What do you think?
Rate this book
Flightless
All Birdie has ever wanted is peace. After spending her entire life enduring, all she dreams of is finding the space to breathe. She’s faced trauma, loss, poverty, abuse—she’s ready for tranquility.
After taking the first scholarship she gets, she packs up and moves across the country for college where she meets her best friend. The two move in together after graduation, choosing a home that’s still far far from the past she left behind. Now she’s got a job, a home and is living a sober life. Still, she’s forced to listen to friends and colleagues question her about her plans and her goals. She doesn’t know how to tell them that she doesn’t have any outside of finding quiet.
Enter Milo MacArthur. He’s everything Birdie knows she shouldn’t want. A broody bartender, sexy as sin, and too domineering for his own good. Unable to resist the aching attraction, Birdie finds herself giving into the carnal desires that draw her to him. The more time that she spends in his company though, the more evident it is that beneath the rough tattooed exterior, Milo is so much more than just a bartender. It isn’t long before her heart begins to surrender to his pull but there is still so much that he is keeping from her. And when she finds out what secrets lie beneath the surface, will she ever be able to forgive him?
Milo’s life has been far from easy. Orphaned with his two siblings, he was forced into the mercy of his uncle and the ‘family business’. Desperate to save up enough money to get the hell out of dodge without raising any eyebrows, Milo follows orders like a good little lap dog. He’s got it all planned out, prepared to make his escape as soon as he’s got enough money set aside. Until a hot little brunette walks into his bar, all luscious curves and smoldering eyes. Birdie might be just the wrong distraction to send all of his plans off the rails.
After taking the first scholarship she gets, she packs up and moves across the country for college where she meets her best friend. The two move in together after graduation, choosing a home that’s still far far from the past she left behind. Now she’s got a job, a home and is living a sober life. Still, she’s forced to listen to friends and colleagues question her about her plans and her goals. She doesn’t know how to tell them that she doesn’t have any outside of finding quiet.
Enter Milo MacArthur. He’s everything Birdie knows she shouldn’t want. A broody bartender, sexy as sin, and too domineering for his own good. Unable to resist the aching attraction, Birdie finds herself giving into the carnal desires that draw her to him. The more time that she spends in his company though, the more evident it is that beneath the rough tattooed exterior, Milo is so much more than just a bartender. It isn’t long before her heart begins to surrender to his pull but there is still so much that he is keeping from her. And when she finds out what secrets lie beneath the surface, will she ever be able to forgive him?
Milo’s life has been far from easy. Orphaned with his two siblings, he was forced into the mercy of his uncle and the ‘family business’. Desperate to save up enough money to get the hell out of dodge without raising any eyebrows, Milo follows orders like a good little lap dog. He’s got it all planned out, prepared to make his escape as soon as he’s got enough money set aside. Until a hot little brunette walks into his bar, all luscious curves and smoldering eyes. Birdie might be just the wrong distraction to send all of his plans off the rails.
312 pages, Paperback
Published March 20, 2024
50 people are currently reading
309 people want to read
About the author
S.R. Zobel
2 books11 followersS.R. Zobel is an author from the midwest with a long standing love of romance and fantasy. With a strong passion for writing since she was a little girl, it wasn't until she had children of her own that she realized how important it was to reach for her dreams- resulting in the publication of her debut novel, a contemporary romance titled 'Flightless'.
When she is not cloistered away in her writing cave, Saphire can be found climbing on cool rocks with her family, playing with chickens and dogs and cats and reptiles (& any critter she can get her hands on, safely) or digging in the dirt in her backyard.
When she is not cloistered away in her writing cave, Saphire can be found climbing on cool rocks with her family, playing with chickens and dogs and cats and reptiles (& any critter she can get her hands on, safely) or digging in the dirt in her backyard.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 6, 2024
This was such a fun read. I absolutely loved this story. I couldn’t put it down. Stayed up way too late to finish it. I’m such a sucker for these types of stories. Boy & girl have troubled pasts. But they fall in love with bumps in the road they overcome & live happily ever after. Just enough spice & will they won’t they.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 21, 2024
Flightless by S. R. Zobel was an emotional romance centering around a drug dealer and a girl who has a past surrounding drugs and alcohol. This book tackles a lot of sensitive subjects, but the author does a good job of handling them all delicately. The characters are well-written and the plot is easy to follow. As a romance reader, I really enjoyed this book.
The protagonists are Birdie and Milo. Birdie grew up in a house with an alcoholic mother and a revolving door of her mother’s boyfriends, who often were involved in drugs and alcohol. This really impacted her childhood and the childhood of her older brother, Nicky. Milo was raised by his uncle after his parents died, and his uncle immediately got him and his siblings involved in his drug dealing business. The story centers around the relationship that forms between Birdie and Milo and how they deal with conflicting emotions.
