Jet Girl: My Life in War, Peace, and the Cockpit of the Navy's Most Lethal Aircraft, the F/A-18 Super Hornet

Did not enjoy the book at all! Jumps back and forth between training and being on the ship--no flow at all. Johnson comes across as condescending and full of herself. I feel bad that she was treated poorly but she does not come across as a person in the book who is easy to get along with...There are so many incredible females who have served in actual combat that deserve a book much more than the nine months the author spent partying in Greece and other port calls. She had to eat Brownies with dirty hands at SERE school--the torture!

I saw the Today show clip which states Ms. Johnson was a fighter pilot. So I bought the book wanting to get a female perspective on such an endeavor (I was a pilot before women were assigned to fighter jets). She is NOT a pilot but was trained as a Weapons Officer. A challenging position but far removed from the actuality of actually flying a high-performance jet in combat. Co-authored with Hof Williams (who also co-authored the book Camp Valor) it was at times whiney and immature (the whole romance part of the story with the unnamed Marine was distracting), as it dealt with her perceived challenges of being a female in a very male environment. She's not a pilot and she can't write a book without a cowriter so I was less than impressed.

If you have time to get your masters degree during your JO tour, that is not an accomplishment, it is a failure. You aren’t putting in the requisite time to better your squadron. If you have time to get a masters, you are doing the bare minimum at work and making others pick up your slack. There are women in my squadron that work hard day in and day out. They are doing their job. They don’t cry out for this kind of attention. This is not the spokesperson that women in naval aviation need. Ask any of her squadron mates what they really think of her.

Not a real pilot so kind of misleading. Not sure i would put her in the same category as real pilots. There are plenty of bad ass female pilots who are treated exceptionally well in navy aviation because they’re actually good at what they do.

I wouldn’t recommend this book to my daughter to get inspired about naval aviation. Misleading and marketing to readers, especially civilians, to believe she was a female F-18 fighter pilot is wrong. She was a WSO. I am going to buy books for my daughter that were written by real badass female pilots.

Poorly written and misleading. WSO is not a naval aviator. There are actual, inspiring women that fly for the military. But they continue flying for the military rather than jettisoning to pursue a narcissistic career as an author (writing about herself) and speaker (talking about herself).

This book will do little to change the way women are treated in the military. SUMMARY A graduate of the United States Naval Academy goes on to become an F/A-18 Super Hornet Weapons System Officer. She was one of the first women to fly a combat mission over Iraq since 2011 and she was the first woman to drop bombs on ISIS. This coming-of-age book aims to inspire and attract the next generation of men and women to the military. REVIEW I appreciate the story CAROLINE JOHNSON is trying to tell. She was definitely dealt a bad hand of cards, when she landed in the Blacklion squadron. The treatment that she received from the squadron team as well as her executive and commanding officer was abysmal. There is no doubt from her story that even more change is needed in the military regarding discrimination on the basis of sex. However, this will not be the book that effectuates that change. The writing left much to be desired and the book’s organization made me feel as if I was on a ship in a hurricane. The tone runs the gamut of condescending and elitist, to immature and whining. Johnson’s talk of her fingernail polish color, urinating on a jet and her decorating prowess aboard the USS George H.W. Bush may appeal to a young adult audience. But it will do little to change the way women are treated in the military, in fact just the opposite. Thanks to Netgalley for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Embellishing herself as a pilot when in fact she is/was NOT. Riding in the back seat of an F-18 is not being a pilot, it is self-loading baggage. Writes about peers when in fact its really throwing them under the bus. A pilot myself, not much gets under our skin more than a back-seat hitch hiker claiming to be a pilot for their career. You can absolutely, no joke, find hundreds of better books out there about the military (specifically aviation).

She is NOT, was NOT ever a pilot, but a backseater. If you can get past that, it's also not very well written, and not very helpful or inspiring. Hard pass.

