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Airport Novellas #2
The Missed Connection
3 hours, 30 minutes
Two strangers share a romantic night together only to discover months later they're professional rivals in this grumpy meets sunshine romance novella from the acclaimed author of How To Fail at Flirting.
Gia loves her job as a professor, even when it means dealing with an elusive rival academic who’s made it his mission to criticize her work. When she meets him for the first time, she’s shocked to learn they’ve met before. Months earlier, they shared a perfect New Year’s Eve together in an airport during a weather delay.
After months of working together, Felix still can’t believe the person whose research he's been challenging is the same captivating woman he kissed that night. The two couldn’t be more different. Gia is bubbly, friendly, and extroverted and drives ordered, serious Felix nuts.
Now the two have been assigned to embark on a five-school tour for work. Gia and Felix can’t imagine a travel partner they’d enjoy less until they feel the sparks fly over their shared armrests, security mishaps, and a shared hotel room. They'll need to decide if they can manage their professional tension, or risk missing the connection of a lifetime.
Two strangers share a romantic night together only to discover months later they're professional rivals in this grumpy meets sunshine romance novella from the acclaimed author of How To Fail at Flirting.
Gia loves her job as a professor, even when it means dealing with an elusive rival academic who’s made it his mission to criticize her work. When she meets him for the first time, she’s shocked to learn they’ve met before. Months earlier, they shared a perfect New Year’s Eve together in an airport during a weather delay.
After months of working together, Felix still can’t believe the person whose research he's been challenging is the same captivating woman he kissed that night. The two couldn’t be more different. Gia is bubbly, friendly, and extroverted and drives ordered, serious Felix nuts.
Now the two have been assigned to embark on a five-school tour for work. Gia and Felix can’t imagine a travel partner they’d enjoy less until they feel the sparks fly over their shared armrests, security mishaps, and a shared hotel room. They'll need to decide if they can manage their professional tension, or risk missing the connection of a lifetime.
Audiobook
First published May 3, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 534 reviews
June 29, 2022
The airport series of Denise Williams keep growing on me! I honestly enjoy the second book more than the first one! Female STEM choice as leading character and enemies/ rivalries to lovers troupe were the biggest reasons I went blind for it!
I already liked Gia in the first book of the series as Bennett’s friend. Now we have an opportunity to learn more about that outgoing, confident, smart woman who has no idea she had one memorable night at the airport with her biggest enemy!
The man she shared a passionate kiss is the same man who mercilessly criticizing her scientific researches. And now they’re stuck together as colleagues to visit universities and colleges. Poor Gia hardly restraint herself not to punch the man who unfairly tarnishes her reputation but she also hardly resists the temptation to tear his clothes off.
This is so entertaining, steamy, smart novella! If you enjoy the first book, I highly suggest you to read this one! It can be also read as a standalone! Just buckle up and enjoy the view up in the air!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
I already liked Gia in the first book of the series as Bennett’s friend. Now we have an opportunity to learn more about that outgoing, confident, smart woman who has no idea she had one memorable night at the airport with her biggest enemy!
The man she shared a passionate kiss is the same man who mercilessly criticizing her scientific researches. And now they’re stuck together as colleagues to visit universities and colleges. Poor Gia hardly restraint herself not to punch the man who unfairly tarnishes her reputation but she also hardly resists the temptation to tear his clothes off.
This is so entertaining, steamy, smart novella! If you enjoy the first book, I highly suggest you to read this one! It can be also read as a standalone! Just buckle up and enjoy the view up in the air!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
June 27, 2022
I’m loving these novella series that start up romances at an airport. I almost wish they were full length novels though we get enough of a story within 140 pages.
Our main characters complimented each other perfectly. Felix is your typical, adorable grump and Gia is definitely a sunshine. Extroverted, outgoing, friendly and just a vibe to be around.
And the writing. Denise Williams writes like a dream.
The audiobook was great for this. I mean, it’s Jakobi Diem. He’s a dream to listen to. They really brought this story to life.
4.5 ✨
Our main characters complimented each other perfectly. Felix is your typical, adorable grump and Gia is definitely a sunshine. Extroverted, outgoing, friendly and just a vibe to be around.
And the writing. Denise Williams writes like a dream.
The audiobook was great for this. I mean, it’s Jakobi Diem. He’s a dream to listen to. They really brought this story to life.
4.5 ✨
September 17, 2022
For the second of the Airport Novellas, we have Gia’s love story. Gia is the best friend of Bennett from the first book, and I really enjoyed her in both stories. She’s a professor, so the backdrop is academia. She works with Felix, a total grump of a man, but they meet first for the first time at the airport.
It’s an enjoyable and sweet story. It was fun to have cameos by Ollie and Bennett from the first book. Easy reading with an uplifting feel.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
It’s an enjoyable and sweet story. It was fun to have cameos by Ollie and Bennett from the first book. Easy reading with an uplifting feel.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
June 27, 2022
Eh this was just okay. I think the pacing was a bit weird and I literally thought a chunk of the book was cut out because it just jumped forward a lot and I had no idea what was going on. Then there were other parts that were really slow and I didn't really care for. I love the idea of these two people spending a magical time stranded in the airport and then meeting later and having to act totally different with each other in a professional setting. But I didn't really care? I wasn't drawn to this romance and just wanted to be done to move on to my next book.
July 31, 2022
4 stars
June 16, 2022
I’m really enjoying this trend of short little interconnected audio novellas. While this wasn’t anything especially groundbreaking, it was a lovely way to spend a few hours this morning! The tension between Gia and Felix was perfect and this was delightfully steamy at all the right moments. I also really liked Denise Williams’ writing style and I absolutely plan to read the rest of the novellas in this series. So fun!
September 22, 2024
3 ⭐
This one was also pretty nice, it follows more or less the same line as her previous novel; everything is based mostly in an airport.
We barely know anything about the next (and last) book, but I really like that the main trope is going to be coworkers and friends to lovers 🤭💜
This one was also pretty nice, it follows more or less the same line as her previous novel; everything is based mostly in an airport.
We barely know anything about the next (and last) book, but I really like that the main trope is going to be coworkers and friends to lovers 🤭💜
July 19, 2022
This was so cute! I'm a sucker for for a STEM heroine and a nerdy hero, which this definitely delivers.
After an impromptu New Years kiss between strangers, Gia and Felix realize they are actually academic rivals in chemistry and computer modeling and Felix is about to become the newest professor in Gia's department. But when they are sent on a series of work-related trips, things heat up again between the two.
I found this to be thoroughly charming. It's a novella so there are some big time jumps, but I think structuring all the on-page scenes around travel actually works to keep it together. Gia is outgoing and creative, Felix is introverted and awkward, but they are both brilliant and bring out the best in each other. Their banter was adorably nerdy. And Gia is a queer woman who dates both men and women, so yay for casual queer rep! The audio narrators are great. Let's be real, anything narrated by Jakobi Diem is going to be great. I received an audio copy for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
After an impromptu New Years kiss between strangers, Gia and Felix realize they are actually academic rivals in chemistry and computer modeling and Felix is about to become the newest professor in Gia's department. But when they are sent on a series of work-related trips, things heat up again between the two.
I found this to be thoroughly charming. It's a novella so there are some big time jumps, but I think structuring all the on-page scenes around travel actually works to keep it together. Gia is outgoing and creative, Felix is introverted and awkward, but they are both brilliant and bring out the best in each other. Their banter was adorably nerdy. And Gia is a queer woman who dates both men and women, so yay for casual queer rep! The audio narrators are great. Let's be real, anything narrated by Jakobi Diem is going to be great. I received an audio copy for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
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May 11, 2022Review and rating to come after release.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley
March 26, 2025
3.25⭑
Okay this was a super cute novella. I didn’t quite enjoy it compared to the Love Connection but it was still enjoyable.
I did deduct one whole star off my final rating because of the TikTok references. I’m sorry but I hate it 🫢
Okay this was a super cute novella. I didn’t quite enjoy it compared to the Love Connection but it was still enjoyable.
I did deduct one whole star off my final rating because of the TikTok references. I’m sorry but I hate it 🫢
May 16, 2022
This was alright, but I definitely enjoyed the first novella in the series more.
May 25, 2022
THIS is how you write a wonderful academia set romance - with two grown-ups who have a meet cute moment on NYE at the airport and then ope turn out to be academic rivals who have been arguing via paper and publication.
Super fun, sexy, and with lovely narration from both narrators. Highly recommend!
Also loved that the heroine was bisexual without it being a plot mover; she just is!
thank you to PRH Audio for the advance copy.
Disclosure: I am friends with the author
Super fun, sexy, and with lovely narration from both narrators. Highly recommend!
Also loved that the heroine was bisexual without it being a plot mover; she just is!
thank you to PRH Audio for the advance copy.
Disclosure: I am friends with the author
January 20, 2025
Cute, quick read.
May 5, 2022
Audiobook Review
Overall 3 stars
Performance 4 stars
Story 2 stars
I loved the premise of this novella - grumpy & sunshine professional enemies to lovers, but sadly the story fell flat for me. I never truly felt any romantic connection between Gia and Felix and their interactions seemed very forced. The ending was very sweet though and I enjoyed the mentions/cameos from Bennett and Ollie. The narration by Zenzi Williams and Jakobi Diem was great, but I did find Jakobi Diem's cadence a little slow. I really enjoyed the performance by Zenzi Williams though and look forward to listening to more of her titles.
