This review is for Swept Away by Beth O’Leary which releases in the UK on the 8th April! Thanks so much to Netgalley and Quercus for giving me an eArc copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Beth is definitely a must read author for me at this point, as I really love her take on the romance genre. There’s always a nice quirky little twist to her stories which keep them interesting and stand out from the other romance novels I read.

This one is about Zeke and Lexi who have a one night stand on a houseboat, and end up dragged out to sea while they sleep. The entire process was very well researched and written, it was a bit dramatic but actually felt super realistic at the same time.

Zeke and Lexi are very much lust at first sight, but over the days stuck on the houseboat they do make a genuine connection and you can see through the story. Their romance was quite sweet, and was genuinely excited when they began to fall in love with each other (even when one won’t admit it 😂). The twist near the ending actually surprised me, and I loved how the hints throughout the novel all linked together to make it all make sense.

Would definitely recommend this to any survival romance lovers out there, although any who are afraid of deep and endless water… maybe not 😂😂

Swept Away
Beth O’Leary

“You’ve surpassed all my expectations,” she says, her voice fainter now, as if she’s about to fall asleep. “Every single one.”

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

“No. It’s embarrassing.”
“Is it as embarrassing as tying a houseboat to itself?”
“Is anything that embarrassing?”

This was exactly what I was expecting. Easy, feel good romance with a side order of survivalist thrown in.

‘If I survive this, I’ll look back on these days as the making of me, I know i will.’

Although I had numerous thoughts of how someone could have easily changed their phone voicemail to alert people to their situation (you do not need signal for this) and no doubt I questioned how lost they could have gotten from one of the worlds biggest shipping routes… I digress… we don’t read these stories for their logic and facts.

I was undoubtedly still swept away with the tale of Zeke and Lexi.

I absolutely adored The Flat Share and Beth’s newest addition left me satisfied. It’s such a feel good read, a perfect palette cleanser.

Could you live on a houseboat?

I loved the concept of this book-the setting was something new and immersive, the survivalist aspect kept me hooked, and the slow burn romance felt semi realistic in such intense circumstances. Waking up from a one night stand stranded in the middle of the ocean? Bonkers.

Lexi and Zeke’s dynamic had depth, and I enjoyed their forced proximity and tension. But while the writing held my attention, a certain plot point toward the end felt too unrealistic, and overall, I just didn’t enjoy this as much as I’d hoped. Entertaining, but ultimately not as memorable as I wanted it to be.
I do think I will be in the minority, and I would still recommend it nonetheless, it just wasn’t my favorite from this author.

Tropes and themes:
⛵️Reverse age gap
⛵️Forced proximity
⛵️Grumpy x sunshine
⛵️He falls first
⛵️Lost at sea
⛵️One night stand to lovers

Swept Away by Beth O’Leary
I give this book 4.25 stars.

Lexi is looking for no-strings-attached fun with a stranger. Zeke is looking for love.
Sparks fly at the pub, one passionate kiss leads to another and . . . .
The next morning, lost at sea . . . with your one-night stand. How long can they really survive on a drifting houseboat in the North Sea? Will search and rescue find them? And who will they be if they both make it back to dry land?

Totally loved the unique concept of this one, a romance novel with more! The Merry Doormouse, 2 strangers stranded in extremely close proximity and a whole host of problems to endure (including an oil rig) Hours and hours with nothing more to do than survive the ordeal and talk, each of them opening up and the reader experiencing the characters growth as we read. I loved that the author includes both their outer and inner dialogue and I need to give a huge shoutout to Eugene! The writing flows well and for the storyline the pace was spot on. I’ve enjoyed all of this authors books and if you haven’t tried her yet. . . . Why not?
With thanks to Netgalley, Beth O’Leary and Quercia Books for my chance to read and review this book.

Zeke and Lexi share a one-night stand, with no intentions that they will ever see each other again. Zeke is only in town for the weekend to buy back his late father’s houseboat and Lexi has no time for dating when she needs to help take care of her best friend's daughter. However, when they find themselves miles out in the ocean, as the houseboat is not tied to the dock, they find that they need to work together if they are to survive until they are rescued. All the time spent together can either lead to love or dislike.
Despite their age difference, which I initially thought could be an issue, they are both likeable characters who seem to connect. Lexi has had to grow up fairly quickly, having to take on the responsibility of caring for Mae whilst the younger Zeke seemed a bit lost after his father’s recent death. As they faced the dangers of being at sea with the thought that they might not be rescued, it made for an interesting read. Some parts were a bit challenging to buy into, such as the fear that their food would run out, but then Zeke seemed to be always cooking.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

When Lexi and Zeke meet, they spend the night together on a houseboat. But, what they didn’t expect was that they’d get up in the morning and find themselves at sea and no else in sight.