As a USNA graduate and career F-4/F-14 Radar Intercept Officer (Navy Fighter Community NFO), I was really looking forward to reading about her experiences as a woman attending the Naval Academy, her motivation for service selection to aviation, surmounting the challenges of NFO flight training, competing for and being selected for WSO, and the professional challenges she encountered in RAG training and her VFA-213 tour. The book was unfortunately lacking in all areas of interest to me as a Naval Academy graduate and NFO. Nothing about what motivated her to attend USNA (she had a brother there), nothing meaningful about her Midshipman experiences, nothing about why she chose aviation (apparently her father is a pilot, and her brother also chose aviation), nothing about becoming a FIGHTER aviator (air-to-air intercepts and air combat maneuvering)- apparently from her memoir she performed mainly or exclusively as an ATTACK aviator (air-to-mud ordnance delivery). She's obviously extremely intelligent, talented, and capable - there are only a limited number of midshipman allowed to select NFO (which is the alternative chosen by officers who desire an aviation career but aren't physically qualified to be a pilot - typically because of less-than-perfect eyesight), being able to select F-18 WSO says she must have been at or near the top of her basic NFO training, and so forth. There's very little of significance about how she adapted to the flying environment, how she mastered the complex and demanding radar and weapons systems in the aircraft she flew while she was going through training (Pensacola and RAG), what it was psychologically like flying with shaky pilots (there are no flight controls in the back seats of Navy fighters and fighter/attack aircraft), what it was like returning to a "postage stamp" sized aircraft carrier on a dark and stormy night with a damaged aircraft and no shore divert field, or similar discussions of her Fleet flying experiences. Besides having lived through all that myself, I've read numerous memoirs of other aviators, and I can tell you none of them waste any ink talking about dating, hooking up, decorating their apartments, getting cosmetic care packages, liberty ports, or other non-aviation trivia. Professional aviation memoirs are about FLYING. After finishing Jet Girl, I felt extremely disappointed, and conclude that she was ill-served by her editor, who apparently was more interested in her telling a girly girl story instead of a professional aviation memoir of a woman aviator succeeding in a male-oriented military environment. To achieve selection for attending the Naval Academy, successfully making it to graduation, selection for aviation pipeline, successful completion of NFO training, selection for WSO, and a Fleet operational tour as an F/A-18 WSO is a most impressive accomplishment. She should be most proud of all she's achieved, and I give her much respect for it. I just wish more of her professional side was in this book, and less of her girly side.

Did not enjoy the book at all! Jumps back and forth between training and being on the ship--no flow at all. Johnson comes across as condescending and full of herself. I feel bad that she was treated poorly but she does not come across as a person in the book who is easy to get along with...There are so many incredible females who have served in actual combat that deserve a book much more than the nine months the author spent partying in Greece and other port calls. She had to eat Brownies with dirty hands at SERE school--the torture!

I saw the Today show clip which states Ms. Johnson was a fighter pilot. So I bought the book wanting to get a female perspective on such an endeavor (I was a pilot before women were assigned to fighter jets). She is NOT a pilot but was trained as a Weapons Officer. A challenging position but far removed from the actuality of actually flying a high-performance jet in combat. Co-authored with Hof Williams (who also co-authored the book Camp Valor) it was at times whiney and immature (the whole romance part of the story with the unnamed Marine was distracting), as it dealt with her perceived challenges of being a female in a very male environment. She's not a pilot and she can't write a book without a cowriter so I was less than impressed.

If you have time to get your masters degree during your JO tour, that is not an accomplishment, it is a failure. You aren’t putting in the requisite time to better your squadron. If you have time to get a masters, you are doing the bare minimum at work and making others pick up your slack. There are women in my squadron that work hard day in and day out. They are doing their job. They don’t cry out for this kind of attention. This is not the spokesperson that women in naval aviation need. Ask any of her squadron mates what they really think of her.

Not a real pilot so kind of misleading. Not sure i would put her in the same category as real pilots. There are plenty of bad ass female pilots who are treated exceptionally well in navy aviation because they’re actually good at what they do.

I wouldn’t recommend this book to my daughter to get inspired about naval aviation. Misleading and marketing to readers, especially civilians, to believe she was a female F-18 fighter pilot is wrong. She was a WSO. I am going to buy books for my daughter that were written by real badass female pilots.

