St. Martin's Press and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of Flight Season. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

Not being able to deal with the sudden death of her father, Vivian blows off the remainder of her semester at Yale University. Having to be a parent to her mother, whose way of coping is to shove all of the bills into a drawer and concentrate on her art instead, will Vivian be able to get her life back on track?

TJ is a nurse's aide while finishing up his requirements to be a nurse, as well as working for his family's restaurant. When he meets Vivian, who is trying to resurrect her failing GPA by interning at the hospital, he remembers her from a less than stellar night at the restaurant the previous fall. Stuck in an impossible situation, will TJ finally come clean to Vivian about that night?

As the pair try to help a patient at the hospital, will they both come to certain realizations about their future happiness?

The beginning of Flight Season starts out slowly, as the first chapter really has no impact. I was not a fan of Vivian's chapters starting with her birding journal because it took my focus away from the story at hand. With well developed characters and a good plot, I really liked Flight Season overall. I am usually bothered by alternating perspective novels, but the points of view of Vivian, TJ, and Ángel were all essential to the story. I highly recommend Flight Season to readers and I look forward to new offerings by author Marie Marquardt in the future.

This was a FANTASTIC read that will surely catch the hearts of many readers! I enjoyed this fun and captivating story told from 3 unique POVs! Highly recommended!

A full review will be posted on my blog over at fangirlavue.blogspot.com!

There are so many times while reading this book when you wish you could wrap your arms around Vivi and tell her that everything will be okay. Not in the Pollyanna way that her mother would, but in a "everything sucks right now but I promise you that it will not suck forever" kind of way.

I loved how much Marie Marquardt made me care about Vivi. I loved how much she made me care about TJ. And I loved that she didn't make this all about the two of them becoming -- or not becoming -- a couple. The emphasis here isn't on romance. It's on Vivi finding her strength and her path, and it's on TJ realizing that you can't judge someone until you know their story.

As YA books go, this one is enjoyable and even educational. You learn a lot about birds because Vivi is obsessed with them. Marquardt uses them as a sort of symbol for Vivi: birds may think they know their destination, but sometimes even they get lost. When they do, they have a choice: stay where they are or find a new course.

Adaptation is a necessity, and it's something Vivi -- and her mother -- need to learn how to do. Fortunately, TJ might just provide some guidance.

3.5 stars

*I received this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

This was such an enjoyable book to read. I will admit, it took me a few chapters to get into, but after the first chapter narrated by Angel, I was into it.

The book has 3 narrators, TJ, Angel, and the main one: Vivi. Vivi and TJ get more chapter time than Angel, which makes sense for the story, but Angel is so funny that I wanted more of him.

Yet, they are all dealing with problems which make the book kind of difficult for the sensitive at heart to read. Honestly, I should really stop reading book dealing with death.... my poor heart. I will say I found some problems or issues to be anti-climatic or overcome easily, but the main problems were so difficult and sad, that I gave some leeway there.

Honestly, these characters feel so real. I absolutely ended up loving them, which made this book even harder to read. The characters were written so beautifully and with such care. Vivi does seem to have a super power with languages and I'm not sure why she hasn't considered a job with interpretation, but maybe that will come later. The romance between TJ and Vivi is super sweet. Not insta-love, it does grow even if I think it moved too fast. The couple though, they are super sweet and adorable, I just love them. I probably ship them as hard as Angel does (so no, no love triangle here).

I feel like this is an excellent coming of age story and realizing that your initial college plans or job ideas, don't always pan out --and that is okay. Life takes many different turns and as long as we are willing to accept the change and try our best, things will work out (usually).

This is a book I'll be recommend to people for sure :) Very lovely.

Beautiful and heartbreaking are just two of many words than can used to describe Marie Marquardt’s Flight Season.

The story follows three points of view; Vivi, a college sophomore, struggling with the grief associated with her father’s death; T.J., a nursing student and nurse’s aide, working toward a career outside of his family’s restaurant; and Ángel, an eighteen year old immigrant suffering from a life threatening heart condition. When Vivi and T.J. are thrown together to care for Ángel, they’re forced to confront some tough issues, including an embarrassing night from Vivi’s past that T.J. witnessed.

I love the characters in the book. While the plot was interesting, the characters were the driving force behind the story, learning and growing and coming to realize what’s really important in life. Vivi goes from the girl who is used to having everything, albeit still working really hard, to a girl who is lost without her father, who for the majority of her life was her biggest support. Her mother doesn’t know how to manage money, leaving the financials to Vivi to figure out. With some help from T.J., Vivi starts to learn life’s responsibilities and how to care for her family.

