What do you think?
Rate this book
Just Fly Away
The debut novel from Andrew McCarthy — actor, director, and bestselling author of An 80s Story — is a powerful story about family secrets, first love, the limits of forgiveness, and finding your way in the world.
When fifteen-year-old Lucy Willows discovers that her father has a secret child from a brief affair, she begins to question everything she thinks she knows about her family. How could her father have betrayed them like this? How could her mother forgive him? And why isn’t her sister rocked by the news the way Lucy is? Lucy can’t bring herself to tell her friends, and when she tries to confide in her boyfriend, he doesn’t understand. Fed up with everyone around her and desperate for answers, Lucy runs away to Maine—the home of her mysteriously estranged grandfather—to get to the bottom of her family’s secrets and lies.
When fifteen-year-old Lucy Willows discovers that her father has a secret child from a brief affair, she begins to question everything she thinks she knows about her family. How could her father have betrayed them like this? How could her mother forgive him? And why isn’t her sister rocked by the news the way Lucy is? Lucy can’t bring herself to tell her friends, and when she tries to confide in her boyfriend, he doesn’t understand. Fed up with everyone around her and desperate for answers, Lucy runs away to Maine—the home of her mysteriously estranged grandfather—to get to the bottom of her family’s secrets and lies.
272 pages, Paperback
First published March 28, 2017
154 people are currently reading
3008 people want to read
About the author
Andrew McCarthy
32 books734 followersAndrew McCarthy is a director, an award winning travel writer, and—of course—an actor. He made his professional début at 19 in Class, and has appeared in dozens of films, including such iconic movies as Pretty in Pink, St. Elmo’s Fire, Less Then Zero, and cult favorites Weekend At Bernie’s and Mannequin.
He has starred on Broadway and on television, most recently appearing in The Family, on ABC. McCarthy is also a highly regarded television director; having helmed Orange is the New Black, The Blacklist, Grace and Frankie, and many others.
Simultaneously, McCarthy is an award winning travel writer. He is an editor-at-large at National Geographic Traveler, and has written for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, The Atlantic, Travel+Leisure, AFAR, Men’s Journal, Bon Appetit, and many others. He has received six Lowell Thomas awards, and been named Travel Journalist of the Year by The Society of American Travel Writers.
His travel memoir, THE LONGEST WAY HOME, became a New York Times Best Seller, and the Financial Times of London named it one of the Best Books of the year. He served as guest editor for the prestigious Best American Travel series in 2015.
His debut novel, JUST FLY AWAY, will be published by Algonquin in the spring of 2017.
McCarthy lives in New York City.
He has starred on Broadway and on television, most recently appearing in The Family, on ABC. McCarthy is also a highly regarded television director; having helmed Orange is the New Black, The Blacklist, Grace and Frankie, and many others.
Simultaneously, McCarthy is an award winning travel writer. He is an editor-at-large at National Geographic Traveler, and has written for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, The Atlantic, Travel+Leisure, AFAR, Men’s Journal, Bon Appetit, and many others. He has received six Lowell Thomas awards, and been named Travel Journalist of the Year by The Society of American Travel Writers.
His travel memoir, THE LONGEST WAY HOME, became a New York Times Best Seller, and the Financial Times of London named it one of the Best Books of the year. He served as guest editor for the prestigious Best American Travel series in 2015.
His debut novel, JUST FLY AWAY, will be published by Algonquin in the spring of 2017.
McCarthy lives in New York City.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 261 reviews
March 12, 2017
Lucy is fifteen and enjoying what seems to be a happy, normal life with her parents and younger sister when she has a bombshell dropped on her: her father has an eight-year-old son with another woman. And they live only a few blocks away. When Lucy learns of this news, she is incredibly angry at both her parents: her father for cheating on her mother and keeping the secret, and her mother, for passively remaining with her father and not telling her daughters what happened. Lucy wants to return to happier times, but she finds herself unable to move past her father's news.
I didn't love this book and for a while, didn't think this would even get up to a three-star review. It did grow on me by the end: mostly due to Lucy's relationship with her grandfather, who was perhaps my favorite character in the novel. Alas, I never really connected with Lucy, and I didn't completely find her voice authentic. The beginning of the novel was quite slow, and there were a few points where I wasn't really sure I wanted to keep reading. It's really a rather sad and serious book, and it seems to meander a bit, with no real ultimate point. The overall plot, as well as the small details, seem to veer off on weird tangents. Do we focus on Lucy's anger at her father? Or her growing up, exploring boys and teenage life? Or maybe her grandfather and his strained relationship with Lucy's father? Often, there were many times where I found myself wondering why the author felt the need to include certain details, or include a particular plot point.
At times, Lucy felt incredibly self-involved, even for a teenager, and I wasn't sure if her anger--which seemed to be meant to serve as the main plot device--was really that justified. As I said, when the book shifts and Lucy comes into contact with her grandfather, it did pick up, and I found myself enjoying it more. This could be perhaps because Lucy felt less time focusing on her father's betrayal, and we could get to know her a bit better. Still, I would have liked to have seen more character development, less tangents, and just a better developed voice for Lucy. This one barely grazed 3 stars for me, but it is McCarthy's first novel (albeit I'm sure he can always fall back on that acting career!), and I can see some potential here.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Netgalley (thank you!) in return for an unbiased review; it is available everywhere as of 03/28/2017.
Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Google+
I didn't love this book and for a while, didn't think this would even get up to a three-star review. It did grow on me by the end: mostly due to Lucy's relationship with her grandfather, who was perhaps my favorite character in the novel. Alas, I never really connected with Lucy, and I didn't completely find her voice authentic. The beginning of the novel was quite slow, and there were a few points where I wasn't really sure I wanted to keep reading. It's really a rather sad and serious book, and it seems to meander a bit, with no real ultimate point. The overall plot, as well as the small details, seem to veer off on weird tangents. Do we focus on Lucy's anger at her father? Or her growing up, exploring boys and teenage life? Or maybe her grandfather and his strained relationship with Lucy's father? Often, there were many times where I found myself wondering why the author felt the need to include certain details, or include a particular plot point.
At times, Lucy felt incredibly self-involved, even for a teenager, and I wasn't sure if her anger--which seemed to be meant to serve as the main plot device--was really that justified. As I said, when the book shifts and Lucy comes into contact with her grandfather, it did pick up, and I found myself enjoying it more. This could be perhaps because Lucy felt less time focusing on her father's betrayal, and we could get to know her a bit better. Still, I would have liked to have seen more character development, less tangents, and just a better developed voice for Lucy. This one barely grazed 3 stars for me, but it is McCarthy's first novel (albeit I'm sure he can always fall back on that acting career!), and I can see some potential here.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Netgalley (thank you!) in return for an unbiased review; it is available everywhere as of 03/28/2017.
Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Google+
dnf
February 25, 2017DNF at 30%
I was really curious about this book because it is written by a male with a female POV. I am not really feeling as though the author is conveying the female perspective accurately. Also, the writing is not very interesting. Disappointing to say the least.
I was really curious about this book because it is written by a male with a female POV. I am not really feeling as though the author is conveying the female perspective accurately. Also, the writing is not very interesting. Disappointing to say the least.
March 24, 2017
3.5 Stars.
I picked this up because I saw the name Andrew McCarthy and wondered if it was THAT Andrew McCarthy-- it is. It's the brat-packer from Pretty in Pink and St. Elmo's Fire (& most recently The Family-- RIP) and all that 80's goodness. So I thought why not?? Let's see what inspired him to write YA as a 50-something.
I started out really liking this book. I especially liked all the descriptions the author used to put me in the place where the character was. Descriptions aren't usually a big selling point with me, so I know these ones were top shelf if I was noticing and loving them.
I think I would have been all about this book if I liked Lucy better. Or if there was another character that was fully developed that I could like. As it was, Lucy is really the only character in this book, and I didn't get along with her. There was a boyfriend-type guy in this book that I almost got to know, but not really-- and I kind of wished the book was about him instead because he was a cool guy.
A weird thing: I really liked that she was immature. That's not something I can usually love in a character, but it was refreshing to read about a 15-year-old who doesn't have it all together. She was emotionally immature for sure-- super impulsive-- pretty much everything a teenager is, and it made me like her more than I wanted to.
Why I didn't like her: She was super selfish and kind of dense. I can get behind impulsive, but denseness is a whole other thing. Like okay, you're going to Maine on a whim-- but maybe don't accept rides from random dudes?? And you can be immature and still care about other people. Lucy only cared about how the big secret affected her. She didn't even try to talk to her sister or mom, she was just ME, ME, ME. And I got bored with that. Also, anyone who is okay with wearing the same underwear for multiple days, I don't trust :)
I think this was a good try for a first novel, but I think it needed MORE characters and MORE plot. Not a lot happened asides from hanging out and running away.
OVERALL: It's readable and interesting, but needed a few more developed characters for me to really like it. Lucy got on my last nerve and she was really the only person in this book, so for me it wasn't really a book I'd recommend.
My Blog:
I picked this up because I saw the name Andrew McCarthy and wondered if it was THAT Andrew McCarthy-- it is. It's the brat-packer from Pretty in Pink and St. Elmo's Fire (& most recently The Family-- RIP) and all that 80's goodness. So I thought why not?? Let's see what inspired him to write YA as a 50-something.
I started out really liking this book. I especially liked all the descriptions the author used to put me in the place where the character was. Descriptions aren't usually a big selling point with me, so I know these ones were top shelf if I was noticing and loving them.
I think I would have been all about this book if I liked Lucy better. Or if there was another character that was fully developed that I could like. As it was, Lucy is really the only character in this book, and I didn't get along with her. There was a boyfriend-type guy in this book that I almost got to know, but not really-- and I kind of wished the book was about him instead because he was a cool guy.
A weird thing: I really liked that she was immature. That's not something I can usually love in a character, but it was refreshing to read about a 15-year-old who doesn't have it all together. She was emotionally immature for sure-- super impulsive-- pretty much everything a teenager is, and it made me like her more than I wanted to.
Why I didn't like her: She was super selfish and kind of dense. I can get behind impulsive, but denseness is a whole other thing. Like okay, you're going to Maine on a whim-- but maybe don't accept rides from random dudes?? And you can be immature and still care about other people. Lucy only cared about how the big secret affected her. She didn't even try to talk to her sister or mom, she was just ME, ME, ME. And I got bored with that. Also, anyone who is okay with wearing the same underwear for multiple days, I don't trust :)
I think this was a good try for a first novel, but I think it needed MORE characters and MORE plot. Not a lot happened asides from hanging out and running away.
