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Claire Holloway Is Winging It: A High-Flying Romance

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A romance in the skies from an award-winning author and flight attendant

After Claire Holloway's dream of becoming a ballerina plummets, she's left with her boyfriend as her only support . . . until she decides to become a flight attendant for the free travel. Based out of state, she moves into a crash pad with a gaggle of other flight attendants, and her fear of losing Wyatt seems to become a reality.

First Officer Nathan Stuart—a bit cynical since he and his fiancée broke up—meets a somewhat frazzled Claire on her very first day in the Seattle airport. When they end up on the same crew, he takes her under his wing, and they quickly bond.

When Claire's once-supportive boyfriend's attitude sours into resentment, she's left wondering whether her newfound joy is the right way to go. Pulled between two men and her new career, Claire must learn to listen for God's direction the same way her flight crew follows air traffic control.

In this hilarious rom-com, readers will lift off into the turbulent skies of romantic adventures as Claire navigates God's plan for her life.

272 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2026

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About the author

Angela Ruth Strong

43 books734 followers
Angela Ruth Strong sold her first Christian romance novel in 2009. Her books have since earned TOP PICK in Romantic Times, been nominated for a Christy, won the Cascade Award, and become Amazon best-sellers. Her book Finding Love in Big Sky filmed as a movie in Montana and aired on UPtv in 2022. To help aspiring authors, she started IDAhope Writers where she lives in Idaho, and she teaches as an expert online at My Book Therapy.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews
Profile Image for BookLoverAmanda.
788 reviews1,172 followers
March 17, 2026
Claire Holloway is Winging It - Angela Ruth Strong

4.5 Stars (Rounding Up to 5)

I really enjoyed this book! She really handled this in a realistic way.

I really enjoyed this lighthearted Christian rom-com, my first read by Angela. Claire Holloway, a former ballerina turned flight attendant, meets Nathan at work, a pilot healing from heartbreak, while she’s still in a relationship with Wyatt. You think it's a love triangle, but it's not in the traditional sense.

While this trope isn’t usually my favorite, Angela handled it realistically and thoughtfully. If I had to read a book with a significant other story plot, this is how you do it gracefully.

The story emphasizes honesty, boundaries, and trusting God’s timing and plan. Nathan was sweet, supportive, and clearly a good Christian man, maintaining healthy boundaries despite his attraction to Claire. He knew what the right thing to do was and took necessary steps to ensure he was respectful.

I appreciated seeing Claire grow in faith and discern God’s direction for her life. Her journey from a people-pleaser to someone learning to trust God was beautifully done. I am a people-pleaser myself, so I found some of that relatable.

The book also highlights healthy vs. unhealthy relationships, friendship before romance, and the importance of waiting for marriage from a biblical perspective.

While I do wish Claire had ended things with Wyatt sooner, I appreciated seeing her grow and that makes sense for the pacing of the story. We really see, especially in the end, how she grows in faith and realizes her worth is in God and not a boyfriend. That in itself was beautiful.

Overall, Claire Holloway Is Winging It was a fun, heartfelt romance with a unique setting and likeable cast of characters. I enjoyed the humor, airline world and the journey the characters made realistically.

Content: Clean romance, FMC in relationship while thoughts of MMC but handled as well as it could be realistic way, brief mention of possible drug deal happening nearby, jokes about plane issues while flying, romance is kisses only, MMC walking through hard time after his ex cheated on him, cheating side characters mentioned, mention of church hurt in the past, mentions of past affairs. [Note: To be clear, we do not see much of her relationship with Wyatt on page outside of phone calls and texts until toward the end, and by then, it's obvious to the reader that they won't really work out and are not going to continue at some point.]

Thank you to the publisher, Kregel, for a complimentary copy of the book to honestly read and review. All thoughts are my own.
Profile Image for Charity.
646 reviews86 followers
March 17, 2026
This is hands-down my new favorite Angela Ruth Strong book. As with all the best books, it hooked me from the first page. I laughed, I got teary-eyed, I was profoundly moved, and I felt all the emotions in between.

From the blurb, this may sound like a love triangle, but it isn't. This is about pure, undefiled love. Love that seeks the best while following the Creator of love.

