In the Likely Event

by Rebecca Yarros

When Izzy Astor gets on a plane to go home, she isn’t expecting much. It’s the usual holiday travel experience: busy, crowded, stressful.

Then she spots her seatmate, who is anything but ordinary. Nate Phelan sports dark hair, blue eyes, and a deliciously rugged charm that Izzy can’t resist. Their connection is undeniable. Izzy never believed in destiny before, but she does now.

Just ninety seconds after takeoff, their plane goes down in the Missouri River.

Their lives change. They change. Nate goes on to a career in the military while Izzy finds her way into politics. Despite a few chance encounters over the years, the timing never feels right.

Then comes a high-stakes reunion in Afghanistan, where Nate is tasked with protecting Izzy’s life.

He’ll do anything to keep her safe. And everything to win her heart.

Genres: Romance, Audiobook, Fiction, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Military Fiction, Second Chance

348 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2023

About the author

Rebecca Yarros is a hopeless romantic and coffee addict. She is the New York Times bestselling author of over twenty novels, including Fourth Wing, The Last Letter and The Things We Leave Unfinished. She’s also the recipient of the Colorado Romance Writer’s Award of Excellence for Eyes Turned Skyward. Rebecca loves military heroes and has been blissfully married to hers for over twenty years. A mother of six, she is currently surviving the teenage years with all four of her hockey-playing sons.

Want to know about Rebecca’s next release? Check her out online at www.rebeccayarros.com.

Reviews

[chan ☆ · Rating 2 out of 5]

i see rebecca yarros attended the sjm school of war camp sex scenes

[♥︎ Heather ⚔ (New House-Hiatus) · Rating 1 out of 5]

If Rebecca Yarros has 1000 haters, I'm one of them.
If Rebecca Yarros has 100 haters, I'm one of them.
If Rebecca Yarros has 50 haters, I'm one of them.
If Rebecca Yarros has 1 hater, it is me.
If Rebecca Yarros has no haters, it means I am dead.
If the world is with Rebecca Yarros, then I am against the world.



I said what I said



I can hear Bruna dying of laughter all the way in Brazil. 😭😂

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s official.. Rebecca Yarros is A QUEEN.

This book was remarkable. So freaking beautiful. I felt like I was watching a movie. This will 100% be in my top ten this year.

Such an amazing story. I tabbed and highlighted basically every other page. Nate & Izzy will forever have my heart.

“I’m going to kiss you now” 🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹

✨military romance
✨fated mates
✨forced proximity
✨ADHD rep

[Emma Halbrook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did not expect to read this in one day, but I literally couldn’t put it down. Apparently Rebecca can plot the shit out of a contemporary romance 😮‍💨

Izzy & Nate 4EVER 😭❤️‍🩹✈️

[amber · Rating 1 out of 5]

What the fuck. This book is so disgusting. What was the point of exploiting Afghans to make a conflict between the characters? These two were literally doing it while people are DYING. PEOPLE ARE DYING AROUND YOU. Idk you could’ve made a fake war and it would’ve been fine. I also want to thank god that I didn’t pay for this book I got it from the Amazon First Reads (I believe because it was labeled as contemporary romance). Anyways let’s move on to my favorite quotes of the book!

”I still feel the same way. Me leaving isn’t going to help these people. The least I can do is bear witness.”

White savior complex at its finest☺️ So you’re just gonna watch? Through whose gaze? Okok got it.

“The guy who does the honorable thing,” Nate said, his eyes searching mine. “Not when it comes to you.”

So he’s just going to save her and fuck the rest of them because he loves her? Because she’s so pretty?

“The country is . . .” I shook my head. “Collapsing,” Nate said, striding our way. “The country is collapsing.” “Then it’s my job to cover it,” Serena stated like that was the end of the discussion. “You don’t mean that.” The words rushed out in a whisper.

You just can’t make this shit up.

”If no one’s trying to kill you here, then that means I’m doing my job over there. That’s how I choose to look at it, how I have to look at it.”

Ok

”I took the hint and retrieved my own book out of my purse, flipping to the bookmark in the middle of chapter eleven of Jennifer L. Armentrout’s Half-Blood.”

lol

If there’s anything I said that’s wrong please let me know and educate me!

