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Before Takeoff
The Sun Is Also a Star meets Jumanji when two teens meet and fall in love during a layover-gone-wrong at the Atlanta airport in this thrilling new novel from the author of Let's Get Lost!
James and Michelle find themselves in the Atlanta airport on a layover. They couldn't be more different, but seemingly interminable delays draw them both to a mysterious flashing green light--and each other.
Where James is passive, Michelle is anything but. And she quickly discovers that the flashing green light is actually... a button. Which she presses. Which may or may not unwittingly break the rules of the universe--at least as those rules apply to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta.
Before they can figure up from down, strange, impossible things start happening: snowstorms form inside the B terminal; jungles sprout up in the C terminal; and earthquakes split the ground apart in between. And no matter how hard they try, it seems no one can find a way in or out of the airport. James and Michelle team up to find their families and either escape the airport, or put an end to its chaos--before it's too late.
James and Michelle find themselves in the Atlanta airport on a layover. They couldn't be more different, but seemingly interminable delays draw them both to a mysterious flashing green light--and each other.
Where James is passive, Michelle is anything but. And she quickly discovers that the flashing green light is actually... a button. Which she presses. Which may or may not unwittingly break the rules of the universe--at least as those rules apply to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta.
Before they can figure up from down, strange, impossible things start happening: snowstorms form inside the B terminal; jungles sprout up in the C terminal; and earthquakes split the ground apart in between. And no matter how hard they try, it seems no one can find a way in or out of the airport. James and Michelle team up to find their families and either escape the airport, or put an end to its chaos--before it's too late.
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First published June 7, 2022
36 people are currently reading
1088 people want to read
About the author
Adi Alsaid
29 books1,283 followersAdi Alsaid was born and raised in Mexico City, where he now lives, writes, and spills hot sauce on things. He's the author of several YA novels including LET'S GET LOST, NEVER ALWAYS SOMETIMES, and NORTH OF HAPPY.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
July 11, 2022
➵ of course the idea is super intriguing but that's exactly why i expected much more. the rating is more like two point five. rtc.
12.06.2020 this ya novel has just been announced and who can't be excited for some chaos that will be unleashed at the airport tunnels upon pressing a mysterious button?
July 16, 2022
This book just wasn't my thing. I think if I'd read it when I was in high school I would have really enjoyed it, there's a quirky almost glib tone to the narration that had a great contrast to the horrific events. The comparison to Jumanji that I keep seeing really doesn't seem right at all, and it's honestly what drew me to the book, what happens to the characters isn't remotely fun, there's no concept of it being a game or puzzle they're solving, most of it is meandering discussions while trying to find their families and going through different altered zones in the airport. It's more like Before Sunrise mixed with Maze Runner. The views of different types of people and groups in the face of insensible situations and tragedy felt really spot on and it's a good study of human behavior. Well done for what it was trying to do, not at all what its promotional materials says it's doing.
December 17, 2024
kind of like one of my fav books, royals, but with airports, hunger games type elements and too many quirky characters
June 11, 2022
I thought this book had really interesting characters. I went in to it blind but I saw later that people compared it to a cross between Jumanji and the Sun is Also a Star. The premise was good. An airport terminal, a mysterious button… sounds like an interesting premise right? The world building was great and there were some interesting moments. I think a little more actioned packed fun could have pushed this book along a little bit but overall it was a fun read.
June 6, 2022
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Before Takeoff
Author: Adi Alsaid
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Diversity: Latinx MC, French Thai Switz character, Black characters, Buddhist character, Asian character, Latinx queen character
Recommended For...: young adult readers, thriller, romance, contemporary, magical realism
Publication Date: June 7, 2022
Genre: YA Thriller Romance
Age Relevance: 15+ (cursing, terrorism, deportation, cancer, racism, sexual content, panic attack, religion, HP content, romance, death)
Explanation of Above: There is some cursing in the book. There are mentions of terrorism, deportation, cancer, and racism. There is some sexual content and romance mentioned in the book and some slightly shown. There is a panic attack shown in the book. There is religion that is mentioned very briefly in the book. There is death shown in the book. There is one HP mention in the book.
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Pages: 336
Synopsis: James and Michelle find themselves in the Atlanta airport on a layover. They couldn't be more different, but seemingly interminable delays draw them both to a mysterious flashing green light--and each other.
Where James is passive, Michelle is anything but. And she quickly discovers that the flashing green light is actually... a button. Which she presses. Which may or may not unwittingly break the rules of the universe--at least as those rules apply to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta.
Before they can figure up from down, strange, impossible things start happening: snowstorms form inside the B terminal; jungles sprout up in the C terminal; and earthquakes split the ground apart in between. And no matter how hard they try, it seems no one can find a way in or out of the airport. James and Michelle team up to find their families and either escape the airport, or put an end to its chaos--before it's too late.
Review: Overall, this book was interesting. The book is set in the Atlanta airport and if there wasn’t COVID in the air I’d go there and read this book to experience everything firsthand. The book is an interesting case study on how people would handle unexpected or cataclysmic events. The world building was good and the story keeps you on your toes for sure. I’d say that I liked the premise of the book and what it was wanting to offer to me.
However, I had a lot of negatives about this book. The book is weirdly told and it’s very clearly not very well plotted. The character descriptions are lazy, it took me until the near the end of the book that the MC was Latinx, and not well formed. There is a part in the book where a queer character, of unknown age but is clearly older because they work for TSA, is crushing on a freshly 18 year old girl and it gives all the ick vibes but also gives the impression that the queer character is acting that way because they’re queer, which is a no go during Pride month. The only reason I’m not 1 starring this book is because I feel like that was an oversight considering the overall writing of the book. The writing is just bad and this book is not a fun read. I also hated the HP reference in this book and, since this is 2022 and the HP author’s transphobic nature is widely known, there is no excuse for it and a point has been deducted from the book’s rating overall.
