I really enjoyed this book. Told from the perspective of a neurodivergent air traffic controller, Pippa, it paints a picture of how Pippa navigates the world. After a face to face meeting with a pilot she knows from her ATC, Andrew, the two decide to fake date to help get them both through some upcoming social encounters.

Andrew is a fabulous book boyfriend and truly understands and accommodates Pippa and her needs. The plot also pushes Pippa to go outside of her comfort zone and believe in herself. Watson did a great job and cannot wait to read more of her work.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

Pippa loves her life nice and orderly. She loves her dogs, her job as an air traffic controller, synonyms, tropical fish, and order. Yet, due to her autism, there are a lot of things she doesn't like- sarcasm, meeting new people, tight clothes, loud noises, and repeating patterns. On the way to her dreaded high school reunion, Pippa runs into a pilot named Andrew, a man she's only known by voice over the radios at the airport. Pippa and Andrew soon realize that they are both dreading being confronted with their single status at their upcoming events with family and friends. What better solution than pretend to be in a relationship?

This was a great romance for anyone who's ever felt like they don't fit in and the world doesn't understand them. Pippa is an amazing main character with high-functioning autism and dyspraxia. Her social awkwardness and clumsiness were so relatable to a person like me who also has dyspraxia and social awkwardness. I've also wondered if I'll ever find the right person for me. I've practically given up. I love the friendship/relationship with Andrew and how supportive and understanding he is of Pippa and her quirks. He doesn't judge, just supports. Some of the symptoms of her autism give second-hand embarrassment but are also very real for people with disabilities. I enjoyed her quirky group of friends and all the ways she finds to cope with the world around her. I LOVED this book and would recommend it to everyone who feels different.

*** I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. ***

Sad to report that I DNF this one around the 50% mark. From the start, I couldn’t get into it and it was extremely slow for my liking. I also couldn’t connect to the characters.

THANK YOU!!! I loved the premise of this book so much. It was a great airplane read. I appreciate the early access to a fun travel dating story.

I can't figure out how to read this on my kindle since there is no epub or send to kindle option. Pretty disappointing since this book sounded so good and I was really excited to get approved. :( (not sharing on socials)

Fake dating for a high school reunion? Say less. This was so cute!! Solid 4 star read. I also really appreciated the neurodivergence rep. I haven’t read anything like this in awhile and it was refreshing! Thank you NetGalley!!

I loved this story! And reading the author's note about her own autism diagnosis made the story hit home even more.

It's an awesome meet cute in the airport -- air traffic controller, Pippa has only heard pilot Andrew's voice over the radio, but they meet at a coffee shop in the airport. There they decide to become fake boyfriend/girlfriend to take each other to social events they need a plus one for. I love how gentle and careful Andrew is with Pippa - I think he realized early on that she was on the spectrum and knows how to love her because of it. His family is amazing and it really shows his understanding for diversity. Their story is amazingly beautiful.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review. I'll be looking for more of Jo Watson's books!

I wanted to love this but I was not my favorite at all. I was really hopefully but it was a bit disappointing.

Love at First Flight is a beautifully heartfelt and refreshingly unique fake-dating romance that soars with charm, humor, and emotional depth. Pippa’s neurodiverse perspective adds an authentic and thoughtful layer to the story, making her journey of self-discovery and love incredibly moving.

Set against the vibrant backdrop of South Africa, the chemistry between Pippa and Andrew is undeniable as they navigate their pact, complicated family dynamics, and a growing connection they can’t ignore. Joe Watson masterfully balances laugh-out-loud moments with deeply personal reflections, creating a story that’s as uplifting as it is relatable.

Perfect for fans of Helen Hoang and Rachel Lynn Solomon, this novel will have you cheering for Pippa and Andrew as they find love on their own terms. A must-read for anyone who believes love should celebrate individuality and authenticity!

Love at First Flight is a gem of a book. The fake dating trope is done perfectly. The banter between the main characters is spot on and the storyline is so heartwarming. Also, the pacing of the book is just right. This book made me smile so much. I ended up reading the whole book in one sitting, I just could not put it down.

The neurodivergent FMC, Pippa, is beautifully well written. She’s blunt, caring, and a boss of an air traffic controller. The MMC, Andrew, is patient, kind, and sweet, and also happens to be a pilot. I adored how their fake dating situationship developed into something more. It’s a relationship you want to cheer for.

This book is for anyone that loves a quirky and cute romance with a fake dating trope, and two main characters that just get each other. I just loved this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wattpad WEBTOON Book Group for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

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 ✈️🩵