As they have no other option but to spend the time together, they find out more about each other, Lexi tells Zeke about her sister and her daughter Mae. Zeke tells Lexi that he feels that he’ll find some answers to questions about his Dad on the boat.

Something happens on the boat which is bad. Reading it you didn’t know how it would end.

I highly recommend this book.

Beth is a fab author & I really loved this book.

Thanks for the opportunity to read & review it.

I've been aware of Beth O'Leary's books for a while and I'm sorry to say that despite even owning a few of them, that I hadn't actually say down and read one before.

So I have popped my cherry with this author, on what has to be one of the best books I've read this year so far. And I know I will need to find time to read more from the author too.

From the moment I started this book it was on my mind, and I kept reaching for it when I was working until realising I just needed to sit and devour the story instead as I needed to know what happens.

This is pretty much a book of two characters - Lexi and Zeke, who have a one night stand on a house boat and wake to discover the boat has floated out to sea. With no phone reception, and no other boats in sight, this is a mix of a possible close proximity romance, and also a quest for survival.

And I really don't want to say much more about the plot than that, as this is one you need to discover for yourself. Go in like I did blind, I was attracted by the boat on the cover, as I always seem to love books featuring boats, and I was astounded by how fabulous this book was.

We really get to know everything about Lexi and Zeke as well as how they copy in a crisis. There is action, there is chemistry, there are knives, there are tough decisions, and above all there is a growing connection between our heroes.

I have absolutely no idea what I would have done in that situation, so I think I'll stick away from one night stands on boats, especially when both people think they own the boat, and both aren't great at following instructions while inebriated!

I just had to keep reading to know if there was going to be any hope of survival, I was completely gripped and was totally unaware of my surroundings while I was on the boat with Lexi and Zeke and floating around in the North Sea.

Just amazing. Totally loved this book.

Thank you to Quercus and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

I have loved all of Beth O'Leary's writing to date and this new offering does not disappoint! You could imagine how challenging the premise was to write and in a less skilled writers hands it wouldn't have worked but with Beth's skill and magic, the end result is brilliant. It's a captivating story of two strangers trapped together at sea after a one night stand, and you really feel that you are there with them, their emotions become your emotions. It is a true page turner, one that you can't stop reading and at the same time don't want to end. Beth O'Leary writes about people and all the different types of love that they experience, with such care and compassion, it was a lovely and compelling read.

I absolutely loved this book! I couldn’t stopped reading it and from the first two chapters I was HOOKED!

I read a lot of Beth O’Leary’s work before and this is definitely one of my favourites of hers so far! Zeke and Lexi were such interesting characters, their chemistry could be felt from the moment they meet each other and I rooted for them so much.

The setting of the book was unlike any other I’ve ever read. I loved it and I was genuinely nervous, excited, scared and happy for them. So many emotions but I loved every moment and the journey they were on!

Beth’s writing is incredible and I honestly couldn’t get back to this book, when I wasn’t reading it - it was all I could think about and will be for a little while. Exceptional work!

I will definitely be recommending this to all my book friends and my full review will be on my instagram : www.instagram.com/love_in_chapters

I have loved every Beth O’leary book! This is no different. The concept of a one night stand that sees you stuck on a boat in the middle of the open ocean is funny, a bit scary, and a fresh way to stick two people together. I really loved the nuance and the interior issues that were going on for the characters. I think Beth writes characters so well, they are real and flawed and filled with humanity.

The morning after their one night stand, Lexi and Zeke wake up on the boat to find that they have been swept out to sea. With no sign of rescue, the two are forced to work together to survive, rationing food and managing waves and wind. 

I'm not a big boat/being on large bodies of water fan to begin with so this book just cemented what kind of a nightmare this would be for me! But hats off to our two characters. The way they kept each other positive during this adventure was above and beyond. While I do believe they were very lucky (read that you may need to suspend belief in some parts), I thoroughly enjoyed sharing their wild ride. The bond the two forged while being in such close quarters was so strong but I have to admit I didn't expect the ending that was featured in the epilogue! This was a captivating book that had me invested from the first page. I loved the story and the characters. This is up there with The Flat Share as my favourite O'Leary book.

This book truly took me on an emotional journey. Reading it with Sharada and Farah made it even more memorable. The reverse gap romance between the characters was everything I didn’t expect—what started as a one-night stand quickly spiraled into something neither of them could control, full of powerful emotions and surprising depth. The way their connection grew, unexpectedly and painfully at times, had us all on edge. At first, it was raw and unguarded, but as they spent more time together, the layers peeled back. The vulnerability they showed each other was heartbreaking, yet beautiful. It wasn’t just a romance; it was a journey of understanding and self-discovery.