Verdict: It’s good, but there’s so many issues that I think a few more rough drafts and rounds of editing could solve.
Book: Before Takeoff
Author: Adi Alsaid
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Diversity: Latinx MC, French Thai Switz character, Black characters, Buddhist character, Asian character, Latinx queen character
Recommended For...: young adult readers, thriller, romance, contemporary, magical realism
Publication Date: June 7, 2022
Genre: YA Thriller Romance
Age Relevance: 15+ (cursing, terrorism, deportation, cancer, racism, sexual content, panic attack, religion, HP content, romance, death)
Explanation of Above: There is some cursing in the book. There are mentions of terrorism, deportation, cancer, and racism. There is some sexual content and romance mentioned in the book and some slightly shown. There is a panic attack shown in the book. There is religion that is mentioned very briefly in the book. There is death shown in the book. There is one HP mention in the book.
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Pages: 336
Synopsis: James and Michelle find themselves in the Atlanta airport on a layover. They couldn't be more different, but seemingly interminable delays draw them both to a mysterious flashing green light--and each other.
Where James is passive, Michelle is anything but. And she quickly discovers that the flashing green light is actually... a button. Which she presses. Which may or may not unwittingly break the rules of the universe--at least as those rules apply to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta.
Before they can figure up from down, strange, impossible things start happening: snowstorms form inside the B terminal; jungles sprout up in the C terminal; and earthquakes split the ground apart in between. And no matter how hard they try, it seems no one can find a way in or out of the airport. James and Michelle team up to find their families and either escape the airport, or put an end to its chaos--before it's too late.
Review: Overall, this book was interesting. The book is set in the Atlanta airport and if there wasn’t COVID in the air I’d go there and read this book to experience everything firsthand. The book is an interesting case study on how people would handle unexpected or cataclysmic events. The world building was good and the story keeps you on your toes for sure. I’d say that I liked the premise of the book and what it was wanting to offer to me.
However, I had a lot of negatives about this book. The book is weirdly told and it’s very clearly not very well plotted. The character descriptions are lazy, it took me until the near the end of the book that the MC was Latinx, and not well formed. There is a part in the book where a queer character, of unknown age but is clearly older because they work for TSA, is crushing on a freshly 18 year old girl and it gives all the ick vibes but also gives the impression that the queer character is acting that way because they’re queer, which is a no go during Pride month. The only reason I’m not 1 starring this book is because I feel like that was an oversight considering the overall writing of the book. The writing is just bad and this book is not a fun read. I also hated the HP reference in this book and, since this is 2022 and the HP author’s transphobic nature is widely known, there is no excuse for it and a point has been deducted from the book’s rating overall.
Verdict: It’s good, but there’s so many issues that I think a few more rough drafts and rounds of editing could solve.
August 13, 2022
I tried so hard to get into this book, I read over 100 pages and I even tried skipping ahead to see if I would maybe end up liking it. It's basically different weather events happening over and over and over again. Needless to say, I was really bored and decided to DNF it. I hate DNFing books, so this is one of the few.
April 8, 2023
Not my favorite book. But the teens love it!
This one is about James and Michele. They meet at the airport during a layover when the crazy happens. Michele pushes a green button, and after that? Basically physics and logic cease to exist.
I appreciated the commentary on human existence, but I felt that there needed to be more to hang my hat on with this weird little novel.
This one is about James and Michele. They meet at the airport during a layover when the crazy happens. Michele pushes a green button, and after that? Basically physics and logic cease to exist.
I appreciated the commentary on human existence, but I felt that there needed to be more to hang my hat on with this weird little novel.
March 28, 2022
RTC for the tour next month
August 1, 2022
*I was provided with an eARC by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, which was first published on Life and Other Disasters!*
CW: racism, physical altercations, death
When I first heard about Adi Alsaid's Before Takeoff, which was described as a sort of YA The Sun Is Also a Star meets Jumanji, I was immediately intrigued by the premise. I'm sad to say that I don't think the execution was really for me.
Told from an omniscient POV, I found myself mostly confused by the tone of the novel. On the one hand, you have typical banter and musings about life's meaning only a teen could express with full angst while awkwardly flirting with their counterpart - which is totally fitting since this is a YA story. The narration underlines that with a lot of humor, sprinkled with knowledge that only the reader will be privy to, while the characters are none the wiser. However, on the other hand, the story got a lot darker and weirder than I expected, with much more permanent consequences. That, in a way, made it feel much bigger than YA and possibly more suitable for older teens on the cusp of adulthood. Ultimately, this tonal inconsistency didn't fit the narration style in my mind.
In addition to that, I thought we'd mostly focus on James and Michelle, but we also learned about so many side characters, that I eventually found hard to keep track of. Same with the layout of the actual airport and its different gates and climates. While they added to the big picture, showing that this scenario was so much grander than the two kids, it simultaneously didn't allow for enough depth to get attached to certain characters.
Having said all that, the world building was still something else. There was a certain randomness to it that kept my heart racing with anxiety and worry, but also glee at what might happen next. It's a micro study of human behavior in the strangest of circumstances, and while it only scratched the surface of what makes us good and terrible as a species, it really delivered on some insightful and profound moments.
Lastly, I don't think this book will be for everyone. Personally, I was just mad at some points (mixed with some sad), but also very confused. It's a wild ride, that's for sure! If you feel like it might be the right story for you - go for it! Just, please, don't read it at an airport. Read it somewhere safe at home!
