What do you think?
Man Overboard!: A Novel
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!
"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!
208 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 7, 2026
About the author
Kathleen Rooney
36 books1,474 followersKathleen 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.
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.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 407 reviews
October 23, 2025
Easily the best novel about a guy falling off a cruise ship I've ever written.
July 9, 2026
3.5 stars - I enjoyed Kathleen Rooney's "Man Overboard", though, perhaps as a frequent cruiser, I shouldn't have, LOL. Here we get Kick, who goes on his fam's Thanksgiving cruise and then goes overboard one night (the "how" is part of the story). So, this is basically his thoughts & memories as he tries to survive in the open ocean, hoping against hope for a rescue ship. Rooney's a really good writer as she really doesn't need a whole lot of plot devices & tricks to write her stories - if you liked "Lillian Boxfish" then give this one a try!
May 31, 2026
Other than Lillian Boxfish, this is your best one yet!
Patrick Kilpatrick, ‘Kick’ to his family and friends, finds himself in the ocean after falling? or jumping? from the cruise ship he’s on with his family.
Fortunately, Kick is in excellent physical condition, so he treads water for approximately 15 hours, as he starts blacking out. During those hours Kick analyses his life and is determined to get rescued. Eventually he imagines a dolphin and a seahorse talking to him with great insight. (Loved this part.)
Does Kick make it? You’ll have to read and delight in Man Overboard. It’s well worth your time.
Thanks Edelweiss and Gallery Books.
Patrick Kilpatrick, ‘Kick’ to his family and friends, finds himself in the ocean after falling? or jumping? from the cruise ship he’s on with his family.
Fortunately, Kick is in excellent physical condition, so he treads water for approximately 15 hours, as he starts blacking out. During those hours Kick analyses his life and is determined to get rescued. Eventually he imagines a dolphin and a seahorse talking to him with great insight. (Loved this part.)
Does Kick make it? You’ll have to read and delight in Man Overboard. It’s well worth your time.
Thanks Edelweiss and Gallery Books.
July 15, 2026
Some books hook you with plot twists. Others hook you with unforgettable characters. Man Overboard somehow does both while spending almost its entire runtime with one man floating alone in the middle of the ocean.
Kick Kilpatrick is a former college swimmer turned personal trainer from Omaha who suddenly finds himself adrift after going overboard during a Carnival cruise with his extended family. The catch? He can’t remember whether he jumped or fell. As he struggles to stay alive and hopes someone will notice he’s missing, his memories slowly surface, revealing the events that led him there.
This is such a wonderfully original premise. Nearly the entire novel takes place with Kick alone in the water, so don’t expect a fast-paced survival thriller. Instead, Kathleen Rooney delivers a deeply psychological, character-driven piece of literary fiction that explores memory, regret, family, identity, and the stories we tell ourselves.
Kick is not an easy protagonist to love. He’s judgmental, often fatphobic, and frequently frustrating. He criticizes everyone from Joe Rogan devotees to MAGA culture, yet admits he chose not to vote at all. There were plenty of moments when I rolled my eyes at him, but that’s part of what made the novel so compelling. Rooney never asks us to think Kick is a great person—only to spend time inside his head. By the end, I found myself genuinely hoping he would make it home despite all of his flaws.
At just over 200 pages, this almost reads like an extended novella. Because there is so little direct interaction with other characters, everything depends on Kick’s interior monologue, and surprisingly, it works. Rooney creates an intimate portrait of a messy, complicated man forced to confront himself with nowhere to hide.
The ending was my favorite part. It felt earned, emotionally satisfying, and tied together the questions I’d been carrying throughout the novel.
If you enjoy literary fiction that prioritizes psychological character studies over action, and you’re open to spending time with an intentionally flawed narrator, Man Overboard is a remarkably creative and memorable read.
★★★★☆ (4/5)
Purchased by me.
Kick Kilpatrick is a former college swimmer turned personal trainer from Omaha who suddenly finds himself adrift after going overboard during a Carnival cruise with his extended family. The catch? He can’t remember whether he jumped or fell. As he struggles to stay alive and hopes someone will notice he’s missing, his memories slowly surface, revealing the events that led him there.
