I loved this book! It was so atmospheric and casually twisty that I could NOT stop reading. The Golden Age of Aviation, the Spanish Civil War, dual timelines~ this story was exciting and well-researched. A must read for historical fiction fans like me!

If you enjoy historical fiction, aviation, and women who don't follow the proscribed rules, then you will enjoy this book. In 1928 Irene Foster is out surfing and meets aviator Sam Mallory. He introduces her to flying, and the story soars. In post war 1947 Janey Everett is a photojournalist who has covered WWII. She is hunting for Irene Foster in order to complete a biography of Sam Mallory. When Janey finds Irene (who had been presumed dead), the story continues to move between the past and 1947.

This book is compulsively readable with just enough history, mystery, suspense, and romance to keep me reading well into the night. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I did enjoy this one – it was a bit slow, took a bit to get into. It takes place between 1928 and 1947, but I feel like it’s written in such a modern way – especially with the way characters behave – that I would forget until something specific was mentioned. I’ve not found that to be a problem with her books before, so maybe it was just this one.

I will say, I loved the sections of the book that followed Irene Lindquist and Sam Mallory – It was a wee bit harder to like or connect with Janey and her sections. She just didn’t seem to be as developed as Irene or Sam and didn’t seem to grow as much. I did understand why she was aloof and things like that, I just wanted to connect with her in the way I felt I did with Irene. I did like her with Leo. Really quite cranky about not knowing what she whispered to him!

The second half is definitely better than the first and I love how this author connects everything and always has a good twist or turn.

And of course, a bazillion stars for the cat, Sandy. What a sweetie.

Thank you to Netgalley, Beatriz Williams and William Morrow for providing the ARC in exchange for honest review

I had the classic struggle with Her Last Flight: binge it all quickly because it was just that good, or slow read and savor even chapter, every page, every sentence. I opted for savoring this captivating novel. Author Beatriz Williams doesn’t spare any words, and yet the book remains lush with details.

While this is solidly historical fiction, the story also surrounds the mystery of the female pilot who goes missing during an around the world airplane derby. (Nope, not a story about Amelia Earhart, but definitely has some Earhart feels to it).

I loved the juxtaposition of Janey and Irene – both independent, strong and stubborn women. Janey is an AP war photographer who sets off to a remote Hawaiian village to interview Irene Lindquist, the owner of a local island-hopping airline and who she believes is the missing pilot.

The ending was shocking – I didn’t see it coming! I won’t say anymore because – spoilers. But, let me just say…wow!

That said, while I loved Janey, our narrator and main character, I didn’t always connect with her. I did enjoy her story – both in Hawaii, and in her past when she’s covering the war. She has a difficult time connecting to other people and, because of her job, moves from one place to another without making or keeping too many relationships herself. And, once she’s in Hawaii, I felt she was stubborn and pushy, but also withholding information.

This was a great read: I soared through the skies with Irene, and I laughed, and I cried with Janey and Irene and the whole cast of characters.

I absolutely loved this book! I loved Sam and Irene. I thought their love story was wonderful. It was well written and a fairly quick read. I’ve never read anything else by this author but definitely will
In the future. Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC!

Beatriz Williams writes pitch perfect historical fiction. I loved Her Last Flight. Details were finely written and the characters all believable in a story I did not want to end.

I have always been a big fan of Beatriz Williams, and was so excited for her newest release. Her Last Flight was such a wonderful character study, and it may just be my most Favorite recent historical fiction read!

I have recommended this book for so many people since reading.

Many thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the gifted digital copy.

I loved loved loved this book. The way the author waves two stories together, 2 decades apart was brilliant. About 80% through the book I was like "man, I didn't see that coming!" The women leads were brought together and their characters were so well developed that you felt like you were part of their families. I learned about aviation and how strong Irene, the main aviatrix, had to be to fly those long flights. How they communicated by passing notes and how after the flight it took a day or more before she could hear again. What an amazing women she was. This was also a story of love. The kind of love that leaves you wanting more. I have to say this is the best book I have read so far in 2020. It was published on June 30, 2020 and everyone should get a copy because they will not be disappointed.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #HarperCollins for an ARC of #HerLastFlight

Her Last Flight tells the story of two women, wartime photographer Janey Everett, and legendary pilot Irene Foster. Told in current time (1947) and in flashbacks to the mid 1920’s, Janey is hunting down the story of Sam Mallory, Irene’s one time teacher and co-pilot. She travels to Hawaii where she has tracked down Irene and hopes to convince her to tell her story.

