The Reality of Everything

Flight & Glory #5

by Rebecca Yarros

Before Xaden Riorson, there were the four Fly a deeply emotional and angsty New Adult romance series from the No.1 Sunday Times bestselling author of Fourth Wing.

There are some wounds time can't heal, and some fears too consuming to conquer . . .

Jackson Montgomery's life revolves around his daughter and job. He's no stranger to saving a damsel in distress, and though his gorgeous new neighbour is clearly in distress, she's no damsel.

Morgan Bartley is stubborn as hell with walls a mile thick, and the dog tags hanging from her rearview mirror give him a pretty good clue as to why. It doesn't matter that their attraction is undeniable―she swore she'd never fall for another pilot, let alone a military man.

She's a barely breathing heartbreak on the edge of recovery.

He's a crash waiting to happen.

Together they could have it all . . . if they can endure the coming storm.

***

Why do readers love the Flight & Glory series?

'This is one of those series that I think keeps getting better with every book'
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

'Rebecca Yarros!!! How dare you!! I sobbed! Screamed! Laughed! So many emotions'
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

'Went into this fully knowing my heart would be in pieces . . . and it was worth it'
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

'By far one of my favorites of Rebeccas . . . I was giggling and kicking my feet the whole time'
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

'Rebecca Yarros is possibly my new go to author . . . I feel complete after this book'
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

'A fast-paced read, with twists you won't appreciate until the final reveal. Exceptional writing and a beautiful storyline'
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

'Damn Rebecca Yarros did it again . . . How does she draw you in and make you feel so deeply for these characters?'
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

'This series broke my heart and healed it all the same'
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

'I am so obsessed with this entire series'
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

There are five heart-stopping books in the Flight & Glory series to become obsessed with. Don't miss

FULL MEASURES
EYES TURNED SKYWARD
BEYOND WHAT IS GIVEN
HALLOWED GROUND
THE REALITY OF EVERYTHING

Genres: Romance, Military Fiction, Contemporary, Military Romance, Contemporary Romance, Audiobook, Fiction

472 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 24, 2020

About the author

Rebecca Yarros is a hopeless romantic and coffee addict. She is the New York Times bestselling author of over twenty novels, including Fourth Wing, The Last Letter and The Things We Leave Unfinished. She’s also the recipient of the Colorado Romance Writer’s Award of Excellence for Eyes Turned Skyward. Rebecca loves military heroes and has been blissfully married to hers for over twenty years. A mother of six, she is currently surviving the teenage years with all four of her hockey-playing sons.

Want to know about Rebecca’s next release? Check her out online at www.rebeccayarros.com.

Reviews

[Arini · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

Roses are red, violets are blue.
I’m obsessed with the cover and in love with the book.

Never said I was a poet. My rhyme is off, but good heavens, this book will come at you like a wrecking ball and blow you to smithereens.

Also, fun fact, this was set in Outer Banks and I’ve been wondering if it’s the same Outer Banks as the Netflix show Outer Banks. Probably so, right? That place exists?



I put this in my TBR immediately upon seeing the cover. Seriously though, no joke. I didn’t even read the synopsis. That’s how much I adore it, my favorite romance cover by far. Is it weird seeing me fangirl over a pic of two people kissing and embracing? LOL, okay moving on.

Imagine my surprise when I read it and found out it was a -ˋˏ military, single parent ˎˊ- romance!!! I was freaking out and went all, “YAY!!!” and thanked my lucky stars.

Honestly, I was quite apprehensive at the beginning as well because . . .

A girl trying to put the pieces of her life back together two years after the man she loved was killed? Her moving into a new house next to a single dad neighbor with the body and looks that rival the likes of Thor and Captain America? Them having a whirlwind of friendship and romance?

Sounds like a common enough scenario. Not to mention, Rebecca Yarros was a relatively new author to me. So, I didn’t expect much and was fully prepared for this to be ordinary or at least enjoyable.

But OH MY GAWD, then came the feels. Then came the angst! 😭 It was like I was chopping onions instead of reading a romance. It was also like watching a Nicholas Sparks movie.



— The (h)eroine

“I damn well think you deserve to know that you might preach you’re a mess, but I think you’re pretty fucking perfect, wreckage and all.”

Morgan was the definition of a broken and tortured heroine, but she was no pushover. I thought that with her not having moved on from her dead boyfriend, her pain, trauma, and heartache would all be magically healed the moment Jackson entered the picture. (Cause that’s usually what happens in a crappy romance.)

But no, we saw an emotional journey of Morgan trying to find herself again after being diagnosed with “complicated grief”. She went to a therapist, had her appointments, got homeworks, worked on conquering her anxiety. I really appreciate that the book showed all of that. Not just mentioned, but showed and we were there with her.

— The (H)ero

“I’ve always been an asshole. Selfish, careless, impetuous, you name it. But for her, I’ll be anything she needs. I’ll rip the world apart to keep her safe, and I’ll make damn sure I don’t give her anything to be embarrassed about when it comes to me.” — Jackson about his daughter Finley

Jackson is boyfriend and daddy (in the literal sense) material. Not only was he pleasing to look at, a great dad, and excellent at his job, but also he treated Morgan like he was treading water. He was very much all in but also supportive and suuuper patient. Honestly, he’s the whole package! Morgan is the star of this book, but he carries it to the next level.

The we have his daughter. Five year old Finley was plain adorable and loving. Claire, Jackson’s ex/Finley’s mom, gave me unease. She was annoying enough to stir up a bit of drama but ultimately not important enough to drive you crazy and stress over. Thank God, the third act wasn’t about some misunderstanding or OW related problems.

— Relationships

Morgan had a group of friends that she became estranged with after Will’s death. In that circle of friends, she was the kind who put others and their feelings above herself and hers. With the way they treated her during these darkest times, I’m glad I never read any of their book.

They weren’t being purposefully mean or anything. Just blind and misguided I guess. My point is, I’m glad that she finally got to speak her feelings, let them all out, and reclaim their friendship back. It was one of the most honest, emotional and, in a way, empowering moments in this book.

“I’m choosing you today by telling you that your well-being is more important than my ego or my need for reassurance. I’ll choose you every single day that I’m gone, every mission that I fly, every second that I breathe. You don’t have to be with me. I’ll be with you.”

As for Morgan and Jackson. I loved their interactions, them together and them with Finley. Every single one was always cute and funny. When it wasn’t, it was heartfelt and romantic. Made you wish you had a boyfriend to stroll down the beach with and who’d leave sea glass on your doorstep. 🙈

— The Third Act

The second half of the book was my favorite mostly because it had the epic grovel, the thrill of a near death experience, the joyous reunion, and the much deserved happily ever after. The last 20% to be specific played out like the film San Andreas. Not so much as similar in narrarive, but same in danger/survival mode or vibe.

“I choose you. And if I have to let you lose me so you can save yourself, then I’ll hold on enough for the both of us. That’s how much I love you.”

Simply put, I loved this book. My only regret would be the fact that it’s not available on audiobook (yet). It was told that Morgan had a thick Southern accent, and I’d love to see how that transferred on audio. This book currently sits below one thousand ratings, and that’s just blasphemy.

To be fair it’s kinda new, but that’s beside the point. Check it out, guys! Military (oh, did I mention Jackson was a rescue pilot? I know, HOT!), single parent, broken heroine romance that grabs you by the heart, tears it apart, and sews it back together—scarred and uneven, but you’ve never been better.

(Read as a Standalone)

[mel ☽ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

single dad that works as a coast guard pilot? heroine who is a little bit messed up because of her past? these two being neighbors? cute little daughter that loves to collect seashells and has 5 different pets? ex drama? the OUTER BANKS??



ok so everything is just COMPLICATED.

