Lexi and Zeke venture onto a house oaf for a one night stand. From there it all goes wrong (or right) as they get swept out to sea. From drunk strangers they have to get to know each other fast . Being alone leaves them exposed - strengths, weaknesses, fears, problems they all get discussed when there's nothing else to do. Can they survive and get home?

At first this is classic rom-com fodder (which is fine) but it develops as Lexi and Zeke are willing to open up to each other. Their survival really does feel in danger at times with careless accidents and devastating storms. It's an interesting combination of two contrasting characters confined in a small space.

Beth O'Leary has once again crafted a captivating romance that defies expectations. While I'm not typically drawn to the "stranded-together" subgenre, I was completely swept away by this story of Zeke and Lexi, a couple who unexpectedly find themselves adrift after a one-night stand.

Despite an eight-year age gap, their relationship feels authentic and grounded, with both characters offering unique strengths and challenging each other to grow. Zeke, with his infectious passion and charisma, beautifully complements Lexi's steadfast loyalty and cautious nature.

Highly recommend this entertaining and heartwarming read.

DNF for me. Felt so obvious and I was not interested in either protagonist. I’ve loved Beth O’Leary’s work previously especially The Flatshare and The Switch but her last two, The Wake Up Call and this (Swept Away) have both been DNFs for me. Desperate to love her writing again

I adore a romcom, but Swept Away is so much more than that. It has Beth O’Leary’s signature wit and warmth, but what really stands out is the way she weaves in suspense and emotional depth without losing that essential spark. The trauma at the heart of the story is handled with such care, never overdone, always deeply human and the character development is some of her best yet.

I can’t even imagine how difficult it must be to write a book set mostly in one confined space, but O’Leary does it brilliantly. The claustrophobia adds to the tension in such a clever way, making every shift in emotion feel sharper, every revelation more powerful. It’s compelling, heartfelt, and still manages to be wonderfully romantic. Five stars, without a doubt.

I loved this! It was quite stressful given the whole life or death situation, which I wasn’t expecting, but I adored the romance. Would recommend!

Swept Away follows Lexi and Zeke who agree to a one-night-only relationship after meeting in a pub of a small town. However, after a night spent together on a houseboat in the nearby marina, they wake up to find themselves in the middle of the ocean with no land—let alone another person—in sight. They are forced to work together to deal with the situation at hand as well as face the issues that each of them has been blocking out in their real lives.

This was the most terrifying but beautiful adventure of my life. For me, the most amazing stories are the ones where my brain can slot itself right into it and feel everything as though I’m there too. Beth O’Leary did an amazing job at creating an atmosphere that kept me on edge the entire time with anxiety and dread at the thought of being lost at sea but also kept me lured in with excitement for how Lexi and Zeke’s relationship was going to progress in the most dire situation. This atmosphere was so well done because I truly believed the circumstances that were happening and didn’t find it to be a stretch of the imagination even though some of the plot would realistically not play out this way in real life.

This is one of the most nerve-wracking experiences to imagine yourself living through but I almost never wanted it to end purely because of how much I enjoyed witnessing these two characters push past everything that was holding them back in life while simultaneously falling in love with the other person for the exact traits they thought were the worst parts of themselves. There was a pit in my stomach the whole time that switched between nervousness for their survival and giddiness for their stolen touches, and this was the entire reason I could not put this book down.

I can absolutely see why Beth O’Leary kept bringing herself back to this story because it is one that is going to stick with me for a long time now. I am absolutely recommending this to everyone in life as soon as it is released <3

Thank you to Quercus Books for allowing me to read the e-arc on NetGalley!

Super grateful to Hachette for providing me with an advanced reading copy of this one, for those of you who are familiar with my reading patterns you'll know she's an auto-read for me

"It's giving - I lost my mind at sea"- (page idk I didn't write that down).. yeah same girl

I was ready for this book to be done around the 30% mark, while I didn't hate the characters and the lost at sea / forced proximity thing was fun, I just spent the whole time reading wanting them to just be rescued and get it over with (as I'm sure the characters also wanted).


I read somewhere that Beth said she wasn't sure if she could pull off the 'lost at sea' thing, and well girl you did, but it's also a topic that doesn't really have much going for it and maybe that's why people avoid it?? Just to put some words on the page every day they're lost or so there's a spanner thrown into the works and it was kinda boring? Crazy girl accuses dude of wanting to murder her because he has a set of chef knives.. because you guessed it.. he's a chef! injured teen seagull appears, crazy girl stabs dude with his kitchen knives, wound becomes infected, crazy girl reads hidden letters dude told her not to because they're personal?!?! Okay maybe I didn't love the characters? Zeke seemed a lil different than every other romcom love interest though and I did appreciate that. And I also enjoyed the lil plot twist at the end but it also felt like it was thrown in there as a plea.. "sorry this lost at sea thing was boring (because how much can really happen while stranded in the ocean?) here let's spice it up!"

Idk I didn't love this one and find myself forever chasing the high that the Flatshare and the Switch gave me.

