Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review!

Overall Rating: 3.8 ⭐️

This was a fun, cute summer-y read! It moved along quickly, and all takes place within a few days.

The Layover follows Ava, who is a flight attendant. She has one last trip before she says goodbye to that part of her life and finally plants some roots.
She plans to enjoy every minute of it, but then Jack Stone, the absurdly gorgeous and ridiculously cocky former pilot happens to be on her flight.
What is supposed to be a one night layover in Belize turns into an all weekend one due to mechanical issues.
As time goes on, Ava realizes Jack might not be the man she assumed he was, all while reevaluating what she thought she wanted in life.

I liked this one, but couldn’t connect to the story the way I usually do. Even though it was cute, the plot didn’t feel very deep and neither did the enemies to lovers aspect. I love the little small moments in books that make you love the characters, and I just didn’t get enough of that here.

I felt like the communication was lacking a bit. It’s understandable because of the situation, but was also a little annoying.

I did like the setting, and how Ava came into her own. She finally realized that it’s fine to be yourself, and you should never have to pretend to be someone else to appease others.

Overall I didn’t love it, but I enjoyed this one, and recommend for a fun, quick summer read.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

As summer approaches, I was very excited to read this tropical vacation style love story!

We follow flight attendant, Ava, who is recently engaged. Her fiance asks her to quit her job because he does not want her traveling and being away from home. Ava is a free spirit and loves her job, so you can already tell there will be conflict on this subject.

On Ava's last flight, she is forced to work with the handsome flight attendant, Jack. She does not like him because there are rumors of him being a womanizer and friends with her cheating ex-boyfriend.

The book follows Ava, Jack, and the rest of their flight crew on their journey and a layover in tropical Belize.

In my time now, I've read my fair share of enemies to lovers and this one was fine. I was entertained, but not in love with the story. I enjoyed the last 50% much more than the first. It took a long time to feel any real connection between Ava and Jack.

A big problem I had was that Ava was ENGAGED and told no one. I feel like they should have only been dating, the engagement seemed a little extreme to me and I could totally see Jack's point of view in the end.

There were parts with both character's parents that I did not think were necessary at all. I did enjoy the other members of the flight crew and Ava's relationship with them.

Even though this book does not stand out to me in this specific trope, it was still entertaining! I wish more of it took place in Belize (based on the cover that's what I was expecting). Once the Belize section began, that was where I thought this book shined.

Did I love it? No. But did I enjoy it? Yes. And that's all that really matters sometimes.

Ava is ready to move on from her life as a flight attendant. She's newly engaged and excited to settle down with her fiance after one last flight to Belize. But, Jack Stone is also on the flight to Belize, her attractive nemesis. Ava has no interest in trying to play nice with a man who aided in one of the worst nights of her life, but for some reason, Jack won't stop flirting with her. She wants the trip to end as soon as possible, but when their flight gets delayed in Belize, she's stuck spending a full. day with him in a tropical paradise. Ava wants to ignore him, but the more she gets to know the real Jack, she can't help but wonder if she's been wrong about him the whole time.

I really enjoyed this one! It was so easy to get lost in the world created by the author and feel like you were watching the characters in real time. I laughed out loud at the banter between Jack and Ava so many times. I was also so frustrated with Ava's fiance! I wanted to just strangle him and shove her towards Jack as fast as I could. Jack was also such a swoonworthy character--cocky, handsome, confident. Although I really enjoyed this book, the conflict at the end felt a little unnecessary to me, but I was happy it wasn't drawn out to epic proportions. This book was a great summer read!

This was such a fun and sexy debut. Ava Greene is working her last trip as a flight attendant before getting engaged and becoming a stay-at-home wife. She's excited to enjoy her last tropical vacation until she has to work alongside Jack Stone, a man she despises for reasons unknown.

Ava and Jack were hilarious together. Their banter was filled with smartass and flirty comments. Ava soon realizes that she's misjudged Jack all along because boy is this man charming and so swoon-worthy. He's attractive AND sensitive. He's the perfect book boyfriend and completely misunderstood.

Such a delightful read! There was so much chemistry between these two characters! Waldon writes beautiful and original beachy scenes. I was so invested in this pair and the supporting characters. I really adored the secondary characters as well; they were super fun and comical. Pick this up if you're looking for a sweet slow-burn beach read!

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC for an exchange of an honest review.

I loved this, such a fun read. Really a wonderful surprise.

This book made me want to go to Belize! I really enjoyed the back and forth between Jack and Ava, and watching how their relationship grew and developed throughout the book. I appreciated how Ava grew to understand herself and her wants/needs, and recognized how Alexander was such an unhealthy choice for a life partner. I also thought it was fun to see behind the scenes in the world of flight attendants.

I’ve been reading all these awesome books that make me wanna travel! I enjoyed reading this and learning more about flight attendants (especially from a real one 😉)

This was a romance, but it was mainly Ava’s story. She really came to learn what she wanted and how flying and traveling fit into that.

Jack was obviously amazing for putting up with her sometimes, but she really felt like she could be herself with him and that’s what ends up drawing her to him and what she wants to do in the end.

We have the conflict of what Ava actually wants and what she THINKS she should want. If you can’t relate to that consider yourself lucky. We all have a past that help determine our choices, but Ava has to sit and really think of her past and how it might have affected her present.

This comes out in June and is the perfect book to get you in a summery mood ☀️

The Layover by Lacie Waldon
Publication date: June 15, 2021

I was very excited for The Layover! Belize, enemies to lovers trope, close proximity; what’s not to love?!

Ava was not a favorite character mine. She was immature with her hatred of Jack. Ava was struggling with trying to find herself and where she wants to go in her life, especially with her fiancé Alexander. Her character arc was well done but I felt it could have been done earlier in the story. Jack is the pilot that is the “enemy” in this enemies to lovers book. I enjoyed his character and he provided some much needed witty banter.

The supporting characters, Gen and Paul, positively added to the story and were enjoyable to read about. The writing is very well done and the descriptions of Belize had me wishing I was there. The ending felt rushed to me and I think adding more dialogue or perspective of Jack would have helped with understanding Jack more.

Overall it was a quick, romantic comedy. Perfect for a little escapism and some witty banter. I definitely won’t hesitate to pick up another book by Lacie Waldon. Another beach read to add to the list.

Thank you Putnam Books and Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I love a good beachy read and this was excellent. It was just the right amount of swoony. I especially loved when Ava finally opened herself up to others. I think that was so special. This was an absolutely lovely read.

TW: alcoholism (mentioned), cheating (mentioned)

I had high hopes for this one sadly they did not pan out. This is supposed to be a rom-com and I don't think I laughed once. To be honest I picked up and put down this book at least three times with weeks between tries, I finally got it done today. I just could not get into it.

First off I disliked the MC. She's in a serious relationship pretty much for most of the book. The guy is a controlling jerk who doesn't really know our MC (Ava). She caters to him and molds herself to what she thinks he wants her to be. I absolutely hated it, she seemed so weak! But then you see the way she interacts with Jack (the hero) with such aggressive venom it was confusing. Ava also has a really bad habit of judging people way before she even knows them. Take for instance the reason she hates Jack. She HEARD he slept with a bunch of other flight attendants after breaking up with her co-worker...WHO SHE'S NOT EVEN FRIENDS WITH AND HASN'T EVEN MET. I get she may have some issues with her own former ex-boyfriend who cheated on her but that doesn't mean you hate a random handsome man because you HEARD he's a cheater. Also the way she talked about Gen in the beginning was the same way. It was super annoying.

I thought the writing was okay, I didn't find it clunky or weird. Also, to be honest the first 40% is kind of boring to me. Nothing really happens until they are actually in Belize, hence why I kept putting it down. I wanted to like the story but just the was the MC was written put me way off past the point of redemption.

The Layover was everything I needed and then some!
Looking for the perfect escape? You've got to read this babe!
I adored this book and devoured it. Very cute, homey, down to earth read! Will have you wanting more!

I’m just typing my definitely satisfied review for one of the best romance escapades of this year!

It makes you feel good! It makes you smile! It makes you dance! It makes you drink tequila shoots and celebrate your life! It makes you free spirited, joyful, light headed, happy! And finally it makes you review your entire your life from different angle! It’s just about learning who you are, getting rid of your past baggages, sizing your opportunities! Easy to say, risky to apply!

Ava Green, 10 years long flight attendant decides to take her last trip before getting engaged and settling in for more stable, neat, secluded life style with his workaholic, strict, uptight, somewhat annoying Alexander the great! ( at least he thinks he’s the best! What a narcissist douche! )

But sharing the work space with her nemesis/ womanizer, hot flight attendant Jack Stone increases her cabin fever. When their layover time extends because of plane’s malfunctioning, they find themselves to spend more quality, entertaining, crazy wild time at luxury resort in Belize . My condolences! ( rolling eyes effect, barely restraining jealousy laugh)

As they reluctantly became accomplices for sharpening their matchmaking skills between Gen and Paul, Ava starts to realize she’s misjudging this smartass, flirty, charming nemesis who was the reminder of one of the most humiliating night of her live.

She starts to fell more free and light hearted for a long time and the high chemistry pull them each other like magnets.

