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.

Zeke and Lexi have a one night stand that turns into a 12 night stand when their houseboat becomes adrift in the ocean. They face several challenges while trying to survive with little food and water and no electricity or way to call for help. They do have lots of time in a small space to get to know each other and maybe fall in love.
I enjoyed the forced proximity and watching the relationship develop. Zeke was a pretty interesting male character and I liked seeing him grow. I still am not convinced 12 days is long enough to fall in love. There is a twist towards the end that I didn’t like and that took away from the book for me. Overall an enjoyable contemporary romance.

Lexi and Zeke hook up on a houseboat and find themselves lost at see the next morning. With nothing in sight and the awkwardness of the morning after the two are stuck trying to survive on the food and water that they have on board. The days pass, they face some dangerous situations but also find themselves getting to know each other, and developing some real feelings.

Great premise, right? Unfortunately there were just too many things that I found unrealistic. I couldn’t relate to their situation or understand their motivation. I was hoping for more humor, it was quite heavy at times making it hard to believe. It had some cute moments, and I am a huge fan of the authors work but this one isn’t for me.

2 ⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

3.5/5 ⭐️ (+0.5 for the reveal at the end)

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

After reading The No-Show around a year ago, I fully immersed myself in Beth O’Leary’s work. All of her stories are incredibly well written and bring out some of my favorite aspects of characters; all the rawest parts of them while navigating unthinkable or difficult situations that might occasionally bring out the best and worst in us. In that sense, Swept Away really takes that and runs with it. I honestly think my biggest gripe with this story is that after a while, the days feel very repetitive… Which I do rationalize IS the point, but I just found myself skimming a bit once we entered into the later half of Zeke and Lexi’s days at sea. Overall though, the dynamic between the pair justifies their feelings for one another in a big way that I think some other romances tend to lack due to what can sometimes feel like a forcing of the relationship, and this becomes all the more wholesome upon the ending. Interesting, suspenseful, and genuine.

I love Beth O'Leary's books because she writes such real, flawed and relatable characters and this book was no exception. This was such a fun premise and such an interesting take on "forced proximity". A one night stand on a house boat that gets swept out to sea - while it initially sounds like a romantic setup, this quickly turns into a tale of survival, overcoming trauma together, complicated family dynamics and finding your "person". While this was one "worst case scenario" after another - it was such an interesting look into how little certain "big" things matter when forced to contend with a potential life or death scenario. Its a little about survival, a lot about finding our inner strength and a lot about finding love amidst the unthinkable. This is perfect for those who enjoy forced proximity, age gap and mostly closed door romance (a few "fade to black" scenes).

Read if you like:
- Forced proximity
- Strangers to lovers
- One-night stand with consequences
- Survival romance
- Emotional healing after loss
- Dual POV
- Age-Gap Romance

Swept Away drops two very different people— at sea on a runaway houseboat after a spontaneous one-night stand. We meet Lexi who is dealing with the feeling of loss of a close friendship and closeness to her niece, Zeke who is battling demons tied to feelings of being different and the weight of family secrets.

Lexi, 31, who’s constantly putting others’ needs ahead of her own, cuts loose with her one night stand with Zeke and then learns all too well during their time trapped at sea that in order to take care of those you love, you also have to take care of yourself and allow yourself to have wants and needs met by others.

Zeke, 23, a wandering soul unwilling to settle down as he runs from his feelings of never belonging and wondering if his dad is even his dad, especially after the passing of his dad recently.

What starts as a lust-fueled encounter for them both, quickly turns into a survival story that forces both characters to confront past wounds, shifting life goals, and each other’s truths.

The tension is high, both in the romance and situationally with being lost at sea. The pacing is relatively quick moving from one anxiety filled moment to the next with the fears for them both due to being lost at sea and all the challenges they faced because of being stranded.

Thanks to Berkley and PRHA for my ARC and ALC of this one! If you like emotionally driven and high stakes romances I’d definitely recommend this one!

Huge thank you to @prhaudio @betkleypub @netgalley for an advanced audiobook copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is a story that sucked me in. A one night stand on a house boat goes awry when they are lost at sea. This is a harrowing tale at sea and I loved Zeke and Lexi and rooted for them.
Just when they are rescued and I thought the story was close to being done there was a huge twist that I never saw coming, which I always appreciate!

A one-night stand turns into a shipwrecked surprise when Zeke and Lexi wake up adrift on a houseboat. With no land in sight and only a few supplies, they must navigate survival—and their unexpected connection—while stuck at sea. Love wasn’t the plan…but neither was floating off into the sunrise together.

This felt immersive—not in the near-death-at-sea kind of way—but in how the setting and stakes mirrored the emotional work of building a relationship. I liked it. Zeke and Lexi’s backstories made them feel realistic and lived-in. I normally avoid one-night-stand tropes, but here, it sadly made sense.

The story felt fresh (maybe I just need to read more survival romances?), and that uniqueness alone kept my attention. I can see why this would be five stars for some and four for me—just a matter of personal preference when it comes to some plot and character elements. But the writing, creativity, and anticipation will definitely hook any romance lover.

The audiobook is excellent- highly recommend this format!

I picked this up because The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary is one of my favorite romances (definitely read this if you haven’t yet!) and while Swept Away didn’t wow me like that one, I’m excited to see what Beth does next, especially with Berkley!

Perfect for you if you like:
Only two (present) characters
Near death experience romances
Deciphering through their pasts
British romances
Unique found families

Similar to:
The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
The No-Show by Beth O’Leary
One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid

⛔️fade to black romance
⚠️lost at sea with threat of death, cut wound, previous death of parent, head trauma fall, near death experiences, parental infidelity (past)