CW: workplace misogyny
*I voluntarily listened to a review copy of this book*
Overall 3 stars
Performance 4 stars
Story 2 stars
I loved the premise of this novella - grumpy & sunshine professional enemies to lovers, but sadly the story fell flat for me. I never truly felt any romantic connection between Gia and Felix and their interactions seemed very forced. The ending was very sweet though and I enjoyed the mentions/cameos from Bennett and Ollie. The narration by Zenzi Williams and Jakobi Diem was great, but I did find Jakobi Diem's cadence a little slow. I really enjoyed the performance by Zenzi Williams though and look forward to listening to more of her titles.
CW: workplace misogyny
*I voluntarily listened to a review copy of this book*
November 26, 2023
Glad to see the author is still writing stories about academics in academia. The setup of this story is very cleverly executed: two strangers meet in the airport on New Year’s Eve, only to learn later that they aren’t total strangers. This novella isn’t as successful as the author’s debut (in my opinion), but I think this story could have been an easy 5 stars if the idea was fully fleshed out in a full length novel. Still enjoyable though.
July 28, 2022
3.5⭐️ not as great as the first novella. Still enjoyed !
June 22, 2022
I’m loving these novellas and really appreciate romance set in the world of academia ❤️
July 3, 2022
Angsty romance! Oo la la! A bit clunky for the first 1/3 of the story.
June 6, 2022
I didn’t like this one at all. It was somehow worse than the first novella. I could not buy Gia and Felix as a couple and Felix was an insufferable character. The narrators also were not the greatest so that played a pretty huge role.
February 15, 2023
Really cute!
April 30, 2022
3.5⭐️ This was sweet and definitely enjoyed the novella but I enjoyed the first one more.
June 7, 2022
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/ 🌶️
Tropes: opposites attract, grumpy/sunshine, rivals to lovers, workplace romance,
TW/CW: sexism, racism
Representation: bisexual rep, woman in stem,
Thoughts: okay this book was everything I needed and more! Bisexual black woman? Black woman in stem!? Chile two black people in stem!? Come on now! Felix was this up right no nonsense type of man and Gia was the completely opposite! I didn’t think they would work but the more I read the more it made sense. They balanced each other out so well and they really pushed each other to do better! Ugh I loved everything about this!!
Tropes: opposites attract, grumpy/sunshine, rivals to lovers, workplace romance,
TW/CW: sexism, racism
Representation: bisexual rep, woman in stem,
Thoughts: okay this book was everything I needed and more! Bisexual black woman? Black woman in stem!? Chile two black people in stem!? Come on now! Felix was this up right no nonsense type of man and Gia was the completely opposite! I didn’t think they would work but the more I read the more it made sense. They balanced each other out so well and they really pushed each other to do better! Ugh I loved everything about this!!
December 31, 2023
3.5 stars ✨
Another cute one for the go.
I like that she continued with the setting of the airport and the characters from the first novella.
Love is the the air ✈️ 😉
Another cute one for the go.
I like that she continued with the setting of the airport and the characters from the first novella.
Love is the the air ✈️ 😉
January 11, 2024
Actual rating: 4.5 stars
This book had the perfect formula to be the exact kind of romance book I would absolutely love, but I couldn't appreciate it fully. I loved it, don't get me wrong, but I read an audiobook and I didn't like the narrators (mostly Felix's narrator) and the way they landed most lines didn't really work for me.
Maybe if I'll re-read it myself instead of listening to it I'll be able to give it a full 5 stars.
Gia was a little too touchy with Felix, who was still just a stranger, during their first meeting and that made me personally a bit uncomfortable (because I'm a bit touch averse). But it was mostly just a thing for the first chapter.
Like the first book, this one also had a bit of a rushed ending. In the previous book it still worked and didn't really hinder my experience, but in this one I would have loved them to have had a bit more conversations about their insecurities about getting together.
This book had the perfect formula to be the exact kind of romance book I would absolutely love, but I couldn't appreciate it fully. I loved it, don't get me wrong, but I read an audiobook and I didn't like the narrators (mostly Felix's narrator) and the way they landed most lines didn't really work for me.
Maybe if I'll re-read it myself instead of listening to it I'll be able to give it a full 5 stars.
Gia was a little too touchy with Felix, who was still just a stranger, during their first meeting and that made me personally a bit uncomfortable (because I'm a bit touch averse). But it was mostly just a thing for the first chapter.