Angela has outdone herself with this one.

~I received a complimentary copy of this book. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.~
Profile Image for Lucy Lloyd.
55 reviews21 followers
March 22, 2026
A solid 4⭐️!!! This book is a prime example of why I don’t like to dnf a book simply because I’m bored… Because what if it gets better? Oh my goodness, did this book get better!

I started off hating Claire, ended up loving her… started off hating Nathan, ended up loving him so much!!!! And I started off liking her boyfriend Wyatt, ended up hating him… and just slowly fell in love with this entire cast!

The writing felt choppy at times, especially in the beginning, and I think a lot of that has to do with my personal aversion towards First Person Present Tense… but, similarly to The Hunger Games Trilogy, it eventually stopped bothering me.

The faith content was absolutely beautiful & seeing both protagonists (and even some of the side characters) grown in their walks with Jesus was lovely!

I’m actually excited to know that she’s writing a sequel about Claire’s best friend! Will definitely be reading that!
Profile Image for Brandi Davis.
198 reviews72 followers
April 4, 2026
3.5 ⭐️ (rounded up) — If you’ve ever been curious about life as part of a flight crew, this one gives a fun behind-the-scenes peek—with a touch of romance ✈️💙

Ballerina-turned-flight attendant Claire Holloway is hoping her life will finally start to feel settled. But between a brand-new job, a crowded living situation with eight other women, a new city, and a now long-distance relationship, everything feels a little up in the air. When a charming first officer starts showing interest, Claire finds herself even more unsure of what comes next.

As a travel lover, my favorite part of this story was the insider look at what it’s like being part of a flight crew—that element really carried the story for me. I also enjoyed the friendship between Claire and Angel, which added a nice layer of warmth and support.

If you enjoy fiction that leans into navigating life transitions and discerning God’s direction in the midst of change, this could be a good one to pick up.

Thanks so much to Just Read Tours and Kregel for the gifted copy—always grateful for the opportunity to read and share. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Staci.
2,361 reviews679 followers
March 18, 2026
Super cute!

Claire Holloway is starting a new career in the skies after an injury ended her aspirations as a ballerina. She holds fast to the idea of a relationship with her boyfriend Wyatt. As Claire visits new cities, meets new people and lives in a new city, she learns what is really important to her. Along the way there are a number of laughs including protecting her eyes from a retina scratch.

I loved watching Claire's confidence and faith grow in the pages. Pilot Nathan also had great character growth. I look forward to the second book in the series.

My gratitude to publisher Kregel for a complimentary copy of the novel. I was not required to post a review and all opinions expressed are my own.
Profile Image for Gretchen Garrison.
Author 3 books33 followers
March 18, 2026
"Passengers mistakenly assume I know what I’m doing simply because I’m wearing a flight attendant uniform . They couldn’t be more wrong. I know how to arm airplane doors for departure. I know how to put on an oxygen mask. I know how to make a pot of coffee. I do not know where to find the S terminal at the Seattle airport . I’ve never been here before in my life."

When Claire Holloway signed up to become a flight attendant, she assumed that she would operate out of her local San Francisco airport. Instead, she finds herself in Seattle where she will be living in a crash pad with strangers - multiple roommates that she may barely see since they all are flight attendants. She thought she was ready to start over, but with so many changes pending, can she find a safe place to land?

Authors are supposed to write what they know. This is definitely the case for Angela Ruth Strong since she is a flight attendant. Her experiences add both authenticity and enjoyment to the plot. While the book is not autobiographical, since she wrote about places that she has been, you will feel like you are truly along for an actual ride.

Not every situation is easy. And not all of the people that Claire encounters may be worth knowing. Yet one cannot help but appreciate watching this inexperienced woman earn her wings. The faith element is important. I loved watching Claire learn to serve in whole new ways. The romance is worth remembering. I am so glad that there will be more books in this series!

For the flying phobic among us, this book will take you to friendly skies. While flight delays are inevitable, the details are slim. I think this book could inspire even the most fearful to want to give airlines another try.

I am so glad that I was able to read an advanced copy of this book. I requested to be a part of this novel's takeoff crew and to review it. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Heather.loves.books.
241 reviews18 followers
March 17, 2026
Claire Holloway is Winging It by: Angela Ruth Strong

Available now as audio, ebook, or paperback

📖After her career as a ballerina ends, Claire becomes a flight attendant to figure out a new dream for her life.

❤️ I loved

The humor- I flew through the first 100 pages and laughed out loud so many times

The experiences- Climbing mountains, boat rides, life as an attendant. All the places were described so well I felt like I was there.

The faith- Where is God in pain?
"Rather than take away our pain, Jesus joined us in it"

The found family- her crash pad crew were a great support cast and I loved seeing the airline community

The love- Love is not self seeking. Nathan chooses to love her in a way that is from a place of service and surrender to what is best for her. There is no love triangle here. There is genuine love and growth.

I wanted an epilogue. I would love a book 2 watching Claire and Nathan as a couple.

I was thrilled to get a sneek peek of Angel's story. I am excited to read more of this series as it releases.

This is my 4th read by Strong and my favorite of them all.

Highly recommend!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

CW: no language, brief kisses

➡️Swipe for some similar vibes with lovable leads on an adventure

Many thanks to Revell for the ARC review copy

@revellfiction
@ang_strong

#Revell
#clairehollowayiswingingit
#cleanreads
Profile Image for Hannah Johnson.
139 reviews16 followers
March 30, 2026
This was such an adorable and thought-provoking Christian rom-com! Angela Ruth Strong pulls her readers right into the commercial airline world, packing in amusing incidents from her own experiences as a flight attendant. Claire and Nathan were both easy to love, and while I considered liking Wyatt, Claire's relationship with him proved itself clearly lacking. I worried that there would be cheating here, but Clair and Nathan both worked hard to honor each other and her relationship with Wyatt. And the main message of this book... SO beautiful. I never considered the difference between letting go of someone out of love and perhaps hurting them... and actually harming them through your actions. Strong got me thinking.

Often, Christian rom-coms really gloss over the faith portion, but it was very present and inspiring here. I love that Nathan had a mentor to look to for advice, and that he listened even when he didn't like what Vincent had to say. And the focus on Jeremiah 39:11--God's good plans even in hardship--is ALWAYS pertinent and applicable.

The side characters were top-notch. Desiree and Vincent were so cute together, and I loved them and their love and support for Nathan. Claire's many roommates were great, especially Angel. And the setting was EVERYTHING. Plane life... fun destinations... travels and hikes. It feels like I got to experience life as a flight attendant, courtesy of Claire. And, of course, the book was packed with jokes and banter that had me cracking up. Makes me want to keep a soda can and sock on hand. ;)

Content note:

Overall, this was such a fantastic and fun choice for anyone looking for a light read that still packs in important truth. I really enjoyed it!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are my honest opinion.
Profile Image for Lola Mae.
257 reviews8 followers
May 10, 2026
A thoughtful, heartfelt novel about finding yourself in who God is. AND it’s hilarious, intriguing (I’ve never read a novel with a flight attendant MC!), full of deliciously witty banter, sweet, tender moments, and the meaning of love. There is romance, but it’s completely clean (at least by my definition) there’s a kiss, but like only one or two lines that talk about it.
Such a beautiful, delightful novel!💕
Profile Image for Faith.
2,284 reviews
April 2, 2026
A heartfelt Christian rom-com about opening new chapters, and trusting God's plan.

Claire Holloway thought she had it all figured out until a career ending injury, has her packing her bags and taking to the sky as a flight attendent. Mourning her lost career path, while juggling a new job and a long distance relationship, Claire is more than a little out of her depth. I liked how her co-workers Nathan, Vincent, Angel, Desiree, and the other flight attendants show her what to do at work and how to embrace the perks of travel. I loved seeing her grow in confidence, and her friendship with Nathan.

Nathan is a pilot, and is quick to offer Claire help adjusting to her own life. I liked that he is a strong Christian, and has a solid mentor in Vincent, I loved the banter between the two of them.

An engaging read, with characters you want to cheer for the whole way through, filled with humor, friendship and faith. I liked the strong character arcs, and how Claire finds herself challenged and changed by her new job. An uplifting novel, that you won't want to put down as you accompany Claire on her new adventure! Highly recommend!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Profile Image for Lisa M..
1,071 reviews46 followers
April 29, 2026
this was a fun book written in two POV: Claire and Nathan. I have always loved flying so I enjoyed the behind the scenes of the flight attendants. I also know the city of Seattle as I've traveled there a few times.

This was a great book about trusting that God has a plan for your life in spite of all your perceived challenges and failures.
Profile Image for Courtney Pityer.
1,012 reviews63 followers
March 31, 2026
I will say this is quite the enjoyable read if you are looking for a story about female empowerment. You really have to admire the main fmc Claire because it seems like she has one problem after another but she refuses to let it get her down. Most people would be giving up but Claire keeps moving on perhaps it is her strong belief in god and the fact that she knows that things can only improve and go up when they are coming on. I will say this is quite the inspiring story of never giving up on life when it seems like all hope is lost.
Profile Image for Allyson Anthony.
1,269 reviews57 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 22, 2026
Fasten your seatbelt and get ready for an adventure in Claire Holloway Is Winging It. Strong crafted another marvelous read containing faith, laughable moments, romance, and well-written characters with real-life struggles. I enjoyed the chemistry between former ballerina turned flight attendant Claire Holloway and First Officer Nathan Stuart, the witty banter, and the flying puns. I thoroughly enjoyed learning factoids about flying through the eyes of a flight attendant and a pilot.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Hannah.
90 reviews7 followers
May 11, 2026
I loved this book!! Her being a flight attendant was so fun and interesting!!

"Strangely, I'm in no rush anymore. I don't just want a wife - I want the kind of marriage where we build each other up and have more to offer the world as a team. Then when everything goes wrong, and it absolutely will, simply looking into her eyes will be enough."

"I don't need a man to complete me anymore.......However, I would love to have someone by my side as we chase after God."
Profile Image for Becky Lewis.
1,093 reviews64 followers
March 17, 2026
“That’s when it helps to see God as the control tower. He could be protecting you from something. Or even leading you somewhere better.”

I can count on an Angela Ruth Strong book for unpredictable, raucous laughter, hilarity, and a bit of mayhem. ( I may or may not have had to stuff a sock in my mouth late at night so as not to wake a sleeping hubby!) I can also count on Strong to slip in Biblical-based Truth that has me evaluating if my life matches my words.

Claire Holloway is Winging It had my attention from the first sentence. I was cracking up every other sentence, it seemed like. Claire has lost one dream, so she decides to embark on a new career. Problem is, she is sure she will fail and we all know how self-fulfilling prophecies work!

From Claire’s first unsuccessful airport encounter to her meeting helpful, good- looking pilot Nathan Stuart, Claire stumbles through belly-laugh inducing situations. While believer Nathan is determined to win Claire over, Claire has to deal with her absent ,distracted, and jealous boyfriend back home.

The story flows well. Strong tells it in her unique voice, using first person POV, alternating back and forth between labeled chapters for Claire or Nathan.

I loved the camaraderie that we see develop between Claire, Nathan, and Vincent and his wife, Desiree. Vincent and Desiree add plenty of humor, but they also speak Truth into both Nathan’s and Claire’s lives. Desiree starts small with Claire, by empathizing. “It’s hard to have your life reflowed.” Strong lets us see inside the back curtains of the flight world as she deftly weaves in the message that God has a plan for each life, though it may be different than what we were aiming for.

Vincent and Desiree are runaways for fave secondary characters. They are so funny, so kind, and speak the Truth so well! “Truly loving someone means you’re more afraid of harming them than losing them.” Ouch, that is a Truth Nathan doesn’t want to hear!!

I must say, though, Angel is a most interesting character. I had to wonder if I would have judged her as “less than” in real life. But when she learns spiritual lessons, she’s no faker!! I loved her! “Rather than take away our pain, Jesus joined us in it.” Angel shares this Truth, and Claire thinks of a flight “real-life example” she experienced. Suddenly, I too, was thrilled to feel I finally understood a Truth I could never quite wrap my head around!!

I received a copy of the book from the author and publisher via NetGalley. I also bought my own copy for the trophy shelf. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“It’s my job to make passengers happy.” “It’s never your job to make anyone happy.”- Claire, Nathan

“Fear is like gravity in a topsy-turvy world.

“That’s when it helps to see God as the control tower. He could be protecting you from something. Or even leading you somewhere better.”-Desiree

“You’ve got to take the good with the bad and trust that the smaller sacrifices are worth the greater good.” - Desiree

“Loving someone is never a mistake. Even if it hurts.”- Vincent

“But rather than place blame, we could focus on how we don’t have to bear our pain alone.” - Angel

“I think maybe God is the light, and we have to draw close to Him to see the difference between our false judgments and our true discernments.” - Claire
Profile Image for Diana.
989 reviews7 followers
April 4, 2026
The story and characters were well written, but I actually loved this book for the peek behind the curtain of air travel! The information and little tidbits were so interesting to me
Profile Image for Kelly-Ann ~ Sassy Bookish Mama.
706 reviews98 followers
April 5, 2026
Oh I absolutely LOVED this book!! I need more!

The characters were delightful, the side characters were amazing as well and I cannot wait to read more from them. Ya’ll Nathan Stuart the leading man is absolutely swoony!!! and the faith thread throughout the story was so perfect and built up gradually that it seemed so realistic. Now, if you follow Angela then you know this is literally her life! Being a flight attendant and traveling so you can completely see the love she has for this throughout the pages of this book. The only sad part was that the book was over and I’m a greedy reader that wants more so I cannot wait until the next book!

I cannot wait to read more from the characters! If you love Contemporary Romances with a good faith thread and comical moments then this is the book for you.

I received a copy of this book for review. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are my own.
Profile Image for Cindy Davis- Cindy's Book Corner.
1,597 reviews91 followers
May 2, 2026
I had the honor of meeting Angela Ruth Strong at a reader event in November of 2024. At that time, this book was in progress, and Angela was telling me a little bit about it. I was excited about the uniqueness of the storyline. Claire Holloway Is Winging It did not disappoint.

At first, this book seems to have a love triangle, one of my personal dislikes. However, it does not. Claire is in a relationship with Wyatt when she and Nathan meet, but healthy boundaries are drawn on both sides.

I enjoyed this story. I loved hearing the crash pad stories and getting to know Claire's roommates. I love that Claire was exploring a new career after the loss of her first dream career. It was fun to see her confidence grow and see her find her identity. I am also excited to see that there will be a second story, Claire's roommate and friend, Angel. I hope that we see more of Claire and some of their other roommates as well.
Profile Image for Michelle Ule.
Author 17 books112 followers
March 27, 2026
What I enjoyed about this novel was the "backstage" look at the life of a flight attendant.

Strong tells a light, fun story about a clueless young woman who becomes a flight attendant and learns a great deal about her job, life, love, and growing up.

It made for a fun, easy read in an otherwise stressful time!
Profile Image for Sydney Schmied .
133 reviews13 followers
March 20, 2026
This book is super fun and cute! It’s a fun lighthearted read, and the character’s friendship and wit were refreshing! I don’t usually read a lot of contemporary rom-coms, but this book makes me want to read more! The faith themes were sweet and strong and I loved the “inside” view of a flight attendant’s job! So cool. Can’t wait for the next one!
I received a complimentary copy to read and review from the publisher.
Profile Image for Hallie (Hallie Reads).
1,533 reviews159 followers
Read
April 4, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (between “liked it” and “loved it!”)  

i don’t think i’ve read a romance following a flight attendant, so i had fun following claire
—and nathan, too—as she starts over in a career she didn’t expect. the work is very present throughout the story, which fascinated me, alongside claire’s personal struggles with dreams, romance, and belonging. nathan’s along for the ride with his own challenges with romance, the future, and learning to let go of the past. it’s a story of high and lows, ups and downs, with a healthy dose of humor to make it quite the enjoyable read.

i’m glad that even though claire has a boyfriend for most of the book, she’s always aware not to cross a line (though it took way too long for her to let him go 👀 really, i just wanted more of her with nathan 🤷🏼‍♀️). she and nathan both seek to honor God with their lives and their love, and it was just so wholesome and encouraging to see.

also, as a former colorado-springs resident, the manitou incline excursion made me unreasonably happy ⛰️😅


✨ considerations:
—language: none
—spice: kisses only
—faith: consistent themes and mentions
—content: mentions of cheating, divorce, and violence


(i received a complimentary copy from the author and/or publisher. i was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions i have expressed are my own.)
Profile Image for Hannah A .
46 reviews3 followers
March 30, 2026
Claire Holloway Is Winging It is the first book I’ve read by Angela Ruth Strong, and it won’t be the last! This was such a fascinating, cute read. I loved learning about flight attendants’ lives and all the places they get to explore. The romance was super sweet too! I was rooting for the main characters from the beginning.

Claire is a new flight attendant, and as she learns the ropes, she befriends a pilot named Nathan. Together, they get to experience a lot and are always meeting up, whether on purpose or by chance. The only problem is that Claire has a boyfriend back home and needs to be mindful of her actions.

Nathan is a complete gentleman but struggles with a past relationship. I appreciated the side characters who encouraged him in the Lord and gave him wise advice.

Throughout the book, the characters grow in their faith and learn to trust God. I really enjoyed the character development and appreciated that both Claire and Nathan focused on their relationship with God before pursuing any romance.

Overall, I thought this book was very unique, funny, and heart warming. I’m looking forward to the sequel!

I received a copy of this book and chose to review it. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Dana Loves Books.
267 reviews28 followers
April 6, 2026
This sweet romcom follows Claire, a former ballerina turned Seattle flight attendant, and Nathan, a pilot recovering from a breakup. Their chaotic airport meet-cute leads to a hesitant friendship. Claire has a boyfriend, and Nathan quietly falls for her anyway.

Flying together brings cute banter, great side characters, and faith-filled moments as they each confront their emotional baggage. A fun friends-to-more romance with unrequited love, a light love triangle, and strong faith elements.
Profile Image for Charissa James.
500 reviews
March 30, 2026
It was a lot of fun to see behind-the-scenes in the life of a flight attendant through this story. It's such a unique occupation, especially for a romance book. I really enjoyed visiting different places with Claire. The scenery at each location was vividly described, making it easy to picture in my mind.
I loved how Claire jumped into her new job with eagerness. She exuded a fun and lighthearted attitude. She was a bit of a people-pleaser, which led to some frustration for me when she wouldn't just dump her apathetic boyfriend, but she did grow a lot.
I really liked seeing Nathan's struggle with his feelings. He really liked Claire, but didn't want to get in the way of her relationship with her boyfriend. I loved that he sought counsel from wise friends and ultimately left it in God's hands.
Overall, this was a lovely, faith-filled, romcom that is sure to leave you smiling.

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an ARC. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Profile Image for Emily.
594 reviews17 followers
March 17, 2026
If you love a great rom-com, then Claire Holloway Is Winging It is for you. From the very beginning, Angela Ruth Strong hooked me in, and I could not put this book down.  

Claire, a former ballerina, has to give up her dancing career due to trigger foot. She has decided to become a flight attendant. When she is stationed out of Seattle, she moves there. At the airport, she runs into First Officer Nathan. Nathan helps Claire navigate to her crash pad, a place where other flight attendants are housed. But with the nature of the job, they aren’t always there at the same time. When Claire finds herself on the same flight crew as Nathan, they soon find themselves becoming friends, exchanging inside jokes and witty banter.    

Nathan has been burned before, by his ex-fiancée, who he thought was cheating on him and broke things off. So, Nathan is a little guarded, but Claire catches his eye. When he learns that she has a boyfriend, Nathan does not pursue Claire. He wants what is best for Claire, and if that is her relationship with Wyatt, then Nathan wants to support Claire. Nathan is working his way up to being a pilot. He has had some delays in his career. But he has been able to meet some really great people in the process.

Though this somewhat reads like a love triangle, it was done in the purest of ways. Claire and Nathan are friends. Claire is in a relationship with Wyatt and not pursuing Nathan, but rather trying to set him up with her roommate. Nathan has feelings for Claire, but since she is in a relationship, he distances himself from her and wants what is best for Claire. In the purest of love and friendship, putting the other person above your own desires and wanting what is best for the other person, even at the loss to yourself.  Wyatt, on the other hand, is not the purest. He is trying to manipulate Claire into moving in with him, even though he makes comments that he isn’t really interested in marriage right away. I love that Claire sticks to her faith and her convictions and does not cave to Wyatt. I appreciate that in this love triangle, there was no cheating involved.

