This book examines the way power dynamics affect a multitude of relationships while also providing a romance that is a homage to Pride & Prejudice.

Beth wants to become a pilot but money for flight school is tight. Her dreams aren’t able to get off the ground until her brother’s best friend, George, offers to teach her. While this is occurring, she has to battle the weight of her growing romantic feelings, sexism, her mother’s recovery, and a secret that she is holding from her brother.

If you love Mr. Darcy vibes, then you’ll love George. Any seasoned romance reader will see that he has harboured feelings for a long while. Teaching Beth to fly allows him to be in close proximity to her and eventually things between them flourish.

This book is a case study on power structures. Gender imbalance and discrimination are shown via the flight school and the relationship between Beth’s mother and father; capitalism by ways of BBN and Beth’s need for multiple jobs. Parental power structures are also a key part to the story. Her mother’s illness leads to an inversion where Beth feels she has to take care of her mother instead of vice versa. Her father views relationships as transactional which leads Beth to believe she is discardable. When it comes to the romance, things are complicated due to the student/teacher dynamic. There are a lot of threads but they all weave together well.

As an aside, I could read a whole book about Darla and Shawn.

This was another outstanding book by Lauren Connolly. Absolutely worth the read.

This book was such a wonderful surprise! Love in Plain Sight by Lauren Connolly is one of those reads that makes you smile without even realizing it. The characters felt real, the small town charm was perfect, and the romance had just the right amount of slow burn mixed with a few laugh-out-loud moments. I especially loved how the relationship developed naturally.

This romance in this book was so good!! I love a good older brother’s best friend romance and this one did not disappoint. George and Beth were so cute together and honestly wish we had more of them just dating. Also the side romance of Darla and Shawn was too good. I loved all the main characters, especially Shawn. His relationship with Beth was so wholesome and I would love to join their book club.

Beth had me a bit stressed with the way she would take on responsibility and refuse help. Girly was drowning for quite a bit and that just wasn’t healthy. I’m glad things were sorted out in the end.

I love Lauren Connolly’s books. Heartfelt romances with quirky characters, great storylines and fun fun fun! This one takes place mostly on a plane and it’s sweet, funny, light but still full of depth, and heart. what I saw when I envision when I think about this book, a big red heart ♥️.

An absolutely fun read!
I might have to ask my brother-in-law who happens to be a pilot to take me up and see if it’s different in a small plane versus a large plane. Because this book makes it seem thrilling, as opposed to the terrifying I always thought.

While I know this book is by enlarge a romance! I really liked how it dealt with the stress of being someone’s caretaker through cancer, that is a life. I can fully empathize with as I did so for my grandmother.

Our FMC Beth has spent her entire life surviving. Her mother made the Eli bad choice to sleep with her boss. She got pregnant and he used his position to get her fired and threatened to sue her. Our FMC and her mother lived in comparative poverty after her mother‘s cancer, diagnosis and treatment treatments.

Our MMC George, has always had it easy. As the son of one of Beth‘s father’s work partners, he’s always been high and mighty they know it all inexpensive clothes who never had to worry when he offers to help Beth get her pilots license. She can’t seem to figure out why and Moore so she can’t figure out why she’s drawn to him.

The book unfolds really cutely other than a few key plot point secrets, which obviously have to happen, the two main really respect each other and treat each other with care.

I love the way it ended, and I love that the FMC found somebody willing to go to to toe in order to protect her and to do the right thing.

I also loved the side characters best brother and best friend. Definitely need their own book and I will be waiting for that!

Lauren Connolly’s “Love in Plane Sight” takes a classic slow burn trope and gives it wings, literally. Set in the world of aviation, this sweet and satisfying romance between aspiring pilot Beth Lundberg and grumpy flight instructor George Bunsen hits just the right cruising altitude.

As a fan of the “he’s mean because he likes her” trope (I know so very elementary school of me), I was immediately hooked by their dynamic. George’s gruff, checklist driven demeanor paired with Beth’s sunshiney, people pleasing energy? Turbulent in the best way. Watching his walls slowly come down was deeply satisfying, even if I didn’t totally buy into the reason behind his avoidance.