This is such a wonderfully original premise. Nearly the entire novel takes place with Kick alone in the water, so don’t expect a fast-paced survival thriller. Instead, Kathleen Rooney delivers a deeply psychological, character-driven piece of literary fiction that explores memory, regret, family, identity, and the stories we tell ourselves.
Kick is not an easy protagonist to love. He’s judgmental, often fatphobic, and frequently frustrating. He criticizes everyone from Joe Rogan devotees to MAGA culture, yet admits he chose not to vote at all. There were plenty of moments when I rolled my eyes at him, but that’s part of what made the novel so compelling. Rooney never asks us to think Kick is a great person—only to spend time inside his head. By the end, I found myself genuinely hoping he would make it home despite all of his flaws.
At just over 200 pages, this almost reads like an extended novella. Because there is so little direct interaction with other characters, everything depends on Kick’s interior monologue, and surprisingly, it works. Rooney creates an intimate portrait of a messy, complicated man forced to confront himself with nowhere to hide.
The ending was my favorite part. It felt earned, emotionally satisfying, and tied together the questions I’d been carrying throughout the novel.
If you enjoy literary fiction that prioritizes psychological character studies over action, and you’re open to spending time with an intentionally flawed narrator, Man Overboard is a remarkably creative and memorable read.
★★★★☆ (4/5)
Purchased by me.
April 17, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️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.
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.
May 12, 2026
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
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
August 15, 2026
A goodreads giveaway I otherwise probably wouldn't have discovered on my own. Enter the contests people! This was such a wonderful unexpected treasure and I'm glad for the journey.
August 8, 2026
oh great a man’s inner dialogue #pass
Read
May 27, 2026Man Overboard is a novel of reflection on one’s life, prompted by an unexpected circumstance, reminding us we don’t know what tomorrow holds, or if we will even have a tomorrow.
We are introduced to our protagonist, Patrick ‘Kick’ Kilpatrick as he is treading water in the Gulf of Mexico, wondering how he got there, & why the ship he was on just moments before, sails on without him.
Did he jump or did he fall? Regardless of the answer, Kick spends the better part of 24 hours treading water, working tirelessly to stay alive with every ounce of energy he has. In doing so his life passes before his eyes and he shares it all with us.
Kick questions his life decisions, the relationships he had and has now. He reflects on a life lived with an absentee mother, his sister who gets him and whom he loves (I think) genuinely more than any one else. We learn of the relationship he had with his father, and his thoughtful step mother.
Man Overboard isn’t about his survival in the water, but more of a psychological reckoning; a mental count of who he is, was and – if somehow blessed with an unlikely rescue – who he will be.
Rooney’s story was a transparent look into Kick’s life that I found relatable. It seemed natural for me to think back on my own life and wonder what changes I’d make, if given an opportunity.
Would I make amends where I should? Would those I want to make amends with even want me to do so? Or rather I just move along? Knowing I can’t change the past, how would I live the remainder of my days? Have I learned enough to make sure I live without regrets?
As the reader, we are fortunate in knowing we have that opportunity for reflection and action. But as we read, we don’t know if Kick will have that luxury.
Man Overboard is markedly different from every other novel Kathleen Rooney has published. But in all of them I find joy in her voice. I hear it in all she writes. That genuine and thoughtful voice. The understanding and empathetic voice. It is as witty and knowing as it is clever and thought provoking.
After I finish a book, I need to give myself a week’s time before rating or reviewing it. Writers go through so much when writing a book, then there’s the publishing process. It’s a lot. An immediate reaction without thought isn’t (what I would consider) fair. A numerical rating, no matter what it is, simplifies an extraordinary effort.
Writers don’t deserve that.
So, I am not giving one. The story was a good one. I felt moments of suspense & genuinely laughed out loud several times. It provoked thoughts of my own life. So, with all that, and Rooney’s voice, I thought it was lovely.
