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Fly with Me
A sparkling and steamy opposites-attract romance, Fly with Me by Andie Burke is filled with sharp banter and that sweet, swooping feeling of finding “the one” when and where you least expect it.
A one-way ticket to love or a bumpy ride ahead?
Flying-phobic ER nurse Olive Murphy is still gripping the armrest from her first-ever take-off when the pilot announces an in-flight medical emergency. Olive leaps into action and saves a life, but ends up getting stuck in the airport hours away from the marathon she's running in honor of her brother. Luckily for her, Stella Soriano, the stunning type A copilot, offers to give her a ride.
After the two spend a magical day together, Stella makes a surprising Will Olive be her fake girlfriend?
A video of Olive saving a life has gone viral and started generating big sales for Stella's airline. Stella sees their union as the perfect opportunity to get to the boys' club executives at her company who keep overlooking her for a long-deserved promotion. Realizing this arrangement could help her too, Olive dives into memorizing Stella’s comically comprehensive three-ring-binder guide to fake dating. As the two grow closer, what’s supposed to be a ruse feels more and more real. Could this be the romantic ride of their lives, or an epic crash and burn?
A one-way ticket to love or a bumpy ride ahead?
Flying-phobic ER nurse Olive Murphy is still gripping the armrest from her first-ever take-off when the pilot announces an in-flight medical emergency. Olive leaps into action and saves a life, but ends up getting stuck in the airport hours away from the marathon she's running in honor of her brother. Luckily for her, Stella Soriano, the stunning type A copilot, offers to give her a ride.
After the two spend a magical day together, Stella makes a surprising Will Olive be her fake girlfriend?
A video of Olive saving a life has gone viral and started generating big sales for Stella's airline. Stella sees their union as the perfect opportunity to get to the boys' club executives at her company who keep overlooking her for a long-deserved promotion. Realizing this arrangement could help her too, Olive dives into memorizing Stella’s comically comprehensive three-ring-binder guide to fake dating. As the two grow closer, what’s supposed to be a ruse feels more and more real. Could this be the romantic ride of their lives, or an epic crash and burn?
Audiobook
First published September 5, 2023
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About the author
Andie Burke
4 books592 followersAndie Burke writes books with queer kissing and happily ever afters. She was originally an English major who decided to jump into a pediatric nursing career. Her writing is inspired by over a decade spent working in hospitals with patients of all ages. After the last couple years spent in the pandemic ER, she escaped to an outpatient pediatric sedation unit. Andie lives in a blue house in Maryland with an alarming number of books and an embarrassing number of ultra-fine point pens. When she’s not writing, she’s probably feeding snacks to the two small human creatures who live with her or trying not to kill her chaotic houseplants. You can find her on Bookstagram adding to her ever-expanding TBR or letting her ADHD brain happily dissociate while listening to Taylor Swift.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,373 reviews
April 10, 2023
Sometimes I read a romance that completely surprises me with its depth. Fly with Me was definitely one of these.
Olive is a nurse that's having a rough 12 months. On her first ever plane trip, she saves a life and becomes an internet sensation where she also meets Stella, the co-pilot of that particular flight. Soon after, they road trip to Orlando and then hatch a plan to fake date for differing purposes and obviously, love ensues. It sounds light and fun, and it definitely is at times but it also features heavy topics that give this book a lot of depth. It was the depth that made me love this book.
Stella and Olive are two interesting characters in their own right, and I loved getting to know them throughout this novel. This book is 384 pages, and I loved the length as it gave the story the opportunity to build and the romance to develop organically.
Fly with Me is a great debut - highly recommend a read.
Many thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
Olive is a nurse that's having a rough 12 months. On her first ever plane trip, she saves a life and becomes an internet sensation where she also meets Stella, the co-pilot of that particular flight. Soon after, they road trip to Orlando and then hatch a plan to fake date for differing purposes and obviously, love ensues. It sounds light and fun, and it definitely is at times but it also features heavy topics that give this book a lot of depth. It was the depth that made me love this book.
Stella and Olive are two interesting characters in their own right, and I loved getting to know them throughout this novel. This book is 384 pages, and I loved the length as it gave the story the opportunity to build and the romance to develop organically.
Fly with Me is a great debut - highly recommend a read.
Many thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
September 15, 2023
3.5 Stars
A cute sapphic read that also delves into heavier topics of anxiety, grief, sexism, and toxic relationships.
I love the story and the cute romance that blossomed between Olive and Stella. However, the excessive subplots detracted from the main storyline and the romance. Particularly the crazy ex-girlfriend. Her character added too much unnecessary drama. Also, Olive's family drama was rushed at the end and didn't get fully resolved, which left me a little unsatisfied. Despite the few flaws, it was still an enjoyable read.
Would recommend it to fans of sapphic romances.
*** Thank you to NetGalley, Andie Burke, and Macmillan Audio for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
A cute sapphic read that also delves into heavier topics of anxiety, grief, sexism, and toxic relationships.
I love the story and the cute romance that blossomed between Olive and Stella. However, the excessive subplots detracted from the main storyline and the romance. Particularly the crazy ex-girlfriend. Her character added too much unnecessary drama. Also, Olive's family drama was rushed at the end and didn't get fully resolved, which left me a little unsatisfied. Despite the few flaws, it was still an enjoyable read.
Would recommend it to fans of sapphic romances.
*** Thank you to NetGalley, Andie Burke, and Macmillan Audio for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
June 6, 2023
Olive Murphy is on her first flight, ever. She has been afraid to fly all of her life and still is. Olive is flying to run in a marathon to honour her brother. While in the air, Olive uses her nursing skills to save another passenger from a sure death. She is called a hero and given praise by everyone, especially the pilot Stella Soriano.
All Stella wants is to get her Captain’s wings but promotions for women at her airline are few and far between. There is a misconception that Olive and Stella are girlfriends in the media. Stella seizes this opportunity to arrange a fake relationship with Olive to advance her career.
I enjoyed this fake relationship to lovers romance. It has a number of moving parts to it which creates a fresh look at this type of romance. Both main characters are easy to like and root for their happiness. I gladly recommend to all romance readers.
I received an advance review copy from St. Martin’s Griffin press through NetGalley. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
All Stella wants is to get her Captain’s wings but promotions for women at her airline are few and far between. There is a misconception that Olive and Stella are girlfriends in the media. Stella seizes this opportunity to arrange a fake relationship with Olive to advance her career.
I enjoyed this fake relationship to lovers romance. It has a number of moving parts to it which creates a fresh look at this type of romance. Both main characters are easy to like and root for their happiness. I gladly recommend to all romance readers.
I received an advance review copy from St. Martin’s Griffin press through NetGalley. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 5, 2023
I was extremely happy to see a nurse featured in this romance. Some of my best friends are RN’s and most people to this day still do not appreciate how much they battled for us during the pandemic. Let’s never forget. Needless to say, I loved this book.
Olive is flying to Orlando to run a race to honor her brother who has suffered a catastrophic head injury. It’s an amazing feat for her to even be on a plane since flying is one of her many phobias and she is terrified. But when a passenger has a medical emergency, Olive, an ED nurse, immediately springs into action to save his life. Of course, the phone videos go viral and Olive is thrust into the limelight along with the co-pilot, Stella, who befriends Olive afterwards.
