As a flight attendant, I usually approach aviation-themed books with slight apprehension, but I found myself really looking forward to picking this one up again anytime I had to put it down (can I skip adulting for books?). The plot felt unique as it surrounded Pippa, an air traffic controller, and Andrew, an airline pilot. I loved the adorable meet-cute, the fake-dating situation, and the neurodivergent rep that Pippa’s character brought. It’s a light and fun read, with some great supporting cast and two MCs that were so different yet perfect for each other!

Love at First Flight is the follow-up novel to Jo Watson’s popular What Happens on Vacation. It’s a fake-dating romantic comedy set in South Africa. and features a neurodiverse heroine. This story is told from the heroine’s POV and includes a lot of dialogue and text messages.

Pippa Edwards is an air traffic controller at the Johannesburg airport, guiding planes through landing and takeoff. She excels at her job but struggles with interpersonal relationships and understanding social cues. She knows that she’s on the autism spectrum and feels lucky to have supportive parents. She has a friend, Jennifer, from high school who encourages her to attend their ten-year reunion. Pippa has no interest in attending because high school was torture for her.

Pippa’s favorite pilot over the radio is Flightbird, who’s really Andrew Boyce-Jones. He ended a relationship with a long-term girlfriend, and his family is pestering him to settle down. When Pippa and Andrew recognize each other’s voices while at their favorite airport coffee shop, they strike up a conversation. Andrew is thrilled to finally meet Central Tower in person, and he’s not put off by her frankness and lack of verbal filter. They decide to fake-date so Pippa won’t have to explain to her classmates why she’s single, and Andrew can get his well-meaning family off his back.

While Pippa is attracted to Andrew, she sets a “no touching” rule and boundaries for their fake relationship. Andrew goes along with it, but he falls for Pippa. Meanwhile Pippa questions her perception of herself and her place in the world. She begins to wonder if someone can love her for who she is, and if she can let trust in their love.

Love at First Flight is one of the best romances that I have ever read which featured a neurodiverse character. Since the story is told from Pippa’s POV, the reader gets to know her pretty quickly. Her observations are hilarious and her social awkwardness is endearing. Pippa explains why she is successful as an Air Traffic Controller, and the reader understands why her family wants her to find happiness in all aspects of her life. Andrew is the perfect romantic hero, and I just loved him. While this story takes place in South Africa, American readers can easily understand it. I highly recommend Love at First Flight for romance lovers and especially for readers who are interested in a POV from a neurodiverse character.

I received an Advance Review Copy (ARC) from NetGalley and Wattpad WEBTOON Book Group for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

"Love at First Flight" was a cute romcom read. It's an interesting premise, the characters are fun and the overall storyline is great.

Thank you to Wattpad Books and NetGalley for giving me this arc!

This was a feel-good romcom with friends to lovers, fake dating, and some of the most awkward situations ever! The characters were so relatable and lovable. Having the pov of Pippa really helped open my eyes to ASD, I loved learning more about it.

Air traffic controller Pippa Edwards loves her job, airplanes, and tropical fish but not school reunions, tight clothes, or nosy questions about her love life. After months of chatting over the intercom, she finally meets pilot Andrew Boyce-Jones in person and they realize they have more in common than just the airport. They both need a date. With her ten-year reunion looming and his family pressuring him to settle down, they strike a deal to fake date for convenience. But as their undeniable chemistry grows, Pippa starts to wonder if her carefully planned life is about to take an unexpected turn.

I always appreciate diverse characters, and Pippa’s ASD diagnosis was such a refreshing aspect of this story. I loved how she says exactly what’s on her mind, is honest when she doesn’t understand something, and is completely baffled by what society deems inappropriate to discuss in public (like mermaid sex).

Andrew is an absolute gem of a character. With his background growing up in a fostering household, he has a deep well of patience and kindness, and he never gets flustered by Pippa’s quirks. Their dynamic is wonderful not just because of their chemistry, but because they both have ambitious career goals and refuse to compromise on their dreams. Instead of creating tension or pushing them apart, their ambition strengthens their relationship in a way that felt unique and refreshing.

There’s some great tension and steamy moments throughout, though I wouldn’t have minded a little more spice. Overall, this was such an enjoyable read!

I'm giving this book 4.5 stars (rounded up to 5 for this review).

Thank you to NetGalley and Wattpad WEBTOON Book Group for this ebook!

I really wanted to love, Love at First Sight because of the unique premise and autism character representation, but I had difficulty ever really getting into the story. This could be for a variety of reasons including my own mood, reading-burnout and sadly the line spacing as I received an arc to review.

Pippa was an interesting and joyful character and I loved the chaos, bluntness and humour her character provided. I love autism representation as I have wondered myself sometimes if I’m on the spectrum. Her character was done very well as the author herself is autistic. Andrew was a total cinnamon roll and I loved their relationship.

The book has some of my fav tropes (fake dating, forced proximity, one bed), but despite everything lining up for it to be my perfect romance, for me unfortunately it fell a little flat. Still overall 3 stars.

I love the characters. I love that the MFC is neurodivergent. I love how patient the MMC is with her. I did not love the length. I felt this book was a little too long, but the main characters made up for it.

I couldn't have imagined a better fake dating matchup than a pilot and an air traffic controller. Pippa, an air traffic controller, is on the spectrum and has a hard time with relationships has a unique connection to a charming pilot through the radio. Andrew saves the day when he agrees to be her fake date to her school reunion. What starts out as a sure way to keep everyone out of Pippa's love life turns out to be her true happily ever after. Pippa was relatable and Andrew was just a gem whose admiration for Pippa came off the page. This was light hearted romcom and an easy read for the Spring. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the gifted eARC. All opinions are my own.

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Pippa is startled when her phone starts pinging non-stop. A quick glance lets her know that it's a group of girls from her high school excited about their upcoming 10 year high school reunion. Pippa is not impressed.

Though she spends her days as an air traffic controller - an impressive career if ever there was one - Pippa knows attending will be difficult for her. That's because in high school, Pippa never fit in.

But a chance meeting in an airport coffee shop with a pilot she's harbored a crush on, though never met, gives Pippa an idea.

Both PIppa and pilot Andrew are annoyed by well meaning family and friends wondering why they aren't attached and expecting. They want space to pursue career goals. So in the first conversation they've ever had, including discussions of menstruation, sperm count, and masturbation, Pippa proposes they fake date. He can accompany her to the reunion and she can accompany him to his mother's birthday party. Win-win, right?

Except they realize quickly there is a pesky mutual attraction which will definitely get in the way.

This is a heart felt romance with an author's note at the beginning that only makes this story more tender. I loved the neurodivergent representation and I think the author did a great job here blending her personal experience with the plot of a romcom. I also have never read a book with a a pilot and ATC, which was a fun new experience.

I loved this meet-cute! The characters were relatable and I was rooting for their relationship from the beginning.

Thank you, @jowatsonwrites, @wbywattpadbooks, and @netgalley for my free book.

📚 #BOOKREVIEW 📚
Love at First Flight by Jo Watson
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Pages: 432 / Genre: Romcom
Release Date: March 18, 2025
🥳Happy Pub Week!🎉

Used to being teased and side-eyed over her awkwardness and on-the-spectrum ways, Pippa stays in her safe bubble of work as an air traffic controller and very small group of friends. But that all changes when she meets her favorite pilot in person for the first time after speaking over the air for the last six months. They both lament about the pressures they face from friends and family over being single when they prefer to focus on their careers. They make a pact to fake date their way through a few upcoming social events to avoid the typical unpleasantness they usually have to face. Getting out of her bubble exposes Pippa to new experiences and interactions, which gets her thinking about what more she wants out of her life.