I really hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
We are introduced to our protagonist, Patrick ‘Kick’ Kilpatrick as he is treading water in the Gulf of Mexico, wondering how he got there, & why the ship he was on just moments before, sails on without him.
Did he jump or did he fall? Regardless of the answer, Kick spends the better part of 24 hours treading water, working tirelessly to stay alive with every ounce of energy he has. In doing so his life passes before his eyes and he shares it all with us.
Kick questions his life decisions, the relationships he had and has now. He reflects on a life lived with an absentee mother, his sister who gets him and whom he loves (I think) genuinely more than any one else. We learn of the relationship he had with his father, and his thoughtful step mother.
Man Overboard isn’t about his survival in the water, but more of a psychological reckoning; a mental count of who he is, was and – if somehow blessed with an unlikely rescue – who he will be.
Rooney’s story was a transparent look into Kick’s life that I found relatable. It seemed natural for me to think back on my own life and wonder what changes I’d make, if given an opportunity.
Would I make amends where I should? Would those I want to make amends with even want me to do so? Or rather I just move along? Knowing I can’t change the past, how would I live the remainder of my days? Have I learned enough to make sure I live without regrets?
As the reader, we are fortunate in knowing we have that opportunity for reflection and action. But as we read, we don’t know if Kick will have that luxury.
Man Overboard is markedly different from every other novel Kathleen Rooney has published. But in all of them I find joy in her voice. I hear it in all she writes. That genuine and thoughtful voice. The understanding and empathetic voice. It is as witty and knowing as it is clever and thought provoking.
After I finish a book, I need to give myself a week’s time before rating or reviewing it. Writers go through so much when writing a book, then there’s the publishing process. It’s a lot. An immediate reaction without thought isn’t (what I would consider) fair. A numerical rating, no matter what it is, simplifies an extraordinary effort.
Writers don’t deserve that.
So, I am not giving one. The story was a good one. I felt moments of suspense & genuinely laughed out loud several times. It provoked thoughts of my own life. So, with all that, and Rooney’s voice, I thought it was lovely.
I really hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
July 10, 2026
Total disappointment.
After loving Lillian Boxfish takes a walk, this book in no way comes close to that read.
So kick, jumps or falls off a cruise ship on its way to Mexico. The story is told as he treads water for hours on end, reviewing his life choices and talking about his boring family.
There was nothing that made me want to engage in the story. It did not seem to have any purpose.
Skip this book and read the first one she wrote, that’s a keeper, this is not.
After loving Lillian Boxfish takes a walk, this book in no way comes close to that read.
So kick, jumps or falls off a cruise ship on its way to Mexico. The story is told as he treads water for hours on end, reviewing his life choices and talking about his boring family.
There was nothing that made me want to engage in the story. It did not seem to have any purpose.
Skip this book and read the first one she wrote, that’s a keeper, this is not.
July 27, 2026
Interesting premise - then there was nothing that made me care about this man or what happened to him.
September 1, 2026
I really dislike and refrain from talking bad about books and/or authors and focus on the books I love, however, I had a situation come up today that I cannot keep quiet about.
I just finished Man Overboard! by Kathleen Rooney. Suffice to say, it was not for me. One of the main themes it explores is suicide. Throughout the book the author uses the term “committed suicide.” If she had researched suicide she’d have learned that that phrase is outdated and harmful. It is not a crime to die by suicide. Using that term perpetuates the stigma around mental health, prevents some people from reaching out for help and hurts suicide loss survivors, further complicating their grief. If she did her research and used that term anyway, that’s even worse. She also used a lot of humor and levity around the topic of suicide, which was off-putting to me. Suicide isn’t a funny matter, ever.
She also uses the “r word” multiple times and then justifies the use of it, by saying it’s just a word in the dictionary. I found that to be abhorrent and wholly unnecessary.
She also mentioned Jordan Peterson, which was so random and weird. He can’t be both a raging misogynist and a good therapist. And why are we giving him a platform at all?
I’ve never in my life messaged or emailed an author, but I did this time, because as a mom who lost my young adult son to suicide, it is a topic that is incredibly important to me. I copied her literary agent, whose info was also listed. I’m sorry I did. I explained my opinion on how the wording she used around suicide was harmful.