↳ you have Morgan (h) moving to this huge ass house to rebuild it and "heal" herself after losing the man she loved 2 years ago because he was a pilot for the military and he sacrificed his life for her friends' husbands. for the past 2 years, she's had this thing called complicated grief and it got so bad that she had anxiety attacks, can't even open his truck, etc. AND THEN - get this - Jackson, the hot neighbor with the cute little kid that she is falling for is also a pilot soo uhh... yikes.

alright let's talk about the
// CHARACTERS //
— Morgan Bartley (h)

"God, I didn’t deserve this man who held me carefully as I cried out my grief for another."

so not gonna lie, i was a tiny bit- ok actually, VERY frustrated with Morgan from middle to end but imma talk about that later, however, i felt so bad for her! that scene when she finally confronted her friends about their neglect and lack of care when it came to her pain?? ugh MY HEART. i really liked her character development and growth tho. her grief was so bad and painful in the beginning but i like seeing her overcome that.

— Jackson Montgomery (H)

"I’ve waited my entire life to love you, Morgan. Everything that came before was just to prepare me for your arrival, to teach me how to love you."

this man CARRIED this book. all the swoony, lovey-dovey shit? yup, this man's got it. how do i describe this him... well, he's a simp, in a good way of course (not that there's a bad way??) but yeah, this dude was smitten, guys- he was smitten, enamored and BEWITCHED. it was so cute. and the fact that he fought for her the whole freaking time while knowing she still loves her dead quasi-ex??



can someone get this man a trophy because damn. i don't know how he handled seeing the woman he loves grieve so hard for another man that she STILL loved at that point (not that the OM deserved it by the way... too harsh? oops).

and now let's get on with the
// ROMANCE //
like i said, not only did Jackson carry this book but he carried the whole damn romance. guys, this dude was so swoony and 100% all in when it came to Morgan!!

"I'm going to love you so well that you'll never doubt that I choose you. Every day. Every situation. I choose you."

y'all see THIS ⤴ y'all see THAT. yeah... What. A. Man.
the patience of this man... i could NEVER. if my future lover is grieving and loving his dead quasi-ex... not gonna lie... i would dip. i'm sorry i know i'm a masochist but i'm not that much of a masochist. but Jackson tho... good for him. i love a Hero who fights for the heroine.

okaaay now let's talk about
// EX DRAMA & MORGAN'S "FRIENDS" (spoilers) //
you know when it comes to books that has ex-drama, i'm always worried that the heroine might be second best but nahhh. it's the other way around in this book.

✧ history with OM

↳ Morgan has been in love with Will (OM) for 8-10 years but they were never together. her love was unrequited because he was in love with Peyton (her best friend's sister who died) and then dated Peyton's sister, Paisley. he ALWAYS chose someone else and never Morgan. but the day of his deployment, he promised they'll be together when he comes back but he died few days later.

you know... obviously i'm uncomfortable whenever she says she still loves Will because like, look:

"Every label I could put on what I had with Will felt too small, too pale in comparison to what we'd been, and what we could have evolved into, and yet too big for our lack of definition."

see? this all makes me ✨uncomfy✨ and i was a little frustrated with Morgan when she kept being stubborn about not loving Jackson, all the while thinking about how much she loved Will like dude. chill. please give my mans Jackson what he deserves, thank you.

but then i'm hit with these:

↳ "The man I loved with my whole heart gave his life so one of the women he loved could have her husband... I've spent the last two years wondering why I wasn't enough to make him want to live."

↳ "Just like Peyton hadn't chosen Will... and yet he'd still loved her until his dying breath. He'd loved Paisley, too, even when she'd chosen Jagger. But he'd never loved me, even though I was the only one who had ever chosen him."

and honestly? Will, does NOT deserve Morgan's at all. this dude made her wait for 8 YEARS while pining after someone else AND dating her best friend. so yeah, i'm mad at him and i feel so bad for Morgan! she wasn't even second, third or FOURTH best, she's literally all the way to the very bottom. i'm not gonna say i'm glad he's gone but...



do i think that Morgan and Jackson wouldn't happen if Will is still alive? yeah. but do i think their love is stronger than Jackson and Morgan's? hell no.

and her friends suck especially Paisley (Will's ex). i'm not gonna get into it but... they suck. i knew they had their own grievances but neglecting her, not having her back when she had theirs, shoving their happily-ever-afters to her face when she didn't get hers, implicitly treating her like she doesn't deserve to grieve Will, not even checking on her if she was okay when the "love of her life" died, etc.

they suck but... that scene when she confronted them? it was kinda awesome. like, yesss bishh keep yelling at them woo!!

there is a little bit of OW drama where Claire, the baby mama shows up and causes trouble, wanting to reconcile but nothing to worry about because again, Jackson is 100% all about Morgan.

* * *

i just wish we saw more of Morgan admitting she loved Jackson because my girl really made the man work HARD. because you know what, at times, i feel like she didn't even deserve him but oh well. and i also wanted to see more scenes with Finley (Jackson's daughter) because fictional kids are *chef's kiss*

and can we talk about the climax where Morgan chose to save Finley instead of attending Will's medal of honor ceremony, while there was an upcoming hurricane with 14 ft waves?? because that shit was INTENSE.

anyways, speaking of OUTER BANKS, anyone else watch that netflix show? do y'all love JJ as much as I am? do you guys ship Kiera and JJ? anyone else think that... Rafe is... lowkey... hot?

thank you Arini for the recommendation 💕

[EmBibliophile · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars

This is a case of “its not the book it’s me trying to read the book while trying to figure out how I’m gonna finish my assignment”

I really liked this book, but for some reason it just wasn’t holding my interest. I think maybe I just read it while I wasn’t in the mood for it which is why I kinda found it just okay. However, I have to admit that the second half was way better and more enjoyable to read. Specially that thrilling ending.

“You don’t have to be mine. I’m yours.”

Jackson and his daughter were the shining stars of this book. I really adored them. Jackson was so considerate, patient, and understanding. He was the perfect boyfriend and an amazing father. How he took everything and dealt with everything made me feel like; are you for real? He was so smitten and he just fell in love so hard so fast in my opinion.

At the beginning I had a hard time connecting with Morgan. She was a tortured broken heroine and it was heartbreaking watching her carry all that grief on her shoulders. My feelings towards her were kinda neutral tho. I just couldn’t connect with her. However, she showed major character development throughout the book and I loved watching her grow like that.

This was really emotional and sweet at the same time. I felt like Jackson was so in. He was fighting so hard for their love and he grovelled a lot. This man has a patience of a saint. I just wished that we get half of that from Morgan? I know she’s grieving and all, but I just wished she showed more towards Jackson. It’s just that she was literally screaming her love for Will, I wanted the same for Jackson. He deserved it. The ending tho? Was so freakin amazing. Thank you Arini for the recommendation.

Song recommendation:
•Ghostin’ by Ariana Grande (This song might as well be my review for this book!!!)
•Long story short by Taylor Swift

[Wil Loves Books! · Rating 5 out of 5]

ALL THE STARS!!!!!

“I’m going to tell you how I feel until you choose the hell that rips us apart, and even then, I’ll probably still tell you. What I feel for you isn’t quiet. It’s loud and inconvenient and demands to be said as often as possible.”

This book! These feels!!!! The Reality of Everything is EVERYTHING and then some!

Fact: I devoured this book!

Fact: I love Rebecca Yarros’ books, her writing is superb and her stories always leave a mark, she’s just a wonderful storyteller.

