I won’t lie - there was part of me early on in this book (which is on me for not reading the blurb properly before reading) that went uhh what a weird premise? As if a houseboat would float away…

And then I was HOOKED.

The premise: Zeke and Lexi have a one night stand that they’re both across that it’s ONLY a one night stand. Until they wake up and have a disagreement about who owns the boat, only to discover they’re not longer tied up in the marina…and are now floating away in the middle of the ocean.

And while the premise felt a bit farfetched, I fell in love with them as they started to work out each other and fret more and more in trouble out in the water.

The plot twist at the end too…

HIGHLY recommend this one!

I think that Beth O'Leary's romances are the most realistic around. Sure, it's not everyday that people are swept out to sea on a dilapidated house boat, but her characters and their relationships (romantic, familial, and platonic) don't shy away from the tough stuff and aren't romanticized to just to make a prettier picture. I love that her characters can be flawed and sometimes unlikable yet still so human and completely lovable. I feel like forced proximity can often be hard to do in contemporary romance but this is the perfect set up for the trope. I also really loved the age-gap and one night stand tropes, especially with Lexi being older than Zeke and how they're relationship grew the more they got to know each other and finally to them accepting how right they are for each other. And that epilogue filled me with so much joy to see them finding the best way to be their true selves and supporting each other's dreams and the unusual family dynamic.There was humor and lightheartedness aplenty (as well as the sweetest seagull) but the constant threat of imminent danger kept it real; my heart was in my throat and I was on the edge of my seat for every page. I've now read most of Beth O'Leary's book and this is by far my favourite.

I’ve read a fair few fantasy novels that have important scenes on a boat, some including pirates, but I think Swept Away might be my first contemporary/ romance.

Swept Away is the first Beth O’Leary book I’ve read since The Switch came out and I enjoyed it a lot!

After a drunken mishap during a one night stand, Lexi and Zeke find themselves on a houseboat, lost at sea. Told in dual POV, Swept Away follows their efforts to survive. As they float adrift, they learn more about themselves and each other. About what they want in life and what they’re capable of when they’re not worried about what their friends and family need or want or think. Because there’s nothing like the threat of death to put things in perspective.

Between the light-hearted moments that made me smile and laugh (Eugene! 🐦 ), there were times where I felt incredibly anxious for Zeke and Lexi. I didn’t expect there to be such intense moments of survival dread. I mean, what did I expect from a novel that’s about two people stranded at sea in an old houseboat?

Main tropes:

🛥️ Age gap (she’s older)

🛥️ One night stand to more

🛥️ Soulmates/ right person

🛥️ Forced proximity

I’m always here for forced proximity where the main characters need to work together to survive.

This was just what I needed to nudge me out of my not-quite-reading-slump recently! Zeke and Lexi meet in a pub one evening and end up having what was supposed to be a one night stand, that is until they wake up the next morning to find the houseboat they were in for the night has become unmoored and they're now lost at sea!

I enjoyed the premise, a combo of survival mode (the food!) plus mystery plus one of my fave romance tropes, though the possibility of this being gently Moana-inspired (with soundtrack and all) did cross my mind lol. Not glossing over the fact that this would be traumatic outside of the confines of a romance novel (thinking back to a book I read last year Maurice and Maralyn, don't know if I could survive being out at sea that long!), the human aspect of cooperating towards mutual survival and getting to know one another under renegotiated boundaries, free of the usual baggage and trappings of their real lives appealed.

If being lost at sea wasn't stressful enough, it would turn out that surviving on land isn't all that easy either!
I didn't love the direction the story took at this point, though acknowledge the narrative required another point of conflict that was somehow more challenging than what they'd already encountered. To that end, I did appreciate the author's commitment to seeing through the storyline as Zeke and Lexi exit the bubble of their shared houseboat ordeal and attempt to reconcile their two separate worlds and all the messiness that comes with it. And I liked how it all came together in the end!

Thank you so much to the publisher and to Netgalley for this copy!

Once again Beth O'Leary has SLAYED the romance game. Funny, romantic, and thoroughly enjoyable. Beth is BACK!

Lexi meets Zeke in what she thinks is a one night stand.. until they wake up and realise the house boat they are in wasn't tied up properly and they are in the middle of the ocean.

While they wait to be rescued, each character deals with their own personal struggles. As the novel progresses we see the characters dealing with these but developing a relationship.

Overall, I enjoyed the story although at times I did struggle with the pace being on the slow side. An enjoyable and easy read for fans of Beth's previous novels. I can definitely see this one being another one being made into a movie/tv series.

Beth O'Leary is my happy place, I absolutely love her books and this one is no exception. It's light hearted, cute and enjoyable, while also being captivating and keeping me completely engaged with the story.

Zeke and Lexi are such a gorgeous couple, and UGH forced proximity yesssss my absolute favourite.

I liked the concept, and the adventure added so many extra complexities to the story.

Another winner by Beth O'Leary, thanks for the eARC!!

Imagine the houseboat you stayed on last night with your one night stand has been swept out to sea. That’s exactly what happened to Lexi and Zeke and now they are forced into close proximity as they wait to be rescued.

The romance was super sweet and there were so many tense and funny moments intertwined throughout this story with a huge reveal that threatened to tear them apart close to the end. The first few days they were at sea felt a bit slow and mundane but it soon picked up and I mostly enjoyed this book overall.

I love Beth O’Leary’s creative premises, and this one is right up there!

Trapped at sea adds just the right amount of gravity to this rom com to make it feel satisfyingly unconventional. Whilst a certain suspension of disbelief is required, it’s a refreshing break from more common tropes. The very isolated environment and sense of mortality increases the stakes, and ensures that the focus is truly on the development of Lexi and Zeke’s relationship.

O’Leary’s writing is just as full of witty banter and emotional depth as her previous works. Perfect for anyone looking for a fun, relaxing (though sometimes tense) and heartfelt read.

Thank you Hachette Australia & New Zealand for an advance copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

‘Wake up, you’re trapped on a houseboat with an uncaffeinated, unshowered harpy.’

When one of my favourite rom-com authors brings out a new book I jump at the opportunity to read it.

Swept Away introduces us to Zeke and Lexi. They meet at a pub and hit it off. A one night stand turns in to a 12 night stand. They wake up the next day to the houseboat being no longer docked. It has made it's way out to sea during the night.

It's safe to say I enjoyed this one. You do have to suspend belief for a bit in the story but that didn't stop me from turning the kindle pages wanting more. I found the banter between both Lexi and Zeke top level and who can forget Eugene the seagull. I can safely say you'll get a few laughs when reading. I enjoyed the forced proximity trope.

Thank you Hachette Australia and Netgalley for gifting me a copy for my honest book review.

WOW. I absolutely LOVED this book! It's everything I love in a great romance and more.

Swept Away was full of emotion, humour, suspense, and drama. It's one of the best romances I've read in a while.

Lexi and Zeke had fantastic chemistry, and they were both interesting and complex characters. I loved reading every little bit of their story.

Beth O'Leary writes beautifully. I've yet to read a book of hers I haven't loved. Unfortunately, now I've read all of them, so I'll have to impatiently wait for her next novel.

Fans of Abby Jimenez, Mhairi McFarlane, Sophia Money-Coutts, and Josie Silver will love Swept Away.

I very highly recommend.

5 well deserved stars from me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Netgalley, Hachette Australia & New Zealand, and Beth O'Leary for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

what a refreshing breath of fresh air! this was exactly the romance i needed because wow! the tenderness, the rawness & the stakes! sign me up to reading more of beth o’leary!

4.5 stars!

lost a sea with a one night stand had me curious how it was going to turn out but it was incredibly realistic as we follow the unlikeliest of allies! I’m not the biggest fan of romances who start as one night stands but this was such a phenomenal slow burn! We follow Lexi, our fmc who feels more like a side character in her own life and Zeke, our mmc who is trying to understand how he fits into his puzzle of a family as they try to survive their predicament! the yearning, the tenderness, the hope for a better future, the willingness to do anything to keep each other afloat on the boat and make each others lives better in the future. the romance was beautiful in every sense and was heartwarming with witty banter and hope on the horizon.

this was such a memorable story with its unique setting and a glimpse of the hardships that survivors go through when lost a sea. observing how hope slowly withers into a low flame and accepting a certain fate. this adventure was eye opening as there are definitely themes that would resonate with so many individuals.

the plot twists throughout (especially the end) gave me whiplash & definitely had me crying at points! and don’t even get me started on the ending!!

read if you like:
- reverse age gap
- unique setting & high stakes
- one night stand
- slow burn

Thank you so much to Netgalley & Hachette Australia & New Zealand for the arc!

"Lost at sea . . . with your one-night stand"

After a one night stand, Lexi and Zeke wake to find the houseboat has become unmoored and they're lost at sea, with no power and minimal supplies. Can they find their way back home?

I enjoyed this one! Zeke and Lexi were super fun, and even though the premise was a bit far fetched, it still kept my attention! I liked that there were a lot of tense, emotional parts instead of being a full romcom all the time. I like that they always work together to find a solution to their lost at sea problems, and are genuinely kind to each other.

I totally didn't guess the little twist at the end (maybe it was easy to guess and I read with my eyes shut!).

[Minor spoilers] Zeke is about 8 years younger than Lexi (from memory), which for the most part is not an issue - until one part where Lexi thinks about him as "just a kid". And then later they're discussing a bad relationship Zeke had, when he was 16 and the woman was well into her twenties. Which may well happen in real life, but they kind of brushed past it instead of taking a moment to consider how bad that is.

3.75 stars rounded up to a 4.

Thank you Hachette ANZ for an earc, all opinions are my own!

This was such a unique concept. Imagine waking to find you are stranded in the middle of the ocean with your one night stand and no help in sight 🙃

This is the reality for Lexi and Zeke, whose bond develops from there in a really lovely manner thanks to their predicament. There were heartwarming moments (hello Eugene), moments of peril, and a twist that I saw coming far too late.