There was zero curiosity or willingness to hear anything different than their take on the subject. I was met with defensiveness, snide and very personal attacks/remarks and a complete lack of empathy.
Her agent compared her loss of a long ago fiancé to the loss of my son and said, and I quote, “loss is loss is loss.” As someone who has lost a parent that I was close to at a young age, and a child, my only child, loss is indeed not loss. Nothing compares to losing a child. Nothing. She said they agree to disagree on my “dug in” opinion. I felt ganged up on, unheard and incredibly disrespected. I instantly regretted sending the email. I was vulnerable by telling them about my son, which felt even worse.
It would have been better had they not responded at all or sent me an automated response. I will never again read this author and will go out of my way to recommend to my friends and people who have lost a loved one to suicide not to read Kathleen Rooney. As far as the agent, Lisa Bankoff, goes - I was heartbroken to learn she also represents Ann Patchett, one of my most favorite authors. Of course I will continue to read Patchett, but will never forget the unprofessionalism of her agent.
I just finished Man Overboard! by Kathleen Rooney. Suffice to say, it was not for me. One of the main themes it explores is suicide. Throughout the book the author uses the term “committed suicide.” If she had researched suicide she’d have learned that that phrase is outdated and harmful. It is not a crime to die by suicide. Using that term perpetuates the stigma around mental health, prevents some people from reaching out for help and hurts suicide loss survivors, further complicating their grief. If she did her research and used that term anyway, that’s even worse. She also used a lot of humor and levity around the topic of suicide, which was off-putting to me. Suicide isn’t a funny matter, ever.
She also uses the “r word” multiple times and then justifies the use of it, by saying it’s just a word in the dictionary. I found that to be abhorrent and wholly unnecessary.
She also mentioned Jordan Peterson, which was so random and weird. He can’t be both a raging misogynist and a good therapist. And why are we giving him a platform at all?
I’ve never in my life messaged or emailed an author, but I did this time, because as a mom who lost my young adult son to suicide, it is a topic that is incredibly important to me. I copied her literary agent, whose info was also listed. I’m sorry I did. I explained my opinion on how the wording she used around suicide was harmful.
There was zero curiosity or willingness to hear anything different than their take on the subject. I was met with defensiveness, snide and very personal attacks/remarks and a complete lack of empathy.
Her agent compared her loss of a long ago fiancé to the loss of my son and said, and I quote, “loss is loss is loss.” As someone who has lost a parent that I was close to at a young age, and a child, my only child, loss is indeed not loss. Nothing compares to losing a child. Nothing. She said they agree to disagree on my “dug in” opinion. I felt ganged up on, unheard and incredibly disrespected. I instantly regretted sending the email. I was vulnerable by telling them about my son, which felt even worse.
It would have been better had they not responded at all or sent me an automated response. I will never again read this author and will go out of my way to recommend to my friends and people who have lost a loved one to suicide not to read Kathleen Rooney. As far as the agent, Lisa Bankoff, goes - I was heartbroken to learn she also represents Ann Patchett, one of my most favorite authors. Of course I will continue to read Patchett, but will never forget the unprofessionalism of her agent.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I like to read stories of life and death where something’s at stake. And here I am. from Man Overboard! by Kathleen Rooney
Patrick ‘Kick’ Kirkpatrick may have been a competitive swimmer, but he never liked the ocean. And here is was, in the brink, watching his cruise ship sail off with his family.
He isn’t sure how he got there. He was drunk. Did he jump?
Kick has a lot of time to think while he treads water, sure he will be rescued. He has been stuck, unable to commit to the woman he loves, unable to move past his mother’s abandonment and father’s anger. He has taken up clowning, a positive step. He thinks about his life, his Granny’s quilts, America’s political misfortune.
Ignorance isn’t bliss, I know, but it is a cope, one that worked for me for years, until suddenly it didn’t. from Man Overboard!
