Meh - thin on the history of flying circuses and actual facts about airplanes. (Which as a pilot was irritating enough that it pulled me out of the story.) But it was still a solid book. really more woman'e fiction than romance though.

Originally, I was drawn to this book because of the illustration. The image brought to mind a free, and spirited young woman, fighting for her right to dream. That expectation was pleasantly met as I progressed through the book. The setting of the story was intriguing, the family dynamics and the protectiveness that the men in her life felt for her both annoying and adorable. But as the plot unfolded, I found myself disappointed with how the character development and specifically the relationship between the main character and Leo was progressing. The foundation for their love story seemed shaky. They had been friends for a long-time, best friends even. Life events cause them to drift apart but when the story begins it seems that they already did love each other. I wish we had the chance to see how that developed.

I really enjoy reading this author no matter her “name”! She’s such a wonderful storyteller. I love that this one was so different from other romances I’ve read! I loved the intriguing information on planes and technology of that time. Mattie is such a great strong bold heroine! She shows us that the fight for women to be treated equal or have jobs the same as men is worth the fight! She’s a female flyer & joins a flying circus to help her family who needs money for their business. I absolutely adored the women in this story! They were a great addition & it wouldn’t have been the same without them! Leo is our hero who is def a sweetheart but worries over Mattie. The two have great chemistry and lots of learning and growing to get to their HEA! It was also a slow burn which I LOVE! All in all a wonderful historical read!

The concept of flight is still enchanting today, but how about in the Roaring Twenties? Mattie McAdams isn’t your typical woman. She is brave, strong, and adventurous. Despite facing unthinkable loss and harsh critics she stays true to herself and joins the first-of-its kind Flying Flappers. Daring stunts and exhilarating flights hook you in from the start. Stir in some glamour and handsome men and you have a winner. The Aviatrix is a historical fiction that will “fly” off the shelves.

I was excited to read a book about female pilots, but this one seemed to just use that as a hook to write a fairly generic romance. What there was about flying was decent, but too similar to too many other books in the genre to stand out much.

The Aviatrix brings to life the roaring 1920's, post WWI. Marsh tells the tale of women aviators, bound together in friendship and ideology. They strive to show women can fly just as well as their war hero male counterparts. While battling to overcome sexism, and in some instances racism, they form lasting friendships. Overall, good light fare, perfect beach or relaxing vacation read. Fair warning, it had a bit more of romantic angle than I usually read. Very similar to a few other fly girl novels that have come out recently. Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC for review.

This was a charming read, inspired by the real-life women who were determined to fly, invent, and live lives equal to men's despite the prejudices of post-World War I America. The story focuses on Mattie McAdams, who literally joins a (flying) circus in a last-ditch attempt to raise funds for her family's struggling flight school. This circus, however, has only female stunt artists -- with the exception of Mattie's longtime friend and ace pilot, Leo Ward. The flying circus travels across the country, delighting and impressing audiences, but also provoking negative reactions from men who argue that women pilots are unskilled and unnatural. Mattie and her female colleagues fight back, but as the negative reactions take a dangerous turn, will Leo try to hold Mattie back in the name of keeping her safe? Or will he trust in her skills and help her fly free? An inspirational story full of powerful female role models.

The Aviatrix by Violet Marsh is an wonderful book about Fly Girls, the Flying Flappers and Leo. I love most books about airplanes. I love the Thunderbirds and Blue Angeles. During the book women are trying to be famous.

I love a pilot story, and a female pilot story especially, but this one was just a little too plain and flat for me at the outset.

5 stars ✧ “Danger. A word designed to intimidate. But for Mattie, it was utterly thrilling and beyond tempting.”

ahh, what a great book!! I actually ended up reading this twice (not planned at all) but the fact that I could completely restart three-fourths through and enjoy it just as much as I did the first time really says something.

I loved everything about this !! The feminist theme was so so relevant and it was done so well.

I loved the characters and their friendships/relationships I just wish they were fleshed out a bit more. There are meaningful bonds created between all the characters and I just LOVE the group so much !!

There are 2 poc main characters which I liked. They, for me personally, didn't feel like checkboxes of diversity and I think they really added to the story overall in a great way. I also really liked the moment we got with Mattie and Carrie where Carrie talked about her home life and her parents and how hard they were working 🥺

Also -- Mattie and Carrie just reminded me of Peggy Carter and Maria Rambeau in the best ways?? yes. What a powerful and strong duo.

It wasn't just a 'mentions race once and were done' thing, it came up in very relevant ways and it was written so well alongside the treatment of females during that era.

There are so so SO many cute quotes that I marked that this review would go on for ages. The romance might be obvious so I hope it doesn't spoil it for anyone that MATTIE AND LEO ARE SO CUTE. I love their growth and how the conflict actually ended with both of them learning things.

It was written so well and I just can't help how AMAZING March writes some lines, truly.

★ My full review, quotes and gushing, and all on Goodreads!
linked below

i really enjoyed getting to read this book! it was so precious and cute and fun! i'm so glad netgalley chose me to read this before everyone else. thanks so much netgalley!!

A big Thank You to NetGalley for access to this advanced copy! I loved everything about this: the characters, the story, the old time language, the history, the relevance to what women still face today. EVERYTHING. I really felt like I was on this journey with Mattie and her friends. I was cheering them on from decades away knowing that even though these ladies were fictional, they were based on real women. Women that pioneered inventions, went to school, not just basic school but higher education, they were smart and driven, didn’t let the negativity pull them down but let it push them harder. There is something infectious about the writing that left me feeling empowered to push myself towards bigger and better things. To find whatever makes me feel like I’m soaring. There is a dash of romance but so delicately written that it complemented the story completely. I like feeling good about a book even if I saw the romance coming from page one. It makes me happy to see it all work out. Mattie’s character didn’t have anything handed to her, she had her fair share of bumps and setbacks. To see it all come to fruition in the end left me satisfied and happy. I’ll be eagerly awaiting more from Violet Marsh.

This book transported me to the 1920s! I loved reading about Mattie and her quest to become a stunt aerialist. I was always fascinated by the story of Amelia Earhart and this book helped me get a feel of what it might have been like for her at that time being a female pilot. This book was really entertaining and packed a lot of history into the story in a way that wasn’t boring. I loved that Mattie was able to advocate for herself and pitch a business idea. Mattie’s interactions with Leo were extremely entertaining. While there were a lot of supporting characters (including women doing jobs that were typically only held by men at the time) they were all memorable, especially Vera Really light hearted enjoyable read if you like historical fiction. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read this book early and provide an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. The Roaring Twenties were a time of discovery – of oneself and the boundaries established by societal norms. For daring pilot Mattie, she is discovering what she will do with her life now that her twin brother Alfred perished in the war and the family flight school is in financial distress. Leo, Alfred’s best friend and war comrade, along with her three older brothers are trying to keep a caged bird born to fly. Mattie is determined not to let that happen all the while proving them wrong and that she warrants freedom. Mattie throws caution to the wind and takes on challenges boldly – from accepting a spot in Vera’s Flying Flappers group, to enjoying an evening at a Speakeasy, pitching her business idea to a businessman, to accepting a challenge waged by Leo and Alfred’s former war pal and ultimately, breaking down the wall Leo built to unveil his romantic potential.
On a journey to prove herself and quest to be American’s Aviator, it isn’t until she links up with Vera’s fly girls that she feels confident to live the life she imagined. She is surrounded by a group of unconventional, encouraging, supportive females, also on their own paths to greatness and dreams realized. It isn’t enough that they have to shout a little louder just to be heard among their profession’s male voices and accomplishments. But they don’t mind, nor do they care, because they will capture the unwanted attention and captivate the audience wherever they go.
Overall, I enjoyed this book! Loved the historical detail, along with strong female characters that didn't let "the times" slow them down in their pursuits.

An absolutely fantastic historical romance read! I highly recommend this one to anyone seeking out strong female characters and devoted men who love them!

I liked the notion of this book of a independent woman flyer in the 1920's who joins other women in a flying show and prove that women can fly planes just like men. Many parts of this story were fun and exciting, the women involved in the flying show, like Vera, the invention of radar and the visits to the speakeasies. However, the love match between long time friends Mattie and Leo seem a little unfocused and seem more concerned about who Leo is and was than who Mattie is and made the love unexciting.
I really wanted to love this story but it seem muddled to me.

I want to thank Montlake publishers and NetGalley for this advance copy of this flying story.

Saint Louis, 1923. Mattie McAdams is a pilot no matter what anyone tries to tell her or the cost. Leo Ward is her foil in so many ways and they aren't opposites so much as adversaries, and their camaraderie and fighting is both irritating and entertaining just like in real life.

This was such a good time period to tell this story in and knowing what I do about life in America after the Great War their story is full of hope and disappointment and I wouldn't expect anything else.

When Mattie joins a female-dominated flying circus, she and Leo come head to head in skies around America. Soon they realize their passions are more than just flying the stories really kicks off.

This was a sweet romance! I loved the flying aspects (especially the flying circus!)

Leo Ward is a man who has taken on the mantle of the McAdams family's guardian angel, especially after the death of his best friend Alfred McAdams during WWI. Alfred's twin sister, Mattie McAdams, wants to fly without restrictions, so when she's offered a spot in a female Flying Circus, she jumps at the chance. Unfortunately, her friend-turned rival, Leo, is also invited to join. Will sparks fly between the two pilots? Or will the chance for something more crash and burn?

I loved the characters in this! Leo was a sweetheart and Mattie was the feisty red-haired pilot with something to prove. Vera Jones stole the show with her outside-the-box attitude and wit. Her comments towards Leo and Mattie made me laugh a few times. (I think she might be my favorite character because of her eccentric nature.) The other characters had their moments, too: Alice and John were sweet, Aida and her book were great, the twins Sadie and Lily were something else, and Carrie Wilcox was great. My only quibble is that there were so many flying circus performers (and other side characters) that it was sometimes a little difficult to keep track, but the characters were distinct enough that it is possible, with a little effort.

While this book isn't 100% historically accurate, I enjoyed reading the author's note about where she got the inspiration for this novel from. (I also learned about some aviatrixes and amazing historical ladies from the 1920s).

All in all, sweet book that has undercurrents of powerful messages. Many thanks to NetGalley and Montlake for this eARC! I really appreciate it!

A wonderful book full of the adventures of a bold and brilliant heroine who rubs up against sexist views of women in aviation. The details of the planes and technology of the time period were fascinating--just the right amount of information. The hero is adorable if overprotective, but with good reasons that have been torturing him, and the resolution was brilliantly done. I love friends to lovers love stories--great chemistry between the hero and heroine.. If you like bold heroines, learning a bit about history, clever plots, some action scenes, science-minded heroines, a diverse cast of characters, and sweet, happy endings, you will love this book!

This book felt like it had a lot going on. Because of that, I felt like it took me a little while to really get into the story. However, once the story had developed a little further, I could not put it down until I finished.

I am predominantly a romance reader, and while there was so much more to The Aviatrix than the romance… my goodness, did I love the romance. The pining, the growing trust, the communication, I loved it all.

The reason I gave this book a 4/5 instead of a 5/5 is because of the amount of times Leo is referenced as “rubbing the back of his head” or “jamming his hand into his hair” drove me mad. I did understand that that was just ‘his thing’ he did, but it was just said SO much.

I always love reading about women supporting other women, and that was so prevalent in this book. So many of the characters truly won me over, but Vera especially has a special place in my heart. She was such a lovely woman, and a great friend to everyone. I loved reading about Mattie and Leo, they were both great main characters, but I had to mention Vera too.

Thank you to Montlake & NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book!