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

[Dev (lit.lark) · Rating 2 out of 5]

thanks to the publisher for the free copy

i somehow still want a refund

wanted to add: the book was different from expected which is fine and i still would have enjoyed, but why did we use the R slur several times

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️My review: Kick goes overboard on a Thanksgiving cruise with his family. The thing is he can't remember if he jumped or fell, boozey cruise and family chaos and all. As he floats for hours and hours his whole life comes into focus, maybe. Does he love Justeen? Can he forgive his mother for running out on them? Can he learn to deal with his jerk of a brother in law? Does he really want to be a clown (an actual clown)?
Kick thinks and bargains, and has lots of soul to soul talks with ocean creatures.
This book kept my interest for the most part. Some of it dragged but I definitely wanted to know how things would turn out for poor Kick.

Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for an advance digital copy. These opinions are my own.

[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.

[Caroline Macon Fleischer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A slay in every way. The ripped, sporty body of a 33-year-old gym bro (said lovingly) named Kick gets flung into deep waters. Kick must stay afloat or else. But forget physical survival—in near death, the real threats are mental. Shame, regret, introspections, and a hell of a psychedelic montage. Picture: dolphins talking. With the hilarity of Confederacy of Dunces and the surrealist vulnerability of Kafka on the Shore, Man Overboard! is a summer smash waiting to happen. (and will be the perfect Xmas gift for your brother who “doesn’t like to read”)

[Lindsay Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Increasingly stressful and poignant. Ugh Kathleen Rooney is so good

[Creed Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick, witty, self reflective. A true “one man show”! (Well if you don’t count the sea creatures)

Thank you Simon & Schuster for the early copy!!

[Jacqueline Collins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Patrick “Kick” Kilpatrick has found himself overboard his cruise ship after a night of drinking. Did he jump? Did he fall? Was he pushed?!? Kick can’t remember, but what he does know is that the cruise ship - and his family on it - is disappearing into the night, leaving him stranded in the Gulf sea. The athletic former college swimmer, who always harbored a fear of the sea, is left to tread water for hours on end. He is not only confronting his fears of what lurks in the water, but also what in his life has led him to this place.

This short novel packs a lot into its pages. You learn a lot about Kick’s life, values, and history, all while he’s trying to stay alive. Overall, the book has a lighter, comedic overtone, despite his dire circumstances. Things start to get a little weird when he starts experiencing dehydration hallucinations, and sea creatures start coming to the surface to talk to Kick about his life choices. In the end though, you do feel a connection to Kick. I think he was well developed and characterized.

Overall, I liked the book, but it didn’t leave a very strong impression. As I said above, Kick was very well characterized as a fairly well meaning, straight, white guy who’s also a gym bro, and curiously into clowning. There were elements of his inner dialogue that made me cringe, because he sounds like an asshole, but that’s also pretty accurate given his qualities. However, I don’t know if using the R-word multiple times was necessary. I understand why the author made certain choices with his character, but that doesn’t mean it’s necessarily enjoyable to read. Despite all this, for the most part I did enjoy the writing and the character that Rooney created. There were just a few moments that turned me off a bit, and I didn’t feel particularly attached to the novel at the end. It’s a good, fun read if you want something quick and light-ish, but it might not make your list of favorites.

[Chanelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Patrick 'Kick' Kilpatrick, award winning swimmer, wakes up in the ocean after a night of drinking on a cruise with his family, with no memory of how he ended up there. As the hours stretch on and he waits to be rescued, he reflects on his past while fighting to keep himself — quite literally — afloat and avoid becoming an hors d’oeuvre for the ocean.

The pen pal callback was a cute and unexpected touch that added a fun layer to the story.


Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!

[Rachael Pawlak · Rating 5 out of 5]

We had Lillian Boxfish, and now we have Patrick “Kick” Kilpatrick - probably the right person to go overboard (the guy was on a swim team). I see similarities between the two books. Both follow characters searching for meaning at the end of their lives. Where Lillian walks the streets of NYC on New Year’s Eve, Patrick treading through the ocean on Thanksgiving Day - holidays meant for togetherness, yet both spend the time alone, “lost” in their own thoughts.