Kick’s Night Sea Journey comes with sea creatures who offer advise. they don’t mince words. “Do you guys always speak in index cards and slogans?” Kick asks.
This may sound like a real downer, but it’s a book about hope and rebirth and acceptance. Kick is forced to face his past and to decide what kind of future he wants to chose. You will laugh and you will ponder. It is the best kind of comedy, encouraging us to keep our heads up and keep kicking.
Thanks to Gallery Books for a free book through NetGalley.
Patrick ‘Kick’ Kirkpatrick may have been a competitive swimmer, but he never liked the ocean. And here is was, in the brink, watching his cruise ship sail off with his family.
He isn’t sure how he got there. He was drunk. Did he jump?
Kick has a lot of time to think while he treads water, sure he will be rescued. He has been stuck, unable to commit to the woman he loves, unable to move past his mother’s abandonment and father’s anger. He has taken up clowning, a positive step. He thinks about his life, his Granny’s quilts, America’s political misfortune.
Ignorance isn’t bliss, I know, but it is a cope, one that worked for me for years, until suddenly it didn’t. from Man Overboard!
Kick’s Night Sea Journey comes with sea creatures who offer advise. they don’t mince words. “Do you guys always speak in index cards and slogans?” Kick asks.
This may sound like a real downer, but it’s a book about hope and rebirth and acceptance. Kick is forced to face his past and to decide what kind of future he wants to chose. You will laugh and you will ponder. It is the best kind of comedy, encouraging us to keep our heads up and keep kicking.
Thanks to Gallery Books for a free book through NetGalley.
July 18, 2026
Honestly one of the worst books I’ve read…
July 13, 2026
In Kathleen Rooney’s 𝘔𝘢𝘯 𝘖𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘣𝘰𝘢𝘳𝘥!, 33-year-old Patrick “Kick” Kilpatrick has drunkenly fallen into the sea and been left behind by his cruise ship. Or perhaps he jumped? Or was pushed? In any case, his Thanksgiving family vacation has become even more of a nightmare. Though he was once a competitive swimmer in school and is currently a physical therapist and fitness instructor, he has a fear of the ocean. The novel follows his struggle to survive in open water and his meandering and sometimes hallucinatory thoughts and memories. This is an intriguing premise, but the book failed to engage me. Not all characters have to be likable; unfortunately, I didn’t find a conflict-avoidant, emotionally stunted man particularly interesting. The writing was solid but the story just wasn’t for me. Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 16, 2026
Had ff zin in een lekker no nonsense boekje maar bespaar je tijd en begin er maar gewoon nie aan
December 2, 2025
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.
Did Not Finish
August 5, 2026Barely started. If I knew this guy I would have pushed him off the cruise ship myself.
July 14, 2026
This was the right book at the right time for me. It is philosophical and humorous, with lots of heart and timely social commentary.
Man Overboard! is a first-person narrative by Patrick “Kick” Kilpatrick. Kick is a personal trainer who swam in high school and college. He’s always feared the ocean. The novel opens with Kick floating in open water just before midnight, watching the cruise ship he’d been on power away.
His sister is a marine biologist married to a “tech bro.” Their charming son, Ulysses, is a big reader of seafaring history, so Kick knows a lot about the ocean, its creatures, and shipwreck survivors. As a man of a certain age (he’s 33, in his Jesus year), Kick also contemplates manosphere culture, from its less harmful pablum to its darker messaging that encourages bad faith, antisocial behavior, and misogyny.
Through Kick’s thoughts on his predicament and the memories that surface (haha, get it?), this is also a family drama that shows how Kick became who he is today. His father’s emotional range usually fluctuates between being very angry and an “absence of anger.” His stepmom is a bubbly lover of cruises and scuba diving. Kick’s mother, well, you’ll have to read the novel to learn about her. (I would like to hear her side of the story.) Between the social commentary and the unfolding of Kick’s own social-emotional development, it’s amazing how much Rooney packs into this slim novel.
from my blog post: https://chriswolak.com/2026/07/14/man...