OVERALL: It's readable and interesting, but needed a few more developed characters for me to really like it. Lucy got on my last nerve and she was really the only person in this book, so for me it wasn't really a book I'd recommend.
My Blog:
November 10, 2024
Just Fly Away by Andrew McCarthy is a four-star book to me, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The book overall was great, but could have been started better. Throughout the first few chapters I thought the writing wasn’t the greatest. I don’t have an exact thing I didn’t like about it; it just didn’t grab me. I was thinking of labeling the book as a DNF and just calling it quits but once I got around chapter six or seven I started to get more interested.
There was only one other thing about the book that I didn’t appreciate and that was the way that Lucy treated her parents. I understand that her dad did a really terrible thing and I honestly would probably be pretty angry too, but she is just outright ridiculous. I honestly don’t think that your dad having an affair like 9 years ago is motive for running away (very far and through a dangerous city) at the age of fifteen. I mean, come on. If I had a kid that did that to me I would drag them by their hair back home and beat them silly.
On a brighter note, the rest of the book I really liked. I really loved Lucy’s grandfather and the things he spoke to her about. The little snippets of “life lessons” and the way he saw the world fascinated me and I thought the time spent with him was fun to read about. Once I got about halfway through the book I started to enjoy it more and more.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book Via NetGalley.
There was only one other thing about the book that I didn’t appreciate and that was the way that Lucy treated her parents. I understand that her dad did a really terrible thing and I honestly would probably be pretty angry too, but she is just outright ridiculous. I honestly don’t think that your dad having an affair like 9 years ago is motive for running away (very far and through a dangerous city) at the age of fifteen. I mean, come on. If I had a kid that did that to me I would drag them by their hair back home and beat them silly.
On a brighter note, the rest of the book I really liked. I really loved Lucy’s grandfather and the things he spoke to her about. The little snippets of “life lessons” and the way he saw the world fascinated me and I thought the time spent with him was fun to read about. Once I got about halfway through the book I started to enjoy it more and more.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book Via NetGalley.
September 19, 2017
I know that a lot of readers are coming down hard on this book because it's written by a famous adult male actor, but I thought it had a lot of charm. I found Lucy's voice believable, and the premise of the book would have been alluring to me even if I hadn't known the author's identity. My only quibble is that after Lucy falls in love, her female friends are never mentioned again.
Read
April 1, 2017*Disclaimer: A Copy of Just Fly Away by Andrew McCarthy was provided to me by Thomas Allen & Son in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinion in any way.
DNF @ page 106/258
When I first heard the Andrew McCarthy was going to be releasing a young adult novel, I was instantly excited. I love Andrew McCarthy as an actor and I was extremely excited to read a novel that was written by him. This was all before I even read the synopsis.
Just Fly Away is about a young teen girl names Lucy who finds out that her father has an eight year old son with another woman that both her father and her mother kept a secret. At first it angers Lucy that her father had an affair, had a son and kept it a secret from her, but then it angers her more that her mother knew about it and still stayed with her father.
The synopsis is definitely intriguing and made me want to read the story even more. However, once I started reading I slowly started to realize that this book just wasn't for me. Unfortunately, the writing just wasn't doing it for me. It felt very bland and basic and I found myself starting to skim through it. I couldn't connect with any of the characters and the relationship that started forming between another character and Lucy felt almost un-needed. I was hoping the story would concentrate more on the family dynamic between Lucy and her parents, but 100 pages in and it focused more on Lucy pissed of and ignoring her parents while also having a fling with her friend's brother.
As I decided with my 2017 new year resolutions, life is too short to read something that you just aren't feeling. I try to always push myself to at least 100 pages into a book that I'm not really enjoying in hopes that maybe it will redeem itself. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case with Just Fly Away and I had to put it down.
Maybe I'll come back to it one day in the future, but for now it's time to move on.
DNF @ page 106/258
When I first heard the Andrew McCarthy was going to be releasing a young adult novel, I was instantly excited. I love Andrew McCarthy as an actor and I was extremely excited to read a novel that was written by him. This was all before I even read the synopsis.
Just Fly Away is about a young teen girl names Lucy who finds out that her father has an eight year old son with another woman that both her father and her mother kept a secret. At first it angers Lucy that her father had an affair, had a son and kept it a secret from her, but then it angers her more that her mother knew about it and still stayed with her father.
The synopsis is definitely intriguing and made me want to read the story even more. However, once I started reading I slowly started to realize that this book just wasn't for me. Unfortunately, the writing just wasn't doing it for me. It felt very bland and basic and I found myself starting to skim through it. I couldn't connect with any of the characters and the relationship that started forming between another character and Lucy felt almost un-needed. I was hoping the story would concentrate more on the family dynamic between Lucy and her parents, but 100 pages in and it focused more on Lucy pissed of and ignoring her parents while also having a fling with her friend's brother.
As I decided with my 2017 new year resolutions, life is too short to read something that you just aren't feeling. I try to always push myself to at least 100 pages into a book that I'm not really enjoying in hopes that maybe it will redeem itself. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case with Just Fly Away and I had to put it down.
Maybe I'll come back to it one day in the future, but for now it's time to move on.
June 18, 2024
I got the book from NetGalley for review.
I want to give it one star but that will be a little harsh as Andrew McCarthy is not a young adult fiction writer. And he also manages to show the immaturity of kids of that age. That is an only plus point of this book.
Read the complete review and more reviews on my blog:
http://www.bookaapi.com/opinion-on-th...
I want to give it one star but that will be a little harsh as Andrew McCarthy is not a young adult fiction writer. And he also manages to show the immaturity of kids of that age. That is an only plus point of this book.
Read the complete review and more reviews on my blog:
http://www.bookaapi.com/opinion-on-th...
December 28, 2023
Tbh, I’m not quite sure what this book was about…? It’s dry and doesn’t have a plot that you can easily follow. It’s just kind of words and events on a page, but there’s no story arc, if that makes sense? Idk maybe it’s just me but I really didn’t like this book. It was super boring too…Lucy was so spoiled…oh my gosh it was hard to read at some points! And the whole Simon thing was confusing...was it supposed to be a major point or a side event? I have no idea!!! It reads a lot like a John Green book imo, and I hate his books🥴 Anywayyyy wouldn’t recommend…
Rating: ⭐️⭐️
Pages: 258
Language/TW: 7/10
Format I read: Paperback
Genre: YA fiction
Would I recommend to others: Probably not
Rating: ⭐️⭐️
Pages: 258
Language/TW: 7/10
Format I read: Paperback
Genre: YA fiction
Would I recommend to others: Probably not
May 25, 2017
I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this book. However, I ended up liking it. Lucy wasn't as bad as I thought she would be. That helped a lot. This book is another example of why sometimes it's better to read a book for yourself rather than go by reviews and ratings on goodreads.
April 17, 2017
I liked this more than I thought I would. I did not always agree with the way Lucy handled situations but that's to be expected of a 15 year old, right? I'm excited to write my review soon.
Full review can be found here: https://agingerlyreview.wordpress.com...
I enjoyed this story more than I thought I would. Reading a male author writing from the POV of a female protagonist was something I had to experience.
Fifteen year old Lucy had her entire world turned upside down when she discovers that her dad had an affair and fathered an eight year old son. Both of her parents are still together and both knew of the child, they just never clued Lucy into the fact that she had a step-brother. Lucy digs and discovers that the woman and her son (her step brother) live only a few blocks away. Unable to ignore her curiosity, Lucy spends time at the park across the street from the boy’s house and soon befriends him. The more time she sits watching this boy, the more furious she becomes. She is furious at her father cheating, she is furious at her parents not telling her (and her sister) what happened, she is furious that everyone is acting like this isn’t a big deal. Lucy wants nothing more than to return to “happier times” where it was just her, her sister, and their parents. Unable to process the flood of emotions, in a fit of rage Lucy runs away to the only safe haven she knows – her grandfather’s home many states away. This starts a chain of events that causes everyone to rethink how they treat people in their lives, how their decisions affect others, and just how important family is.
I did not absolutely love this story, but I did enjoy it. The further into the story I got, the more it grew on me. I struggled with Lucy’s knee-jerk reactions to everything, but had to remind myself she was fifteen. I don’t know a lot of fifteen year old girls that don’t fly off the handle and make rash decisions. I certainly couldn’t fault her for reacting the way she did, I only wish she had chose a less dramatic way to handle the way she was feeling. Running away in the middle of the night and not telling anyone really was a ballsy move. Now I’m not saying it was a good idea, I’m saying it was drastic. The experiences she had while taking the bus through NYC would be enough to terrify anyone but for a teen to do that with little to no money was … foolish. Almost too extreme. I find it hard to believe that no adult thought it odd for a teen to be roaming the streets of a bus terminal in the middle of the night? No adult thought it best to call the authorities for a type of wellness check? Convenient. You can probably guess by now that I struggled to connect with Lucy. She did not feel like a fully developed character. Again, I argue with myself on this point because I don’t know many fifteen year old girls that are completely and totally rational. I just had a hard time agreeing with the actions she made and that caused me to almost stop the book several times. Why didn’t I? It was a quick read.
The plot itself felt … confusing. There are so many plot points that could have lead to something bigger but instead fizzled out. Am I supposed to focus on the affair Lucy’s father had and the hurt that caused everyone? What about Lucy discovering boys and self discovery? Or perhaps the tension and rift between Lucy’s father and grandfather? The overall plot slowly (and I do mean slowly) reveals itself in the later half of the story. Once Lucy meets up with her grandfather, we begin to see more of who she really is. She is not so self-involved and selfish. Well, she still is but she starts to open up to her grandfather but he isn’t without his issues either. I won’t give away what exactly happens (that would ruin the book!) but I believe the ending tied things up nicely. I just wish the author had spent more time developing Lucy and her voice rather than throwing so many possible plots out and confusing the reader.
This was a 3.25 star read. Odd number, no? As I mentioned, I enjoyed this story once it reached the later half. I liked Lucy’s grandfather a lot, but wish his character and story would have been explored more. It felt like there were so many unknown secrets that could have enhanced the story. This is the author’s first YA but I hope he continues writing. I would like to see what he comes up with next.
