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!

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.