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Layover
Flynn: At first we were almost strangers. But ever since I moved to New York, Amos was the one person I could count on. And together we were there for Poppy. (I mean, what kind of parents leave their kid to be raised by a nanny?) I just didn’t expect to fall for him—and I never expected him to leave us.
Amos: I thought I was the only one who felt it. I told myself it was because we were spending so much time together—taking care of Poppy and all. But that night, I could tell she felt it, too. And I freaked out—you’re not supposed to fall for your stepsister. So I ran away to boarding school. I should have told her why I was leaving, but every time I tried, it felt like a lie.
One missed flight was about to change their lives forever….
Amos: I thought I was the only one who felt it. I told myself it was because we were spending so much time together—taking care of Poppy and all. But that night, I could tell she felt it, too. And I freaked out—you’re not supposed to fall for your stepsister. So I ran away to boarding school. I should have told her why I was leaving, but every time I tried, it felt like a lie.
One missed flight was about to change their lives forever….
272 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2018
39 people are currently reading
1770 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 172 reviews
January 17, 2018
An ARC has been kindly given by Random House Children via Netgalley in exchange for an honest opinion
4 stars
What a super cute book!
I read this story like I would drink hot cocoa on a winter day. I read it in one sitting because everything worked perfectly well together. I loved this bitter sweet story about a family with most of the time absent parents where the kids stick together and create their own home feel.
It really was kids against adult.
And what kids!
You have little Poppy around ten years old. She is the kid gluing her older siblings together as they were from two different families. Poppy is just adorable. She has a special condition that will never be named but that makes her the odd kid at school. The one the other children are mocking as kids can be mean. The one all alone at lunch. The one with an old soul and an irresistible smile.
““No one else gets me the way you and Flynn do. The kids at school think I’m weird.” She looks up at me, and my heart breaks for her. “They think I’m weird at my school, too,” I reply. “Yeah, right.” “It’s true. But you have to remember that weird is good. Weird means you have personality. Weird means you’re not like everyone else.””
Poppy has two fantastic siblings. Flynn her dad’s daughter and Amos her mom’s son. I swear I’ve rarely read about brother and sisters as united as these were. I guess when your parents work so much and travel all the time leaving you with the nanny/cook you learn to fend for yourself and create your own family unit.
Flynn will very soon be sixteen and has always felt different from the other girls. She is authentic. She has never had a boyfriend just for the sake of it as she wants more than make out sessions. She wants feelings too. But being the girl that “has never done it” can feel awkward too.
“I don’t know why I’ve been such a prude my whole life, or what I’m really waiting for. Even the idea of hooking up with random guys has always made me feel kind of sad. Not that I’m some romantic sap. It just seems sort of strange to be that reckless with your emotions. But now it’s as if everyone around me is not only making out, but, you know, doing more than that, too.”
We all know what Flynn is going through as we experienced it in our youth. Peer pressure. Wanting “in” and yet keeping your own personality. Not just being a copycat but remaining our own person while fitting in the teenage crowd.
Amos. Handsome and aloof Amos. Seventeen and confident Amos. Amos who left for boarding school without warning Flynn because he was falling for his stepsister. Amos who is feeling adrift without Flynn and yet can’t tell her everything. Now he is back for winter break things are awkward.
They used to be so close together but now Flynn can barely look at Amos.
He can tell she is changed.
The kids were supposed to join their parents on a trip but when learning what was waiting for them the three siblings decided to run while waiting for their layover plane in LA.
““So we’re doing this.” I look at Amos and Poppy. And then, without saying anything else, we toss our phones into a trash can outside the Los Angeles International Airport. We’re officially off the grid.”
It will be two days to reconnect. Two days to celebrate “us”. Two days to let the adults know that they matter. They are a family unit and can’t be disposed of as it pleases the parents.
It will be a time of “first”. Small acts of rebellion like every teenager put from time to time. Feelings running rampant unsaid till it’s too much and they are bursting out of chest.
I really had a wonderful time reading this uncomplicated but well executed story. I loved the kids loyalty. They have each other’s back and it was really heart warming to read especially when my own children fight to much!
Told from three POV this book broaches many topics about teenage years in a realistic way:
-how you try to fit in and should you fit in;
-what it feels to be different and mocked;
-first love, first kiss, first…;
-making mistakes at parties and regretting it;
-finding oneself. Find your own way and fight for it;
-experimenting grief and surviving it;
-…
Parents read this book. Kids notice. Kids have feelings. They want your love your support and no money can compensate for this.
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4 stars
What a super cute book!
I read this story like I would drink hot cocoa on a winter day. I read it in one sitting because everything worked perfectly well together. I loved this bitter sweet story about a family with most of the time absent parents where the kids stick together and create their own home feel.
It really was kids against adult.
And what kids!
You have little Poppy around ten years old. She is the kid gluing her older siblings together as they were from two different families. Poppy is just adorable. She has a special condition that will never be named but that makes her the odd kid at school. The one the other children are mocking as kids can be mean. The one all alone at lunch. The one with an old soul and an irresistible smile.
““No one else gets me the way you and Flynn do. The kids at school think I’m weird.” She looks up at me, and my heart breaks for her. “They think I’m weird at my school, too,” I reply. “Yeah, right.” “It’s true. But you have to remember that weird is good. Weird means you have personality. Weird means you’re not like everyone else.””
