In general I loved this book. Imagine this: you have a one night stand on a houseboat. It is not properly tied and drifts out to sea.... good luck. Two seemingly meant to be characters defying odds and learning to work together as a team. Is it just me or did you want to slap Penny at the end there? Luckily it all worked out.
Thank you for this ARC.

unfortunately i decided to dnf this at 50%. i thought the concept was really fun but i couldn’t get into it. i didn’t connect with the characters and i was really pushing my way through this before i decided to stop reading. my favorite character was the seagull. some of it was funny but it didn’t feel like a romcom to me, there was so much going on with them getting hurt and i just felt like they weren’t being careful enough. i know it’s a book but i do like it to feel somewhat realistic and this just was way too far fetched for me. i also didn’t love how lexi kept referring to zeke as basically a child. i’m not super into the reverse age gap trope and that gave me the ick. i will definitely try reading another one of beth o’leary’s books though, i did like her writing style and could see how people would enjoy this one but it just wasn’t for me sadly.

I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ARC provided by Berkley Publishing Group.

What if you were lost at sea with your one-night stand?

Zeke and Lexi thought it would just be a night of fun. They had no intentions of seeing each other again. Zeke is only in town for the weekend to buy back his late father’s houseboat. Lexi has no time for dating when she needs to help take care of her best friend's daughter.

Going back home with a stranger seems like a perfect escape from their problems. But a miscommunication in the dark, foggy night means no one tied the houseboat to the dock. The next morning, Zeke and Lexi realize all they can see is miles and miles of water.

With just a few provisions on the idle boat, Zeke and Lexi must figure out how to get back home. But aside from their survival, they are facing another challenge. Because when you are stuck together for days on end, it gives you a lot of time to get to know someone and to fall in love with them.

This was very different from O'Leary's other books but I loved it. I expected a rom com but I ended up loving the action, raw emotion, and intense chemistry between Zeke and Lexi. I can not imagine this book was easy to write, but O'Leary did an incredible job. Zeke and Lexi are both imperfectly perfect, especially when they are thrown into survival mode because they are at sea together for days. The stressful situation that Zeke and Lexi were in made you root for them straight away. The only reason for me that I could not rate this higher is because there were too many events that happened in such a short span of days when they were at sea. It feel a bit dragged out for me at times. I did find it eventful, but I also felt it was too much at times. This book is now going to be one of O'Leary's book that I will not stop raving about. Highly recommend checking this one out.

Rating: 3.5/5

I’m a little bummed this was a miss for me — there was a lot more “survival” than romance in my opinion but because of that I didn’t really feel a lot of their connection. I can see how some topics would be relatable/touching to some readers and Beth O’Leary is such a great writer full of wit and complex characters— maybe the plot just wasn’t for me? There is a bit of a twist at the end that I felt wrapped up way too quickly/easily. I’m still chasing the high that I got from the Flatshare but unfortunately this one is a miss. Thanks so much NetGalley for the ARC!

Swept Away is about Lexi and Zeke who, on their way to a houseboat for a one night stand, end up *not* tying their boat properly to the dock and are shocked to wake up the next morning to find themselves adrift at sea.

What follows are the adventures, both high and low, of the pair that is desperately seeking to be rescued. But there's no sign of anyone anywhere. Will they survive? Will they fall in love or end up hating each other?

When I first picked up this book (and based a little on the cover art) I assumed I was in for a cutesy chick lit rom com. And while it did deliver on those, it was so much more. The depth of the characters went beyond what I had set myself up for. The slow burn of the relationship between Lexi and Zeke made it both feel more real and truly authentic. I felt like I really got to know the characters while they were getting to know themselves and each other, too. And there was so much adventure that happened in the pages that I kept moving through the book dying to find out what happened next.

I would highly recommend Swept Away for lover of romance, women's fiction, or adventure. I will definitely be picking up more of O'Leary's novels in the future!

Tropes: forced proximity, age gap

Spice: 🌶️

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for sending this book for review. All opinions are my own.

I had so much fun reading Swept Away! The mix of adventure, romance, and heartfelt moments made for such an engaging story, and I enjoyed it from the start. Lexi and Zeke’s dynamic was fantastic, and they had so much chemistry! What starts as a one-night stand quickly turns into something more when they wake up to find themselves stranded at sea. As the panic, disbelief, and realization that they have no idea how to get back sets in, Lexi and Zeke must figure out how to work together and survive days stranded on a houseboat.