Fact: I love this series ever since I read Full Measures for the first time in 2014 (have read it a few times since then 😊). This series is just amazing. The Flyboys are the most amazing heroes there are, especially my main man Josh Walker <3

So, let’s talk The Reality of Everything and forgive me if I’m all over the place, I tend to do that when I really loved a book. When Rebecca told me about 2 years ago that she was writing Morgan’s book I was thrilled! I definitely felt she deserved her own book and her happy ending. So, this book is Book 5 in the Flight and Glory series, yep, Book 5! While I’ve seen that some people have taken a chance with it as a standalone and have loved it, which is fine, but I’m not so sure you’ll appreciate it as much if you don’t read the previous books for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, it means you haven’t met the amazingness that is Josh Walker! The most amazing hero there is (although Jax totally gives him a run for this money!). But seriously, this series it’s awesome, everyone should read it, it should be read in order and you will be missing out so much if you don’t. But second and most importantly to me, because of spoilers. The events in Book 5, happen after Book 4 Hallowed Ground, and in Book 4, a lot happens. We all know from the blurb that Morgan, the heroine, is grieving a very important love in her life. This person, who I will not name, cause again, spoilers, is a huge part of Books 2, 3, & 4. If you skip to Book 5, without actually reading 2,3,4, you will totally miss loving this man and then grieving him, seriously, why would you want to go back and read the previous books knowing who died? Lol no, do me a favor and pick up this series in order, you will not regret it.

“Maybe it is futile. Maybe one day we’ll be forced to abandon it. But it’s okay to fight for something you love, to dig it out and build it back up in hopes that this time the foundation will be strong enough to withstand the hurricane. It’s just like what you’re doing with the house.”

Like I said before, this is Morgan’s book. Morgan, who we meet for the first time in Eyes Turned Skyward (Book 2, where she’s Paisley’s best friend), and it’s prominently featured in all the other books, is grieving after the events of Book 4 and after losing her greatest love in the war. I will again not spoil anything since I super encourage you to read these books in order, but she’s not in a good place, she’s seriously struggling. Gosh, my heart truly broke for Morgan in this book. She decided to make a move to the Outer Banks and buy and restore a house. It is there that she meets, amazing and gorgeous Jackson (Jax) Montgomery, who happens to be a single dad and also her next door neighbor. The kicker of course, it’s that he’s also a pilot, just like the man she loved and lost in the war. So you can imagine the hurdles they will face. Morgan is simply amazing, she’s strong and fierce and I just loved her and felt so proud of her the entire time. Revelations are made you were not privy to from the other books, and there are some amazing conversations she has with her friends, and some pivotal scenes that just blew me away. Ahhh, my fellow Flygirls, just wait!

“Something stirred inside my chest, as if part of me had been asleep for too long and was blinking awake, shielding her eyes from the sun. Except Jackson was the sun.”

Obviously, both Jax and Morgan have lots of baggage, but their chemistry from day one is all sorts of explosive and you just know that they will eventually happen, it will just take a little while to get there. Listen, as I’ve said before many times, dead significant others and second best are not my thing, and well Morgan is grieving a lot in here. But the pacing of this book is so carefully crafted that it feels just right. Also, again, having read the previous books and being privy to previous events also helped me understand why Morgan and Jax were simply a perfect match vs, well the person she’s grieving. This is what she was meant to do, where she was meant to be and Jax is who she was meant to be with.

“I’m done waiting to be happy or looking for the other shoe to drop. I’m done being careful and keeping my heart in a box when it already belongs to you.”

Jackson, was simply amazing. That is one thing, among others, that Rebecca always gets 100% right in her books, her men. Her heroes are the stuff of dreams, they are sexy, amazing inside and out and always so certain of the love they have for their women, which to me is so important since I hate wishy washy, ambivalent heroes. Her heroes are perfection and I’m here for it. Jackson was just everything I imagined and then some, beautiful, caring, patient and just swoony to the max. You can’t expect any less with Rebecca. And of course, no one writes military books like her, no one.

“Morgan, I like you, and I don’t just mean as my neighbor. I want you in a way that keeps me up at night, mentally calculating the steps between my door and yours. I want you so badly that I barely stop myself from taking those steps every single night. I have no problem owning my feelings about you.”

The secondary characters, as always are awesome. Finley, Jackson’s 5 year old steals the show. And my girl Sam (her book is Beyond What is Given) was the true MVP, she’s absolutely my favorite heroine from the Flight and Glory series, she’s just amazing. It was amazing to go back to the Flight and Glory world and revisit my favorite couples and what they’re up to! It felt like a huge, amazing, epilogue! Josh and Ember, Paisley and Jagger, Greyson and Sam are all featured prominently in the book, so if you’re a Flygirl like me, you will love this one a lot. I didn’t realize I missed this series so much until I read this book.

Overall, the plot is amazing and refreshing, Rebecca always brings it up a notch and throws all sorts of unexpected stuff at you that simply keep you hook the entire time. Like I mentioned before, the pacing is superb, and all the heavy subjects are handled with the utmost respect they deserve. So, I’m obviously emotionally attached to this series, it is by far, one of my favorites, and it was so amazing to revisit it 4.5 years later and can’t wait for what she’ll bring us next. Emotional attachment aside, I truly recommend this book and this entire series, the writing, plot and feels will stay with you way after you’re done reading it. You can thank me later!

Somewhere in the last five months, my existence had shifted.
My center of gravity had moved.
He was my reality of everything.
Jackson.




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[Phuong ✯ · Rating 4 out of 5]

– 3.5 stars

"Morgan, grief isn't a measure how much someone loved you. It's a measure of how much you loved them."

The Reality of Everything was a great portrayal of how 'complicated grief' looks like. Not that I have any experience with it and how accurate it portrayed in this book, but it felt real. Morgan's (h) character development from the broken, grief-stricken woman from the beginning to the strong, fierce woman at the end was great to witness.

He walked to the door and then through it but turned around once he was on the deck. “I love you more than any torture you could ever ask of me. So, if I love you enough to walk away, can’t you love me enough to stay?”

Jackson (H) at times felt like a secondary character to Morgen's story. It was all about Morgen's complicated relationship with Will (ex-bf) and her healing process since his death that Jackson got the short end of the deal when it came to backstory. He was an amazing girl dad to Finley (also the cutest girl who collects seashells protect her at all costs <3) and such a patient and supportive boyfriend to Morgan.

“You told me if I loved you, I would walk out the door and wouldn’t come back. But the truth is that I love you enough to walk out the door and come back.”
My breath hitched.
“You can give me up. That’s okay. My love is strong enough to carry us both through this.”

The things Jackson said to Morgan in the second half of the book? dksdksk i can't ✋ he knows how to say pretty words for sure, but he also shows up and proves his words with his actions. What a man.

“If you want to shove that love you don’t feel for me into a little box and file it away in your emotional basement so you can survive these next three months, then be my guest. It’s not like I get a say anyway, right?” His words were at odds with the smirk he wore. “So fine, file me away, Kitty. Live your life. Start your new job. Finish up your therapy and heal. But just like I can’t make you stay with me, you can’t stop me from loving you.”

Also all of Morgan's friends SUCK hard (not you Sam you were the only good one)!! I'm talking especially about you Paisley what a self-centered best friend. I couldn't stand her. Morgan deserved better and it was so satisfying to read when Morgan told Paisley off and finally stood up for herself and how she felt.

Overall, this book was a bit slow at the beginning and it has some other flaws that I'm too lazy to elaborate on. But there were other scenes like Morgan's breakdown crying shaking over Will or having anxiety attack just opening his truck that made me feel very emotional and bad for her. Rounding up for the emotionality factore, because every book that makes me feel something nowadays is a win.

[Bookgasms Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be warned y'all: I do not have even a tiny smidge of chill over this book.

I AM WRECKED.
I am smitten.
I am blown away.
I am positively giddy.
I AM SO IN LOVE.

The Flight & Glory series has been one of my all-time favorites. I was excited - if a little apprehensive - to "come home" to this series with Morgan and Jackson's story. I knew this one would gut me. I knew exactly from where we were picking up, and there was no chance that this wasn't going to hurt.