Poppy has two fantastic siblings. Flynn her dad’s daughter and Amos her mom’s son. I swear I’ve rarely read about brother and sisters as united as these were. I guess when your parents work so much and travel all the time leaving you with the nanny/cook you learn to fend for yourself and create your own family unit.
Flynn will very soon be sixteen and has always felt different from the other girls. She is authentic. She has never had a boyfriend just for the sake of it as she wants more than make out sessions. She wants feelings too. But being the girl that “has never done it” can feel awkward too.
“I don’t know why I’ve been such a prude my whole life, or what I’m really waiting for. Even the idea of hooking up with random guys has always made me feel kind of sad. Not that I’m some romantic sap. It just seems sort of strange to be that reckless with your emotions. But now it’s as if everyone around me is not only making out, but, you know, doing more than that, too.”
We all know what Flynn is going through as we experienced it in our youth. Peer pressure. Wanting “in” and yet keeping your own personality. Not just being a copycat but remaining our own person while fitting in the teenage crowd.
Amos. Handsome and aloof Amos. Seventeen and confident Amos. Amos who left for boarding school without warning Flynn because he was falling for his stepsister. Amos who is feeling adrift without Flynn and yet can’t tell her everything. Now he is back for winter break things are awkward.
They used to be so close together but now Flynn can barely look at Amos.
He can tell she is changed.
The kids were supposed to join their parents on a trip but when learning what was waiting for them the three siblings decided to run while waiting for their layover plane in LA.
““So we’re doing this.” I look at Amos and Poppy. And then, without saying anything else, we toss our phones into a trash can outside the Los Angeles International Airport. We’re officially off the grid.”
It will be two days to reconnect. Two days to celebrate “us”. Two days to let the adults know that they matter. They are a family unit and can’t be disposed of as it pleases the parents.
It will be a time of “first”. Small acts of rebellion like every teenager put from time to time. Feelings running rampant unsaid till it’s too much and they are bursting out of chest.
I really had a wonderful time reading this uncomplicated but well executed story. I loved the kids loyalty. They have each other’s back and it was really heart warming to read especially when my own children fight to much!
Told from three POV this book broaches many topics about teenage years in a realistic way:
-how you try to fit in and should you fit in;
-what it feels to be different and mocked;
-first love, first kiss, first…;
-making mistakes at parties and regretting it;
-finding oneself. Find your own way and fight for it;
-experimenting grief and surviving it;
-…
Parents read this book. Kids notice. Kids have feelings. They want your love your support and no money can compensate for this.
Find me on:
Wordpress: Beware Of The Reader
Facebook: Beware Of The Reader
Facebook besties: Best Reading Blogs Ever
Instagram: @bewareofthereader
Twitter: @BewareOffReader
April 5, 2018
“Layover” is a family drama that tugs at the heartstrings and features a sweet romance. While the plot is somewhat implausible, the family dynamics are something many of us can identify with on at least some level. Recommended for the romance lovers out there looking for a story with bite.
This unbiased review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
This unbiased review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
January 28, 2018
Title: Layover
Author: Amy Andelson & Emily Meyer
Genre: Young Adult
Publication date: February 6, 2018
Just like the book, I'll keep this review rather 'simple'. I relatively use the word 'simple' because it was a simple book to read- no unnecessary hoo-ha. It was a fun, quick book. Exactly something you'd pick on a layover :)
It's 'almost' a coming of age book... maybe?
It's told in the POV of three people- Flynn, Amos and Poppy.
I enjoyed this book but there was just something missing. I am not sure what that is but I do know that there was something missing...something that would make me go "WOW".
This book is an adventure- a moment of rebellious desires for these three young adults before their foundation is torn apart.
Layover is a feel good, fun filled book with just the right amount of excitement and hope.
For more ...
www.jemimajamir.com
May 10, 2018
I thought this was going to be a super cute and fun summer read. But it really just made me angry and I low key regret that I bothered to finish. It was full of stereotypes and clichés and was a big mess basically from beginning to end. The characters had zero depth and I couldn’t bring myself to care about them at all. And as if all of that hadn’t pissed me off enough, the multiple instances of “not like other girls” slandering would have sealed this book’s fate for me. This book read like a really poorly done made for TV movie – so bad that you find it hard to turn away and yet you kind of hate yourself for wasting your time on it.
February 15, 2018
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**Layover is a young adult contemporary novel by authors Amy Andelson & Emily Meyer. I love a great sibling story, which is exactly what I got with Layover. Layover follows three step-siblings- Amos, Flynn & Poppy. Layover felt refreshing and delightfully "not canned". I really enjoyed the emotional themes explored as well as the dynamic between the characters. There is a romance as well, but it didn't take over the story and best of all, it didn't take anything away for our three main characters and the other things they are going through.
Layover is told in the point of views of Poppy, Amos and Flynn. I really liked this multiple perspective format. It was great to see the rotating chapters because we got to delve deeper into what each of the siblings were going through. Let's start with Flynn. Flynn's mom has just passed away, so she goes to live with her father and step-mom, which is Amos and Poppy's mother. Then we have Amos, who escaped to boarding school to run away from his budding feelings for Flynn. Amos definetly had a certain brooding quality about him, so if you are a fan of that, Amos will be your guy! I actually really liked Amos. And finally, we have little Poppy, who is the youngest, and who suffers from severe anxiety. It is Poppy who finds out what her parents plan to tell the three of them in Bora Bora.
