Man Overboard!

By Kathleen Rooney

Book Overview

"Unexpected and heartwarming." --The New York Times, Summer's Best Beach Reads

"Funny, sad, playful, and, by the end, simply resonant." --Daniel Kraus, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Whalefall and Angel Down

From the nationally bestselling author of Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk, comes a funny and moving novel in which a former college swimmer falls off a cruise ship and must keep treading water as memories and regrets wash over him--perfect for fans of Where'd You Go, Bernadette; Florence Adler Swims Forever; and The Wedding People.

"Man Overboard is destined to be the best book of the summer." --Adriana Trigiani, New York Times bestselling author of The View from Lake Como

Patrick "Kick" Kilpatrick hates the ocean. Has always been terrified of it. And now he's in a real pickle.

Drifting alone in the sea after falling (or jumping? He can't remember as the all-inclusive drinks on the cruise he was taking with his extended family were, well, inclusive) Kick must survive. Breath by breath, hour by hour in the lonely sea.

As the waves crash over him, so too do the thoughts and memories of just how he got there. A Thanksgiving cruise with an obnoxious brother-in-law he has to bite his tongue to keep from screaming at. A father who gives the Great Santini a run for his money. And a mother who already left the family boat, so to speak, a long time ago. His family may be complicated, and the pains of life may seem unbearable--infuriating enough to leap from the deck--but maybe the will to survive is stronger.

Man Overboard is an inventive, slyly hilarious, and inspiring novel about what it means to be alive and stay alive, and what keeps us going no matter how choppy the waves of our journey become. Hold on for dear life

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1668212382
• ISBN13: 9781668212387
• Release Date: July 2026
• Publisher: Gallery Books
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.68 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.8" x 8.7"

Customer Reviews

A good time

I devoured this book. Our main character "Kick" is stranded in the ocean and we follow his thought process as there is literally nothing else to do in the middle of the ocean. This book is equally thought provoking as it is funny. I found myself smiling and chuckling. While also having to take a break to stare off into space and contemplate my own existence. If you're feeling down I'd recommend this book to you. Id even recommend it if you're feeling on top of the world and want to laugh at someone else's misery.