Poorly written and misleading. WSO is not a naval aviator. There are actual, inspiring women that fly for the military. But they continue flying for the military rather than jettisoning to pursue a narcissistic career as an author (writing about herself) and speaker (talking about herself).

This book will do little to change the way women are treated in the military. SUMMARY A graduate of the United States Naval Academy goes on to become an F/A-18 Super Hornet Weapons System Officer. She was one of the first women to fly a combat mission over Iraq since 2011 and she was the first woman to drop bombs on ISIS. This coming-of-age book aims to inspire and attract the next generation of men and women to the military. REVIEW I appreciate the story CAROLINE JOHNSON is trying to tell. She was definitely dealt a bad hand of cards, when she landed in the Blacklion squadron. The treatment that she received from the squadron team as well as her executive and commanding officer was abysmal. There is no doubt from her story that even more change is needed in the military regarding discrimination on the basis of sex. However, this will not be the book that effectuates that change. The writing left much to be desired and the book’s organization made me feel as if I was on a ship in a hurricane. The tone runs the gamut of condescending and elitist, to immature and whining. Johnson’s talk of her fingernail polish color, urinating on a jet and her decorating prowess aboard the USS George H.W. Bush may appeal to a young adult audience. But it will do little to change the way women are treated in the military, in fact just the opposite. Thanks to Netgalley for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Embellishing herself as a pilot when in fact she is/was NOT. Riding in the back seat of an F-18 is not being a pilot, it is self-loading baggage. Writes about peers when in fact its really throwing them under the bus. A pilot myself, not much gets under our skin more than a back-seat hitch hiker claiming to be a pilot for their career. You can absolutely, no joke, find hundreds of better books out there about the military (specifically aviation).

She is NOT, was NOT ever a pilot, but a backseater. If you can get past that, it's also not very well written, and not very helpful or inspiring. Hard pass.

As a USNA graduate and career F-4/F-14 Radar Intercept Officer (Navy Fighter Community NFO), I was really looking forward to reading about her experiences as a woman attending the Naval Academy, her motivation for service selection to aviation, surmounting the challenges of NFO flight training, competing for and being selected for WSO, and the professional challenges she encountered in RAG training and her VFA-213 tour. The book was unfortunately lacking in all areas of interest to me as a Naval Academy graduate and NFO. Nothing about what motivated her to attend USNA (she had a brother there), nothing meaningful about her Midshipman experiences, nothing about why she chose aviation (apparently her father is a pilot, and her brother also chose aviation), nothing about becoming a FIGHTER aviator (air-to-air intercepts and air combat maneuvering)- apparently from her memoir she performed mainly or exclusively as an ATTACK aviator (air-to-mud ordnance delivery). She's obviously extremely intelligent, talented, and capable - there are only a limited number of midshipman allowed to select NFO (which is the alternative chosen by officers who desire an aviation career but aren't physically qualified to be a pilot - typically because of less-than-perfect eyesight), being able to select F-18 WSO says she must have been at or near the top of her basic NFO training, and so forth. There's very little of significance about how she adapted to the flying environment, how she mastered the complex and demanding radar and weapons systems in the aircraft she flew while she was going through training (Pensacola and RAG), what it was psychologically like flying with shaky pilots (there are no flight controls in the back seats of Navy fighters and fighter/attack aircraft), what it was like returning to a "postage stamp" sized aircraft carrier on a dark and stormy night with a damaged aircraft and no shore divert field, or similar discussions of her Fleet flying experiences. Besides having lived through all that myself, I've read numerous memoirs of other aviators, and I can tell you none of them waste any ink talking about dating, hooking up, decorating their apartments, getting cosmetic care packages, liberty ports, or other non-aviation trivia. Professional aviation memoirs are about FLYING. After finishing Jet Girl, I felt extremely disappointed, and conclude that she was ill-served by her editor, who apparently was more interested in her telling a girly girl story instead of a professional aviation memoir of a woman aviator succeeding in a male-oriented military environment. To achieve selection for attending the Naval Academy, successfully making it to graduation, selection for aviation pipeline, successful completion of NFO training, selection for WSO, and a Fleet operational tour as an F/A-18 WSO is a most impressive accomplishment. She should be most proud of all she's achieved, and I give her much respect for it. I just wish more of her professional side was in this book, and less of her girly side.