Fazit: 3/5 stars! Interesting but also wildly confusing and darker than expected.
CW: racism, physical altercations, death
When I first heard about Adi Alsaid's Before Takeoff, which was described as a sort of YA The Sun Is Also a Star meets Jumanji, I was immediately intrigued by the premise. I'm sad to say that I don't think the execution was really for me.
Told from an omniscient POV, I found myself mostly confused by the tone of the novel. On the one hand, you have typical banter and musings about life's meaning only a teen could express with full angst while awkwardly flirting with their counterpart - which is totally fitting since this is a YA story. The narration underlines that with a lot of humor, sprinkled with knowledge that only the reader will be privy to, while the characters are none the wiser. However, on the other hand, the story got a lot darker and weirder than I expected, with much more permanent consequences. That, in a way, made it feel much bigger than YA and possibly more suitable for older teens on the cusp of adulthood. Ultimately, this tonal inconsistency didn't fit the narration style in my mind.
In addition to that, I thought we'd mostly focus on James and Michelle, but we also learned about so many side characters, that I eventually found hard to keep track of. Same with the layout of the actual airport and its different gates and climates. While they added to the big picture, showing that this scenario was so much grander than the two kids, it simultaneously didn't allow for enough depth to get attached to certain characters.
Having said all that, the world building was still something else. There was a certain randomness to it that kept my heart racing with anxiety and worry, but also glee at what might happen next. It's a micro study of human behavior in the strangest of circumstances, and while it only scratched the surface of what makes us good and terrible as a species, it really delivered on some insightful and profound moments.
Lastly, I don't think this book will be for everyone. Personally, I was just mad at some points (mixed with some sad), but also very confused. It's a wild ride, that's for sure! If you feel like it might be the right story for you - go for it! Just, please, don't read it at an airport. Read it somewhere safe at home!
Fazit: 3/5 stars! Interesting but also wildly confusing and darker than expected.
January 13, 2023
Ok, here's the thing about this book I haven't heard anyone else say (maybe I didn't scroll down far enough):
It's totally a take on those Before Sunset, Before Sunrise movies directed by Richard Linklater. It's honestly surprising to me that Alsaid didn't bring those movies up in the Acknowledgements. The title seems to be a direct callback, and the vibe is very very that.
Plus wacky magic realism happenings apparently isolated to the airport the pair is wandering around in.
I like weird. I liked this a lot.
That said, I hate this cover. Not only because it'll be hard to read the title from across a school library. I would have omitted the human figures, changed the title font, maybe changed up the medium so it doesn't look like a bad photoshop job.
I'll be taking this out to middle schools and maybe high schools too.
It's totally a take on those Before Sunset, Before Sunrise movies directed by Richard Linklater. It's honestly surprising to me that Alsaid didn't bring those movies up in the Acknowledgements. The title seems to be a direct callback, and the vibe is very very that.
Plus wacky magic realism happenings apparently isolated to the airport the pair is wandering around in.
I like weird. I liked this a lot.
That said, I hate this cover. Not only because it'll be hard to read the title from across a school library. I would have omitted the human figures, changed the title font, maybe changed up the medium so it doesn't look like a bad photoshop job.
I'll be taking this out to middle schools and maybe high schools too.
April 27, 2022
This book was weird in what I think was the best way. The premise made me think this would be way more lighthearted and heavier on the romance, but it really looked at a lot of deep ideas about human nature that were very intriguing. The romance is still very good and the third person omniscient vibes were fun. I felt like I was inside all of the characters heads listening to their thoughts regardless of if they were deep thoughts or not. Overall an interesting read.
Thank you Netgalley and publishers for the Digital Advanced Copy!
Thank you Netgalley and publishers for the Digital Advanced Copy!
September 14, 2022
Two stars because the cover at least made the book look interesting, even thought the actual story wasn't.
August 6, 2022
What an unusual trip of a book. I would say it's very existential in nature, reminding me of something like an early Shaun David Hutchinson novel or something maybe from David Arnold. Am I 100% sure what actually happened there at the end? No, not really. But it was a wild ride to get here.
This is a book I'd probably struggle to recommend to teens just because it's so niche. It would take a specific kind of teen to recommend this book to. But, the comparison to a combination of Jumaji and The Sun is Also a Star is accurate, and you're sure to be invested as Alsaid takes you on this wild ride. It wasn't necessarily my cup of tea, but I think there is an audience out there for it!
This is a book I'd probably struggle to recommend to teens just because it's so niche. It would take a specific kind of teen to recommend this book to. But, the comparison to a combination of Jumaji and The Sun is Also a Star is accurate, and you're sure to be invested as Alsaid takes you on this wild ride. It wasn't necessarily my cup of tea, but I think there is an audience out there for it!
August 7, 2022
I love the premise of this book, but it felt like it went on for way too long, and I’m not sure how the glimpses into the minor characters’ minds really added to the story. Maybe I’m missing something. Also, who were the chorus of narrators supposed to be?! They were occasionally omniscient, occasionally clueless… who were they?!?
July 29, 2022
DNF. This book had a weird premise and I almost ended up not reading it, but it’s set in the Atlanta airport and that intrigued me. It pulled me in quickly at first although I still had no idea what was happening or why. Soooo I ended up not finishing it cause I was confused lol. (Gary is the real mvp)
July 30, 2022
Reminded me of The Anomaly, but liked this way more. The relationships were excellent, and the characters were well drawn; it felt real in spite of its fantasy.
