I tried to give this book a book, but I just can't. I'm all for weird books, I think they are super fun and silly, but this one was just too much for me.

Sky Daddy by Kate Folk piqued my interest with this unusual premise of a woman, Linda, being sexually obsessed with planes. Linda believes her destiny is to "marry" one of her plane suitors by dying in a plane crash, linking their lives for eternity. The concept is unlike anything I've read before. The author did a phenomenal job of making Linda's sexual attraction believable and serious.

This book will never allow me to see planes the same way again (no, I'm not suiting planes now, I'll leave that to Linda.) Beyond the main plot of Linda trying to find her soulmate, there was some depth within her work, family, and friend relationships. I couldn't stop reading this book, with its witty, awkward, and thought-provoking new perspectives. I understand that this book may not be for everyone, but I will be thinking about it for years to come. I appreciate how Linda was authentically herself throughout the book.

Girl, you had me as delusional in wanting this for you. Thank you NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group, and Kate Folk for the ARC copy for my honest review. I honestly couldn't pass this up as I live Lit-Fic craziness, I work for an Airline, and I live in Salt Lake City. After finding out Kristen Sieh was the narrator I had to wait and get the Audio first, and I am happy I did as this is so Linda. Linda is a bit obsessed, delulu, and a bit out of touch with the world. This was quite funny and pulled me in.

Sky Daddy starts out as a story about a woman sexually and romantically attracted to airplanes (literally!!) and what seems like it might be a ridiculously unconventional exploration of romantic connection turns into something so much deeper.

Linda is one of the most compelling narrators I’ve read in a while- full of longing, blunt observations, and this aching desire to be seen for who she really is (while navigating trying to avoid being known simultaneously). I related to her at her core so often- her habit of sliding around a window seat aside. Her obsession with planes is strange, yes, but I also thought it was weirdly beautiful?

What really got me, though, was how the story shifts. Without spoiling anything: it becomes about connection, friendship, and carving out your own meaning in a world that doesn’t quite know what to do with you. Semi-remniscent of Sayaka Murata's Convenience Store Woman with some sprinkles of The Pisces by Melissa Broder. I want more books like this!! The blend of navigating alienation, connection seeking, neurodivergency, and atypical romance just HITS. I will think about this book fondly forever.

I don't know how to explain the mixture of sweet and confusing and kind of horrifying that is this book. How do I even define the genre of this outside of "fun" and "unique." It's a one of a kind romance with a dark twist.

Linda is sexually attracted to planes and believes it's her destiny to "marry" one by dying in a plane crash. That it's the spiritual union of her and the plane. Linda never tries to make a crash happen, she just rides planes a lot waiting for her time, for the time that a plane will "choose her."

Along the way we meet the people in her life - the uptight family she rents a windowless garage room from, her coworkers, her dating prospects, even her family. Linda is odd, even without the airplane attraction, and often underestimates how much people genuinely like her. She's so afraid of being judged that she keeps an open mind about pretty much everything anyone else might be into, and tries not to hold people's mistakes against them.

A unique take on love, a beautiful exploration of friendship and forgiveness, and an ending you'll never forget.

Sky Daddy is a bold, offbeat novel that’s both unsettling and addictive. Kate Folk has a distinct voice - wry, observant, and often darkly funny - and she uses it to great effect here, especially in the way the book explores themes like identity, intimacy, and disconnection in the digital age. The protagonist’s inner world is rich and often uncomfortable (oddly relatable in some regards!), and the eerie tone keeps you slightly off balance... in a good way. Sky Daddy is thought-provoking, original, and genuinely hard to put down. A great pick for those who like their fiction to be unsettling and uncomfortable!

So, I had come across this book thanks to a book reviewer who is into weird lit. The premise sounded really interesting and it sounded like a mix of smut with weird lit. WOW! This book really pulled you in and it kept pulling you in at a quick pace. I loved it and I can't wait to read more from Kate Folk!

we love a woman who just lets her freak flag fly (no pun intended)

Linda, a content moderator for a video-sharing platform, lives a seemly dull life in her windowless Bay Area apartment. But Linda has a secret she holds close: She really, really loves planes. She believes it's in her destiny to "marry" a plane, which actually means meeting her “soulmate” plane and dying in a plane crash. Linda must decide whether to give up her dream and “be normal” — or chase it and live out her ultimate love story.

Boldly satirical and a little bit heartwarming, SKY DADDY is recommended for anyone who loves absurd and unhinged female main characters.

Thank you to #NetGalley and Random House for an advanced reader copy of #SkyDaddy.

3.75 Stars
I’m not really sure how to summarize my feelings about this book. It sure was a wild ride and I didn’t quite expect some of the directions this book took. I think it had some really interesting commentary on friendship and feeling accepted but I kind of expected some of the topics covered to go a bit further than they did. The writing in this book keeps you so captivated even with the insane premise and the author does a great job of bringing these characters to life, especially Linda. This was definitely a weird book but it also does a good job of highlighting some normal aspects of living.

Sky Daddy by Kate Folk was such a fun read.
A funny and adorable debut that melt me turning the pages.
The quirky characters kept me engaged and the writing was just great.