Man Overboard! is a first-person narrative by Patrick “Kick” Kilpatrick. Kick is a personal trainer who swam in high school and college. He’s always feared the ocean. The novel opens with Kick floating in open water just before midnight, watching the cruise ship he’d been on power away.
His sister is a marine biologist married to a “tech bro.” Their charming son, Ulysses, is a big reader of seafaring history, so Kick knows a lot about the ocean, its creatures, and shipwreck survivors. As a man of a certain age (he’s 33, in his Jesus year), Kick also contemplates manosphere culture, from its less harmful pablum to its darker messaging that encourages bad faith, antisocial behavior, and misogyny.
Through Kick’s thoughts on his predicament and the memories that surface (haha, get it?), this is also a family drama that shows how Kick became who he is today. His father’s emotional range usually fluctuates between being very angry and an “absence of anger.” His stepmom is a bubbly lover of cruises and scuba diving. Kick’s mother, well, you’ll have to read the novel to learn about her. (I would like to hear her side of the story.) Between the social commentary and the unfolding of Kick’s own social-emotional development, it’s amazing how much Rooney packs into this slim novel.
from my blog post: https://chriswolak.com/2026/07/14/man...
July 14, 2026
I’m going to keep this pretty short because I thought this was awful and doesn’t need to take up more of my time (which says a lot, considering this is barely 200 pages)
I thought Kick was an awful person, and considering this entire book takes place with him being alone with just his thoughts, I think it would be really hard to like this book if you don’t like or at least understand him, even just a little bit. I get that sometimes people think bad things about others, and this was his thoughts and not necessarily things he’d say out loud, but he was so incredibly judgmental that it left such a bad taste in my mouth.
The writing style felt extremely current. It felt like there was a lot of phrases in this that would not hold up to a reread a few years down the road, or for someone to pick up in the future for the first time.
I’m not going to say that I wanted this to be longer, but the ending was abrupt and an epilogue or something probably would have gone a long way.
I thought Kick was an awful person, and considering this entire book takes place with him being alone with just his thoughts, I think it would be really hard to like this book if you don’t like or at least understand him, even just a little bit. I get that sometimes people think bad things about others, and this was his thoughts and not necessarily things he’d say out loud, but he was so incredibly judgmental that it left such a bad taste in my mouth.
The writing style felt extremely current. It felt like there was a lot of phrases in this that would not hold up to a reread a few years down the road, or for someone to pick up in the future for the first time.
I’m not going to say that I wanted this to be longer, but the ending was abrupt and an epilogue or something probably would have gone a long way.
July 10, 2026
DNF at 40%. There wasn’t anything that the character shared up to this point that made me care if he was rescued or not but the deciding point to put the book down was when the author used the “r” word to describe someone.
February 10, 2026
Increasingly stressful and poignant. Ugh Kathleen Rooney is so good
July 16, 2026
I read the first hundred pages and skimmed the last hundred because it was so freaking boring.
July 24, 2026
Eugh.
Instead of just telling the reader the events and people in Kick's life, with sprinkles of annoying social and political commentary within, perhaps a more fleshed out family drama done in chronological order would have been far superior. The great idea and normally abnormal family unit was there, but the story was as flat as a pancake. I shouldn't already be forgetting the book I just finished.
If this book wasn't as short as it was, I would have either considered this a DNF or just not have bothered for much longer.
I did enjoy the small tid bits about marine animals though...
Instead of just telling the reader the events and people in Kick's life, with sprinkles of annoying social and political commentary within, perhaps a more fleshed out family drama done in chronological order would have been far superior. The great idea and normally abnormal family unit was there, but the story was as flat as a pancake. I shouldn't already be forgetting the book I just finished.
If this book wasn't as short as it was, I would have either considered this a DNF or just not have bothered for much longer.
I did enjoy the small tid bits about marine animals though...
July 19, 2026
Would have been a 4 star if it were not for [multiple] use of a derogatory word. Are we really still using the R word (even ironically) in 2026?
January 26, 2026
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”)
July 7, 2026
I’ve been studying story structure lately and paying close attention to how the bones of a story work on me as a reader. This book was the perfect case study.