I felt that Birdie and Milo’s relationship really did not have much build-up, which was one of the things I struggled with. Once they were together, they were really adorable and I found myself rooting for them. There was a time where I even felt borderline devastation for them. The ending did seem a bit abrupt, I wouldn’t have minded the book being a little longer if it went into even one chapter more detail as to what happened at the end.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and am giving it a 3.5/5. I thought it was well written and emotional. I would recommend this to any romance lovers out there who want a book that will pull at the heartstrings.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The protagonists are Birdie and Milo. Birdie grew up in a house with an alcoholic mother and a revolving door of her mother’s boyfriends, who often were involved in drugs and alcohol. This really impacted her childhood and the childhood of her older brother, Nicky. Milo was raised by his uncle after his parents died, and his uncle immediately got him and his siblings involved in his drug dealing business. The story centers around the relationship that forms between Birdie and Milo and how they deal with conflicting emotions.
I felt that Birdie and Milo’s relationship really did not have much build-up, which was one of the things I struggled with. Once they were together, they were really adorable and I found myself rooting for them. There was a time where I even felt borderline devastation for them. The ending did seem a bit abrupt, I wouldn’t have minded the book being a little longer if it went into even one chapter more detail as to what happened at the end.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and am giving it a 3.5/5. I thought it was well written and emotional. I would recommend this to any romance lovers out there who want a book that will pull at the heartstrings.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 2, 2024
4.5 rounded up.
I got hooked into this book harder than I expected after I found out it was going to have some “heavy topics.” I didn’t necessarily feel that I couldn’t stop reading it, but I was always thinking of the story. And when I jumped back in, it was like a movie that hadn’t stopped.
Birdie is alone in life except her moody best friend. She’s estranged from her alcoholic mother and lost her brother years before. Never learning to trust anyone, she meets Milo. He’s the bartender for the local haunt /bowling alley and they have amazing chemistry immediately. But Birdie can tell he’s keeping something from her.
Once the big reveal explodes in Milo’s face, we watch them attempt to give up on each other, but find that they really can’t. They are connected in a soul binding level.
Check your triggers. It’s heavy on substance use/abuse. Death of a sibling. Physical violence. And off screen SA of a child (brief discussion of one’s past).
Beautifully sexy and sad with entangled emotions throughout. I highly recommend this book.
I got hooked into this book harder than I expected after I found out it was going to have some “heavy topics.” I didn’t necessarily feel that I couldn’t stop reading it, but I was always thinking of the story. And when I jumped back in, it was like a movie that hadn’t stopped.
Birdie is alone in life except her moody best friend. She’s estranged from her alcoholic mother and lost her brother years before. Never learning to trust anyone, she meets Milo. He’s the bartender for the local haunt /bowling alley and they have amazing chemistry immediately. But Birdie can tell he’s keeping something from her.
Once the big reveal explodes in Milo’s face, we watch them attempt to give up on each other, but find that they really can’t. They are connected in a soul binding level.
Check your triggers. It’s heavy on substance use/abuse. Death of a sibling. Physical violence. And off screen SA of a child (brief discussion of one’s past).
Beautifully sexy and sad with entangled emotions throughout. I highly recommend this book.
July 24, 2024
Found this author and book through tik tok. Overall I liked the storyline and I think she did a decent job at developing her characters. There is sort of a third act break up which is not a deal breaker, and what makes it better is that she does allow him to explain later after she takes care of some personal wounds that if she would have before may have hindered her ability to listen to him. I like how she described the internal struggles of each character with their positions. This does not have any pregnancy tropes which is a nice change to a lot of romance books. There were a few grammatical things that could have been improved on, but it was not distracting. Overall the book was good, and I would recommend it to a friend. Which I already have.
October 28, 2024
This story had me hooked from the very first chapter. It was so emotional and heavy in a way that made you care about the characters and what happened to them.
After a chance meeting at the bowling alley Milo works at, he and Birdie are drawn to each other over and over again and they begin to fall in love despite the fact that neither of them want to. Both Milo and Birdie have emotional and traumatic pasts, and they are both trying to escape in their own way.
Read this book if you like:
*Emotionally Scarred Characters
*Tattooed bad boys
*Small town romance
*Instant chemistry
*Found Family
* 🥵🥵🥵 scenes
Favorite Character: Birdie. She has been through so much, but she is so strong and open despite it.
Favorite Quote: “I’m going to love you forever, Birdie from Florida.” -Milo
After a chance meeting at the bowling alley Milo works at, he and Birdie are drawn to each other over and over again and they begin to fall in love despite the fact that neither of them want to. Both Milo and Birdie have emotional and traumatic pasts, and they are both trying to escape in their own way.
Read this book if you like:
*Emotionally Scarred Characters
*Tattooed bad boys
*Small town romance
*Instant chemistry
*Found Family
* 🥵🥵🥵 scenes
Favorite Character: Birdie. She has been through so much, but she is so strong and open despite it.