“Jet Girl” is a compelling story of a woman who excelled at everything she did from being a USNA plebe to a top Naval aviator despite some treatment from squadron mates and commanders that make you cringe. Some critics of the book have said dismissively that Caroline isn’t a “real pilot”. I am offended on her behalf and consider her to be an American hero, not only for her service to our country but also for her honesty, work ethic, and drive. This book blends true action with humanizing personal stories that illustrate the frustrating lengths one must go to in order to be a woman in an often hostile man’s world.

I almost didn’t read past the first chapter—the description of “waiting to hear the roar of the Pratt & Whitney engines” on her F/A-18 Super Hornet literally made me bury my face in my hands, wondering who in the world edited this book. I kept going back and re-reading the chapter to make sure she wasn’t describing a different aircraft....she wasn’t. Either she didn’t actually write the book herself or she actually didn’t know the aircraft she spent so much time in. The target audience for a book about a naval aviator’s experiences probably isn’t broad enough for that detail to slip by the majority of its readers. It’s the GE F414 engines that make the Super Hornet the formidable beast that it is. Give credit where it’s due, please. I took that sleight a little personally, in a way. It was difficult to take the rest of the book seriously after reading that blatant inaccuracy, but it’s not a totally terrible read overall. I did very much enjoy the insight it gave regarding life on ship as a female. There were some noteworthy anecdotes but for the most part I read it as a fictionalized account simply because the dialogue seemed a little too “improvised”. If I’d read this not knowing it was meant to be an autobiographical account, I would have never believed that the writer’s boots ever left the ground, let alone spent hundreds of hours in an F/A-18 Super Hornet. It read like the diary of a bored midshipman who intensely obsessed and fantasized about flying fighter jets or something but couldn’t hack it. Also, if her role as WSO that she described is accurate, then it was an E/A-18 Growler she was in; not an F/A-18 Super Hornet. Yes, they are the same as far as engines and airframe for the most part but they are also very different, as Growlers are Electronic Warfare jets. I didn’t know the Black Lions had a Growler in service in their squadron, but could be mistaken. And perhaps she felt that calling her Growler a Super Hornet would appeal to a larger demographic while promoting her book? I don’t know. But honestly, I personally would have still bought the book either way. I’m very disappointed how dumbed-down it seemed. She seems like a wildly intelligent woman who has the potential to inspire people of all types with her story, but aside from the chapters revisiting her personal life, I wasn’t all that inspired. A little let down, really. I’d give this 1 star if it were any other book that let me down like this, but I’m giving 5 stars ONLY because it takes guts to accomplish everything this WSO did in her naval career and very few people will ever know firsthand the dedication or the sacrifices it takes for someone to earn the right to be in that WSO seat. Caroline, if you ever read this review, know that I’m hoping you consider a more in-depth, sharper follow-up to this book...and maybe finding a new editor. But I would really love to hear your firsthand accounts without holding back. Raw. Real. Kicka**. Not the worst read by any means, but when my expectations for it met reality I was a little sad that this was what I decided to spend my “monthly treat allowance” on. I rarely buy things for myself and was really exited for this. Again, those stars i gave are for the author accomplishing something I never could, and her sacrifices made to protect our freedoms. God Bless.

I thought I recognized the woman on the cover, and after reading in a Navy Times article that she was on the 2014 Bush deployment, I knew I had recognized her! I was also on that long 9 month deployment. The chapter that had the Turkey port visit referring the females to Michelin Men had me dying. What should have been added to that part is that the female enlisted Sailors had male Chiefs tugging at their jeans and if they were “tight” in anyway they couldn’t depart the boat. I was forced to wear my blue flight deck pants off the ship! I loved that she laid everything out and it was eye opening to read something from a female aviators perspective. I felt like I got to know her throughout the book and was heartbroken when her her friend Taylor started giving her the cold shoulder. Would definitely recommend to friends and family, ESPECIALLY if you’re a female in the military.