Overall, while it was indeed enjoyable, it doesn’t top some of my other reads from Beth.

I’m a huge Beth O’Leary fan and love her books and this one delivered the goods.

Zeke and Lexi meet at a pub and have a one night stand on a houseboat… they did not expect to be swept away and stranded on this houseboat for days and days!

This was a unique setting and you’d think ‘oh how unrealistic’ but it really sucks you in and it’s such a wild adventure! I loved it! It was a fun way for them to get to know each other, face some difficult situations, as well as entertain us with their cheeky banter and chemistry.

I loved both characters, their strengths and their weaknesses, I feel like they both really grew while being stranded out there as they came to terms with some of their issues from the past.

The twist at the end was unexpected, not sure it was necessary, but the book as a whole was a beautiful, romantic adventure!

Thank you so much @hachette for this early copy!

I was lucky enough to receive as an ARC 🥰

Beth O’Leary delivers another charming and heartfelt romance with Swept Away, blending humour, adventure, and slow-burn romance in an utterly unique setting.

Zeke and Lexi were meant to be nothing more than a one-night stand. He’s in town briefly to reclaim his late father’s houseboat, and she’s far too busy helping raise her best friend’s daughter to even think about dating. Their night together was supposed to be an escape—until it turns into an unplanned voyage when a simple miscommunication leaves them adrift at sea.

Stranded together on an untethered houseboat with limited supplies, Zeke and Lexi’s predicament forces them to rely on each other in ways they never expected. What starts as a frustrating mistake soon becomes an opportunity—because with nothing but time and the open water, they begin to truly see each other.

As survival instincts kick in, so does something else: undeniable chemistry. But when the tides shift, and reality sets back in, will their connection last beyond the adventure?

O’Leary masterfully crafts a fresh and immersive love story filled with witty banter, emotional depth, and a setting that adds both tension and intimacy. Swept Away is an unforgettable read, perfect for fans of forced proximity, unexpected love, and stories that remind us that sometimes, getting lost is the best way to find what you truly need.

Big thanks to Hachette for a copy on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
When a one night stand gets swept out to sea, anything can happen….
UK romcom writing sensation Beth O’Leary is back after a year off with a delightful, hilarious romance on the high seas.
Swept Away is a narrative that will leave you with a smile.
Lexi and Zeke meet at the pub.
One drink after another leads them to a few too many and they stumble home to the houseboat on the river.
The next morning, hungover, tired and ready to go their separate ways they find that the vessel has drifted out to sea.
Will they be rescued sooner rather than later.
Or will the incident take a turn towards love….
A forced proximity romance with laughs, mishaps, survival and unexpectations.
The witty banter and chemistry between the two leads oozes, having me totally invested in their out of the box love story.
I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed this story.
Sail away into the sunset and enjoy your reading adventure.

I'll read anything Beth O'Leary writes and was ecstatic to get an arc. The scenarios she creates are insane in the best way. Lost at sea with your one-night stand? It shouldn't work but it does.

The MC's Lexi & Zeke are so fun and well-written, and the setting was so well done that it played into my anxiety of being lost at sea - I actually loved them in survival mode.

I didn't particularly love the twist and the end, but that was just a personal preference.

Thank you to Netgalley for the arc.

There is truly nothing like getting "swept away' by a gorgeous rom com. See what I did there? Get it? Get it?

Beth O'Leary is back to her absolute best with this one. I absolutely LOVED it and could not put it down. This is the story of Lexi and Zeke who find themselves lost at sea on an old houseboat following a one-night-stand. Of course there's more to it than that, but I am no spoiler giver!

I adored both Lexi and Zeke, even tho at times I thought he was a little too good to be true - but it's a romance so BRING IT ON! He was just lovely, and slightly younger than Lexi, and there's nothing wrong with that I say (*cough cough*). I loved their banter, their honesty and their whole adventure together.

This one comes out next week and if you are looking for an Easter Holiday read - this is the one! So fun, so engrossing, and so sweet. Thank you so much to @hachette for the gifted ARC, and also to @netgalley for the ebook.

My sixth Beth O'Leary and she's another autoread author for me.

This book was what all-encompassing love should feel like. A little messy, sometimes complicated but at the end of the day they know they have eachother and that’s what matters. This book featured plot twists I never could have predicted, a forced-proximity trope and so many beautiful moments that had me tearing up. The relationship between the MMC and FMC was truly beautiful. Without spoiling too much I love how these two strangers faced a plethora of challenges and still knew how to be there for each other which is how real love should be. The story flowed so easily and I was so caught up in all the beautiful details of the scenery and the two of them and just when things seemed to calm down we were thrown through another loop and it felt like I wasn’t even reading because I was so immersed in their story and wanted to find out what would happen next. So If you’re looking for your next strangers to lovers, forced-proximity book that is guaranteed to have you bawling your eyes out (in a happy way of course) this is the book for you!!