The author thrusts us right into the action and then uses some adorable scenes between Olive and Stella to show how the two make an immediate connection. I was hooked. Fly with Me then morphs into a faux romance because Stella needs the publicity for her career and Olive agrees to the plan because she hopes being a fake couple seeds a real relationship. It’s a precarious risk, especially for tenderhearted Olive. As they spend more time together, the author builds their connection with moments of caring and affection that made me believe their relationship was growing into something genuine. Both mc’s are determined women but flawed. Neither can see their true worth regardless of their accomplishments. Family also plays a big part in their personal stories, causing both of them heartaches for differing reasons.
I thought the author packed quite a bit in Olive’s and Stella’s story. If you like faux romances, hot pilots in aviators, steamy sex scenes, and plenty of angst in your books, Fly with Me is a good one to read. 4.5 stars rounded up.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
Olive is flying to Orlando to run a race to honor her brother who has suffered a catastrophic head injury. It’s an amazing feat for her to even be on a plane since flying is one of her many phobias and she is terrified. But when a passenger has a medical emergency, Olive, an ED nurse, immediately springs into action to save his life. Of course, the phone videos go viral and Olive is thrust into the limelight along with the co-pilot, Stella, who befriends Olive afterwards.
The author thrusts us right into the action and then uses some adorable scenes between Olive and Stella to show how the two make an immediate connection. I was hooked. Fly with Me then morphs into a faux romance because Stella needs the publicity for her career and Olive agrees to the plan because she hopes being a fake couple seeds a real relationship. It’s a precarious risk, especially for tenderhearted Olive. As they spend more time together, the author builds their connection with moments of caring and affection that made me believe their relationship was growing into something genuine. Both mc’s are determined women but flawed. Neither can see their true worth regardless of their accomplishments. Family also plays a big part in their personal stories, causing both of them heartaches for differing reasons.
I thought the author packed quite a bit in Olive’s and Stella’s story. If you like faux romances, hot pilots in aviators, steamy sex scenes, and plenty of angst in your books, Fly with Me is a good one to read. 4.5 stars rounded up.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
April 30, 2024
Olive’s afraid of flying, but she needs to get to Disneyworld in order to check an item off her brother’s bucket list. As fate would have it, on her very first flight, a medical emergency requires her to intervene. An ER nurse with ten years of experience, she efficiently cares for the passenger in need of help, filmed by several phones. In the process, she catches the eye of Stella, one of the pilots. And of the world, as the video goes viral. A few days later, Olive and Stella being the adorable useless sapphics that they are, they agree to act as fake girlfriends to their mutual benefit.
Olive, who benefits from the author’s knowledge as a nurse herself, is passionate, driven, but her panic attacks and a nasty ex make her question her worth. Add to that an inextricably difficult family situation and it’s no wonder her heart isn’t into dating. She’s aware fake dating a woman she has a crush on is probably stupid but she’s also trying to get out of her comfort zone. Stella, on the other hand, seems to know exactly who she is and what she wants: an excellent pilot who keeps being overlooked for promotion because she’s a woman, and a Latina. On the personal front, said woman is bad at relationships and keeping to friendships or a bit of fun is safer. Yeah, right.
Yes, it’s another fake romance. Once again, it’s sweet and funny, with characters I couldn’t resist. Despite some very heavy themes, Burke keeps the tone mostly light, which allows her to explore topics such as grief or the weight of expectations, the one others impose upon us as well as those we hold ourselves to, while maintaining a sense of hope throughout. I enjoyed the banter and the tenderness, the badass scenes, Olive’s best friend, Stella’s dad…
I also loved the narration. Chelsea Stephens’ name rang a bell but not her voice(s). It turns out that I’ve listened to her narrate The Heart of the Banshee by Carolyn Elizabeth, but it’s such a different genre that I didn’t recognize her. I always find that kind of versatility amazing. I was unsure about Stella’s voice at the beginning but it really suits her personality. I don’t think it’s stated at any point, but I wondered several times whether she had ADHD. She has that unstoppable tornado energy. Olive seems to settle her, just as being with her makes Olive forget about her anxiety. My wife and I have the same kind of dynamics, so of course I enjoyed it!
My friend Carrie recommended this book to me a few months ago and it took me some time to finally listen to it, but I had a really good time with it.
Read all my reviews on my website (and please get your books from the affiliation links!): Jude in the Stars
November 7, 2023
This book ended up being such a nice surprise. The main trope featured is fauxmance and I liked how Burke handled going from a fake relationship to a real romance.
Olive, an ER nurse, is on a flight when she is tasked with saving another passenger’s life. The video of her heroics goes viral and she finds herself the center of attention. The pilot of the flight, Stella, wants to use the publicity to try and finally get the promotion she’s been after.
Not only does this deal with a fake relationship but there are several heavy issues that we don’t see a lot in romance. Olive, our main character, suffers from anxiety and is dealing with grief and loss over her brother that’s in a coma. There’s also family drama with both Olive and Stella that takes up quite a bit of time. There also happened to be an ex-girlfriend that liked stirring up trouble for Olive.
Even though there were some heavy moments, I liked how the author used humor to offset them. It wasn’t all doom and gloom and sad. Stella especially was good with calming Olive down and finding humor in things.
While I didn’t really care for Stella in the beginning (just a nurse!), she did eventually grow on me. She sticks her foot in her mouth quite a few times that left me shaking my head.
This wasn’t exactly perfect as it had some small issues. Like, I couldn’t understand how quickly the video went viral and how long it was talked about. Another thing, I thought it got a bit bogged down in the middle with their insecurities and self-doubt. I was also peeved that the relationship between Olive and her family was really resolved in the end. That issue actually felt more realistic but I selfishly wanted to see it fixed.
Despite the few issues, I really enjoyed this debut romance from Andie Burke. I’m excited to see what she comes up with next.
I received an ARC from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Olive, an ER nurse, is on a flight when she is tasked with saving another passenger’s life. The video of her heroics goes viral and she finds herself the center of attention. The pilot of the flight, Stella, wants to use the publicity to try and finally get the promotion she’s been after.
Not only does this deal with a fake relationship but there are several heavy issues that we don’t see a lot in romance. Olive, our main character, suffers from anxiety and is dealing with grief and loss over her brother that’s in a coma. There’s also family drama with both Olive and Stella that takes up quite a bit of time. There also happened to be an ex-girlfriend that liked stirring up trouble for Olive.
Even though there were some heavy moments, I liked how the author used humor to offset them. It wasn’t all doom and gloom and sad. Stella especially was good with calming Olive down and finding humor in things.
While I didn’t really care for Stella in the beginning (just a nurse!), she did eventually grow on me. She sticks her foot in her mouth quite a few times that left me shaking my head.
This wasn’t exactly perfect as it had some small issues. Like, I couldn’t understand how quickly the video went viral and how long it was talked about. Another thing, I thought it got a bit bogged down in the middle with their insecurities and self-doubt. I was also peeved that the relationship between Olive and her family was really resolved in the end. That issue actually felt more realistic but I selfishly wanted to see it fixed.
Despite the few issues, I really enjoyed this debut romance from Andie Burke. I’m excited to see what she comes up with next.
