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Love in Plane Sight

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With her brother’s grumpy best friend—and her longtime nemesis—as Beth’s flight instructor, her pilot lessons could be a plane disaster or their first-class ticket to forever.

Mayday. Mayday. Engine failure.

When flying with George Bunsen, the last thing Beth Lundberg wants is to be horny in the cockpit. But when her first ride-along dives toward disaster, the perpetually stoic George is forced to execute a skillful emergency landing, and Beth is horrified to find herself with an adrenaline-fueled crush on the pilot. She’s even more shocked when her brother’s best friend offers her discounted flight lessons—possibly out of guilt for almost killing them.

And despite George’s annoying habit of departing any room the moment Beth enters, she really wants to accept. No matter that it’s an egregiously expensive hobby, or that her waitressing wages go right toward her mother’s medical bills, or that she’s already in debt up to her eyebrows. Flying is Beth’s dream, and she could use her private license to earn real money.

The more time they spend navigating the sky, the more the turbulence between George and Beth dissipates. But Beth has seen the burning wreckage that comes from mixing business with pleasure—plus, she’s been keeping a secret that, once revealed, will send all her relationships into a tailspin. Can she really take a risk on romance when her pilot career isn’t even off the ground?

400 pages, Paperback

First published December 16, 2025

109 people are currently reading
18024 people want to read

About the author

Lauren Connolly

43 books1,172 followers
Lauren Connolly is an award-winning author of contemporary and magical romance stories. She’s lived among mountains, next to lakes, and in imaginary worlds. Lauren can never seem to stay in one place for too long, but trust that wherever she’s residing there is a dog who thinks he’s a troll, twin cats hiding in the couch, and bookshelves bursting with stories written by the authors she loves.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 308 reviews
Profile Image for Nilufer Ozmekik.
3,119 reviews60.6k followers
June 15, 2025
What do you get when you mix a brother’s best friend with Jason Statham meets Austin Butler vibes (yes, think Masters of the Air intensity), a dash of enemies-to-lovers, second-chance romance, and one steamy dose of forced proximity? You get a romcom that flies straight into your heart—and yes, I’m talking about the kind of romance that makes you grin like a fool, fan your face, and fall in love a little more with every page.

The book starts mid-crisis: engine failure mid-flight. Our heroine Beth Lundberg—24, fiery, determined, broke, and hiding big emotional scars—is stuck in a tiny cockpit with George Bunsen, her brother’s best friend and the infuriatingly hot flight instructor who’s been giving her the cold shoulder for as long as she can remember. George: grumpy, serious, guarded, but with unexpected tenderness beneath the surface. When he calmly takes control of the failing aircraft and lands them safely on a highway, something shifts. Suddenly, Beth’s hatred starts to feel suspiciously like… desire.

She doesn't want to admit it, but she’s crushing hard on the man who never seems to stick around when they’re alone. And things get even more complicated when George starts showing up at the local diner where Beth works—sometimes with her brother Shawn, sometimes not. The diner staff even name a sandwich after him (because of course they do), dubbing him “The Hot Pilot.” Oh, and then he offers her free flying lessons.

Beth is convinced his offer is nothing but pity—charity extended from a sense of obligation as her brother’s friend. And yet, despite her pride, her frustration, and the weight of everything she's juggling (two jobs, sky-high debt, a crumbling house, and an estranged father who refuses to give her the trust fund he owes), she says yes.

And suddenly? She sees a whole new side of George. He’s not just the aloof, unreadable man she’s built up in her head. He’s thoughtful, gentle, warm… and totally, irreversibly into her. Their spark becomes a slow, steady flame—and Beth finds herself navigating more than just flight patterns. She’s wrestling with vulnerability, independence, and the fear of falling in love when everything around her already feels like it’s on the brink.

The emotional stakes in this book are beautifully layered. Beth’s sense of duty to her mother, her financial burdens, and her complicated family history make her fiercely independent—and deeply relatable. And George? He’s a cinnamon roll wrapped in a grumpy pilot exterior. Watching them come together, break down walls, and rewrite their connection is incredibly satisfying.

Overall: I was hooked from page one. This book had me giggling, swooning, and cheering for two messy, loveable characters finding their way back to each other—and toward a future that felt earned and heartfelt. I also loved the supporting characters, especially Shawn and Darla, who deserve their own spin-off (yes, I would devour a novella about them!). Lauren Connolly has made her way onto my auto-read list, and I’ll be watching for everything she writes next.

If you love emotional slow burns with fierce heroines, grumpy-hot heroes, and big-hearted storytelling that balances heat with heart, don’t miss this one!

A big thank-you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC of this beautiful romcom in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Profile Image for naz .
441 reviews874 followers
December 9, 2025
“𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒓𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒇𝒖𝒄𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕?” 𝑯𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒍𝒔 𝒇𝒍𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝒂 𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒈𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏𝒉𝒂𝒍𝒆. “𝑰’𝒎 𝒕𝒓𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒇𝒖𝒄𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒌𝒊𝒔𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒔𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒚 𝒎𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒉 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝑰 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒅 𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒕𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒖𝒆 𝒐𝒇𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒂 𝒕𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖!”