Full review can be found here: https://agingerlyreview.wordpress.com...
I enjoyed this story more than I thought I would. Reading a male author writing from the POV of a female protagonist was something I had to experience.
Fifteen year old Lucy had her entire world turned upside down when she discovers that her dad had an affair and fathered an eight year old son. Both of her parents are still together and both knew of the child, they just never clued Lucy into the fact that she had a step-brother. Lucy digs and discovers that the woman and her son (her step brother) live only a few blocks away. Unable to ignore her curiosity, Lucy spends time at the park across the street from the boy’s house and soon befriends him. The more time she sits watching this boy, the more furious she becomes. She is furious at her father cheating, she is furious at her parents not telling her (and her sister) what happened, she is furious that everyone is acting like this isn’t a big deal. Lucy wants nothing more than to return to “happier times” where it was just her, her sister, and their parents. Unable to process the flood of emotions, in a fit of rage Lucy runs away to the only safe haven she knows – her grandfather’s home many states away. This starts a chain of events that causes everyone to rethink how they treat people in their lives, how their decisions affect others, and just how important family is.
I did not absolutely love this story, but I did enjoy it. The further into the story I got, the more it grew on me. I struggled with Lucy’s knee-jerk reactions to everything, but had to remind myself she was fifteen. I don’t know a lot of fifteen year old girls that don’t fly off the handle and make rash decisions. I certainly couldn’t fault her for reacting the way she did, I only wish she had chose a less dramatic way to handle the way she was feeling. Running away in the middle of the night and not telling anyone really was a ballsy move. Now I’m not saying it was a good idea, I’m saying it was drastic. The experiences she had while taking the bus through NYC would be enough to terrify anyone but for a teen to do that with little to no money was … foolish. Almost too extreme. I find it hard to believe that no adult thought it odd for a teen to be roaming the streets of a bus terminal in the middle of the night? No adult thought it best to call the authorities for a type of wellness check? Convenient. You can probably guess by now that I struggled to connect with Lucy. She did not feel like a fully developed character. Again, I argue with myself on this point because I don’t know many fifteen year old girls that are completely and totally rational. I just had a hard time agreeing with the actions she made and that caused me to almost stop the book several times. Why didn’t I? It was a quick read.
The plot itself felt … confusing. There are so many plot points that could have lead to something bigger but instead fizzled out. Am I supposed to focus on the affair Lucy’s father had and the hurt that caused everyone? What about Lucy discovering boys and self discovery? Or perhaps the tension and rift between Lucy’s father and grandfather? The overall plot slowly (and I do mean slowly) reveals itself in the later half of the story. Once Lucy meets up with her grandfather, we begin to see more of who she really is. She is not so self-involved and selfish. Well, she still is but she starts to open up to her grandfather but he isn’t without his issues either. I won’t give away what exactly happens (that would ruin the book!) but I believe the ending tied things up nicely. I just wish the author had spent more time developing Lucy and her voice rather than throwing so many possible plots out and confusing the reader.
This was a 3.25 star read. Odd number, no? As I mentioned, I enjoyed this story once it reached the later half. I liked Lucy’s grandfather a lot, but wish his character and story would have been explored more. It felt like there were so many unknown secrets that could have enhanced the story. This is the author’s first YA but I hope he continues writing. I would like to see what he comes up with next.
September 22, 2017
The story was okay. If you're looking for a "The Meaning of Life: Observations by Kevin Dolenz" moment, I don't think you will find it here. :-)
February 22, 2017
Just Fly Away is a charming read. I just wanted to fly away and get lost in this book and that is exactly what I did. Long after you put this book down, it will stay with you. The main focus of this story is surrounding Lucy. Every step of the way, I was with her. From the shock, anger, sadness, love, forgiveness, and family.
Lucy is a strong, prominent voice. While, everyone else may have tried to tell Lucy how to act and to grow up; it was Lucy that taught them all a lesson. While I enjoyed every moment of this book, my favorite parts were involving Lucy and her grandfather. Sharing a bowl of ice cream with a loved one is more than just ice cream. Lucy's relationship with Simon was great. They had a mature relationship. I hope to see more of Mr. McCarthy in the literary world.
Lucy is a strong, prominent voice. While, everyone else may have tried to tell Lucy how to act and to grow up; it was Lucy that taught them all a lesson. While I enjoyed every moment of this book, my favorite parts were involving Lucy and her grandfather. Sharing a bowl of ice cream with a loved one is more than just ice cream. Lucy's relationship with Simon was great. They had a mature relationship. I hope to see more of Mr. McCarthy in the literary world.
February 28, 2017
2.5/5 - Flew through this, but not necessarily in a good way. The storyline fell flat and the characters didn't seem very fleshed out. Just an okay read.
August 14, 2017
While the ARC provided to me was a sneak peek, consisting of the first ten chapters, it was enough to give me a glimpse into the storyline and a feel for the characters and plot.
Touted as a Young Adult novel, the writing and behaviour of the teenage characters felt more like middle school age children, and I must say that completely threw me off. This in itself created a disconnect between the characters and the storyline and it prevented me from fully connecting and caring for the characters, and as a result not fully enjoying what could have been a solid Young Adult read.