Historical novels can often be slow and get bogged down in the details of the era in which the story is told. Her Last Flight, taking place in two timelines does a great job of giving you the flavor of those era’s yet doesn’t take time away from the plot by being over descriptive. Because of this, the pace was quick and I found myself speeding through this fascinating novel of these two women.

Janey is tracking down the story of the famous pilot Sam Mallory which is done through Irene’s memories, yet at the same time we are given flashbacks to Janey’s own life and the people who have influenced who she has become. As we read her story we are given hints that she and Irene’s stories have parallels and I read eagerly to see how or if they might intersect.

Did I have a favorite between the two characters? I’ll admit I leaned a little more towards Irene’s story because it was a little more glamorous, despite her life’s hiccups. Janey as the narrator, didn’t lay all of her cards on the table until the end, but with each reveal about her past you realized her’s was the more difficult life and I ended up pulling for her to find her happiness by the end. So, it was kind of a toss up! I liked them both for different reasons.

As a pilot’s daughter myself I was fascinated to read about the early days of flight and how women became involved in it. Irene’s and Sam’s story took place in the 1920’s when the country was recovering from the Great Depression and flying and air shows were a bit like going to the circus At that time; exciting and dangerous. To read how far flight advanced, even in the 25 years told in this story, was also pretty incredible, a point made by Irene’s love of aviation becoming tainted when she realized the damage in Spain from bombs being dropped from planes. A much more modern view of the capabilities technology brings.

There were quite a bit of twists and turns in Her Last Flight, none of which I want to go into as it would spoil your enjoyment of reading this story on your own. I’ll just say that it was deftly done and despite the turbulents the journey was completely enjoyable. I would recommend this story to everyone who loves this genre, it’s not one to be missed. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of this ARC from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest review and it was honest!

There was so much to love about Her Last Flight by Beatriz Williams. It combined history, romance, mystery and strong women forging a path at a time when a woman's place was in the home. As the dual narratives converged, I was compelled to keep reading to discover the next reveal. Thanks to Book Club Girl, NetGalley and William Morrow for the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for my honest opinion

Beatriz Williams is excellent at weaving a story through different periods and making it all come together in the end. She is one of my favorite historical fiction writers. Williams’ new book, Her Last Flight, did not disappoint.

This is a story of two strong females that ended up living daring lives. In 1947, Janey Everett was a photographer on a mission to discover the mystery surrounding a famed pilot Sam Mallory. In her pursuits, Janey finds Irene Lindquist, formerly Irene Foster, the flying partner to Sam Mallory. In the beginning, Janey and Irene clash; Janey is set on discovering the truth about Sam Mallory and believes Irene is the one to give her answers.

With alternating storylines, the book flows pretty quickly. I found myself flying through this book to uncover the story behind these two captivating women.

The story of Janey Everett seeking information about a famous pilot, Samuel Mallory, leads her to Hawaii and the doorstep of Irene Lindquist. With the use of a dual timeline, I was captivated to keep on reading and find out more about the histories of Janey and Irene. The rich history of aviation and women in aviation was woven into the story throughout the flashbacks and storyline. I found myself wanting to keep reading to find out more around the mystery of Samuel Mallory's accident. If you are looking for a historical fiction book that is different, this one is for you.

I received a copy of this story from Netgalley and the opinions are my own.

Thank you to Net Galley and Harper Collins Publishers for the chance to read and review this book.

This book was billed as " the story of a lost pilot and wartime photographer that will leave its mark on your soul.."
I found this to be so true. I could not stop thinking about this story-it was so good! If there was a rating higher then 5, it would go to this book! There were so many twists and turns and it didn't turn out quite the way I expected. I love stories about aviators, but this one was a cut above the rest. It involved early flight, but it also told a wonderful story!. I highly recommend this story and I plan to read more by this author!

Another profound story that transports the reader to a different place and time. This story grabs you from the first page. The development and progression of the characters and the plot were spot on, and the ending pulled everything together. A perfect book from an astounding author

Her Last Flight by Beatriz Williams is beautifully written oftentimes sad story. I love the cover of the book.

This is one of my favorite books that I've read this year.

This book begins in 1947, when Janey Everett, war photojournalist confronts Irene Lindquist (aka Irene Foster) in Hawaii, a famous pilot who went missing on an around-the-world flight. Janey is writing a book about Sam Mallory -- a famous stunt pilot who taught Irene how to fly -- and promises she won't reveal Irene's location if she answers questions for the book. That book, Aviatrix, forms the alternate chapters for Her Last Flight.

I really liked the structure of this book, and found that jumping between the timelines just enriched the story. This way, the author was able to explore the characters' motivations more deeply and allowed the reader to know and understand them better.

I also really liked the writing style in this book, especially the chapters written from Janey's perspective. Usually, writers are much more formal, but here,.Janey felt like a real person, especially with her asides to the reader, like she was actually talking to us instead of just writing a story.

And the story itself was very well imagined. There were a few different surprises for the reader, and each one made me smile. I highly recommend this book!

Thank to NetGalley, Book Club Girls, and the publisher for providing me with an arc of this book. It has not influenced my opinion.

I received an electronic ARC of this novel from NetGalley in exchange For my honest review.

Irene Foster meets Sam Mallory on a beach in California. He takes her to her first air show, where she immediately falls in love with the idea of flight. Sam and Irene become a team, and together undertake amazing and dangerous flights, pushing the limits of their machines and winning accolades worldwide.

Janey Everett is a photojournalist on a mission to discover what happened to Sam Mallory after he disappeared. She manages to track down Irene Foster, now living in Hawaii under the name Lindquist, and denying she is the once famous aviatrix.

This story kept me engaged all the way through it, with its many twists and turns. I kept trying to find the thread that tied the characters all up together, but did it realize where the story was going until almost the end of the book. Part romance story, part adventure, part mystery, all good.

Thank you to the author, Beatriz Williams and the publisher, William Morris for the opportunity to review this book.

I am a huge fan of Beatriz Williams and anxiously await each of her books. I love the way she takes specific moments in history and brings them to life through complex female characters who challenge what was expected of them during these times. From Lily Dane in A Hundred Summers to the Schuyler Sisters of The Secret Life of Violet Grant, Tiny Little Things and Along the Infinite Sea, Williams writes women who are determined not to be constrained by the limitations of their gender and who, in their own ways, never give up on love. Her Last Flight features two such women - Janey Everett and Irene Foster - in my favorite book of hers yet.

Janey is a photojournalist in 1947 investigating what happened to famed aviator Sam Mallory who flew in the Spanish Civil War and never returned. She ends up in Hawaii in search of Irene Lindquist, whom Janey believes is the legendary Irene Foster, Sam's protégé and flying partner whose own disappearance a decade earlier during an around-the-world flying race remains one of the world's biggest mysteries. The story is told in alternating timelines, from Janey's POV in 1947 as her search for Sam unfolds, and through excerpts from her future book which tells Sam and Irene's story from the 1920s-1930s.

Both Janey and Irene are amazing characters, strong and fierce women who go after what they want, and the supporting cast - from Irene's publicity-obsessed manager and Janey's Spanish paramour during WWII to Sam's manipulative wife and Irene's alcoholic father - is equally as colorful. Williams has a true gift for writing dialogue - I couldn't get enough of Janey's snappy comebacks and witty turns-of-phrase which were at times laugh-out-loud funny and at others, just devastating. I also loved all of the details about the early days of aviation - from how dangerous and expensive it was to how the pilots had to keep topping themselves to stay relevant - and was surprised and excited to learn what happened to Octavian and Sophie Rofrano from Williams' earlier book, A Certain Age.

There are two plot twists in Her Last Flight that literally made me gasp out loud - I didn't see them coming AT ALL - but they both made perfect sense looking back on the story builds. I could not put this book down and read it in the course of two nights which was both good and bad - while I couldn't wait to see how it would wrap up, I also didn't want it to end.

This is my first 5-star read of the summer. Pick up Her Last Flight. You won't be disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley, William Morrow and the author for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for my unbiased review.

“I’ll tell you something, the facts are the least important thing about a person.” “Oh? So what’s important?” “The fictions. The lies we tell to other people, the lies we tell to ourselves. The stories we make of our lives, the heroes we fashion of our own clay. The myths of our own creation. Those are the real stuffing of a person, in my opinion. What makes each one of us different from the other fellow.”

Nothing says summer reading like a big, thick page turning novel. Love. Intrigue. Deceit. Mystery. Dynamic Female Characters. Honor -- Beatriz Williams has done it yet again with this tale of two strong throw-convention-to-the-wind women.

As in any of Beatriz Williams’ books, she does a fantastic job of sweeping her readers back to another time and place. I absolutely loved the suspense, the romance, the mystery of it all as the story is told from the point of view of two narrators and time periods.

In 1947 Janey, with her outlandish behavior boldly takes on the research of the dynamic life of Sam Malloy, stunt pilot extraordinaire. The story begins in Spain where Janey discovers Malloy’s crashed plane (where he aided in the Spanish Resistance) and his body. Hidden behind his body is Malloy’s own personal journal that leads Janey further into Sam’s mysterious last days. In order to learn about Sam’s real past, Janey must find presumed to be dead and even more famous pilot Irene Foster. Janey believes that Irene is the only person who can shed light on the true story of Sam. Her hunt brings her to Hawaii and the island of Kauai where Irene Lindquist, who runs local flying tours, is revealed to be the long lost Irene Foster.

Flash back to 1928 and we see how the story of Irene and Sam meet and become a flying duo. The story of Irene and Sam is told in the form of a draft of a book that Janey is writing. The growth of Irene and Sam’s relationship, their amazing flights, and their tragedies are told in a dynamic, fascinating and truthful fashion. We see Irene’s star in aviation and the media rise as she becomes a worldwide sensation and the most famous woman in the world.

The plot throughout is engrossing, the story fascinating, the dialogue filled with witty banter, and the setting luminous and vivacious, but the real draw of the novel is that feisty, zingy, complicated, pour that bourbon neat while giving the gossip voice of the narrator, Janey. The reader will know after approximately 1 page with Janey that they will devour the next 400 pages just to lean a little closer and hear the story, mystery and research she has to share. This is the main reason I’m so drawn to Williams’ books. Her characters are steeped in truth and they carry their own real flaws just like we the readers.

I loved following Janey’s story as she worked to find out what really happened to Sam Malloy, his true relationship with Irene Foster and the true cause of his death. As soon as I read last the last page I wanted to start over from the beginning. If I didn't have a stack of books waiting to be read on my night stand I would be fully immersed in Janey and Irene’s stories all over again. I hope to hear more from them!!

“Life is not divided neatly into good people and bad people, good parents and bad parents. We are all of us human and scarred with sin. We make mistakes, some small and some terrible.”

I’m so thankful to HaperCollins and Netgalley for this advanced copy of Her Last Flight.

eARC kindly provided by NetGalley and Book Club Girl.

This was my first Beatriz Williams book and I regret not picking one up sooner. Historical fiction is one of my favourite genres and this book ticked all of the boxes for me.

The novel tells the story of two strong women, bound by history and circumstance and I was mesmerised from the first page. Usually I prefer one POV over another, but I loved both characters, although at times I could have shaken Janey! The secondary characters were so well written and fleshed out; I felt like I knew everyone. This made it so easy to understand their actions and reactions.

The writing was beautiful and so easy to read and become absorbed in. I simply loved reading this book and can't wait to see what Beatriz Williams writes next. I now plan on reading her backlist of titles.