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Girl on a Plane

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Climb on board for a hilarious and emotional journey with Girl on a Plane, the contemporary romance novel that will have you on the edge of your seat. Sparks fly in mid-air when Sinead, a fun and feisty Irish flight attendant, meets Gabriel, a gorgeous but grumpy Aussie CEO in First Class.

When a storm hits during their flight from Melbourne to London, they are unexpectedly grounded in Singapore. No-one could predict Sinead and Gabriel would be locked-in together in the same hotel suite…with only one bed! One steamy night could lead to more as they chase each other across the world.

Sinead doesn't know if she can follow her heart after her disastrous relationship with her stalker ex-boyfriend. He shook her so much, shattered her confidence in men, and made it hard to trust. Her connection with Gabriel is powerful, a call to throw caution to the wind. Maybe it's time to find love, a man to call her own. To heal her broken heart.

But Gabriel isn't exactly an open book. He wants Sinead with an intensity that scares him but he can't afford to let a woman in, to pursue anything besides a hook-up. What if Sinead doesn't understand the limits he has to place on relationships? What if she cracks him wide open and disturbs the careful balance of his life? He may never recover.

Follow Sinead and Gabriel as they navigate a new relationship while dealing with the excess baggage of their pasts. Will love take flight?

Note: Girl on a Plane is re-releasing as a second edition in 2023, in ebook, paperback and hardcover. The ebook was previously published by HarperCollins UK but it's had a light edit and has a fresh new look! Girl on a Plane is a stand-alone novel of approximately 92,000 words but can be read alongside Girl Under The Christmas Tree (prequel novella) and Girl on a Babymoon (novella in the Hot in the City collection).

324 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 29, 2023

34 people are currently reading
247 people want to read

About the author

Cassandra O'Leary

15 books86 followers

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5 stars
59 (21%)
4 stars
85 (31%)
3 stars
74 (27%)
2 stars
35 (12%)
1 star
18 (6%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
Profile Image for Sue Gerhardt Griffiths.
1,225 reviews79 followers
July 27, 2017
3.5 stars

Oh, I did not like the start of this book nor did I like Gabriel. Gabriel started out as an arrogant so and so and the beginning few chapters felt a bit airy fairy. A quarter way through the book I started to enjoy the storyline and there was drama and some serious issues in this book that gave it substance. Overall I thought the novel was quite pleasant and I must say I immensely enjoyed Sinead’s character, she was smart and sassy and a really cool flight attendant. It was my dream to be a flight attendant when I left school but it wasn’t to be therefore reading about one was the next best thing. Oh, and Gabriel turned out having a very caring soul so he well and truly won me over in the end.

I will read more books by this author as I do love chic-lit/contemporary romance.
Profile Image for Michelle Somers.
Author 15 books32 followers
August 3, 2016
Little did I know when I began reading Girl on a Plane, that I’d be whisked away on a sexy, humorous, fun-filled journey. From the moment flight attendant Sinead Kennealy hit the page, I loved her. She was ironic, smart and sexy. She has a sense of humour with which she approaches everything in life. That includes the snarky Mr Hot Stuff in First Class, while on a flight to London via Dubai.
CEO Gabriel Anderson is tummy flutteringly handsome – sparkling blue eyes, dark blonde hair and kissable lips. Who wouldn’t fall in lust at first sight?
Cassandra O’Leary has captured the sex and sizzle between these two perfectly. As soon as they met I wanted to see them together. I knew they’d be perfect – they just had to figure it out for themselves! And, of course, there were so many factors at work to keep them apart.
I won’t tell you anymore. You’ll have to read this story. What I will tell you is that you won’t regret it.
A fabulous read not to be missed.
Profile Image for anet.
115 reviews45 followers
April 18, 2021
Tahle knížka u nás není nijak známá a já jsem na ni narazila náhodně, protože mě zaujala názvem i anotací. Knížka se četla rychle a příběh rychle odsýpal. Nemohla jsem si nejdřív zvyknout na to, že příběh je psaný v er formě, protože to u většiny takovýchto knížek nebývá. Navykla jsem si ale rychle a přišlo mi to v pohodě. Hlavní hrdinka Sineád byla zajímavá hlavní postava, do které jsem se kupodivu dokázala dobře vcítit. Musím říct, že mužská hlavní postava Gabriela mi byla hodně sympatická. (no komu by nakonec nebyla xd). Byl to takový ten vysněný muž. Bohatý, hezký, sportovní typ.. později i hodný a starostlivý, no prostě ideálka a trochu klišé. Kniha se mi líbila, protože já tyhle příběhy prostě žeru. Vím, že tahle knížka se nebude líbit každému, proto bych tuhle knihu doporučila hlavně těm kteří milují, nebo se jim líbila série After nebo Dimily. Určitě by si zasloužila podobný hype jako tyhle zmíněné knihy.
Profile Image for Zoe.
2,366 reviews331 followers
December 20, 2016
Sweet, warm, and remarkably charming!