The story picks up with the siblings missing their flight, because they know bad news is waiting for them when they get to their parents. Instead they decide to go off on an adventure of sorts, just the three of them. I think I loved Poppy most of all. I thought her issues at school made her seem very relateable and I loved that her voice felt very age appropriate. I enjoyed Flynn and Amos' chapters as well, but there were times that Flynn got on my nerves a bit. Nothing big though.
For me the shining part of the book was just watching the three characters interact and be there for one another. I loved how both Flynn and Amos were there for Poppy. You can tell the three of them genuinely care about one another. Plus, the ending was excellent. I thought it was wrapped up perfectly. Totally satisfying. If you like books that are heavily character driven and focus on the relationships between the characters, Layover is a book I think you should check out. I liked this one. It was good quick read for me. Also, isn't the cover just fabulous?! I am completely in love with it.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Layover is told in the point of views of Poppy, Amos and Flynn. I really liked this multiple perspective format. It was great to see the rotating chapters because we got to delve deeper into what each of the siblings were going through. Let's start with Flynn. Flynn's mom has just passed away, so she goes to live with her father and step-mom, which is Amos and Poppy's mother. Then we have Amos, who escaped to boarding school to run away from his budding feelings for Flynn. Amos definetly had a certain brooding quality about him, so if you are a fan of that, Amos will be your guy! I actually really liked Amos. And finally, we have little Poppy, who is the youngest, and who suffers from severe anxiety. It is Poppy who finds out what her parents plan to tell the three of them in Bora Bora.
The story picks up with the siblings missing their flight, because they know bad news is waiting for them when they get to their parents. Instead they decide to go off on an adventure of sorts, just the three of them. I think I loved Poppy most of all. I thought her issues at school made her seem very relateable and I loved that her voice felt very age appropriate. I enjoyed Flynn and Amos' chapters as well, but there were times that Flynn got on my nerves a bit. Nothing big though.
For me the shining part of the book was just watching the three characters interact and be there for one another. I loved how both Flynn and Amos were there for Poppy. You can tell the three of them genuinely care about one another. Plus, the ending was excellent. I thought it was wrapped up perfectly. Totally satisfying. If you like books that are heavily character driven and focus on the relationships between the characters, Layover is a book I think you should check out. I liked this one. It was good quick read for me. Also, isn't the cover just fabulous?! I am completely in love with it.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
January 31, 2018
This was interesting, because I kept expecting it to go one direction and it kept going another. My overall impression is that it had all the elements of a great story, but just missed the mark.
For example, the character of Poppy should be cute and endearing. And she is sweet, but there was just that little something missing that would have made me fall in love with her. I kept cringing at the decisions of Flynn, but it wasn't because I was invested in her. Amos wasn't really likable and seemed to brood a lot; I kept seeing him with a scowl even though he had some stuff in his head that was good.
These characters did dumb things. Did they learn anything or become more mature because of it? It didn't really seem like it. That payoff just wasn't there.
So while it had a lot of potential, this book just struck me as kind of meh.
On audio, the narration by Michael Crouch, Cassandra Morris and Phoebe Strole was excellent. They captured the three characters extremely well and lent an air of authenticity to the story.
For example, the character of Poppy should be cute and endearing. And she is sweet, but there was just that little something missing that would have made me fall in love with her. I kept cringing at the decisions of Flynn, but it wasn't because I was invested in her. Amos wasn't really likable and seemed to brood a lot; I kept seeing him with a scowl even though he had some stuff in his head that was good.
These characters did dumb things. Did they learn anything or become more mature because of it? It didn't really seem like it. That payoff just wasn't there.
So while it had a lot of potential, this book just struck me as kind of meh.
On audio, the narration by Michael Crouch, Cassandra Morris and Phoebe Strole was excellent. They captured the three characters extremely well and lent an air of authenticity to the story.
January 15, 2018
1.5 Stars
The characters aren't well characterized and doesn't have a consistent plot, the trip is interesting and some scenes are entertaining but it wasn't what I expected
Full Review to Come
October 24, 2017
This one looks phenomenal! Can't wait to read it!
August 7, 2018
Amy Andelson and Emily Meyer’s Layover was a quick read that definitely awakened the wanderlust in me! Airports stress me out, but dealing with that stress is normally worth it because my being in an airport either means that I’m leaving on a trip, that I’m returning home from a trip, or that I’m picking up someone that I love! While airports definitely made an appearance in this book, though, they definitely weren’t the main focus. As you could tell from the synopsis, the main story is about Flynn and Amos who are step siblings … that have feelings for each other. They are not related by blood in any way, but they do have a little sister born from the marriage of Flynn’s father and Amos’ mother. So, that definitely complicates things for them even further!
I really rooted for Flynn and Amos to get together in this book, and the entire time that I was reading Layover definitely analyzed ever one of their obstacles. This book definitely explores the importance of family and familial relationships, while also examining what happens when two individuals have to handle feelings that our society discourages. I also found it interesting that Flynn and Amos’ little sister, Poppy, also got some of her own chapters in the book (meaning chapters from her perspective). While I enjoyed the above aspects of the book, sadly, I found that I didn’t click with any of the characters. They felt a little flat to me, or it could be that I simply couldn’t relate to any of them (or their individual situations). Overall, Layover was enjoyable though. It was a quick read, and I think it can also be read at any time of the year.