Beth’s journey to becoming a pilot adds a fresh and empowering layer to the story. The flight training scenes weren’t just a clever backdrop. They brought intimacy, tension, and heart to the page. Watching her chase her dreams with grit and determination made her such an easy character to root for.

Did this book give me full body swoons or butterfly overload? Not quite. But it was a genuinely lovely read. It had steady pacing, well developed characters, and a totally unique setting that made it stand out from the crowd. If you’re in the mood for a grumpy to smitten romance with charm, heart, and a whole lot of altitude, Love in Plane Sight is worth boarding.

This is was such a fun and heartwarming story. When I found out the tropes in the story were going to be brother's best friend and enemies to lovers, then I knew I had to read the book!

For years Beth has wanted to earn her pilots license, but she didn't believe her dream was something she could pursue due to her financial struggles. Then her brother Shawn asks his grumpy best friend, George, who is a pilot, to give her flying lessons. During their first flying lesson, there is engine failure, which leads to George making an emergency landing in the middle of a highway. A guilt ridden George offers Beth free flight lesson to make up for the ordeal they went through. Beth's friends and family convince her to accept it, as it can finally lead to her dream of becoming a licensed pilot.

I found Beth charming and her inner monologue sounded hilarious. For a long time, Beth had suppressed her hopes and dreams due to her financial struggles and being a caregiver to her mother. George was stoic and grumpy but with a heart of gold, who was secretly pining for Beth for years. This was a slow burn romance but it was endearing watching Beth be oblivious to George's infatuation with her. I loved the side characters consisting of Beth's moms, her brother Shawn, her diner family and her best friend Darla. Beth and Shawn's relationship is one of the highlights of this book, as it was one of the best sibling relationships I have ever read about. I mean I totally wanted to join their monthly book club.

This was a lighthearted read but the author beautifully captured some relatable topics such as family dynamics, financial struggles and pursuing one's dreams.

Thank you Berkley Publishing Group and Berkley Romance for this ARC. All opinion expressed are my own.

Beth has dreamed of being a pilot most of her life, but when finances keep getting in the way, her brother Shawn has a creative solution his best friend, George, can't help but be on board with. Can two worlds collide and meld together to make something meaningful last or will it end before it has even begun.

Love in Plane Sight is a fun, emotional romance packed with classic tropes and unexpected depth. It starts with a dramatic mid-air emergency that throws Beth—a stubborn, independent woman—into close quarters with George, her grumpy, hot flight instructor (and her brother’s best friend).

Their chemistry is intense, their banter is sharp, and their slow-burn relationship was amazing. From awkward diner run-ins to flying lessons filled with tension, the enemies to lovers trope felt real and satisfying. Beth’s personal struggles and George’s hidden tenderness added layers that pulled me in. I also loved the nods to women in aviation and the complex family dynamics.

If you like forced proximity, one-bed tropes, and emotionally complicated characters, this book is for you!

I loved Lauren Connolly’s first book, and this cover is so cute, so I couldn’t wait for this one! it was really cute and I loved the pining 🙌🏼 but I couldn’t stand the fact that she wouldn’t talk about the money with anyone when it was so obvious her brother wasn’t going to be upset about it. she just seemed too stubborn and it made her a little unlovable. like she did it to herself. the love story was super cute and I was a fan of them together, so 4 stars!

Lauren wrote it - you know it will be a great read

Calling fans of Ali Hazelwood, Elsie Silver, Liz Tomforde and Abby Jimenez - if you love their writing, you are going to love Lauren Connolly’s. Love in Plane Sight is another example of Lauren’s mastery in crafting a reader’s experience. You can expect a page-turning balance of laughter, steam, spice, tears, second-hand moral outrage, a few societal and moral observations, and an all-round great read. Are the characters flawed? Yes, otherwise there is no story, no growth. Are we all flawed? Yes. Are those flaws irritating to read about? Well, that depends on you. I didn’t find them irritating, as it was obviously part of the characters’ personal ARC in the story, but everyone has different tolerance thresholds. Will I be reading whatever Lauren writes next? Abso-flippin-lutely.

Full disclosure: I was given an ARC of the book, however this review is my own honest opinion.

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.