This book had me in a chokehold the entire time 😭🔥 idk if it was the brother's best friend trope, or the whole “they think the other hates them but actually it's the opposite” situation but WOW… YES, YES, AND YES 😌 I enjoy this book so freaking much.

Love in Plane Sight is about Beth accompanies George in the sky for the first time resulting in an emergency landing 😳 let’s just say tensions were HIGH, and not all adrenaline based WINK WINK 😉🔥 All Beth wants to do is get her pilot license, so who better than George for the job hehehe.

I adore the way the author not only brings top tier romance filled with tension 💘 (yes i'm taking about your one bed scene because EXCUSE ME 🥵) but also creates situations where the characters struggle from the start, and you slowly see how those struggles tie them together through their actions and decisions ultimately shaping the final outcome in the romance department ❤️

Beth Lundberg ⇛ her financial struggles and insecurities around money are present in so many moments throughout the story. I loved her so much 😭 She is such a resilient character who understands the reality of the world, yet doesn’t let that stop her from pursuing her goals periodddd

George Bunsen ⇛ he’s the grump of the story, and once you truly understand him, OMG you fall in love with him ASAP. His internal battles aren’t as obvious initially, but as the story unfolds, everything comes together in a way that makes you adore him even more 🥹✨

Anyywaaay the spice is spicy and I love me a good "good girl" which we get here more than once 🤭

I definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves a story that balances real-world struggles with a sprinkle of having the hots for your flight instructor hehe😮‍💨🔥

tropes
✈️ brother's best friend
✈️ pilot instructor x pilot student
✈️ only one bed
✈️ found family

⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.
𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 ꪆৎ ˚ i love me a punny book title

thank you Berkley for my eARC I cried like a baby for her debut book aka i love her
Profile Image for Anila.
499 reviews176 followers
September 28, 2025
The author’s debut novel wrecked me in the best way possible so I was super excited to be able to get an ARC of her sophomore novel and it did not disappoint.

I saw a lot of myself in the female lead Beth. She was a people pleaser and constantly afraid of overstepping boundaries. Since her family accumulated so much debt with her mother’s cancer diagnosis, money was something that was always on her mind. She ended up not pursuing her dreams of becoming a pilot and instead was forced to be realistic. However, an opportunity to get her pilot’s license presents itself when her half-brother’s best friend offers to teach her. You could just tell how passionate she was about flying and how badly she wanted to become a pilot. I loved watching her learn to be vulnerable and honest and to go after what she wanted. It was also really admirable that she maintained a positive disposition despite all the financial burdens and roadblocks that were thrown her way.

As for the male lead George, I adored him! He was the grumpy to Beth’s sunshine. The author sprinkled so many hints throughout the book so readers knew that this man has been yearning for Beth for years and I ate it up. He was protective, hot and sweet and I really fell in love with him in this book. Whenever he got jealous, it was actually some of my favorite sections of the book.

As for the romance, I was a little worried at first since there seemed to be some insta-lust coming from the female lead Beth. However, it did not end up bothering me as much as I thought it would because Beth was still resistant towards George and wasn’t his biggest fan at the start. It was more like a crush, but mainly on George’s physical appearance. But she slowly begins to fall for all of him with every act of kindness he showed her and her loved ones. While I enjoyed their romance, I do wish there were more emotional moments between them. It’s a small complaint though.

The found family aspect was really strong in this book. I really loved all the supporting characters, especially the little romance between Shawn and Darla. They were such a good depiction of the golden retriever and black cat trope. I kind of wanted them to have their own book. Shawn was also a really great big brother to Beth and I loved the dynamic between the siblings. It was so cute and heartwarming, especially the chapter at the end when everything comes out.

All in all, I had the best time reading this book and Lauren Connolly is solidifying herself as an auto-buy author for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkeley for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

———————

pre-read: After so many rejections, I finally got approved by Berkeley! So excited to read it!!
Profile Image for jasmine ☆₊⁺&#x1f9a2;&#x1fabd;₊⁺★.
100 reviews188 followers
June 7, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
╰► 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄!

❰ 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐠𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐤𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐜! ❱

lıllılı.ıllı.ılılıılıı.lllııılı.
Now Playing:
[You Are In Love - Taylor Swift]
0:26 ———♡——— 4:27
◁◁▐▐ ▷▷

"𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐡 𝐨𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐋𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐠, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐈 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫."

₊˚ʚ ➼➻❥𝙨𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨📋
╰┈➤ beth never expected to fall for her brother’s grumpy best friend—especially not while learning to fly. but as her dream of becoming a pilot takes off, so does an unexpected connection with george bunsen. with secrets looming and emotions soaring, beth must decide if love is worth the risk.

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷𝙢𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨💭
╰┈➤ in all honesty, i didn’t expect to enjoy this book as much as i did but i thoroughly enjoyed it! when i requested it on netgalley, the cover and description really had me hooked so i was so happy that i received the arc! from the beginning of the book, it’s clear that there’s something simmering beneath the surface between beth and george, and watching that relationship unravel was very interesting.