T.J. is one of the best male protagonists I’ve read about in a contemporary in a long time. He’s sweet and understanding and non-judgmental, and he treats everyone with respect, even when his inner monologue describes his disinterest. He grows a lot throughout the novel as well as he and Vivi work together in the local hospital, caring for heart patient Ángel. T.J. begins the book basically describing Ángel as a pain in the ass, but quickly he comes to learn that he just likes to tease, and mess with people in a friendly manner. He’s been holed up in his hospital room for so long, and he has little form of entertainment so he often creates it himself any way possible. They grow together throughout the novel, along with Vivi, learning about love in all its forms, and the best ways to face difficult situations.

Marquardt does an excellent job showcasing the issues of immigration status and deportation, two tough topics that are very relevant in the news and politics. Her writing is fast paced, informative, and full of substance, telling an important story, while also providing comedic relief and romantic tension.

The relationships formed between the characters are quite impactful, from the budding romance between Vivi and T.J. and the friendship they form with each other and with Ángel. I love how well done the romance is, reading as believable while still giving off the fluttery, butterfly feels. Vivi and T.J. actually communicate with each other, and don’t keep secrets or overreact when finding out information. While the romantic storyline shines, it really is the friendship shared between the three that tugs the most at the heartstrings.

I really love this book. The ending is beautiful and sad and hopeful, and shows the true definition of love and friendship and how far some people are willing to go for others.

*Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review*

Marquardt impressed me with her last book, The Radius of Us, and I was therefore eager to read more of her work. I was surprised to find that I could love her new book more than her last, but that is exactly what happened.

•Pro: I fell for all three main characters instantly. They were all so unique, and each brought something special to this story.

•Pro: I learning about different cultures, and Marquardt shared a lot of TJ's Brazilian culture and Ángel's heritage. Loved it all!

•Pro: Vivi, TJ, and Ángel were all so different from each other, yet they were able to find common ground and develop genuine feelings for each other. I loved watching their friendships grow and change, and found so much comfort, joy, and happiness in their interactions.

•Pro: Fate brought these three together for a reason, and their lives were changed for the better. Cue the happy tears!

•Pro: This book is so beautifully written, and the writing only enhances the beauty of the story.

•Pro: There were so many different story threads that revolved around setbacks, but the characters kept plugging away regardless of how many setbacks they experienced. Marquardt has such a knack for writing these characters who show so much resilience and strength.

•Pro: Vivi's struggles were so difficult. After experiencing such a great loss, she just continued to suffer more and more losses, but you know know what? She never threw in the towel. She just kept treading water until she was able to come up with a plan, and I really admired her for that.

•Pro: The romance was this wonderful slow burn. I savored every interaction, and couldn't wait for the relationship to burn hotter and brighter.

•Pro: I thought it was brilliant the way Marquardt used Ángel's point of view. We were in his head, but he knew that we, the readers, were in his head. I like that he talked to us directly. It gave his POV a little different feel and purpose from the other two, which was more traditional.

•Pro: Each of Vivi's chapters began with an entry in her bird watching journal, and I really loved them. The bird stuff was quite interesting, but I also liked the way the observations of the bird paralleled what would play out in the chapter.

•Pro: Ángel wasn't your stereotypical sick kid. He was funny and his observations and honesty were a breath of fresh air.

•Pro: The last few chapters of this book are so painfully beautiful. I didn't expect what happened to happen, but it was perfect and deserved every single happy tear I shed.

Overall: An utterly wonderful and captivating tale of friendship, love, loss, and healing that filled me with a a myriad of emotions, and left me lots of hope in my heart.

Originally posted on Forever Young Adult on 2018 February 12

BOOK REPORT for Flight Season by Marie Marquardt

Cover Story: Minimalism
BFF Charm: Big Sister, Be Mine, Let Me Love You
Swoonworthy Scale: 6
Talky Talk: He Said, He Said, She Said
Bonus Factors: Florida, Bird Watching
Factor: College
Anti-Bonus Factors: Immigration Laws
Relationship Status: Birds Of A Feather

Cover Story: Minimalism

I don’t love this cover. It doesn’t feel finished. Perhaps if the background wasn’t white the overall effect could’ve been a bit more punchy? I just don’t see anyone picking this book up for its aesthetic, and I don’t think that’s what a cover artist is going for (at least, I hope not).