This kindlebook Jet Girl: My Life In War, Peace, And The Cockpit of The Navy’s Most Lethal Aircraft, The FA-18 Super Hornet by Caroline Johnson with Hof Williams covers some of the significant parts of the author’s career as an officer in the United States Navy. The author features details on her time at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis Maryland, her time in Rhode Island teaching, a portion of her time in Florida pertaining to her aviation work, inclusion of some career details embarked on the navy aircraft carrier ship USS George H.W. Bush, some leadership lessons that she picked up from an Admiral who she learned from a lot, a close friendship connection that the author had with another female officer referenced Taylor, some of the author’s honest feelings on how she felt doing what she could to maintain her relationship with a person she greatly cared about who was based in California while she was in Virginia, and much more.

I both enjoyed and was disturbed by this story. I am of the generation that assumed that wars were to be fought by men. I admit to holding that belief myself. That is, until I had two granddaughters of my own and saw that they wanted - no, demanded equality and had the grit to back those demands. Caroline's description of her goals and asperations and of the barriers she continually encountered should serve as an inspiration to a generation of girls. The fact that she equaled and in most cases bettered her male counterparts spoke volumes of her ability and determination in the face of bigotry and abuse. Read this book and have the XX members of your family read it as well for Caroline's guidance and inspiration.

First of all, the job of the back seat pilot is just as important if not more than that of the front seat. The back seat pilot is also a fully trained pilot who can operate the aircraft at the same level as the front seat if something were to happen. The novel is not misleading, she IS a pilot for the F/A-18. And yes, she may seem conceded. However, if the reader knows anything about aviation they will know that all pilots are fairly cocky people. The reviews saying that this book is anything but good were written by people who aren't familiar with the military/aviation community. And I would suggest that if you don't follow aviation then you should not read this book. Mrs. Johnson used this book to explain her experience and give an insight to other woman in her same profession. It is a great accomplishment for any woman to find herself in the cockpit of an airplane as the aviation community is vastly full of male pilots. And the romance portion of the book is something she found important to her life at the time and should be respected as such.

This is the 21st Century. Women can perform just as well , and better , than men. Nothing new about it, except if you are an underachiever male afraid of competition. Well, this is the new world so get on with it. A very well written book, interesting , and compelling . More amazing though, is the virulence of some of the reviews, written in a nasty and illiterate way. The level of ignorance of those reviewers is incredible: She is a Naval Officer Pilot, she was trained to fly Jets, and she is able to fly an F18 from the SWO post if needed be. To achieve what she did is likely much more than what those nasty readers ever did. If they had ever accomplish such, they would certainly not be dismissive. Carry on Carolyne, thanks for your service to our Country. Jose M Paredes MD

They ought to make more women like Caroline Johnson! A totally self-motivated young woman in a man's world, this gorgeous blonde, blue-eyed debutante turned Weapons System Officer in a fighter jet, the remarkable F/A-18 Super Hornet, takes one's breath away in and out of the cockpit. The story starts in Caroline's youth and progresses through her training and experiences as a woman surviving -- and thriving -- in the man's world of fighter pilots who land the Navy's most advanced airplanes on the postage stamp that is an aircraft carrier out at sea in some of the most unwelcoming and dangerous places on earth. As the author, she describes not only the technical aspects of her duties on board such aircraft flying missions in and out of the world's most threatening war zones, but also the personal aspects of living for months in the space of a closet on a carrier, the relationships that develop among men and women around her, the ups, downs, and survival tactics she employed so well to thrive in extraordinary circumstances, and the psychological stability that enabled her success in what can legitimately be called life or death situations both in the air and on the ground. This is a must-read for women of all ages who are driven to succeed in arenas and disciplines typically and historically reserved for men. It is a story that transcends the gender gap, opening up avenues in which women can achieve and succeed side by side with the men who achieve and succeed in both war and peace with each not sacrificing their God-given identities. This book is a must-read -- and makes a great gift -- for any man or woman who is a pilot or was one, a parent or friend of a pilot, or anyone who works with airplanes of any kind or was in the military. An eye opener, inspirational and insightful. A winner.

This book was a refreshing eye opener to me. A gritty, entertaining, honest portrayal of women operating $80 Million Dollar aircraft in our modern US Military. I love the patriotic attitude of "mission first," combined with the personal anecdotes of what it is to do your job in a world previously reserved for men only. A must read.

Having served in the Viet Nam era USN, Jet Girl quickly took me back in time to my tour out of Norfolk/Virginia Beach. While I was a gator sailor, my memories of my brief encounters with aviation were memorable, including serving under one awesome CO (a highly decorated A-6 pilot and USNA grad) who commanded my ship on his way to be the first CO of the Nimitz. Jet Girl adroitly addresses things that need to be corrected if we want to maintain the USN as the finest military force for freedom as it continues to protect the world’s best hope for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Thanks Dutch for your outstanding service ... and great writing!

This fast paced tour through her career in the navy shows many challenges still exist for women in leadership in traditionally male roles. It has thoughtful insight into how young military professionals view their role, international politic challenges, and the investment that we make in them. It also shares the joy and stress. The writing is engaging and I didn’t want to put it down.

I went through this book in a little over a week. I found it a great insight into the pressures and rewards of US Navy fighter pilot. That this pilot is a woman reveals the pressures on anyone who is out of the "Norm" in the military aviation world, a world seemingly ruled by immature, talented, headstrong males. That she is now out of the navy says something about how far some institutions still have to go in the modern world.

This is a great book. Really makes you proud of our women in the military. They work so hard and unfortunately some of the men they work next to make it harder for them. When is it ok to not help out each other? So disappointed in the men that treat women like they don’t matter or belong.

Absolutely love this book! Caroline’s writing style captures your interest and takes you along while she learns the intricacies and becomes one of the first Jet Girls. Her honesty of being a female pilot in the military speaks was a good point for any female in consideration of entering the military. Caroline Johnson does very well engaging her reader in her personal and professional experience as an exceptional example of how a human being can portray diplomacy and remain on target in the eye of great terror. The passion and pure joy she displays grows as she tells her journey and mentions key points in history and what helped shape her.

Love, love, love this book. Excellent book for girls with low self esteem to show them that women can do anything they put their minds too just like men.

This book is perhaps more than a lot of readers asked for this book not only details how one of the first female naval pilots tells all & that is why her account is so interesting.

Jet Girl (Caroline) provides a riveting description of her aviation career from Naval Academy thru Flight School and becoming Flight Officer and finally deployment and combat in the Middle East . An entertaining and educational read!

Great inspirational story about a female jet pilot. So few great role models for young women so I bought several copies for my daughter and her friends. Hoping to inspire them to reach high to their dreams

Great read from cover to cover. Very enlightening to those of us who have not served. Thank you!

An amazing real life account of a daring young woman who has given so much to serve our country! Thank you Caroline, for your service! She actually dropped bombs on ISIS! This is a great read and the detailed descriptions bring you right into the action and lives of these fine young women and men! Brilliant story!

An interesting and insightful account of the challenges for women in military frontline positions where male prejudice is an added stressor.

It is difficult to explain to a female what being a male officer is like. As a former Officer of Marines I was very pleased to see that that Jet Girl had the same experiences and Esprit de Corps as I had when I served. I liked this book so much that I gave it to my grand daughter for her to see what it is like to serve and what an opportunity being commissioned affords you. Great Job!!!

I loved the book. A very compelling insider look of what it means to be a female aviator.

She discribes the life and emotions of a top level naval jet pilot while also very susinkly detailing the discrimination toward female military pilots.

Outstanding book by a remarkable woman; Naval Academy and all the flight training were a difficult journey to accomplish!! Much respect and admiration from an old Viet Nam infantryman!!! Truly sad for male aviators to have treated you so badly!!! Good luck, Head held high and take on the world!!!! Kindest Regards, Bill Chapman

Great reading experience.

Informative reading.

Loved this book! I plan to give it as a gift to another phenominal woman!

Great story, life in a fighter squadron.

Part thriller, part love story. Well written. Hard to put down. Best read for me in years!

Very good book... Hope the Navy took time to read it.

So refreshing to read a memoir by an author who manages to stay down-to-earth despite her accomplishments in an otherwise male-dominated profession. Definitely a must read. I could not put it down!

Enjoyed every word in this book. I thank her for her service and so sorry she had to put up with so much bull. Great book

Great story both from a “girl power” and “military insider” perspective.

Easy read, inspiring for all young women.

This book is excellent from cover to cover! A must read adventure!

Loved this book.

Just love the way she wrote about her experiences before and after the Navy.

Thought provoking and inspiring. Brava.

My daughter loved it

Enjoyed this book!

Great book

Very Good Book

Great read!

Information about me as a reviewer: - I am a USNA graduate. - I am a Naval Aviator (H-60 pilot) with over 2800 hours. - I have deployed 4 times on a Carrier or with a Carrier Strike Group. - I have been selected for Operational Aviation Command. - I read Jet Girl three times. I MUST write this review because Caroline Johnson’s voice can’t be the only female aviator voice heard. I ask you read my review and hear MY voice too. I provided the above information to lend credibility to my review. Naval Aviation is not easy. Naval Aviation asks young adults (I was 25 years old on my first deployment) to focus, learn, adapt, flex, and perform under tough and demanding circumstances. The aircraft carrier is a dynamic environment and everyone must perform their individual tasking accurately and expertly, like clockwork. Any mis-step, by any one crew or individual, can cause a ripple effect that impacts the many other missions in progress on the entire ship. *** She has NO business writing a book about Naval Aviation or leadership, period. *** As a young pilot (male or female), your first deployment can be very overwhelming. Just as Caroline Johnson describes, you try to keep up and survive, listen to your mentors (male or female), and act like a sponge – soaking up every bit of the experience. Not to mention adapting to new living conditions aboard a U.S. naval warship. I must emphasize that Caroline Johnson wrote this book after ONE deployment! Jet Girl is a reaction to ONE overwhelming experience by one very young and immature woman. I know this, because I was one too! Imagine if we all wrote books after experiencing one hard thing, once? She never stayed around to deploy a second – fourth time. Readers of this book must understand her perspective is of a woman who graduated from USNA in 2009 (22 years old), winged in 2011 (24 years old), deployed once in 2014/15 (25/26 years old), and published this book by 2019? In 10 years and one deployment she knows enough about Naval Aviation to feel comfortable writing a book and calling herself a leadership expert? I find this comical and mind blowing. *** No one succeeds by themselves. *** Naval Aviation teaches resiliency, humility, adaptability, and flexibility. Young adults learn to quickly diagnose issues with their aircraft, manage nerves and push through hard and challenging circumstances. When I say ‘Naval Aviation’ teaches that, I am actually giving credit to the senior aviators that mentor and teach young aviators (flight hour after flight hour), how to one day grow up and become a fully qualified pilot or WSO – passing down best practices as they slowly transfer crew responsibility to the young aviator. Naval Aviation is a multi-generational mentor process with the end goal to replace yourself with another younger aviator that can do everything you can or better. Mentors can be male or female. Obviously in a male dominated profession, mentors are often male. I understand why Caroline Johnson specifically clings to female mentors. I always loved flying with a woman who walked before me, that could talk about the specific challenge’s women face in the cockpit. In general, though, challenges we face as aviators are unisex. Gender doesn’t matter when you have a controllability or power problem with your aircraft. I take great offense to her representation of men in this book. Caroline Johnson is self-centered and lacks humility, clearly ungrateful for the training many men and women poured into her during her one tour. *** She prioritized the wrong things and I am glad a female like her is no longer in Naval Aviation. *** Women of Naval Aviation are a tight knit group of people. There is an annual female aviation conference where naval aviators (including our male aviator brethren) come together to discuss female concerns/issues and find workable ways forward, as a team. What makes me most upset about Jet Girl, is Caroline Johnson wasted an opportunity to actually discuss female issues and find a way forward. Boys, alcohol, makeup? Seriously… these are the issues we discuss? Grow up Caroline! What about family planning, or pregnancy and flying? In summary, please stop supporting this falsehood and do not buy this book. This book is offensive and does not mirror the thoughts and feelings of female aviators still serving. Fly Navy.