But good gravy - Rebecca Yarros is the master of these emotional, gut-wrenching, brutally beautiful storylines. There was so much drama, but it was handled so authentically - it took my breath away. My heart shattered for Morgan and, honestly, everyone around her. Her character arc was such a cathartic thing to read. She was handled with the perfect amount of sensitivity, grit, and grace. I adored her so much.

Paired with Jackson - a hero practically perfect in every way - the love story completely swept me off my feet. This guy. Ugh. This. Guy.. The perfect blend of bold protective alpha, and sweet sensitivity. He was sexy in every way imaginable - from his easy, patient acceptance of Morgan and her situation, to his fierce dedication to his daughter, to his unwavering loyalty when things got rough. The chemistry between Jackson and Morgan sparked and fizzed - filling my heart with this achey want while they sorted through their baggage and found home in each other.

I also loved the role of friendship in this book. As if I hadn't already adored the heck out of Sam (from Beyond What is Given) the friendship she showed Morgan in this book made me fall in love with her all over again. I mean just...wow. There's a gorgeous romance going on in this book, but there's an equally gorgeous love story going on with Sam, Morgan and (to a lesser extent) the rest of the Flight & Glory crew.

This was the best kind of romance, y'all. This was book. magic. The kind that grabs you by the heart and takes you through all your feelings before dropping you on the other side, completely wrung out, heart full of hope, soul completely satisfied. The romance is top notch and on top of that there's a really amazing story - the kind that keeps you on the edge of your seat, flipping pages, desperate to know how things work out. This is the good stuff. The best. Read this book!!! ~ Shelly, 5 Stars

[Melissasfandomworld · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-Read March 2022

This was As good as the first time reading it. This series... Can't get enough of these characters and this final book in the series is one of my all-time Yarros favorites. It's raw, emotional, all the feels.

---
Original review July 2020:

SPOILERS AHEAD IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE PRIOR WRITTEN BOOKS IN THE FLIGHT & GLORY SERIES

Take the money. Use it. Don’t just give it to charity or stick it in a bank account, Morgan. Spend it on something that brings you happiness. Use it to leave like you always planned. I just wish I were going with you.

First of all: Thank you so much to the publisher for sending me an e-arc of this book. That was probably one of the best bookish related surprises of the year. And now comes the hard part, because how in God’s name do I review everything that I experienced when reading this book? My feelings are all over the place... But what I already Can say up front now is: WOW, just Wow. Breathtakingly beautiful and everything my loving Flyboys heart could've wished for and MORE. How on earth am I able to continue and fall in love with another book now? My heart is lost to the beauty that's called The Reality of Everything.

Going into this book had me feeling all kinds of emotions; anticipation, excitement (because haven’t we all been waiting for THIS one for what feels like forever? *insert happy tears*) but I was also dreading it a bit and felt fearful because was I ready to read about Morgan after losing Will 2 years ago? Nope. Was I ready to GO THERE? Nope *insert sad tears*. It’s been 4 years since Hallowed Ground released and I’ve never truly gotten over the death of Will, but I feel like that he also deserved more in the grand scheme of things and if it wouldn’t be life (And there comes the waterworks again) than a beautiful ‘goodbye’ would do as well and this book was all that and more.

”How often do you think about him?” My eyes jumped back to hers. “More than I should.” All the time. Every minute of every day. If my life was an ocean, then the water was Will. Always there, sometimes calm, deep and soothing, and sometimes he was a tsunami ready to pull me under in waves of grief so deep I wondered when I’d eventually drown.

And just like it was for Morgan, the things happening in this book, were a good way of learning to cope with Will’s loss and it touched my heart and soul. Did I still bawl my eyes out like crazy and felt my heart explode into a million tiny pieces yet again when reading about Will? YEP I SO DID. But also: It was so amazing to see Morgan starting to really ‘live’ again, to even fall in love despite her best efforts to not ‘go there again’ and it was also beautiful to see her friendship with Sam but also to read about the ‘broken’ friendships being rekindled as well after all that happened over time - Rebecca did such an amazing job on the portrayed friendships. After 2 years of dealing with so many struggles, not only the grieve over the loss of Will but also the knowledge that your friends get to live their HEA’s and the fact that some of them just never really properly thought about you dealing with this all in the scheme of things; how you were entitle to SO MUCH MORE when Will died… it was brutal to read about how that all was for Morgan and I felt so sad for her, thad she had to deal with all that on top of losing Will. I’m glad Rebecca gave focus to this as well and thought she handled it so beautifully.

It was always Josh and Ember. Then Paisley and Jagger. And Sam and Grayson. I had assumed it would be Will and me…until he was killed in Afghanistan. The girl I’d been, the one who believed in happily-ever-afters, had died with him. I didn’t even know the woman I was now- just that she had a fixer-upper beach house and a master’s degree in childhood education and English. The rest of me was a whole lot of empty, and whatever wasn’t empty was pain. “They miss you,” Sam said softly. “Ember. Paisley. The guys.” 

“I’ll get there,” The promise felt as hollow as my heart. “Just not yet.”

This book is truly the most fantastic final installment I could’ve wished for. I can’t count the numerous times I was just experiencing all the feels (which is basically a ‘normal thing’ when reading a Yarros book, but these books, the Flight & Glory books, are just even more special to me) and I cannot wait to dive back into it again to do a reread when my printed copy will arrive. I have yet again no tears left anymore after having finished this book. Morgan’s experience and journey was so beautifully written and it felt like I was experiencing it myself; as I said, it gave me a good opportunity as well, to learn to cope with Will’s death because Gods, that just gutted me. That utterly gutted me, seeing he was one of my fave Flyboys. *Am I starting to tear up again? Yes I am #noshame #hurting

”Anything I am that resembles good is because of her.” He nodded toward Finley. “I’ve always been an asshole. Selfish, careless, impetuous, you name it. But for her, O’ll be anything she needs. I’ll rip the world apart to keep her safe, and I’ll make damn sure I don’t give her anything to be embarrassed about when it comes to me.”

Rebecca goes to the depth of the abyss and beyond to lay everything out there and it was brutal sometimes, so very sad and confronting, and so amazing as well. The balance between counseling/grieving and Morgan coming out of her shell again, falling in love and exploring new friendships in this new town she moved to was perfectly executed. Her character development was absolutely wonderful. And aside from Morgan… I am also always amazed at how hard and fast I fall for the male MC in a Yarros book. I mostly always say this when I start a new book by her: ‘He’s my new favorite’, and this is yet again true. Jackson is just, my God… He’s EVERYTHING and I love how both he and Morgan aren’t perfect you know? They struggle, they have their flaws, they make mistakes, but at the end of the day they are such amazing human beings and it was a gift to experience their developing romance. And did I tell you that Jackson is a mostly single dad (Mom isn’t in the picture much) and that it is HOT AF ? If not, I’m doing so now haha. He is amazing with his little girl, a girl named Finley whom has stolen my heart as well. And also: He really knows how to get a girl swooning and melting into a puddle of romance craving fangirl. Just saying.

I see you everywhere, in the stars, in the river; to me you’re everything that exists; the reality of everything. Though the confession belonged to a man who had never lived, published in a book that had been written over a hundred years ago, my chest tightened and my breath caught because I knew that feeling with an intimacy that shook my very being. I saw him everywhere. Somewhere in the last five months, my existence had shifted. My center of gravity had moved. He was my reality of everything.

Just everything about this book was all that I could’ve wished for and more. There wasn’t a single second I wasn’t engaged and/or feeling all the feels. It’s the perfect conclusion to this absolutely amazing series. I’m so thankful that Rebecca wrote this one to make it complete - I’m forever grateful. This was definitely what everyone needed who has been rooting for Will & Morgan back in the day, who felt the loss of Will as much as Morgan did and who felt like Morgan needed that HEA after everything that happened.