Maybe this layover could give her a chance to rethink her life decisions. She always hated to be like her free spirited parents who never thought to marry, getting responsibilities, making long term plans for their lives. As she tries too hard to choose the opposite path from her parents followed, she realizes she loses more herself and acts like a person she is not.

Now this attractive man, the possibility of bonding with real friends, understanding how her job fits her character make her question if she really wants to marry with that Macedonia king ( Alexander blah blah) and resign from her lifestyle.

Overall : at the beginning I found Ava a little annoying. She was so biased about misdemeanors of Jack, thinking the worst of him but it helps the author to build perfect enemies to lovers premise. I liked the self discovery and crazy wild vacation theme the author offered us, too.

Gen and Paul were adorable as supporting characters. Paul is sweet pie and Gen was a pocketful of sunshine!

Interestingly I loved to read Layla’s sequel. Her character intrigued me a lot. She’s the best relationship consultant!

Giving my four adventures, road trip, gas station cherry pie stars!

I am looking forward to read the future works of the author!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House / G. P. Putnam’s Sons for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this book and give my honest review!

I’m still trying to figure out how I feel about this book. I thought it was a cute and fun enemies-to-lovers read and I really was loving the characters and their banter for the majority of it. I was disappointed by the last 30% or so though, but I’ll explain below since it’ll require spoilers.







SPOILERS:






I was pretty annoyed with Jack for the whole getting stranded on the island thing. He’d heard Ava’s story about her no show at work because of her parents and her constant childhood disappointments. He insisted there was a way to balance out her adventurous side with her need for more stability... but he then pressured her (more like forced her) into a snorkeling trip, swimming away from the group, seeing the monkeys on the island, and then trying to find bananas on the island, all of which she felt uncomfortable with due to the time crunch. Despite all of that though, he insisted it wasn’t his intention or his fault and that her reaction was a result of her upbringing. She later realizes he was “right” (um what), apologizes to him for all of her “shortcomings,” and then they live happily ever after leading an adventurous lifestyle with the only stability being each other.

???

It just seemed so strange to me because I felt like the book was setting it up so well for him to share her love for travel but help keep her grounded and not take risks that could lead to her losing her job (not to mention cancelling a flight and screwing over a plane full of people... which he never seems to feel sorry for even though that was a very near miss) but he basically just ended up being a clone of her parents and she realized that their way of living was happy and great and it all worked out easily after that. It just didn’t make sense to me and I wish they’d found that balance better and that Jack had showed some real remorse for his actions. I also thought he overreacted over the ex-fiancé thing since Ava had only barely started opening up to him and he kept forcing her to go past her comfort level, but I digress.

The other negative reviews I’ve read seem to focus on their frustration with Ava and her over the top aggression towards Jack, which I totally get and can agree with... but I secretly loved her jabs and the witty banter haha. I’m just a sucker for this trope I guess. They also took issue with the fact that she was still engaged for so much of the novel which I also totally get and agree with... but since Alexander didn’t seem to treat her well or genuinely love her in return it didn’t bother me as much as it bothered others. She was clearly in denial about her feelings towards Jack and Alexander and she didn’t do anything inappropriate until after she’d broken off the engagement so I was able to forgive her actions, even if it seemed like a very abrupt end to a very serious commitment.

It was a cute and fun read, but the way the relationship turned out to be didn’t make sense to me.

Finally!! I basically never thought I'd see the day when a book described as being like The Hating Game is _actually_ like The Hating Game.
I'm pretty sure I originally passed The Layover by, but saw a glowing review on Instagram and popped over here to request it. I'm super glad that I did because this book was honestly just really stinkin' good. It had the absolute right blend of enemies to lovers/foreign locations/food descriptions/banter and steam. The book was smoldery enough that for the first time in my life, I wasn't mad that a book didn't have a sex scene, so honestly kudos to Lacie Waldon.
10 stars out of 10 stars!!

First of all, this book is getting 5 stars from me because WOW -it was amazing! Second, debut?!? Are you sure....? Ava is ending her flight attendant career for more stability, something she lacked in her childhood. She’s hoping this last flight to Belize goes smoothly and perfectly butttttt then enters Jack. Jack has a reputation for being a bit of a womanizer and Ava won’t give him the time of day. And then they end up on the same flight together. Just perfect, right? This enemies to lovers is hilarious and sweet and will 100% have you craving nachos. Just trust me on that. Also, Jack is highly swoon worthy. (You’ve been warned) This is definitely a must read this season!