[Kaila.Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars! I loved this book. The relationship felt fated without feeling forced. I loved the way their connection built over time through small, careful moments that made it feel real. I couldn’t put it down (literally … it’s 12.05 am and my kids will be up in 6 hours type of good book)

[Lilyya ♡]

so.. i thought we were going to have some Lost remake but sadly no. i just hope she doesn’t paint afghanistan or the supposed "politics" in the most clichéd hollywoodian way with victimizing the oppressor 🙂

[rach⭑ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭑

This follows Izzy and Nate who met when they were 18 on a plane that was about to crash and who have had multiple encounters over the years since then, but the timing was never quite right for them to be together.

Until now, Izzy is in Afghanistan on a job and Nate is tasked with protecting her life, all the while tension is running between them due not seeing each other in three years after a falling out.

The slow burn relationship development between Izzy and Nate hit the spot for me, it was perfectly done and gave me everything I wanted and more. The chapters set in the past have such much insight into their relationship and I loved all the little moments were they both didn’t realise they were pining for each other!

The romance between Izzy and Nate is just so heartwarming and real and you are rooting for them for the entire duration of the book. There were so many push and pull moments and I just loved that they finally got the HEA that they always wanted.

I mean if you need any more convincing, this man has been annotating books for her😭😭😭😭 are you kidding?? Where do I find a man like this?

Love love loved this book.

[Casey Reads 🌸 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! The chemistry between Izzy and Nate was amazing from the first chapter.

From a plane crash to being in a war zone, Izzy and Nate faced so many challenges. The book is told over 10 years. Nate is in the army and they meet on a plane right before he goes off to basic training. This starts their love story that goes off and on for 10 years.

The twist at the end was shocking. The ending was beautiful. The spicy scenes were spicy, but beautiful too. Highly recommend.

Release date: August 1st, read early for free through Amazon First Reads

[Delaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️ rounded up
May book club book 💖
If a man suggested we sit & annotate books for each other, I would simply marry him on the spot. That is all.

[alli☀️ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Edit: I have deleted my first review. After I read this book I knew something felt off but I couldn’t really figure out what. I didn’t know exactly what to feel so I just went “neutral” at first (like what the author is doing in current time) but then I realized it was very arrogant of me. After everything I have now decided to read other’s reviews to see if I was the only one. I wasn’t. So I know I can’t be the only one with this opinion. But anyways, maybe it is having r@cist stereotypes. I am not going to go into much because there is google, but I just felt like it wasn’t her story to tell. She wasn’t in the military. Maybe it’s the ignorance of this white woman author (I am white btw so I feel like I can say this). Or maybe it is having smut when literally outside their door are “enemies”💀. Or maybe it is how the fmc changed her political views randomly so fast in this book just to get her boyfriend back.
I can maybe read a book that is historical romance about war, but I can’t read a book where it’s war now and supporting it. Especially if it has inaccurate information.

I thought this book was supposed to be about a plane crash, but that was barely in it💀instead it was about war😟

I just don’t think I like military romance. But it doesn’t mean that you can’t. It is just not for me. But I suggest reading one that is either completely made up or one that has an accurate description of what the life during that time really is.

Also the white savior complex😬

(pls NO HATE this is MY opinion and MY review cause I see some comment sections where ppl are being really mean😭💀)

[Karla Martínez · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5
ESTE ES EL TIPO DE ROMANCE QUE ME GUSTA.

el sufrimiento! el anhelo! el momento incorrecto siempre! AAAAAAAA la pasé como el hoyo (me encantó)

[Em (semi-hiatus) · Rating 1 out of 5]

It was a chore to even finish this book.

[Mikayla Noel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nate has raised the bar for every man

[Mia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Me about this book: I will not only throw her under the bus, I will pick up the bus and drop it on her several times then I will get in the bus and drive over her and then back up and drive over her again.

Only the military wife would think that "romance" set Afghanistan doing a war is a slay. Both of the main characters are bland horrible people. In between him killing talibans they have sex, that's romance here.
The whole story is full of military propaganda, stereotypes, and white saviorism.

This is my third book by this author, and give all her books deserve 1 star.

[Layla · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ok so I liked Fourth Wing and The Last Letter.
And so I saw this book and had high expectations.
Little did I know that it was a controversial book because of how freaking offensive it is.

I won't write a comprehensive review because honestly, there are multiple reviews that explain the issues amazingly.
I will just summarize:

A US special Forces soldier pumped full of the white savior complex.

