Title: Swept AwayAuthor: Beth O’Leary
Pages: 384
Publication Date: April 10, 2025
Publisher: Berkley
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Contemporary
Synopsis:
What if you were lost at sea…with your one-night stand?
Zeke and Lexi thought it would just be a night of fun. They had no intentions of seeing each other again. Zeke is only in town for the weekend to buy back his late father’s houseboat. Lexi has no time for dating when she needs to help take care of her best friend’s daughter.
Going back home with a stranger seems like a perfect escape from their problems. But a miscommunication in the dark, foggy night means no one tied the houseboat to the dock. The next morning, Zeke and Lexi realize all they can see is miles and miles of water.
With just a few provisions on the idle boat, Zeke and Lexi must figure out how to get back home. But aside from their survival, they’re facing another challenge. Because when you’re stuck together for days on end, it gives you a lot of time to get to know someone—and to fall in love with them.
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I had so much fun reading Swept Away! The mix of adventure, romance, and heartfelt moments made for such an engaging story, and I enjoyed it from the start. Lexi and Zeke’s dynamic was fantastic, and they had so much chemistry! What starts as a one-night stand quickly turns into something more when they wake up to find themselves stranded at sea. As the panic, disbelief, and realization that they have no idea how to get back sets in, Lexi and Zeke must figure out how to work together and survive days stranded on a houseboat.
One of the things I loved most about this book was the romance. No surprise there. lol Lexi and Zeke’s story starts as a one-night stand, and though they’re attracted to each other from the beginning, being stuck on a houseboat together forces them to actually talk, open up, and lean on each other in ways they never planned or expected. Zeke’s patience and kindness are endearing, and he’s such a cinnamon roll. And Lexi’s resilience and determination are the perfect complement. They challenged each other in all the right ways, and I loved watching their grumpy/sunshine relationship shift from strangers to partners in survival and friends to something much deeper.
The setting added a lot of tension and excitement to the story. There were some stressful moments as they faced food shortages and unpredictable weather, but the humor, banter, and budding romance between Lexi and Zeke kept it from feeling too heavy and balanced the story well. I haven’t read many stranded-at-sea romances, and though this sounds like my worst nightmare, it made for a fun read.
Overall, Swept Away was an entertaining read. It was suspenseful and romantic, and the emotional depth is what I’ve come to love about O’Leary’s books. Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Books for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
“Trust me, even if you can’t trust yourself yet.”
- age gap
- forced proximity
- lost at sea
- grumpy/sunshine
Beth studied English at university before going into children’s publishing. She lives as close to the countryside as she can get while still being within reach of London, and wrote her first novel, The Flatshare, on her train journey to and from work.
You’ll usually find her curled up with a book, a cup of tea, and several woolly jumpers (whatever the weather).
I love this cover version so much and it’s actually what’s making me want to give this a try although reading your review makes me certain that I’m going to enjoy this if (or whenever) I pick this up! Great review 🙂