Oh my, I absolutely loved this book! It was a perfect escapist low (but believable) stakes romantic comedy reminiscent of The Hating Game and Shipped and made me desperate to be on a beach, drinking rum or tequila cocktails! It took a chapter or two for Ava to grow on me but I adored her by the end and Jack...well Jack is the newest book boyfriend of my dreams. The side characters were all well developed and deliciously fun from Gen, Paul, and Captain Ballinger. Seriously, this novel was fantastic. For fans of romantic comedy who want to lose themselves in flirty banter and pull for the inevitable happy ending without too much angst, The Layover is for you. I believe this book will be at the top of my favorites list for 2021.

Fun, light, romance. So nice to read on a week when I actually got to fly in a plane. The book starts slowly and I really wondered if I even liked the main characters. But the story picks up when they get to Belize and I couldn't put it down. Ava Green is just engaged and working what she thinks will be her last flight. Her fiancé wants her to quit and focus on the upcoming wedding. She has been a flight attendant for almost ten years and is really good at her job. On this last flight Jack Stone, who she has consciously, avoided is assigned to her work with her. She believes the rumors that he cheated on his previous flight attendant girlfriend and Ava has no time for that.

Of course everything isn't as it seems. Quickly you see cracks in Ava's future plans and the stories she has heard about Jack. First I liked reading about the little things about flights. How many of each drink is in the serving trays, code names for types of passengers etc. I've flown a bit and is interesting to view travel as a job. I'm not going to get into the argument of whether Ava is cheating by her interactions with Jack. I typically mark down for cheating but I'm going with she did nothing until she spoke with her fiancé. I will say the plot would have worked just as well if she was figuring out what she really wants in life without the fiancé storyline. Loved the bioluminescence evening.

The book features some very over the top side characters that add (Gen) and detract (Alexander) to the storyline. Overall I found the escapism romance fun and entertaining. It was surprisingly clean with kissing and some touching being the payoff. The main story takes place over four days. This is the authors debut novel and I will look for more in the future. Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Short Review: Enemies to lovers? Tropical paradise? Delicious foods? Adventures at sea? Sign me up please.

Long Review: In this story we meet "free spirited" flight attendant Ava who is working her last flight before changing careers, settling down with her strict by-the-book lawyer fiance. Unfortunately, Ava gets stuck working her last flight with her arch nemesis Jack and due to plane malfunctions gets stuck with him on an extended layover in Belize. You can probably guess where this is going....

I loved meeting Ava and Jack and getting to see how they attain their "happily ever afters." You know what surprised me about this book, though? The humanity. What a great cast of colorful characters! I feel like I just met a new group of friends.

A perfectly swoon worthy Summer beach read. Thank you to Berkeley Romance and NetGalley for a copy of this book.

Ava Greene is a flight attendant who is turning in her wings now that she is engaged and going to start the stable life she’s always dreamed of. She is excited that her last flight has a 24-hour layover in Belize. That is, until she finds out that Jack Stone is also working this flight. Jack is handsome and flirtatious, but Ava doesn’t like him. They met years ago, but it seems Jack has forgotten that night and how humiliating it was for her.

The Layover is a romantic comedy that takes us all over the United States and eventually to Belize where the story really gets hot! There is definitely something between Ava and Jack from their first interaction, but besides the fact that Ava does not like him, she’s also keeping a secret from him and everyone else on their crew. As the chemistry between them heats up, we can see that Ava is going through some inner turmoil, wondering if the steady life she hoped for or if a life in the skies is what’s best for her.

This is a slow burn, enemies to lovers story, but at about the 50% mark, the story definitely picks up. I flew through the second half of the book. I really liked Jack as a character. Although Ava describes him as a bad-boy, player throughout the book, there is a lot more depth to his character. The scenes where he was being flirtatious and playful were great, and I enjoyed learning about his past. My problem is that I didn’t really like Ava. She is so rude to Jack based on something that happened years ago and rumors she has heard about him. Jack may tease her at times, but he is never as mean to her as she is towards him.

Gen, another flight attendant, is a secondary character that I loved. She brings some comedic relief to the story, and I really looked forward to the parts of the book with her in them. I’d be willing to read a spin-off of Gen’s story!

The Layover is Lacie Waldon’s debut novel, but I definitely look forward to reading more by her.

Thank you NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I was saving this book for when I needed a pick-me-up and it was exactly what I was looking for! I love a good enemies-to-lovers story and that combined with the setting and the fun banter made this a perfect beach read without the beach (although hopefully the end of the pandemic is in sight and someday I will have the pleasure of an actual trip to the beach again, something else THE LAYOVER also made me want). I usually prefer more explicit sex in my romances but the lack of it certainly didn't detract from the book for me in this case, and I would recommend to anyone looking for a good escapist romcom.