Publication Date: November 11, 2025
A tropical surf escape turns catastrophic when a tsunami hits, stranding four best friends in a fight for survival. Injured, disoriented, and cut off from the world, they face a brutal test no one could have prepared for.
For Cole, the trip was meant to be a reset—surf, sun, and nothing serious. But an unexpected connection with Kendal, a grounded, perceptive traveler, changes everything. Just as their romance begins to take root, disaster sweeps it all away.
Days stretch into an ordeal of dehydration, exposure, predators—and unraveling minds. The paradise they came to enjoy becomes a crucible that tests every instinct, bond, and belief.
Told with visceral realism and poetic restraint, Carried Away explores the thin lines between fear and love, chaos and clarity, life and loss. For fans of The Beach, Into the Wild, and Unbroken, it’s a gripping debut about friendship, survival, and the beautiful brutality of waking up to your own life.
A portion of the proceeds from book sales will be donated to Sungai Watch, an organization dedicated to reducing ocean pollution by cleaning up Indonesia’s rivers.
Four American friends travel to the Mentawi Islands for a surfing adventure, only to end up fighting for their lives in the Indian Ocean.
Author T.J. Derry takes readers on an action-packed journey in Carried Away. Cole, Logan, Fern, and Kavi find their surfing trip sabotaged by a tsunami, forcing them to fight for survival.
The idyllic trip starts well as the four friends meet a trio of Aussie girls eager to party. Cole’s immediate connection to Kendall helps lift him from a post-breakup depression.
The friendship between the men is full of banter, fostering a bond over their shared appreciation for catching the waves. While the story features sharks, there are plenty of other threats, especially as the wounded surfers float in the water.
The author periodically offers QR codes throughout the story, which take readers to Cole’s journal. This provides an interesting feature for an immersive experience.
The danger of being caught on the water during a tsunami is seen through the experiences of the four main characters. Their fear, coupled with a determination to survive, is palpable.
Carried Away transports readers to a captivating island adventure that turns into a battle for survival.
Thomas J. Derry is a Toronto-based writer and award-winning filmmaker whose work explores survival, emotional grit, and the dry humor people cling to when things fall apart. Carried Away is his debut novel – a story equal parts chaos, heart, and sharp-tongued charm.
