I liked this!! Literally my nightmare: one night stand turns into accidental adventure partner when you get swept out to sea?? No thank you😳 But a very fun concept to read in a romance book and not horror.

I didn’t love the characters to start. I wasn’t really vibing with either of them and was kind of disappointed in how unwilling they were to work together. And then it felt very insta-lovey with the change to not hating each other. Both Lexi and Zeke grew on me as the book went on, but I still wasn’t super invested. Also I’m all for suspending some parts of reality, but I couldn’t get over some of the things they did, especially with the oil rig?? There were several moments that pulled me out of the story.

Overall a fun read, especially if you’re up for suspending reality quite a bit in a tense situation. Her other books are definitely a step up from this one imo!

✔️ One Night Stand
✔️ Forced Proximity
✔️ Black Cat / Golden Retriever
✔️ Family Drama
✔️ Danger Banging
✔️ Family & Found Family

It was supposed to be just one night, but the one hot night on a houseboat led to Lexi and Zeke adrift at sea with no way to get back home or contact help. Neither of them have strong survival skills but they're both plucky and determined to make it out alive (and why not fall in love in the process).

The plot was entertainingly stressful, particularly because these two felt very real. They weren't experienced sailors and they weren't totally goofing it up in a madcap way. They were regular people trying to do their best and hold it together in an awful situation. This made for fascinating character building/character reveals.

I love a black cat / golden retriever combo and it worked well here because at the end of the day, both Zeke and Lexi are natural caretakers and they both stepped up when needed. You can't help but like them and root for them.

I think this is the steamiest of Beth O'Leary's books and I am here for it! I think I would have been disappointed if it was fade to black after all that work! 😆

Overall, a really great adventure romance and a perfect beachy read (provided you're not on a scary boat ride).

Steam 🔥🔥
Banter 🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️
Swoon 💕💕💕💕

I really enjoyed The Flatshare, this is my second Beth O'Leary book since, and I think she may have been a one-hit wonder for myself. I'm not a huge romance reader so I wouldn't say this was bad by any means, just not quite engaging enough for an occasional reader of the genre.

Swept Away by Beth O’Leary
4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⚓️🚢💙💕
ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Beth O’Leary delivers her most engaging novel yet with Swept Away - a captivating, heartfelt story that begins with a bang and never loses momentum. This is, without a doubt, my favorite O’Leary book so far.

The premise is refreshingly original: two strangers, Lexi and Zeke, find themselves stranded together after what was supposed to be a fleeting one-night encounter. What follows is a tender, emotionally layered exploration of connection, vulnerability, and the families we’re born into versus the ones we choose.

Rather than front-loading character exposition, O’Leary lets Lexi and Zeke reveal themselves gradually, deepening their arcs as the story unfolds. Their emotional growth feels authentic, and their bond is both believable and deeply moving. I particularly appreciated that the narrative didn’t shy away from emotional expression - the “I love you” moment arrives without delay, and it feels earned.

And then there’s the twist - brilliantly executed and completely unexpected. I was floored. It’s the kind of reveal that pulls the rug out from under you in the best way - not for shock value, but in service of deeper thematic resonance.

This isn’t a trauma-heavy survival story, but rather a beautifully balanced romance with just the right amount of tension, vulnerability, and warmth. Swept Away proves that even in the most uncertain circumstances, love has a way of anchoring us.

Everything about this book was so unbelievable and maybe even a little long but the ending started to pick up and it became more interesting. There were small bits and pieces that I thought were nice but I didn’t care much for the characters.
Overall, I just wasn’t able to feel their chemistry and I didn’t really connect with them as characters. There’s no way they could have fallen for one another in such a short time… if anything’s its situational attraction or a relationship of circumstance? Lust? They had no choice but to get to know one another because they were stuck together. They said I love you to each other insanely fast and I just couldn’t buy any of it. Also they both got hurt and I also thought that threw things off… because was this about surviving or a romance? Lastly, the plot twist was odd and I didn’t like Penny’s behaviour.

I really wanted to love this one, but it wasnt the one for me. I need to give it another chance when I am in the correct mood to read it. I have always enjoyed this author's reads in the past.

4.5 stars. Beth O'Leary can almost do no wrong! She has such an enticing writing style that draws you in and makes you feel for each character. I also love a good dual POV. I loved both characters and how they were equally strong for each other but also vulnerable. The added sense of mystery/despair/adventure of being lost at sea kept me coming back for more. The only thing that bumped this down a half star for me is the added conflict at the end. I don't think that was necessary and added too much drama and complication. I wish the conflict could have just been them dealing with being back in reality again together despite the culture shock. That would have been enough for me. They already went through so much, that it felt like a pile on to just add one more thing before the end of the story.
But all in all, beautiful writing, great story, intriguing plot, and likeable characters.
Highly recommend!

Beth O’Leary has my HEART. Was this a fluffy romance or a tense thriller? I could not decide because why was I SO STRESSED. But I loved this book. I will recommend Beth’s books until the end of time!

Zeke and Lexi meet at a bar and have a one-night stand on a houseboat, only to wake up the next morning and find it has drifted off to sea. They are stuck at sea for weeks and have to work together to survive and get through the issues they encounter.

In general, there were pacing issues with the book. The author did add some character depth to both Lexi and Zeke and a lot of the story centers around getting to know them both, but I just couldn't connect like I thought I would. I thought the author did a great job showcasing the obstacles they had to overcome, and I also enjoyed the ending.

Thank you NetGalley, Berkley Publishing, and the author for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 stars (rounded up!)

I loved the forced proximity in this book (and the whole concept!)
However, I wasn't a big fan of the execution (and am not a big insta-lovey girl!). I found myself not loving either main character and just not really connecting with the story as a whole.

Beth's writing was phenomenal and I can tell that she has talent. I'm sure other people might love this book- the thriller-y x romance vibes ATE. I can't wait to give her other books a try!

Adventure romances add such a fun element to your standard romance book, and I enjoyed the suspenseful elements and rooting for these characters to make it back home.

Beth O’Leary’s books seem to be hit or miss for me (my favorites being The Switch & The Flatshare). But this one is more of a miss for me. While I liked a lot of this book, I also felt a little uninvested at times

Swept Away was more of a suspense romance than romance. I tandem read this with audio and it made me feel like I was trapped on the boat with Zeke & Lexi. It was an immersive experience and I’m not going to lie. It gave me some anxiety, but I couldn’t stop listening because I needed to know what happened. This was a very unique story and I thinks fans of Survivor or Lost would enjoy this.It’s a little high stakes, it’s got a shock factor, & forced proximity.

It also unlocked a new fear: lost at sea. 🛥️


Thank you to NetGalley & Berkeley Publishing Group for an eARC in exchange for an honest review

Was I swept away by this seagoing tale like Lexi and Zeke were by The Merry Dormouse?

Not so much. The narrative was off balance for me. Too much Lexi and Zeke alone at sea and not enough of their adjustments to being back on land.

Here are three things I liked:

🎧I checked out the audio book from Libby to pair with a digital ARC. Connor Swindells and Rebekah Hinds really brought the characters to life in alternating viewpoints.
🧒Little Mae made me laugh out loud more than once. Such a charming little girl and Lexi's motivation for getting back to land. I wanted more Mae!
🪽Eugene, the seagull, added some levity and lightness to the days at sea.

This is not my favorite titles from Beth O'Leary. The one-night stand concept was not a winner for me and would have passed if I had not been a fan of this author. For the record, my personal favorite title so far has been The No-Show.

Thank youj to Berkley and NetGalley for my digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve read most of Beth O’Leary’s books, and have enjoyed them all, albeit some more than others.

Today I finished Swept Away, where a one night stand turns into many more when the houseboat Zeke and Lexi are on isn’t secured properly, and they drift out into sea.

What was a casual encounter obviously turns into something more, as they fight to survive and hope for a rescue. They both have deep issues to work through, but they find that they make each other better. But when they are finally rescued, something is revealed that Lexi can’t get over, and she ghosts Zeke.

While most of the book was good, this part - the dreaded third act breakup - was difficult to get past. The character who was at the root of this problem was so infuriating, and didn’t seem to own up to hurting so many people. The impact seemed to be glossed over at the end, a bit too tidy, and just made me really annoyed.

Overall, this wasn’t my favorite of hers, but it is a good read for a summer day, despite the frustrating ending, just maybe not if you’re on a boat…especially a houseboat.

I can always expect a Beth O'Leary book to have great characters, intriguing plots, and emotional depth. Swept Away was no exception, but it wasn't without a few rogue waves that almost tipped it overboard. I had some issues with the slow character growth and the believe-ability of the story, but I should have known that O'Leary would steer things in the right direction. By the end, I was fully invested in Lexi and Zeke's quest for survival and budding romance.

Even though they are stranded out at sea this was more of a feel good romance than a suspense romance. Both characters were likeable and easy to get to know. I appreciated how they also tried to get to know each other rather quickly as they were stuck together and decided to make the best of it. While I'm not usually big on third act breakups I did like the twist at the end. I honestly didn't see that one coming.

Swept Away drew me in with its gorgeous cover art. I’m a fan of Beth O’Leary’s writing and so I couldn’t resist giving it a try.

Beth O’Leary is a talented writer, I enjoy her writing style so she’s one I always want to pick up. I have found that while I enjoy her writing her books are a mix for me - some I’ve loved and some just haven’t been for me.

In the case of Swept Away, I found the premise intriguing but the story itself just didn’t work well for me personally. The story pacing felt slow and I didn’t really connect with either of the mains. When this happens, I tend to struggle to stay engaged in the book and don’t feel as compelled to keep going.

I think long time fans or those that are drawn in by a stranded vibe will definitely enjoy. Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read an early copy.

I liked this even though it's not the kind of romance I normally read. It was a little too dramatic for me, I normally prefer lighter funnier books. But if you like your romances more serious and intense then this might work for you.

As a fan of Beth O'Leary's previous work, I was excited to read her latest.

The lost-at-sea survival plot caught my attention too, reminding me of a middle-grade novel I had enjoyed a few year ago ("Deep Water" by Watt Key). I think the survival plot was handled well -- it was genuinely suspenseful, and I thought the characters' increasing desperation was written believably. The combination of romance and survival is well balanced, but I do think readers who are looking for a romance may be surprised by the intensity of the survival plot and readers who are looking for a survival story may not be expecting so much romance.

I also didn't particularly care for the plot twist that happened at the end of the story.

Overall, I would not necessarily recommend this one to Beth O'Leary fans looking for something similar to her other works, but I think it could appeal to fans of survival stories and romance suspense who would enjoy the romance-survival hybrid.

the start was a bit slow but it was a really sweet book and that plot twist at the end really reeled me in!!! Love beth o'learys writing! thank you for the eArc!