Read
July 27, 2022
Trigger & Content Warnings
Racism
Panic attack, on-page
Cancer
Racism
Panic attack, on-page
Cancer
July 22, 2022
Not my favorite of Adi's books but a crazy quick tree
April 18, 2022
When I saw that this book called sort of a cross between The Sun is Also a Star and Jumanji, I was SOLD! I was ready for it! Totally ready! I wanted some more light-hearted fare for our school library. This is not light-hearted. This is quite somber and introspective. To me a comparison to Jumanji says fun adventure, survival, but this book was about surviving not only strange things afoot at the airport but the darkness of our minds.
So I have to recalibrate. This isn't Jumanji. And I would even hesitate to call it young adult even though the two heroes are 18 and 16. There were so many moments where the focus shifted to various adults in the airport that this felt bigger than YA.
If you want a book that looks at human nature, like really puts a lens on it, this is the book for you! If you are looking for adventure, I'm not sure this would satisfy for. All the introspection makes this a book about what makes people tick. The Jumanji stuff is just a plot device to shake people out of this auto-pilot to see how they would behave when things are strange and no way to explain it. The romantic part that is alluded to with the The Sun is Also a Star comparison feels secondary to the bigger ideas about humanity.
I liked it once I recalibrated.
When I think about my library, I think this may appeal to older teenagers who are facing the unknown of adulthood or teenagers who are interested in psychology.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a digital ARC for consideration.
So I have to recalibrate. This isn't Jumanji. And I would even hesitate to call it young adult even though the two heroes are 18 and 16. There were so many moments where the focus shifted to various adults in the airport that this felt bigger than YA.
If you want a book that looks at human nature, like really puts a lens on it, this is the book for you! If you are looking for adventure, I'm not sure this would satisfy for. All the introspection makes this a book about what makes people tick. The Jumanji stuff is just a plot device to shake people out of this auto-pilot to see how they would behave when things are strange and no way to explain it. The romantic part that is alluded to with the The Sun is Also a Star comparison feels secondary to the bigger ideas about humanity.
I liked it once I recalibrated.
When I think about my library, I think this may appeal to older teenagers who are facing the unknown of adulthood or teenagers who are interested in psychology.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a digital ARC for consideration.
June 10, 2022
In the author's acknowledgments, he mentions that this is a "weird trip of a book." And I think that's apt for Before Takeoff. I made a lot of notes while reading this, so bear with me because this review might be a bit messy.
Let's talk about James and Michelle. Michelle is so very funny that I liked her instantly. She helped to bring James out of his shell, and we see a young man with many thoughtful things to say. He gives Michelle's funny bone a run for her money. But she's going through some things right now, and she has her moments of reflection. It's careful and deep. This story is so much about their friendship, getting to know each other than just the airport. However, the airport is truly an adventure, highlighting many societal issues we're facing today.
The characters were richly detailed. I liked Roger and his font of positive vibes. I think when he finally met up with our crew, it felt complete.
Randomly, I found myself asking, How is the PA system working? Until I remembered that this is labeled fantasy, and we were going on an adventure of sorts. Without a doubt, this is a unique book. The directions taken are what make this book shine. I feel this book will appeal to upper YA and adult readers alike. Overall, this is an amusing and thoughtful read, nicely done.
Let's talk about James and Michelle. Michelle is so very funny that I liked her instantly. She helped to bring James out of his shell, and we see a young man with many thoughtful things to say. He gives Michelle's funny bone a run for her money. But she's going through some things right now, and she has her moments of reflection. It's careful and deep. This story is so much about their friendship, getting to know each other than just the airport. However, the airport is truly an adventure, highlighting many societal issues we're facing today.
The characters were richly detailed. I liked Roger and his font of positive vibes. I think when he finally met up with our crew, it felt complete.
Randomly, I found myself asking, How is the PA system working? Until I remembered that this is labeled fantasy, and we were going on an adventure of sorts. Without a doubt, this is a unique book. The directions taken are what make this book shine. I feel this book will appeal to upper YA and adult readers alike. Overall, this is an amusing and thoughtful read, nicely done.
December 31, 2022
DNF this book compares itself with Jumanji and yet ... I was waiting for something to happen that would get me hooked but instead I had to force myself to keep reading as far as I did
May 13, 2023
Great concept, but just didn’t hit the mark. Skimmed the last 1/2 of the book because I was curious about how the author would wrap up the story. Skip this one.
February 3, 2025
I read a lot of books. Because I love reading, yes, but also because I'm a librarian and it's an occupational hazard. And while I always enjoy the books I read on some level, churning through one after another can sometimes begin to feel a bit like a chore, can lead to the act of reading losing a bit of its zest. On one level I know I really liked reading a given book, but on another level I wasn't fully immersed in the pleasure of it the way I could be. And then, sometimes, in the midst of that, a book will come along that will shake me out of that state and remind me fully of the joyful experience reading a good book can be, leaving me with a happy, satisfied glow.
Before Takeoff was one such book for me. An unexpected delight. I found the lighthearted narrative voice charming and loved spending time in its company. It's conversational, personable, and personal. It spends the largest part of its time relating the perspective of James, a smaller but significant portion giving us insight through Michelle's eyes, bounces around into the heads of various other characters, and every so often speaks directly to readers; usually with foreboding warnings of ill to come. Because for all the lightheartedness of the narration, the story it tells includes some real horror and tragedy. Not only darkness, but some is definitely there.