I received an ARC from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 19, 2023
3 stars ⭐️- not sure why I didn’t like this more
Both leads are likable. There is a lot of stuff going on to keep things interesting. The writing is good. And yet I found myself doing the skimming thing. That undefinable spark was jus missing for me. I am sure this is a me thing so take my personal reaction with a grain of salt. If the book sounds interesting to you please by all means give it a try.
Borrowed from my library using the Libby app.
Both leads are likable. There is a lot of stuff going on to keep things interesting. The writing is good. And yet I found myself doing the skimming thing. That undefinable spark was jus missing for me. I am sure this is a me thing so take my personal reaction with a grain of salt. If the book sounds interesting to you please by all means give it a try.
Borrowed from my library using the Libby app.
August 11, 2023
[arc review]
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing an e-arc, and to Macmillan Audio for an alc in exchange for an honest review.
Fly with Me releases September 5, 2023
I know this is meant to be fiction and all, but this was too outrageously ridiculous to take seriously.
Olive, our sole narrator of this story, is taking her first flight to Orlando to participate in a Disney marathon run in honour of her brother who is currently paralyzed and in a critical state.
On her flight, a medical emergency occurs, and a passenger has a severe allergic reaction. Since Olive is a nurse, and the only medical personnel on board, she steps in to save the day.
Since the flight obviously had to divert to a closer state, Olive finds herself left without any other flights to get her to her final destination.
The only way to make it on time to the run is by driving non-stop, but since she’s already coming off of a shift at work, it just doesn’t seem plausible with the depletion of her energy.
But no worries, because Stella, the pilot of the flight, offers to drive Olive 6+ hours to Orlando.
All of the characters were insufferable to me. From the main character, who I just couldn’t stand, to the flight captain who was sexist and slimy af, to the love interest Stella who kept belittling Olive’s achievements as a nurse as well as other female flight attendants.
Stella gets mad that people underestimate her as a woman and think of her as a flight attendant instead of a pilot, but then does the exact same thing to Olive and underestimates her degree because she’s just a nurse and not a full-fledged doctor.
The way she kept putting her foot in her mouth was grating on me.
What I can’t understand is how videos of the medical emergency on the flight went viral in what — an hour tops? Olive hadn’t even had the chance to leave the airport yet and it was already viral?? And the fact that press was already waiting for her at the marathon run just 6-ish hours later? What about her is so special?? It was an allergic reaction where she administered an epi pen… it’s not like she performed emergency surgery. It’s just so contrived.
AND THEN, for Stella to propose the idea of fake dating Olive because her viral video is gaining traction for the airline and it would help her get a promotion… Be for real right now. What a fucking cash grab and personal gain. What about the man that suffered from the allergic reaction? We never hear a word from him, but sure, go ahead and fake date.
If I was the individual that had the medical emergency and found out that the pilot was using my experience in a glorified way to gain a promotion, I’d feel pretty shitty.
Here’s what Stella has to say: “I could quit and start over, or I could do something that makes me stand out. Something they can’t ignore. Basically, if people find out that we fell in love after you saved a man’s life on one of my flights, it might be what I need for the right people to finally remember my name.”
It’s the way she wasn’t even directly involved in the medical emergency, but is milking it so hard to her advantage that’s giving me the ick.
It’s giving fake feminism and her character as a queer Latina woman was only used as token diversity.
It feels so scammy and disingenuous.
I get that she wants to shine in a "boy's world" but there's better ways of going about it.
Their whole connection felt forced, and there was too much going on between this and both of their families and the mental health and end of life discussions, as well as the stupid ex-girlfriend that kept bringing in unnecessary drama and added no value to the story.
Olive and Stella hadn’t even known each other for a full 24 hours and Olive was already having so many sexual thoughts like “maybe Stella would casually mention how much she liked pussy during the next conversation, and then rip Olive’s clothes off” and saying that she’d be an appropriate person to sit on top of Stella’s face. Like, calm down.
Maybe if this wasn’t a singular pov and we got to see if Stella was equally interested at such an accelerated rate, it wouldn’t have felt so off, but as it was, I just couldn’t get invested.
So much of this story, to me, felt like it was inadvertently taking jabs at women and I didn’t like it.
There was also multiple instances of homophobia and transphobia that didn’t need to be added.
And what was the purpose of always referring to the man with the allergic reaction as Mickey Mouse? Why were they incapable of using his name?
*To note: I read/listened to the digital and audio arc in tandem, and there were variations between the two in terms of certain word choices (like swapping a “her” for “their”, or “gay” for “lesbian” and other details pertaining to whether the battery of a cellphone was dead, etc.) so I can’t comment on which version most accurately reflects the final copy.
SPOILER
Are you kidding me with that ending??? Did I seriously read 95% of a nearly 400 page book where they fake date in order for her to get a promotion, just for her to quit? That completely negates the whole basis of the plot and feels like such a slap in the face and a waste of my time.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing an e-arc, and to Macmillan Audio for an alc in exchange for an honest review.
Fly with Me releases September 5, 2023
I know this is meant to be fiction and all, but this was too outrageously ridiculous to take seriously.
Olive, our sole narrator of this story, is taking her first flight to Orlando to participate in a Disney marathon run in honour of her brother who is currently paralyzed and in a critical state.
On her flight, a medical emergency occurs, and a passenger has a severe allergic reaction. Since Olive is a nurse, and the only medical personnel on board, she steps in to save the day.
Since the flight obviously had to divert to a closer state, Olive finds herself left without any other flights to get her to her final destination.
The only way to make it on time to the run is by driving non-stop, but since she’s already coming off of a shift at work, it just doesn’t seem plausible with the depletion of her energy.
But no worries, because Stella, the pilot of the flight, offers to drive Olive 6+ hours to Orlando.
All of the characters were insufferable to me. From the main character, who I just couldn’t stand, to the flight captain who was sexist and slimy af, to the love interest Stella who kept belittling Olive’s achievements as a nurse as well as other female flight attendants.
Stella gets mad that people underestimate her as a woman and think of her as a flight attendant instead of a pilot, but then does the exact same thing to Olive and underestimates her degree because she’s just a nurse and not a full-fledged doctor.
The way she kept putting her foot in her mouth was grating on me.
What I can’t understand is how videos of the medical emergency on the flight went viral in what — an hour tops? Olive hadn’t even had the chance to leave the airport yet and it was already viral?? And the fact that press was already waiting for her at the marathon run just 6-ish hours later? What about her is so special?? It was an allergic reaction where she administered an epi pen… it’s not like she performed emergency surgery. It’s just so contrived.
AND THEN, for Stella to propose the idea of fake dating Olive because her viral video is gaining traction for the airline and it would help her get a promotion… Be for real right now. What a fucking cash grab and personal gain. What about the man that suffered from the allergic reaction? We never hear a word from him, but sure, go ahead and fake date.
If I was the individual that had the medical emergency and found out that the pilot was using my experience in a glorified way to gain a promotion, I’d feel pretty shitty.
Here’s what Stella has to say: “I could quit and start over, or I could do something that makes me stand out. Something they can’t ignore. Basically, if people find out that we fell in love after you saved a man’s life on one of my flights, it might be what I need for the right people to finally remember my name.”
It’s the way she wasn’t even directly involved in the medical emergency, but is milking it so hard to her advantage that’s giving me the ick.
It’s giving fake feminism and her character as a queer Latina woman was only used as token diversity.
It feels so scammy and disingenuous.
I get that she wants to shine in a "boy's world" but there's better ways of going about it.