There were moments when I could feel their struggle in my own chest. Both characters had such distinct emotional walls, and watching them come down was intense. There was a particular moment, when they both faced the truth about their feelings, that completely took me by surprise—it was such an emotional turning point, one I didn’t see coming, but it made the connection between them feel real and earned. I had moments where I was frustrated with them, but then I’d realize how deeply flawed and human they were, which made it even more powerful.

Some parts were difficult to get through, especially as they navigated their own personal fears and doubts. The float house became a symbol for everything they were dealing with—an isolated, almost mystical place where they faced themselves and each other. We struggled alongside them, not knowing what to expect next, and that tension kept us hooked. The setting also heightened the emotions, giving the characters a space to reflect, confront their pasts, and ultimately transform. It was such a perfect place for them to discover what they truly wanted.

The emotional rollercoaster of the book stayed with me long after I finished it. The way they both had to grow individually before they could truly connect felt authentic. It wasn’t an easy road, but it was one worth traveling. I felt all of their victories and heartbreaks, and it made the ending feel all the more earned.

Reading this book also made me reflect on my own experiences, particularly a boat trip I took years ago. I remember how peaceful and reflective it was being on the water, surrounded by nothing but calm waves. It’s been so long, but this story brought that feeling rushing back. The stillness of the water reminded me of the emotional isolation the characters felt at times and how much that isolation could lead to personal growth. After reading this, I long for that kind of reflection again, a quiet place to think and process, just as the characters did.

I have seen so many recommendations for Beth OLeary and I'm so glad I started with this one. Although it's a romance, it's not twee or sugary, theres a cast of brilliant characters with plenty of flaws and dysfunctional family members, but the novel is really about finding yourself and finding your person who sees you for all thst you are. The layers of depth to Zeke and Lexi keep on being revealed and by the ending I was sobbing. But in a good way! I totally loved it, it's definitely going to be one of my top 2025 reads.

This book is fantastic! I'm so happy that Lexi and Zeke had each other on their journey. It was a delight to share in their experiences and discover more about their families and histories. The emotions of the characters are conveyed wonderfully, and the romantic scenes are just the right amount of sweet without being too explicit, making it ideal for those who like lighter stories. I became quite fond of all the characters, including Eugene. I definitely recommend this book!

This book was truly a wild ride from beginning to end, some bits felt slightly unbelievable however I was so absorbed in the story that I didn’t actually mind.
I really loved the characters and desperately needed to know what would happen next!

I enjoyed the romance element of this book, the story itself seemed a bit far fetched butcstill an enjoyable read that I will be recommending to others when released.

Witty dialogue, original concept, and a plot you cannot stop thinking about. What more could you ask for from a Beth O’Leary novel? Loved it.

Swept Away
By Beth O’Leary
Published by Quercus Publishing

Beth O’Leary does it again - a wonderfully romantic escape into someone else’s world when a one night stand goes wrong.
Sound familiar?
But not like this!
From the bestselling author of The Flatshare and The Wake-Up Call this is a story of life and death, to trust or not to trust, to believe in survival.

After a few drinks, a few more chat up lines and a walk home, this one-night stand ends up being swept out to sea on a houseboat.
But how?

Lexi and Zeke are both looking for a no-strings-attached fun night out with a stranger. But Zeke has promised himself this must stop! But for one night with a woman like Lexi, will he break his own rules?

After a night of passion, the morning dawns and so does reality.
The houseboat has been swept out to sea.
How did this happen?
How long can they survive on a drifting houseboat?
How will they survive each other’s company?
Who will be brave?
Who will relent?
And will they make it back to dry land and home?

This starts as a calming read just like the gentle waves, but life and storms are not all that they seem!
A must read for romantics, risk takers, holiday makers and those who want to know if the one night stand is worth the risk!!

Joanne Bardgett - teacher of littlies, lover of Children’s literature.
#Netgalley

4.5 Stars

Thankyou to Netgalley, Quercus, and Hachette for providing me with a digital arc.

Beth O'Leary has done it again. She never fails to surprise me with how incredible her books are and how different each idea is!

Swept Away is a fantastic story of a one night stand that through traumatic events becomes so much more. Such an interesting premise that I wasn't sure how it would come about, but Beth O'Leary managed to do it in a genius way that had me on the edge of my seat and feeling all the emotions! For a high stakes rom com I couldn't recommend anything better!