A bland heroine who "Does what she wants"

An annoying sister who wants to "BEAR WITNESS" to fall of Afghanistan after all the US soldiers are done leaving. You know...for journalism purposes.

The MMC being "turned on" and ogling the FMC while in dangerous situations.... aka while the Afghans are being killed.

Constantly describing Afghanistan as war-torn, war zone, devastated....
Makes you wonder WHY this country was like this in the first place. *Insert eye roll here*

The exploitation of the country of Afghanistan as a backdrop to the "romance" without gaining anything other than white heroism and the "brown" people who need to be saved by said white heroes.

Give me a fucking break.
How about some of you authors get off your white horse and smell the fucking bread.

Also, if you really want to read about what really happened Afghanistan and what the west really did over there, read Tal Bauer's Whisper because at least he was truthful and INOFFESIVE like all of you SHOULD be.

What a load of bull crap.

Signed:
An Irate Muslim woman.

Thanks! ✌🏻

[Magdalena Miękińska (getbooky) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.25

[Anastasia ｼ · Rating 2 out of 5]

dnf - I TRIED.. for a month... MAYBE I'll come back to this at some point.. but bleh I was so bored and fmc annoyed me.

[tyrosine · Rating 1 out of 5]

a military wife using the horrific atrocities done to Afghanistan as a backdrop for her shitty romance…what could possibly go wrong?

[Laurens.Little.Library · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started great with boatloads of chemistry and tension. Progressively became more and more repetitive, dulling the effectiveness of the prose and progression of the relationship.

By the time I got to the end, all that addictiveness was gone.

‘Tis a shame 🙁

[Jonetta · Rating 3 out of 5]

the setup…
It’s 2011 and Izzy Astor is a college freshman returning home to New York after the Thanksgiving holiday. She’s afraid of flying and her seat mate, Nate Phelan is on his way to Fort Benning for basic training and though it’s his first flight, makes it his mission to ease her anxiety. That is until the plane goes down in the Missouri River 90 seconds after takeoff. This begins a friendship that literally began after a life changing event.

the heart of the story…
Izzy and Nate’s relationship develops over the next ten years but is told in shifting timelines, beginning in 2021 Kabul, Afghanistan where it’s clear something separated them, and looking backward. Of course, I was beyond curious as to what tore them apart because the heart of their relationship was a very strong friendship with equally strong romantic feelings they mostly held in check. She’s a lawyer, he’s in Special Forces and it’s clear ten years later they’re still hung up on each other.

the narration…
Dual narrators were used for Izzy and Nate’s points of view and I enjoyed both. They were effective at capturing the essences of their characters and I liked their storytelling styles.

the bottom line…
Izzy was an interesting character who wore her heart on her sleeve and made so many life choices for other people, including Nate who kept choosing his career over a commitment to Izzy. Being in Special Forces kept him away and out of communication at a moment’s notice all the time. It took almost the length of the book to learn why they went their separate ways and the answer didn’t live up to the building tension. I liked the story but wasn’t as engaged as I could have been if the reveal had been sooner. However, there was a surprising twist at the end that had my jaw drop. And, this story brilliantly illustrated what’s it’s like for the men who serve in military units like this and their friends and loved ones they leave behind. 3.5 stars

Posted on Blue Mood Café

(Thanks to Brilliance Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

In The Likely Event ✈️🤍

—second chance
—past & present time
—bodyguard
—dual POV
—right person x wrong time
—förced proximity


This was my very first military romance & it did not disappoint. Izzy and Nate were absolutely incredible together with their chemistry and every single moment of this book had me wanting more & more. This slowburn romance take us on a journey through the years following Izzy & Nate where they not only learn to love one another, but learn about themselves and what it means to risk it all. In The Likely Event was emotional, it had high tension, but most of unforgettable.

Rebecca truly knows what she’s doing when writing a story that pulls you in & doesn’t let you go until even after you turn the last page. If you’re in need of an emotional second chance romance with high stakes, ADHD representation, and a slowburn, In The Likely Event is a must read.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I loved Rebecca Yarros's book The Last Letter. It blew me away and had me feeling all kinds of emotions. I was hoping for the same from In the Likely Event. Although this book was enjoyable, it was lacking some of the magic of the other book I have read by her.

