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hmatt's review
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
There were parts of this that were very cute, and I think the characterization of the MCs were pretty well done, but I was disappointed by the flimsy fake-dating. It felt sloppily inserted into their otherwise much darker, more challenging (and WAY more interesting) lives. I also wasn't a fan of how the author repeatedly side-steps describing important events by inserting a plot twist - this is hard to describe without spoilers, but it's something that I noticed after it happened more than twice. It felt lazy, and I guess laziness is the main issue I had with the book. The gay-is-okay is a little on the nose at times, and there is a very bad trope-y stalker ex plot that doesn't get resolved!!! that I would describe as lazy too. It makes for a weird balance when these bits intersect with the nuanced, well-done exploration of tough topics like mental health and terminal family illness. I felt these serious bits were well done most of the time, but even some of these don't get resolved at the end .
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Chronic illness, Gaslighting, Stalking, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Death, Lesbophobia, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, and Mental illness
Moderate: Sexism
Minor: Biphobia and Religious bigotry
haileyhardcover's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
It’s not often that a book will genuinely hook me from the first page, but this one did it. I instantly loved Olive and related so strongly with her inner monologue. Both Olive and Stella felt like they could be real people. I appreciated that, while still being a romance, they had other things going on in their lives and legitimate shit to deal with. This is not some fluffy romance novel - it seems like it could be someone’s real life. Ok, maybe without saving Mickey Mouse’s life. (It wasn’t Mickey Mouse, I know, I know!)
Speaking of real life, there are so many random details in this book that aren’t exactly the same as my actual life but absolutely coincide with my life and I just… 👀 Andie Burke, did you write this book just for me? Lol
Anyway, I loved Fly with Me and I highly recommend it. It is romantic, heart wrenching, touching, and even has a little dash of spice. OH! And my favorite thing: SHORT CHAPTERS!! 🙌🏻 Seriously, give it a read. I adored it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, and Grief
Moderate: Medical content, Chronic illness, Sexual content, and Death
Minor: Lesbophobia, Pandemic/Epidemic, Death of parent, Transphobia, Vomit, Racism, Biphobia, and Dementia
slowburnsrus's review against another edition
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: Medical content, Mental illness, and Stalking
Minor: Car accident
dianafraser17's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
This book is in the wrong genre IMHO. It's largely a book about caregiving, grief, and loss - which is not to say romance or love cannot coexist or happen during those activities, but rather that those activities supercede the pacing and dynamics of a romcom structure.
I skipped 100 pages in the middle. It's deeply sad and anxiety-producing amidst stalker tendencies, family feuds over a loved one's final wishes, and sexism. Are the depictions of those things accurate? Yes. Are they a great space to foster or provoke romcom plotlines? Not really.
There are also some cruel things said to one another that they gloss over to get to the ending, and I don't love that.
Mostly I'm sad, disgruntled, and unsatisfied, and need to go calm down.
I skipped 100 pages in the middle. It's deeply sad and anxiety-producing amidst stalker tendencies, family feuds over a loved one's final wishes, and sexism. Are the depictions of those things accurate? Yes. Are they a great space to foster or provoke romcom plotlines? Not really.
There are also some cruel things said to one another that they gloss over to get to the ending, and I don't love that.
Mostly I'm sad, disgruntled, and unsatisfied, and need to go calm down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Sexism, Child death, Stalking, Terminal illness, Death, and Emotional abuse
bg_oseman_fan's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-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
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. Olive and Stella were such compelling characters. i like that the romance engaged with the other real life concerns in a way that enhanced the story. parts of the story felt i bit like checking of a list rather than being essential to the story, but the strong ending really tied everything together in a very satisfying way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Grief, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Medical content, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexism
Minor: Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Cursing, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Medical trauma, Stalking, and Terminal illness
dogoodwithbooks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I would like to thank St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for inviting me to review a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
After saving a man’s life on an airplane, Olive Murphy is thrusted into the spotlight once again. Meanwhile, after a connection developed between the two, pilot Stella Soriano tries to convince Olive to be her fake girlfriend in order to finally get the promotion she’s been working towards at her airline. Yet, as the two spend more time together, Olive wonders if they can make this relationship a reality.
I enjoyed reading Burke’s debut novel, Fly with Me, and it’s worth the read for readers looking for a queer fake dating rom-com. Olive and Stella were good MCs and I liked the depth that Burke brought to both of their character development. While I feel like this could have worked really well as a dual POV, I appreciate the effort Burke put into Olive’s overall growth in the book. Their romance was cute and I rooted for them to get together till the end of the book.
Burke also provides a good writing style in this debut. Burke makes it easy for the reader to get into the plot and utilizes the fake dating trope very well. As a small critique, I have mixed feelings about the epilogue. For me, I didn’t see much need for it since it doesn’t show much of a “where are they now” as well as the fact that it was very short. I think it would have worked better if the epilogue was extended a bit or not there at all.
Other than the epilogue, I thought Fly with Me is a solid debut and I look forward to reading Burke’s future works.
After saving a man’s life on an airplane, Olive Murphy is thrusted into the spotlight once again. Meanwhile, after a connection developed between the two, pilot Stella Soriano tries to convince Olive to be her fake girlfriend in order to finally get the promotion she’s been working towards at her airline. Yet, as the two spend more time together, Olive wonders if they can make this relationship a reality.
I enjoyed reading Burke’s debut novel, Fly with Me, and it’s worth the read for readers looking for a queer fake dating rom-com. Olive and Stella were good MCs and I liked the depth that Burke brought to both of their character development. While I feel like this could have worked really well as a dual POV, I appreciate the effort Burke put into Olive’s overall growth in the book. Their romance was cute and I rooted for them to get together till the end of the book.
Burke also provides a good writing style in this debut. Burke makes it easy for the reader to get into the plot and utilizes the fake dating trope very well. As a small critique, I have mixed feelings about the epilogue. For me, I didn’t see much need for it since it doesn’t show much of a “where are they now” as well as the fact that it was very short. I think it would have worked better if the epilogue was extended a bit or not there at all.
Other than the epilogue, I thought Fly with Me is a solid debut and I look forward to reading Burke’s future works.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, and Dementia
Moderate: Stalking and Misogyny
Minor: Car accident
kayladaila's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This is a very sweet sapphic romance! Olive is on her way to run a Disney marathon when, on her very first flight, she has to save someone’s life. Through that experience, she meets Stella, one of the pilots. Stella thinks that if her and Olive fake a relationship, it will help her get a promotion. Drama obviously ensues. I loved this book because the characters and experiences felt so realistic. There were moments where I was laughing and other moments where I was having a panic attack right next to Olive. The side characters and personal growth stories for both characters were also very meaningful. I highly recommend this one!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Sexual content, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Terminal illness, Biphobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Chronic illness, and Stalking
Minor: Lesbophobia and Death of parent
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