Book Review: The Layover – Lacie Waldon

The Unhoneymooners meets The Hating Game in this breezy debut romantic comedy about life–and love–30,000 feet above the ground.

After ten years as a flight attendant, Ava Greene is poised to hang up her wings and finally put down roots. She’s got one trip left before she bids her old life farewell, and she plans to enjoy every second of it. But then she discovers that former pilot Jack Stone–the absurdly gorgeous, ridiculously cocky man she’s held a secret grudge against for years–is on her flight. And he has the nerve to flirt with her, as if he doesn’t remember the role he played in the most humiliating night of her life. Good thing she never has to see him again after they land….

But when their plane encounters mechanical problems, what should have been a quick stop at the Belize airport suddenly becomes a weekend layover. Getting stuck on a three-hour flight with her nemesis was bad enough. Being stranded with him at a luxury resort in paradise? Even with the sultry breeze and white sand to distract her, it will take all the rum punch in the country to drown out his larger-than-life presence.

Yet the more time Ava spends with him under the hot Caribbean sun, the more she begins to second-guess everything she thought she knew about him…and everything she thought she wanted from her life. And all too soon, she might have to choose between keeping her feet on the ground and her head in the clouds….

For the past few weeks, I was caught in a reading slump, unable to find the motivation to dive into a new book 😒. Looking at the tbr pile on my bookshelf, “The Layover” had patiently been waiting for its turn, every time I would look at my bookshelf its vibrant spine ✨ would be begging me to pick it up and read. So, one foggy rainy day (too dramatic), just joking it was a random sunny Saturday 😎 I decided to give it a try. I stumbled upon this book on TikTok, instantly captivated by its plot and the never-boring trope of “enemies to lovers,” which happens to be my absolute favorite.

The plot is about Ava, a flight attendant, finally retiring her wings ✈️. She’s embarking on her last couple of flights before she settles down with her fiance. Who keep in mind is as fun as a rock. Ava wants to relish the experience of her last flight, but when she finds out that the former pilot and Ava’s nemesis Jack Stone, handsome but infuriating, is on the same flight, her world turns upside down (dramatic? I think not). As if things couldn’t get worse, a couple of mechanical problems cause a layover at the Belize airport. But as Jack and Ava start to indulge, Ava’s heart skips a beat 💗. Maybe she was wrong about him? She also starts to question if she wants to settle, or does she want to oil her

Ava and Jack’s banter was extremely funny and entertaining to read. Gen, the quirky and mischievous fellow flight attendant in the story, adds an irresistible charm that makes you yearn to experience the events firsthand 🦄. Her eccentric antics and infectious spirit bring the narrative to life 🫣. Something I liked most about this book was the realness of it, whether it’s a glimpse inside of how flight attendants work (it’s legit because the author has irl experience), or the reality of being stuck between two things your heart desires. This book is just oh so colorful 🧡! Jokes are made to diffuse tension, a small comment depicts the entire backstory of a character. The reader authentically experiences ups and downs – when a mistake is made and an apology is accepted.

“There are people in the world who live by the adage that new is better. To me, it’s the things that have lasted that are the most valuable. The things that have proven they can be counted on.” ~ Lacie Waldon, The Layover

Two things I didn’t like about the book were that 1️⃣, sometimes the details lacked, and 2️⃣, it felt like there was a lack of depth at times.

Overall, this book is the epitome of the ideal summer romantic comedy, the kind that you read with a refreshing pina colada (non-alcoholic for me) 🍹. It’s a delightful read that transports you to a sun-soaked paradise, offering the perfect escape and entertainment for the season 🏝️.