One of the things I loved most about this book was the romance. No surprise there. lol Lexi and Zeke's story starts as a one-night stand, and though they're attracted to each other from the beginning, being stuck on a houseboat together forces them to actually talk, open up, and lean on each other in ways they never planned or expected. Zeke’s patience and kindness are endearing, and he's such a cinnamon roll. And Lexi’s resilience and determination are the perfect complement. They challenged each other in all the right ways, and I loved watching their grumpy/sunshine relationship shift from strangers to partners in survival and friends to something much deeper.

The setting added a lot of tension and excitement to the story. There were some stressful moments as they faced food shortages and unpredictable weather, but the humor, banter, and budding romance between Lexi and Zeke kept it from feeling too heavy and balanced the story well. I haven't read many stranded-at-sea romances, and though this sounds like my worst nightmare, it made for a fun read.

Overall, Swept Away was an entertaining read. It was suspenseful and romantic, and the emotional depth is what I've come to love about O'Leary's books. Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Books for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

I loved the premise of this so much! Unfortunately it was ultimately just okay for me. I was expecting a forced proximity romance and we did get that but it didn’t feel like a romance for any other reason than the proximity. I was also kind of bored during a lot of it which is probably just a met problem but I never felt compelled to pick it up and find out what happened.

Also, the last 15% of the book is going to be controversial, and while I don’t mind the cause of the drama, I do care how poorly Lexi reacted to it which led me to believe there was zero character growth despite what they had been through.

I’m 100% sure some people will love this book, so I still encourage you to check it out if it sounds good to you.

Although I now fear getting lost at sea, I really liked this book. The concept was so interesting, and I have no idea how they were able to stay so calm and be so resourceful. I don't think I would survive as long as they did.

I was kind of shocked at the last 30% of the book. It was a plot twist I did not see coming at all. But it did make sense, so I wasn't totally mad about it. But I was flabbergasted because it wasn't even a twist I thought of. While there were a few little things that maybe could have hinted at it, it was not a twist that I could have guessed.

Overall, I really liked the concept and the execution of this book. It was very high stakes, I was on the edge of my seat to see if they would be rescued. I was so worried they would never be found (even though I knew they would be). It was like a good stress though. I was terrified but I enjoyed it!

I love this book! It was my first by Beth O’Leary and I can’t wait to read more. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, and I couldn’t put it down. The premise is so creative, the writing was amazing, and the characters were complex and entertaining. There’s so much sarcasm and humor even though they’re dealing with the dangers of being lost at sea. I love the reverse age gap, and the chemistry and relationship development between Lexi and Zeke.

Read/listen if you like ⇣
•Rom-Com
•One Night Stand
•Reverse Age Gap
•Grumpy x Sunshine
•Forced Proximity
•Lost at Sea
•Adventure
•Dual POV

Thank you Berkley Romance for the ARC!

Thank you Berkley and NetGalley for this ARC!!

4 stars

I have to say that this book is not what I expected, but in a good way! I went into it blind, and I didn't realize there would be so much adventure intertwined with the romance plot. Lexi and Zeke start as a one night stand on a house boat, but when they wake up they find themselves lost at sea. Talk about forced proximity at a new level. There is a bit of miscommunication in the beginning, but It for once didn't bother me. It was more so understandable given their circumstances.

Swept Away has:
-Forced proximity
-Grumpy X sunshine
-Age gap
-Lost at sea
- Starts as a one night stand
-He's a chef

- I will note that the middle dragged on a bit for me. If it was shorter, I would've enjoyed it more.

Rating - 4.5 stars rounded off to 5

Glorious combo of a wildest adventure and swoony romance!

Thanks Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC!

Imagine getting lost at sea on a houseboat? That’s just wild right? That’s the kind of premise the amazing rom-com queen Beth O’Leary has presented us with!

Synopsis -

Zeke and Lexi share a passionate one night stand on a houseboat. But in the morning, they have just sailed off into the wide North Sea. With supplies running low and several life threatening situations getting out of hand, they figure they have more than just a fleeting tryst between them to come to terms with. How will this nightmare end for them? Will it turn into something meaningful?

Review -

Oh goodness, just the setting takes the cake with this story! Kudos to O’Leary for even daring to consider such an idea. But she has done her homework w.r.t the workings of a houseboat, the nautical lingo and weaves them into the book without making it too heavy weight.