Thanks to the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. The book hits bookshelves on July 7! 🏊

[Kathy]

3.5. Gripping, profound, short but not necessarily the easiest read at times. And that last comment in no way reflects the excellent writing and editing in this book. Thanks to publisher for chance to preview the ARC.

[Remi]

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

*thank you to Gallery Books for the ARC*

[Beth Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️

Patrick “Kick” is on a Caribbean Thanksgiving cruise with his family until he falls overboard for a reason he can't remember. As time ticks by, and with diminishing prospects of rescue, he reflects on his life. Some are humorous (like being a part-time clown), some are sad (like his mother), and some are heartwarming (like his current relationship after a string of flings). Those who like character-driven fiction and zany families would be great potential readers.

🩷 I read this on a cruise, which was the best way to read it.
🩷 Kick had an interesting family that I wanted to get to know.
🩷 Despite the man overboard plot, there isn't a sense of urgency throughout the novel. The author chooses to downplay the direness and play up the quirks of Kick, his family, and his friends.

⛔️ After being in the water for awhile, Kick starts to hallucinate and have conversations with sea creatures. I see the purpose of this, but it didn't work as well for me.
⛔️ This is a more meditative novel, and for some reason I had expectations about it being more plot-driven than it was.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for an Advance Reader Copy. My review is completely my own.

It publishes July 7, 2026.

[Lauren Chisner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. TW: this book discusses the struggle of depression and suicidal thoughts/attempts.

Written in the first person, we follow Kick through his struggle to stay afloat after he falls (jumps) off a cruise ship balcony. This book follows his journey, thoughts, and reflection as he waits to potentially be saved. As we read, we understand that Kick is struggling to stay afloat in his everyday personal life. He’s vain, depressed, and anxious. He avoids attachment and openly displaying interest (like most of us). Eventually, he comes to accept himself (both his emotions, interests, and acknowledge his momentary heartbreaking impulse to jump). I really liked the connected symbolism of floating in the ocean as our own ability to avoid accepting ourselves and float through life. I highly recommend!

I received an advance copy on NetGallery in exchange for an honest review.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book. What follows are my thoughts immediately following the completion of this book.

Wow. Okay, so, I already know that I'm going to be thinking about this book for a long while, and not just because being stuck in the middle of the ocean is my worst nightmare, but because the main character, Kick, gathers a lot of insight while he's treading water, trying to survive.

I think the first thing that stands out for me is the fact that this entire book revolves around one man. There are no other on-screen characters unless you count the wildlife. From the outside looking in, this would seem like it might be rather boring, but when you jump in and start reading, you learn very quickly that Kick Kilpatrick can hold an audience all on his own. I was riveted from start to finish. I was invested in what Kick was learning about himself, about life, about nature, about surviving in the middle of the ocean. It was captivating, and that isn't a word I generally use, but here, with this book, it feels right.

There were a lot of takeaways from this book, but I'm not going to list them. While they wouldn't be spoilers exactly, I think a lot of the enjoyment I got from reading this book came from being just as in the dark as Kick, so I'm not going to spoil that for the next reader. I can say that as soon as I'm done processing the ride that was reading this book for the first time, I’m going to be reading it again to mine for any wise gems I may have missed the first time around.

