First published 2026
Sophie Elmhirst tells the story of Maurice and Maralyn Bailey, an unlikely couple who fled 1970s England for adventure on the high seas. She explores how these opposites attracted: cautious Maurice and forceful Maralyn, bound together by shared dreams of escape. Elmhirst traces their journey from suburban boredom through the backbreaking work of building their own yacht to their departure for New Zealand. The narrative centers on their ordeal after a whale strike destroys their vessel, leaving them stranded on a life raft in the Pacific. Elmhirst examines how extreme circumstances tested their relationship, with Maralyn emerging as the driving force for survival while Maurice retreated inward. The book reveals how ordinary people find extraordinary strength when facing death together, offering readers insights into both maritime survival and the deeper currents of human partnership under pressure.
Genres: survival, adventure, contemporary, non-fiction
Vibes: emotional, intimate, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: England, New Zealand, Pacific Ocean
Period: 1970s
256 pages · Paperback · Riverhead Books