In the Likely Event

From the instant New York Times bestselling author of Fourth Wing, Rebecca Yarros, comes a sweeping romance about the sustained power of chance encounters.

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.

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Published Aug 1, 2023

350 pages

Average rating: 7.67

514 RATINGS

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What Bookclubbers are saying about this book

✨ Summarized by Bookclubs AI

Readers say *In the Likely Event* by Rebecca Yarros offers a tender, slow-burn romance rich in emotional depth and mutual devotion, set against milita...

cristytd

Jul 11, 2025

6/10 stars

2.5/5

Everything about this book was perfectly average. I can't really pin-point what it was about this book that left me feeling so indifferent. It just didn't do anything for me. But, at the same time it also wasn't bad enough that I had to put it down. I finished it quite quickly. The audiobook helped.

I think one of the main things that bothered me was the "miscommunication" trope. Like, it wasn't a bad story but it left me feeling like "this meeting could've been an email". It just wasn't for me.

rccohill

Oct 27, 2023

9/10 stars

Being an Air Force Veteran, I really appreciated the military storyline.. The live story was excellent and definitely puts relationships to the test!

krzyk8ee

Feb 20, 2026

7/10 stars

In the Likely Event surprised me in the best way. I already knew Rebecca Yarros could write sweeping, emotional romance, but this one pulled me in immediately and didn’t let go. The story centers on a couple bonded by a traumatic event, then unfolds through a back-and-forth timeline between their first meeting and the present day. I loved that there was never a question of whether they loved each other, they always did. That mutual devotion made the separation ache more… even when I wanted to shake them and say just be together already (though, to be fair, that would’ve made for a very short book). He’s constantly protecting her. She’s always searching for him. There’s this steady undercurrent of longing, fate, and emotional safety that made the whole story feel tender and intense at the same time. Add in high stakes, emotional restraint, and that slow-burn yearning Yarros does so well—and I was fully engrossed. Romantic, heartfelt, and quietly devastating in places. A reminder that love can be steady even when timing is not. 💔✨

Dreyer63

Jan 04, 2026

8/10 stars

I received this book as a Christmas present, with a monthly book club included amongst friends. I have read several of her books. This one, I read in 2 days. I couldn't put it down. Yarros is an excellent writer. This was another side of her writing and I really enjoyed it.

Maxime

Jul 09, 2025

10/10 stars

The story that grabs your heart from the very first letter till the last.