Izzy and Nate have a chance meeting that beats most others out there. They met on a plane (her first plane ride) and it went down, they both changed, things changed, etc. They come together then they have to part. They are perfect for each other, but timing and obstacles are tricky things. Nate is in the military serving in Afghanistan and Izzy is a politician who went to Afghanistan to get her sister, a journalist out. Nate just so happens is tasked with protecting Izzy during that time. Things are a tad awkward initially as they have not seen each other in some time but....

I say it every time, romance novels are about the journey and Yarros takes both Nate and Izzy on a will-we-ever-get-the-timing right journey. Their journey is told through both the past and present day and with both characters’ POV. Readers are given glimpses into their chance meetings and feelings. I enjoyed them both and kept my fingers crossed for them.

This is a wartime romance, and it may hit too close to home for some. There may be some triggers, so be advised.

Enjoyable second chance romance. Now I am off to request a copy of Fourth Wing!



Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com

[~Amber~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

How Rebecca can write a phenomenal fantasy story “Fourth Wing” and then write this wonderful and completely different romance story is beyond me. Wonderful job!

This story had me in all kinds of emotions, but the last third I don’t think I was breathing properly. I had tears in my eyes. I was just an absolute mess at wondering what was going to happen. Nate, Izzy, Torres, and Serena are all very like able characters. There is a twist at the end with one of them that shocked me and was bittersweet. There were some parts in the middle I got utterly annoyed at Nate and Izzy for their lack of communication and just not wanting to deal.

I will say at times I got similar vibes to November 9th by Colleen Hoover. That mishap kind of love. Which I loved that book too.

I think Rebecca did an excellent job!

This story goes to show how much we will endure for love whether it came on quickly or took years to happen. It shows how much sacrifice there is for love, but especially those who sacrifice their freedom and lives in the military to protect and serve while their families are left behind hoping for their return. All while hanging on to that hope and love.

Read it.

[Brogan Tate · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a beautiful story! Rebecca certainly knows how to write a romance novel. I fell in love with these characters, and although the alternating timelines and POVs took a minute to get used to, it kept me on my toes and longing for the ending. I knocked a star purely because the themes around a plane crash, warzones, and long-distance on-and-off romance were not my thing and often felt heavy at a time I craved something light - so this is just on me! This book is best enjoyed in one or two sittings, rather than reading a chapter here and there, as I did. It’s a beautiful story, with depth and longing for Izzy and Nate. I’ll definitely be picking up another contemporary romance from Rebecca in the future.

[Tears Of Venus · Rating 1 out of 5]

no.

[Ridhima · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm conflicted.

On one hand, this is the kind of story that I'd watch with a girl friend, with wine and snacks and wrapped in my blanket on the couch as we both sobbed over the romance and called for a re-watch right after.

But as a book, I was..unimpressed. The lead protagonists' chemistry was tolerable, but nothing more. Their characters felt very bland to me, and I couldn't find myself rooting for them as much as I should have. Neither of their motivations were relevant to the war going on in the background, and felt entirely selfish .

I've gone through many of the other reviews and I can agree on one thing - the backdrop of the war in Afghanistan was completely unnecessary. It did not provide any value to the story, and seemed to rather just be used to portray the couples' indifference for the deaths happening around them while they argued about their relationship and exes the entire time. Be warned, there are about two or three open door sex scenes in the book - one of them happening while there is a literal war going on outside.

Giving it 2 stars solely for the surprise plot points revealed at the end, and the tackling of abuse and trauma in the story.

[Creya Casale | cc.shelflove · Rating 5 out of 5]

That feeling in my chest . . . I was in love with him. And he was going back to Afghanistan tomorrow.

If you're going to read this book, have thirty boxes of tissues on deck at all times. Seriously. I do not even know what to say right now. I wouldn't be surprised if this ends up as the best book I read in all of 2024. Nate was all, "Touch her and die," and I was here for itttttttt. Nate's dog tag necklace? I am not okay. Fuck. I also felt for Izzy on a personal level and felt seen, as I know how difficult it can be loving someone engaged in a dangerous profession. 🥺 Finally, you're telling me Fourth Wing's kingdom of Navarre is a nod to Nate's call sign? OMFG. I'm done. 🫠 So many emotions, not enough pages. 😭

Side note: An epilogue where they don't have a child?!?! NO WAY!!! Yarros, you've done it! I'm your superfan!

“He put his arms out and turned slowly, but I didn’t savor the sight of his bare back and torso like I had just a few minutes ago. Now I saw every place he could be hurt. Every vulnerable inch.”