Their whole connection felt forced, and there was too much going on between this and both of their families and the mental health and end of life discussions, as well as the stupid ex-girlfriend that kept bringing in unnecessary drama and added no value to the story.
Olive and Stella hadn’t even known each other for a full 24 hours and Olive was already having so many sexual thoughts like “maybe Stella would casually mention how much she liked pussy during the next conversation, and then rip Olive’s clothes off” and saying that she’d be an appropriate person to sit on top of Stella’s face. Like, calm down.
Maybe if this wasn’t a singular pov and we got to see if Stella was equally interested at such an accelerated rate, it wouldn’t have felt so off, but as it was, I just couldn’t get invested.
So much of this story, to me, felt like it was inadvertently taking jabs at women and I didn’t like it.
There was also multiple instances of homophobia and transphobia that didn’t need to be added.
And what was the purpose of always referring to the man with the allergic reaction as Mickey Mouse? Why were they incapable of using his name?
*To note: I read/listened to the digital and audio arc in tandem, and there were variations between the two in terms of certain word choices (like swapping a “her” for “their”, or “gay” for “lesbian” and other details pertaining to whether the battery of a cellphone was dead, etc.) so I can’t comment on which version most accurately reflects the final copy.
SPOILER
Are you kidding me with that ending??? Did I seriously read 95% of a nearly 400 page book where they fake date in order for her to get a promotion, just for her to quit? That completely negates the whole basis of the plot and feels like such a slap in the face and a waste of my time.
September 3, 2025
[September 2025] 6th reread note: Yes. I am obsessed with this book. Feel free to judge...
[May 2025]
5th reread note: I like this book. You will too.
[February 2025]
Reread note: I still loved this book on my third reread. However, the ex-girlfriend character is still way over-the-top devious.
[October 2024]
So, this lovely sapphic romance was humming along beautifully until it hit the dreaded third-act breakup. I know, I know, we all sort of hate the 3AB, but we also understand it is often necessary to set-up the grand gesture ending or whatever leads to the HEA. The point is that the motivation for the breakup must be rock solid and make sense, and NOT be what happens in Fly with Me. In this book, both MCs break up with the other because they “love them so much that they must save them from themselves.” Yuck. I think I actually stomped my foot at this point.
So why the 5-Star rating still? Ah, because in the very next chapter, the best-friend character calls out both FMCs as idiots for having Spider-Manned each other. Yes! That is exactly what they did!
If you are confused, that's okay. In the story, the narrator, Olive, didn’t understand this reference and the best friend had to explain it to her, and you might not either. It goes back to the 2002 Toby Maguire Spider-Man movie where at the end, Mary Jane professes her love to Peter, who then turns around and breaks up with her because, well, he’s Spider-Man and must save Mary Jane from himself. Anyone who watched that scene was throwing popcorn at the movie screen (metaphorically, I hope) because how stupid can you be? And that apparently included Andie Burke, the debut author of this book. I love this, because as a reader I know the author gets it. She really, really gets why everyone hates that type of third-act breakup. So, full marks to Burke for tongue-in-cheekily mocking herself and mocking that plot device.
Wow, have I digressed.
You probably want to know what I thought of the book. I loved it, though there are some heavy themes so read the trigger warnings. Still, the characters are a delight, and Burke writes the fake dating trope via a single POV brilliantly. Personally, I think that is the hardest way to write the overused romcom trope and she still managed to make it feel fresh.
Cheers and Bravo. Now, go read this book and watch for the eye wink.
Reread Note: The ex girlfriend character is way over-the-top. If she had a pencil mustache, she'd be twirling it as she delivered her dialogue.
[May 2025]
5th reread note: I like this book. You will too.
[February 2025]
Reread note: I still loved this book on my third reread. However, the ex-girlfriend character is still way over-the-top devious.
[October 2024]
So, this lovely sapphic romance was humming along beautifully until it hit the dreaded third-act breakup. I know, I know, we all sort of hate the 3AB, but we also understand it is often necessary to set-up the grand gesture ending or whatever leads to the HEA. The point is that the motivation for the breakup must be rock solid and make sense, and NOT be what happens in Fly with Me. In this book, both MCs break up with the other because they “love them so much that they must save them from themselves.” Yuck. I think I actually stomped my foot at this point.
So why the 5-Star rating still? Ah, because in the very next chapter, the best-friend character calls out both FMCs as idiots for having Spider-Manned each other. Yes! That is exactly what they did!
If you are confused, that's okay. In the story, the narrator, Olive, didn’t understand this reference and the best friend had to explain it to her, and you might not either. It goes back to the 2002 Toby Maguire Spider-Man movie where at the end, Mary Jane professes her love to Peter, who then turns around and breaks up with her because, well, he’s Spider-Man and must save Mary Jane from himself. Anyone who watched that scene was throwing popcorn at the movie screen (metaphorically, I hope) because how stupid can you be? And that apparently included Andie Burke, the debut author of this book. I love this, because as a reader I know the author gets it. She really, really gets why everyone hates that type of third-act breakup. So, full marks to Burke for tongue-in-cheekily mocking herself and mocking that plot device.
Wow, have I digressed.
You probably want to know what I thought of the book. I loved it, though there are some heavy themes so read the trigger warnings. Still, the characters are a delight, and Burke writes the fake dating trope via a single POV brilliantly. Personally, I think that is the hardest way to write the overused romcom trope and she still managed to make it feel fresh.
Cheers and Bravo. Now, go read this book and watch for the eye wink.
Reread Note: The ex girlfriend character is way over-the-top. If she had a pencil mustache, she'd be twirling it as she delivered her dialogue.
October 2, 2023
Olive the nurse and Stella the pilot turn this fake relationship romance into something very real after a lot of soul searching and some honest discussions between the two mains. The angst meter is high with this read but the serious moments are offset by enough humour to keep me smiling. Nicely done.
October 13, 2023
I really enjoyed this one! I can't get enough of fake dating! Add in a fantastic MC, and I'm hooked!
What I liked:
Olive. She stole the show! She was a really fleshed out, three-dimensional character who felt like a real person. I felt so much for her and was rooting for her against her awful ex and parents. She's had the worst year of her life, losing her brother and being cut off from her family, and I felt it all right alongside her.
The writing was great. I understand this is a debut? Didn't feel like one. There were some odd sentences here and there, I.e. this is written in 3rd person past tense, but some sentences read like present tense. I don't know if that was just me, though.
The secondary characters in Derek, Joni, and Gus were lovely. Olive's and Derek's friendship felt like it had lasted as long as was said.
What I didn't like:
There are a couple of reasons this isn't 5 stars, and one of them is Lindsey, Olive's ex-girlfriend. She felt like a plot device more than a character, and she never faced any consequences for what she did to Olive. Really cartoonish villain.
Stella, unfortunately. I loved Olive and loved her POV (she was so funny), but I think this book would have benefited from Stella's POV as well. Whereas Olive felt real, Stella felt like a love interest, if that makes sense.
It ended, but I wanted more information! I get it's long for a romance, but the plotlines with Olive's horrible family (and Lindsey) were just left with no closure. Her mother, for instance, lost two children really, when she froze Olive out after Jake had the accident. I'd like to know if Olive was back in touch with them or cut them out of her life (which is what I would've done).
