Woods, Tess - Love at First Flight - Buddy Read; Start 15 August 2015

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

This thread is for the discussion of Love At First Flight by Tess Woods.



Looking back on it now, I can see it was instant. The second we locked eyes. Boom. Just like that. The me I had spent a lifetime perfecting began its disintegration from that moment. And despite the carnage it brought to all our lives, I still don't regret it.

What would you risk to be with the love of your life? And what if your soul mate is the one who will destroy you?

Mel is living the dream. She's a successful GP, married to a charming anaesthetist and raising a beautiful family in their plush home in Perth. But when she boards a flight to Melbourne, she meets Matt and her picture perfect Stepford life unravels as she falls in love for the first time ever.

What begins as a flirty conversation between strangers quickly develops into a hot and obsessive affair with disastrous consequences neither Mel nor Matt could have ever seen coming. Mel's dream life turns into her worst nightmare.

Love at First Flight will take everything you believe about what true love is and spin it on its head.

There is a giveaway for this book open from July 27 to August 5 HERE

There is a Q&A with the author open from August 15 to 22 HERE

[Renee]

Giveaway closing soon!

[Imke]

I can't wait to start this book. I just read some of the reviews and they promise a good read.

[Renee]

I loved it. I won't read it again this time because it was less than 6 months since I first read it and I'm too competitive in team challenges..... I'll pop in and chat though.

[Katy]

Got a copy of this book through the giveaway. Thank you so much! I'm really looking forward to reading it and being part of this buddy read!

[Renee]

Was everyone who won a copy in the giveaway able to access it ok?

[Imke]

Yes I have my copy. I'm going to start later today op tomorrow.

[Kazen]

I have my copy and have started reading. :D

[Christine]

Hi! Yes I got my copy and finished it this week, so intense, great book:-)

[Katy]

Yes, I got mine to work. A little over half-way through. I'm really enjoying it!

[Kazen]

So what are you guys thinking so far? I'm in the middle of the chapter Vacant, 42% in.

(view spoiler)[I was curious how the whole idea of adultery, one of the "third rails" of romance, would be handled. So far, so good! Matt is easily forgiven - only engaged, obviously not in love with the girl, crazy family to boot. I'm not there with Mel yet but it's interesting, not cringe-inducing, to watch.

I also think it's interesting how both of their significant others avoid unpleasant things. With Lydia it feels like a "lalalala I can't hear you" denial of anything that isn't to her liking. Adam (so far) is blocking things out to save his sanity... not uncommon in medicine. Or like the police officer that doesn't talk about work at the dinner table to avoid upsetting the family. Bottle up too much, though, and the whole thing implodes. If he's getting support at work, great, but if not... ooo boy. I'm also wondering if he's bottling up a lack-o-love for his wife and using sex as a defense/denial mechanism. Hmmmm. (hide spoiler)]

I went into this book weary but it's doing a great job of winning me over. So curious to see how it goes from here.

[Renee]

Kazen wrote: "So what are you guys thinking so far? I'm in the middle of the chapter Vacant, 42% in."

(view spoiler)[ I am a bit uncomfortable and unsympathetic when it comes to adultery, but I found that this book handled the topic well. I liked Matt too. It took me a while to warm up to Mel, but I did. Even though I didn't always agree with all her choices and wanted to slap some sense into her, I think the author did a good job of showing hey motivations. Very emotional journey. (hide spoiler)]

[Kazen]

Renee, now that I'm a little farther in I see what you mean regarding Mel! Hmmm.

~keeps reading~

[Renee]

My attitude towards Adam changed throughout the book too. How do you feel about him at the moment?

[Katy]

My opinions of the characters have definitely gone up and down, which I think is pretty normal considering the circumstances/plot. As for Adam, I think he was the one that I grew to like the most.

[Emma (M)]

I'm a bit late starting this one, I got so distracted with challenges I completely forgot. I'll try and start it this afternoon :)

[Emma (M)]

I'm only about 15% of the way in and I am finding it entertaining so far although I'm not particularly drwan to either of the MCs just yet. I'm thinking from other people's comments this might change as the book progresses though.

[Renee]

Emma wrote: "I'm only about 15% of the way in and I am finding it entertaining so far although I'm not particularly drwan to either of the MCs just yet. I'm thinking from other people's comments this might cha..."

I felt like that too. My feelings about the characters changed throughout the book.

[Trinia]

Just started tonight and am hoping everyone's comments are true. Not happy about Mel's potential infidelity... And with 2 children . Against my natural grain. Guessing some thing big is gonna change and make me change my mind...

[Kazen]

Renee wrote: "My attitude towards Adam changed throughout the book too. How do you feel about him at the moment?"

So I finished the book and (view spoiler)[graaah! Nice guys (aka Adam) always finish last, it seems. :/ At least it was a fairly nice way to go? I'm still wrapping my head around how everything turned out... everything felt fitting and believable, though (hide spoiler)].

One theme throughout the book that resonated with me is that the easy way is rarely the best way. That trying to escape from life (view spoiler)[be it via an affair or booze or a girl that doesn't really love you (hide spoiler)] can work for a little while, but it doesn't make the problems go away.

[Emma (M)]

I've fi ishedand I gotta say, this book took me by surprise. I started out thinking that I would not like where it was going, but it won me over and I like how the book finished. For me, my opinion of Mel changed throughout the book, but for some reason I never really warmed to Matt.

I agree with Katy that Adam grew to be my favourite character and (view spoiler)[ I cried like a baby when he died, however I am so happy that he and Mel were able to salvage their marriage and have it turn into something wonderful (hide spoiler)].