📚 Man Overboard by Kathleen Rooney (out today! July 7th)
The premise: a man falls overboard off a cruise ship and is stuck paddling in the ocean. That’s it. The whole book is him swimming, hoping to be rescued, thinking back over his life. The inciting incident doesn’t even happen on the page.
And yet I was completely invested. Is he going to be saved? What’s going to happen? My brain needed to know.
It made me realize how wired we are for story in this really simple way. Present a problem, and our brains demand resolution. Even a quiet, interior book with not a lot of “action” can be pulse-pounding when the structure is right. There are rules to a good book, and when an author follows them, it just works. It’s pretty amazing.
I’m giving this one four stars. If you loved Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk (a five-star read for me and one of my all-time favorites), you’ll love this. If you love character-driven stories about a person confronting their true self in a crisis moment, this one’s for you.
Kathleen Rooney’s writing is so good, so if you’re a fan, don’t skip this one.
Books are just the best. ☺️
Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books (that’s my publisher too - yay!! 🤩) for the eARC of this book!
I know this is not your typical book review, but books are personal and I think it’s all about the reader’s individual experience, so this is mine! As odd as it might seem. 😅
Here's my Instagram video review of this book: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DafyDD...
📚 Man Overboard by Kathleen Rooney (out today! July 7th)
The premise: a man falls overboard off a cruise ship and is stuck paddling in the ocean. That’s it. The whole book is him swimming, hoping to be rescued, thinking back over his life. The inciting incident doesn’t even happen on the page.
And yet I was completely invested. Is he going to be saved? What’s going to happen? My brain needed to know.
It made me realize how wired we are for story in this really simple way. Present a problem, and our brains demand resolution. Even a quiet, interior book with not a lot of “action” can be pulse-pounding when the structure is right. There are rules to a good book, and when an author follows them, it just works. It’s pretty amazing.
I’m giving this one four stars. If you loved Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk (a five-star read for me and one of my all-time favorites), you’ll love this. If you love character-driven stories about a person confronting their true self in a crisis moment, this one’s for you.
Kathleen Rooney’s writing is so good, so if you’re a fan, don’t skip this one.
Books are just the best. ☺️
Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books (that’s my publisher too - yay!! 🤩) for the eARC of this book!
I know this is not your typical book review, but books are personal and I think it’s all about the reader’s individual experience, so this is mine! As odd as it might seem. 😅
Here's my Instagram video review of this book: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DafyDD...
July 18, 2026
Man Overboard is a delight. Kick is a character you quickly begin rooting for as he struggles to survive while reflecting on his family, regrets, and the choices that brought him to this moment. The talking sea creatures (I know how that sounds) added humor and insight to the story. Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for the ARC.
#ManOverboard
#ManOverboard
July 22, 2026
3.5 stars rounded up. This is a stream of consciousness type of book where it feels like the main character (the man overboard) is talking to you (his inner dialogue) the entire book. After going overboard from a cruise ship in the Gulf of Mexico, he starts backtracking into his life and how he ended up here, but in a very natural way, all while floating in the water. Eventually the stakes get higher as the time passes and his inner confessions get deeper and deeper. The style of this writing was perfect for an audiobook and I’m not sure I would have liked it as much in a written format. Nonetheless this was a quick and unique book! I’d read this author again.
August 1, 2026
On a Thanksgiving cruise with extended family, former college swimmer Patrick 'Kick' Kilpatrick who hates the ocean falls (jumps?) overboard after an evening of partaking of the all-inclusive drinks. Adrift at sea, Kick continues treading water as the hours pass - hoping to be rescued and thinking about his life.
This has an intriguing premise, is well-written and is a quick read of 200-ish pages. It's entirely Kick's inner monologue as he considers his life and his many regrets while adrift at sea and not sure he's going to survive so not for readers who are looking for a lot of action.
This has an intriguing premise, is well-written and is a quick read of 200-ish pages. It's entirely Kick's inner monologue as he considers his life and his many regrets while adrift at sea and not sure he's going to survive so not for readers who are looking for a lot of action.
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