Note: I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley, and I also know the author personally, but all assessments here are my own.
Andie Burke’s debut sapphic romance Fly with Me (affiliate link) is a captivating read in its own right. It also opens the door to representation I haven’t yet seen in the romance genre. In other words, it succeeds in two very different goals: being deeply important, and being straight-up fun to read.
Fly with Me opens with flying-phobic Olive talking herself down from a panic attack as a passenger on her first-ever flight. We quickly learn there’s more to Olive than her flight anxiety when she springs into action to save a fellow passenger experiencing a medical emergency. Unfortunately, this diversion strands Olive hundreds of miles from a race she’s supposed to run in honor of her brother.
Olive’s plans are salvaged when Stella, the flight’s copilot, offers her a ride to their destination. The two of them spend an enchanting day together after Olive’s race before parting ways.
However, when a video of Olive’s heroism — and a photo of her and Stella together after the race — goes viral, Stella suggests they fake a romantic relationship to capitalize on the positive press. This visibility could finally put a long-overdue promotion within Stella’s reach. Olive agrees to the ruse. She tells herself it’ll be fun. However, each passing week blurs the line between their fun act and an explosive reality.
One of the most striking aspects of Fly with Me is its representation of neurodivergent characters. This reveals a small speculation on my part, as Burke identifies neither Olive nor Stella explicitly as such on the page. I have almost a decade of experience reading and writing about the adult ADHD and autistic experience. From the first chapter, I felt completely at home in this book. I felt seen. Fly with Me opened my eyes to the possibility of seeing someone like me on the page of a romance novel. This means a lot.
While we meet Olive in a moment of hyperfocused competence on the plane, we also see her internal struggles to feel worthy of love and admiration. In both Stella and Olive, we see how neurological differences can shape our life experience and self-perception. Both, at times, demonstrate anxiety around how the others might misperceive their actions. They fear core elements of themselves will cause pain and rejection. They feel a need to mask these vulnerabilities from others.
Representation aside, Fly with Me is simply a great book. The supporting cast is well-developed and lovable, and the story strikes a perfect balance between heavy and light. Olive’s family struggles and her loyalty to her critically-ill brother are heartbreaking. Yet, those heavy emotional moments are offset by sparkling humor and warmth. Olive’s best friend Derek is a perfect foil to her anxiety and mental chaos, and their banter adds a layer of depth to the story as well.
The romance between Olive and Stella is a slow burn with a few teasers early on. I loved how the fake-dating trope played delightfully on Olive and Stella’s quirks and insecurities. The story is both funny and heartwarming, with great chemistry throughout.
Overall, Fly with Me is a must-read and a true gift for romance readers, especially those who struggle to fit in and long to see someone more like themselves on the page. This is an incredibly strong debut, and I can’t wait to read whatever Andie Burke writes next.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Leave a Reply