For, ultimately, this is a story about humanity, about human existence in an unpredictable, unexplainable, absurd world. In an amplified, accelerated microcosm. James and Michelle are stuck in an airport waiting for delayed flights to depart, when something kind of weird happens. Then the weirdness escalates. To share specifics would delve into spoilers, so I'll simply say that eventually the airport seems to become its own pocket universe, cut off from the outside world, where the laws of physics, cause-and-effect, and normalcy are broken. The social contract breaks among the airport's occupants, too; the bonds of normalcy and consideration and compassion. People react in different ways, some forming tribes among the anarchy. James and Michelle find each other. Through it all, the narrator provides commentary, insight, and perspective, shedding light on different human reactions and tendencies.
How do you deal with the fact that life is scary and confusing? How do you find meaning and happiness in the midst of it?
And yet it, somehow, feels accurate to me; it captures some essence of truth in a way that makes me feel happy. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
-----
For flavor, a longer bit of the narrative:
Before Takeoff was one such book for me. An unexpected delight. I found the lighthearted narrative voice charming and loved spending time in its company. It's conversational, personable, and personal. It spends the largest part of its time relating the perspective of James, a smaller but significant portion giving us insight through Michelle's eyes, bounces around into the heads of various other characters, and every so often speaks directly to readers; usually with foreboding warnings of ill to come. Because for all the lightheartedness of the narration, the story it tells includes some real horror and tragedy. Not only darkness, but some is definitely there.
For, ultimately, this is a story about humanity, about human existence in an unpredictable, unexplainable, absurd world. In an amplified, accelerated microcosm. James and Michelle are stuck in an airport waiting for delayed flights to depart, when something kind of weird happens. Then the weirdness escalates. To share specifics would delve into spoilers, so I'll simply say that eventually the airport seems to become its own pocket universe, cut off from the outside world, where the laws of physics, cause-and-effect, and normalcy are broken. The social contract breaks among the airport's occupants, too; the bonds of normalcy and consideration and compassion. People react in different ways, some forming tribes among the anarchy. James and Michelle find each other. Through it all, the narrator provides commentary, insight, and perspective, shedding light on different human reactions and tendencies.
How do you deal with the fact that life is scary and confusing? How do you find meaning and happiness in the midst of it?
It seems everyone is grieving or destroying or fleeing on foot.This book reminds me in many ways of the movie Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. It's surreal and magical realism and romance, with just a bit of social commentary and philosophy thrown in; almost glib in its lighthearted representation of tragedy and horror. It's an odd, inventive, and unique mix that I'm sure doesn't work for everyone.
-----
"You have to admire life's ability to provide joy amidst heartache. I'm so often blind to that. Of course, that's because of a chemical imbalance in my brain, or whatever deep-seated childhood trauma causes my social anxiety."
-----
He's starting to question what this fear is good for. Absurd or not, there are events in the world that James will simply have to live through. The joy's nestled in among it.
-----
Just zoom in. Shit gets scary when you look at the big picture. But if you zoom in to individual people, I think you're more likely to feel better about the world. Zoom in, and you can see the good.
And yet it, somehow, feels accurate to me; it captures some essence of truth in a way that makes me feel happy. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
-----
For flavor, a longer bit of the narrative:
It is still unclear if there is something nefarious afoot in the Atlanta airport. The air-conditioning is whirring, strong as it ever was. The Wi-Fi signal is functional enough, though every fifteen minutes it forces users to click through and accept the terms and conditions again. In the too-bright white floodlights, the airport hallways look more like a film set, like the last act of an action movie, or the first act of a horror film. James would really rather not be in either. Where are the romcoms, you know?
He's sitting stiffly in his chair, wondering what he should be doing. He wonders what he should be feeling, if his reactions should more closely mirror what others around him are doing. Is panic the move here? He doesn't feel panic, not yet anyway.
The screamers have exhausted themselves, so the airport is much calmer. There seem to be no explosions, no gunfire, nothing that points toward violence or imminent danger. A few people are still running around. Those who look official have not drawn any weapons, and despite the strangeness of the situation, this detail puts James at ease. James has not seen anything like this before, but he knows that if shit is going down, you probably don't have to look far to find a gun.
June 16, 2022
I moved from wanting to give this book 4 stars or 3 stars a couple of times. I finally decided on 3 and a half stars. It’s not to say that I didn’t like this, I really did! It just also confused me a lot.
What I mean when I say ‘it confused me’ I meant that the comps are The Sun is Also a Star meets Jumanji. Now I’ve never read The Sun is Also a Star, and neither have I watched it (it’s been adapted into a movie this year? Last year?). But I love Jumanji. I’ve watched the original multiple times and the new sequels a couple of times. I love all of them. But I think I focused too much on the Jumanji side of the comp when I should’ve focused on the other side – even if I’ve never read the other comp.
Yes, this does have the fantasy element in it but also I wanted more? I did really enjoy the utter absurdity of snow falling in the airport and plants growing everywhere. Their phones being permanently on 100% and anytime they tried to post about what was happening – they just couldn’t. Like was it the airport somehow stopping them? Who knows and I quite liked that! I like the writing and that the author wrote an omniscient third person point of view. That was definitely different than other books I’ve read (I don’t even know of any other). There was often a feeling of show, don’t tell (meaning it felt like the author just described everything rather than letting the reader read about it), and I’m not a big fan of that.
The plot was interesting (even though I wanted more 😄). I did however become annoyed a lot of times as I’m like “do they not… think it’s super weird to have snow falling IN the airport? Why are they just walking around and holding hands?
I liked the characters enough, even though James and Michelle were instalove – not a favourite of mine, unfortunately. I like to build up to the relationship most of the time. It’s rare that I’ll enjoy an instalove and that’s usually due to the writing style or the plot/characters.