Thank you Random House for my free ARC of Sky Daddy by Kate Folk — available now!

» SYNOPSIS «
Linda loves planes. Like, REALLY loves planes. But she can't tell people about this, because they'd think it was weird. Unless it's on a vision board? No, still too much. But, the vision board thing seems to make the universe take note of her deepest desires, so maybe all Linda's dreams really CAN come true...

» REVIEW «
A thousand times, yes. This is my favorite kind of contemporary fiction. Unique, well-written heroine, found family pot points, completely unhinged premise. Linda wants to die in a plane crash? Because she's sexually attracted to literal airplanes? And thinks a fiery plummet to the death is a sign of undying affection? Great. Love it. Will she succeed? Well, that hardly becomes the point. Or does it? Just read it, you'll dig it as much as I did.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

While this wasn’t a full 5 star for me, I really loved it a lot. I appreciate the heck out of a wacky book and bonus points for this being written so well.

Linda is truly a unique character and she was absolutely hilarious. Think of the monotone comedians who deliver killer jokes. Some of her inner monologue literally had me chucking out loud. But this is not in your face HA HA funny, you know? Very subtle and perfectly incorporated, for my sense of humor at least.

I adored Linda and Karina’s friendship and think this ended in the only way it really could have. Which is to say, I loved the ending, but others may not.

Great first full length novel from Kate Folk!!

I received an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Incredibly funny and heartbreaking all at once. I loved the characters, and I could not put this book down. And that ending???? Amazing

A strange, yet not strange, book about a woman in love with an airplane. The book is about a woman who is a bit of a mess, trying to get through her life as an online content moderator while living in an illegal apartment in San Francisco. She spends the little money that she saves every month to fly on airplanes. An odd but compelling read.

I was nervous to start this book because I had such high hopes. I am happy to report: I absolutely loved it.

Sky Daddy had me laughing from the first page (not even the first chapter, the quotes before it!) Folk’s writing is so refreshing. Her sentence-level writing is so crisp. Everything feels intentional, which makes the story fly by (pun intended). I am weary of modern references, but Folk approaches them thoughtfully.

I loved spending time in Linda’s funky little head. I could feel the love and understanding the author has for her peculiar female lead, and I felt like I came to understand her, too. The ending even had me a little misty eyed.

Sky Daddy is for fans of carefully crafted writing and sardonic humor and for those who don’t mind rooting for some freaks.

This is “weird girl fiction” done so right. I will never enter an airport the same.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the eArc, and thank you Kate Folk for this masterpiece!

In her self doubt of acceptance, Lindy creates a vision board of what she truly wants; she details it, sends it out into the universe - and hopefully her aluminum soulmate to love will be received in return. But maybe people will think she meant pilot?

A woman infatuated with idea of the love of an airplane is so wild and creative and works in such an endearing way. For the most part, Linda is a character you want to root for, with mannerisms of someone fresh in the world. Sometimes her cheeriness to overcompensate was a little much, like I needed a little discouragement from her, and her lack of really any growth or lack of understanding to want growth. And some cringey moments to be expected.

The story felt more than just the synopsis concept, until the last 30%ish, when Linda truly lets herself spiral. For a book with such a lighthearted premise, sadness for all Linda wanted for herself was my strongest reaction. But all her joy that came from her true desire, was almost enough to want to root for her to get what she wanted. But not quite. The ending was unexpected, but maybe, perfection?

...I truly have no idea what the f*ck I read. It's not as unhinged as some of the KU smut - this is both much less smutty and takes itself much more seriously. I'm really not sure what to make of it - I almost dnf'd at 17% but ended up being too curious and deciding to finish. Not sure it was worth it, but here I am.

Full review/commentary will be live at :

https://open.substack.com/pub/unobstructedspace/p/kate-folks-sky-daddy-and-the-pitfalls?r=s2xuw&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

When I read the description for Sky Daddy I could not click request fast enough. This book technically falls under the weird girl category, but it’s so much more than that. Linda is a complex main character who just happens to feel a strong affinity towards airplanes. Linda is more than just a plane obsessed woman though. She has a job she enjoys, a best friend she works with, and she’s even willing to give online dating a try.

This book was weird and definitely goes there - I actually guffawed a few times while Linda was in flight and feeling ~*satisfied*~. She’s a character who was easy to understand and also feel connected to, despite our differences. Linda’s a bit awkward, but she’s not afraid to get what she wants and connect with others. The supporting characters here were all well-developed and fit a role in her life.

I haven’t read from this author before, but I absolutely will be picking up her short story collection. The writing was so good - clever, funny, and just ridiculous at times. Thank you, Kate Folk, for giving me something I will think about every time I board a plane in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for a review copy. Please check out Sky Daddy on April 8th!

Where does one even begin with this one? I suppose I should start with a big thank you to Random House and Netgalley for the advanced reader's copy for what I know will be one of my favorite books of this year. Truly, this is my brand of strange, unhinged woman narrative and I could not put it down after I read the first chapter. Zany and delightful in the best way--long may Kate Folk reign!