Not sure I would recommend it with so many other relevant and inspiring novels of the same genre out in the world right now.
Thank you to NetGalley and Algonquin Young Readers for providing me an advanced digital copy in return for an honest, unbiased review.
Touted as a Young Adult novel, the writing and behaviour of the teenage characters felt more like middle school age children, and I must say that completely threw me off. This in itself created a disconnect between the characters and the storyline and it prevented me from fully connecting and caring for the characters, and as a result not fully enjoying what could have been a solid Young Adult read.
Not sure I would recommend it with so many other relevant and inspiring novels of the same genre out in the world right now.
Thank you to NetGalley and Algonquin Young Readers for providing me an advanced digital copy in return for an honest, unbiased review.
February 6, 2017
More of a 2.5
April 11, 2017
I simply disagree with the family dynamics. The characters in the novel, with the exception of 15 year old Lucy, have their heads buried in the sand. The world and different issues are revolving around them but no one seems to notice.
January 31, 2017
I received an ARC for review. I'd probably give this book 3+ stars. I liked the story, but thought it was slow. It contains YA content, but the writing almost felt like a middle school book.
February 2, 2017
The story seemed all over the place with some random teen things thrown in that weren't really needed.
September 21, 2018
Fight or Flight. The initial response when the human body feels threatened. You could run from all the worries in the world. You could stick around and hope for the best. How do you choose? Andrew McCarthy writes an incredible story about a girl by the name of Lucy Willows who has something she was never expecting fall into her lap.
Lucy Willows was a plain old teenage girl faced with this decision in ordinary circumstances: High School, boys, and her annoying little sister. Until one day she finds out some not so ordinary news, her dad has another kid. Not her or her sister. Another kid with another mom in the same town. Which means another life she had no idea about. Lucy finds herself in a terrible situation she could have never imagined. We the readers trudge alongside her while she tries to understand how her dad could do this to her family. She takes a ride on an emotional roller coaster she can’t escape. Due to her incredibly unfortunate news she is forced to make life changing decisions she would have never had to otherwise. She is forever changed from that moment on.
Lucy’s character development throughout the story changes drastically, but can you blame her? The reason I loved the character Lucy so much is because she is relatable. I feel as if I understand or can imagine what she goes through for parts of the story. She becomes tougher, mature, and most of all grateful. Grateful for the small things that really matter. As a reader of this incredible journey it helped me to realize and be grateful for the little things as well. Another lesson she learned is having loving friends and family is way more important than any tangible item. Although Lucy and her father don't exactly see eye to eye they do end up needing each other throughout the book.
Many characters in the beginning seem simple and 2-D like Flat Stanley in his adventures. However, as the story progresses we find out this is not the case whatsoever. The characters pop into action and become more lively by the chapter wrenching our hearts as we get attached to who they mold into.
Although I’m sure you may already be sold on this book there are some parts of this story I found frustrating. To start the beginning of the book is rather slow, in the sense that the plot takes time to build. This could be seen as either a positive or negative aspect, but I found it simply annoying. In addition at certain points I did not like who Lucy was becoming or how she was acting. I felt as if she wasn’t being herself and this part of Andrew McCarthy’s novel got under my skin.
Nonetheless, I would completely and utterly recommend this book to any young adult seeing adventure with a taste of unpredictable real life. This is because life isn’t always perfect and this story does not reiterate the story just a plain old teenage girl, it is more than that.
Lucy Willows was a plain old teenage girl faced with this decision in ordinary circumstances: High School, boys, and her annoying little sister. Until one day she finds out some not so ordinary news, her dad has another kid. Not her or her sister. Another kid with another mom in the same town. Which means another life she had no idea about. Lucy finds herself in a terrible situation she could have never imagined. We the readers trudge alongside her while she tries to understand how her dad could do this to her family. She takes a ride on an emotional roller coaster she can’t escape. Due to her incredibly unfortunate news she is forced to make life changing decisions she would have never had to otherwise. She is forever changed from that moment on.
Lucy’s character development throughout the story changes drastically, but can you blame her? The reason I loved the character Lucy so much is because she is relatable. I feel as if I understand or can imagine what she goes through for parts of the story. She becomes tougher, mature, and most of all grateful. Grateful for the small things that really matter. As a reader of this incredible journey it helped me to realize and be grateful for the little things as well. Another lesson she learned is having loving friends and family is way more important than any tangible item. Although Lucy and her father don't exactly see eye to eye they do end up needing each other throughout the book.
Many characters in the beginning seem simple and 2-D like Flat Stanley in his adventures. However, as the story progresses we find out this is not the case whatsoever. The characters pop into action and become more lively by the chapter wrenching our hearts as we get attached to who they mold into.
Although I’m sure you may already be sold on this book there are some parts of this story I found frustrating. To start the beginning of the book is rather slow, in the sense that the plot takes time to build. This could be seen as either a positive or negative aspect, but I found it simply annoying. In addition at certain points I did not like who Lucy was becoming or how she was acting. I felt as if she wasn’t being herself and this part of Andrew McCarthy’s novel got under my skin.
Nonetheless, I would completely and utterly recommend this book to any young adult seeing adventure with a taste of unpredictable real life. This is because life isn’t always perfect and this story does not reiterate the story just a plain old teenage girl, it is more than that.
