Although she’s dreamed of getting her pilot’s license for years, Beth has been too busy waitressing in a diner outside Arlington so she can pay for her mom’s medical bills and the mortgage on their fixer-upper house. When her beloved, wealthy brother arranges for his friend George Bunsen to give Beth a flight in his plane, she’s thrilled to be up in the air, until engine failure leads to George having to execute an emergency landing. Beth is terrified by the situation but turned on by his composure. She’s shocked to find that she’s crushing on a man who actively tries to ignore her most of the time, and when he offers to teach her to fly—for free—she can’t say no. She tries to balance her time between flying and work, but she also worries about the ticking countdown to when she’ll have to admit a secret she’s been keeping from her brother. Also, her libido is out of control around her stoic instructor, and the closer she gets to him, the more enamored she becomes. Go-getter, people-pleasing Beth is relatable as she tries so hard to keep everything under control and provide for her loved ones while also yearning to pursue her dreams. Her desire for hot pilot George is entertaining, but the driving conflicts in this story don’t feel plausible, and it’s frustrating that the tension relies on secrets that could easily be hashed out through open conversation. Connolly thoughtfully handles elements of class and gender, and the sibling relationship is adorable; however, there’s not enough push-pull in the central romantic relationship to make it feel fully formed.
