What a gorgeous, gut-wrenching, high-stakes story. I read the flap copy and was immediately hooked, but gave little thought to what it actually would mean for the characters to be lost at sea. O'Leary took great care to make it as painful and healing as possible, never shying away from the trauma while also creating space for romance to blossom.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I liked the idea of this book more so than the execution. A one night stand on a houseboat doesn’t end because the boat gets swept out to sea while the pair are asleep. The cover and synopsis make it seem like a romcom, but it was a much heavier story than that. The emotions felt very real and overall it was different from anything I’ve ever read!

Some aspects of the plot simply didn’t work for me. His family’s deepest darkest secrets are hidden on the houseboat with them in the middle of the ocean? They haven’t showered in 10 days and yet still want to hook up WHILE the boat is rocking in the middle of a storm? It was just a bit much at points. Too much of it was simply too outrageous for me.

Beth O’Leary delivers another gem with Swept Away, a captivating mix of romance and survival that will keep you turning pages late into the night. The story follows Lexi and Zeke, whose chance encounter leads to an unexpected adventure when they wake up stranded at sea on a houseboat. What starts as a casual hookup quickly turns into a fight for survival—and a deeper connection neither of them saw coming.

The isolated ocean setting mirrors the characters’ emotional journeys as they confront past wounds, fears, and dreams they’ve let go of. Watching Lexi and Zeke navigate both the challenges of survival and their growing feelings is heartwarming and nerve-wracking in equal measure. O’Leary’s ability to craft realistic, layered characters shines here, and the twist near the end adds even more depth to an already gripping story.

This book is perfect for anyone who loves heartfelt romances with a side of adventure. I would highly recommended for fans of stories about second chances, resilience, and finding love in the unlikeliest of places.

Really liked the concept of this book. A one night stand gone wrong… due to a series of drunken unfortunate miscommunications, Lexi and Zeke go to bed on a houseboat and wake up in the middle of the ocean. I found it hard to believe they’d drift off that far without anyone else in the maria noticing, and I also find it hard to buy that this houseboat literally has 0 flares or communication devices…. But ok let’s continue.

This book was fine. I did like the main characters, I liked the high stakes setting. I liked Eugene the bird. I thought the pacing was a little odd and I also think this book could have been like 100 pages shorter.

Overall it was cute and I’m not mad I spent a Saturday morning reading this.

Thanks Beth O’Leary, Net Galley and Berkley Publishing Group for an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!!

DNF @50%

I can't do this anymore. What is wrong with those two!! They're isolated in the sea/ocean. He's badly injured, and the wound is INFECTED, and all they think about is, "Wow, s/he is hot I want to bang him/her!!" It's not realistic at all

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕻𝖗𝖊-𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

Thanks, Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for the eARC 🫶🏻

This book was an absolute delight. This was my first Beth O'Leary title and I am now going to add her other titles to my TBR. Swept Away evoked so many emotions: happiness, suspense, romance, hope, fear, sadness, but they were portrayed brilliantly through the main characters Lexi and Zeke, as well as many of the secondary characters. This story made me feel so alive: I felt as though I was experiencing the events right along with the chracters. A truly stunning, incredible, reflective read. Highly recommend.

As much as I am a diehard Beth O’Leary fan, this book did not hit me in the same way as her others. The first 200 pages or so was mostly character development via dialogue, and I think that the age gap got brought up too many times for such an insignificant part of the plot. The chemistry and bond between the two characters were palpable, and the care they developed for one another during their survival story was tender and warm. However, this very much gave me “Castaway” vibes and it felt a bit repetitive at times.

I didn’t really know what to expect when I first jump on board (pun fully intended) and it just blew me away. I loved the emotional complexity of Zeke and Lexi and their very honest conversations about their own struggles.
My only con is that the ending felt a bit rushed but I still loved it!
10/10 recommend to any romance lover

Thank you to Net Galley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

There hasn't been a book written by Beth O'Leary that has left me unsatisfied. Swept Away is another title in her repertoire that is a unique plot with incredible characters and I couldn't put it down. I don't know how she's able to come up with better and better romance stories every time, but she does!

This was truly a surprising book, with the premise jumping out at you immediately. It’s reminiscent of Speed in the sense that a traumatic event can cause people to bond faster than almost anything else.

Now going home with a one night stand on a houseboat to find yourself adrift at sea? Consider that a life match. Not exactly a meet cute but even better.

It was hard not to fall in love with these mismatched characters and their balancing of one another. While still being terrified of their situation the whole time - thank goodness Eugene was there for comfort.

To use a sports analogy I have no business using: WHAT A COMEBACK FOR O’LEARY!!!

Her last felt soft to me, but this one HITS and HITS HARD. Don’t read this book if you’re looking for a stress-less escape, because O’Leary writes high stakes adventure like she means it. And I want more of it. This was the perfect adventure/romance combo, and kept me engaged from start to finish, despite being fairly closed-door.