I recommend this book.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve been a big fan of Kathleen Rooney’s prior books. Man Overboard! was much more of a slow burn that never engaged me.
The title of the book describes the basic premise. Kick Kirkpatrick falls off a cruise ship and finds himself floating in the sea. He can’t remember how he got there. As the hours pass, he looks back on his life. Kick wasn’t an endearing character. Single, a gym rat, with a weird interest in being a clown, he’s sort of clocked out of life. “But it’s appropriate that I’m in the Gulf of Mexico, because it felt like there was a gulf already. Between me and everything. Like everyone else was fine and I wasn’t and I couldn’t fix it and I don’t know why. But now all I want is to get back to all that.”
Midway into the story, Kick starts to hallucinate and begins talking to sea creatures. Think whale shark as therapist, sea turtle as philosopher. I’m sure Argo ye meant for a kick to be sympathetic. But I was right there with the dolphin calling Kick retarded, as in slow to develop. “…emotionally and spiritually behind. Immature, bro. Like you need to grow the f*** up and be an adult person.”
Many of his thoughts center on his mother, who left when he was young but is now trying to reconnect. And the rest center on his ex-girlfriend, Justeen, with whom I did feel a total connection. She was smart to leave him.
My thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for an advance copy of this book.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kathleen Rooney is one of my absolute favorite contemporary authors. I love that each of her books is so wildly different from all the others, and Man Overboard! is no exception. The epigraph includes one of my favorite lines from Moby Dick, so the book is off to an excellent start. We come to sudden consciousness with the narrator, Kick Kilpatrick, as he puzzles out where he is and how he got there. He realizes he is in the briny depths of the Gulf of Mexico, where he landed after he fell (or jumped?) from the Carnival cruise ship where he and his extended family were on a Thanksgiving Day cruise.

As Kick struggles to stay afloat hour after hour, he has nothing to do but think about his past, both recent and distant. He encounters various sea creatures who give him the opportunity to examine the mistakes he's made throughout his life. Kick realizes that he desperately wants to survive, and his mantra of "Within the next hour, somebody’s going to rescue me." seems wonderfully upbeat and positive for a person in his situation.

This is a short book and a very quick read. Many thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read it.

[Amy B · Rating 5 out of 5]

LovedLovedLoved this story of "Kick" Kilpatrick and his lonely ocean experience after his fall, or jump, from the Thanksgiving cruise ship experience with his family. Kick finds himself alone in the Gulf for hours where he has time to contemplate thoughts about his estranged mom, his extended family, his work, and his girlfriend. His struggle to tread the salty ocean waves for hours brings on some delusions in the form of marine life "therapists". He is forced to confront the truth about matters in his life, and to consider why he might have jumped from the boat, and what forgiveness might do for him if he actually survives.

This story is so sweet and beautiful! I read it in record time, because couldn't wait to find out if Kick could survive in the salty, chilly Gulf water for hours. I love everything about this book. It would make a great vacation read, because it has short chapters and a limited number of characters. It's not a book that I had to go back and reread for clarification. The ending is quite satisfying, too.

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review Man Overboard!.

[Andrew Bienka · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible exploration of Patrick "Kick" Kilpatrick's life as he contemplates his relationships with his girlfriend, his extended family, and, most of all, his estranged mother.

This deep reflection, of course, happens while Kick is treading water in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico after going overboard from the cruise ship he was sailing on with his family. Why or how did he go overboard? You’ll have to read to find out.

You truly feel the physical toll the sea takes on Kick. However, the story really drives forward through the humorous, insightful way he explores his thoughts, feelings, and life choices.

This was a quick, deeply engaging read, and I was completely invested in discovering Kick's fate. Ms. Rooney's writing is fantastic!

On a personal note, as a native Nebraskan, I absolutely loved that Kick was from Omaha. The local references to my home state were a wonderful, appreciated touch.

Thank you to NetGalley, Gallery Books, and Kathleen Rooney for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Aleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quirky, endearing, and hopeful read that is a unique set up. Coming in at just a little over 200 pages, it spans just one full day as Kick treads for his life in the middle of the ocean after falling from a cruise ship, all while showing reflection and contemplation for his life before this moment.

Lillian Boxfish Takes A Walk is an all-time favorite book, so when I saw the author had a new release I couldn’t wait! Rooney is such a skilled writer and I was so impressed at her ability to weave in the entirety of Kick’s backstory in such a short time period relative to the story. (same as she did with Lillian Boxfish — the entirety of that book was set over the course of one day, I believe New Year’s Eve). He wasn’t the most likable MMC, but he faced real issues and somehow ended up having a positive character arc.

*many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy.

[Cool · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

This book was an unexpected surprise. Here is the plot: A man named Kick falls off a cruise ship in the Gulf of Mexico, and every chapter is an hour of his survival time in the water. He thinks about his life.