May 7, 2017
Just Fly Away follows the life of Lucy Willows. She lives in a New Jersey town with her parents and her sister, Julie. One day, Lucy finds out that she has an eight-year-old brother, whom her father is the dad of due to an affair several years back. Lucy cannot look at her father the same and doesn't take the news very well. What seems to throw her off, however, is why her mother stayed with her cheating father and why her sister doesn't seem all that mad about the affair. Lucy begins to isolate herself from her parents, her dad specifically. She meets a new girl, whom she never knew would become her best friend and ends up meeting and getting her first boyfriend as a result. Lucy sets out with Simon, her boyfriend, and tracks down her "secret" little brother, Thomas. She also embarks in an exciting, yet sad, journey as she runs away from the lie that recently became her life. Read to find out just what Lucy's journey is all about and how she is able to experience growing up and dealing with all that life throws at her with a twist of first love!
I really liked this book because I like books about romance and adventure, which the book had both of. I especially liked that the author was able to depict just how difficult obstacles can be to teenagers in life and how we can take these challenges and grow and learn valuable life lessons from them. I think what might have been my favorite part of the book was when Lucy runs away and is able to experience the thrill of street life and be able to see just how hard it can be on your own without the supports of others, such as her parents. One thing I didn't like about this book was that the author seemed to skip over how things ended up between Lucy and Simon as they began to fall deeper in love.
I would recommend this book to people who like reading about coming of age, romance, family and friendship, and adventure.
I really liked this book because I like books about romance and adventure, which the book had both of. I especially liked that the author was able to depict just how difficult obstacles can be to teenagers in life and how we can take these challenges and grow and learn valuable life lessons from them. I think what might have been my favorite part of the book was when Lucy runs away and is able to experience the thrill of street life and be able to see just how hard it can be on your own without the supports of others, such as her parents. One thing I didn't like about this book was that the author seemed to skip over how things ended up between Lucy and Simon as they began to fall deeper in love.
I would recommend this book to people who like reading about coming of age, romance, family and friendship, and adventure.
June 4, 2018
Lucy thinks she has a perfect family, until she learns her father has a young son, the product of a one night stand. She takes off, without telling her parents, to visit her estranged grandfather miles away in Maine.
I was in a mood to read and light, forgettable story and go just that with JUST FLY AWAY. Actor Andrew McCarthy’s debut novel was enjoyable, but although had a good premise, was not very well written or executed.
Lucy sounded as if she was written by a man, particularly in her relationship with Simon and his sister Maxine. A woman writer would have probably gone deeper with Maxine and Lucy when Lucy begin kissing Simon, for example.
I didn’t understand Simon’s character. We’re told he attends a special needs school and that he’s a loner, but get no more depth to his character. With the exception of the grandfather, the other minor characters lacked personality and depth.
JUST FLY AWAY would make an adequate beach read, if you keep your expectations realistic.
I was in a mood to read and light, forgettable story and go just that with JUST FLY AWAY. Actor Andrew McCarthy’s debut novel was enjoyable, but although had a good premise, was not very well written or executed.
Lucy sounded as if she was written by a man, particularly in her relationship with Simon and his sister Maxine. A woman writer would have probably gone deeper with Maxine and Lucy when Lucy begin kissing Simon, for example.
I didn’t understand Simon’s character. We’re told he attends a special needs school and that he’s a loner, but get no more depth to his character. With the exception of the grandfather, the other minor characters lacked personality and depth.
JUST FLY AWAY would make an adequate beach read, if you keep your expectations realistic.
December 17, 2021
It's just kind of... uneven. I really wanted to like this book since I've love Andrew McCarthy all my teenage and adult life. What kind of writer is he? Well, let's just say that this book helps you appreciate good writing.
I did not ever love the main character, her friends, boyfriend, or family. I never felt an emotional connection to any of them, and as I listened to this book, I found myself making fun of all of the characters as they said the most inane things. Lucy led such a privileged life and didn't even realize it--like, ever. Not when the 7-11 clerk gave her a free soda, or when she was looked at kindly by everyone while she was running away, or even when she grabbed over $100 in cash as she fled home (without her phone, but that's another thing wrong with this book). Lucy rarely acted like a teenager actually would, and her parents' actions weren't true to life, either. I could go on and on, but let's just say if you skip this book, you won't be sorry.
I did not ever love the main character, her friends, boyfriend, or family. I never felt an emotional connection to any of them, and as I listened to this book, I found myself making fun of all of the characters as they said the most inane things. Lucy led such a privileged life and didn't even realize it--like, ever. Not when the 7-11 clerk gave her a free soda, or when she was looked at kindly by everyone while she was running away, or even when she grabbed over $100 in cash as she fled home (without her phone, but that's another thing wrong with this book). Lucy rarely acted like a teenager actually would, and her parents' actions weren't true to life, either. I could go on and on, but let's just say if you skip this book, you won't be sorry.
April 26, 2017
When Lucy overhears her parents talking one evening, she just knows they’ve been hiding something, and she wants answers. Come to find out, her father has one bombshell of a secret. When he finally fesses up, Lucy is absolutely devastated.