In short: yes, yes, and yes to this.

I adore Beth O'Leary and while this isn't my favorite of her books, I am SO GLAD IT EXISTS!
You get an age gap romance (where the woman is older, and the fact that I have to clarify that for you should say everything you need to know about why that matters!) Like all of O'Leary's romances there is an element of finding yourself that I just always feel is expertly done. While the setup is wild ( a houseboat drifting off to the open sea! I do know from her newsletter that she properly researched this so it IS plausible just totally wild!), the pay off, in my opinion, is excellent! It is a perfect summer read!

Now I want you to know this if you're going in as a purely romance reader. This is a suspenseful story. O'Leary's books always straddle the line between fiction and romance and that is why I love them, but if you're just looking to be *swept away* in a romance pause this one and come back when you're ready for a bit more!

4.25 stars!

Age-gap romances with older women are coming out more and more lately, and I'm INTO them. I LOVED The Idea of You with Anne Hathaway on Netflix?!! So when I saw Swept Away was coming out, I wanted to sweep it up immediately!! What I liked most about it was the idea that a woman who had a hard time of things could recapture a little of her youthful vigor and also find someone to rely on. I think there's a general perception that all young men are... *bros*, but there have to be responsible younger fellas out there!!

Rating Notes: 3.5/5 - Rounded up to a 4. This book is entertaining and had me thinking the whole time - even if there were parts that I definitely wanted to skim through. There are also a couple of scenes that just seem super unrealistic and kind of silly while on a boat..? Overall, though, it's very well written, and the story flows easily.

**Thank you to Berkley Romance & NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤

I really enjoyed this one!

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Pub for my advanced copy of Swept Away.

What I Loved :

❤ The Romance : Age gap but the woman is older and I don't see a lot of that in books.
❤ The Plot : Unique. One night stands stranded at sea is something I definitely haven't read before.
❤ The Characters.: with the circumstances and forced proximity we were really able to get to know Lexi and Zeke.
❤ The Adventure : This book was a bit of a rollercoaster.
❤ The Ending.

Why This Book Lost a Star: There were parts of this book that had me too on edge and that's all I can say with out spoiling it lol.

Overall : Recommend. I look forward to reading whatever Beth O'Leary decides to publish next.

Beth O'Leary has done it again - her latest, "Swept Away" is a real charmer!! I really liked this tale of two virtual strangers, Lexi & Zeke, who get swept out to sea after a one-night stand on his late Dad's houseboat. Besides the rom-com & forced proximity trope, there's some action/survival as well. I did think it was a bit off in the pacing here & there, but still quite enjoyed the read. Many thanks to Net Galley & the publisher for my advanced readers copy - a pleasure to review it!

I really enjoy Beth O'Leary's writing style and her past work. With Swept Away, she is really trying something different with her characters and plot, and I admire her efforts. Yet, something didn't quite work for me. Perhaps I went in with incorrect assumptions, but this was certainly less of a romance and more of a survival story between two people with romantic potential. This was not a "cutesy" story. The events that occur on the houseboat are quite dire and serious and the book synopsis and cover certainly give off more "romcom" vibes than it is.

Swept Away by Beth O'Leary is a charming and delightful romance that had me hooked from the very first page. The story follows two very different characters, whose unexpected connection leads to a heartwarming and transformative journey. O'Leary’s writing is witty, emotionally resonant, and full of heart, capturing the nuances of love, loss, and second chances in a way that feels both fresh and comforting. The setting is beautifully described, and the chemistry between the main characters is undeniable, making this a story that’s equal parts sweet, funny, and deeply touching. I loved every moment of it and couldn’t put it down—highly recommend for anyone looking for a feel-good, emotional escape!

Beth O'Leary is such a masterful story teller. Her books appear to be one thing on the surface but are so much deeper than they seem. I had high expectations for this book, and Zeke and Lexi's story didn't dissapoint. It would make a great book club pick!

I'm a big Beth O'Leary fan (The Flatshare is a favorite), but this one wasn't a good fit for me. I enjoyed the adventure, but I wasn't sold on the romance, and the story dragged. At the 50% mark, I was almost certain the couple had a connection beyond their one-night stand, so I paged ahead before I DNF'd. I was right, and not a fan of that plot point. I'd give this 2.5 stars, but I'm upping it to 3 because I don't think the twist will bother many readers. In the end, I'll pick up O"Leary's next book because I think she's a strong writer capable of wonderful chemistry between characters.

this is totallyyyyy on me for not reading the synopsis but judging this book by the author, as i have heard nothing but good things about beth o'leary, so i decided to check out her latest release. i think this one personally was not my cup of tea, as forced proximity on a boat in survival mode stresses me out more than it romances me. while it did give them great development, the characters themselves did not have me invested and that was another factor in my disinterest. i will, without a doubt, still read more from her as well as recommend this for people who find this intriguing!