The Deal:

Ever since her father passed away last year, Vivi has become fascinated with birds and the idea that her dad is somehow watching out for her through their eyes. So she takes it as a good sign when she meets a feathered friend on the way back home to Florida, where she’s going to spend the summer volunteering at a hospital to make up for a lackluster grade as well as continue to heal from the dad-shaped hole left in her heart.

Except things keep going just a little bit wrong: her mom is keeping secrets and has them staying in a beach house in St. Augustine, a place she hoped never to go back to (she’d love to forget every part of The Incident); she pretty much can’t handle the sight of blood or other bodily fluids (can you be a doctor if you faint during medical procedures?); and she’s earned the ire of the cute but surly nursing assistant, TJ, for reasons unknown to her (how can one person actively frown so hard?).

TJ knows exactly why he doesn’t like Vivi, and it all stems back from The Incident, which he remembers in quite vivid detail. All he wants is to survive this summer so he can finish up his nursing degree and finally quit working at his family’s churrascaria. But now TJ and Vivi have been assigned to babysit Ángel, a long-term, grumpy heart patient who might end up being exactly the person they both needed to meet.

BFF Charm: Big Sister, Be Mine, Let Me Love You



Oh, Vivi. She’s trying, and that’s all anyone can ask of her right now. She’s such a well-rounded know-it-all, but I mean that in the nicest, Hermione Granger way. Girl speaks about a zillion languages and has traveled all over the world with her parents and knows all the random facts, but she still has a broken hole inside her that she’s not sure how to fix. Considering that, and all the issues she and her mom are having, I think Vivi really needs a big sister who can help her figure out the household basics.



TJ is such a good, sweet, hardworking dude. He’s put himself through school to become a nurse by saving every bit from his jobs and runs himself ragged. He hasn’t allowed himself to have much of a life outside his obligations (boy can’t even remember if he showered), but all he needs is the right person to help him see that the fun moments of life are just as important to live for as the responsible-adult parts. *wink, wink*



Ángel, dear, sweet, Ángel. Okay, maybe sweet isn’t the right word, but, oh, my heart (would that I could give you my own). You are too good for this world, bebe. I’m not old enough to be your mom, but I’ve got the feeling you could use a good, long hug right about now.

Swoonworthy Scale: 6

Romance isn’t the main focus of this book, but TJ and Vivi still sneak in their sweet moments. Falling in love can be hard in the best of times, but doing so while you’re still grieving can make things extra complicated.

Talky Talk: He Said, He Said, She Said

The story bounces between three narrators, but each voice is distinct enough that you know exactly who’s on center stage at any given moment. I fell pretty hard for this book—it’s the first I’ve read from Marquardt and it has all the earmarks of what I enjoy: dynamic characters, a good sense of place, and enough smiles and heartbreak to make me confused as to whether I should laugh or cry (craugh?). It’s the reason I come back to contemporaries time and again; that honest, resonating slice of someone else’s life that encourages you to connect to another person on a deeper level—even if that person is fictional. A more cynical person would look at Ángel’s backstory and see a political agenda (he’s a kind-of legal immigrant from Guatemala) but I’ve no doubt there are plenty of real-life stories like his that we could point to, and more awareness is always better, no?

Bonus Factor: Florida



Sunsets! Humidity! Palm trees! Forgive me for being giddy, but it’s not often that I read stories set in places that I’ve visited enough to know well, much less set right where I live. I’ve spent a decent amount of time in St. Augustine, and Marquardt described the Old City areas so well I could easily visualize myself there. And I go to Winter Park all the time! Vivi’s home is on Park Ave, and those houses are so pretty; they're the deceptively huge ones that don’t look that large from the street but are impeccably well-designed and cost more than a million dollars. I enjoy driving down there and picking out my favorites, then crying because that drive is literally the closest I will ever come to owning one.

Bonus Factor: Bird Watching



Each of Vivi’s chapters start with an entry from her bird journal, where she details the birds she meets during her day. I’m no ornithologist, so it was cool reading—and then trying to mimic—the bird calls of each one. Vivi “shares” her lunch with a Sandhill Crane, which greatly amused me (see: bonus factor of Florida) because those birds are everywhere and can be quite, uh, bold. Story time: We have lots of these birds on campus, and one in particular doesn’t have any talons on one of his little feet, so my coworkers and I call him Stumpy. He’s my fave.