This is a delightful rom-com that quickly immerses you in a story filled with humorous hijinks, emotional moments, witty banter, and sexy rendezvous.

The writing is crisp and fluid. The characterization is well done with a whole slew of charming, quirky, lovable characters. And the plot is just the right mix of travel, humour, crazy ex's, family illness, friendship, attraction, chemistry, and romance.

Overall I would have to say this is a funny, amorous, lighthearted read that is thoroughly entertaining and a great way to spend an afternoon.

Thank you to Cassandra O'Leary for providing me with a copy in an exchange for an honest review. It was an honour and pleasure to read.

This review and more can be found on my blog at http://whatsbetterthanbooks.com
Profile Image for Pauline (Passionate About Books).
809 reviews15 followers
June 18, 2018
Sinead "was the type of danger he wanted in his life".
Sinead Kennealy, air stewardess of Mermaid Airlines, meets the most infuriating, annoying, Australian, Gabriel Anderson, passenger on one of her flights. Caught in the middle of an impending storm they make an emergency landing in Singapore where they discover they are double-booked in the same hotel room! Need I say more? After many heated arguments, a steamy yet turbulent romance begins and balances are tipped into a direction neither of them had planned or imagined. A sexy, sassy holiday read where love is found in the most unpredictable places and situations. 4 Warm and Loving Stars for "Girl On A Plane"... where love strikes like a bolt of lightning!
Profile Image for Zuzana Turňová.
69 reviews15 followers
November 6, 2018
Je mi to ľúto, ale toto bolo fakt utrpenie. Myslela som, že napísať zamilovanú blbinku nevyžaduje žiadny špeciálny talent, ale evidentne je možné mať aj v tejto oblasti kopec rezerv. Jedno klišé strieda druhé a väčšinu času mi z toho bolo trápne...🤦‍♀️- dokonale výstižný emotikon.
Profile Image for Helen.
2,900 reviews65 followers
February 14, 2017
This is a story that starts on a bumpy turbulent plane as flight attendant Sinead Kennealy and Aussie business man Gabriel Anderson journey to a HEA that will have you cheering them on wanting to shake them both but laughing and smiling. Sassy Sinead is one hell of a great heroine and just the person sexy Gabriel needs to bring him out of his stressful life.

Sinead is a flight attendant she works hard and has made something of her life after leaving Dublin, her family and her stalker ex five years ago she has lived in Melbourne Australia but is now based in London but she wants a change she is tired of jet-setting around the world and first class passengers that is until she meets a smart mouthed Gabriel on her flight back to London and a storm lands them in Singapore and sharing a hotel room, that electrical spark no denying.

Gabriel works hard and cares for his ill mother and has no intention of falling in love or settling down his company is expanding and although he is tiring and feels he needs a bit of a rest he decides that a short fling with a female especially a mouthy sassy Irish one and there is an amazing sensual pull would be a good idea not thinking his life is about to change but there are a few ups and downs to get through first.

I really really enjoyed this story it is fun sexy and very sensual and I loved Gabriel he is gorgeous caring and so easy to love as Sinead found out but of course both Sinead and Gabriel have some issues to overcome but they do it is such a beautiful way love their banter. I have had this book on my TBR for a while and am so glad I finally got to it and I highly recommend this one.
Profile Image for Rachel Gilbey.
3,324 reviews571 followers
June 22, 2016
Girl on a Plane is sassy, sexy and scintillating. The first thing I do need to say is do not read the first couple of chapters while flying if you are a nervous flier, the rest of the book is safe to read while in the air, but I would say be on solid ground. That isn't to say the start isn't good, far from it, in fact its incredibly gripping and had my adrenalin pumping.

It isn't often that I read about a tropical storm in a book, and the detour to Singapore is what sets this story alight, as sexy businessman Gabriel and flight attendant Sinead end up booking the same hotel room, in which to see out the storm.

This is a real jet setting book with action in Melbourne, London, Singapore, Paris and even Thailand, and although the locations aren't the key attraction of the story, they do really add to it regardless.

There is an instant chemistry between Sinead and Gabriel that is simmering, even if Sinead tries to deny it at first. After about the first third of the book I was convinced this was just your regular romance but yet as it continued and they try to see if other in a more real life situation, it is clear just how much depth there really is to the story.

Gabriel's mum has health problems and Gabriel is very worried about her, whereas Sinead has a psycho ex, a non relationship with her mum, and her sister is occasionally in her life. When various sections come to a head you could really feel the tension and drama as the action unfurled, leaving me not wanting to put the book down for even a second.

Girl on a Plane is Cassandra O'Leary's debut novel, and is a great story to read, with its mix of sex, romance and the more serious side of things, and it's always refreshing to find a new Australian author to read, given the majority of the books that I read are American or British.

Thank you to Avon and Netgalley for this review copy. This was my honest opinion.
Profile Image for Fiona Marsden.
Author 37 books148 followers
July 19, 2016
This is the kind of book that makes you want to travel... Irish born Sinead Kennealy is an air hostess with Mermaid airlines, the style of airline that makes me think of Virgin airlines. Full of perkiness and quirkiness. In fact we get to see Sinead doing the macarena to entertain the passengers on take-off warming them up for the safety spiel that seasoned travellers usually ignore.

One of the 1st class passengers is Aussi Gabriel Anderson, CEO of a travel dot com. He's grumpy but gorgeous. When a typhoon strands them in Singapore, he has even more reason to be grumpy. Thrown together, these two strike sparks straight away but both have baggage that makes anything further between them unlikely.

Except that for both of them, there is an elusive something that brings them back together once they reach London. From there we have a push me pull you thing happening as they both combat the disasters of the past and the fears for the future.

We get to meet Gabriel's friend Ryan, who I'm assuming will have a book of his own because why else would he be so intriguing. We also get to meet some of Sinead's family and some not so pleasant characters from past and present. There is also the travel component...five countries visited and several more mentioned.

The romance between Gabriel and Sinead is very sweet and while Gabriel is rich and powerful, he isn't an obnoxious alphajerk. Sinead is a nice balance of tough and vulnerable. Both of them have insecurities that impact on the progress of their romance. The story has a lightweight feel to it with lots of humour, but does deal with some heavy issues along the way.

Overall this was a very enjoyable read that kept me interested right to the end.
I requested a copy of this book through Netgalley for review.
Profile Image for Lena.
Author 6 books8 followers
September 27, 2016
I loved this book - 5 I heart Gabriel stars!

Cassandra O'Leary had me laughing out loud from the first shimmy, shimmy, shake....shimmy, shimmy, kick....hahaha, it's still funny thinking about the super smart Sinead having to shake her booty and boobies for the 'entertainment' of Mermaid Airlines first class passengers.

Irish air hostess, Sinead Kennealy, was full of sass and spunk, a totally loveable leading lady. And Aussie CEO, Gabriel Anderson, aka Mr Grumpy, was equally loveable, every deliciously hot and love's-not-for-me inch of him.

How exciting this is Cassandra O'Leary's debut novel - I can't wait to see what comes next!
Profile Image for Claire.
1,861 reviews16 followers
July 12, 2016
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK Avon for the advance review copy of Girl on a Plane.

The story follows Sinead, a feisty Irish flight attendant working for Mermaid Airlines feels sparks fly after meeting an Australian CEO on one of her flights. Cue a storm hitting and the plane getting grounded in Singapore where they are thrown together.

This book is really well written and a perfect holiday read. I actually finished it on my flight home. I look forward to reading more from this author.
Profile Image for Lauren.
Author 2 books13 followers
August 1, 2016
A fun, sexy and heartwarming romance full of love and laughs. Cassandra O'Leary has a wonderfully comedic voice blending romance and humor seamlessly, with a touch of drama and suspense to spice up this globe-trotting romp. I can't wait to read more from this new author
Profile Image for Jessica.
264 reviews11 followers
August 2, 2016
Get ready for this fun hot sexy summer read. Really enjoyed this and couldn't put it down. Sooo sooo good & very quick and easy to read. I fell in love with the very flirty couple and the journey they went on.
Profile Image for Ann Cooper.
392 reviews15 followers
July 18, 2016
This is a fun, sexy, summer read. Gabriel and Sinead are perfect sparring partners. It's a quick, but very enjoyable read.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Tex.
159 reviews
April 13, 2018
Plane O ’Girl
(Disclaimer: I was provided a copy of the book through Authors Cross Promotion (AXP). I read it and decided to provide my honest review.) Girl on a Plane: A sexy, sassy, holiday read by Cassandra O’Leary is a delicious and hilarious book that you cannot miss reading. The author has shown her hand at being able to create characters with real depth and breadth, but it is the fabulous dialogue that wraps around the writing that makes the book a must-read. Sinead, the main character, is a hit in my parade. Her character is a strong, independent, smart, witty, engaging, sexy, headstrong woman. Yet, she is not afraid to giggle, forgiving and vulnerable. Girl on a Plane has all the boxes checked on what makes a great cozy romance. My RECOMMENDATION: Buy the book and read it! Don’t miss out on a simple joy that you will probably at some point re-read. –Tex.
645 reviews
July 11, 2024
2.5. It was pleasant, but nothing stands out and I won't remember it in a few days.
Profile Image for Michelle.
9 reviews
June 1, 2023
This book was cute!! However, I was not a fan of the beginning. And Gabriel seemed… like a jerk at first. But past the first couple of chapters it was hilarious! I will definitely be reading this book again!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Emily Pennington.
20.7k reviews359 followers
December 26, 2016
Sinead Kennealy was a 5-year veteran flight attendant on Mermaid Airlines. The glamorous job she had first envisioned now amounted to shimmying and shaking her body to entertain the passengers before they watched the safety video. She wasn’t sure how much longer she could keep this up.

Sinead looked over the passengers, assessing their behavior and mannerisms. Then she spotted an attractive man in a suit – Gabriel Anderson, CEO of a large company. As she was serving coffee and tea, he tried for playful banter but instead came off like a grumpy man. Then it was finally her break and she could get off her feet for a little while. She noticed how dense the clouds were. And as she made her way to the pilot, she was told they were being diverted to Singapore because of the dangerous weather conditions.

Fortunately Sinead quickly booked a room at the airport hotel in case the flights got cancelled. Sure enough, they closed the airport while the storm raged. She was entering the shower when a noise drew her out. Gabriel was in her room!!! They were double-booked – he through his corporate account and she through the airline. She promptly threw him out. But why does he make her feel things she doesn’t want to feel?

This was a delightful story from start to finish. Gabriel and Sinead were drawn together. Neither had wanted any relationship commitment, yet something drew them back again and again. The story line is great, funny and warm. The characters are wonderful. I highly recommend this book.
Profile Image for Rachel (Rae).
701 reviews59 followers
January 7, 2017
I love to travel so as soon as I read the description I was pretty certain I would find Girl on a Plane enjoyable. I've been lucky enough to travel to Australia a couple of times and the last time I went I visited Melbourne. I had such a lovely time there so it was great to read the parts of the book set there.

The connection that Sinead and Gabriel share is pretty special and the chemistry between them is explosive. Gabriel is a great love interest and his character has depth that makes him even more appealing. Sinead is a strong character and even though she had a bad experience in her past she is still willing to give love a try. Could Gabriel be the one?

The story moves along at a great pace especially as you get to know both characters and you find out that their lives are far from simple and straightforward. Cassandra O'Leary has written a romance that captured my attention and has created some brilliant characters.

I also have to mention Ryan and Charlotte, they made such a great team and I loved that they were a part of Sinead and Gabriel's story.

Girl on a Plane has plenty of sizzle, romance and drama which is a great combination in any book.

Fun, flirty and fabulous!

Four stars from me!

Thank you to Cassandra O'Leary for my copy. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.
Profile Image for Eimear.
46 reviews2 followers
June 26, 2016

ARC kindly provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

This was a delightful read.

Sinead and Gabriel meet during a flight that would make even the most seasoned traveller weep like a baby. It was an interesting way to start a story, make sure your readers never fly again. I would really suggest you don’t start this story on a plane. Don’t be put off though, it’s a great start to Sinead and Gabriel’s story.

In the beginning I didn’t really like Sinead and Gabriel, but as I continued to read I realised it was a defence mechanism that made them treat each other badly. As they get to know each their barriers come done and lust settles in. There adventures between Singapore, London and Melbourne were exciting to read.

As much as I enjoyed it I did find it a little cliché. I found myself getting frustrated with Sinead for jumping to obvious conclusions and at Gabriel for being incredibly naïve. I also found their lack of communication at times annoying. There is also a plot point that I hope is carried on in a second book about Ryan and Charlotte. If it’s not, expect a few people to get angry, including me.

Overall I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more stories from this author.
Profile Image for Breigh Stout.
33 reviews8 followers
January 4, 2017

Reviewing for KFA

If you're looking for a charming, romantic read then look no further then "Girl on a Plane" by
Cassandra O'Leary.
Sinead Kennealy is a Irish flight attendant, who is feisty and relateable all in one. I loved her personality as I was reading the book.
During a flight going to London from Melbourne, she meets first class passenger Gabriel Anderson. He's a CEO from Austrailia,
the typical rich, powerful alpha male, but what I liked about him was he was different from other CEO alpha males i've read in
other stories. Sparks ignite between the two, but Sinead learns that Gabriel does not do relationships, which is fine with her
because after having relationship problems of her own, she didn't want to get involved with another bad boy.

In mid-flight, a typhoon strands them in Singapore. Coincidentaly, Sinead and Gabriel are double booked in the same suite.

Despite both of them having secrets, especially Sineads ex reemerging, I loved watching them overcome the odds.
The sex scenes were steamy, but not steamy, which is what I like, and the characters are relateable. Sinead was a cheerful, happy
girl and Gabriel played the part of a CEO perfectly.

I thourougly enjoyed this book and can't wait to read more by Cassandra.
Profile Image for Hilda.
460 reviews
July 5, 2016
I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
This book started off with me hating the leading male character. Cocky, arrogant, and full of himself. But I felt sorry for the leading lady Sinead. The author’s portrayal of her lack of enthusiasm for her job, her life, her family betraying her multiple times and her fear of her past had you wanting to shelter her. That is until you realize that she can 100% take care of herself.
As the book progressed I bonded more with the lead male Gabriel. His backstory is compelling and I was proud to have read a book that had a character’s life that was affected by a real life devastating disease, Alzheimer. Afraid what is ahead in his life, and the fear of finding out via medical intervention is keeping Gabriel from living and loving. But when he meets his match in Sinead he needs to fight his own demons.
Girl on a plane is not what I was expecting in a book. It was witty and sexy at times, but it had a more serious storyline. Well written with great characters that you learn to love and twists that you weren’t expecting.
Profile Image for Rosina.
663 reviews13 followers
June 23, 2016
I received a free copy of this from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Protagonist: 2/5
Love Interest: 1/5
World Building: 1/5
Plot: 1/5

Overall score 5/20 which is 1 stars.

I requested this book due to the little bit of text saying it was perfect for fans of Lindsey Kelk and I thought the plot seemed like it would be funny. I was thinking it would be chick-lit but I was wrong. It was a romance novel.

Even realising that I tried to give the book a go but the plot you read about on the back seems to end about 40% . That being said there were some heartwarming moments with their families and you do believe that she knows what she's talking about with both of their careers. But there was just something about it that was just ehh. I still managed to finish it so it wasn't completely terrible but it just wasn't my sort of thing.

If you like romance novels then there are some funny and sweet moments and I'm sure you'll love it.
Profile Image for Susan.
3,560 reviews
July 26, 2016
This book is exactly what you think it would be based on the title: chic lit fluff. No brain cells are injured in the reading and you can probably continue to read it through your 3rd or 4th mai tai on your beach (or pretend beach) vacation. The story line is the same ol' corny one you have read/watched a thousand times: boy meets girl, boy and girl are attracted to each other but clash, etc, etc. And for the most part it works really well. But, for a chic lit, I was surprised by how much attention was paid to Sinead's breasts. I actually went to check and see if the author was male and if this weren't some new fangled dude lit romance. While this book won't win any high literary awards, for what it is, fun escapism, it was a great read!

A preview copy was provided by NetGalley and Maze (HarperCollins UK, Avon) in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Malvina.
1,898 reviews9 followers
May 1, 2017
I don't think I've ever read a romance with a flight attendant as heroine before, so this book makes a nice change. After a cyclone divert to Singapore en route from Melbourne to London, Irish Sinead Kennealy hooks up with First Class passenger CEO Gabriel Anderson. There's all sorts of baggage issues (not just the carry on sort) in this book, including a stalker, and the story rumbles and tumbles around all over the globe. At first Gabriel comes across as a colossal jerk, but thankfully redeems himself in the end. The author uses some stilted romance dialogue tropes at the beginning of the book, but seems to get into her stride as things progress. This is curiously billed as a romantic comedy, but I didn't find it funny; the issues are serious. Still, I look forward to reading her next book.
1,623 reviews7 followers
July 18, 2016
Sinead is cabin crew on a long haul flight and when she first meets Gabriel a passenger in first class she finds him cocky and irritating - especially when they hit a tropical storm and she ends up in his lap!

The storm is getting worse and so the plane is diverted to Singapore and the airport shut down until the next day - with a shortage of hotel rooms they get double booked and Sinead and Gabriel are both booked to the same room and after having dinner together the sparks fly!

There is also a good background story with Sinead having a psycho ex and Gabriel showing a softer side being worried about his mum who is not well and mix this with the jet setting of long haul flights and you have a light hearted easy read
Profile Image for Dee Reese.
165 reviews4 followers
October 15, 2016
*** ARC Provided by Author for Honest Review ***

This was a very sweet, funny, cute read. A perfect summer read.
it was full of little moments that make you fall in love with the written words.
there is a fair amount of Drama, and it sure makes you want to Jump on a plane and just travel. there were some moments that made me just roll my eyes. (yes sorry). another thing that kept it from being a 4 stars was that some of the words I had no idea what they meant. yes I know Sinead is Irish but still I had to look up the words lol. it killed a little of the humor for me. but the Sex scenes made up for some of it lol. I will look forward to more of Cassandra's work. overall this was a good read, give it a try.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews

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