Review on 'Love At First Flight' by Jo Watson 🛬

Amazon Link: https://amzn.eu/d/0PnIxKy

Author: Jo Watson

Format Read: Paperback

Pages: 352

Publication Date: 18th January 2024

Author Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jowatsonwrites/?hl=en

Author Website: https://www.jowatsonwrites.com/

Review:

I’m not going to lie, the books I have been reading recently have been so interesting. They have shown me so many other versions of the world, which have been really interesting, and I have loved learning about them. This is just another reason why I love to read: the different lives, cultures, and experiences you get to live, and this was 100% one of those novels.

First off, it starts with a three-page author note stating that the character of Pippa is slightly based on her and her latest autism diagnosis. It must be so difficult and scary, but amazing to put so much of your own life into your work and then have it out there for the world to see. But I believe that this is so beneficial for others, so that they can understand what other people’s lives are like. I felt like I learnt so much from this novel, and though it was a romance, it felt like so much more, and I really enjoyed the representation that was a main part throughout.

This is the love story of Pippa and Andrew. Pippa is an ATC (Air Traffic Controller) who dreams of running her own airport, and Andrew is a pilot who dreams of international flights. They have one thing in common: they both want to get their family and friends off their backs about not being in a serious relationship. The best way to do that instead of just telling them to leave them alone, is obviously to find someone who is willing to pretend to be your partner. Nothing will go wrong, obviously. They technically already know each other, due to the six months they have spoken over the ATC radio at work, but they don’t officially meet until they accidentally run into each other in her favourite coffee shop. And there is just nothing cuter than realising who they are just by their voice – especially as before they meet, she has said she really likes his voice.

Commence operation: Get people off our backs by fake dating each other! First stop: her reunion - the reason for the entire fake dating plan. However, at the reunion, Andrew does get a little carried away by suddenly saying they are engaged because everyone - and I mean everyone - at her reunion has either got engaged, married, or has kids. Basically, the pressure for everyone to "have their life sorted out" by the time they are 30, otherwise, they are behind.

Over the months, they start to fall for each other more and more, and it highlights that he adores pretty much everything she does. They meet the friends and the family members, merging their lives into one - all under the pretext of fake dating.

I really felt like I was in Pippa’s head with a mixture of short and long sentences to show her quick or confused thoughts. There were also a lot of focused descriptions on things she found satisfying. I love the descriptions in relation to the ATC monitors as well, and how she focuses a lot on how she really enjoys Andrew’s appearance. I love that she doesn't really try to hide herself when she is around him because she feels safe with him. It really brought the character to life when she talks through how her brain works and how it would be easier for everyone to just say what they mean - I have to agree with that one. I mean, can everyone stop assuming that others know what they mean instead of just communicating what they want someone else to know?

There was a moment where I was confused in the story and had a misunderstanding with the character. I was annoyed at Andrew because it seemed that he was upset with Pippa for not understanding that he wanted to be more than friends with her after they had slept together and her feelings became too overwhelming, but I thought he knew that she was on the autism spectrum. But what I think actually happened was that he was giving her time to realise what he meant. He was so in love with her and even though he understood and was patient with her, he still had feelings that every human being has of being rejected. To me, it seems like he was trying to distance himself for both of them to have some time, and I think that must have been the best thing he could have done. I mean, this novel wasn't dual POV, so I will never really know what Andrew felt in these moments, and I can only really assume and make guesses, but I like to think that this is what he did for them.

It was one of the cutest love confessions I have read in a while. I love a good love confession where they describe everything they love about that person. For them, though…he eased her worries about her thinking that nobody would want to date her after they found out she was on the autism spectrum. He proved her wrong! Everything he loved about her was because she was different and was a refreshing type of human being.

It did break my heart that Pippa believed she was unlovable due to her autism. I cannot fathom the pain she - potentially the community of autistic people - must feel based on the thoughts of the ignorant and uncaring people around them. Throughout the novel, you could tell that Andrew knew she was different but still loved her and her company anyway.

I really did love the world that this book took me to, and I hope that you will as well because it was so much more than just two people falling in love, even though I obviously loved that bit as well.

Until the next chapter,

#BellesBookBabble