Factor: College



Can I be real a second? (For just a millisecond?) So Vivi has just gotten through her first year at Yale (yay for college-aged protagonists!). A major part of her summer is realizing that her parents, for all the money they had (Park Ave house, bought her a Tesla, traveled the world, sent her to Yale), were not sound financial planners, so she’s suddenly unsure where her next tuition payment is coming from. Just one semester at Yale costs $37,000. THIRTY-SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLA DOLLA BILLS. I know it’s Yale, so, duh, it will be expensive. But Vivi is so out of touch; the thought of transferring to a cheaper school is not even a salt-tinged breeze of an idea that floats through her mind. There are so many cheaper options that will still get you to the same place in life, and if that’s all you can afford, DO IT. Don’t put yourself hundreds of thousands of dollars in student loan debt for a fancier piece of paper. Life is too short. /soapbox

Anti-Bonus Factor: Immigration Laws



Rules suck the big one, y’all. Yeah, they are there for a reason, but when they are so inflexible that they harm a barely-legal kid with heart disease…they just suck.

Relationship Status: Birds Of A Feather

You swept me away, Book. I saw in you a lot of things I admire, and you make me want to change the world for the better. Let me know when you’re flying South for the winter and I’ll join you.

I really enjoyed this story. The characters were well written and engaging, and there was a neat little twist that I didn't see coming.

Hi, everyone! Another day, another book! Today, I’ll be talking about Flight Season: A Novel by Marie Marquardt. Funny thing is that I actually wished for this book from NetGalley, but I didn’t think I would get it! But I’m glad that I did, because Flight Season: A Novel was pretty great!

What exactly drove me to liking it? Maybe it was the amazing main characters that basically made up this story! From Vivi to TJ to Ángel, these characters allow readers to peek into their minds and let us into their lives and struggles. Although, out of the three, I think I prefer Vivi and Ángel over TJ, mainly because he’s really rude for no good reason in the beginning, making things harder than they have to be. But by the end, I kind of understood where he was coming from. But still, I felt as if he was a little harsh in judging Vivi based on one experience. I probably feel that way because I access to Vivi’s POV and know that she didn’t deserve that.

And then there was Ángel. First of all, I was really intrigued by the writing style of his POV. It seemed as if he was aware that there was audience, because he is addressing someone as “you”, and it isn’t any of the characters within the book. At the same time, it could be because he’s lonely, lying in a hospital bed all day, unable to do anything without help. And second, I loved any scene that included Ángel because he was bound to liven it up, not just for Vivi and TJ, but for readers as well! But there were also times where I would feel so teary reading his POV, as well as so mad at all the circumstances leading him there, the injustice of it all. His story ends in an open way, which isn’t always satisfying, but in this case, it works.

Well, that’s all I have to say about Flight Season: A Novel by Marie Marquardt. It was an interesting read that I would recommend to anyone who isn’t afraid of a good cry!

I was so pleasantly surprised with this book. Fans of John Green and other contemporary YA authors will love this book.

The relationships are the main focal point of this book. While it may be easy to try and classify it as a love story, what made me enjoy it as much as I did is that it is so much more than that. Love yes, but not just romantic love, also friendships and family - even coworkers. The non romantic love lines are what made this story stand out to me. How raw and uninhibited the story unfolds for Angel and Vivi is what kept me engrossed throughout.

It would be hard to find anything wrong with this book. Between the writing and the beauty of the characters, this will please almost any reader.

I have read two books by Marie Marquardt and have unapologetically balled my eyes out in both of them for completely different reasons. The Radius of Us elicited my tears toward the hopeful ending but Flight Season was a constant trickle, sometimes stream of tears that didn’t finish until well after the book ended. Her writing is becoming some of my favorite. The relationships between her characters are believable, flawed, and painfully raw. She does a fantastic job of writing romance, in what could be very cliche and cheesy but instead builds it in a slow burn that feels real and natural.