Beth o’Leary is one of my auto buy authors so I was so excited to read swept away in advance, and it did not disappoint.

The idea of being swept out to see with someone you had a one night stand with sounds far fetched, but I could actually imagine it as the story went on.

I loved the alternating POVs of Zeke and Lexi as you really got to know both characters, and I really believed in their love story. Unlike a lot of romance stories there wasn’t the big miscommunication trope and the characters organically fell in love. Yes they had some obstacles to overcome when they got back to land but how they reacted felt so real.

I really needed to be swept away with a romance book and Beth O’Leary delivered with Swept Away.

In a nutshell, boy meets girl and hook-up on a houseboat, said houseboat drifts out to sea. Will their relationship sink or float.

The book centres on Zeke, a good looking young man, and the slightly older woman Lexi. The book unfolds from their different point of view, which was very enlightening and entertaining. I read it in a day and loved every second.

This is ripe for a Netflix adaptation.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Quercus, for making this e-ARC available to me in exchange for a fair and honest review.

My first book of this author and it didn’t disappoint. I enjoyed getting swept away with Zeke and Lexi’s romcom-adventure.

Thank you NetGalley and to the publisher Quercus Books for the ARC.

I absolutely loved this book, I had to finish it within 2 days, it was such an addictive read. An absolute must read and a definite contender for best rom-com of 2025. I really, really hope this becomes a film adaptation, I’ve completely fallen in love with the characters and need more of them!

In Beth’s author note she writes that she hopes we’ll enjoy this book and get Swept Away and this is just what happened! Absolutely devoured this book in one sitting, falling in love with Lexi and Zeke and of course Eugene and The Merry Dormouse! Wouldn’t think that a two handler would be so enthralling but absolutely was - without spoilers I winced, I cried, I gasped and I celebrated!

Beth you genius! Thank you for writing such amazing books and characters we can all fall in love with together. Next one please!

"Swept Away" is a high concept, high stakes romance - a fantastic mix that'll have you swooning AND on the edge of your seat at the same time. It's fun, it's fresh, and it's really ambitious. Highly recommended!

Due to be published on 8 April 2025, Beth O'Leary's highly anticipated next book will live up to all of your expectations!!!

I feel so so blessed to have received an ARC via NetGalley. Ever since reading The Flatshare many years ago, I fell in love with the author's ability to create flawed, loveable characters who self-develop throughout their own stories.

Swept Away follows the story of Zeke & Lexi who find themselves lost at sea following a one-night stand on a houseboat.

Ooooobviously there's the perfect amount of romance and willing for the characters to fall in love, but one thing I love about the author's writing is her ability to make the mundane seem so opportunistic and the smallest of settings seem so full of possibilities.

I love love LOVED this book. I would read O'Leary's shopping lists at this point. A must-read author for all of my devourers of romance out there!! (it also had a twist that I did NOT see coming, but maybe I was just too blinded by the two main characters to see).

I have read everyone of Beth olearys books, and enjoyed this just as much as the others! The premise of this book was unique and felt like it brought the characters together in their survival!

4.5 stars!

Thank you so much to Penguin Books and NetGalley for the ARC!

When I found out that Beth O'Leary, one of my favourite authors, was releasing a new book I had to get my hands on it immediately! I have read all of her books and own all of them as well, so I was super excited to read this months before the release date.

'Swept Away' is very different compared to her other books. Sure, it is a fun romance book that touches on a lot of deeper themes compared to her previous novels. The central romance characters' dynamics were so uniquely different. There was so much character growth, for both of the characters and it's so refreshing to read books that show the characters' challenges and how they can overcome it.

I have nothing more to say. A true romance writer, that's what you are, Beth O'Leary. I cannot wait to read what you publish next and I know I'm going to love it.

One night of passion turns into a wild survival story when Lexi and Zeke get stuck on a drifting houseboat. Sparks fly in more ways than one as they navigate the unpredictable seas and even more unpredictable feelings.

Beth O’Leary’s newest novel continues her tradition of fun romances with a touch of depth to them. Unfortunately, I just really wasn’t a fan of this concept.

I definitely think that this is personal preference and that some people might love this one, but I can’t get behind a romance set entirely on a boat. Most likely because being stranded is a bit of a fear of mine and I just really don’t like boats.

Considering this, I’ll talk a little more about the characters and writing instead of the concept. I really liked our MMC, and found the FMC to be just fine. In saying that, I enjoyed their dynamic and I would say that the romance plot was good. However, I do think that setting it over a week made it a little unbelievable. O’Leary’s writing was good as usual and I liked her injection of humour alongside more serious elements.

If this concept sounds good to you then I’m sure you’ll like this one. Romance readers should give it a go, but make sure to check TWs before reading. 2.5/5

I love Beth’s writing really enjoyed this! The balance of romance and adventure was great and I loved how Lexi + Zeke challenged one another. The character growth and plot had me engaged the entire time.

What a book - I could not put it down

Beth O'leary is one of my autobuy authors - i would read her shopping list if she published it