Favorite Quote: “I’m going to love you forever, Birdie from Florida.” -Milo
April 30, 2025
Birdie wants one thing, peace. But she’s forced to work a day job and live with her dramatic but lovable best friend, having a hard time getting by. When she meets Milo, everything is turned on its head. Milo is the opposite of what Birdie normally likes. But will they end up together, or apart? Flightless is a story full of love, heartbreak, spice, secrets, and much more.
I didn’t know what to expect going into this read, but it was truly a wonderful time. I loved so many quotes in this book and it was a rollercoaster of emotions. Even though there was a trope I’m not the biggest fan of (miscommunication trope), I still found it to be a beautiful love story and full of great moments. Definitely recommend to romance readers!!
I didn’t know what to expect going into this read, but it was truly a wonderful time. I loved so many quotes in this book and it was a rollercoaster of emotions. Even though there was a trope I’m not the biggest fan of (miscommunication trope), I still found it to be a beautiful love story and full of great moments. Definitely recommend to romance readers!!
April 29, 2025
3.5 stars! I actually usually love when a romance touches on grief & heavier topics but I personally haven’t been deeply affected by drugs & alcohol so I was having a hard time connecting to the characters. I thought the romance part was great & the main characters had phenomenal chemistry. Absolutely loved the friendship between Birdie & Misely. The subplot felt a little slow. I kept waiting for something big to happen & it fell a little flat for me. Overall, it was still a good read.
October 9, 2024
Absolutely loved this book! I happened to come across it, saw there was a second book coming out next week, signed up for the ARC but couldn’t bring myself to read it until I got this one done. I quickly got sucked into reading it, immediately attaching to the characters. The writing was great and I cant wait to dive right into the second one 🫶🏻
August 6, 2024
Absolutely loved this book!! It is definitely going to tug at your heart strings but it is so worth it!!! I just fell in love with the characters and the story!! I got to know this author through social media and I can’t wait to see what she has next for us!!!
March 8, 2024
Absolutely loved everything about this book! Highly recommend!
Merged review:
Loved everything about this book! Definitely recommend!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Merged review:
Loved everything about this book! Definitely recommend!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 10, 2025
Easy read and loved the off again-on again romance between the characters. Was between 3 and 4 stars…
August 18, 2025
3.75/5
January 5, 2026
3.5 stars
February 18, 2024
Venturing into the pages of Flightless by S. R. Zobel, I was intrigued by the author's adept handling of intricate themes and delicate subjects. Despite not being a regular romance reader, the narrative's promising concepts drew me in, sparking curiosity and inviting exploration.
Throughout the journey, the author's courage in addressing complex topics with sensitivity was evident, fostering moments of contemplation and reflection for me as a reader. The exploration of these themes added layers of depth to the story.
However, while the overarching ideas were compelling, the execution fell short in certain aspects. I found myself wishing for more substantial character development to fully invest in their journeys. Occasional inconsistencies left me yearning for more authentic connections with the characters.
In addition, while the narrative flowed smoothly overall, occasional distractions from minor errors could be addressed with further editing. These small hiccups, however, did not overshadow the thought-provoking essence of the story.
In summary, Flightless is a commendable effort that showcases the author's talent for tackling challenging themes with grace. With a bit more attention to character depth and refinement in editing, future works from S. R. Zobel hold the promise of delivering even more engaging and immersive storytelling experiences.
I received an advanced reader copy (ARC) of this book and am leaving feedback voluntarily!
March 26, 2024
Birdie left Florida behind along with lost and abuse with a scholarship in California. She meets Misely. They graduate and move to Wisconsin to start on their new life. She meets Milo and the attraction between them is intense. She wants a relationship and he can’t do a relationship. Milo has a lot going on with his manipulative family, and is planning on leaving as soon as possible. The only problem is that Birdie is starting to mean more to him. Can they be together will so much against them? Great characters and storyline Highly recommended Amazing book. I love Birdie and Milo and their character development. Great supporting characters. I love Misely and John. This book has sarcasm, angst, and dealing and overcoming your past. This book deals with some heavy topics so please check your trigger warning. This is the author debut novel and its so amazing go grab it now
February 14, 2024
Wow.. this book is an absolutely beautiful story of redemption and finding love that can endure anything. There was never a dull moment in this one. The chemistry between Birdie and Milo is unmatched. We all have stories from our past that make us feel unlovable and undeserving, but this book shows that you are so much more then what has happened to you.
I received this as an ARC but all opinions are my own(:
I received this as an ARC but all opinions are my own(:
January 18, 2024
What a novel! I absolutely adored Birdie and Milo's story and I definitely welled up a fair few times. All the darker themes of the book are covered beautifully and the mixture of comedy/sass and heartfelt moments is a perfect combination. I manged to read in less than 24 hours because I was hooked to the emotion and character arcs.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews