A fight with an irritating Scotsman over the last remaining first-class seat turns into a hot one-night stand for Ava Breevort—but she'd much rather never see him again, thank you very much. But Caleb has business in Boston, where Ava lives, and when their paths keep intersecting, they decide that maybe one night could become just a few more…. What lifts this contemporary romance to the top of the pack this month is Ava's emotional maturity in the face of a whole lot of immaturity from those around her. She's already had her heart and her reputation kicked around and stomped on, and now she gets a chance to put the life lessons she's learned into practice, even if it means being vulnerable again. Plus, the hotness level of Fight or Flight is pretty darn high. - Adrian Liang, Amazon Book Review

FIGHT OR FLIGHT BY SAMANTHA YOUNG BOOK REVIEW
Enemies to Lovers is becoming a favorite trope of mine. So when anger & disdain fly within the first few pages of Fight or Flight, I have a feeling I’m in for a good time.

I NEED A HERO
I have to just come out & say the Scot aka Caleb is definitely not my favorite male lead. He’s cocky, rude, defiant & in real life, I would likely hate him. With that said, he is a great match for Ava. She’s proper, a bit fancy & somewhat self-righteous. I do love the way she throws caution to the wind & attempts to have sex only relationship with Caleb. Like, you do you, Ava. While they are no Josh & Hazel, I think their characters make a great match.

INTRO TO SAMANTHA YOUNG
This is my first Samantha Young book. I’ve heard wonderful things about her Dublin Street Series from my friend, Laura. After reading Fight or Flight, I am definitely going to read more of her books. Samantha throws enough heat in the sex scenes to keep things interesting.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention this book deals with some heavy stuff. There’s an old betrayal that comes to the surface for Ava. Some exes enter the picture at some point & I was pleasantly surprised at the depth & heaviness of the plotlines.

THE VERDICT
I am Really Into This book! Fight or Flight is sexy, has depth & I am finding I do love the enemies to lovers trope. Read this if you’re in the mood for some lust-filled antics & a storyline that digs a bit deeper.

Special thanks to Samantha Young, Berkley & NetGalley for providing our copy in exchange for an honest & fair review.

Willow connects with the delightfully Scottish New York Times bestselling author, Samantha Young. Together, they traverse the trials of travel, living ahead of time, combining worlds, and comparative needy breeds of Poo.
“
If my brain is starting to hurt with writer’s block, then it’s time to just find something to distract me—because I always find that if I am distracted, that’s when I’m hit with inspiration.
— Samantha Young
https://willowaster.squarespace.com/config/pages/5a314071f9619ab366589a9e

I love Samantha Young. Her previous books were great. When I read the
blurb to Fight or Flight, I was wondering if it was similar to her
previous stories. However, I found out the answer was both yes and no.

This time, Samantha Young pushed her boundaries and gave a story with
some questionable moments. For me, it was just the little things which
had a slight impact towards my reading’ such as demonizing how one
looks. Among other things. But even with some of those moments, there
were also good moments Caleb and Ava. Overall, I have to say I enjoyed
it. The good moments certainly outweighed the bad.

I really wanted to like this book as the premise made it seem like such a me book with the tropes that it contained. Unfortunately this book was a DNF for me as both the main characters were just such unlikable assholes and I didn't make it past the 20% mark.

I absolutely adored everything about this book! I'm a huge fan of enemies-to-lovers romances, a-hole heroes, and angsty reads....and this book checks all of those boxes! 

Fight or Flight was utterly addictive, heartbreaking, and so very sexy. The banter between Caleb and Ava was fantastic. No to mention, the sexual tension between the two was burning through the pages! I couldn't get enough of these two. My favorite type of heroes are the ones that I first find difficult to like, but then end up falling in love with anyway. Well let me tell you, I found Caleb extremely frustrating at first, but then I fell completely in love with him by the end.

I will literally read anything Samantha Young writes. There isn't a book I've read by her that I haven't completely devoured. Fight or Flight was absolutely amazing and I highly recommend it!

Ahhh, it’s always a good day when I get to read a Samantha Young’s book!
Fight or Flight was a really great book, with a sassy and witty girl, sarcastic alpha male and explosive chemistry!

I like to think of it as a book made of different sections, because the atmosphere, the mood of the book changed a little bit during my reading... And it seemed just a great fit because it followed the development of the story!

In the first part we meet Ava and Caleb, two people who from the beginning clashed with each other and had such a crazy chemistry and connection! I had sooooo much fun reading their dialogues, the banter was so good!
It was fate who continuously brought them together, and my gosh, every encounter was funnier than the last!

The second part of the book had a slightly slower pace, when they started to form this friendship, this bond which went above their sexual relationship... it gave depth to the story and was the perfect bridge to the third part of the book.

The third part, gosh, so many feelings! Both for what happened to Ava’s friend, and also between Ava and Caleb. It was a real rollercoaster, but absolutely worth it! ❤️

In general, I really liked the story, how it developed and again, the spectacular chemistry between Ava and Caleb!

I found this book to be extremely problematic and sent my concerns in a separate email. I wish I'd loved it.

I’ve been looking for a book like this for such a long time... Okay, just kidding, I’m a bookworm! It’s only been a few days (since I finished my last great read) and I needed a story that would completely consume me. I decided that Samantha Young would be next—most of her books always make me feel good. It has swoony romance, hot as hell heroes, and heroines that are completely relatable.

Ava is seriously my favorite part of the whole book. She’s smart and independent but also had a vulnerability that made her seem more human. She’s one of those characters that I automatically feel a sense of loyalty to. Such as hating any and every character whose ever done her wrong—even to those in the future who will no doubt do something to hurt her. Yes, I like her that much! She gave as good as she got and I can totally appreciate a girl who can hold her own.

Caleb. Wow. This man came in at a close second to my favorite character. He’s a huge dickhead when we first meet him but it’s nice to see that he can’t resist the wonderful Ava—no matter how hard he tries. And he’s Scottish! Hot the nth degree.

If you’re looking for a fun enemies-to-lovers/fuck buddies romance, this is so for you! I mean, it’s hella entertaining from start to finish. Did I mention the hero is like a certain character from Outlander? And that he’s 100% alpha hotness? Well, he is! If that doesn’t make you want to read it even more, I don’t know what will.

Samantha Young revient avec une romance contemporaine adulte en one shot, avec un héros écossais bien entendu. Le début du livre est explosif, avec des situations hilarantes et des joutes verbales à n’en plus finir entre les deux personnages principaux. Ca fuse de partout, ce qui devient même un peu éreintant à suivre au bout d’un moment tant ça ne s’arrête jamais. Les préjugés de part et d’autre ont la dent dure, déclenchant un mélange d’attirance et de méfiance entre eux. Ils sont tous deux réticents à l’engagement, et pourtant tous leurs actes prouvent le contraire, c’est touchant à suivre.

L’histoire évolue néanmoins vers un ton plus classique, avec les dramas qui s’étirent en longueur et qui ne sont pas ma tasse de thé, mais c’est très personnel comme impression. J’ai bien aimé ma lecture, mais j’ai l’impression que c’est du déjà-vu et sans m’ennuyer, il manque cette petite étincelle qui fait qu’il s’agit d’un super livre.

OH MY GOD.
THIS BOOK.
*flails happily*

I.
LOVED.
THIS.
BOOK.
So much. SO. MUCH.

This book is what enemies to lovers romance dreams are made out of. It was perfect. Absolutely perfect. I fell head over ovaries for The Bastard Scott. Everything about this book was perfection: the banter, the chemistry, the hate lust, the romance, and OMG the hate lust. These two were absolutely incendiary together and I couldn’t get enough of them.

Sparks fly when Ava and Caleb cross paths for the first time on a flight to Boston, and not of the sexual variety. The man steamrolls past her in line and gets her coveted first class seat. Then they end up sitting next to each other on the same flight, and the rude and crude Scott does nothing to hide his disdain for Ava. But underneath the side eyes and the insults is chemistry so potent, you can cut it with a knife. And this reader? I devoured it!!

Caleb is a bearded and tatted CFO of a successful company. He’s also insufferably blunt, downright rude, and infuriatingly sexy. Ava is already flying on frayed nerves after a visit back to her hometown brings back all the painful memories she left behind. So when Caleb first manages to piss her off, it’s no holds barred between them. But when the insult dust settles, the chemistry between them is undeniable. And when they realize that they’re both up for a no strings attached mutually satisfying relationship for Caleb’s short stay in Boston? Well, let’s just say that things get interesting. REALLY interesting.

Samantha Young keeps the tension going with Ava and Caleb for almost 80% of the book, and I absolutely loved that. It’s not a lets hate each other until we jump into bed together and then all is well sort of story. Both of these characters have hidden depth and even deeper hidden pain. And while Ava’s surfaces for the reader gradually, its a long and painful stretch before you get to Caleb’s. I loved the way that Ava was able to handle his gruff demeanor and give as good as she gets. I also loved watching Caleb fall for her through Ava’s eyes. The entire story is told in Ava’s POV, and while a part of me wished to be inside Caleb’s head if even for a second, I can’t deny that it made the story and tension that much better. You get to experience the mystery of this man through Ava’s eyes and experience their highs and lows right along with her.

This was easily my favorite book by this author to date. I adored this enemies to lovers romance. It kept me reading well into the night, completely incapable to set it down for even a minute. It owned me from beginning to finish and I cannot recommend it enough.

Thank you for the ARC.

The story was funny and entertaining at times. I wish there was POV from both of the main characters. The sex was a bit too much. Both characters were just okay.

Oh, but how I hate having unpopular opinions. Here’s the thing. Everyone seems to have fallen head over heels for this book. And while I did enjoy it, don’t get me wrong here, I can’t quite figure out why all that gushing. Is something wrong with me?

This book is about two people that are trying to get a flight to Boston while there’s some natural disaster causing havoc on flight schedules. They both want first class seats and the hero rudely steals the last one available from the heroine. From there, their relationship is all about the animosity and bickering, even when there is an underlying attraction that they do act on while they are stuck waiting for their flight.

Caleb, our hero, is going to be a tough one for some people to swallow. He’s kind of a rude, self absorbed, jerk. Surprisingly, that’s not where my lack of enthusiasm for this book stems for. I actually thought he was incredibly sexy! It kind of makes you wonder if you should just move to Scotland to find perfectly brooding men quite like him.

Our heroine, Ava, on the other hand, I found a little less appealing. She’s very career driven and has never considered wanting or needing any kind of serious relationship in her life. I often struggle with heroines that can come across a bit cold and standoffish and I think Ava had a little of that. It’s not that I didn’t like her, I just didn’t connect with her and couldn’t care much about what happened with her. I couldn’t even sympathize with her emotional struggle about what happened in her past.

FIGHT OR FLIGHT is certainly a cute read. It would probably make a really fun romcom if it ever gets made into movie. But I lacked the investment to make me fall for the story so it sort fell a bit short of hitting the wow mark for me. Enjoyed it, didn’t love.

Favorite Quote:

“Never fear, babe. I’m about tae ruin you.”

I’ve been on vastaycay for a week, absolutely no one is in the office today and I’m eleventy-three reviews behind so my apologies for these little bits of nothing Imma barf out.

Fight Or Flight is the story of Ava and Caleb’s not-so-meet-cute while each is attempting to grab the last upgrade on their flight – followed by the entire flight being cancelled – followed by . . . .

“I’m not going to sit here and lie that last night wasn’t great sex – okay, fantastic sex. But I still don’t like you.”

It 100% should be read under snuggly blankets and preferably in front of a fire as this one-night-stand possibly becomes more.

Warning: You may get super irritated by how buttholey Caleb is, but I didn’t because he had reasons – THAT WERE ACTUALLY EXPLAINED BEFORE I WANTED TO KILL MYSELF MIRACLE OF ALL MIRACLES!!! I did get a little irritated by the terrible take on a Scottish accent. Still a fun little time killer that I wouldn’t ever discourage anyone from reading. Also, I’m really digging Berkley’s cartooney romance covers that are all a little similar to each other. It’s like you already know if you might dig it just by looking at the outside even though the authors/stories aren’t alike at all.

ARC provided by Berkley Pub in exchange for an honest review.

I heard such amazing things about this book and was very excited to read it!

This book is about two people that are trying to get a flight to Boston while there's some natural disaster causing havoc on flight schedules. They both want first class seats and the hero rudely steals the last one available from the heroine. From there, their relationship is all about the animosity and bickering, even when there is an underlying attraction that they do act on while they are stuck waiting for their flight.

While I did enjoy this book, I felt like it was a little over-hyped and wasn't exactly all that people said it was. However, I did like it.

Fight or Flight is a perfectly delicious, enemies to lovers morsel from Samantha Young I totally lost myself in.

Ava Breevort can’t wait to get back to Boston. Unfortunately fate, the universe, luck or whatever you want to call it is not on her side. Her bad fortune doesn’t stop with a the painful visit back home and a delayed flight, she must also deal with a rude, pompous Scotsman who steals her seat, doesn’t hide his contempt for her beauty and yet pushes all her buttons… her sexy, hot buttons. The combination makes for explosive chemistry between the two, who end up having a one night stand during their layover.

When the blunt, tatted CFO, Caleb Scott shows up on Ava’s doorstep, the infuriatingly handsome man promises a good time with no strings while he’s in town, which is perfect for Ava because she doesn’t like the man, she’s only attracted to him. But as they spend time together, she sees the very appealing man beneath the arrogant façade. And when Caleb’s announces he’s staying for good, they must both fight for their hearts.

Samantha Young delivers a tale that perfectly calibrates witty banter, sizzling chemistry and touching romance. Ava and Caleb are both complex protagonists with hidden pain but also very endearing – Ava with her feistiness while Caleb is a fiend with a heart of gold.

I’ve long since known that a Samantha Young book is guaranteed to touch your heart while fanning yourself. Fight or Flight is no exception, filled with steamy interludes and vast banter between the rakish Caleb and Ava, who dishes out as much as she takes.

Fight or Flight is a standalone contemporary romance by Samantha Young. It is a full-length, enemies to lovers romance that made me squeal in delight. Told from Ava’s point of view with a happy ending.

Without a doubt my favorite book of this year. It was also the most anticipated, since Samantha was teasing us for a half a year. And she really did it justice.
Anyway, the book left me crying and laughing out loud. I absolutely loved their banter.
Caleb really is a Bastard Scott. But throughout the book you learn why he is the way he is, and I promise you that he has good reason to be so rude and hard to get.
On the other side is sweet and beutiful Ava, who is grieving and also had bad experience in the past. But they are perfect for each other. Their chemistry is off the hook but neither of them wants to admit it.

"There are many different kinds of love in this world. I knew that. Silly me, however, to think I could control my complex heart by telling it what kind of love it was allowed to feel.
You're not allowed to love a man romantically, I told it.
I'll do what I want, it eventually replied. "
Ava Breevort

This quote really got to me. Because sometimes you really don't have a say in what your feelings are telling you. Sometimee you have to go with the flow, even though you get burned. That means that life happens. Not everything will always go according to the plan, but that is allright. I believe that everything happenss for a reason, and this book shows you how faith can have it's way with you.
I really loved the game they played about what the Scottish words and sayings mean. It was funny and there was no way I could get anything right. I love these sayings because we have them a lot in our language too.
I freking loved this book and am preordering it right now on Bookdepository. When I get my paperback I am diving right back in their world, because it is awesome.
This book is by far my favorite book by Samantha Young - probably because it includes a Bastard Scott and I am a sucker for those.

I slogged through this book, but I really couldn't handle how extremely rude the protagonist was to the heroine right off the bat and then they get drunk and fall into bed together? Typically I find the enemies-to-lovers storyline to be one of my favourites, but this one was too far for me. Anyway, I finished it for this review, but wouldn't have otherwise done so.

Four stars: A fun, flirty romance that starts out with antagonistic banter, but there is more to this one than fluff.

Ava is exhausted after an emotional few days in Phoenix under the most trying circumstances. She wants nothing more than to get on the airplane and get home. Unfortunately, a rude man named Caleb Scott, gets in her way. He steals her first class seat, barks at her and then she finds they are seat mates. They fight and argue on the flight, and then something changes during the lay over. The pair end up in the bedroom. They part ways, not expecting to run into one another again, but fate has other things in mind. The two are thrown together again and their chemistry is off the charts, but neither wants a relationship. The pair agrees to a no strings attached, physical relationship only, but will they be able to walk away when the time is up?
What I Liked:
*Fight or Flight was a fun romance. I loved that it started out completely antagonistic and then it moved into a friendship and so much more. There are layers and layers to the characters and the relationships. This is so much more than a sexy romance.
*Eva and Caleb shine as the main characters. At first, Caleb is brusque and rude. He never utters a please or thank you and he has nothing by snide, snarling remarks for Ada. Ada at first glance, appears to be a superficial pretty woman who is concerned about her appearance, but first impressions are deceiving. There is so much more to these characters. Caleb in reality is kind and caring under that gruff exterior. Ava is damaged and she uses her appearance to bolster her confidence. Both have suffered through major setbacks in their lives, and they are trying to forge ahead. I loved the complexity of both Ava and Caleb.
*The romance is wonderful. It starts out with the two completely at odds, not liking one another at all. Then the sparks of attraction ignite and they find their sexual chemistry is off the charts. Again, the relationship transforms and the duo learn to truly open up and they become friends, and then one more turn and they are genuine lovers. I loved the depth and complexity of the relationship and how they formed a powerful bond that benefitted both of them.
*I enjoyed the secondary cast of characters such as Ava’s best friend Harper and Caleb’s brother, and several others. I loved that there was a strong focus on friendship in this one. The bond between Harper and Ava is wonderful.
*I appreciated that this book had a lot of substance to it, and that it wasn’t all sex, romance and fluff. It takes on some deep issues such as domestic abuse, emotional abuse, child neglect and self doubt and self esteem. I thought the author did a wonderful job with these topics.
*The book ends with a nice happy exclamation point. I was thrilled with the way things settled out, but I was also hopeful that there might be more with other characters in the book.
And The Not So Much:
*I loved Harper, Ava’s bestie, and I wanted so much to see her find her happiness. I am hoping that there might be another book with her as the main character.
*I was bothered by the relationship between Ava and her parents. I wish that there had been some movement in that area.
*I hated the big stumble toward the end. Just when I thought things were on the up and up, Caleb has to go and be a big ass again. Argh. I wish I could have gotten Caleb’s point of view so I could understand him better.

Fight or Flight was a great read. I loved that this book was so much more than a romance. It was a book with depth. I loved the complex characters and the layered relationships. It was one heck of a ride. I grew attached to these characters, and I am hoping that there might be a companion novel in the works featuring Harper.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.

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