Beth Lundberg has always wanted to be a pilot. While doing her first ride along with George Bunsen, her brother’s best friend, she hates, the engine fails, and he must make an Emergency landing. When the guilt eats him alive, he offers Beth discounted flight lessons. The more time they fly, the more Beth and George start to connect. But what happens when her secret she’s keeping comes out?

However, this book fell short for me. This book by Lauren Connolly is not what I expected, and I feel like it could have been better if lust weren't the centerpiece of the whole book. I didn’t connect with Beth, the main character. Her lack of communication skills annoyed me. I rooted for her, but also wanted to yell at her to speak up.

I had a fun time reading this book! I thought it was super fun to read a book about an aspiring pilot and seeing flight lessons mixed into the plot. I enjoyed both George and Beth, and their relationship with one another. Despite enjoying the plot and the romance, it felt like there was a certain depth to the book that was missing. I really loved P.S. I Hate You by this author, but this one, while fun, was lacking a bit for me. Still would recommend though!

Let me just start off by saying…I am NOT the audience for this book.

I can absolutely see where the story was going, and I appreciate the author for her work, but my god was I annoyed this entire time. I almost DNF’d it because I couldn’t take it no more.

Beth…if I could get into this book, I’d grab a shovel and start digging her grave just to shut her ass up. She pmo this entire book. Granted the author left a “warnings” list prior to this book that there was financial issues noted in the book. What she didn’t note is that the whole entire book is about Beth complaining about how broke she is…

Imagine reading: I’m so broke, I’m poor, I need tips, I need more money, I can’t pay for that, I have no money, I can’t afford it, my brother will be mad when he finds out I can’t pay him back…this list goes on and on and I’m too tired to type it all out.

Would I recommend this book to you? HELL NO

Expected Release Date: 12/16/2025

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the early access. All thoughts in this review are my own.

This was an adorable story from Lauren Connolly! It started at the top of the rollercoaster with Beth & George being in the middle of a plane failure. Way to hook me in right from page 1. Beth's inner monologue about her attraction to George from that point on was hilarious. I loved hearing her trying to reconcile her emotional & physical feelings towards him. In addition to their "rivals" to lovers storyline, this story also tackled some heavier themes: struggles women face in the workforce (and life), choosing found family over the family you happened to be born into, and financial instability. My favorite character was Beth's brother Shawn. He had such a kind heart & great personality. I loved the relationship between him & Beth, and especially his interactions with Darla. Overall this was an easy read that both made me swoon and laugh out loud.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for this eARC!

3.5 Stars

Love in Plane Sight is a slow-burn romcom with a grumpy/sunshine dynamic. Beth is juggling a lot—caring for her mom (including paying off her medical debt) and chasing her dream of becoming a pilot—and things get even more complicated when her brother’s best friend, George, steps in and offers to be her flight instructor for free. George is the classic emotionally bottled-up love interest who’s been quietly harboring feelings for years, and once he lets his walls down, he’s genuinely adorable (and sexy). Beth and George's chemistry feels believable; however, Beth’s physical attraction to George is so heavily emphasized in the first half of the book that it overshadows some of their emotional growth.

Shawn and Darla were unexpected scene stealing side characters for me. Shawn, Beth’s half-brother, brought a lot of heart to the story—his quirky enthusiasm, support, his own struggles with vulnerability, and his clear love for Beth added depth beyond the romance. Darla, Beth's best friend, was darkly cynical, sarcastic, and yet surprisingly layered. While I enjoyed their dynamic and what they added to the overall narrative, their subplot—like a few others—pulled focus from the central romance, contributing to the feeling that the story was juggling a bit too much at once. There's definitely a second book here.

The main thing that really held the story back for me was the sheer number of subplots. From family medical drama, financial stresses, to misogyny in the field of flying, to disapproving fathers, to crazy book clubs, pets, house repairs, a romance between side characters, a divorce, and MORE, there were so many threads vying for attention that the premise of the romance got lost in the shuffle. It made the story feel a bit weighed down and unfocused at times.

✈️💘 Love in Plane Sight – Lauren Connolly

A pilot-in-training. Her grumpy instructor. One emergency landing—and a whole lot of tension. 👀🔥

Beth’s chasing her aviation dreams while juggling bills and family drama. The last thing she needs? Her brother’s best friend, George, as her flight instructor. He’s broody, hot, and definitely off-limits... or is he?

📚 What you’ll get:
💥 Grumpy x sunshine
✈️ Forced proximity (hello cockpit!)
💬 Snarky banter & slow-burn vibes
🔥 Chemistry that soars
💖 Real emotional stakes

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Think: Top Gun meets rom-com with all the heart. If you’re into messy feelings, off-limits romance, and characters who fall hard (and fast), you need this one on your radar.