Angela Ruth Strong did a great job of intertwining faith throughout the story.

*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, which I received from the author. A positive review was not required. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
467 reviews39 followers
April 5, 2026
"Claire Holloway is Winging It" by Angela Ruth Strong, is by far the best rom com I've read this year! This book has a great premise with a former ballerina turned flight attendant trying to find her way in life. She's loyal, hardworking and cares about those around her. Claire is even loyal to a boyfriend that doesn't treat her all too well and I would say has rose colored glasses when she thinks of him. When she meets pilot Nathan her first day on the job, she meets someone who is there to support her even if he can't ever date her in real life.

I like the crazy cast of characters at the "crash pad" where Claire lives. The roommate situation is so intriguing and I know the author pulled so many things from her own experience as a flight attendant to write this book. That insider knowledge is priceless and it really made for a great story where I learned quite a bit about the behind the scenes part of being part of flight crew.

This book not only had laugh-out-loud moments, but we also see some heartwarming parts where the main character Claire grows in her Christian faith and to let God lead her life. She experiences some pivotal changes that lead her to be who God wants her to be.

This story really has it all and is just wonderful. I've been telling everyone about it since I was given the opportunity to read a copy of the book early. I was not required to leave a review but I want to because I truly enjoyed this book so much and really enjoyed the story. It's one I will want to read and re-read again in the future.
Profile Image for Daniellehullreads.
386 reviews
April 9, 2026
Claire Holloway is Winging It is another fun RomCom from Angela Ruth Strong! Claire is a quirky, adventuresome twenty-something who can put a positive spin on any situation. I have loved seeing the author share on social media, and I am sure Claire is modeled after her. We see background info and shenanigans of flight attendants and what their job entails. I never wanted to be a flight attendant, but Claire's adventures have me reconsidering this!

Claire and her coworkers have depth and integrity. There's a faith message. Family and friendship are important. The romance aspect of this story is unique in that we get to see a friendship build, which eventually leads to a friends-to-more trope. I mean, there was definitely some angst at the beginning, not knowing, but let me stress this is NOT a love triangle trope.

Favorite quotes:
There are no quitters here. Nobody has anything more to prove. We've become equals and one another's biggest fans. I wish all of life could be lived from such a perspective.

It may sound crazy, but the things we are given aren't always as rewarding as the things we work for. It's good to have something to work for again.

I received an early copy of this book from JustReads and the publisher. Opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Deena Peterson.
1,240 reviews6 followers
March 23, 2026
This is romcom writing at its best! Claire Holloway is definitely winging it, both in the skies and down on the ground—and she’s adorkable in every way imaginable!

Nathan warms my heart. The way he looks at Claire and keeps an eye out for her is ideal, but he’s far from perfect. He has his own baggage (see what I did there?).

I really love the banter between these two, and the little glimpses of what happens behind the scenes. Fun fact: I read this while flying on four different planes! Perfect travel novel.

We won’t talk about the other guy in the book. Let’s just pretend he doesn’t exist, shall we? (If I could have flicked him off the page I would have!)

Written by a flight attendant with an authenticity that shines through, Claire Holloway is Winging It will definitely make my top ten list for the year!

I received an advance copy from the publisher. I’m under no obligation and my review has not been solicited. Very highly recommend!
Profile Image for Lexi.
294 reviews19 followers
March 25, 2026
I always love Angela Ruth Strong's books and this new one was no exception. I absolutely adored Claire and all her insecurities as a brand new flight attendant trying to figure out this whole new world. The inside look at becoming a flight attendant was fascinating. I never knew anything about crash pads or training or all the strict rules they have to follow. Honestly, the book left me wanting to join in on the adventure until I remembered my extreme fear of flying and my horrible motion sickness. Yeah, that dream died pretty quickly.

