Swept Away
By: Beth O’Leary
Published Year: 2025
Publisher: Berkley
Pages: 384
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This in no way shape or form influenced my opinion of this novel.
Summary (Provided by Goodreads): Two strangers find themselves stranded at sea together in this epic new love story by bestselling author Beth O’Leary.
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.
First Impressions
If you’ve read my blog at all, you know that O’Leary is one of my auto-read authors. I read her debut, The Flatshare, in 2019 and loved it. Since then I have read every new book that has come out. I also love the colors on this cover so I absolutely would have picked it up even without being a fan.
What I thought
Loved. Did not disappoint.
Zeke and Lexi decide to have one night of fun. They head back to Zeke’s houseboat for a one night stand but the boat floats out to sea and they end up stuck on the houseboat in the middle of the ocean waiting to be rescued.
One of my favorite things about O’Leary’s stories is that there is always more to them than what you originally see. This books comes off like a silly forced proximity romance, but the characters have such depth and grow throughout their survival. There is also the expected O’Leary twist that hits you in the heart. I was a little disappointed in myself for not calling it sooner.
Zeke is like this perfect man. Well, not in your stereotypical pulled together suave man, but in an emotionally self-aware and willing to change kind of way. He definitely has his flaws but he is so willing to look at them head on and make changes. It was extremely attractive. Lexi is a little rougher around the edges. She’s a bit more damaged and struggles to make growth as easily as Zeke does. I guess my only issue with this book is that I wish there had been a little more exploration into Lexi’s background and issues. Zeke’s were more fleshed out which maybe is why it made his growth feel a little more genuine.
I was so surprised that I enjoyed a book stuck on a houseboat for almost its entirety. I kept expecting to get bored but O’Leary kept it exciting without making it feel unrealistic. It also had an element of a slow burn, even though it takes place over about two weeks. I just truly cannot think of what I’d want more out of this book.
This was a knock out of the park for me. I loved Zeke and Lexi, which is important since the whole book is just the two of them. This might be one of my favorite of her books. It was so unique from many romance centered books I’ve read and I devoured it in 2 days. I still think The Flatshare is the place to start with her novels, but if that one doesn’t strike your fancy you should definitely pick this one up.