That's it!

The book is profound, funny, relatable, and wildly original. I loved that this book was a unique story I've not read before- I don't need to read another brainless rom-com, or murder mystery. I want to read something original, about a unique protagonist, and this book delivers. And while I didn't love the ending (no spoilers), I loved loved loved Rooney's story, storytelling vehicle, characters, and spot-on cultural and political musings (told via Kick).

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was different enough to keep me engaged and reading - a man finds himself in the sea, after having fallen (or maybe jumped) from a cruise ship.
Through his inner dialogue as he bobs around in the ocean, trying to stay alive, we learn about his life. He reflects on his choices and attitude through various events and comes to some realizations.
I wanted to know if he survived, if he came to any great reckoning, if we’d meet his family he thinks so much about, and if I also would learn to maybe adjust my views and appreciation of life. The narrator was entertaining enough to keep me reading, and I think it was the perfect length for what it is. If you’re looking for something different to read this summer, try this.

[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!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rooney's previous book was one of my favorites when it came out so I couldn't wait to read this. But then I started it and it dragged and dragged. Enough that I had to put it aside for a while. I tried to come back to it a few times but I couldn't engage with it.

Finally when I knew I had a chunk of time, I sat down to get through it and I grew to love it more and more and more and by the end I was completely invested in the future of Kick and rooting for him. This story unravels slowly, with lots of things thrown in the middle, but it's truly lovely if you stick with it.

with gratitude to netgalley and Gallery Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A surprisingly witty take on a pretty dire situation. Man Overboard! balances some very dark humour with some deep introspection as Kick drifts—literally and mentally—through his messy life, his messy family dynamics and his many questionable life choices. The writing has a sharp, sly edge that keeps it from ever feeling too heavy, even when it dives into deeper emotional waters. It’s quick, clever, and felt oddly uplifting in the end.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada | Gallery Books for providing me with a digital ARC prior to publication in exchange for an honest review.

[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!

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy reading survival stories, especially lost-at-sea stories that leave my ocean- fearing self in knots. So Kathleen Rooney's latest novel was particularly satisfying.

After falling (or was it jumping?) overboard from cruise ship, Patrick "Kick" finds himself treading water, lost at sea. Over the course of twenty hours, while struggling to stay afloat, Kick revisits his life, his regrets, hoping for a second chance to make things right.

Man Overboard, like Rooney's other novels, hit all the right notes for me as I became immersed in this novel.

[Aaron Wolfson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Somehow strikes the perfect seesaw-edge between contemplative and riveting as our narrator, Kick Kilpatrick, spends the duration of the book stranded in the (expletive deleted) sea. In addition to our basic questions—how did he get there? will he survive?—we're asked to consider what we owe to our loved ones who disappoint and even abandon us, whether and when healthful self-protection from trauma can skew into stagnating avoidance, and what it means to be a good man nowadays. Also, as a native Omahan, it's a delight to see my home city rendered so lovingly.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC! This book is genuinely unlike anything I've ever read before; from start to finish it's the story of one guy treading water in the ocean. He reflects on his life and his relationships, and encounters some insightful sea creatures along the way. I genuinely had no idea where the story was going, and found it oddly propulsive, given that Kick is literally staying in one place. I'm not sure I was convinced that Kick has grown into a new person, but I left the book feeling optimistic that he'll try.

[Babajaga · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. I thought the premise was clever, reminding me of The Wedding People. The main character, Patrick, was witty and smart. Despite the dire circumstances that he finds himself him, there is a lot of humor in the book. I loved the heartwarming ending.
While I enjoyed the random informative facts on various subjects inserted into the book, I lacked cohesion. It felt a bit forced - Patrick's ramblings showing off his knowledge on multitude of subjects. The disjointedness was the main reason why I didn't give this book 4 stars.

[Beth Rooney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book chapter by chapter as Kathleen wrote it, and I found myself wanting her to write faster and faster because I couldn't wait to hear what happened to Kick! You will love it! And so will your friends. Buy a copy and ask your library to do the same. :)