Zeke and Lexi hit it off right at the start and their instance chemistry is sizzling hot 🔥! As a natural consequence of their unprecedented circumstance, their bonding deepens with the time they share together. I loved how their relationship was explored with the required nuance and delicacy, despite the short period of their close quarters.

The plot also involves the aspect of age gap with Zeke being younger than Lexi and O’Leary handles it exquisitely, pulling it off along with a cleverly employed forced proximity trope.

Zeke, a junior chef, made my heart sing with his adorable curly hair, unique dressing style and extraordinary culinary skills. I marvelled at his problem solving ability and practical approach to getting around the issues with the houseboat. I might be biased here 😉, but of course Lexi shines in her own way with a spectacular display of courage, resourcefulness and determination towards the end which plays a significant role in their survival.

The ending brought several gasp worthy twists and drama, but overall this was a fun ride that makes you cheer and go “awwww”😍 for this gorgeous couple!

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC of Swept Away. I will be giving my honest review.
3.5 stars!
The premise of this book immediately had me intrigued. Stranded in the middle of the ocean on a non-functioning boat with your one night stand? Sold.
O'Leary did a fantastic job of creating two main characters who felt fully fleshed out and realistic. Lexi and Zeke weren't two-dimensional or shallow or uninteresting in the least. I equally enjoyed both of their POV.
I really enjoyed the progression of this book and the fact that it wasn't an immediate rescue. I liked seeing the struggles, hardship, and unfortunate situations unfold while they were simultaneously growing more attached and enamored with one another and also starting to adjust and almost enjoy their new situation.
However, as soon as they were rescued at around 75% through the book, I just knew that there was a third act breakup coming. And this one made me MAD. I truly was not expecting that little twist to happen, and I truthfully would have rather seen them stuck longer at sea with harrowing situations than experience what drove them apart after they got home. While it tied some aspects of the story together, I really could have done without the messiness of it.
Also, Penny is actually kinda awful and I think Lexi should've been a lot more angry with her honestly.
Overall an enjoyable read, if a little predictable. I have not read The Flat Share by this author, but would definitely be interested in doing so now!

Swept Away by Beth O’Leary
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Pub date: April 1

This was my first survival romance and I was surprised to enjoy it as much as I did. It definitely had a slower pace with more of an introspective character growth plot, but i enjoyed it.

It had several intense moments of suspense and near death experiences, but it’s all pulled together at the end. It’s not a comedy at all, but a serious drama + life or death + romance.

I’ve never read anything like this, so I didn’t have any similar titles to list based off of the plot. The similar titles on the graphic are other books by the same author.

I listened to it on audio and enjoyed the performance! The dual narrators had the perfect accents for both of the characters and soothed my soul. I recommend this format! Thank you @prhaudio for the review copy.

Perfect for you if you like:
Survival romance
Near death experiences
Facing your fears
Strangers to lovers
Age gap - she’s 8 years older
Blended families

OMG do I love Beth O'Leary books. This one is no different. I just love her stories and the way that she writes them. I have read a similar book recently and this one was just so much better. Beth O'Leary has been one of my favorite authors and this one doesn't change that. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a complex, not everything is lovely dovey kind of love story.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced ebook of this book.

Thank you @BerkleyRomance for the free book and thank you @PRHAudio for the #gifted listening copy of Swept Away! #BerkleyBookstagram #BerkleyIG #berkley #PRHAudioPartner #PRHAInfluencer #berkleyromance #SweptAway #betholeary

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐒𝐰𝐞𝐩𝐭 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐲
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐎’𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐲
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬: 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐛𝐞𝐤𝐚𝐡 𝐇𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐲: 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟏, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

𝟒★

Two strangers, Zeke and Lexi, meet in a bar while Zeke is in town for the weekend to buy make is father’s houseboat. Their casual hookup on a houseboat takes an unfortunate turn the next morning when they discover that no one tied the houseboat to the dock the night before, and they are miles from the dock. With few provisions, the two must work together to figure out how to get back home. Over the course of the next few days, the two learn about one another and their past. Suddenly, what was once a one night stand turns into much more.

I really enjoyed this one! I loved the beginning and the end of the book the most. I did find the middle to be a little slow at times, but otherwise, I really adored this one!

⚓️Romance & Adventure
⚓️Reverse Age Gap
⚓️Lost at Sea
⚓️Forced Proximity
⚓️House Boat
⚓️One Night Stand
⚓️Dual POV

🎧I alternated between the physical book and the audiobook, which was narrated by Connor Swindells and Rebekah Hinds. I thought they were both perfect for Zeke and Lexi. I did need to slow my narration speed down a bit from my normal speed, but once I adjusted, I loved these two and my time listening!

Posted on Goodreads on April 2, 2025: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram - Full Review- on or around April 2, 2025: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on April 2, 2025
**-will post on designated date

I’m middle of the road on this book. The premise was very unique and I enjoyed the twist on a forced proximity trope. There was a lot of action but it seemed super farfetched at times which took me out of the story. I liked the heartfelt talks between the two main characters but also felt it was kinda of instalove. Yes they learned about each other but they also had no choice. Finally, the ending twist was unnecessary to me and just made the story convoluted. Overall, it was a fun romance story with a unique plot but there were some flaws.

I’ve been a big fan of Beth O’Leary ever since reading 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗹𝗮𝘁𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 and was so excited to read this one! First off, this cover is absolutely stunning, and I am slightly obsessed with all the different versions that are available! The story felt true to Beth O’Leary’s usual style, while also feeling quite unique and standing out from her other novels (definitely recommend reading them all!). Two strangers, a one-night stand, and an epic adventure, lost at sea...that plot alone was an instant must-read for me! I think initially I was thrown off because my expectations were that it would be basically a continuation of 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗹𝗮𝘁𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲, which obviously it is not. As I got to know Lexi and Zeke, and follow their adventure, lost at sea, I fell in love with them individually but also together. I definitely teared up at some moments later on in the story!

I am such a fan of Beth O'Leary's work, and am so happy to say SWEPT AWAY is another standout!

After meeting each other at a local pub, Zeke and Lexi have a fun one-night stand together in a rickety houseboat. The next morning, however, they are both shocked to find the houseboat has drifted out to sea, leaving them stranded with little provisions and no cell service.

The concept of this book completely intrigued me and it did not disappoint. I loved seeing Zeke and Lexi get to know each other, especially in such a unique (stressful!) situation. They balanced each other out so well, while also encouraging growth and change in one another.

There is an age gap between Zeke and Lexi (she is 8 years older), but thankfully it did not give me the ick. (I tend to not like big age gaps!) Maybe it's because of the characters' personalities, or the fact 8 years isn't <i>too</i> big of a difference, or the fact that the woman is the older one. Whatever it was, the gap didn't bother me. These two felt very much like equals and evenly matched.

I was worried that being with only two characters for the majority of the book would get stale, but the unpredictability of them being on a stranded houseboat added a great pull to the story where there was never a dull moment.

You might need to suspend your disbelief a bit at times, but I thought the story was very well done. I can't wait to see this one come to life on the big screen.

Unfortunately this one wasn’t for me—I was a bit surprised by how intense the at-sea part was, but I think people who want a little more thrill/drama might love this one!

Thank you to Berkley for the eARC!

Swept Away starts with a unique meet-cute. After meeting in the bar Lexi mother used to own and her best friend now runs, they choose the houseboat because each thinks it's theirs, Lexi to use since her friend owns it, Zeke because he just bought it. Drunk and lust-driven they don't realize their misunderstanding. They also don't correctly follow the neighbor's instructions on retying the boots lines. They wake to find themselves out to sea. They're completely alone on a boat meant for living in at the dock not navigating the open ocean. Even if they had the right equipment, which they don't, neither is trained in sailing. The hours turn into days and they are forced to learn to survive their situation. All the while, finding they actually enjoy each other even though they've agreed not to have relations again (not being prudish just don't want to get censored, lol).

While I wondered if a houseboat could really drift that far overnight from where is moored, that nagging question wasn't important enough to make me not enjoy the story as it unfolded. Can these two figure out how to survive with limited food and water rations, the merest medical supplies and no way to make their way back home? As the days drag on it seems the odds are stacked against them, especially after Lexi accidentally slices Zeke's belly open. Lexi is faced with taking on his care and abject fear he'll die on her. Their rescued seagull was a fun diversion. Will he make it? Will they?

The story was interesting, the characters realistic and likable, the growth intriguing and their ability to cope and their will to survive were inspiring. A trip to an oil rig was a chance to eat, have a little fun together, try to get an SOS out and eventually, when all seems lost, to actually facilitate their rescue. I think you'll find it entertaining as well.

Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC.