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Flight
Alternate cover edition for B00HBID5BU can be found at alt cover
It’s June 1993, and Ashley Lake has just been reminded that she is not a lucky person. As a small child, she lost her parents in a plane crash from which she emerged as sole survivor. More recently, as a high school senior, she watched the aunt who raised her succumb to cancer, leaving her to wonder: Am I cursed?
Rocked by her aunt’s death, Ash puts plans for a collegiate track and field career on hold and moves to New York City. But even as she settles into life in The City, Ash knows she can’t stay forever. Because while it doesn't look like she’ll be the next Wilma Rudolph, she still might find an encouraging college coach and welcoming teammates. Possibly, even, the perfect place—or person—to call home.
It’s June 1993, and Ashley Lake has just been reminded that she is not a lucky person. As a small child, she lost her parents in a plane crash from which she emerged as sole survivor. More recently, as a high school senior, she watched the aunt who raised her succumb to cancer, leaving her to wonder: Am I cursed?
Rocked by her aunt’s death, Ash puts plans for a collegiate track and field career on hold and moves to New York City. But even as she settles into life in The City, Ash knows she can’t stay forever. Because while it doesn't look like she’ll be the next Wilma Rudolph, she still might find an encouraging college coach and welcoming teammates. Possibly, even, the perfect place—or person—to call home.
339 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 14, 2013
11 people are currently reading
214 people want to read
About the author
Kate Christie
37 books250 followersKate Christie, author of In the Company of Women, Gay Pride & Prejudice, and the Girls of Summer series, was born and raised in Kalamazoo, MI. A graduate of Smith College, she lives near Seattle with her wife, their three daughters, and the family dogs.
To join her mailing list and receive email notifications of new releases, giveaways, and other news, visit https://katejchristie.com/mailing-list/.
To join her mailing list and receive email notifications of new releases, giveaways, and other news, visit https://katejchristie.com/mailing-list/.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 30, 2017
As long as you enter the book knowing that it isn't a lesbian romance, and, for the most part, borderline not lesbian fiction (heck, most of the book sees the female main character dating and fooling around with a man), and instead see the book as a slice of life, coming of age, with a bit of 'questioning' then you might be like me and enjoy the book. Just, seriously, don't think of this as a lesbian romance.
So....
Ashley Lake is from the north, she seems to remind people constantly (at least as often as someone points out that she is from the south - which will immediately cause her to say 'I'm actually from Chicago' (or just from the north). Of course she's lived all but three years in a suburb in Tennessee, and but still, she doesn't see herself as Southern. She only lived three years of her life in the north because her family came back from a visit to Disney World on a plane - a plane that crashed on landing. Killing everyone but for her. So she went to live with a relative, the only one who could get past their grief to take care of the child. And while Selma wasn't from the south either, at some point she got talked into moving there to head up a library. So, Ash goes to live in the south for 15 years of her life.
But now Selma is dead, and no this isn't a spoiler, this happens before the beginning of the book. The book opens with Ash puttering around in her home, the home that used to be Selma's. Just . . . kind of stuck in grief. Her aunt had gotten ill, with Cancer, while Ash was in the last year of High School, and so she, Ash, spent the year watching her aunt die. While also avoiding or, by circumstances, being avoided by those things that had made up her life until now, that had given her life purpose - namely competitive running (she dropped off the team either before or near the beginning of her senior year), and her best friend forever, Austin (or is that Austen? I can never remember when it's a person's name) - though there Austin is gone because he left after high school graduation (he's a year older) to join the Navy.
The book opens with the above, as noted, and with Austin back. He immediately asks that Ash join him in New York, to move there. To spend a year doing something other than college. So Ash, impulsively, agrees.
So . . . they drive to New York. Austin wanders around doing his thing (he has a waiters job, and is big in doing gay stuff, what with him being gay - reason he's out of the Navy now, they kicked him out for it), while Ash tentatively explores this gross, dirty, disgusting city. Living her life. A slice at a time. Deciding she should probably do something to make some money but doesn't want to be indoors, so becomes a bike messenger. Continues her running. Wanders. Hangs out with her gay friends. Dates a man with super long hair. Never once questioning, despite having a gay best friend and an aunt quite open to the concept of LGBT stuff, that she herself might be anything but straight.
Eventually hangs finds a running buddy, a cousin of someone she works with/for. Meanwhile Ash continues to date Drew, the man (as opposed to Drew the woman, Drew is one of those names easily used by either gender, see Drew Carey, Drew Barrymore). Life happens, continues.
That's what most of the book is about, the above. See, not a lesbian romance. Can't say it isn't a romance, since most of that time sees Ash dating Drew, but . . . well, *shrugs*.
An interesting enjoyable book. That ended far short than I expected. Since the book opened with the main character at age, I think, 38 or something like that. And the book didn't get anywhere near that age by the end.
Rating: 4.50
July 30 2017
So....
Ashley Lake is from the north, she seems to remind people constantly (at least as often as someone points out that she is from the south - which will immediately cause her to say 'I'm actually from Chicago' (or just from the north). Of course she's lived all but three years in a suburb in Tennessee, and but still, she doesn't see herself as Southern. She only lived three years of her life in the north because her family came back from a visit to Disney World on a plane - a plane that crashed on landing. Killing everyone but for her. So she went to live with a relative, the only one who could get past their grief to take care of the child. And while Selma wasn't from the south either, at some point she got talked into moving there to head up a library. So, Ash goes to live in the south for 15 years of her life.
But now Selma is dead, and no this isn't a spoiler, this happens before the beginning of the book. The book opens with Ash puttering around in her home, the home that used to be Selma's. Just . . . kind of stuck in grief. Her aunt had gotten ill, with Cancer, while Ash was in the last year of High School, and so she, Ash, spent the year watching her aunt die. While also avoiding or, by circumstances, being avoided by those things that had made up her life until now, that had given her life purpose - namely competitive running (she dropped off the team either before or near the beginning of her senior year), and her best friend forever, Austin (or is that Austen? I can never remember when it's a person's name) - though there Austin is gone because he left after high school graduation (he's a year older) to join the Navy.
The book opens with the above, as noted, and with Austin back. He immediately asks that Ash join him in New York, to move there. To spend a year doing something other than college. So Ash, impulsively, agrees.
So . . . they drive to New York. Austin wanders around doing his thing (he has a waiters job, and is big in doing gay stuff, what with him being gay - reason he's out of the Navy now, they kicked him out for it), while Ash tentatively explores this gross, dirty, disgusting city. Living her life. A slice at a time. Deciding she should probably do something to make some money but doesn't want to be indoors, so becomes a bike messenger. Continues her running. Wanders. Hangs out with her gay friends. Dates a man with super long hair. Never once questioning, despite having a gay best friend and an aunt quite open to the concept of LGBT stuff, that she herself might be anything but straight.
Eventually hangs finds a running buddy, a cousin of someone she works with/for. Meanwhile Ash continues to date Drew, the man (as opposed to Drew the woman, Drew is one of those names easily used by either gender, see Drew Carey, Drew Barrymore). Life happens, continues.
That's what most of the book is about, the above. See, not a lesbian romance. Can't say it isn't a romance, since most of that time sees Ash dating Drew, but . . . well, *shrugs*.
An interesting enjoyable book. That ended far short than I expected. Since the book opened with the main character at age, I think, 38 or something like that. And the book didn't get anywhere near that age by the end.
Rating: 4.50
July 30 2017
June 16, 2014
I think Kate Christie is one of the best lesbian fiction authors of our time if not for all time. Her works reflect so much more than a simple story of love and growth rather she brings characters forth that are so believable and share so much with the reader it is truly losing a friend when that last page is turned. Flight is no different and, in this readers opinion, may be her best work to date. It is a life story with heartache, friendship, growth, and overcoming all that needs to be overcome to make a person who she is. This is not the typical lesbian love story, which is so refreshing in itself, rather this is a story of a young girl of 18 becoming a young woman. Ashley Lake is an impressive character in what she has survived- things so beautifully narrated that I cried, but survival isn't who she is and Flight is her journey into living life, focusing her dreams and finding her heart. With this novel Kate Christie has reminded me yet again, that there is more to this genre than just simple mind candy. I can't recommend this story enough!
June 23, 2015
in general, pretty good read...however I found that first half is kind of slow...after that picks up.
June 28, 2018
I love this writer - a real star and of course she works on the maxim "leave them wanting more." But there is a delicate line and for me she has crossed from a satisfying book into "what happened next" territory. Three letters in the Prologue would have been enough - instead of "she" or "my wife." Perhaps I've missed the point and if so I stand corrected, but there were too many loose ends for me to give it five stars. Sorry!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2017
I really loved this. I love Christie's style - she tells you a character's entire story and really makes you want to know them and root for them. It's heartfelt and offers some deeper meaning, if you're in the mood to ponder it for a bit. If you're not, she still gives you a good story to read.
May 12, 2017
I love the way Kate Christie tells her stories. The characters and their lives feel so real which makes the books thoroughly enjoyable. Although I don't run myself, I even enjoyed Ashley's runs in Central Park!
January 27, 2018
Wonderful coming of age story describing a year in the life of a young woman in the 1990s in New York.
If you’re expecting a lesfic romance, this is not it.
Very touching and moving. If you enjoy crying on public transport, this is for you.
If you’re expecting a lesfic romance, this is not it.
Very touching and moving. If you enjoy crying on public transport, this is for you.
February 2, 2014
In June 1993, in Signal Mountain, Tennessee, Ashley (Ash) Lake’s life is on a downward spiral. When Ash was three years old, she lost both her parents in a plane crash. Ash was the sole survivor out of the plane load of people. Now Ash’s beloved Aunt Selma, who had raised her has died from the cancer she bravely fought so hard. Ash is now all alone in life. As well as still suffering from the survivors guilt she’s battled most of her life, Ash is now wondering if her life is cursed.
While Aunt Selma was bravely fighting cancer, Ash put her up and coming school track and field events and plans for college on hold. Now the battle has been lost, Ash decides to go to New York City with her gay best friend, Austin Taylor.
Ash knows she is just marking time until she makes a decision about where her life is heading. She is still hoping to attend college to pursue her love of running. It’s here in New York City that Ash finally finds her true self.
Some of the things that draw me into Kate Christie’s writing are that her books are well written, well edited, well researched and no two stories are even similar. She is a fantastic storyteller.
This is a young adult book with a sports theme running through it. But, don’t let that put you off if you are over twenty one. I could identify with a lot of the emotionally charged feelings in this story. It is a book with tragedy and loss as well as love and hope and finding oneself and coming to terms with what and who you are. There is a nice sense of humor throughout too. This story will stay with me a long time.
This is not a typical romance. In fact, romance plays a small part and doesn’t come in until very late in the book. It’s the story of Ash’s life and her journey to find herself that takes up most of this book.
The story is set pre 9/11 and from the scenic descriptions, I could immerse myself fully in with the characters and live their lives along side of them back in the 1990’s. Kate Christie covered a lot of ground and emotional topics, AIDS, homophobia, self discovery, friendship, family, coming out. All written with a sympathetic understanding.
I have just one thing I wasn’t too keen on, I would have preferred more of Nic and Ash together and less of Drew and Ash.
I believe there is room for a sequel with these characters. Whether Ash’s happy ever after is with Nic or someone else, they have plenty more to tell us and entertain us with.
While Aunt Selma was bravely fighting cancer, Ash put her up and coming school track and field events and plans for college on hold. Now the battle has been lost, Ash decides to go to New York City with her gay best friend, Austin Taylor.
Ash knows she is just marking time until she makes a decision about where her life is heading. She is still hoping to attend college to pursue her love of running. It’s here in New York City that Ash finally finds her true self.
Some of the things that draw me into Kate Christie’s writing are that her books are well written, well edited, well researched and no two stories are even similar. She is a fantastic storyteller.
This is a young adult book with a sports theme running through it. But, don’t let that put you off if you are over twenty one. I could identify with a lot of the emotionally charged feelings in this story. It is a book with tragedy and loss as well as love and hope and finding oneself and coming to terms with what and who you are. There is a nice sense of humor throughout too. This story will stay with me a long time.
This is not a typical romance. In fact, romance plays a small part and doesn’t come in until very late in the book. It’s the story of Ash’s life and her journey to find herself that takes up most of this book.
The story is set pre 9/11 and from the scenic descriptions, I could immerse myself fully in with the characters and live their lives along side of them back in the 1990’s. Kate Christie covered a lot of ground and emotional topics, AIDS, homophobia, self discovery, friendship, family, coming out. All written with a sympathetic understanding.
I have just one thing I wasn’t too keen on, I would have preferred more of Nic and Ash together and less of Drew and Ash.
I believe there is room for a sequel with these characters. Whether Ash’s happy ever after is with Nic or someone else, they have plenty more to tell us and entertain us with.
June 23, 2014
Excellent coming of age story with a 90s New York setting that leaps off the page. 18 year old Ashley Lake comes to NYC to live with her gay BFF after a family tragedy. She becomes a bike messenger and eventually finds love. More importantly, she finds herself.
I was enthralled by the details in the first half but wasn't as patient with the second half. It takes Ash forever to realize who/what she wants and even longer to act on her feelings. The late-blooming romance is sweet and cute, but not the story's main strength. Will definitely try more from this author. Polished writing, great characters. One of the best GLBT books I've read. 4.5
I was enthralled by the details in the first half but wasn't as patient with the second half. It takes Ash forever to realize who/what she wants and even longer to act on her feelings. The late-blooming romance is sweet and cute, but not the story's main strength. Will definitely try more from this author. Polished writing, great characters. One of the best GLBT books I've read. 4.5
February 20, 2014
Te story is a litlle slow, but she seems so real, so genuine that you can instantly connect with her.
July 12, 2015
I thought the first part of the book was a bit slow but was enjoyable the last part.
I wish the ending was a bit longer or maybe an epilogue to know a bit more about what happened as a grown up.
I wish the ending was a bit longer or maybe an epilogue to know a bit more about what happened as a grown up.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews