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emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, War
Minor: Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Torture, Blood, Death of parent, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If Nicholas Sparks and military romance had a book baby, In the Likely Event would be it. Rebecca Yarros gives us a blend of swoony romance and wartime suspense, with Nate hell-bent on keeping Izzy safe, no matter the cost. These two are the poster children for "right person, wrong time"—and honestly, Yarros does a great job walking us through the ups and downs of their connection over the years. The timeline is solid, and watching them grow (separately and together) made their eventual reunion feel earned.
Now, onto the "hmm" moments. For me, it was a quick and easy 3-star read. Enjoyable, but a few things made me raise an eyebrow. The snake bite? A bit much. The chess team subplot? Oddly placed. There were just moments that made me go, “Wait, seriously?” Not to mention, the ending felt kinda rushed. Maybe it was all the time jumps and dual perspectives that made the pacing feel uneven.
All in all, it’s not a bad read—it just didn’t knock my socks off. But if you’re into emotional slow burns with a dash of dramatic flair, this one might be right up your alley.
Now, onto the "hmm" moments. For me, it was a quick and easy 3-star read. Enjoyable, but a few things made me raise an eyebrow. The snake bite? A bit much. The chess team subplot? Oddly placed. There were just moments that made me go, “Wait, seriously?” Not to mention, the ending felt kinda rushed. Maybe it was all the time jumps and dual perspectives that made the pacing feel uneven.
All in all, it’s not a bad read—it just didn’t knock my socks off. But if you’re into emotional slow burns with a dash of dramatic flair, this one might be right up your alley.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, War
Moderate: Mental illness
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
«She’s worse than your ex,” Torres mumbled. “She’s your what-if.»
I'm usually not big on romance books, but this one caught my attention & held it until the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, War
Moderate: Death, Toxic relationship
Minor: Infidelity
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved this book. The way that the author wrote about the plane crash was jarring for me; she’s a great action writer! The love story is well written, and doesn’t feel rushed or cliche. The experiences with politics and war are emotional and descriptive without being overly complex, and it felt very personal and real. As someone whose first experience with Rebecca Yarros was Fourth Wing, I am delighted to see how multifaceted she is as a writer, and is quickly becoming one of my favourites!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual content, War
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, War
Moderate: Death, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Domestic abuse, Car accident
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I absolutely adore Nate and Izzy. Their love story left me yearning for their happy ending with every page. The way their lives kept intersecting—sometimes tenderly, sometimes explosively—had me rooting for them even when life pulled them in opposite directions. Their chemistry? Off the charts. The two explicit sex scenes were so hot and so earned.
The flashbacks mixed with present-day storytelling gave my ADHD brain something to latch onto. I actually loved the time jumps—it kept things emotionally fresh while peeling back more layers of who Nate and Izzy were before their paths fully aligned. There’s a real sense of fate at play in this book, and yet nothing ever felt forced.
Some of the military lingo—C-130s, Delta, cadre, etc.—and Afghan geography had me pausing, trying to keep up. A glossary and map would’ve gone a long way to help ground readers who aren’t familiar with the military. A timeline of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and a visual of the cities mentioned would have added so much depth and anticipation to those intense scenes.
Even with a bit of fluff that could have been cut, I was hooked. Rebecca Yarros has a gift for writing scenes that feel like they could unfold in real life—heart-racing, raw, and deeply human. Nate and Izzy aren’t just characters—they’re the kind of people you wish you could meet, the kind of love you wish you could experience. The way they both chased their dreams while still making room for one another was so inspiring. It made me wonder where I’d be if I had someone like Nate cheering me on and holding me accountable.
Nate risked everything—not just to save Izzy from a literal crash, but over and over again, to be there for her. And that annual meet-up? The yearning, the slow burn, the tension… it gave Dear John vibes but with more hope.
To the folks who complained about the wartime setting of their romance: this book doesn’t romanticize war. It shows the heartbreak, the desperation, the red tape, and the humanity that exists in chaos. Nate and Izzy weren’t being reckless—they were clinging to something real in a place where tomorrow isn’t promised.
The flashbacks mixed with present-day storytelling gave my ADHD brain something to latch onto. I actually loved the time jumps—it kept things emotionally fresh while peeling back more layers of who Nate and Izzy were before their paths fully aligned. There’s a real sense of fate at play in this book, and yet nothing ever felt forced.
Some of the military lingo—C-130s, Delta, cadre, etc.—and Afghan geography had me pausing, trying to keep up. A glossary and map would’ve gone a long way to help ground readers who aren’t familiar with the military. A timeline of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and a visual of the cities mentioned would have added so much depth and anticipation to those intense scenes.
Even with a bit of fluff that could have been cut, I was hooked. Rebecca Yarros has a gift for writing scenes that feel like they could unfold in real life—heart-racing, raw, and deeply human. Nate and Izzy aren’t just characters—they’re the kind of people you wish you could meet, the kind of love you wish you could experience. The way they both chased their dreams while still making room for one another was so inspiring. It made me wonder where I’d be if I had someone like Nate cheering me on and holding me accountable.
Nate risked everything—not just to save Izzy from a literal crash, but over and over again, to be there for her. And that annual meet-up? The yearning, the slow burn, the tension… it gave Dear John vibes but with more hope.
To the folks who complained about the wartime setting of their romance: this book doesn’t romanticize war. It shows the heartbreak, the desperation, the red tape, and the humanity that exists in chaos. Nate and Izzy weren’t being reckless—they were clinging to something real in a place where tomorrow isn’t promised.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, War
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Sexual content, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cursing, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Classism
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I rarely know what a book is about before I read it, and damn that really hit me this time. This couple meets in their late teens while he is flying to basic training and form a lifelong bond that is tested through class differences, tragedy and war. This relationship is the epitome of soulmates who do what it takes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, War
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Infidelity
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Death, Infidelity, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I am REELING.
I was not expecting the flip flopping timeline, the switch from past to present was brutal but that’s cause I knew it was an engagement strategy and let me tell you, it fucking worked. I couldn’t put this book down even if I tried.
The TENSION between Nate and Izzy was insane and I ate it up so hard. That final plot twist had me in tears but it was so well done.
I was not expecting the flip flopping timeline, the switch from past to present was brutal but that’s cause I knew it was an engagement strategy and let me tell you, it fucking worked. I couldn’t put this book down even if I tried.
The TENSION between Nate and Izzy was insane and I ate it up so hard. That final plot twist had me in tears but it was so well done.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence
Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Grief
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Favorite romance book I’ve read in a long time. special ops and protective MMC; set in Afghanistan. I like that the characters have known each other and been in love for so long/come back to each other over and over again. I felt like it was a very realistic explanation of true love - once you experience it, you’re stuck because no one compares. Did have some sex scenes which I skipped past/could have done without, but I liked the emotional connection.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content