I also didn’t like their voices or personality as much as I had hoped to. Michelle felt like she was written as a Manic Pixie Dream Girl. Or like she only watches foreign art films and her favourite thing is to go to old bookstores – that type of quirky, I’m not like other girls vibe. She also kept giving all of these big speeches to James even though she’s just 2 years older than him. But other than that I liked her fierceness. She had plans and she wanted to fulfil them. I could get behind that!
I liked James a lot. He was funny and I liked that he just didn’t really know what he wanted to do a lot of times. Which, I know, is probably a weird thing to say, but I liked that. I would actually want to see more characters not knowing what their next step is – in any genre.
Unfortunately in this instance I would not be walking around with a stranger 😆. No matter how hot they are! I’ll be trying to get back to my parents. Like there has to be service stairs or normal stairs? Something the staff uses or a back entrance? I’d make a huge fuss over it so I think I would’ve liked to have seen that in the book.
There was a Harry Potter reference (referring to a Boggart) and you could’ve literally just replaced it with a normal shapeshifter and the reader would’ve understood?
What I mean when I say ‘it confused me’ I meant that the comps are The Sun is Also a Star meets Jumanji. Now I’ve never read The Sun is Also a Star, and neither have I watched it (it’s been adapted into a movie this year? Last year?). But I love Jumanji. I’ve watched the original multiple times and the new sequels a couple of times. I love all of them. But I think I focused too much on the Jumanji side of the comp when I should’ve focused on the other side – even if I’ve never read the other comp.
Yes, this does have the fantasy element in it but also I wanted more? I did really enjoy the utter absurdity of snow falling in the airport and plants growing everywhere. Their phones being permanently on 100% and anytime they tried to post about what was happening – they just couldn’t. Like was it the airport somehow stopping them? Who knows and I quite liked that! I like the writing and that the author wrote an omniscient third person point of view. That was definitely different than other books I’ve read (I don’t even know of any other). There was often a feeling of show, don’t tell (meaning it felt like the author just described everything rather than letting the reader read about it), and I’m not a big fan of that.
The plot was interesting (even though I wanted more 😄). I did however become annoyed a lot of times as I’m like “do they not… think it’s super weird to have snow falling IN the airport? Why are they just walking around and holding hands?
I liked the characters enough, even though James and Michelle were instalove – not a favourite of mine, unfortunately. I like to build up to the relationship most of the time. It’s rare that I’ll enjoy an instalove and that’s usually due to the writing style or the plot/characters.
I also didn’t like their voices or personality as much as I had hoped to. Michelle felt like she was written as a Manic Pixie Dream Girl. Or like she only watches foreign art films and her favourite thing is to go to old bookstores – that type of quirky, I’m not like other girls vibe. She also kept giving all of these big speeches to James even though she’s just 2 years older than him. But other than that I liked her fierceness. She had plans and she wanted to fulfil them. I could get behind that!
I liked James a lot. He was funny and I liked that he just didn’t really know what he wanted to do a lot of times. Which, I know, is probably a weird thing to say, but I liked that. I would actually want to see more characters not knowing what their next step is – in any genre.
Unfortunately in this instance I would not be walking around with a stranger 😆. No matter how hot they are! I’ll be trying to get back to my parents. Like there has to be service stairs or normal stairs? Something the staff uses or a back entrance? I’d make a huge fuss over it so I think I would’ve liked to have seen that in the book.
There was a Harry Potter reference (referring to a Boggart) and you could’ve literally just replaced it with a normal shapeshifter and the reader would’ve understood?
December 17, 2024
Set in an airport in Atlanta, Georgia, Before Takeoff focuses on 2 individuals: James & Michelle. James is a cautious teenager, coming from a background witnessing many incidents that left him somewhat afraid. Michelle is a girl who's traveled to many countries with her parents, making her well-cultured, but she comes with her own baggage: her last visit to her grandparents has left her bittered. The two get acquainted as they wait out for their flights home, and out of curiosity, Michelle presses a glowing green light button. And somehow, the airport is transformed into different dimensions, with each gate serving as an access to the snow, the desert, the jungle, etc. James & Michelle try to find their way around this new realm, and find their parents, whom disappeared when the airport transformed. But they're not alone, others are also transported and mutiny soon arises as desperation take hold.
Having read two works by the author, We Didn't Ask for This & Come On In, I thought the premise sounded interesting, if a little vague. The two leads are relatable and the plot is decently interesting to keep turning pages. However, I did find the writing a little disjointed here and there. It feels like it jumped scenes a few times and there are moments where we are introduced to other characters and how they go through the ordeals of the realm. However, given that much of their subplots do not really lead up to anything, it felt like it was a wasted opportunity to impact the plot of the leads. Another pet peeve is the introduction of characters near the end, here, there are one-offs that are given some description so late. However, I do like the message of living life to the fullest and going through with no regrets, which both James and Michelle learn once things are fixed back to normalcy. It's an okay book, with an a decent premise that kind of got brought down by disjointed writing. I'll still read other books by the author, just that this one wasn't as strong as the others I've read by him.
Having read two works by the author, We Didn't Ask for This & Come On In, I thought the premise sounded interesting, if a little vague. The two leads are relatable and the plot is decently interesting to keep turning pages. However, I did find the writing a little disjointed here and there. It feels like it jumped scenes a few times and there are moments where we are introduced to other characters and how they go through the ordeals of the realm. However, given that much of their subplots do not really lead up to anything, it felt like it was a wasted opportunity to impact the plot of the leads. Another pet peeve is the introduction of characters near the end, here, there are one-offs that are given some description so late. However, I do like the message of living life to the fullest and going through with no regrets, which both James and Michelle learn once things are fixed back to normalcy. It's an okay book, with an a decent premise that kind of got brought down by disjointed writing. I'll still read other books by the author, just that this one wasn't as strong as the others I've read by him.