📅 Out December 16, 2025 — pre-order it now and thank yourself later.

#LoveInPlaneSight #LaurenConnolly #RomComReads #PilotRomance #GrumpySunshine #Bookstagram #RomanceBookReview #TBR #BookRecs #EmergencyLandingButMakeItRomantic

So I actually kind of struggled with this one, in the start fmc just really comes off as terrible imo, she’s very woe is me and victim of circumstances and docile to horrible treatment. I reeeeeeally have a hard time when characters are like this so 50% of the book took me about two weeks to read but I’m glad I pushed through because I ate up the last 50% in one sitting.

The plot of this book is great, the other characters even are great (golden retriever brother better get his own book lol), the character development that happens is great - I get why things were written how they were and tbh it all comes together in the end so if you are like me and prefer strong female leads, push through!

This plot was nothing I’ve ever read before and I loved that about this book, it of course had your classic tropes but adding flying to the mix was new to me so it was fresh. Thank you to Berkeley and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review

Starts with a plane crash and only gets better as you keep reading.

With its single POV, this book is equal parts romance and a woman’s journey to loving herself and trusting those around her.

George, the MMC, is one of the most grumpy misunderstood quiet men I have ever read. Full of forced proximity and slow burn, I ate this up.

Read if you like:
✈️Flight lessons
💕Your mom
🤗Found family
💰Billionaire romance
🌶️Spice
🐕Grumpy pets
🥇He falls first

This romcom was absolutely hilarious and so spicy. I honestly wasnt expecting to love this book as much as i did but it was so funny and i ended up reading it in one sitting. Beth is such a sweet and compassionate character who really loves her friends and family. She is super hardworking and i really found that i relate a lot to her.
Then we have George who is our grumpy but funny mmc. He actually ended up being super sweet and supportive of beth which i really enjoyed.
This was such a fun book and i definitely see myself reading m0re from this author.

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I don’t even know where to begin with everything I loved about this book.

Beth and George are both so messy and beautiful. Shawn is such an absolute delight of a character. Darla is a knife-sharp wonder. Every character in this book is so rich and vividly written - you are drawn into them in a way that feels familiar immediately. I want to tuck these characters into my chest to keep them safe.

George is so gruff and closed-off, and yet he is unable to fully disguise the genuine care he holds for those around him (except for from Beth, but she has been Deeply Traumatized so we will give her some leniency). He is tender and perceptive, and nonjudgmental in a way that is almost dangerous.

And Beth is the same - but we see that tenderness and vulnerability only because we are in her head. She makes endless sacrifices for the ones she loves, to the point of tearing herself apart for any perceived (or actual) weakness. Life has shown that it will not be kind to her, and so when she receives kindness she is quick to guard against it.

Shawn tying them together initially, and what a truly spectacular “side” (our boy is heavily involved) character he is. Crackling with energy, earnest and intense and literally unable to contain his love for his people but especially his sister - he is a FORCE and I love everything about him.

Everyone in this book is so, so wonderful - with the exception of Shawn and Beth’s father, who is lucky he is not real because my hands are about to be rated E for Exclusively His Face.

3.75⭐️ Beth Lundberg has always wanted to be a pilot. While doing her first ride along with George Bunsen, her brother’s best friend she hates, the engine fails and he must make an Emergency landing. When the guilt eats him alive, he offers Beth discounted flight lessons. The more time they fly, the more Beth and George start to connect. But what happens when her secret she’s keeping comes out?

I had a fun time reading this book! I thought it was super fun to read a book about an aspiring pilot and seeing flight lessons mixed into the plot. I enjoyed both George and Beth and their relationship with one another. Despite enjoying the plot and the romance, it felt like there was a certain depth to the book that was missing. I really loved P.S. I Hate You by this author, but this one while fun was lacking a bit for me. Still would recommend though!

Flight lessons, grumpy friends, potential romance. This one kept me reading late. I appreciate the opportunity to check it out!

Beth’s brother, Shawn, talks his best friend into taking her on a flight to gauge her interest in learning to fly. The problem, Beth and George hate each other. The other problem, the flight ends in an emergency landing. When George offers Beth free flight lessons to make up for it, she’s not sure how they’ll manage to be in a confined space together for so long. What comes next will have you falling in love with flying and these two!

This book had me captivated. I absolutely loved the brother’s best friend, enemies to lovers tale! Highly recommend for anyone looking for a sweet romance with an absolutely charming main man that also has some depth.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for a fair review.

Loved this so much. Funny, sweet, sexy and just a right amount of reflective angst. I enjoyed the romance, the heat and the conclusion for the characters. I loved the supporting characters too.