I really rooted for Flynn and Amos to get together in this book, and the entire time that I was reading Layover definitely analyzed ever one of their obstacles. This book definitely explores the importance of family and familial relationships, while also examining what happens when two individuals have to handle feelings that our society discourages. I also found it interesting that Flynn and Amos’ little sister, Poppy, also got some of her own chapters in the book (meaning chapters from her perspective). While I enjoyed the above aspects of the book, sadly, I found that I didn’t click with any of the characters. They felt a little flat to me, or it could be that I simply couldn’t relate to any of them (or their individual situations). Overall, Layover was enjoyable though. It was a quick read, and I think it can also be read at any time of the year.
June 24, 2017
I really did want to like it but it was lacking a lot and the plot just dragged on. 3 kids in a blended family find out their parents are getting divorced so they choose to runaway to LA to avoid the awkward divorce conversation. Mishaps, a boy, Disneyland make it semi interesting but the authors described every moment their trip without giving any character development. The teen girl, Flynn, gives up her virginity to some guy she met at camp in a 1 page set up that doesn't make sense. Her behavior seemed like something an adult would think a teen would do and say but not really how a teen would react or behave.
June 1, 2018
I really wanted to like this book, but I guess you don’t always get what you want. I found this book on Goodreads awhile ago and wanted to see where this story was going to go. I didn’t connect with any of the characters and the story just didn’t seem realistic to me. Through the entire novel I just didn’t feel connected with any of character and I just wanted to know more about all of them. Parts of the story had me interested but I was never as invested in the characters or the story as I should have been.
Longer review to come soon!
Longer review to come soon!
September 2, 2018
Okay, so this was a good book but I don't know, I feel like there wasn't a very deep plot, you know what I mean? I loved the messages and everything, but the plot could use some help. The characters were ok, but some of the things they did were so... I don't know, not even done on impulse but just, done. But it was a good book when it came to the overall message, I guess. Also, the very beginning of the book was just so fast and didn't make any sense whatsoever. Or maybe that was just me, reading fast because I had no other book to read and my sister had brought it home.
Flynn lost her mother but seems to have no grief. Like, maybe she is dealing with it inside, but if I were in the same boat as her the pain would be raw every day, whether it was 1 year after or 100 years after. Like, time can't heal that wound. She did a lot of crazy things in this story, but I understood that she kind of needed to shed her old skin and try something new.
Amos is an interesting character and I loved his sarcasm around Neel, but he wasn't my favorite character. (Poppy most definitely was.) He was ok because he understood a lot of things, but sometimes he could be... weird.
Poppy, like I said earlier, is my favorite character. She is most definitely no ordinary girl, but I loved how honest and down to earth she was. Obviously, she is younger than both Flynn and Amos and might not know half the things they do, but I feel like she understood things on a much deeper scale. I loved her all the same.
I hated Neel, but it was kind of him to let them take his Maserati and credit card. So thanks.
Overall, this book was ok, but not that good.
Flynn lost her mother but seems to have no grief. Like, maybe she is dealing with it inside, but if I were in the same boat as her the pain would be raw every day, whether it was 1 year after or 100 years after. Like, time can't heal that wound. She did a lot of crazy things in this story, but I understood that she kind of needed to shed her old skin and try something new.
Amos is an interesting character and I loved his sarcasm around Neel, but he wasn't my favorite character. (Poppy most definitely was.) He was ok because he understood a lot of things, but sometimes he could be... weird.
Poppy, like I said earlier, is my favorite character. She is most definitely no ordinary girl, but I loved how honest and down to earth she was. Obviously, she is younger than both Flynn and Amos and might not know half the things they do, but I feel like she understood things on a much deeper scale. I loved her all the same.
I hated Neel, but it was kind of him to let them take his Maserati and credit card. So thanks.
Overall, this book was ok, but not that good.
January 5, 2018
I....have so many thoughts about this book and they are all angry.
May 26, 2018
I really did enjoy the story, I enjoyed the overall atmosphere .. and I certainly LOVED Disneyland <3 .. the story is about three "siblings" and their adventure when they have a layover at Los Angeles, I liked it .. but the ending was weird .. and I still don't get the relationship between Amos and Flynn
dnf
October 25, 2018DNF at 29%
This story was an utter and complete waste of my time. There were so many things wrong in just the little bit of the story I listened to.
I'm not adding a rating because it isn't worth it.
FRTC
This story was an utter and complete waste of my time. There were so many things wrong in just the little bit of the story I listened to.
I'm not adding a rating because it isn't worth it.
FRTC
January 12, 2018
I must admit, I was sucked in by the cover and synopsis. I am always up for a good forbidden romance type of thing, but I was pleasantly surprised to find there was a lot more to this story than I anticipated.
•Pro: At its heart, this is a sibling story, and I really enjoyed watching all three of them interacting together. I especially liked seeing the older siblings dote on their little sister, because she really needed to shown she was special.
•Pro: Poppy, the youngest sibling, just lit up the page. She had such a precious, youthful exuberance, and she was in a league all her own. I just imagine fast forwarding 10 years to where she is an "it" girl, because she is finally appreciated for her off-the-norm tastes.
•Con: This story features those not present YA parents, that I am not a fan of.
•Pro: BUT, I was glad with the way things played out, because we did get evidence that these parents did actually love their children. I was really proud of some of the decisions they made towards the end, and they were sort of able to redeemed themselves a little.
•Pro: I grew up in NYC, but I really need to go there as a tourist, because I want to visit the whisper bench in Central Park. How do I not know about these things?
•Con: The middle, the actual layover part of this book, was where my feelings became a little muddled. There seemed to be a lot of things going on during the layover portion of the book that did not really move the story forward. I wish the focus had stayed on the feelings between Amos and Flynn and the siblings.
•Pro: However, the beginning and ending of this book were great. In fact, the ending was really strong, and it left me completely satisfied.
•Pro: I thought the story flowed well. I was a fan of the three POVs, and liked that they were kept short and we constantly flipped from one to the other. The rapid changes kept me in the moment while allowing me to get input from each character.
Overall: This story was really complicated and so were my feelings about it. There was enough there to keep me reading and wanting to find out what happened next, but it didn't quite have the impact I was hoping for.
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
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•Pro: At its heart, this is a sibling story, and I really enjoyed watching all three of them interacting together. I especially liked seeing the older siblings dote on their little sister, because she really needed to shown she was special.
•Pro: Poppy, the youngest sibling, just lit up the page. She had such a precious, youthful exuberance, and she was in a league all her own. I just imagine fast forwarding 10 years to where she is an "it" girl, because she is finally appreciated for her off-the-norm tastes.
•Con: This story features those not present YA parents, that I am not a fan of.
•Pro: BUT, I was glad with the way things played out, because we did get evidence that these parents did actually love their children. I was really proud of some of the decisions they made towards the end, and they were sort of able to redeemed themselves a little.
•Pro: I grew up in NYC, but I really need to go there as a tourist, because I want to visit the whisper bench in Central Park. How do I not know about these things?
•Con: The middle, the actual layover part of this book, was where my feelings became a little muddled. There seemed to be a lot of things going on during the layover portion of the book that did not really move the story forward. I wish the focus had stayed on the feelings between Amos and Flynn and the siblings.
•Pro: However, the beginning and ending of this book were great. In fact, the ending was really strong, and it left me completely satisfied.
•Pro: I thought the story flowed well. I was a fan of the three POVs, and liked that they were kept short and we constantly flipped from one to the other. The rapid changes kept me in the moment while allowing me to get input from each character.
Overall: This story was really complicated and so were my feelings about it. There was enough there to keep me reading and wanting to find out what happened next, but it didn't quite have the impact I was hoping for.
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
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January 5, 2018
Pros:
Use of words like contrarian, acquiesced, profiteroles, and proprietary possessiveness.
The idea siblings would skip the trip to Bora Bora to be together before the blended family is broken up.
Setting - SoCal - gatta love mentions of La Brea, In-and-Out Burger, Disneyland, PCH.
Cons:
The idea that step-siblings have the hots for each other. Ew.
The adult-ish actions (alcohol and drug use, sex) with the childish voices of the characters.
Poppy's OCD which doesn't come up until Chapter 26.
I'm not a big fan of alternate perspectives in books, either, so it was difficult for me to remember who was telling each part of the story. I was also confused by the constant flash-backs, some seemed unnecessary. The adventure story wrapped up nicely, although the prologue gives the reader an ambiguous ending.
Use of words like contrarian, acquiesced, profiteroles, and proprietary possessiveness.
The idea siblings would skip the trip to Bora Bora to be together before the blended family is broken up.
Setting - SoCal - gatta love mentions of La Brea, In-and-Out Burger, Disneyland, PCH.
Cons:
The idea that step-siblings have the hots for each other. Ew.
The adult-ish actions (alcohol and drug use, sex) with the childish voices of the characters.
Poppy's OCD which doesn't come up until Chapter 26.
I'm not a big fan of alternate perspectives in books, either, so it was difficult for me to remember who was telling each part of the story. I was also confused by the constant flash-backs, some seemed unnecessary. The adventure story wrapped up nicely, although the prologue gives the reader an ambiguous ending.
October 12, 2018
DNF after 100 pages. I was hoping this would be a cute, quick read - but the fact that our 2 main characters are clearly in love with each other...and are step-siblings...was too much for me. Plus the 3rd POV of their 10-year-old sister felt like it didn't fit with the storyline. Overall, this just felt too strange for me to continue.
February 24, 2018
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Neglected siblings Amos, Flynn and Poppy are suppose to fly to Barbados to meet their parents for a family vacation over Christmas. But when they get from New York to California for their layover, the discontent kids decide to escape from the trip and family drama and instead have a few days of freedom away from the oppression of their lives.
This review will be really short because I do not like to be negative, but I was disappointed in the story. Boy was this kind of a mess! And not at all what I thought it would be and I feel slightly confused about that- I had an idea of what this book was and it was not what I got. I expected a cute romance about being stuck at an airport and falling in love, but instead this was an angsty, depressing read about three lost kids who need each other more then they knew when family drama shows up
I could not connect with any of the characters or really the plot. The book was narrated by the three main characters: step siblings Flynn and Amos and their shared half sister Poppy. Poppy seemed like a sweet enough kid, a 9 year old who suffers from anxiety, irrational fear and OCD who can't cope well. Flynn and Amos were two self-centered kids who try to be older than they really are, their one redeeming feature that they very obviously love Poppy (and teach her great morals like stealing a credit card to get into Disney Land and purchase souvenirs...).
I guess it is suppose to be maybe a love story between Flynn and Amos (which I was thrilled about because I am a sucker for inappropriate romances!!), but in actuality they treat each other really terribly, like honestly the way you treat your arch enemy or somebody you have zero respect for. It was painful to read the interactions between the two, I just wanted to cringe away from the pages. And the thing was is that Amos talks about the girls he has slept with as well as he hits on a girl at a party during the book and Flynn hooks up to have drugged out of her mind (with booze and an unknown pill cocktail) sex with a guy she vaguely knows from camp that was her best friends boyfriend. Yeah, and remember that Flynn is 15 and Amos is 17. I guess the two have a shared relationship that was great, but I never saw it, I only saw the hate, anger and disgust, and it made for the most uncomfortable read (for me at least). Also, I know that sometimes kids in NY grow up sooner (hey I saw Gossip Girl, totally real life right?), but Amos and Flynn feel more like college age than 15 and 17 due to their actions, drinking and sex.
Overall this was not a book for me, but maybe somebody else would really love it.
Neglected siblings Amos, Flynn and Poppy are suppose to fly to Barbados to meet their parents for a family vacation over Christmas. But when they get from New York to California for their layover, the discontent kids decide to escape from the trip and family drama and instead have a few days of freedom away from the oppression of their lives.
This review will be really short because I do not like to be negative, but I was disappointed in the story. Boy was this kind of a mess! And not at all what I thought it would be and I feel slightly confused about that- I had an idea of what this book was and it was not what I got. I expected a cute romance about being stuck at an airport and falling in love, but instead this was an angsty, depressing read about three lost kids who need each other more then they knew when family drama shows up
I could not connect with any of the characters or really the plot. The book was narrated by the three main characters: step siblings Flynn and Amos and their shared half sister Poppy. Poppy seemed like a sweet enough kid, a 9 year old who suffers from anxiety, irrational fear and OCD who can't cope well. Flynn and Amos were two self-centered kids who try to be older than they really are, their one redeeming feature that they very obviously love Poppy (and teach her great morals like stealing a credit card to get into Disney Land and purchase souvenirs...).
I guess it is suppose to be maybe a love story between Flynn and Amos (which I was thrilled about because I am a sucker for inappropriate romances!!), but in actuality they treat each other really terribly, like honestly the way you treat your arch enemy or somebody you have zero respect for. It was painful to read the interactions between the two, I just wanted to cringe away from the pages. And the thing was is that Amos talks about the girls he has slept with as well as he hits on a girl at a party during the book and Flynn hooks up to have drugged out of her mind (with booze and an unknown pill cocktail) sex with a guy she vaguely knows from camp that was her best friends boyfriend. Yeah, and remember that Flynn is 15 and Amos is 17. I guess the two have a shared relationship that was great, but I never saw it, I only saw the hate, anger and disgust, and it made for the most uncomfortable read (for me at least). Also, I know that sometimes kids in NY grow up sooner (hey I saw Gossip Girl, totally real life right?), but Amos and Flynn feel more like college age than 15 and 17 due to their actions, drinking and sex.
Overall this was not a book for me, but maybe somebody else would really love it.
July 17, 2019
This is a relationship novel centered around three step siblings. Amos is 16 (I think), Flynn (female) is 15 and Poppy is 10. They all have one parent in common. The current parents are Jack and Louisa. They are very well off financially and not very interested in parenting. All three kids bear emotional scars from losing a previous parent or the emotional distance of their current parents. They make up for their lack of emotional closeness with their parents by strong bonds with one another. Jack and Louisa have gone ahead to Bora Bora where the kids are supposed to join them for a family vacation. The layover in question is at Los Angeles International where the kids are supposed to get a connecting flight to Bora Bora. Poppy reveals to them that she has overheard conversations between Jack and Louisa that suggest to her that they are expecting to get a divorce. The kids realize that this means that the three of them will be separated geographically. They refuse to accept this and rebel by ditching their flight and leaving the airport. They dump their cell phones so they can’t be tracked. They have no credit cards, little cash and only a vague idea of where they are going or how they will achieve their goal of staying together.
I never intended to read this novel – I thought I was downloading an e-book of the same name (but a different author) that was recommended on Goodreads. By the time I realized my mistake, the realistic and nuanced portraits of the three kids and their relationship had hooked me and I wanted to see how it played out. It is written in three voices (one for each kid), a technique I find appealing. Not the strongest plot but a pleasant summer read nonetheless.
I never intended to read this novel – I thought I was downloading an e-book of the same name (but a different author) that was recommended on Goodreads. By the time I realized my mistake, the realistic and nuanced portraits of the three kids and their relationship had hooked me and I wanted to see how it played out. It is written in three voices (one for each kid), a technique I find appealing. Not the strongest plot but a pleasant summer read nonetheless.
dnf
January 26, 2018This review (and many others) can be found at Lost in My Library. I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was...wow. I don't DNF many books (even though I've been doing it more lately), but I just couldn't make myself finish this one. I tried! Out of the three POV characters, there was one I had strong negative feelings about, one I didn't really have much of an opinion on, and one who I really liked, and I tried to keep reading for her, but I couldn't. Everything else was just too much, and the reviews that I read about this book assured me that it wasn't going to get better anytime soon.