”It’s okay to do all you can and still lose, still get washed away. It sucks, but it’s a far less tragic ending than never having tried.” The air between us thickened as he glanced my way and then back to the road. “Yeah, it’s those lost chances that end up hurting the worst,” I said quietly.

I think this review doesn’t do this book justice, in the least; I just can’t seem to find the exact words to describe how precious this reading experience was for me, but hopefully I got at least a bit of what I feel about it ‘out in the open’. If you’ve fallen in love with the Flyboys in the previous books, then just you wait when you’re getting acquainted with Jackson. He’s going to knock you on your ASS and has you fall in love with him within just a couple of chapters! And yes, before you’re feeling even remotely happy again, you’re going into that ‘abyss’ with Morgan as well, learning to cope with the loss of Will and it’s going to hurt. But this was needed, this was needed so much. And my poor fangirl heart still needs some time to recover, but I am so incredibly happy with the existence of this book. Rebecca has outdone herself.

”I damn well think you deserve to know that you might preach you’re a mess, but I think you’re pretty fucking perfect, wreckage and all.”

He actually wanted me. He saw the mess and wanted me anyway, somehow finding beauty in everything I called wreckage. Damn it, I didn’t want it to be wreckage anymore. I wanted to be whole again. I wanted to have something to offer this man who took me hiking in the moonlight and pulled me away from my own shadow with his light. He made me want to live, not just survive and hope for the best. He’d reignited that spark within me from the moment I felt that flare of attraction on the beach and the care he’d taken when rescuing me from my own staircase - Jackson had become my reward for learning to live again.

[Ari · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Reality of Everything by Rebecca Yarros

Confession: I didn’t even want to read this book. The series felt finished. We had our heartbreak, our healing, our swoons, our goodbyes. I thought my heart was safe. (Spoiler: it was not safe. At all.)

This book ultimately broke me. Like full-body ache, lump in the throat, “I need to go stare at a wall for an hour” kind of broke me.

Because this is Morgan’s story. And holy hell, if anyone deserved her own spotlight, it was her. She has always been the quiet strength in the background, the steady presence. But here? We finally see her heart. And oh my god—she loved. She loved so deeply, so fiercely, that it seeped off the page and wrapped around my chest.

And yet—she was left out. Over and over again. I wanted to scream at Paisley, shake her, make her see Morgan the way she deserved. Because Morgan wasn’t just a side character, or the loyal friend orbiting everyone else’s stories. She was the heartbeat. And it absolutely gutted me to watch her fight for scraps of love when she deserved the whole damn feast.

Rebecca Yarros knows exactly how to hit those soft, bruised spots in your soul. The grief in this one is suffocating at times, but it’s also healing. It asks the question: What happens when the people we love most don’t choose us back? And Morgan’s journey—her resilience, her ability to still stand tall even when her world caves in—is nothing short of breathtaking.

I was furious. I was gutted. And in the end, I was grateful. Because this book may have been the one I thought we didn’t need… but it’s the one that gave me the deepest ache, the truest tears, and a reminder that love doesn’t always look the way we think it will.

The Reality of Everything is exactly that—the messy, painful, unfair, beautiful reality of life and love. And it’s the book that will stay lodged in my chest for a very, very long time.

[Lana Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5 stars

I liked it.

The hero, Jackson, was absolutely amazing! Level headed, reasonable and knew what he wanted; not to mention he was a hot search-and-rescue pilot and an awesome dad for a five-year-old girl, Fin. Basically, the whole package.

The heroine, Morgan, was a mess in the beginning. But Yarros did a good job with her character development, she gave her time and space to heal and to grow, before really starting something with Jackson.

He'd mastered the art of emotional seduction by patience.
- yeah, he totally did.

Now the characters from previous books in the series... Let me just tell you, I have absolutely no wish to read their stories (except for maybe the one about Sam and Grayson, but that's it); those people did not strike me as good or caring friends. At all.
Neither did the heroine's ex who was killed two years ago. I mean he had his moments, sure, but from what his friends said about him and from how he'd treated the heroine when he was alive, I wasn't impressed with that man whatsoever.

The writing was fluent and I liked it, yet this book could really take some editing down; it was a bit repetitive and way too drawn out in the first half. The situation with Jackson's ex could have been handled better... But the ending kept me on the edge of my seat, the action was well done, so it kinda saved everything. Plus the metaphors and symbols with the house and the truck were a nice touch.

[Jennifer Kyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

"You don't have to be mine. I'm yours."

I adored Jackson (book boyfriend shelved) What a hero!!!

[Fanny · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Reality Of Everything es esa clase de novela que hasta que no lees ( o devoras, como en mi caso ) no te das cuenta de que es todo lo que estabas esperando desde hace tiempo. Si vieron mis status anteriores seran conscientes de que este libro era uno de los que mas esperaba poder leer, literalmente conte los dias hasta la fecha de su publicacion, y ahora que lo he terminado de leer, no puedo estar mas satisfecha.

Esas altas expectativas que tenia?? se cumplieron con creces. No solo la historia en si es hermosa, sino que ademas que este tan bien narrada y escrita?? eso ya la hace la lectura perfecta. Soy consciente de que no soy capaz de ser imparcial con Rebecca Yarros, me cuesta horrores sacarle pegas a su trabajo, tal vez, porque desde que la conoci hice clic con sus creaciones y desde entonces no me ha decepcionado nunca, aun asi, creo que en The Reality Of Everything rompio el molde, es de lejos su novela mas emotiva y desgarradora.

Es dificil describir la historia de Morgan, es tan triste, injusta y dolorosa, que hubo capitulos que me rompieron el corazon en pedazos, sin embargo, tambien tiene partes tan bonitas, momentos que te estrujan el corazon pero de una buena forma. Su evolucion como personaje es impactante, y ser testigo de como pasa de estar paralizada por el duelo a empezar a volver a sentir y sonreir o incluso volver a reir fue una experiencia muy especial.

Y que decir de Jackson?? como todos los protagonistas masculinos de Rebecca es el hombre perfecto. Me encanto su personalidad y perseverancia para conseguir estar con Morgan, ademas que fuera tan compresivo y paciente le gano mi amor eterno. Y como no enamorarte con Finley, esa niña es preciosa por dentro y por fuera, en mi opinion, su personaje le dio ese toque adorable y un tanto alegre a esta magnifica lectura.

En definitiva, The Reality Of Everything fue el romance de mis sueños. Me conquisto desde la portada hasta ese epilogo en el que se reunieron todas las parejas de la saga, y aunque me entristece que no haya mas novelas de esta increible serie, mantengo la esperanza de que la autora escriba libros para las hermanas de Grayson y para los amigos de Jax, todos son tan buenos personajes que se merecen sus propias historias.

Muy muy aconsejable, es un romance muy completo, pero tambien una novela de superacion que te dejara con el alma satisfecha y flotando. 😍

4.5 Estrellas!!!

[Wendys Wycked Words · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this series and I had no idea there was gonna be a fifth book. One day it just popped up on my feed and it was out already, so I didn't even have to wait!! What more does a girl want?

As expected this book made me laugh, cry and swoon... as all this author's books do. Deliciousness!!

This time we get Morgan's story and it really broke my heart. But thankfully Rebecca has picked an awesome, hot single parent, alpha male pilot for Morgan, who mended both her and my heart... Jackson is definitely my number 1 Rebecca Yarros man now, and trust me beating Nova was not an easy feat!! Jackson though.. he hit it out of the park. He is all kinds of hot, protective, sweet, sexy. But most of all.. he is an amazing dad. And Morgan, she showed that she was stronger and more compassionate than she ever thought. My kind of girl!!

Definitely a 5 star read and I am actually sad I finished it so fast. That said... maybe it is time for a re-read. Since Sam is one of my favorite characters and she played a huge part in this book as well, I think I might start with her book first.

