Man Overboard!

by Kathleen Rooney

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, stay alive, and what keeps us going no matter how choppy the waves of our journey become. Hold on for dear life!

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

208 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication July 7, 2026

About the author

Kathleen Rooney is a founding editor of Rose Metal Press, a publisher of literary work in hybrid genres, and a founding member of Poems While You Wait, a team of poets and their typewriters who compose commissioned poetry on demand.

She is the author, most recently, of the novels Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk and Cher Ami and Major Whittlesey. Her latest collection Where Are the Snows, winner of the XJ Kennedy Prize, was published by Texas Review Press in September 2022. Her novel from Dust to Stardust, was published by Lake Union Press in Fall of 2023, and her debut picture book--co-written with her sister Beth Rooney and illustrated by Betsy Bowen--was published by University of Minnesota Press in Fall of 2025.

Her fifth novel, Man Overboard!, is coming out with Gallery Books in July of 2026.

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can definitely see the appeal of Man Overboard, even though it didn’t fully land for me. I enjoyed learning about Kick and his relationships, and the reflective structure makes sense given his situation. However, the frequent tangents and random fact rambles pulled me out of the story. I just didn’t care enough about those moments to stay invested. This may also be a case of timing, as I’m in a busier season of life.

Overall, this is a thoughtful and well-constructed novel, and while it wasn't the right fit for me, I can see it resonating strongly with the right reader.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for giving me this ARC for an honest review!

[Ellen Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

I This book was a wild ride. A man named Kick finds himself overboard from a cruise and the book is his experience as he waits to die, still holding onto hope of being rescued. I loved his conversations with the sea creatures he comes across and how he reflects on everything in his life as the book goes on. I read this book in one sitting because the flow was perfect and I couldn’t wait to see his fate. Unique, edgy, and addicting! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Stephanie Nichols · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much! It reminded me a little of Wedding People, where it's pretty serious but actually really funny? I appreciate that Kick is waiting to be rescued in the ocean after "falling" off of a cruise ship, but I couldn't help laughing during his reflections and hilarious/wild memories of his family, conversations with sea animals, and over all vibes of having a family that is anything than perfect, but finding that maybe it could be worse and dying isn't the best idea of how to deal with your life. I would highly recommend!

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily the best novel about a guy falling off a cruise ship I've ever written.

[Remi]

it just sounds interesting, and i deserve some happy vibes from books

*thank you to Gallery Books for the ARC*

[J R · Rating 5 out of 5]

lyrical and interesting meditation on life and who one is that happens to take place in the middle of the ocean. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.