Book Review: My Chance to Fly By Samantha Tonge

I’m very excited to be welcoming Samantha Tonge to Novel Kicks as we celebreate the publication of her latest book, My Chance to Fly.

A BRAND NEW sparkling, uplifting story about love, friendship and learning to spread your wings from Samantha Tonge✨🦋 Perfect for fans of Shari Low, Faith Hogan and Evie Woods!

Una Lowe lives a perfectly edited life in London. Other than her best friend, she’s careful about who she lets in. Emotional complications are just that – complicated. That is, until she rescues a rare white swallow… who might have just flown in to change her life.

Because, when her beloved swallow fails to return from migration one year, Una’s world crumbles. But a viral social media campaign brings a miraculous response from a man in Bavaria named Konrad, who claims the bird has also visited him. Which leads him to invite Una to his picturesque village for the chance to see their shared feathered friend together.

Stepping out of her comfort zone, Una flies to Germany. Amidst snow-dusted streets, local festivals, and Konrad’s undeniable charm, Una’s protective walls begin to fall down.

But when the complication she’s avoided her whole life comes for her, she’s forced to confront her deepest fears. As autumn turns to winter, and inspired by the tiny, brave bird that brought them together, Una must decide if she is finally ready to risk her heart.

Is the only way to know if you can fly to face a possibility of falling…?

*****

Una is the type of person that likes everything orderly. Her joy in life is a barn swallow named Blue. When Blue doesn’t return by the beginning of the autumn, Una begins to worry. Then help comes from the most unlikely of places.

I have to say, I am a bit of a fan of Samantha Tonge’s novels and couldn’t wait to get going on her latest book, My Chance to Fly.

Can I just give some love to this cover. It’s beautiful.

Una is a very interesting, flawed, and insular character but, and this is a big but, she has a lot of heart. There is simply a lack of courage to go out into the world. I feel she didn’t have the best childhood either in terms of setting her up for life and allowing herself to open up to people. I adored seeing her story as I went through the novel. It’s hard to elaborate on that subject without giving too much away.

Konrad is equally trying to navigate life as best he can. He came across as a caring person; he goes to check on a friend instead of enjoying a planned night out. I liked he and Una together. They had wonderful chemistry.

The supporting characters are great – Ziggy and Chelle represented a wonderful relationship and proved that you don’t have to be related by blood to be family. And we can’t forget about Blue.

The plot moved so well. There is this warmth and charm that runs all the way through, and I didn’t want to stop reading. I felt so invested in Una and Konrad’s story. It felt real to me. As I have come to expect from this author, there is a lot of emotion running through this book – a lot just under the surface. As I said, there is not a lot I can say about the plot without giving too much away. What I will say is that I very much enjoyed reading about this bird who connected people simply by her presence and that surprises and life changes can come when you least expect it.

I LOVED the seasonal atmosphere in this book. It felt like a comforting hug.

If you’re looking to fall in love with a life affirming, heart-warming novel with realistic, imperfect, wonderful characters, My Chance To Fly is the book for you.

(Thank you to Boldwood Books and Rachel’s Random Resources for the advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.) 

About Samantha Tonge –

Samantha Tonge lives in Manchester UK. She studied German and French at university and has worked abroad, including a stint at Disneyland Paris. She has travelled widely.

Samantha has sold many dozens of short stories to women’s magazines. She is represented by Darley Anderson Agency & Associates. In 2015 her summer novel, Game of Scones, hit #5 in the UK Kindle chart and won the Love Stories Awards Best Romantic Ebook category. In 2020 one of her novels won the RNA’s Jackie Collins Romantic Thriller Award. Currently Samantha writes uplifting, emotional women’s fiction for Boldwood Books. She seeks to raise a smile, and make a reader feel they are not alone with the challenges of life.

Say hello to Samantha on Instagram, X and Facebook. 

My Chance to Fly was released by Boldwood Books on 18th August 2026. Click to buy on Amazon UK, Amazon US, Barnes & Noble and Waterstones. 

by

Laura

I'm Laura. I started Novel Kicks back in 2009 as I wanted a place to discuss books and writing - two loves of my life. As someone who has anxiety, these two things give me, and I am sure countless others, a much needed escape.
There is a monthly book club, writing exercises, prompts, reviews, author interviews, competitions and guest posts. I cover many genres and I hope there is something for everyone.
I grew up by the sea in Dorset and currently live in Poole with my husband, Chris and three cats. I love writing and have a BA (Hons) in Creative Writing from Falmouth University. I am writing my first book. If only I could stop pressing delete. Chris has threatened to stop it from working. Haha.
I have always loved creative writing since I was in first school and would very much like to meet my teacher, Miss Sayers, to say thank you for all the encouragement she gave me then.
When not writing, I love reading, cats, Disney, singing (I can't sing but this doesn't stop me,) and falling into a good TV show or film. If I could step into any fictional world, it would be amongst the characters in ABC's Once Upon a Time.
I love reading many genres and discovering new authors.