[Chris C - A Midlife Wife · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG so so amazing. My heart is full!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Just to be upfront, this one will have triggers for women or men who have suffered the loss of a spouse or significant other.

I don’t read too many romance stories with guys in the military. I’m not sure why. But this one drew me in for whatever reason and I’m so glad I picked it up.

The author has created these unbelievable characters that are just amazing. Morgan is crippled with grief. But yet she is depicted with amazing strength, resilience, and still has a bit of a sunny side to her.

Jackson is an Adonis of a character. An amazing father and a heart of gold. He carefully starts breaking the walls that Morgan has surrounded herself with.

But the author’s depiction of Morgan’s grief is a delicate balance of trying to acknowledge feelings for someone else is unbelievably accurate. From out of nowhere, tears would just start rolling down my face. But then for every low, there was time with Jackson that started balancing with a beautiful high.

And of course, we have to have the angst and drama because no relationship or budding relationship is perfect. The story was perfectly depicted and the amazing love Jackson showed just oozed out and kept me captive to this book.

Written with immense detail with a deep understanding of conflict and mental anguish, but yet still striving to see the beautiful side of life. Yarros’ writing shows clarity and empathy for both her characters and the reader.

The ending was a dramatic flair that keeps you holding your breath and reading as fast as possible. My only issue is I really wanted more of Jackson and Morgan, content and happy instead of the ending that felt a tad rushed.

Maybe there are more books to come. But this one was truly an amazing read that will stick with me for a long time!

* copy received for review consideration
Full Review - https://amidlifewife.com/the-reality-...

[Jenny - TotallybookedBlog · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 beautiful stars

‘She had a broken heart, and I had a kid whose heart I couldn’t risk.’

Wow! What a fabulous read! We loved this story of second chances with one of the most gorgeous book boyfriends you could meet! Single dad Jackson Montgomery swept us off our feet, with his patience, strength and understanding wooing us completely!

‘What we have is something worth fighting for, and I’m climbing into the ring, ready to take the punches, but she’s already left the arena.’

The Reality of Everything by Rebecca Yarros was…well…everything! We fell in love with Jackson (how could we not) our hearts ached for Morgan and we were regaled with the antics of gorgeous five-year-old Finley Montgomery. We love books with children but have found some to be unbelievable with the child coming across anything but childlike. Not so with Finley, Rebecca Yarros wrote this little lady to perfection, and the love between Finley and her Coast Guard pilot Dad was beautiful, sweet and funny. As we said, perfection, and now we want to read all of this standalone series!

“What exactly do you want from me, Jackson?”
“You, I just want you.”

This was a story of friendship, grief, second chances and about living life and facing obstacles head-on. For Morgan Bartley, the past 22 months have been a struggle. After losing the man she loved in Afghanistan, Morgan has to deal with the memories, the fallout and the anger and pain she experienced in the aftermath of Will’s death, something this author handles brilliantly.

Throughout the story, Morgan slowly processes and faces her grief with the help of a therapist, and the way in which it was written ensured we felt Morgan’s pain every step of the way, right up until the emotionally brutal moment Morgan releases her pain and the animosity she harbours.

Deciding to buy a fixer-upper from the money left to her by Will, Morgan takes on more than she bargained for with the dilapidated house, but she’s up for the challenge and manages to embarrass herself on her first meeting with the deliciously handsome Jackson. Morgan is definitely not looking for a relationship, and Jackson has his hands full with his daughter Finley.

From the tragic start to the nail-biting finish and right up to the epilogue we devoured this story. We loved the characters, the setting, the beautifully descriptive prose and the friendships felt real and raw. The coming together of the house coincides with the emotional outpouring and healing of Morgan.

“I’m not about to be one of your regrets when I have the option to be your choice.”

Morgan is smitten with Jackson, and in return, Jackson can see a future with Morgan, but there is a huge obstacle (or two) standing in their way. Can Jackson compete with a ghost and will Morgan accept his job – we know she’s had enough of the worry and pain, loving a flyboy can cause her. Will she take the leap?

‘God, I didn’t deserve this man who held me carefully as I cried out my grief for another.’

This story had us engrossed all the way through. We loved the friendships – every girl should have a friend like Sam – we loved Jackson’s candour and we loved how our emotions were constantly tested – whether we were knotted with angst, feeling devastation at Morgan’s loss or swooning with romance, Rebecca Yarros brought it, and we ate it up! What a fantastic story!

“I’m not going anywhere,” he promised. “I’ll wait forever if it means I get the chance to kiss you again.”

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[Casey Reads &#x1f338; · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay Morgan bothered me so much throughout 3/4 of the book that I almost wanted to DNF this one.

To be honest, she was the one in the wrong in my opinion. All her hatred towards her friends, because she felt her grief was the biggest was so selfish. I understand she felt she missed out on her chance to be with Will, but they were all his friends too and Paisley did date him for a long time. When she was yelling at Paisley I felt it was so selfish and wrong, I almost stopped reading right there.

And her grief felt so over dramatized that I couldn’t even take it. She was acting as if she lost her husband and the whole time all she lost was a guy who was in love with someone else who had passed away. And the way she was treating Jackson just seemed wrong. She was acting completely unhinged.

So why did I still rate this 4 stars? The last quarter of the book redeemed itself. Morgan finally put someone else first in an extremely big way. It was dramatic and an amazing ending where we saw everybody else once again. This was my least favorite of the series, but the ending was very good, so I still think it deserves a read for sure.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

***ARC Provided by the Author***

Whew.

This was my first title by Rebecca Yarros and I'm torn between needing to read everything she's ever written and needing a break because, wow.

Jackson and Morgan's story isn't simple. It's not easy. There are ghosts from her past who aren't quite as much in the past as they should be and Jackson is both along for the ride and the new love interest she's afraid to love and lose.

All of that is in the blurb. But what isn't in it is how much you relate to these characters, how much you feel what they are feeling and how genuinely emotional the story is...at least I wasn't expecting it.

My heart broke for Jackson, and for Morgan. There was more than one time where it jumped in my chest from the emotion of a line of dialogue or description.

I never highlight books, well, rarely. But this line

"I'm not about to be one of your regrets when I have the option to be your choice"

was perfect. It grabbed me and I was already hooked at that point and on these characters, but this cemented it... And is kind of a sum up of the entire book.

I could go on for days about how much I loved this, but it's one of those you need to read for yourself.

I enjoyed and recommend this title.

[Sophie "Beware Of The Reader" · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

 

 

“But what does it say about me that two years later I’m still so fucked-up about it that I have to be treated for a grief disorder? Why? Because I still think it’s so fucking unfair that everyone else in our group of friends got their happy endings at the expense of mine? What kind of person thinks that? What kind of person can’t talk to her best friend because all she wants to do is scream that it’s not fair? That everyone acted like my heart didn’t matter—I didn’t matter.”

 

Gosh did I hurt for Morgan!!!

 

I think this might be my favorite Rebecca Yarros book so far.
It is a kickass read with, in the last 8% of the story, a scene worth of any doomsday movie. Think “incredible rescue, being ready to sacrifice your life to save others, heart pounding and adrenaline rushing moments” kind of scene!.
I was holding my breath the whole time of that rescue.

I think this would be a perfect movie!!!

You have:

- Overflowing feelings.

Morgan is grieving, even close to two years after Will's death. Rebecca introduced me to something I didn't know existed: complicated grief.
Morgan has big triggers that send her into huge panic attack.
She chose to move far from her friends as she couldn't stand their happiness, how they seemed to go on after Will gave his life to save Josh and Jagger.
More than that, she is hurting as no one seems to realize she is missing Will like she would miss a vital organ. They were never truly together, just about to happen, and no one imagines that Morgan, who loved Will all her life on the sideline, is devastated by his death.

