This was a really cute, fairly clean, romance. I liked the characters and the banter between Jack and Ava was well done. The dialogue and the setting make this novel shine. The romance works, but it did veer into some unnecessary drama toward the end. The secondary characters were also well developed and interesting. Overall this is a book I would recommend to readers who love contemporary romances, although it's not as steamy as I would have liked. Still, I look forward to more by this author.

After reading the synopsis, I thought this was going to be my jam. Unfortunately, Ava was hard to connect with (we're given a backstory as to why, but still) and there were a few times I wanted to tell her to chill with her aggressiveness towards Jack. I genuinely felt bad for him a few times after her sharp retorts, especially when she didn't know if any of her information was correct. It took a long time for them to finally connect in Belize, and by that time I was more invested in Gen and Pilot Paul's story. I did like the ending but it was hard to like Ava by then. This novel did motivate me to travel again once COVID-19 is over, and maybe go snorkeling in Belize again.

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I initially was going to hold off on reading this eARC until after the holidays, because I wanted to pull out this getaway style book after the post holiday depression sat in. But I couldn't help myself and had to read it!

The Layover follows flight attendant Ava as she navigates her supposed last night before she leaves the airline to start a new life with her fancy lawyer finance. Unfortunately for her, her nemesis Jack, also a flight attendant, is working this last shift with her and more unfortunately is that he gets stuck with her and the rest of the crew in Belieze while their flight out keeps getting grounded.

I am obsessed with flight attendants (I really wanted to be one!) so this book checked off a romance plot that I was really hoping for! And what's not to love about getting a book set in a warmer place! Ava and Jack also play into the enemies to lovers trope so well, and loved how Ava's misunderstanding of Jack plays out. There was some serious tension between them and being stuck together in Belieze amped up that tension like crazy.

I also loved the ending and how much Ava really grew, and realizing what kind of person she wants to be. There was a ton of character development in her character that was well played out, even if you knew what was coming.

My only wish was that it had a tiny bit more steam. I don't mind if a book is completely closed door, but we got just a taste and then I felt like it was taken away from me. I was rooting for Ava and Jack so hard and I just wanted them to finally get together and have sex! However, I'll totally admit that the part of the book where I thought they were FINALLY going to get together made me audibly gasp because I was not expecting that little twist.

Ultimately I would recommend this book if you don't mind a less steamy romance and feel like you want to take a bit of an adventure! Make sure to look out for this book on June 15, 2021!

Thank you so much to @putnambooks and @netgalley for this #gifted eARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Layover is an enemies to lovers romance by debut author Lacie Waldon.

Ava wants stability and routine in her life. Her recent engagement has allowed her to quit her job as a flight attendant and put down the roots she’s dreamed of since she was a child. Ava has one last run to complete and includes an overnight in tropical Belize. She is so excited to be ending her career with such a good route, until she meets her cabin crew.

Jack, a former military pilot who is now a flight attendant, is a member of this cabin crew. Ava has harbored a grudge against this great looking, arrogant man for years. She sees him as complicit in her ex’s cheating, but it is only a quick trip and she can be professional…right?

But when the plane has mechanical problems and the quick trip becomes a long weekend, she has more time to spend with Jack. Ava begins to question his role in her breakup, along with what she really wants out of life. The stability and routine she thought she wanted, may not be what she needs.

Waldon is a former flight attendant and her view into that world is fascinating. How flight attendants prepare for flights, the expectations placed upon them, and their specific duties on airlines adds an authenticity to The Layover that only an insider can supply.

The supporting characters are strong. I enjoyed Pilot Paul, Gen, Celeste and Eddie. The insight into Captain Ballinger late in the book was so charmingly endearing, it made me smile.

I really enjoyed reading The Layover and look forward to more books by Lacie Waldon.

Thank you NetGalley and Putnam Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Summary from Goodreads:
An unexpected tropical layover with her nemesis turns a flight attendant's life upside down in this witty, breezy debut romantic comedy about life--and love--30,000 feet above the ground. After ten years as a flight attendant, Ava Greene is poised to hang up her wings and finally put down roots. She's got one round trip left before she bids her old life farewell, and she plans to enjoy every second of it. But then she discovers that former pilot Jack Stone--the absurdly gorgeous, ridiculously cocky man she's held a secret grudge against for years--is on her flight. And he has the nerve to flirt with her, as if he doesn't remember the role he played in the most humiliating night of her life. Good thing she never has to see him again after they land....

Reading this book was a joy and I absolutely adored it! It seemed to have everything that I look for in a rom-com: sizzling chemistry, witty banter, characters that I would want to hang out with and a layered main character who experiences growth throughout the book. The Layover reminded me of one of my favorite rom-com books, The Hating Game by Sally Thorne. It has a similar enemies to lovers storyline and I absolutely loved it. The side characters (especially Gen and Pilot Paul) were fantastic and fleshed out really well. Gen is one of my favorite side characters in a book. She was hilarious but really seemed to care and want to help Ava. Ava and Jack has such sizzling chemistry that every time they talked, sparks flew. There’s plenty of romantic tension to keep readers engaged. The steam level is mild in this book, but it doesn’t take away from the spectacular chemistry that Ava and Jack have. This is a great vacation read and Lacie Waldon is an awesome new author in the rom-com genre and I look forward to reading more from her. I think that this book will be a bestseller!

The Layover by Lacie Waldon was an amazing mix of fun, adventure and romance! Ava is recently engaged to stable, routine-loving, lawyer Alexander and agrees to hand in her wheelie suitcase after working one last trip as a flight attendant. This particular trip includes the holy grail: a twenty four hour layover in Belize. Though Ava is determined to enjoy her last trip, she can't shake former Air Force pilot turned coworker Jack. The two keep up serious banter and competition from the parking lot to 30,000 feet above the ground.

I loved the Layover! It was one of those books I was already recommending to people as I was reading, it's that good. Waldon's style reminds me of Christina Lauren and Jasmine Guillory. It was so fun getting a peak into what being a flight attendant is like: from the hotels to the hot plates! If you have the urge to travel or love romcoms definitely add The Layover to your to read list!

I LOVED this book. I love a good enemies-to-lovers romance, especially in the workplace; one of my all-time favorites is The Hating Game - and The Layover reminded me a lot of it! Ava and Jack had obvious chemistry and fantastic banter, and I could easily picture all the tropical locales they visited in Belize. The side characters (especially Gen and Pilot Paul) were fantastic and fleshed out really well, too.

I do have one minor complaint, and that's only that the blurb listed in NetGalley wasn't exactly accurate to what happens in the story (especially the last paragraph). But that's an easy fix, especially considering how great the rest of the story was! Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for allowing me to read this great book, in exchange for a review!

There's so much I want to say about this, but I think I can sum it up in one sentence: I've found my new favorite book!

I love stories about traveling, airports/planes specifically, so naturally I gravitated towards this. I read a lot of romance and every so often, a gem will pop up and leave me stunned. I was blown away by this book. It ticks all the boxes for me - fresh, smooth writing with perfect pacing and chapter breaks, well-rounded/fully fleshed out characters, believable emotional conflict, and an original, intriguing story that feels character-driven and not plot-driven. Also, it's hilarious. Rom-coms tend to reach too far for their humor and it makes me cringe, but this has a great subtle humor weaved in that had me cracking up.

If you're keen on a lot of steam or physical interaction between the two leads in your romance books, you might be disappointed over the lack of them here, but this story fares so well without it. I was so invested in Ava's story that I was far more interested in her character development than any naughty time between her and Jack. The author did such an excellent job at crafting characters that feel like real people with flaws and that's what kept me reading - this book felt so genuine and not far-fetched, it felt like one of those "you're not gonna believe what happened to me last weekend" kind of stories from your friends. I love a healthy dose of realism in my books and if you do too, you're gonna love this one.

Very rarely do I read epilogues because, strangely, most end up ruining the story for me, but curiosity got the better of me and it ended up being the icing on the cake. Without spoiling it too much, two supporting characters get their happy ending in the sweetest way, and it's the perfect end to an amazing book.

If you're a fan of The Hating Game by Sally Thorne or Beach Read by Emily Henry, you're gonna wanna check this out. It feels like newer titles get those comparisons and don't live up to those high standards in my opinion, but this deserves it. This book feels like it's gonna be a big hit when it's released. Seriously, all the props to Lacie Waldon - you've written an incredible book! I'm already itching to re-read it and am gonna pre-order a copy now!

Thank you SO much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an ARC to review!

Ava & Jack make me want to have a spontaneous trip to Belize. Their connection is great, the banter is good, and the romantic tension is satisfying. The steam level is actually tame, so it's great for readers that aren't into overly graphic sexual content, which is currently pretty popular in this type of book. This will be a great summer holiday vacation read recommendation.
Thanks for the ARC!

I really enjoyed the storyline and the character's occupation (flight attendants). The supporting characters in The Layover were also absolutely wonderful. Fun and spunky. This is a group of people I would love to spend time with.

Ava is about to quit her longtime job as a flight attendant -- by request of her new fiance, who we all realize is a selfish loser! But Ava needs to find that out for herself. On what is supposed to be her last working flight, she falls in love with a fellow flight attendant, helped along by a mechanical delay and a magical layover in Belize. I really enjoyed this story. Very romantic and fun.

It's hard to imagine being on a plane right now, so this was a fun escape! Ava and Jack had sexy, witty banter which made for a fast-paced, enjoyable read. The Layover had a nice mix of humor, romance, and emotional depth. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.