So yeah! Olive was an excellent character, and I really enjoyed my time with her. Can't wait to see what the author brings out next!
What I liked:
Olive. She stole the show! She was a really fleshed out, three-dimensional character who felt like a real person. I felt so much for her and was rooting for her against her awful ex and parents. She's had the worst year of her life, losing her brother and being cut off from her family, and I felt it all right alongside her.
The writing was great. I understand this is a debut? Didn't feel like one. There were some odd sentences here and there, I.e. this is written in 3rd person past tense, but some sentences read like present tense. I don't know if that was just me, though.
The secondary characters in Derek, Joni, and Gus were lovely. Olive's and Derek's friendship felt like it had lasted as long as was said.
What I didn't like:
There are a couple of reasons this isn't 5 stars, and one of them is Lindsey, Olive's ex-girlfriend. She felt like a plot device more than a character, and she never faced any consequences for what she did to Olive. Really cartoonish villain.
Stella, unfortunately. I loved Olive and loved her POV (she was so funny), but I think this book would have benefited from Stella's POV as well. Whereas Olive felt real, Stella felt like a love interest, if that makes sense.
It ended, but I wanted more information! I get it's long for a romance, but the plotlines with Olive's horrible family (and Lindsey) were just left with no closure. Her mother, for instance, lost two children really, when she froze Olive out after Jake had the accident. I'd like to know if Olive was back in touch with them or cut them out of her life (which is what I would've done).
So yeah! Olive was an excellent character, and I really enjoyed my time with her. Can't wait to see what the author brings out next!
November 25, 2023
4/5 ⭐️
- The banter in this book was SO fun!! I found myself actually giggling while reading. The characters felt so real and even though this book was the first I’ve read from this author, it won’t be my last!
- I love how this book talked so much about how our past relationships can play a huge factor in how we view ourselves and how we navigate our current relationships. Reading the things that would go through Olive’s head really gave me so much perspective on how all of us are working through our own insecurities.
- The family aspect of this book was tough to read, but a huge reminder that we all have different family dynamics. I love how this book was really lighthearted in some aspects and serious in others. The author created the perfect balance which I loved!
- The banter in this book was SO fun!! I found myself actually giggling while reading. The characters felt so real and even though this book was the first I’ve read from this author, it won’t be my last!
- I love how this book talked so much about how our past relationships can play a huge factor in how we view ourselves and how we navigate our current relationships. Reading the things that would go through Olive’s head really gave me so much perspective on how all of us are working through our own insecurities.
- The family aspect of this book was tough to read, but a huge reminder that we all have different family dynamics. I love how this book was really lighthearted in some aspects and serious in others. The author created the perfect balance which I loved!
April 23, 2023
5star
I will now add Andie Burke to my list of favorite authors.
What a great story. It's about...sooo much. It's not just a slow burn romance, it's mostly about life choices. Many types of choices. And it's all very interesting and heartbreaking.
There are many surprises. Some good, some bad. All very realistic. Dialog is clever, sincere, humorous and natural.
But I want the author to know....I want to shack Mom and Dad and slap Lindsey. There, now I feel better!
I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I will now add Andie Burke to my list of favorite authors.
What a great story. It's about...sooo much. It's not just a slow burn romance, it's mostly about life choices. Many types of choices. And it's all very interesting and heartbreaking.
There are many surprises. Some good, some bad. All very realistic. Dialog is clever, sincere, humorous and natural.
But I want the author to know....I want to shack Mom and Dad and slap Lindsey. There, now I feel better!
I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 25, 2024
The abundance of lesbian romances out in the world now makes me so happy. Reading this book also made me realize that there's an untapped market out there (ok maybe just for me) of lesbian romances set at Disney World. I love the combination of queer woman and that wonderful place.
But, I digress. Nurse Olive Murphy is terrified of flying, so it seems only fitting that on her first trip on a plane, a man has a medical emergency. The plane is diverted, and Olive goes viral for heroically saving his life. One of the pilots, Stella Soriano (that name just sounds beautiful, doesn't it?) offers to drive Olive from Atlanta to Florida so she can make the marathon she's running at Disney World in honor of her brother. Stella Soriano, of course, is a gorgeous, sexy, pilot, because why wouldn't she be? Olive slogs through her race, Stella is waiting for her at the end, and the two have a beautiful day (and night) at Disney. As all good lesbians should.
Then Stella asks Olive to be her (fake) girlfriend. With Olive going viral, Stella is sure this publicity will help her finally get the promotion to captain she's been desiring for so long. As reasons to fake date in romances this one seems a bit flaky, but I've seen worse. And have I mentioned that Stella Soriano is really hot? And that Olive is absolutely adorable and funny? Please fake date ladies, please.
Burke writes Olive wonderfully. She made me laugh out loud. The book is told entirely from her point of view, which I feel like is rare anymore, but it totally worked. Burke is a former nurse who writes Olive quite realistically. Even more, she writes Olive's brother, a terminally ill patient, with complete respect. Olive suffers from anxiety and depression and that topic plays a strong role in the plot, but it's well-done and portrayed in a very appropriate fashion.
The emotion in this book! Olive's family was terrible. Downright awful. I wanted to jump through the pages and give this poor woman a hug (and push her into Stella's arms). Stella and Olive felt like authentic lesbians with whom I would be friends. Olive is scared she's a burden for Stella and Stella's afraid her workaholic issues are too much for Olive. Get it together, ladies! At the core, their romance is so sweet, and you cannot help but root for them.
When reading, it's clear this is Burke's first book, but this is still a very witty, enjoyable sapphic romance. Also, I feel as if Olive's friend Derek is the true superstar of this story and deserves his own book (with appearances from Gus the dog, of course). 4 stars.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and St. Martin's Press in return for an unbiased review.
But, I digress. Nurse Olive Murphy is terrified of flying, so it seems only fitting that on her first trip on a plane, a man has a medical emergency. The plane is diverted, and Olive goes viral for heroically saving his life. One of the pilots, Stella Soriano (that name just sounds beautiful, doesn't it?) offers to drive Olive from Atlanta to Florida so she can make the marathon she's running at Disney World in honor of her brother. Stella Soriano, of course, is a gorgeous, sexy, pilot, because why wouldn't she be? Olive slogs through her race, Stella is waiting for her at the end, and the two have a beautiful day (and night) at Disney. As all good lesbians should.
Then Stella asks Olive to be her (fake) girlfriend. With Olive going viral, Stella is sure this publicity will help her finally get the promotion to captain she's been desiring for so long. As reasons to fake date in romances this one seems a bit flaky, but I've seen worse. And have I mentioned that Stella Soriano is really hot? And that Olive is absolutely adorable and funny? Please fake date ladies, please.
Burke writes Olive wonderfully. She made me laugh out loud. The book is told entirely from her point of view, which I feel like is rare anymore, but it totally worked. Burke is a former nurse who writes Olive quite realistically. Even more, she writes Olive's brother, a terminally ill patient, with complete respect. Olive suffers from anxiety and depression and that topic plays a strong role in the plot, but it's well-done and portrayed in a very appropriate fashion.
The emotion in this book! Olive's family was terrible. Downright awful. I wanted to jump through the pages and give this poor woman a hug (and push her into Stella's arms). Stella and Olive felt like authentic lesbians with whom I would be friends. Olive is scared she's a burden for Stella and Stella's afraid her workaholic issues are too much for Olive. Get it together, ladies! At the core, their romance is so sweet, and you cannot help but root for them.