Lauren Connolly knows how to write a romance novel! Love in Plane Sight is one of my favorite books of 2025; I will definitely be re-reading it when it's released. If you loved PS: I Hate You, you are going to love Love in Plane Sight, I certainly did. Beth and George are so adorable together. I didn't want to put this book down once I started reading it.

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have always loved Lauren Connolly’s writing, and P.S. I Hate You is both the first book I read by her and still my favorite. I really enjoyed this one too, however, especially because it felt so different. The dynamic between the two main characters was frustratingly adorable, and their chemistry stood out in the best way. While this story didn’t carry the same emotional intensity as P.S. I Hate You—which is a big part of why I gave that book five stars—it still offered something meaningful. I especially appreciated the thoughtful conversations around women in the aviation industry, which added depth and relevance to the story. The family dynamics were also very complex, which is another aspect I found myself enjoying.

Tropes
- Instructor x Student
- Grumpy Brother's Best Friend
- One bed trope
- Tension and spice!!!

This was such an enjoyable read. I honestly wished it was dual POV because I found myself giggling and kicking my feet wishing I was in the MMC’s POV for some of these chapters. The slow burn and tension were so fun. ONE BED? Yeah I’m going to eat it up every single time 🤭

I had mixed feelings with our FMC due to her lack of communication and confidence with her family but it was still exciting to read and experience.

♡ Grumpy brother’s best friend
♡ Instructor x student
♡ One bed
♡ Slow burn + Tension
♡ 3.5-4 🌶️ Spicyyyyy, several explicit scenes and mentions

💌 Thank you NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group and Lauren Connolly for the eARC! ♡

Wow! I had never read Lauren Connolly's work before, but after diving headfirst into “Love in Plain Sight,” I can absolutely say that her previous novels are moving to the very top of my to-be-read list!

The premise captivated me from the start, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading Beth and George’s journey. Lauren Connolly masterfully weaves together elements of realism and humor in a way that feels both genuine and refreshing. This five-star read truly has it all-rich emotional depth, swoon-worthy romantic moments, and laugh-out-loud scenes!

I wholeheartedly recommend “Love in Plain Sight”; it’s an absolute must-read! I find myself hoping that Lauren Connolly considers turning this book into a series, as I would be thrilled to see the supporting characters shine in their own stories!

Cute book but I felt like so much of its plot could have been better developed and explored more. It just felt like we hit only surface level with things. I would have loved to see more with the flying lessons as it felt like those were so minimal, but she progressed so fast in getting her pilot’s license. And that was such a huge part of the plot. When it came to the relationship, it didn’t quite feel like it was building a love story. More like a lustful attraction and then all of a sudden they’re together and in love. It felt like it was missing the emotional connection between the characters. I did really enjoy the side characters in this one. Still think this was a super cute premise for a book and it was a fast read. Just wish it had a little more depth.

This book was a fun one! Love in Plane Sight follows Beth Lundberg, a waitress struggling to make ends meet who has dreams of becoming a pilot. When she requests to join George Bunsen, her brother’s best friend and licensed pilot, on a flight, what she doesn’t expect is engine failure and George calmly landing the plane and keeping them safe (which may or may not have become her new kink). Soon after, George offers to give Beth flight lessons for free and she reluctantly agrees. As the two spend time together in the skies and on the ground, Beth quickly learns that George just might be the perfect co-pilot in life that she didn’t even know she was looking for.


I really enjoyed Lauren’s previous book, PS I Hate You, so I knew immediately that I had to read this book ASAP! I really loved the unique premise - there are not many books featuring aspiring female pilots, nevertheless romances with a female pilot lead. During all of Beth’s flights in the book, I felt like I was right there with the characters along for the ride.

I liked Beth’s relationship with her brother, Shawn (I really rooted for him with a certain other character) and found him to be so kindhearted and endearing. I also thought the banter between George and Beth was hilarious, and there were so many laugh out loud moments.

If you’re looking for a cute read coming out this fall, this is the one for you.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC!

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is the second book I’ve read by Lauren, and while I liked it, it didn’t hit as hard as the first one, P.S. I Hate You. Still, it was fun and heartwarming at times.

Definitely a four-star read. I loved the characters, but I’ll admit, I didn’t feel much chemistry between George and Beth. Also, can I just say—I wasn’t a fan of the MMC being named George? Like, it’s just not a hot person’s name. But he was sweet and a hot pilot, so I’ll give him a pass.

I really liked the side characters—Darla, Beth’s bestie, and Shawn, her brother, honestly stole the spotlight for me. I especially loved how Beth and Shawn had their own book clubs where they annotate and swap notes to review each other’s thoughts. Seriously, that was the most wholesome thing ever and I need to join one asap.

Overall, it was a fun, light read to pass the time, but the romance just wasn’t hitting for me, onto the next one!