“He wasn’t mine. I wasn’t his. That was the agreement we’d made. And yet he was always mine. I was always his.”

“‘I’m realizing that it doesn’t matter who I date. They’re all just placeholders because I’m waiting for you. Waiting for us.’”

[Gabrielė|Kartu su knyga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Praūžus meilės dienai norėjosi romantiškos bei jaukios istorijos. Tam puikiai pasirodė tinkamas šis Yarros romanas. Tikrai nesuklydau šiuo savo pasirinkimu 😍

Izė ir Natas susipažino skrisdami lėktuvu. Porelė net nenumanė, jog šis jų susitikimas bus pražūtingad jiens abiems. Įsižiebusi kibirkštis buvo viso to pradžia..
Vos tik pakilęs lėktuvas rėžiasi tiesiai į Misūrio upę. Lėktuvo katastrofą jie išgyvena, tačiau jų keliai išsiskiria dorai net nesusipažinus.
Izė bei Natas gyvena savo gyvenimus ir kopia karjeros laiptais. Jis - karininkas, o ji - politikė.
Prabėgus dešimtmečiui Izei tenka užduotis, kurios metu ji išvyksta į Afganistaną. Karo zonoje už jos saugumą tampa atsakingas ne kas kitas, o Natas. Jam tenka nelengva užduotis, nes ši moteris mėgsta daryti atvirkščiai, negu jai yra sakoma.. Natanielis pasiryžęs ne tik išsaugoti ją gyvą, tačiau ir vėl atsikovoti jos širdį.

Tai buvo vienas iš tokių romanų, kokius labiausiai ir mėgstu. Be galo pagaulus, o puslapiai tirpte tirpo.. Bet buvo tiesiog fiziškai sunku atsiplėšti nuo šios istorijos.
Labai jausminga, romantiška bei jaudinanti istorija.
Apie du įsimylėjėlius, kuriems iš pirmo žvilgsnio nėra lemta būti kartu. Tačiau nors ir viskas atrodo labai sudėtinga, tačiau jiems tereikėjo vienintelės progos, bent jau pabandyti. Ir pasižiūrėti kur jų santykiai gali nuvesti.
"Ledo gabalas, kuriame laikiau užšaldytą širdį, ištirpo. Ištirpo dėl Nato. Tai, kas mus siejo, vis dar buvo čia, gyva kaip ir anksčiau. Mudu tai palaidojome, ignoravome, sudeginome, bet tai buvo stipriau už mus. Bent jau stipriau už mane.
Tai bus gyva per amžius. "
Kiekvienas Izės ir Nato susitikimas atrodo, jog ir mano širdį priversdavo plakti truputį sparčiau. Atrodydavo, jog tarp jų tvyrančią chemiją galima justi ore. Dar kartą įsitikinau, jog dėl meilės verta stengtis. Bet tai daryti turi abu.

[Court · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, I read this book in one day. It was utterly unputdownable. I picked it up today on Amazon First Reads, which was incredibly serendipitous.

I will say, this book wasn’t what I thought it was going to be. There is a LOT of war/military content here, which is not my normal reading material for many (personal) reasons, and I expected more about the plane crash. That said, I genuinely liked this book- military/war content and all- far more than I would have imagined.

This is, at its heart, a contemporary romance. For my more sensitive readers, it’s steamy and open-door, so keep that in mind. We follow Nathaniel (Nate) and Isabeau (Izzy) for 10 years after the fateful plane crash that drew them together and the many intervening years that pulled them apart.

If you know me, you know I don’t like the “we met 10 years ago but somehow are still pining for each other” trope at all. But! And I mean it- but! I am making an exception here. These two were drawn together by a deeply traumatic incident and I have zero issues with understanding how that event might have triggered this long-term pining. It works here.

I loved Nate and Izzy’s story, as frustrating as it could be at times. I also loved some of the ancillary characters too (namely her sister Serena). The last third of this novel was heart-pounding enough that I had anxiety and really felt like I was reading a thriller. Yarros captured a war-time scene well, and I realize from reading her bio that she is married to a veteran and probably has a good understanding of this life.

There was also a twist near the end that I didn’t see coming. I was surprised.

All in all, I really liked this book. It releases in August if you don’t have Amazon First Reads, so if you like open-door romances and military/war content, you should check this one out.