June 26, 2022
Find this review and more on my blog at
Worlds Unlike Our Own
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Thank you to the publisher, Alfred A. Knopf BYR, and TBR and Beyond Tours for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
James and Michelle meet at the Atlanta airport while on a layover. With flights delayed all around, they decide to explore and find a strange flashing green light which turns out to be a button. Michelle presses it and while there is no effect that they can see immediately, they soon realize that the Atlanta airport has more or less been turned upside down. There are jungles growing in one terminal, snow and rain in another, and worst of all, no way to get out of the insanity that the airport is turning into. James and Michelle team up to locate their families who have mysteriously vanished in the havoc and find a way to stop the chaos.
This book has been on my TBR for quite some time now, so I was thrilled to be able to join this blog tour. I really enjoyed the last book I read by this author, Come On In, so I was very curious to see what this would be like, especially with the switch in genre. From the sound of the premise, I expected a read that would be on the more lighthearted side and action-packed given the comparison to Jumanji, so this story really took me aback when it went in a completely different direction. Despite that, it was interesting how it got pretty deep in places, reflecting on human nature and societal issues. Slower paced though it was, this book was still an adventure and a fun read and a look at how people might react under such bizarre and inexplicable circumstances.
James and Michelle were both likeable characters and the style of the narrative made it so that the can really get inside their heads and see what they are thinking through the whole crazy experience. The switches between the two POVs were nicely handled and the story moved between the perspectives seamlessly. In depth character development was not really something I expected from this book, but both their arcs were written so well. The narrative also does switch focus to other adults in the airport from time to time which was an interesting choice in a YA novel and it added an fascinating perspective to the story.
I felt the pacing was rather slow however, and the story dragged a lot in the middle, where not much was happening and there was just a lot of descriptions that didn’t really seem necessary. I found myself skimming a lot in those sections, just waiting for the story to move along, which was quite annoying.
Before Takeoff was an engaging read with a very unique concept and I enjoyed it. I would recommend this book for fans of any genre and it is the type of story that would appeal to readers of both YA and adult fiction. I’m looking forward to seeing what book this author writes next!
Thank you to the publisher, Alfred A. Knopf BYR, and TBR and Beyond Tours for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
James and Michelle meet at the Atlanta airport while on a layover. With flights delayed all around, they decide to explore and find a strange flashing green light which turns out to be a button. Michelle presses it and while there is no effect that they can see immediately, they soon realize that the Atlanta airport has more or less been turned upside down. There are jungles growing in one terminal, snow and rain in another, and worst of all, no way to get out of the insanity that the airport is turning into. James and Michelle team up to locate their families who have mysteriously vanished in the havoc and find a way to stop the chaos.
This book has been on my TBR for quite some time now, so I was thrilled to be able to join this blog tour. I really enjoyed the last book I read by this author, Come On In, so I was very curious to see what this would be like, especially with the switch in genre. From the sound of the premise, I expected a read that would be on the more lighthearted side and action-packed given the comparison to Jumanji, so this story really took me aback when it went in a completely different direction. Despite that, it was interesting how it got pretty deep in places, reflecting on human nature and societal issues. Slower paced though it was, this book was still an adventure and a fun read and a look at how people might react under such bizarre and inexplicable circumstances.
James and Michelle were both likeable characters and the style of the narrative made it so that the can really get inside their heads and see what they are thinking through the whole crazy experience. The switches between the two POVs were nicely handled and the story moved between the perspectives seamlessly. In depth character development was not really something I expected from this book, but both their arcs were written so well. The narrative also does switch focus to other adults in the airport from time to time which was an interesting choice in a YA novel and it added an fascinating perspective to the story.
I felt the pacing was rather slow however, and the story dragged a lot in the middle, where not much was happening and there was just a lot of descriptions that didn’t really seem necessary. I found myself skimming a lot in those sections, just waiting for the story to move along, which was quite annoying.
Before Takeoff was an engaging read with a very unique concept and I enjoyed it. I would recommend this book for fans of any genre and it is the type of story that would appeal to readers of both YA and adult fiction. I’m looking forward to seeing what book this author writes next!
June 25, 2022
This wild ride of a YA novel is certainly different from the usual offerings. I would advise anyone planning a flight to hold off on reading it until after they return home and are far, far away from the airport. At its heart, it's an airport disaster and survival story that takes place over the course of 15 or so hours in the Atlanta airport. Sixteen-year-old James Herrera is homeward bound for Chicago after a family vacation when he happens to meet eighteen-year-old Michelle who is traveling to Toronto and then Quebec with her family after a visit to her grandparents in Bordeaux. As often happens during stressful times, the two get to chatting while walking around and killing time until their flights are called, and then quickly become closer, maybe even falling in love, as all hell breaks loose at the airport. All flights are delayed, and time seems suspended. The lights go off and then on, and Michelle presses a glowing green button, which may or may not have anything to do with what follows. Suddenly, parts of the airport are freezing and covered in snow while others are blazing hot and a veritable jungle. As might be expected, several of the would-be passengers for various flights begin behaving badly, looking for someone to blame, becoming violent, looting, stealing, and becoming suspicious of others. Some of the passengers build shelters and try to form governments to make things run smoothly. James and Michelle wander through the various concourses trying to find their families. As they walk, run, and hide from the violence, they share deep thoughts and connections while trying to figure out what's happening. While this is something of a romance, it's also science fiction and social commentary since some of the secondary characters behave just as badly as might be expected. As the book concludes, readers are left wondering what happened and why and whether James and Michelle will ever pick up where they left off. The author has an interesting storytelling style that draws readers in through the use of description, asides, and references to events that will occur in the future. Honestly, this book includes just about every worst-case scenario concerning airports that could be imagined.