Like the first book, this one also had a bit of a rushed ending. In the previous book it still worked and didn't really hinder my experience, but in this one I would have loved them to have had a bit more conversations about their insecurities about getting together.
May 6, 2022
Denise Williams’ novella series continues to be the satisfying HEA that I need.
Gia was reeling from a break-up with her girlfriend when she met Felix, a quirky and handsome man at the airport on New Year’s Eve. They spent the evening talking and ended it with an NYE kiss. They didn’t expect to see each other again, but as fate would have it, Felix was later introduced as Gia’s new coworker. Through a series of campus visits across the country, Felix and Gia got to know each other and tested the waters if their relationship could be more than friendly coworkers who kissed every now and then.
Gia was introduced in The Love Connection as Bennett’s playful best friend. She still had that playful and adventurous side, but Williams also underlined her vulnerabilities and frustrations with being a woman in academia. Felix was her opposite in all aspects, he didn’t like going out and he believed in logic rather than experimentation. It was such a joy to follow along with this opposites-attract romance and Williams did a fantastic job of acknowledging the double standards in academia.
This was my first experience with Jakobi Diem and I now understand. To say his voice was like butter is an understatement and he captured Felix’s quirky nature. Zenzi Williams was a new-to-me narrator (who is also an actress) that portrayed Gia; it was clear that she understood Gia’s motivations and frustrations. These audiobooks have been a lot of fun and I recommend them to anyone looking to break up their commute.
The Missed Connection will have you swoony, especially the epilogue!
Gia was reeling from a break-up with her girlfriend when she met Felix, a quirky and handsome man at the airport on New Year’s Eve. They spent the evening talking and ended it with an NYE kiss. They didn’t expect to see each other again, but as fate would have it, Felix was later introduced as Gia’s new coworker. Through a series of campus visits across the country, Felix and Gia got to know each other and tested the waters if their relationship could be more than friendly coworkers who kissed every now and then.
Gia was introduced in The Love Connection as Bennett’s playful best friend. She still had that playful and adventurous side, but Williams also underlined her vulnerabilities and frustrations with being a woman in academia. Felix was her opposite in all aspects, he didn’t like going out and he believed in logic rather than experimentation. It was such a joy to follow along with this opposites-attract romance and Williams did a fantastic job of acknowledging the double standards in academia.
This was my first experience with Jakobi Diem and I now understand. To say his voice was like butter is an understatement and he captured Felix’s quirky nature. Zenzi Williams was a new-to-me narrator (who is also an actress) that portrayed Gia; it was clear that she understood Gia’s motivations and frustrations. These audiobooks have been a lot of fun and I recommend them to anyone looking to break up their commute.
The Missed Connection will have you swoony, especially the epilogue!
April 5, 2023
Ooooh it’s hard to say but I think this was my favorite of the three!! I love the way they fit together despite being opposites, and the ending made me cry 🥹
CW: Sexual content, workplace misogyny
CW: Sexual content, workplace misogyny
June 16, 2022
3.5 stars
Thank you to @PRHAudio for this complimentary audiobook! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I loved the idea of this book--grumpy Felix and sunshine Gia. They meet/kiss on NYE at the airport only to find out later they are co-workers. I didn't really feel the connection between them so much, though.
I loved the narrator for Gia and will definitely be looking for more by her. I thought the narrator for Felix sounded too old. It just didn't fit my image of him.
This wasn't as good as the first airport novella, but I am a huge fan of this author and can't wait for the third novella in this series.
Thank you to @PRHAudio for this complimentary audiobook! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I loved the idea of this book--grumpy Felix and sunshine Gia. They meet/kiss on NYE at the airport only to find out later they are co-workers. I didn't really feel the connection between them so much, though.
I loved the narrator for Gia and will definitely be looking for more by her. I thought the narrator for Felix sounded too old. It just didn't fit my image of him.
This wasn't as good as the first airport novella, but I am a huge fan of this author and can't wait for the third novella in this series.
May 6, 2022
This one was just ok for me. Part of it was that I had a hard time buying Gia and Felix as a couple, a big part due to Felix. I found it really hard to like him or root for him to end up with Gia. I did like that he finally stood up to the university guy for Gia, but it took a couple tries for that to happen. In the end, I was happy they figured things out and thought the ending was fitting for them both.
May 6, 2022
The idea of the story was definitely and interesting one....and if not for the narration I think I would have stopped listening to the story....The writing was a little dry and simplistic. There was no dimension to these characters.
April 30, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️ -Audiobook (I really loved Ms. William’s How to Fail at Flirting so I decided to read something else by her. Unfortunately this wasn’t that great. It is a three novella series and I’m a glutton for punishment so I’ll probably read the other two books.)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 534 reviews