When reading, it's clear this is Burke's first book, but this is still a very witty, enjoyable sapphic romance. Also, I feel as if Olive's friend Derek is the true superstar of this story and deserves his own book (with appearances from Gus the dog, of course). 4 stars.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and St. Martin's Press in return for an unbiased review.
October 12, 2023
Easily 5⭐️
This was one of my favorite romances ever! I absolutely fell in love with the characters and could not recommend this enough
This was one of my favorite romances ever! I absolutely fell in love with the characters and could not recommend this enough
June 8, 2023
Disclaimer: I received a review copy for free via NetGalley, but I am voluntarily leaving my honest review. Many thanks to the publisher, St. Martin's Press, and the author for the opportunity!
Fly with Me, first off, has a great cover and a fun premise. I really like the dynamic between Stella and Olive, with things being kind of quirky and awkward, but still comfortable. Unfortunately, just about everything else added so much stress to these vibes that it kind of made it not a great read. I LOVED the themes of family here with Stella and her dad, and Olive with her brother. The rest of Olive's family was tough to deal with, and it was SUPPOSED to be tough so Andie did a great job there. It's just that it seemed a bit too much when on top of the rest of her family, we also have to deal with Olive's ex, Lindsay, who was, to put it very lightly, bat shit crazy. 😂 Then we also have Stella's misogynistic/sexist work to deal with too. Obviously I don't need things to only stay light and fluffy, and these are realistic issues that people deal with in life, but it was still just a LOT.
Stella was my favorite thing about this book, and I did love seeing her through Olive's POV. I felt truly Stella's frustrations with her work life, and was cheering for her to fight for her promotion and recognition. The fake dating did work for me, but again, while I could have enjoyed the kind of easy interactions Olive and Stella had together, those scenes were wrapped around REALLY dramatic external factors. I also wanted more actual flying or airport scenes -- even though I know that's not really the point of the story.
Overall, the negatives outweigh the positive for me here and that's why it's a 2-2.5 star read for me. It felt MUCH longer than the 380~ish pages. I liked Olive's friends, I liked the dynamic between Olive and Stella, but I think the pacing definitely didn't work for me, unfortunately, and it stayed on the same beat a bit too long for the first half instead of having a more natural growth as the book went on. The spice was fun though, and I'm glad they did have great communication over time. I just wish things were a little tightened up and also had less external drama surrounding them. I'd definitely try out another book from Andie too!
Fly with Me, first off, has a great cover and a fun premise. I really like the dynamic between Stella and Olive, with things being kind of quirky and awkward, but still comfortable. Unfortunately, just about everything else added so much stress to these vibes that it kind of made it not a great read. I LOVED the themes of family here with Stella and her dad, and Olive with her brother. The rest of Olive's family was tough to deal with, and it was SUPPOSED to be tough so Andie did a great job there. It's just that it seemed a bit too much when on top of the rest of her family, we also have to deal with Olive's ex, Lindsay, who was, to put it very lightly, bat shit crazy. 😂 Then we also have Stella's misogynistic/sexist work to deal with too. Obviously I don't need things to only stay light and fluffy, and these are realistic issues that people deal with in life, but it was still just a LOT.
Stella was my favorite thing about this book, and I did love seeing her through Olive's POV. I felt truly Stella's frustrations with her work life, and was cheering for her to fight for her promotion and recognition. The fake dating did work for me, but again, while I could have enjoyed the kind of easy interactions Olive and Stella had together, those scenes were wrapped around REALLY dramatic external factors. I also wanted more actual flying or airport scenes -- even though I know that's not really the point of the story.
Overall, the negatives outweigh the positive for me here and that's why it's a 2-2.5 star read for me. It felt MUCH longer than the 380~ish pages. I liked Olive's friends, I liked the dynamic between Olive and Stella, but I think the pacing definitely didn't work for me, unfortunately, and it stayed on the same beat a bit too long for the first half instead of having a more natural growth as the book went on. The spice was fun though, and I'm glad they did have great communication over time. I just wish things were a little tightened up and also had less external drama surrounding them. I'd definitely try out another book from Andie too!
November 10, 2024
3.5 ⭐
March 14, 2024
This was a moving, romantic, and steamy romance between two women who spend most of the novel believing they aren't good enough for the other. (Luckily, of course, they figure it out in the end, but it's to Andie Burke's credit that despite the fact that I *knew* they would end up together because, duh, this is a romance, I still felt very worried by their believable and earned third-act break-up).
Stella and Olive meet on a plane: Stella is the co-pilot, Olive is a nurse on her first flight ever -- she's deathly afraid of flying -- and saves the life of a passenger having an anaphylaxtic reaction. Cue: the best first date ever at Disneyworld and a fake relationship to help Olive deal with being a sudden internet celebrity and to help Stella get the management at her airline to notice her so she can make captain. Their fake relationship, of course, is never really fake because they are so into each other, but, as mentioned above, each woman is convinced she doesn't deserve the other.
The official blurb for this one is a bit misleading, as it doesn't mention the heavy issues that are actually at the heart of where Olive is in her life, as well as to a smaller extent Stella. The reason Olive has finally made herself get on a plane? She had promised her brother they would run the Disneyworld half marathon together, but almost a year ago he was in a horrible accident and has been on life support since. Olive, who as the medical power of attorney wanted to terminate the life support as she knew her brother would have wanted and at the recommendation of the doctors, has been ostracized from her family at the behest of her catholic mom. Her mom refuses to believe the doctors and gets a lawyer to take away Olive's rights by falsely arguing Olive has a conflict of interest becasue she will inherit money on her brother's death. It’s fucking brutal. Stella, for her part, is struggling with her dad's worsening Parkinson's disease.
Burke treats Olive's situation -- with all its mixed up grief, anger, and resentment -- thoughtfully and with nuance, but it is understandably a big part of the narrative. If you're expecting a light rom com, this is not it! (Although there are funny parts too and some very hot, unique sex scenes!!).
Anyway, this was sweet and sad and beautiful, with a toxic ex villain you will love to hate! (Although I wished the fall-out from the ex's evil act had been explored a bit more. In general, the wrapping up of threads at the end was a little rushed).
I loved this! Recommended!
Stella and Olive meet on a plane: Stella is the co-pilot, Olive is a nurse on her first flight ever -- she's deathly afraid of flying -- and saves the life of a passenger having an anaphylaxtic reaction. Cue: the best first date ever at Disneyworld and a fake relationship to help Olive deal with being a sudden internet celebrity and to help Stella get the management at her airline to notice her so she can make captain. Their fake relationship, of course, is never really fake because they are so into each other, but, as mentioned above, each woman is convinced she doesn't deserve the other.
The official blurb for this one is a bit misleading, as it doesn't mention the heavy issues that are actually at the heart of where Olive is in her life, as well as to a smaller extent Stella. The reason Olive has finally made herself get on a plane? She had promised her brother they would run the Disneyworld half marathon together, but almost a year ago he was in a horrible accident and has been on life support since. Olive, who as the medical power of attorney wanted to terminate the life support as she knew her brother would have wanted and at the recommendation of the doctors, has been ostracized from her family at the behest of her catholic mom. Her mom refuses to believe the doctors and gets a lawyer to take away Olive's rights by falsely arguing Olive has a conflict of interest becasue she will inherit money on her brother's death. It’s fucking brutal. Stella, for her part, is struggling with her dad's worsening Parkinson's disease.