June 5, 2022
I've got to say, this book was not at all what I expected - for better and for worse.
Since this was pitched as "The Sun Is Also a Star" meets "Jumanji", I was expecting an adventure-filled story with loads of thrill and action; something that would leave even me drenched in sweat as I flicked through the pages. It wasn't that, though.
Sure, it had its moments of suspense and conflict, but that wasn't the main point, not really.
"Before Takeoff" is a story of introspection intermingled with bouts of awkward hilarity, crushes from when you're sixteen, and, most importantly, tragedy. And that was great, it was nice to see this sort of story, but there were times when that wasn't enough. Moments when I didn't feel the need to know what happened next and wanted to skip through the thoughts of certain characters, when I felt that the characters were human and me, but also foreign because of the vernacular.
Overall, it was a great story, but it's something of an acquired taste. I'm sure others would love it, and I do too, but I don't adore it like I do other books.
P.S. Thank you to Adi and Random House Childrens' Books for the e-ARC I got thanks to my being a book reviewer at MuggleNet.
Since this was pitched as "The Sun Is Also a Star" meets "Jumanji", I was expecting an adventure-filled story with loads of thrill and action; something that would leave even me drenched in sweat as I flicked through the pages. It wasn't that, though.
Sure, it had its moments of suspense and conflict, but that wasn't the main point, not really.
"Before Takeoff" is a story of introspection intermingled with bouts of awkward hilarity, crushes from when you're sixteen, and, most importantly, tragedy. And that was great, it was nice to see this sort of story, but there were times when that wasn't enough. Moments when I didn't feel the need to know what happened next and wanted to skip through the thoughts of certain characters, when I felt that the characters were human and me, but also foreign because of the vernacular.
Overall, it was a great story, but it's something of an acquired taste. I'm sure others would love it, and I do too, but I don't adore it like I do other books.
P.S. Thank you to Adi and Random House Childrens' Books for the e-ARC I got thanks to my being a book reviewer at MuggleNet.
July 13, 2022
Have you ever gotten stuck in the airport?
Before Takeoff by Adi Alsaid will make you rethink your experiences.
James and Michelle couldn't be more different. One thing they have in common is that they are both in the Atlanta airport with delayed flights. Then Michelle pushes a green button and things get weird.
Seriously weird. The airport is cut off from the rest of the world. It's snowing in one terminal and a literal jungle in another. A society is building. There's a random dance party and an igloo. So odd even for Hartsfield-Jackson. Our heroes then do a lot of soul searching and plotting to break the spell that is holding the airport in its grip.
I read Alsaid's novel Let's Get Lost recently and really liked it. This one didn't quite live up to my expectations, but mostly because I wasn't quite ready for it. It's weird. Speculative Fiction is something I generally have to be psyched up for. That being said, if you're into speculative fiction, teen thrillers, or are stuck in the airport in Atlanta, this one may be for you!
Thank you to the author, publisher, and @netgalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
CW: violence, death
Before Takeoff by Adi Alsaid will make you rethink your experiences.
James and Michelle couldn't be more different. One thing they have in common is that they are both in the Atlanta airport with delayed flights. Then Michelle pushes a green button and things get weird.
Seriously weird. The airport is cut off from the rest of the world. It's snowing in one terminal and a literal jungle in another. A society is building. There's a random dance party and an igloo. So odd even for Hartsfield-Jackson. Our heroes then do a lot of soul searching and plotting to break the spell that is holding the airport in its grip.
I read Alsaid's novel Let's Get Lost recently and really liked it. This one didn't quite live up to my expectations, but mostly because I wasn't quite ready for it. It's weird. Speculative Fiction is something I generally have to be psyched up for. That being said, if you're into speculative fiction, teen thrillers, or are stuck in the airport in Atlanta, this one may be for you!
Thank you to the author, publisher, and @netgalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
CW: violence, death
Read
June 6, 2022What. The. Heck. Did. I. Just. Read? I'm not sure I have the proper words to describe what this book is. But it comes out in Tuesday (6/7/22) if you're interested in a magical realism type of YA story.
I requested it from Netgalley because it takes place at the Atlanta Airport and I am all too familiar with that place. It started out normal enough with two teenagers meeting in ATL during a layover. Michelle then presses a bright, green, blinking button on a wall and hell starts breaking loose. The airport becomes alive(?) In a way and develops new climate zones, like snow in the T terminal and torrential rain in the B terminal. It becomes a bit of a lord of the fly situation in different parts with also a mix of the left behind rapture. And in the middle of it all is Michelle and James who are just trying to survive themselves and find their families. I honestly can't say if I liked it or hated it because I'm so confused by it. If you're a frequent ATL traveler, you'll at least enjoy and understand all the airport description and settings.
I requested it from Netgalley because it takes place at the Atlanta Airport and I am all too familiar with that place. It started out normal enough with two teenagers meeting in ATL during a layover. Michelle then presses a bright, green, blinking button on a wall and hell starts breaking loose. The airport becomes alive(?) In a way and develops new climate zones, like snow in the T terminal and torrential rain in the B terminal. It becomes a bit of a lord of the fly situation in different parts with also a mix of the left behind rapture. And in the middle of it all is Michelle and James who are just trying to survive themselves and find their families. I honestly can't say if I liked it or hated it because I'm so confused by it. If you're a frequent ATL traveler, you'll at least enjoy and understand all the airport description and settings.
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