Claire and her posse of flight attendants from her crash pad are a crazy crew with such unique personalities. I loved all their banter and the way they supported each other through the chaos of learning the job. Nathan was such a sweetheart and I loved seeing how he treated Claire with so much respect. He had come from a difficult relationship and clearly had some healing to do, which made his character feel real and layered. The complicated part is that Claire was currently in a relationship with Wyatt back home, so she and Nathan had to be really careful with their friendship. Yeah, it's a bit of a love triangle which is honestly not my favorite trope, but the author handled it really well and it never felt manipulative.

What I appreciated most was how the characters grew in their faith throughout the story. The themes of trust and learning to follow God's direction were woven beautifully throughout the book without feeling preachy. Claire had to learn to trust God's plan even when it looked different from what she'd always imagined. Nathan had to work through forgiveness and letting go of past hurts. Their journeys felt genuine and relatable. This is a fun, lighthearted romance with real depth underneath, and I can't wait to see what Angela writes next in this series.

5 stars

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
Profile Image for Finding Faith in Fiction (Chrissy).
52 reviews32 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
March 3, 2026
Written by real-life flight attendant, Angela Ruth Strong, Claire Holloway is Winging It is a delightful rom-com bursting with cute moments, punny plane jokes, and a sweet happy ending.

Claire becomes a flight attendant after loosing her life-long dream of becoming a ballerina, and is stationed in Seattle, far from her San Fransisco home and boyfriend. Feeling overwhelmed and scared in a new city, Claire finds comfort and friendship with Nathan, a first officer with her airline. For Nathan, it's practically love at first site. While he wants nothing more than to spend time with Claire, he knows he needs to protect both of their hearts because she is in a relationship with another man. As they fly more routes together, their friendship grows. When Claire has to decide between moving back to San Fransisco and moving in with her boyfriend, or staying in Seattle and continuing her new career, she's forced to face the reality of her relationships, not what she wishes they were.

From a Christian perspective, having at least one of the MCs developing feelings for the other while they are still fully in a relationship crosses into gray area for me. However, I think the author did a wonderful job of portraying this reality (it happens!) in a positive way that shows the characters placing boundaries and honoring them. Nathan, while really into Claire, tries his best to distance himself outside of work situations, and do what's best for Claire despite what he wants. He does think her boyfriend isn't good enough for her, but he keeps those thoughts to himself. What he is able to offer her instead is friendship and a sense of safety in her new city. Their dynamic was very sweet and never crossed any lines into cheating, or anything close to it.

We get glimpses of Claire's relationship with Wyatt, her boyfriend, but we don't really see them interact much on page, except for a few texts and phone calls. When we do finally get to see them face-to-face, it's clear that this isn't the man for her. As a reader, you'll be wishing she had realized that sooner.

Outside of the romantic relationships in the story, a big focus is on Claire's growing trust and faith in God, and how she finds her purpose and calling through him. The book starts with her feeling lost and purposeless after loosing her ballet career, and she's desperately searching to find her place in the world. What she finds is a way to find purpose through her new career as a flight attendant, but also opportunities to minister to those less fortunate–the very people who would have previously scared her into swinging a soda in a sock at them (IYKYK). I loved the emphasis on Claire finding her purpose through seeking and reconnecting with God, not as a result of a romantic relationship.

What I enjoyed about the story:
✈️ A relatable FMC
✈️ A sweet MMC trying to do the right thing
✈️ Travel
✈️ Laugh out loud airplane/flying jokes
✈️ Thorough details about being a flight attendant (you'll learn a lot!)
✈️ A great cast of supporting characters (looking forward to Angel's story in Book 2!)
✈️ A chaste, but sweet ending

⚠️ Content Warnings:
- MMC falls while FMC is in a relationship
- Homelessness
- Cheating significant other (off page, not with main characters)
- 1 brief mention of possible drug deal happening nearby
- Several "jokes" about planes dropping/falling 😬

Again, the faith content in the book was moderate to strong. We see God work through supporting characters that serve as mentors and accountability partners, and they actively keep the MMC in check. We also see characters return to church, and get involved in ministry. There are strong themes of serving others.

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫 4.5 stars

This is a great light and funny read. If you enjoy a good rom-com, witty jokes and puns, and characters who find belonging, you'll enjoy this one! The book releases on March 17th; grab your pre-order today!

*I received a free ARC copy of this book from the author as part of her launch team. This is my honest review.
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