₊˚ʚ ➼➻❥𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙝🫶
╰┈➤ i think beth is a such an endearing character. i really enjoyed how much she cared for her family and always had a fierce loyalty towards them. i respected how hardworking she was—in her dreams as well as providing for her family. i related to her due to how closed off she was about expressing her feelings and struggles. i like beth a lot because even with all her problems, she still managed to smile.

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷𝙜𝙚𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙚🐻
╰┈➤ i always love a grumpy mmc, but it turns out that george wasn’t as grumpy as he seemed. he was so sweet and supportive of beth in everything she did. he was respectful towards her and i enjoyed how he shared his family life with her even though it was such a sensitive topic. he is such a golden retriever boyfriend and i am here for it. i felt like he was in tune with his emotions and he was confident in them, but when it came to beth, he would get nervous sometimes, and i found that so hot. i love nervous men.

₊˚ʚ ➼➻❥𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 💕
╰┈➤ the tension between beth and george was pretty good in my opinion. however, the repeated focus of beth’s physical attraction to george (how horny she was for him) got a bit repetitive to the point where it felt like there was no emotional connection. but… that emotion did develop throughout the story, making everything feel balanced out. i loved how george loved beth in silence because he couldn’t love her loudly, due to a certain reason…

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙡𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣🔒
╰┈➤ i am very pleased with my first ever arc, and i enjoyed how the chapters flowed easily, so the story didn’t just focus on one thing for the whole book. usually this wouldn’t be a book i’d pick up, but the plot was fun and i enjoyed it a lot. if you’re into grumpy/sunshine and slow burn, i suggest you should definitely pick this up.

ೃ ✦ ✧ ∗ ❥ ҉
𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 ✈️
𝗠𝗬 𝗙𝗜𝗥𝗦𝗧 𝗔𝗥𝗖!!! 𝗶'𝗺 𝘀𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱! 𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗶 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗶𝘁 😘
Profile Image for jenny reads a lot.
698 reviews849 followers
December 16, 2025
This was such a good read! Complex characters that jump off the page, including the side characters. SO MUCH HEART! I would die for Shawn as a brother. Sexy as hell. Sweet. Emotional. AHH! I love them!

I LOVE me a stoic MMC, they are my fav! And a stoic MMC who can also make an emergency plane landing. Get in my bed now please!

Honestly it is downright criminal that Darla and Shawn do not have their own book. I need more of them! A LOT MORE!

I also finished this book thinking, maybe I should look into getting a pilots license. LOL at that though bc I get hella motion sick on planes.

Whats to love…
- brothers best friend
- complex family dynamics
- found family
- spectacular side characters that honestly steal the show a bit
- laugh out loud funny
- starts with an absolute disaster of a first scene (LOVE THAT)
- SEXY & SWEET
- emotional (a touch of trauma, just how I like it)
- single POV, with a touch of his POV at the end (which keeps some much needed tension imho)

Whats not to love…
- I honestly really enjoyed this book and don’t have much to complain about personally but there are two things I’ll note for others.
- the FMC is down-bad for our MMC instantly and in a mostly physical way. I know some ppl don’t love this, I typically do not. BUT, it works very well in this book. The instant attraction adds to the humor and the tension and since we’re only seeing her pov it never got frustrating or overly repetitive. What I am saying is, I think the insta-attraction is VERY realistic - I would certainly have a crush of the hot guy that kept me safe!
- plenty are going to say this has miscommunication… and I’ll admit it did get occasionally frustrating, but it is another trope I typically dislike that worked well here.

🌶️- Two open door scenes (Ch 28 & 30 I believe)

4.5⭐️ | IG | TikTok |

Thank you Berkley for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Mira.
295 reviews33 followers
September 17, 2025
Beth dreams of becoming a pilot, but she doesn’t have the money for training. Her brother, Shawn, asks his best friend—who happens to be a flight instructor—to fly with her. It nearly ends in disaster, but George saves them by performing an emergency landing. After that, Beth starts feeling a strong attraction to him. Then George shocks her by offering to teach her for free.

This was my first book by Lauren Connolly, and I really enjoyed it! The plot is so unique—I’ve never read about a woman who dreamed of getting her pilot’s license. I liked the characters, not only the main ones but also the supporting cast. The central trope here is grumpy/sunshine. Beth is such a positive heroine; despite the difficulties in her life, she works hard to pay off her mother’s medical bills and repay her brother. George starts out as a grump, but I loved how straightforward he was, how he always spoke his mind, and how he helped Beth.

Shawn was my favorite side character—he’s so sweet! I adored his relationship with Beth and how, despite their different lifestyles, he always wanted to stay close to her. Their book club was so cute and funny! I would absolutely read a whole book about Shawn and Darla!

Overall, the book carries a positive tone, but it also has plenty of emotional moments that give it depth.

𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
✓grumpy/sunshine
✓brother's best friend
✓one bed
✓opposites attract
✓found family

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group (Berkley) for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for ashlee.
361 reviews5 followers
July 19, 2025
Let me just start off by saying…I am NOT the audience for this book.

I can absolutely see where the story was going, and I appreciate the author for her work, but my god was I annoyed this entire time. I almost DNF’d it because I couldn’t take it no more.

Beth…if I could get into this book, I’d grab a shovel and start digging her grave just to shut her ass up. She pmo this entire book. Granted the author left a “warnings” list prior to this book that there was financial issues noted in the book. What she didn’t note is that the whole entire book is about Beth complaining about how broke she is…

Imagine reading: I’m so broke, I’m poor, I need tips, I need more money, I can’t pay for that, I have no money, I can’t afford it, my brother will be mad when he finds out I can’t pay him back…this list goes on and on and I’m too tired to type it all out.

Would I recommend this book to you? HELL NO

Expected Release Date: 12/16/2025

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the early access. All thoughts in this review are my own.
Profile Image for Sam.
212 reviews1,695 followers
November 3, 2025
if anyone needs convincing, the mmc is a hot pilot with a buzzcut so I pictured drew starkey the entire time and it worked wonders thank you and goodnight

brother’s best friend trope has a queen and her name is lauren connolly. I love love LOVED this one. I fell in love with lauren’s writing last year reading PS I Hate You and this did not at all disappoint. it’s fun, its FULL of banter and witty quips that literally had me laughing out loud and smiling in public, it’s HOT, and it’s gorgeous and full circle and emotional.

I adored beth and george so much (I am a complete sucker for a stubborn girl trying to make her way in a male dominated field and a grumpy, intense, sulking man who she thinks hates her but is so obviously completely obsessed with her) but I can’t NOT mention beth’s best friend and brother, who stole the show in the best possible way (this isn’t a slight to beth and george, I love them so much but WOW darla and shawn??? how do i sign up to read multiple novels of darla being mean to shawn and him LOVING IT)
Profile Image for Jillian.
223 reviews24 followers
December 21, 2025
There were a lot of places I wanted Beth to fly into, not excluding a mountainside.
Profile Image for Stephanie.
631 reviews37 followers
December 15, 2025
Love in Plane Sight had me smitten, y'all! I was so endeared to this storyline and its lively cast of characters. My smile became a grin which led to the dreamy sighs of endless swoons. It all works so well!

I cannot even begin to properly describe how unhinged the beginning of this tale is. Our protagonist Beth is up in a small plane flown by George, her brother's best friend, who's been offered up to take her flying (one of her dreams). The air is tense as Beth is convinced he doesn't like her, then next you know that tension is about life or death as the plane starts to fail in flight. Yet somehow, one "good girl" plea to his plane has Beth going from frozen in fear to hot in horniness over George the pilot. Yeah..that happens.

And I won't even lie, I immediately started side-eyeing Beth. Like, girl, are you okay?! But somehow, along the way, that moment goes from me side-eyeing to being utterly endeared by this heroine. I adoooored her! Inappropriate hot swoons and all, haha! Beth is a wonderful protagonist whose mind is one I loved picking. She's a hard worker, a loving daughter and sister, and a dreamer who yearns to one day earn a pilot's license. Until then, she works at a diner owned by the moms of her best friend who are like a second family to her and her own moms, and I loved how they lovingly support one another. Which made me want to shake Beth into confessing to her hardships in money, but I understood her wanting to basically take the world onto her shoulders. That's just how she is.

Until George steps in and suddenly the weight feels a whole lot lighter.

George had me in stitches! Not that he's a comedian, nay, that grump is anything but! From Beth's POV, I don't blame her one bit for thinking George disliked her. But as a well seasoned reader in romance it was so obvious how in love this man was from afar. It would take a while to understand his initial distance but I just cackled over his behavior towards Beth at the beginning. The quiet jealousy that flew right over Beth's head, the way others noticed and pointing out his distant fawning that she also initially wrote off. You don't understand, I liiiive for MMCs like that! The quiet boy obsessed behavior has my heart thum-thum-thumping! But he steps up to help her realize a dream, he shows up in a diner others of his social circle might snobbily avoid and only issues respect and kindness. He's loyal and generous, just like Beth, and, as it turns out, he's a go getter too, because once he realizes Beth's misconception of him he steps up to clear that right up. And, whew, does he do just that!

The romance worked in every single way. Beth and George are simply meant to be and it was a joy to watch their love story take flight (pun intended)!

I'm still giggling, twirling my hair, and kicking my feet in joy over Love in Plane Sight.

Do me a favor and don't miss out on this beauty!

Thank you Berkley Romance and NetGalley for this complimentary eARC, I leave this honest review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Jill (readinginpjs).
685 reviews215 followers
December 4, 2025
4.25⭐️
thank you to PRH Audio for the free audiobook copy, all opinions are my own.

There were a lot of things I loved about this one, and I did read it in less than 24 hours!
I loved the banter between Beth & George, LOVED both Shawn & Darla SO MUCH 😍
(Shawn - Beth's golden retriever of a half brother, & George's best friend, and Darla, Beth's snarky best friend).

What I struggled with mostly was Beth. Her inner monologue was often repetitive, and it was VERY clear that just a few conversations (which were had near the end) would have cleared up ALL her ruminating thoughts & anxieties.

🎧 audio thoughts - I adore Karissa Vacker's narration, and she voiced Beth perfectly. I definitely think she's part of the reason I was so hooked!

I went into this with high expectations - I haven't read PS I Hate You yet, but I've heard nothing but good things from friends with similar bookish taste to me. I'm still planning to read it, I think there's a lot I loved about Lauren's writing, and hopefully with a different main character I'll enjoy her books even more.

✦ tropes & stuff:
💙 (half) brother’s best friend
✈️ pilot & student
☀️ grumpy sunshine
🐈‍⬛ cat dad + dog mom
🥹 he falls first and HARD & has been pining
🛏 only one bed
🫶🏼 found family
💖 single 1st person pov

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Profile Image for jordan εїз.
530 reviews6 followers
August 9, 2025
2 stars 🌟 see this was going reallyyyy well until the 65% mark when all of a sudden it was like the book flipped a switch 😅 georgebeth had the potential to be really cute (brothers bff, years of pining, etc.) and i was honestly hooked for more than half the book…but it all came crashing down very quickly 💔

the smut and dirty talk was soo cringy and painful to read that i contemplated a DNF but powered thru 🙈 the last 35% felt like a completely different book and not one i enjoyed lolllll

i think after receiving 2 arcs from this author and DNFing the other one, she may not be for me and that’s ok!

a special thank you to netgalley and berkley for the arc in exchange for an honest review!
Profile Image for Lauren Hopkins.
291 reviews4 followers
December 15, 2025
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
3.75 stars୨୧

Spice: 2/5 🌶️

Love takes flight in this small town romance✈️ This charming novel is filled with swoon-worthy characters that will steal your heart.

Would recommend if you like:
🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒Found Family
🏡Small Town
👩‍❤️‍👨He Fell First

What I liked:
-I’m a sucker for a slow burn & this delivered! We are talking snail paced burn 🐌 The timing of when they begin their romantic connection is absolute perfection.
-The characters in this were so charming! I love when an author gives just as much care to the side characters as the main characters.

What I didn’t like:
This book is not for those who loathe the miscommunication trope. This whole foundation of this book is two people who dance around being honest w/ each other.
-It took me forever to care about the MMC. Her brother Shawn, kept stealing the show tbh. (I’m basically on my hands & knees praying that we get a book for him🧎‍♀️‍➡️)

Thank you to Berkley & NetGalley for the arc🫶🏼
Profile Image for Shannon Farley.
201 reviews93 followers
Want to read
December 16, 2025
Release day! I absolutely loved the first book I read form this author so I am really excited for this one! ❤️
Profile Image for Sarah.
152 reviews1 follower
November 19, 2025
generous three stars, I am sad I didn’t like this more. I LOVED PS I Hate You, but this was rushed, underwhelming, and the characters didn’t have a lot of chemistry in my opinion
Profile Image for Shannon.
8,304 reviews423 followers
December 5, 2025
I really enjoyed this brother's best friend, forced proximity romance that has a down on her luck aspiring pilot making a deal with her brother's pilot friend for free flying lessons after they almost crashed. There was lots of messy family dynamics, great banter, mutual pining and a hot only one bed situation. It was also EXCELLENT on audio narrated by Karissa Vacker and I enjoyed it just as much as the author's debut, P.S. I hate you! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!
Profile Image for Stephanie.
87 reviews
December 24, 2025
This was a really cute funny book
Grumpy /Sunshine
Brothers best friend
Profile Image for cate (catescozycornerofbooks).
204 reviews52 followers
December 7, 2025
FIVE STARS! FIVE STARS! FIVE STARS!!!!!!!

okay see this is why i can’t do a yearly wrap up before december ends because i would have missed out on talking about this absolute BANGER!!!!!

love in plane sight is such a fantastic read. i enjoyed every single moment of this book and did not want to put it down.

george and beth are everything to me, and i mean EVERYTHING!!!!!! talk about yearning, talk about slow burn, talk about WAIT FOR IT!!!!!! george my sweet, sexy pilot - i love you!!!! what a cool character. george was so himself for this whole book and as time progressed and we unpacked his character, so much was brought to light that illuminated what a stand up guy he was and how deeply he loved beth. he just wanted to love her and he was afraid of causing her harm from karl. i NEED george bunsen. now, let’s take a moment to talk about my number one enemy, karl. he can actually rot for everything he did to beth and charlotte and shawn and george and literally everyone else. such a heinous man. now my iconic pilot queen beth!!!! this girl was so cool. she has such a big heart — her love for shawn was so sweet and beautiful, her love for her mom and marge was oceans wide, her love for george was immediate and warm, and her love for darla, billy, sally, and sam was so huge. she WAS love, even when circumstances around her should have made her reticent to it. i also felt her sentiment for people pleasing so hard and really enjoyed watching her overcome a lot of the ways that held her back so that she could be more free and honest and open.

i love this book. everyone needs to read it. this is for the romance girls who love to see a man who knows what he wants but is also kind and gentle and funny!!!!! and for the girls who see themselves in beth and her relentless vigor for life and to feel joy.
Profile Image for Jocelyn.
298 reviews9 followers
December 23, 2025
Love in Plane Sight is such a fun, fresh, and genuinely original romance, and I absolutely devoured it. The concept alone hooked me immediately. Beth wanting to become a pilot and ending up instructed by her brother’s grumpy best friend, George? Perfection. Lauren Connolly takes a unique premise and fully commits, giving us a story that soars far beyond a simple romcom setup.

This book hits all the notes of a full fledged, deeply satisfying romance. It’s fun and flirty, has plenty of heat, and still makes room for heavier emotional moments that add real depth. The tension between Beth and George is intense in the best way—this is a true slow burn that keeps you turning pages, desperate for them to finally get together, even though you know the truth has to come out first. And when it does? Let’s just say their backstory will absolutely pull at your heartstrings. No spoilers here, but you will want the world for both of them.

Beth is such a standout heroine. Watching her pursue a career in an industry with so few women, and absolutely boss it, was empowering and satisfying. I loved seeing her determination, growth, and confidence shine. George, meanwhile, is peak grumpy with a soft center, and their dynamic is everything you want from this trope.

The side characters deserve their own round of applause. Beth’s brother, her best friend, and her chosen and real family add so much warmth and humor to the story. And of course, the grumpy grumps—the dog and George’s cat—completely stole my heart.

This book left me with all the feels. It’s heartfelt, sexy, emotional, and uplifting all at once. If you’re looking for a top tier romance that’s soaring high on tension, heart, and originality, Love in Plane Sight is an easy, enthusiastic recommendation.

Thank you Berkely for the eARc. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Amy.
2,642 reviews2,023 followers
November 23, 2025
Karissa Vacker could read the dictionary and I’d still be glued to my headphones, so of course her narration of Love in Plane Sight pulled me in instantly. Beth and George have that quietly intense brother’s best friend tension, and the book opens mid flight with a highway emergency landing (!!), setting the stage for Beth to finally admit she’s crushing on the grumpy, stoic man who’s been keeping his distance. Both characters are layered and tender in their own ways—Beth always putting others first at the cost of her own dreams, and George holding back more than he lets on—and watching her step into her power was so sweet and satisfying. The emotional depth, the simmering slow burn, the aviation details, and Vacker’s pitch perfect delivery made this such an engaging listen.
Profile Image for Madison (madinotmaddiereads).
337 reviews39 followers
November 16, 2025
These two are FLIRTS!!! I felt like I was interrupting like — 🧍🏻‍♀️

This is one of my favorite slow burn romances I’ve read in a long time and it feels like a true romcom kind of vibe while still being thoughtfully intentional with its more emotional themes. The initial attraction starts off fairly early on but I too would be getting hot in the face after a beautiful man saved my life in the most badass humanly possible way.

The whole basis of this story is her struggling to afford classes to complete her pilot license due to being the provider of her mothers’ medical bills but a mishap in the sky compels him to offer her flying lessons free of charge. WHO KNOWS WHY HE WOULD DO THAT THOUGH 😜 Despite his grumpy exterior, this was obviously a very demonstrative way to show his intentions but I adored all the quiet ways this mmc showed his care to the fmc. Sibling book club?! Will be thinking about that scene always because how cuteeee

If you like hot for teacher vibes with a little New Girl-esque humor, you definitely need to pick up a copy of this one ✈️💗

thank you to Berkley Romance for my gifted copy in exchange for my honest thoughts 💌
Profile Image for tanvi.
174 reviews23 followers
July 4, 2025
Thank you Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have always loved Lauren Connolly’s writing, and P.S. I Hate You is both the first book I read by her and still my favorite. I really enjoyed this one too, however, especially because it felt so different. The dynamic between the two main characters was frustratingly adorable, and their chemistry stood out in the best way. While this story didn’t carry the same emotional intensity as P.S. I Hate You—which is a big part of why I gave that book five stars—it still offered something meaningful. I especially appreciated the thoughtful conversations around women in the aviation industry, which added depth and relevance to the story. The family dynamics were also very complex, which is another aspect I found myself enjoying.

Tropes
- Instructor x Student
- Grumpy Brother's Best Friend
- One bed trope
- Tension and spice!!!
Profile Image for Julie Brough.
365 reviews3 followers
November 24, 2025
Love in Plane Sight follows the story of Beth, a diner employee determined to earn her private pilot's license, and George, her half-brother's friend who happens to be a pilot. Also, Beth thinks George hates her. After taking her on a flight that resulted in an emergency landing on the freeway, George offers to be her flight instructor for free. As Beth starts to get closer to her dreams, she is forced to confront several lies from her past -- some her own doing and others not. And as she spends more time with George, she realizes that maybe he's not the type of person she thought he was and they both start to open up to each other.

First, I liked the theme of honesty and its importance, especially in your closest and most-valued relationships. Beth learned that can be the scariest thing to do, but that it needed to happen. I loved slowly unraveling who George was and what had shaped him into the person he'd become. Shawn, Beth's half-brother, was an amazing character. I am jealous of their book club nights. And his crush on Darla added so many hilarious moments to the book.

My only issue with the relationship was that Beth really didn't learn some major details about George until much later in their relationship. For example, I was a really long ways through the book before she learned what his full-time job was. Given how much time they spent together and how close she was with her brother (George's best friend), I feel like some mention of his job would have come up, even just in passing. Months of not knowing major details of someone's life, especially when she spent so much time with him, felt like a stretch and had me questioning if the characters actually knew each other and then made the relationship feel less real or relatable.

Overall, I flew (pun intended) through the book in a couple of days. It was so easy to get drawn into Beth's story, and I really enjoyed all the humor. A solid 4/5 stars!

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for a copy of this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

Heads up: two very open-door scenes and lots of innuendo that I really could have done without and cringed at every time it came up
Profile Image for Nicole.
830 reviews11 followers
August 16, 2025
Gosh, I had a great time reading this book. It made me laugh out loud several times, I felt deeply emotional at parts, and I was smiling at my Kindle so much while I was reading it.

I admired Beth’s character immensely, both in the “part of the book” sense and the kind of person she was created to be. She had such a big heart and a determined spirit. She was an incredibly hard worker and she had a pure goodness to her. Her relationships with her family, biological and chosen, reflected that as much as her internalized thoughts, feelings, and struggles. She took the circumstances of her life and made it a point to put the people she loved at the forefront of her mind to care for and protect them however she could. It made it all the more satisfying to see the moments when she would finally allow something good in for herself, and to see others push for her to do those things.

Now George. I’ve read enough books to recognize a down bad reticent man when I see him. I didn’t know *why* he held back, but I knew the reasons were there and would be revealed in time, and the Beth was completely oblivious to how enamored he was with her. This man was suffering in silence for her long before she ever would’ve guessed. It was so endearing and an adorable slow burn to me waiting for the moment it couldn’t be held back any longer.

I loved the premise of the story surrounding Beth’s desire to be a pilot. It felt so unique to anything I’ve read before, and it leant itself to creating a great deal of depth in the book. It was an opportunity to look at the privilege and misogyny impact on a highly specialized hobby/career and who those opportunities are more readily available to. Beth had to face both of those, and her family history added another layer to everything.

One last thing to note: the secondary characters were also vital to this story. Whether “villain” or positive piece, they all played a role. I *loved* Shawn and Darla specifically and would read an entire book about them.

I can’t wait to add this one to my shelves. Thank you to Berkley via NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Mel.
1,694 reviews4 followers
November 21, 2025
Well, for a book with such a meh cover, I did not anticipate such a roller coaster of a ride. The book opens with an emergency plane landing in the middle of a highway because of engine failure so if you're a nervous flier, maybe skip this one.

Then there's Beth, who desperately wants to become a pilot but is dead broke and keeping it a secret from her mom whose breast cancer diagnosis (she's fine now) came with a lot of medical debts. So, Beth borrows the money from her half brother who is under the assumption that their rich asshole dad will give Beth her own trust fund when she turns 25. Except Beth knows that's not happening bc her dad barely wants to acknowledge her existence, much less show up for her in any meaningful way.

Honestly, this book was far soapier and dramatic than I was expecting for a book with that cover.
George has his own issues including a father who can't understand his dreams and a mom who died by suicide when George was younger. It's a lot and the thing is, I actually did like the book and the romance was pretty good though really, my favorite part was actually between Beth and her half brother when the whole truth finally spills out.

There was also a lot of queer rep in this book with the side characters - Beth's mom is married to a woman and her best friend also has 2 moms and a brother who comes out as ace. And one of the BnB offsprings is also a woman who marries another woman. I think I maybe liked the side characters more - I found the dynamics between the best friend and Beth's half brother more interesting and I wouldn't be opposed to them getting their own book.

All in all, this wasn't bad but again, be mindful of all the potential triggers.

ARC from publisher, review is all mine.
Profile Image for Lindsey  Domokur.
1,850 reviews123 followers
December 18, 2025
Beth dreams of flying, but doesn't have the means to make it happen. After caring for and paying for all of her mom's treatments, and taking a loan from her half brother, she is in debt up to her eyeballs. Her brother's best friend, George, doens't really like her, so it doesn't make sense that he would be offering to help her, for free.
She thinks it is because her brother has talked him into it, but there is a lot more than meets the eye with George. After a near death experience, the two grow closer and forced proximity allows them to clear up misunderstandings and get to know one another on a deeper level. They both are falling but with all the secrets she is keeping, she isn't sure that this is going to last.
I liked the story of Beth and George, but I wouldn't say I loved it as much as I was hoping. The first half of the story we didn't get much besides her being conflicted with a secret she was keeping and her lusting over George. I think this would have been great to get his point of view a bit to break up her thoughts and spiraling. I absolutely loved her brother and Darla and want more of that, yes please. Darla was by far my favorite of all the quirky characters here. All the moms were fun, but I would have loved to see a good dad in the whole entire story. It just felt like too much to me. I saw glimpses of the last book in this story, but I would have liked a little more of the heart that it had as well. 3.5 stars.
Thanks to Berkley, Netgalley and Lauren Connolly for an early copy.
Profile Image for Amy .
3,120 reviews
December 16, 2025
4.5 Stars!

"You're my home base. The one I always want to be flying back to".

I was so excited to dive into this book, and it absolutely delivered. From delicious tension to enemies-to-lovers vibes, forced proximity, and found family, Love in Plane Sight checks every box. The intense opening scene hooked me instantly, and from that moment on, I was fully immersed, devouring page after page.

Beth and George’s chemistry is electric. Their banter and George’s grumpy exterior create the best kind of tension, especially as his heart of gold slowly comes into view. And Beth? She is a truly wonderful heroine. Fiercely devoted to her family, endlessly kind, and willing to sacrifice for the people she loves, her sunny optimism is the perfect counterbalance to George’s gruff demeanor.

Their romance isn’t without obstacles. Both Beth and George are navigating complicated family dynamics, which add emotional depth and real stakes to their journey. I especially appreciated how the author handled the tougher subject matter, allowing the story to remain heartfelt without losing its warmth.

All in all, a solid read that kept me on my toes, while leaving a smile on my face and delivering all the feels. If you haven't checked out Lauren Connolly before, stop what you're doing and get this book added to your TBR today!

*I was provided an ARC copy of this book via the publisher & NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review*
Profile Image for Tori.
479 reviews9 followers
June 10, 2025
What a fun read! I've never read a Lauren Connolly book before, but I'm glad I did! I was a little skeptical at first since our main girl Beth here gets a little horny from engine failure, but I ended up really enjoying Beth and George's banter and progression from (slight) enemies to friends to lovers. Beth wanting to be a pilot is a really unique premise, and I enjoyed reading about her learning to fly with George.

One of my favorite tropes is grumpy x sunshine and while Beth maybe wasn't the most sunshiney character of them all, George sure was grumpy. I love my MMC's with a dose of grumpy but pining, and that is definitely what I got with this book (thank you Lauren!!!).

I also really enjoyed all the side characters. Darla, Beth's bestie, and Shawn, her brother, lowkey stole the show for me. I especially loved Beth and Shawn's book clubs! They annotate the book and then trade so they can review each other's annotations. I genuinely think that is the most wholesome thing ever.

I definitely feel like Lauren set up for a sequel for Beth's brother, and let's just say that I am very excited for the golden retriever x black cat book that we are about to get... Until then, I will be checking out Lauren's other romcoms!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Profile Image for Stephanie (stephreadsallthebooks).
464 reviews19 followers
November 29, 2025
Thank you @berkleyromance for the early copy of Love in Plane Sight by Lauren Connolly. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Pub date: December 16

What a lovely book! I loved both Beth and George (though laughed every time his last name - Bunsen - was mentioned). I thought this was a really lovely romance with external drama but little drama within the actual relationship which is honestly exactly what I want.

Even though there's a lot of miscommunication in this book, it all results from Beth trying to protect those around her and also to preserve those relationships. I love how each of the characters she concealed the truth from reacted when she told them and I loved that she was the one to choose to tell them versus that decision being made for her. I loved George and how much he stood up for her and protected her - I do so love a "it's always been her" moment.

Absolutely a book I recommend picking up - it's a little less emotional than Connolly's last book - PS. I Hate You - which honestly was perfect for me. I loved PS, I Hate You but I'm not always ready for a super emotional read and this was the perfect balance for me!
Profile Image for Kimberlyyyreads.
1,142 reviews77 followers
December 6, 2025
*4.25

Thank you to Berkley and Netgalley for the free e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

Lauren Connolly, your mind is everything to me.

Beth and George swept me right off my feet. This book was everything I needed it to be.

George Bunson is a man IN LOVE. He's everything grumpy but a true charmer that man yearned for YEARS. There is something so attractive about a man who yearns from afar.

Seeing Beth's development in this book is probably one of my favorite things about this. You see her towards the beginning struggling under the weight of her own responsibilities but she builds her confidence as she discovers her passion for flying planes!

There is no one more louder than me rooting for Beth's happiness!!

Beth is also just horny for George and I respect that because the way he calls her a good girl? Yeah, I was clutching on to my table.

I never thought I would bark for a man named George with a buzzcut but here I am!

This book is truly such a great romance and chaotically horny therefore everyone should read it.
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