Vivi and TJ come from two different worlds- Vivi lives, or lived, a very pampered life, drives a Tesla, and attends Harvard as a pre-med student. TJ comes from a hard-working family living in Florida. They help run the family restaurant catering to spoiled vacationers and are left to clean up after their drunken exploits. TJ also works at the hospital getting valuable experience as he finishes his last semester before finishing nursing school. When Vivi shows up to the hospital he works at, all he sees is the spoiled drunk girl he had to help at his uncle’s restaurant months ago. Vivi just wants to forget the most embarrassing night of her life- she never lets go like that, but there were some extenuating circumstances. Vivi’s life has changed dramatically since that night too- her father died, her mother informed her they have no money, and her dreams of doing amazing things at Harvard are diminishing- C’s in the pre-med program is not allowed. She’s not even sure she should or could be a doctor seeing as how she fainted on the first day of her internship.

Despite his best intentions, TJ is drawn to Vivi and she to him. They don’t get along, but it’s clear to certain people that this “I hate you” is really “I think I might love you.” I promise- this is not insta-love or romance heavy- it’s just perfect. The one person who does understand what’s going on between the two is a patient named Angel, is from Guatemala and has a heart condition. Because he is here illegally, his time in Florida are numbered. He’s a bit of a pain in the butt to deal with, mostly because he can’t speak English- or can he? He watches TJ and Vivi interact and sneak glances at the other, and when he’s bored or just wants this game they are playing to hurry up already, speeds up their courtship with some antics of his own. His heart doesn’t let him do much else but his favorite part of the day is with them- even if he’s driving them crazy. As his heart condition stabilizes, (he’s not going to get better just stable) immigration has decided he is healthy enough to board a plane and go back to Guatemala where no one will be waiting for him. Vivi is heartbroken and hatches a plan to make the transition a bit easier.

Angel steals the show in this book, absolutely steals it. His ability to perceive what isn’t being said just by watching is lovely. The theme of friendship throughout this story, with him being the catalyst, reminds me of what it’s like to really love someone and how to show them. I cannot relive the last few chapters of this book without starting to tear up again but know that this story and characters will stay with me for a long time. For the record, Marie Marquardt, I’d be totally fine with little bit more about TJ and Vivi.

I felt like there was a lot that could have been explored that sort of fell flat. Vivi's ambitions, her love of birds, and her time at Yale could have been explored more fully, and I feel like the bird thing would have been more compelling if there were more hints throughout the story about the reason for her love of birds. As it is, the reveal felt lackluster. Furthermore, I felt like the revolving perspectives were a great way to build the three main characters, but not a great way to create empathy for them. The end of the book should have created more emotions, but I didn't feel more than general sympathy for the situation. Finally, the end of the book seemed like it was completely disconnected from the rest of the story. There is no other way to put it but to say that it felt like a scene from another book tacked onto the end.

Saying all that, I did really like the book. I felt like the main characters were really well constructed and relatable and I thought the plot (though somewhat thin) was interesting. I would read more about Vivi and TJ and I felt compelled to keep reading their story. In spite of the flaws, this is a very readable and enjoyable book.

Flight Season is a beautiful, heartbreaking book that had me smiling and laughing and crying, both despairing and rejoicing in humanity, and so happy just to spend a little time with these amazing characters.

Vivi Flannigan has returned home from college for the summer to pull her life together. If she can stick it out at her hospital internship she might have a slim hope of passing her semester's courses. If she can help her mother get back on track, she might be able to save their home. And if she can avoid Old Town, she might have a slim chance of forgetting that one night she lost total control. TJ Carvalho has one last clinical placement to pass before he is done with his nursing studies. So when Vivi turns up in his ward, the girl who he witnessed have a complete meltdown, he does his best to avoid her. But when TJ and Vivi are forced to work together to care for heart patient Ángel, the three of them form a beautiful, if challenged, friendship, which just might change their lives in ways they could never have expected.

I think less is more when it comes to reviewing this beautiful, beautiful book. If you are the sort of reader who likes to take a chance on characters, who enjoys simple details that pull together to make a powerful whole, and who loves a bit of everyday magic, then Flight Season is the book for you. I underestimated this book. I underestimated the depth of the story, the power behind its truths, and the way the characters would so quickly worm their way into my heart. Flight Season surprised and delighted me.

Really, I could go on forever about all the things I loved about this story. The way it is told through alternating chapters from the perspectives of the three main characters. How the messages of family, grief, belonging, and home drive the story. How the romance (including some amazing chemistry, an enemies-to-lovers storyline, and a relationship founded on trust, understanding, and friendship) fits so perfectly into the whole of the story. Ángel, who deserves an entire what-I-loved list all to himself. The birds and Vivi's bird journal entires, which add another detail that works so well with this story. The characters, who are all so richly detailed that even secondary characters now feel like old friends. And my review copy did not come with illustrations, but I'm guessing they are only going to make this book even more beautiful.