The biggest thing that bothered me about this book was the constant deluge of the "I'm/you're/she's not like other girls" idea. Can we stop with this already? I felt like no matter whose point of view I was reading, I just couldn't escape this. I didn't literally keep track, but it felt like it was happening on every page. In any case, it was way too much.
One thing that I shouldn't personally hold against this book because I would have known it if I'd read the blurb a bit more carefully is that this is a step-sibling romance, which I feel...kind of icky about. Granted, they won't be step-siblings much longer, because - super-minor spoiler alert! - their parents are getting a divorce, but still. Even if you're not technically blood relatives, you're family, and I don't want to read about that.
The thing that I almost kept reading for was the OCD rep. At the point that I stopped, it wasn't entirely clear whether Poppy, the younger sibling, had OCD or another anxiety disorder, but it was clear that something was going on, and I am so here for mental illness representation. Especially in younger kids! Even if the book isn't necessarily aimed at younger kids, it's still important to have representation in all ages. In the end though, it wasn't enough to keep me reading. I'm also not the best authority on whether it was handled well, since I don't have OCD myself, so I'd try to find an #ownvoices reviewer for that, if possible.
This was...wow. I don't DNF many books (even though I've been doing it more lately), but I just couldn't make myself finish this one. I tried! Out of the three POV characters, there was one I had strong negative feelings about, one I didn't really have much of an opinion on, and one who I really liked, and I tried to keep reading for her, but I couldn't. Everything else was just too much, and the reviews that I read about this book assured me that it wasn't going to get better anytime soon.
The biggest thing that bothered me about this book was the constant deluge of the "I'm/you're/she's not like other girls" idea. Can we stop with this already? I felt like no matter whose point of view I was reading, I just couldn't escape this. I didn't literally keep track, but it felt like it was happening on every page. In any case, it was way too much.
One thing that I shouldn't personally hold against this book because I would have known it if I'd read the blurb a bit more carefully is that this is a step-sibling romance, which I feel...kind of icky about. Granted, they won't be step-siblings much longer, because - super-minor spoiler alert! - their parents are getting a divorce, but still. Even if you're not technically blood relatives, you're family, and I don't want to read about that.
The thing that I almost kept reading for was the OCD rep. At the point that I stopped, it wasn't entirely clear whether Poppy, the younger sibling, had OCD or another anxiety disorder, but it was clear that something was going on, and I am so here for mental illness representation. Especially in younger kids! Even if the book isn't necessarily aimed at younger kids, it's still important to have representation in all ages. In the end though, it wasn't enough to keep me reading. I'm also not the best authority on whether it was handled well, since I don't have OCD myself, so I'd try to find an #ownvoices reviewer for that, if possible.
May 14, 2018
I’ve just finished Layover by Amy Anderson and Emily Meyer. I picked it up because I really loved the cover and the plot seemed engaging. It’s a YA novel which blends romance and family. It’s certainly not complex and an easy read. It’s fun, it’s quick, totally something you could pick on a "layover".
.
It’s told in 3 POVs - Flynn, Amos and Poppy - the principal characters and siblings of a blended family living in New York. Flynn’s dad and Amos’s mom are now together, Poppy is the result of this remarriage. Nearly the whole book happens in California though but we get a bit of NYC ambiance at first.
I have to say that I was excited to start this book and I’m a bit sad that I’m disappointed by it. It’s too adolescent, a lot is far-fetched but I’d say it stays entertaining.
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One big no-no from me is that the characters are not very plausible even if some scenes are interesting. Lots of it is far-fetched and downright stupid but it does make of a good entertainment. One of the many problems of this book is how the three teenagers act. It seems that their behaviors would be of what an adult think they would do but not what a teenager would actually do. It really wasn't what I expected and I’m disappointed.
.
This book is an adventure - where rebellious desires challenge the brains of these three young adults before their family is torn apart. Layover is a fun filled family book meddling excitement with hope and a spark of romance.
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I’d give it no more than 2,5/5 stars. I think this book has the necessary elements to make it a great book but it misses the mark every time.
.
It’s told in 3 POVs - Flynn, Amos and Poppy - the principal characters and siblings of a blended family living in New York. Flynn’s dad and Amos’s mom are now together, Poppy is the result of this remarriage. Nearly the whole book happens in California though but we get a bit of NYC ambiance at first.
I have to say that I was excited to start this book and I’m a bit sad that I’m disappointed by it. It’s too adolescent, a lot is far-fetched but I’d say it stays entertaining.
.
One big no-no from me is that the characters are not very plausible even if some scenes are interesting. Lots of it is far-fetched and downright stupid but it does make of a good entertainment. One of the many problems of this book is how the three teenagers act. It seems that their behaviors would be of what an adult think they would do but not what a teenager would actually do. It really wasn't what I expected and I’m disappointed.
.
This book is an adventure - where rebellious desires challenge the brains of these three young adults before their family is torn apart. Layover is a fun filled family book meddling excitement with hope and a spark of romance.
.
