Author: Lacie Waldon
Publication Date: 15 June 2021
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons
Page Count: 320
Reading Method: Physical ARC [Thank you to the publisher!]
Dates Read: June 24 – 25
Synopsis:
After ten years as a flight attendant, Ava Greene is poised to hang up her wings and finally put down roots. She’s got one trip left before she bids her old life farewell, and she plans to enjoy every second of it. But then she discovers that former pilot Jack Stone–the absurdly gorgeous, ridiculously cocky man she’s held a secret grudge against for years–is on her flight. And he has the nerve to flirt with her, as if he doesn’t remember the role he played in the most humiliating night of her life. Good thing she never has to see him again after they land….
But when their plane encounters mechanical problems, what should have been a quick stop at the Belize airport suddenly becomes a weekend layover. Getting stuck on a three-hour flight with her nemesis was bad enough. Being stranded with him at a luxury resort in paradise? Even with the sultry breeze and white sand to distract her, it will take all the rum punch in the country to drown out his larger-than-life presence.
Yet the more time Ava spends with him under the hot Caribbean sun, the more she begins to second-guess everything she thought she knew about him…and everything she thought she wanted from her life. And all too soon, she might have to choose between keeping her feet on the ground and her head in the clouds….
Review:
If you could get stuck on a layover anywhere in the world, where would you like to be?
In THE LAYOVER, flight attendant Ava Greene is working her last flight ever. The crew gets stuck on a layover in Belize and Ava is forced to come to terms with her relationship, the future of her career, and the insufferable ex-pilot, Jack Stone.
Plot:
Loved it! There are so many fun adventures that take place in The Layover – I wish I could have been there with our Ava. Ava’s fiancé doesn’t want her to be a flight attendant anymore. He feels like he makes enough to support them both and wants her to stay at home to start a family. Blegh. Now, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with being a homemaker, but Ava doesn’t seem overly interested in the idea. She’s only doing it because she thinks it will make him happy.
On her last flight ever she gets stuck in Belize with her mortal enemy – Jack Stone. Okay, okay! Mortal enemy might be a bit strong, but he’s cocky and obnoxious and part of something awful that happened to Ava in the past. Ava enlists Jack’s help in setting up their friends and sparks start flying on all fronts. They find themselves in some pretty remarkable situations – dance classes, late night boat rides, stuck on an island – and through it all Ava has to decide what she wants her future to look like.
Characters:
I loved each and every one of the characters so much! Ava was an excellent narrator and I found her to be incredibly relatable. I loved Jack’s self-assuredness and the fact that he was prior Air Force (me too!). The side characters were just as fun and added so much depth to the story. Gen would make an excellent, albeit a little wild, best friend. Eddie and Celeste are the adventurers everyone hopes to meet during their travels. And at the end, some characters may surprise you in the best way possible.
Writing:
The Layover was an easy, quick, and enjoyable story! It sucks you right in and you don’t want to stop until you’ve finished. The characters were engaging and the story is continually moving forward. There was never a dull moment!
Overall:
If you love a good enemies to lovers story, tropical islands, and stories about finding yourself, I would highly recommend picking this one up. It will be an un-Belize-ably good time!
[…] The Layover by Lacie Waldon […]