Flight Season is a book I am going to delight in thrusting into everyone's hands, saying 'you simply must read this book'. So what are you waiting for? Go forth and find yourself a copy of Flight Season. You won't regret it.

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

Good read. Teens will enjoy the story and will love the tension.

The Flight Season was not quite what I expected, but in the best possible way. I enjoyed the three different and distinct points-of-view. In the beginning I wasn't quite sure how I'd feel about Angel being included, but in the end I found it worked. I loved both Vivi and TJ's personal journeys, but especially the character growth we saw from Vivi. The inclusion of her bird journal was interesting and unique. I would definitely read another book from this author.

This book is so beautiful. Each character really comes alive, even the supporting ones like Vivi’s mom. Often books with multiple narrators start feeling stilted, but it really worked for this one. Highly recommend this one.

Solid 4.5 stars. A phenomenal read about the intricate and profound bonds we form with people and the ways we can mislabel them. I loved the writing, and the characters were painfully heartfelt and raw. Would recommend without hesitation. Strongly handles themes of grief, immigration, friendship, and even a perfectly raw romance.

I didn’t know what to expect other than a YA romance when I started this book, but it exceeded all my wildest expectations and was so much more than that. Flight Season is about a lot of things: grief, unlikely friendships, discovering what you really want out of life, immigrant experiences, the treatment of illegal immigrants and deportation, and, yes, also falling in love. The book deals with more than just romantic love, though. It’s also about familial love and friendship and learning how to understand and care for the important people in your life without sacrificing yourself in the process.

Vivi, a college student still mourning the loss of her father, is only one internship away from failing out of school. TJ works at the hospital by day, trying to finish up his nursing school requirements, and for his family’s Brazilian churrascaria the rest of the time. They meet at the hospital, and TJ almost takes an almost immediate disliking to Vivi, the rich Yale pre-med student who faints at the sight of blood. Vivi, for her part, is hiding things from everyone: hiding her failing grades from her mother, hiding the fact that this internship is the only thing standing between her and losing her place at Yale, hiding the fact that apparently her father’s medical treatments left her and her mother so broke she may not be able to return to Yale anyway. Along the way, Vivi meets Ángel, the Guatemalan teenager dying from heart failure and seemingly determined to make everybody else’s lives hell in the process. But Vivi and Ángel share a connection in their grief, and Ángel finds an unexpected friend in her. They , along with TJ, form an unlikely bond as Ángel tries to show the other two that they don’t actually hate each other—quite the opposite. But heart failure isn’t the only problem Ángel faces, and as much as TJ and Vivi would like to save him, they learn that sometimes all you can do it be there for the people that need you—even when doing so seems impossible.

This book really captured me, and I flew through it. The characters voices were distinctive and strong, something you especially want in a multiple POV narrative. I grew to love Vivi, TJ, and Ángel and the relationship they shared. I liked that the relationship between Vivi and Tj developed slowly, and I also really appreciated that their relationship wasn't prioritized over the other relationships in the book-- Vivi's friendship with Ángel and her relationship with her mother or the budding friendship between Ángel and TJ. I think sometimes books with a romantic plotline forget that romantic love isn't the only kind of love.

The book also deals heavily with issues of immigration in America—a particularly timely subject. Marquardt portrays the lives of people from immigrant communities with such care and depth, something usually only #ownvoices stories can really do without making a lot of missteps. But—and of course I’m not an immigrant or someone intimately familiar with that experience, so take this as you will—she really seems to capture some of what it’s like, at least for these characters and their experiences. Marquardt apparently has spent a good deal of time working with a nonprofit that helps illegal immigrants and their families, and her familiarity with and empathy for their stories comes through very clearly in both TJ and Ángel’s narratives in Flight Season. The book really captures a glimpse of the struggles illegal immigrants face, and I think anyone reading Ángel’s story would have to be sympathetic to how bureaucratic and unfeeling that system can be.

Overall, this was just a really lovely read, full of hope and empathy, and I’d definitely recommend it for fans of YA realistic fiction and YA romance.

The cover of this book is so cute - it instantly attracted me to the title. Although it was a little bit slow moving, I enjoyed the characters and their learning curve (Vivi especially transforms from a sheltered rich girl) and it was quietly enjoyable.