I’d give it no more than 2,5/5 stars. I think this book has the necessary elements to make it a great book but it misses the mark every time.
January 25, 2018
This is an Advanced Readers Copy, received via a goodreads giveaway.
This story is about a family; not a traditional family but one filled with step-brother, step sister and half-siblings. Amos, is the eldest son of Louisa and step-son of Jack. Flynn is the daughter of Jack who was forced to move from California to New York when her mother died. Then came Poppy, the daughter of both Jack and Louisa, the half-sibling of Flynn & Amos and the one person who truly made the group a family.
The trio is sent via airplane to meet their parents for a cruise; but Poppy tells them that their parents are getting a divorce and they will no longer be a family. The two older siblings know what this is like and they do not want to put their younger sister in the type of predicament that divorce can cause.
The trio decides to run; well not exactly away, but away from having to deal with the knowledge of their parent’s plans. They ditch their cell phones; call a friend of Flynn’s and begin a three day adventure that will change each of their lives. …
A look into the teenage psyche….. Good Read!
This story is about a family; not a traditional family but one filled with step-brother, step sister and half-siblings. Amos, is the eldest son of Louisa and step-son of Jack. Flynn is the daughter of Jack who was forced to move from California to New York when her mother died. Then came Poppy, the daughter of both Jack and Louisa, the half-sibling of Flynn & Amos and the one person who truly made the group a family.
The trio is sent via airplane to meet their parents for a cruise; but Poppy tells them that their parents are getting a divorce and they will no longer be a family. The two older siblings know what this is like and they do not want to put their younger sister in the type of predicament that divorce can cause.
The trio decides to run; well not exactly away, but away from having to deal with the knowledge of their parent’s plans. They ditch their cell phones; call a friend of Flynn’s and begin a three day adventure that will change each of their lives. …
A look into the teenage psyche….. Good Read!
February 9, 2018
"Layover" is the story of step-siblings Amos and Flynn and their half-sister, Poppy. They are getting ready to go on a family vacation to Bora Bora with a layover at LAX. Poppy overheard something their parents said and tells Amos and Flynn. It upsets them so much that they decide they won't meet their parents in Bora Bora and that they will stay in their layover location, Los Angeles, instead. I had high hopes for this one but it fell sort of flat for me.
This book was really just ok for me. I had a really hard time caring about any of the main characters in this book. Flynn is the total "not like other girls" heroine, which falls really flat for me. In trying to make her different, she keeps making comparisons between herself and the other girls around her and how she is so unique and different. It got old. Amos just isn't particularly interesting. Poppy was probably my favorite character. She is 10 years old but incredibly precocious (in some cases, too precocious that it didn't feel real). She kept the story going and in many ways, proved to be more insightful than the other characters.
The writing of the book was okay. I liked that the story was told from the perspectives of Flynn, Amos, and Poppy but I wish the voices of the different characters had sounded a little more separate from each other.
This book was really just ok for me. I had a really hard time caring about any of the main characters in this book. Flynn is the total "not like other girls" heroine, which falls really flat for me. In trying to make her different, she keeps making comparisons between herself and the other girls around her and how she is so unique and different. It got old. Amos just isn't particularly interesting. Poppy was probably my favorite character. She is 10 years old but incredibly precocious (in some cases, too precocious that it didn't feel real). She kept the story going and in many ways, proved to be more insightful than the other characters.
The writing of the book was okay. I liked that the story was told from the perspectives of Flynn, Amos, and Poppy but I wish the voices of the different characters had sounded a little more separate from each other.
November 23, 2017
I don't know what to say, I'm just... well, I'm a bit confused and disappointed. I thought that this story had potential, it sounded like a very fun story overall, but once I got into it....it ended up lacking, in both plot and characterization. I didn't really connect with the characters and waited for a development that didn't come. I also had some issues with the main relationship between Flynn and Amos.
Overall, I still think that Layover was an entertaining read, but it lacked a bit too much for me to love it.
I received an early copy of this book through NetGalley - full review coming soon.
Overall, I still think that Layover was an entertaining read, but it lacked a bit too much for me to love it.
I received an early copy of this book through NetGalley - full review coming soon.
May 1, 2024
If you asked an AI to write a story about a group of spoiled, wealthy, NYC-raised step siblings who refuse to go on a family vacation because they found out their parents were getting a divorce, this is what you’d get. I was really hoping for some wholesome sibling vibes and adventure, and I guess you could argue that we get that here, but the ENTIRE premise relies on the fact that these kids are largely unparented and have friends who also have friends with lots of money and connections and it’s just kinda predictable and tone deaf.
July 5, 2019
I tried reading Layover over a year ago, but gave up on it. Now, after having read the novel in full, I'm not sure how I feel about it. The plot isn't very original and the characters felt like cutouts of other YA protagonists. The message of the book was nice though and if it would've been executed better I would have liked it a lot more. I don't regret reading this story, but it wouldn't have made a difference if I hadn't.
February 12, 2018
Ummmm so nothing really happened in this book. It was all trite and boring. Skip it.
March 26, 2019
3.5 stars
There were parts I really liked, and parts I really did not like. Most of what I didn't like was Flynn. She made so many face palm mistakes.
There were parts I really liked, and parts I really did not like. Most of what I didn't like was Flynn. She made so many face palm mistakes.
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