to be true. My anxiety has never been so high during a contemporary romance before. O'Leary is so cinematic in her writing that I felt as if I was lost at sea with no end in sight with Lexi and Zeke and falling in love despite the risk of dying. Such a fun read and I cant wait for whatever Beth O'Leary has up her sleeve next!