Burke treats Olive's situation -- with all its mixed up grief, anger, and resentment -- thoughtfully and with nuance, but it is understandably a big part of the narrative. If you're expecting a light rom com, this is not it! (Although there are funny parts too and some very hot, unique sex scenes!!).
Anyway, this was sweet and sad and beautiful, with a toxic ex villain you will love to hate! (Although I wished the fall-out from the ex's evil act had been explored a bit more. In general, the wrapping up of threads at the end was a little rushed).
I loved this! Recommended!
May 2, 2024
This book sucked me in from the first minute. It's told only from Olive's point of view, and she moved me so much. She suffers from anxiety and depression, and it's so well-written that I felt it too—the spiraling, the struggling. Her life and situation with her family are heartbreaking beyond words, and some chapters were hard to listen to, but they felt realistic, with no magical resolution. Olive is endearing, vulnerable, funny, and witty. Stella is seen through Olive's eyes, and I fell in love with her along with Olive. She's beautiful, thoughtful, caring, and her word vomiting is adorable. She balances and complements Olive. They're so different yet so deeply similar and connect from day one. But there's a reason these two don't immediately become a couple.The book brought up heavy topics like losing loved ones, notions of ending life support, and depression that can't be tough to read sometimes. Be reassured, it also brings every key scene you would look for in a book with a fake dating romance novel, with really sweet scenes (pneumonia scenes 😍). The narration was really good, especially for the birthday scene where the intimacy was just translated perfectly through the narrator's voice. I had goosebumps.
I loved how balanced this book was: with layered characters, emotions, lightness, chemistry, and pain, Fly with Me made me smile and cry. Everything I love when I read.
I loved how balanced this book was: with layered characters, emotions, lightness, chemistry, and pain, Fly with Me made me smile and cry. Everything I love when I read.
August 11, 2024
I absolutely loved this! Olive and Stella were incredible, and I was so drawn into the fake girlfriend storyline which was very well-written. The characters were so relatable because they faced real human issues like anxiety, discrimination, and mental health struggles.
The depth of the characters' backstories and personalities was truly remarkable. The story had me laughing out loud and it also tugged at my heartstrings. Yes, there were some teary moment. Like any other stories, there were a couple of characters I wanted to shake some sense into (you'll know who I mean) and other supporting character who are just endearing.
4⭐️
The depth of the characters' backstories and personalities was truly remarkable. The story had me laughing out loud and it also tugged at my heartstrings. Yes, there were some teary moment. Like any other stories, there were a couple of characters I wanted to shake some sense into (you'll know who I mean) and other supporting character who are just endearing.
4⭐️
March 27, 2023
Really enjoyed this debut. Loved how the fake dating trope was woven in and all of the emotions around it. Both MCs were so likable in their own way, and the internal dialogue from Olive was one of the highlights of the book for me. They were written so well it was like you’re really in her head. There are multiple layers which only added to the story and how much I liked Olive and Stella. Could have easily read a few more chapters.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
March 8, 2025
full review on my BookTube channel, ProblemsOfABookNerd!
*3.5/5
I actually love how much both of these women are dedicated to the fake dating thing being mutually beneficial. Like, if we're dating so you can get a job then I'm going to GET YOU that job, baby, let's do this company party!
*3.5/5
I actually love how much both of these women are dedicated to the fake dating thing being mutually beneficial. Like, if we're dating so you can get a job then I'm going to GET YOU that job, baby, let's do this company party!
March 17, 2023
This was a pretty great sapphic romance, and I'm not sure why I haven't seen more people talk about it, but maybe that's because this is a September release, and it's currently March.
Anyway, I really enjoyed reading this! This felt like a fairly long read, but in a good way, because I just felt like a lot happened over the course of this book. This could have felt like too much, but it just made me feel like the characters had full, complex lives, which was really nice to read about. There are some harder storylines too, like Olive dealing with her brother being on life support and her family being angry with her for wanting to honour his wishes, and Stella's father having Parkinson's. This all added to a fully fleshed out story and never made the book feel too heavy, just realistically human.
And there were lots and lots of cute moments, because the characters spent a lot of time together in different situations. There's even a road trip!
Anyway, I really enjoyed reading this! This felt like a fairly long read, but in a good way, because I just felt like a lot happened over the course of this book. This could have felt like too much, but it just made me feel like the characters had full, complex lives, which was really nice to read about. There are some harder storylines too, like Olive dealing with her brother being on life support and her family being angry with her for wanting to honour his wishes, and Stella's father having Parkinson's. This all added to a fully fleshed out story and never made the book feel too heavy, just realistically human.
And there were lots and lots of cute moments, because the characters spent a lot of time together in different situations. There's even a road trip!
August 15, 2023
Fly With Me is Andie Burke's debut novel and, excuse me while I fangirl, my favourite contemporary romance I've read in a while. It's a sapphic fake dating based romance, but it also weaves in many diverse characters and touching plot lines. While I did find the end a bit too dramatic, I loved the sweet, earnest love this book depicted and ended up reading it in one sitting. I highly urge you to pick this novel up. I'm already awaiting the author's next story.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
September 16, 2023
Content warnings: sexism, hospitals, brother on life support after a car accident , MC is a nurse, so there's lots of medical content, homophobia, panic attacks, depression, toxic relationships - both romantic and familial, gaslighting, manipulation, emotional abuse, alcohol consumption, parent with Parkinson's (Stella's dad), snake, transphobia, explicit sex scenes. (I think that's everything?)
Rep: cis, white, bisexual MC. Latine cis lesbian love interest who also is coeliac. Side queer characters, side trans character, side POC characters.
Hello to my new favourite book. I love this book so much.
Olive is such a wonderful, giving, heart-felt character that NEEDS A FUCKING HUG. Holy crap does this woman need a goddamned hug - like a billion of them!
A year prior, Olive's brother saved a child from almost being hit by a car, but the car hit him instead, rendering him paralysed from the neck down, and with a severe brain injury. He's on life support throughout the entire book, and Olive, wanting to make her brother proud, wants to continue his list of things he wanted to achieve. Like visiting national parts, doing the Disney marathon, and many other amazing things.
Olive, who is petrified of flying, is on her way to do the marathon when a passenger on board the aeroplane suffers anaphylactic shock. Olive saves his life, and manages to go viral in the process.
Stella is the pilot who was flying the plane when all of that occured, and Olive is instantly attracted to her, which is all kinds of cute and relatable.
I loved the development of their relationship - how they were there for each other even though there was some seriously troublesome shit going on for both of them.
Stella is such a lovely, caregiving person, even though she doesn't think she is. And Olive has such a massive heart that anyone would be lucky to be her girlfriend.
There is so much that happens in this book, but it's one that I found I didn't want it to end. I could use another entire book filled with the things that Olive and Stella get up to.
Their chemistry jumps off the page, and every single interaction with them left me wanting more.
I hated Olive's ex - she's such a wanker. Like, wow, get some therapy and take a hard look at yourself, mate.