I loved this fake-dating romcom! It was funny, touching, romantic, thrilling—synonyms have a big role in this book. My favorite romcom of the year so far.

Unfortunately I DNFed this book. While I liked the FMC, and love that her special interests are aviation and marine biology, the writing of this book was really hard to get through. I found myself constantly asking "Is this how the author writes, or is this an attempt to emulate the thoughts of someone with autism?" If I have to question it, then I don't think it's effective.

I LOVED THIS ONE!

I went in this blind and was so obsessed with all of it. Pippa’s character was everything. She’s on the spectrum and even the way this book was written truly makes me feel it. Her love for synonyms and quirky traits just solidify her character. And Andrew! He’s the absolute best for her!

I loved this being set in South Africa. Even their jobs just works so well for them and their relationship. I don’t know much about it but their conversations over the radio are just fantastic! I will recommend this over and over again!! So fun and unique!

What an adorable book!! I loved the neurodivergent main character. I enjoyed seeing her from the outside and also learning about what she thinks, feels and why. I found it both fascinating and heartbreaking all at the same time. I loved the chemistry, the banter and the workplace, friends to lovers, fake dating tropes. I thought that the romance was really well done and fun to read. I laughed out loud during parts, I cried, I was fully invested in the characters both personally and as a couple. I truly wanted to become friends or relatives of the main characters - to witness their love, support and commitment was amazing. I loved the slow burn, the growth and change. It was all just really well done. I think my only complaint was that in parts the book dragged on, it probably could have been about 50 pages shorter.

Thank you netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was a great palate cleansing read for me and genuinely had me in all of the romantic feels. As someone who is on the autism spectrum myself I want to say I feel very seen with the way Pippa is described as well as her natural struggles/traits. This workplace romance with some fake dating had me laughing at many parts, swooning at others and even fanning myself off at times. A great read for sure and I’m excited to pick up a physical copy.

I enjoyed reading Love at First Flight by Jo Watson. You will fall in love with all the characters. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely. Happy Reading!

This was an entertaining book. It was fun, sweet and kept me reading. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others.

“I know everything I need to know about you, Pippa.” 🥰

This book was a fun fake-dating romcom with a unique twist. Pippa is on the spectrum and I think the representation through her character was beautifully done. The story is written from her POV and getting that perspective during her interactions, especially with Andrew, was wonderful.

Pippa and Andrew have an adorable in-person meet-cute, recognizing each other’s voices after talking over the radio many times while at work. Their banter and watching their feelings grow and change throughout the book was really enjoyable.

I wasn’t quite sure where this story was headed at first, but to my surprise, it turned out to be a good read! In the beginning, I found it challenging to connect with Pippa. Her neurodivergent perspective definitely played a role in that struggle, but as the narrative unfolded, I discovered layers to her character that made her increasingly enjoyable.

Then there’s Andrew—he struck me as a pretty average character. Nothing stood out as spectacular, yet nothing was particularly off-putting either. One of the highlights was his effort to understand Pippa, which I appreciated. However, there were moments when he seemed to forget her struggles, leading to misunderstandings that were quite painful for both of them.

Ultimately, my perspective on the story shifted, revealing a more captivating and entertaining narrative than I initially anticipated. It was a journey worth taking!

Thank you, Wattpad and NetGalley, for the advanced copy of Love at First Flight.

Oh my goodness! I loved this book so much. The MCs were perfection! And I'm a sucker for a fake dating trope. This was laugh out loud funny in parts. I could not put it down. If you love a good cinnamon roll hero and an FMC that's different but oh so lovable, this is the book for you!

Pippa is an air traffic controller, and Andrew is one of the pilots that she gets to help when he flies into her airport. When they meet by happenstance at an airport cafe, they figure they have even more in common like how they're tired of everyone asking when they're going to settle down. Armed with a plan to get everyone off their back, the two takeoff for Pippa's school reunion and to get Andrew's family off his back for a while as well. Fake dating always stays simple, right?