“Just like Peyton hadn’t chosen Will…and yet he’d still loved her until his dying breath. He’d loved Paisley, too, even when she’d chosen Jagger. But he’d never loved me, even though I was the only one who had ever chosen him.”

I confess that I was angry with her friends, Sam excepted.
When we got to a heart wrenching scene where Morgan finally explained how she learned of Will's death, I was a boiling cauldron of emotions! Anger at life and at her friends, sadness for Morgan, rage...everything!

What happened to her was so unfair. How her friends robbed her of her right to grief and expected her to just go on was maddening!

I had so much feelings for Morgan! And was she strong and generous and …


  - A single dad!

I love single dad stories! They are my kryptonite!

 

And what a dad Jackson was!

He really did and do what was best for his little girl Finley, even if he was deeply attracted to Morgan!

“She had a broken heart, and I had a kid whose heart I couldn’t risk.”

He will think deep before going to Morgan but let’s just say he couldn’t resist!
Him being a coast guard and saving lives had me seeing stars. And when you get and opening scene worthy of Baywatch with Jackson going out of the ocean, slow motion style, all wet, with water rivulets sliding down his abs to join that special V trail...of course you’ll fall for the guy! I just combusted on the spot!

He loves saving people. That’s his job! So his neighbor seeming all broken and lost, he couldn’t avoid feeling attracted to her!

I admired his dedication to win Morgan's heart without being an overbearing jerk. He protected all while helping her to stand on her own two feet. That guy respected the hell out of her! He gave her choices, never deciding for her even when she hurt and he itched of taking her in his big strong arms.

“I’m not about to be one of your regrets when I have the option to be your choice.”          

 

Embarrassing but funny situations

When Morgan was “stuck” in the beginning, Hello Kitty knickers for everyone to see …I was laughing so hard!

- True friendship
Sam was just amazing!!!!!!! That girl deserves a medal!

And seeing all the other characters made me think a series reread was in order!

 

That book was an epic and swoony romance filled with wounded but incredibly strong characters. That’s just the kind of romance I live for and I am recommending this one a thousand times!

 
Have you read Rebecca Yarros's books?
 

Thanks for reading!

 
Sophie

[Luciana (✿◠‿◠) · Rating 5 out of 5]

La mejor manera de cerrar esta saga. Voy a extrañar a todos los personajes. Acá la protagonista es Morgan y sufrió tanto en todos los otros libros que se merecía tener su propia historia. Más específicamente, se merecía a un hombre como Jackson, que siempre la pone en primer lugar y aparte es un padre soltero súper cariñoso. Amé todo el proceso que tuvo ella para sanar y cómo él nunca la juzgó ni le hizo planteos. De toda la saga, creo que ella es mi protagonista favorita, tiene una resiliencia increíble y yo solo quería que sea feliz.

[Kelsey S · Rating 5 out of 5]

▹My ⭐ Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)
▹Format: 🎧Audiobook (dual narration rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)
▹TL;DR Review: I didn't realize this was part of a series when I read it, but I actually don't think that mattered a great deal. I loved it and will be reading the full series.

These thoughts are converted from my handwritten journal from when I read the book in August 2024 :)

─────────────────────────

○★○ What to Expect from This Book: ○★○

– FMC: Morgan. A spitfire that has recently gone through a devastating loss. Dealing with some heavy anxiety, but at least she's got her Hello Kitty underwear to support her ;)
– MMC: Jackson. Single father with his own baggage. Immediately went on my top book boyfriends list.
– Location: Outer Banks, North Carolina
– POV: Dual first-person
– Spice: A few open-door spicy scenes
– Tropes: Neighbors to lovers, grief-recovery, single dad, military, second chance at love
– Triggers: emotional trauma, mental breakdown, trust issues, natural disaster
– Representation: Coast Guard rescue, working through grief

─────────────────────────

↻ ◁ || ▷ ↺ 1:00 ──ㅇ────── 4:12

Now Playing: Light On by Maggie Rogers

╰┈➤ ❝Would you believe me now if I told you I got caught up in a wave? Almost gave it away; would you hear me out if I told you I was terrified for days? Thought I was gonna break.❞

─────────────────────────

★○ If You Like the Following, You Might Like This Book ○★

➼ Other books by Rebecca Yarros, or romance books that center around military heros
➼ Emotional TV shows like A Million Little Things and Parenthood
➼ Romance movies with grief and second chance as a main theme, like P.S. I Love You, Safe Haven, and The Lucky One
➼ Putting on your Hello Kitty underwear and doing house-renovations

─────────────────────────

⍟»This or That«⍟

Character Driven—————✧——————Plot Driven
Insta Love/Lust—————✧——————Slow Burn
Sweet———————✧————Spicy
Light/Fluffy————————✧———Heavy/Emotional

─────────────────────────

🎯 My Thoughts:

I was not expecting to like this as much as I did. And not for any reason other than I hadn't yet read anything aside from Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros and I wasn't sure what to expect. It was emotional, cute, sexy and very entertaining.

I felt Morgan's breakdown in my soul. To be left with the grief she endured was heart shattering. This book turned me on to military romance.

Jackson... OK. I had never heard of Teddy Hamilton before this book...and this was my direct quote from my reading journal "my favorite quote from this book? genuinely anything that Jackson says. I don't know if it was just the way he was written or the narrator, but the guy who did the audio had a very....hot voice." HAHAHA. But really, Jackson made me swoon and curse the sky for making me single (and not in a relationship with Jackson Montgomery).

[Sonya ♕Chatterbooks book blog♕]

[Mg ♥ The Bookishmedialite · Rating 4 out of 5]

My absolute favorite from the series! Love me some Jackson Montgomery ♥.

[Manoela · Rating 3 out of 5]

2-5 /3 Stars

I'm sad to say that this book is my least favorite book from this author. It wasn't bad but it didn't reach my expectations either. It was sweet,angst and emotional.

Although this book tells the story of Morgan and Jackson, here we had a very constant presence of a late character from this series and unfortunately I could not believe Morgan's feelings for the protagonist or the feelings that the deceased said he had for her. both relations seemed superficial to me.while I was unable to like Morgan at all, Jackson saved the book for me, he is one of those sweet, protective and good-hearted characters.

while this book didn't please me, I can only say that each reading is personal so be sure to give the book a chance.

I Received an unreleased copy of this book

[Shaniece · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just can't

I have read every book in this series, but I can't finish this book. Morgan is completely self centered and everything revolves around her feelings although they are misplaced. Playing the victim 2 years after losing someone you were NEVER actually with acting as if you deserved more when in actuality she didn't. Begging someone to be with you time after time even after them not wanting to, says a lot about a person and it's lack of self esteem.

[Eva ✧ ࣪ ⋆ ⁺₊ ⋆ evathedreamer ₊˚.⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊ ✩ · Rating 5 out of 5]

An emotional and heart-wrenching story 🫶.
It follows Morgan, still reeling from the loss of her first love, as she struggles to rebuild her life in the coastal town of Emerald Cove. When she meets Jackson, a helicopter pilot with his own emotional scars, sparks fly despite their reluctance to open up to love again.

It balances romance with grief and healing, making Morgan and Jackson’s journey feel deeply authentic. The themes of loss, hope, and resilience are poignant. The story tugs at the heartstrings but leaves room for hope and second chances, making it a satisfying, moving read.

I loved this book! It was so touching, sweet, and beautifully written 👌

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Morgan Bartley is still not over events that happened two years ago. She is grief-stricken, depressed, stuck, and having anxiety attacks. So she bought a dilapidated beach house and plans to renovate it before starting her new job as a teacher in the Fall. But her new house is in just about as bad of shape as she is.

Her new neighbor, Jackson Montgomery already has a bit of a savior complex. He is a devoted single dad and coast guard search and rescue pilot. And he wants to step in and help his new neighbor who is obviously in over her head.

But she has big walls up, is stubborn, scared, and determined not to rely on anyone ever again. But as they become friendlier, Jax starts to do the impossible. He starts to bring her out of her shell, make her want to get better, and begin to truly live again. But she has a lot of work ahead of her. He has patience, understanding, and truly wants to be there for her. But they both have some secrets and there are some misconceptions. And his biggest secret might be the one thing that she cannot handle.

I will admit, I have not read this whole series so some of the details of her past actually came as a surprise to me. Based on her level of depression, I was thrown when the full backstory was revealed. Fans of the series will enjoy plenty of cameos. There are a lot of unresolved feelings that need to be dealt with from the past two years and her friends are a big part of it. But due to the explanations the author wrote in, I was able to still understand the relationships, dynamics, and grow attached to the characters I did not know. I also loved his adorable, scene-stealing daughter, Fin, and his best friends Garrett and Sawyer who had his back even when they were giving him a hard time.

This is an epic and multi-layered story of heartbreak, hope, rebuilding, priorities, and living life to the fullest. It is emotional, angsty, and at times frustrating, but also sweet and inspiring. There are steps forward and steps back, and it is not an easy process. Jax is such a swoony hero. He is so patient, accepting, and loving. But there are some things he cannot change. And Morgan has a long way to go, but is a fighter. These two really balance each other out and have serious chemistry. But their lives are complicated and circumstances are not always in their control, and they will both have to decide what they are willing to fight for.

I was prepared for some things to probably occur, but some of the events totally surprised me and had me white-knuckling my kindle. But the journey all leads right where it needs to. And it leaves with a wonderful, heartfelt epilogue that ties up everyone's stories.

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[Gitte TotallyBookedBlog · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 beautiful stars

‘She had a broken heart, and I had a kid whose heart I couldn’t risk.’

Wow! What a fabulous read! We loved this story of second chances with one of the most gorgeous book boyfriends you could meet! Single dad Jackson Montgomery swept us off our feet, with his patience, strength and understanding wooing us completely!

‘What we have is something worth fighting for, and I’m climbing into the ring, ready to take the punches, but she’s already left the arena.’

The Reality of Everything by Rebecca Yarros was…well…everything! We fell in love with Jackson (how could we not) our hearts ached for Morgan and we were regaled with the antics of gorgeous five-year-old Finley Montgomery. We love books with children but have found some to be unbelievable with the child coming across anything but childlike. Not so with Finley, Rebecca Yarros wrote this little lady to perfection, and the love between Finley and her Coast Guard pilot Dad was beautiful, sweet and funny. As we said, perfection, and now we want to read all of this standalone series!

“What exactly do you want from me, Jackson?”
“You, I just want you.”

This was a story of friendship, grief, second chances and about living life and facing obstacles head-on. For Morgan Bartley, the past 22 months have been a struggle. After losing the man she loved in Afghanistan, Morgan has to deal with the memories, the fallout and the anger and pain she experienced in the aftermath of Will’s death, something this author handles brilliantly.

Throughout the story, Morgan slowly processes and faces her grief with the help of a therapist, and the way in which it was written ensured we felt Morgan’s pain every step of the way, right up until the emotionally brutal moment Morgan releases her pain and the animosity she harbours.

Deciding to buy a fixer-upper from the money left to her by Will, Morgan takes on more than she bargained for with the dilapidated house, but she’s up for the challenge and manages to embarrass herself on her first meeting with the deliciously handsome Jackson. Morgan is definitely not looking for a relationship, and Jackson has his hands full with his daughter Finley.

From the tragic start to the nail-biting finish and right up to the epilogue we devoured this story. We loved the characters, the setting, the beautifully descriptive prose and the friendships felt real and raw. The coming together of the house coincides with the emotional outpouring and healing of Morgan.

“I’m not about to be one of your regrets when I have the option to be your choice.”

Morgan is smitten with Jackson, and in return, Jackson can see a future with Morgan, but there is a huge obstacle (or two) standing in their way. Can Jackson compete with a ghost and will Morgan accept his job – we know she’s had enough of the worry and pain, loving a flyboy can cause her. Will she take the leap?

‘God, I didn’t deserve this man who held me carefully as I cried out my grief for another.’

This story had us engrossed all the way through. We loved the friendships – every girl should have a friend like Sam – we loved Jackson’s candour and we loved how our emotions were constantly tested – whether we were knotted with angst, feeling devastation at Morgan’s loss or swooning with romance, Rebecca Yarros brought it, and we ate it up! What a fantastic story!

“I’m not going anywhere,” he promised. “I’ll wait forever if it means I get the chance to kiss you again.”

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[Cass (cass_readsromance) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

[Carmen Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

It feels like a lifetime ago that I picked up the first Flight and Glory series and fell in love with Rebecca Yarros's writing. And I have read every book as she has written them. She is right at the top of my one click authors list. But for some weird, me, reason I wasn't able to read Hallowed Ground. It had been so long since I had read the first book and I felt like I would need to do a series re-read and I just haven't had the emotional fortitude or alone time to do it.


But when I found out this one was being released and I ascertained it could be read as a standalone I was all in. And a stay in a 5 star resort with no kids and a few cocktails absolutely helped. First I need to say that I adore Rebecca Yarros, I truly believe that there isn't another author who gives every word the weight she does. But oh my god does it take her long enough to write them. Seriously. Although, now I need to do a series re-read because I HAVE to read Hallowed Ground even though I am already destroyed from the events that occurred in it to form this one.


I guess for now I should actually address Morgan and Jackson and how absolute beautiful, painful, devastating and awe inspiring their story was. I am lying here at 4am after not having been able to put the book down from the second I started it. The book gave me all the feels and then some. I am still feeling Morgan's pain and the strength it took to put herself back together. Jackson was beyond perfect.


The whole story was amazing and I am so glad that I had the opportunity to read it when I could lie in bed sobbing like a baby with no distractions. And now I have to try get some sleep with a book hangover I'm going to be feeling for days. This book is one of my 2020 favourite reads but I highly recommend going in with a full box of tissues and an emotional support animal.

[EMthebooktrovert · Rating 4 out of 5]

fighting for her and fighting her in the entire book

Jackson Montgomery my fave flyboy, a single dad to boot (and a realllly good one at that) with a 🔥 bod. Brave, patient, sweet, loyal, thoughtful.

Some of the things he did for Morgan:
🐚 finding her sea glass
🚁 matchmaking her to find new friends
🌊 that lighthouse date (i’m weak for him after that chapter)

[Big Joe Rossi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Reality of Everything by Rebecca Yarros is a definite must-read! Great storyline, characters and the ending literally had me on edge of my chair, heart racing, sweating it out with our characters!

Two years ago Morgan lost the love of her life, it was complicated, but it destroyed her. Now, she has moved away from her home, her friends in hopes of finding herself again. After buying a beach house in need of serious repairs, she meets her neighbor, twice that 1st day, once as the sexy Mr Carolina, her nickname, as he came out of the water as her and her friends checked out the beach and water and then again when she is in need of "saving".

Jackson is stunned when he first sees her on the beach, her beauty breathtaking to him, but he also sees the darkness in her eyes which only increases his interest. A single dad to five-year-old Finley he is all about no entanglement, content with one night hook ups with tourist.

These two start as friends but the pull is too strong. Even with her issues and his self-imposed rules concerned around his daughter's happiness. They inevitably grow closer but see she is fighting the loss of her ex, his dying nearly killed her and her heart is shattered even still. He has his daughter, his rules, an ex in her on world, and a secret that may destroy her and their chance at happiness.

This book was great. Deep, well-built characters, a great storyline with cool little twist and turns. I loved it.