I hated Olive's mum, too. I get that she didn't want to let her son go, but she went directly against his wishes just for her own selfishness. I know that's easy for me to say, and this kind of stuff happens all the time, but what a selfish person she was. In fact, all of Olive's family can get fucked. They don't deserve her. Olive deserves so much better.
Anyway, I loved this book so very much a lot. It is a new favourite and I will forever hold it in my heart.
Rep: cis, white, bisexual MC. Latine cis lesbian love interest who also is coeliac. Side queer characters, side trans character, side POC characters.
Hello to my new favourite book. I love this book so much.
Olive is such a wonderful, giving, heart-felt character that NEEDS A FUCKING HUG. Holy crap does this woman need a goddamned hug - like a billion of them!
A year prior, Olive's brother saved a child from almost being hit by a car, but the car hit him instead, rendering him paralysed from the neck down, and with a severe brain injury. He's on life support throughout the entire book, and Olive, wanting to make her brother proud, wants to continue his list of things he wanted to achieve. Like visiting national parts, doing the Disney marathon, and many other amazing things.
Olive, who is petrified of flying, is on her way to do the marathon when a passenger on board the aeroplane suffers anaphylactic shock. Olive saves his life, and manages to go viral in the process.
Stella is the pilot who was flying the plane when all of that occured, and Olive is instantly attracted to her, which is all kinds of cute and relatable.
I loved the development of their relationship - how they were there for each other even though there was some seriously troublesome shit going on for both of them.
Stella is such a lovely, caregiving person, even though she doesn't think she is. And Olive has such a massive heart that anyone would be lucky to be her girlfriend.
There is so much that happens in this book, but it's one that I found I didn't want it to end. I could use another entire book filled with the things that Olive and Stella get up to.
Their chemistry jumps off the page, and every single interaction with them left me wanting more.
I hated Olive's ex - she's such a wanker. Like, wow, get some therapy and take a hard look at yourself, mate.
I hated Olive's mum, too. I get that she didn't want to let her son go, but she went directly against his wishes just for her own selfishness. I know that's easy for me to say, and this kind of stuff happens all the time, but what a selfish person she was. In fact, all of Olive's family can get fucked. They don't deserve her. Olive deserves so much better.
Anyway, I loved this book so very much a lot. It is a new favourite and I will forever hold it in my heart.
September 6, 2023
This one is for the sapphics! Fly With Me is an incredible opposites to lovers story that starts with fake dating, witty banter, and palpable chemistry.
Nervous flyer and ER nurse Olive ends up saving a man’s life on her first ever flight, but she winds up stranded away from her destination. Stella, the copilot of her flight, offers to drive Olive to her destination. After spending time together, they decide to capitalize on their viral fame by fake dating in order to help each other…but they quickly learn that the fake feelings don’t seem all that fake.
I absolutely adored Olive and Stella. Olive is a chaotic mess with a toxic family that honestly needed to be yeeted into the sun. Stella is a bubbly, over achiever who is determined to do whatever it takes to finally get the promotion she is long overdue.
While I adored all of the moments that Olive and Stella shared because their chemistry was incredible, I also really enjoyed seeing each of them as a whole person with a slew of heavy hitting issues that they individually grapple with. This is what really took this romance to a very realistic setting for me since they have to navigate their own grief and how to come together without projecting onto the other.
Honestly, Olive and Stella are the type of people that I would just love to sit down and have wine with!
If you’re looking for a steamy queer romance that will have you grinning by the end, pick this one up!
Thank you SMP Romance for providing a review copy. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.
Nervous flyer and ER nurse Olive ends up saving a man’s life on her first ever flight, but she winds up stranded away from her destination. Stella, the copilot of her flight, offers to drive Olive to her destination. After spending time together, they decide to capitalize on their viral fame by fake dating in order to help each other…but they quickly learn that the fake feelings don’t seem all that fake.
I absolutely adored Olive and Stella. Olive is a chaotic mess with a toxic family that honestly needed to be yeeted into the sun. Stella is a bubbly, over achiever who is determined to do whatever it takes to finally get the promotion she is long overdue.
While I adored all of the moments that Olive and Stella shared because their chemistry was incredible, I also really enjoyed seeing each of them as a whole person with a slew of heavy hitting issues that they individually grapple with. This is what really took this romance to a very realistic setting for me since they have to navigate their own grief and how to come together without projecting onto the other.
Honestly, Olive and Stella are the type of people that I would just love to sit down and have wine with!
If you’re looking for a steamy queer romance that will have you grinning by the end, pick this one up!
Thank you SMP Romance for providing a review copy. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.
March 30, 2023
What a beautiful story. I cried so many happy tears and just all the emotions. I literally couldn’t do anything and had to finish this book before I could do anything else. I give this 5/5 the characters were amazing the story line was amazing and as a Latina myself it was amazing seeing a Latina in the main relationship.
August 25, 2023
I received an ARC of Fly With Me from St. Martin’s Press. My first Goodreads Giveaway win!
This book was fighting an uphill battle since it had two tropes that I almost never enjoy.
1. A Viral Video
2. Fake Dating
In books, I almost never buy that a viral video would actually go viral. Or at least, not that viral. In this instance, people recognized Olive in public, she got interview offers from multiple major publications, and was featured on daytime television. This book took place over months and people were still talking about her heroic rescue? Not in this day and age. I also don’t usually like fake dating.
However, I did mostly enjoy Fly With Me. I liked both Olive and Stella, especially Stella, and enjoyed many aspects of the plot. #Stella4Lyfe
I was prepared to give this book 3.5 stars, until the last 30-ish pages. One of the most interesting parts of the book, for me, was Olive’s relationship with her family and her brother. That part of the plot never felt fully resolved to me and the ending felt unsatisfying.
Altogether, not a bad read. I really enjoyed some parts, and some were more meh. If you’re into fake dating, then you’ll probably enjoy it more than I did!
This book was fighting an uphill battle since it had two tropes that I almost never enjoy.
1. A Viral Video
2. Fake Dating
In books, I almost never buy that a viral video would actually go viral. Or at least, not that viral. In this instance, people recognized Olive in public, she got interview offers from multiple major publications, and was featured on daytime television. This book took place over months and people were still talking about her heroic rescue? Not in this day and age. I also don’t usually like fake dating.
However, I did mostly enjoy Fly With Me. I liked both Olive and Stella, especially Stella, and enjoyed many aspects of the plot. #Stella4Lyfe
I was prepared to give this book 3.5 stars, until the last 30-ish pages. One of the most interesting parts of the book, for me, was Olive’s relationship with her family and her brother. That part of the plot never felt fully resolved to me and the ending felt unsatisfying.
Altogether, not a bad read. I really enjoyed some parts, and some were more meh. If you’re into fake dating, then you’ll probably enjoy it more than I did!
October 16, 2023
2.5 stars. There were definitely some important themes here and some good traits in the writing itself and the characters, but this one just didn't work for me. It felt unbalanced and not paced well. There was a great deal of external drama that detracted from the story-line of both characters' growth individually as well as together. It was a stressful read and I found myself trudging through some parts just to get past them because they felt dragged out or made me uncomfortable. This felt like neither literary fiction nor romance, and I wish it had fully committed to one direction or the other.
*Thank you to Edelweiss for the ARC; I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
*Thank you to Edelweiss for the ARC; I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
October 9, 2023
I loved everything about this book. Quirky and fun but also had depth. Fake dating at its best. More people should be reading it.
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