[Trinia]

I'm about 25% of the way through and hanging in. I don't like Matt's fiancé Lydia at all. And am routing for him to dump her no matter what happens with Mel. I'm really curious about Adam... Haven't heard much more about him yet, other than his Adonis looks☺️ onward I push!

[Renee]

Trinia wrote: "I'm about 25% of the way through and hanging in. I don't like Matt's fiancé Lydia at all. And am routing for him to dump her no matter what happens with Mel. I'm really curious about Adam... Haven'..."

I felt like you at that point in the book too. You will get to know Adam more later in the book.

[Renee]

Emma wrote: "I've fi ishedand I gotta say, this book took me by surprise. I started out thinking that I would not like where it was going, but it won me over and I like how the book finished. For me, my opini..."

It really took me by surprise as well. I'm glad it won you over, I was hoping you would like it too!

[Renee]

Kazen wrote: "Renee wrote: "My attitude towards Adam changed throughout the book too. How do you feel about him at the moment?"

So I finished the book and [spoilers removed].

One theme throughout the book that..."

I agree.

[Kazen]

Emma, I also (view spoiler)[cried when Adam died... and I was on the bus! I was really glad there was no one sitting next to me. :P (hide spoiler)]

[Kazen]

PS - My review is here :D

[Renee]

Kazen wrote: "PS - My review is here :D"

Great review, very thoughtful.

[Imke]

I'm about 30% in at the moment and the book is starting to grow on me. I like the way the author is changing between Mel and Matt. I like reading their stories and I keep wondering why they have the friends they have. Sarah and Tom do not seem very supportive to their issues and keep on saying they have the perfect partners and have so much luck.

[Katy]

Kazen wrote: "Emma, I also [spoilers removed]"

Same here! (view spoiler)[ However, I was on the train when that happened and did get a few eyebrows raised. :) (hide spoiler)].

I have to say though--I really did enjoy this book given what the story was about. It's not something I'd have normally chose but glad I gave it a try. Kind of makes you wonder though how often situations like this really happen? Love and even infatuation are very powerful emotions..

[Trinia]

Finished into the wee hours last night. In the end I am glad I pushed through this book. I wasn't so sure about tolerating the infidelities. My main problem with the book is the title. I think it is misleading and will get lost among the masses of other romance books. :(
I really loved how much depth this book had. Showing the consequences of ones actions and how much you can hurt so many people with just a "small" action.
Thank you for sharing this story with us ... I'll be posting a full review.

[Kazen]

Trinia wrote: "and will get lost among the masses of other romance books"

This is not a Romance book! It' s about a romantic relationship, yes, but it's more general fiction than capital R Romance. Romance has a built-in promise of a Happily Ever After (HEA) (view spoiler)[and this book... does not. The couple does not even end up together at the end so.... yeah. Your point is still true, I think, but I would say that it may get lost on the "woman's fiction" shelf, a name that annoys me to no end, but that is a rant for another day).

Hope that makes sense, it's early here and my ipad spellcheck is fighting me. ;) (hide spoiler)]

[Trinia]

Ha! spell check can be a bugger ;) I agree that it should not be labeled a romance. That's why I find the title can be misleading and might not be chosen by so many other people that would enjoy this book. And yes, don't get me started on the "Chick Lit" label either... ugh!

[Kazen]

Trinia wrote: "Ha! spell check can be a bugger ;) I agree that it should not be labeled a romance. That's why I find the title can be misleading and might not be chosen by so many other people that would enjoy ..."

Ah, we totally agree then... Right down to shelves and spell check! :D

[Katy]

I agree with you both on the title. I definitely had the expectation that this was more of a "romance" or even "Chick Lit" with it's title but after reading it, I agree, it's far from it. Which is a good thing in my opinion--although, I am a fan of the occasional cheesy Chick Lit novel! ;)

[Trinia]

Katy wrote: "I agree with you both on the title. I definitely had the expectation that this was more of a "romance" or even "Chick Lit" with it's title but after reading it, I agree, it's far from it. Which is ..."

Who doesn't love a cheesy Chick Lit novel once in a while ;)

[Renee]

Katy wrote: "I agree with you both on the title. I definitely had the expectation that this was more of a "romance" or even "Chick Lit" with it's title but after reading it, I agree, it's far from it. Which is ..."

Re the title - I happen to know the author, and her working title for the book was "Flight" but the publisher overthrew that. It is more "women's fiction" than romance or chick lit, (view spoiler)[but I did find the ending satisfyingly happy. I would have been disappointed in Matt if he had chosen to be the default option, (hide spoiler)]

I'm glad you kept reading and that the story grew on you like it did on me.

[Imke]

I agree with you Renee about the ending. It is definitely a happy one to me, although (view spoiler)[ I would have liked some sort of meeting of Mel and Matt to show how far they have come and how much they had grown after their affair. It was good that they didn't start up a relationship after Adam's death and I think it wouldn't have worked anyway. They both are happy now with what they have and how their life turned out. I would love to read about Mel's adventures working for doctors without borders, such a wonderful organisation. (hide spoiler)]

I enjoyed reading this book and thank you for the copy. I did have some trouble reading about the affair. My favorite part (view spoiler)[was the way Mel and Adam rebuilt their marriage and come out stronger than before and could only think if only they talked sooner than a lot of heartache could have been avoided. (hide spoiler)]

[Christine]

"Flight" would probably have been a more appropriate title! Thanks again for the copy:-)