Got this as an ARC from NetGalley, since it’s not published in the U.S. yet. But my friend had already read and recommended it to me ages ago. Because I guess if it’s a South African author and you live in South Africa, you get the book first. Fair.

Fake dating rom com between an autistic air traffic controller and a pilot. It’s 100% adorable. He’s a sweet golden retriever and we love a neurodivergent heroine. I’d definitely read more from this author. For fans of Chloe Liese and Talia Hibbert.

I really enjoyed this book! The characters were great and very entertaining. The story was very well written and I loved the plot!

Pippa is an air traffic controller, and meets Andrew, a pilot.
They communicate almost daily as she helps to land his planes. Pippa has an upcoming class reunion, that she desperately doesn't want to attend. Her classmates are all engaged, married, or having babies and she doesn't want to deal with the pressure. However, when Andrew recognizes her voice at a coffee shop, he expresses that he doesn't want to hear the nagging from his family about similar issues over the holidays. Together they figure out a way to make it work for both of them.
I loved this; read in under 24 hours! Andrew and Pippa are the best! I love that Pippa is on the autism scale, there needs to be more awareness and understanding about how everyone's brains work differently. But the fact that it's something Andrew loves about Pippa makes it so much better. Their relationship is beautiful, and I absolutely loved reading about it! There's a little bit of spice, but honestly, you don't need it.
It's such a beautiful story. The ending had me oo
*one of my
favorites* There's no third act break up, but a confession and an emergency. There is just so much good in this book, and I truly love all the little things that happen. I don't want to give anything away, but the car...😍
Highly recommend!

4 stars out of 5.

I thought this was a pretty good romantic comedy and I loved the fact it was aviation themed. There are not enough aviation rom coms out there so I am glad I was able to get to read this book. Both the main characters were likable but I found some parts pretty cheesy. It had good pacing and kept my interest throughout the book. Overall, an enjoyable read.

In Love at First Flight, we met Pippa who is an air traffic controller and Andrew, a pilot. Pippa has worked with him on multiple flights and one day she meets him at her favorite coffee shop in the airport. Andrew recognized her voice and they both got to talking. Pippa was going to a 10 year high school reunion but was dreading it since she didn't have a date. Andrew had a similar problem so the two decide to be each others dates when needed. They started faking dating but things seem to be taking a different turn.

Thank you Netgalley and Wattpad WEBTOON Book Group for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Love at First Flight introduces Pippa and Andrew who are working as an Air Traffic Controller and Pilot respectively who not knowingly have been working with each other for quite some time. What I mean by this is they have only talked through radio communications using codenames (City Tower and Flightbird Six Zero Zero - so cute) so they only recognise each other’s voices. They have the cutest meet-cute in their favourite coffee shop in the airport (talk about destined for each other) and this is where they started to devise a plan for the fake dating. Pippa needs to bring someone to her 10 year high school reunion and Andrew needs someone to stop his family from pestering him about getting married. The fake date scenes are so funny and their family is so wholesome.

Speaking of destiny, Pippa and Andrew are meant to be because their values and goals are aligned, not to mention that they fit so well together. Andrew is the sweetest, kindest and most genuine guy who understands Pippa just the way she is. I do find some parts a bit cringey and I get second hand embarrassment from it but I can deal with it. The part at the end caught me off guard tbh because I did not expect an action/thriller scene. Overall, I had fun reading this book and I love getting to understand the autism spectrum better. There is nothing like it!

P.S. Thank you to NetGalley, Jo Watson and W by Wattpad Books for giving me this ARC!

I loved the main female character's job at the airport! Very cool. The story is fun and fast-paced. I was entertained for what it was. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I adored Love at First Flight! Pippa and Andrew were the sweetest couple 💕 I liked how the main characters met. The meet cute between Pippa and Andrew was clever. The airport work setting was neat and fun. I thought the author did a fantastic job with the Flightbird and City Tower scenes. As the story progressed, you could see how more comfortable Pippa and Andrew were with one another over the mic. I enjoyed the plot of this story. The fake dating trope was done well. What made this story unputdownable were the characters and the romance. Pippa and Andrew were authentic, layered, and charming. I appreciated Jo Watson's message about Pippa and adding her own traits into the character. This book helped me gain a greater understanding of the challenges those on the autism spectrum face. Although some of Pippa's inner monologues felt a little too long, they gave me a deeper understanding of her character. I enjoyed seeing her relationship with Andrew develop. Andrew was the perfect partner for Pippa. He was understanding, accommodating, and sweet. I like how he made it clear that all the things that Pippa worries about are the things he loves about her. Watson did a fantastic job adding in comedic moments into the story. Pippa's character was funny. The stubbed toe scene with her and Andrew was hilarious. I thought the side characters were written well. I liked both sets of families. Watson's writing was smooth and the pacing felt right. I am eager to see what Watson comes out with next. Thank you to NetGalley and W by Wattpad Books for the ARC.

This book was so cute!! I loved how sweet Andrew was with Pippa, and it was great to have a main character that represents so many on the Austrian spectrum. The story was what you would expect with a modern day rom com. Was it the most groundbreaking story I’ve ever read? No. BUT, I read it all in one sitting and found myself wishing it was longer. I will definitely check out more by this author

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the arc of this book!

This book was full of awkward and relatable moments which made it enjoyable! The two main characters had a meet-cute for the books! I can see this being made into a movie or limited series...and I'd eat it up! I love that the FMC is on the autism spectrum. As a fellow neurodiverse girl, I can appreciate that ALL people are being represented in love stories. So many of my favorite tropes were included in this book - fake dating, one bed, and golden retriever boyfriend.

Jo Watson, girl, you deserve so much recognition and praise for this book and I'll definitely be checking out your backlog!

This book was everything. Working in the aviation industry, I absolutely CRAVE a good romance. Everyone knows aviation = gossip. I think it’s so amazing for it to be between an Air Traffic Controller and a pilot how adorable. Everything about the FMC was so amazingly detailed and you very easily can understand into her mind how chaotic it is for her in every situation. I felt like I knew her and understood everything she struggled with just by how beautiful the writing was.

A MUST read aviation romance ✈️🩵

Love at First Flight follows Pippa, a neurodiverse air traffic controller, and Andrew, a pilot. When a fake-dating pact is formed to solve each of their social dilemmas, their on-comms chemistry evolves into a genuine connection.

I first picked up this book because it followed an air traffic controller and a pilot (I love books featuring MCs with unique jobs), and I stayed for the chemistry between the two leads.

The meet-cute between Pippa and Andrew was absolutely adorable - after months of professional intercom chatter, they recognized each other’s voices in a coffee shop and hit it off instantly. And then their fake dating plot added an interesting setting for their relationship to grow and evolve into something more.

Pippa’s neurodiversity felt so fresh and authentic. I loved how the story gave us an inside look at Pippa’s unique way of seeing the world, with her insightful and often hilarious observations. Plus, the autism representation in this book felt both eye-opening and deeply personal, especially knowing that the author drew from her own experiences.

While Andrew felt like the perfect book boyfriend - kind, understanding, and so respectful of Pippa’s boundaries, which I adored. His unwavering support created a safe space for Pippa, allowing space for a true, deep connection and, eventually, love.

The book had many laugh-out-loud moments and fun banter, yet it also didn't shy away from addressing heavier topics, like societal expectations.

And I also absolutely loved the South African setting, it added an interesting layer to the book, especially since I haven't yet read any books set there.

Jo Watson has crafted a beautiful, feel-good romance that will make you laugh, swoon, and maybe even tear up a little. It’s perfect for fans of fake-dating romances and stories that celebrate love in all its beautiful forms. Plus, that unexpected twist near the end caught me off-guard in the best way possible.

Thank you for the ARC!

I really enjoyed this book. It seemed like a very accurate depiction of someone with ASD, showcasing the challenges Pippa dealt with daily. Andrew was a perfect counterpoint—patient, understanding, intuitive, gentle and observant. Their flirting was adorable. It was so obvious he was falling for her but he didn't once rush or pressure her into making up her mind. He always gave her space to process and figure things out on her own. Very swoon-worthy!

Thank you to NetGalley, W by Wattpad Books and Jo Watson for an advanced reader copy (eARC) in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book! The cover is so cute and it definitely made me want to read the book and I was not disappointed! It was amazing!

What a darling book! Jo Watson, I love the way you created your characters and their story of love. It was just beautiful.

An extremely fun romantic comedy - I'm almost always looking forward to these types of stories as they're easy to digest amidst more heavier topics. This was my first book by this author and it won't be my last — I enjoyed the banter between the two main characters and I liked their chemistry for the most part.

A fantastic romantic comedy! Although this is the author's first work for me, it won't be my last. That story was adorable! I thought the characters' chemistry was fantastic, and the writing style is excellent. It was incredibly emotional and hilarious at the same time.

I like Jo Watson so I was looking forward to reading her newest book, Love at First Flight. One of the MCs in this novel is autistic who leads an independent life. It made for an interesting read on how she handles friendships, her career, and romance.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I thoroughly enjoyed having an ASD representation in this book. It is refreshing as not many books have a character with ASD. It was a cute read and I adored Pippa. She was one of my favorite characters out of all the books I've read this month! I'd love more with her.

**Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for a fair and honest review**

This is the 2nd of Jo Watson's books that I've read, I really enjoyed the 1st one (Big Boned) so I was keen to request Love at First Flight. I've challenged myself to read more books set outside of the UK / USA and love the South African setting for Jo's books. I was especially interested in this title as one of the lead characters is autistic and Jo is writing from her own experiences.

As the Mum of a neurodivergent teenager, I find it really refreshing to read about ASD characters who are able to lead independent adult lives with careers, friendships and romantic relationships. Of course, life is tricky with the extra social barriers (and other people's prejudices) but it gives me hope.

Pippa was a really likeable character and I recognised a lot of her social struggles. I loved that her neurodivergence was shown to be a bonus in some situations and that she could find someone who loved her just as she was.

A solid 4/5.

No leí la primera versión, por lo que no tengo idea de cuáles fueron los cambios en esta nueva.

Todo el libro está narrado desde la perspectiva de Pippa, lo que puede hacerlo un poco pesado de leer. Me hubiera gustado tener algunos capítulos con povs de Andrew.

Me gustó cómo se desarrolló la relación, especialmente cómo Andrew logró que Pippa se fuera abriendo y confiando en él poco a poco.

Por momentos, Pippa me desesperó; sin embargo, al final, la intención es mostrar cómo su 'diferencia' puede llegar a irritar a las personas, las cuáles al no entenderla llegan a ser groseras con ella, generándole inseguridades. Esta parte es importante, ya que deja la enseñanza o mas bien el recordatorio de que no debemos olvidar ser empáticos y educados con los demás.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.