This is a character driven novel, and Lucy Willows is an incredible character. She’s inquisitive, imaginative, spunky and possessed of a wry sense of humor. She’s also very angry, but that’s something that’s not uncommon with teenagers. I enjoyed the connection Lucy makes with her grandfather. I thought that part of the story was especially good. This is a coming-of-age story about secrets, first love, families and all their problems. I liked the story, the characters, everything about the book, except for the one instance of heavy petting that I felt was superfluous to the story.
This is a character driven novel, and Lucy Willows is an incredible character. She’s inquisitive, imaginative, spunky and possessed of a wry sense of humor. She’s also very angry, but that’s something that’s not uncommon with teenagers. I enjoyed the connection Lucy makes with her grandfather. I thought that part of the story was especially good. This is a coming-of-age story about secrets, first love, families and all their problems. I liked the story, the characters, everything about the book, except for the one instance of heavy petting that I felt was superfluous to the story.
April 28, 2017
We received an e-ARC of this book from the publish in exchange for an honest review.
For a more in-depth review check out this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhNPD...
What's It About: Fifteen year old Lucy begins to question everything in her life when she learns her father has an eight year old illegitimate son. Lucy begins to act out and ritually runs away to her Grandfather's house in Maine.
The Good: The narrative is very dramatic and may engage readers looking for over the top family drama.
The Bad: The characters were not really developed and lack depth need to make the reader care about their journey, the relationships didn't come across as realistic and the over the top drama was a little too much at times.
Final Rating: 2.5 Stars
For a more in-depth review check out this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhNPD...
What's It About: Fifteen year old Lucy begins to question everything in her life when she learns her father has an eight year old illegitimate son. Lucy begins to act out and ritually runs away to her Grandfather's house in Maine.
The Good: The narrative is very dramatic and may engage readers looking for over the top family drama.
The Bad: The characters were not really developed and lack depth need to make the reader care about their journey, the relationships didn't come across as realistic and the over the top drama was a little too much at times.
Final Rating: 2.5 Stars
January 17, 2022
The book tells a story of a teenage girl named Lucy. All was perfect in her life, until her dad revealed he had a fling with another woman and have a son named, Thomas. Like any other family member, she got confused and angry until she met her bestfriends brother, Simon. She confides in him everything she goes through until she decided to go visit her grandfather. Once there, she faces sadness and in the end found a way to cope with what is going on her life. This book is suitable for readers who are facing a certain loss in their life and gave motivation to readers on how to cope by depending on family.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 13, 2022
Actually a 3.5
When Lucy finds out her has an 8 year old son with another woman, Lucy can't forgive her Father. She mad at her parents and her boyfriend doesn't understand her so she runs away to her Grandfather that she never sees. While there she starts to understand the meaning of family, but will she ever forgive her father?
I liked this book but I felt a void. Lucy is so mad at her father but the issue is never really resolved. There is this huge void that the book never fills. They don't talk it out it is just left there. I would have loved this book if the issue was resolved but I was left hanging there. It is unfortunate because this book really could have been good!
When Lucy finds out her has an 8 year old son with another woman, Lucy can't forgive her Father. She mad at her parents and her boyfriend doesn't understand her so she runs away to her Grandfather that she never sees. While there she starts to understand the meaning of family, but will she ever forgive her father?
I liked this book but I felt a void. Lucy is so mad at her father but the issue is never really resolved. There is this huge void that the book never fills. They don't talk it out it is just left there. I would have loved this book if the issue was resolved but I was left hanging there. It is unfortunate because this book really could have been good!
April 28, 2017
I don't have a lot to say about this book other than that it didn't work for me. I didn't enjoy the characters or the story overall. Side note: I feel like I need to be more choosy about my YA reads, maybe by sticking to authors whose work I have enjoyed in the past, at least until something phenomenal bubbles up (like The Hate U Give). I'm losing my recent-years adoration for YA, possibly due to oversaturation, possibly due to where I am in life. That makes me a little sad, but my consolation is that there are lots and lots of books out there.
October 13, 2022
This book was okay. I thought the beginning was rather slow and boring, but when Lucy finally gets to Main (about 2/3 into the whole book!) the story became more entertaining and I had more emotional connection with the characters.
I was trying to put my finger on what I didn't like about the beginning of this novel and I think it is because it reads a bit like The Catcher in the Rye. Just a random teenager doing things, and traveling through New York, for basically no reason and being sad and irrational. It was not my favorite, and I probably wouldn't recommend this to anyone.
I was trying to put my finger on what I didn't like about the beginning of this novel and I think it is because it reads a bit like The Catcher in the Rye. Just a random teenager doing things, and traveling through New York, for basically no reason and being sad and irrational. It was not my favorite, and I probably wouldn't recommend this to anyone.
April 16, 2017
I chose to read this because I was going to be seeing the author and wanted a taste of the book before the event. I finished it to see how it all turned out. There were moments I enjoyed and yet found myself thinking that the age of the main character didn't fit. Maybe she was just immature but she seemed more like a 12-year-old and that also fit the reading level. Rounding up to four because he was very charming in person. And St. Elmo's Fire.
March 18, 2018
Not a great fan of ya normally but this little gem really pulls at the heart strings. Lucy finds out her dad has another child and this leads her to question her family values and her place with the pain of adolescence
Displaying 1 - 30 of 261 reviews