I saw the Today Show segment featuring Caroline, and being the wife of a navy pilot, my knee jerk reaction was “Good for her!” I’ve always admired and respected the “Jet Girls” I’ve encountered, and looked forward to getting an inside scoop on their world. While she brings powerful insight on the reality of Navy culture, all the while speaking to my Nicholas Sparks-loving side with her romantic sagas, I struggled to rid my mouth of the bad taste brought on by the overwhelming tone of arrogance, and as touched on by other reviewers, the constant and misleading portrayal of herself as a pilot. In addition, her ongoing rants about pilot wives were not only offensive, but a prime example and display of the cruelty she ironically complained about receiving herself. Lastly, in my humble opinion to the author, ridiculing a wife for being concerned that you slept with her husband when you did, in fact, sleep with a knowingly married pilot - seems quite hypocritical and narcissistic to me. But what do I know.... given that I spend my days just working on my abs and spray tan.

I would like to start my review by thanking the author for her service. While a vast majority of Americans choose to sit, she chose to stand. Positives: easy read, enjoyed the back and forth of timelines (interesting concept), several parts were entertaining. Negatives: I have many issues but broke them down to four main ones: 1. I had a major issue with how the author portrayed naval aviation. More specifically, I have issue with how men were portrayed. While the author was in the community for around six years (nearly half of that time spent training), she talked as if she knew every naval aviator, knew what motivates them, and understood every squadron culture. If you read the book, you will notice every female she talks about is a bad a** pilot that absolutely crushes life while every male she talks about is overweight, lazy, and sexist. The few exceptions to this rule are those men that compliment the author on her abilities or those she sleeps with. These men were the cream of the crop because they recognized the author's awesomeness. Having spent 18 years of my current 20 in naval aviation and having flown over 2,700 hours in the F/A-18, I am willing to bet she was not ostracized from her fellow junior officer (JO) cadre because she is woman. The most likely reason she was a loner was because of her holier-than-thou attitude and aggressive demeanor. Just take a look at a close friend and fellow squadron mate who appeared to gel nicely with the male dominated ready room even though the friend was a woman. 2. Reading more about the author and the services she provides as a motivational speaker, I have issue with her claiming leadership expertise. I have served as a commanding officer (CO) of a F/A-18 squadron and while I believe myself to be a good leader, I would never have the audacity to claim that I am expert. Some of the stories told in the book reveal the author to be the opposite of a good leader. The first chapter tells a time she launched off the carier as an alert bird (or aircraft). While this can be a hectic time for sure, she spoke of running through the passageways yelling at sailors to clear a path because in her words, there was "real live sh*t going on". This screams of a person who believes they are more important than others. A good leader would not put others down to make themselves feel more important. I can understand if it was a heat in the moment type of behavior but the author celebrates that type of demeaning behavior in her book. She also mentioned that her future could have included TOPGUN but she chose to teach at the Naval Academy instead. Being a TOPGUN graduate myself, her blustering here is off putting. Furthermore, as a CO, I would never had let one of my top performers go off track and instruct at the academy. If I believed a JO had the potential to be a CO one day, I would insist they go to a production tour to keep them on track for promotion / selection. The fact the author's CO and executive officer (XO) did not bat an eye to her unusal request tells me what they really thought of the author's potential to lead an operational squadron. 3. Another major issue is how she treated the Navy spouse in her book. While I believe her account of what occurred during a patching at the officer's club (that type of behavior does happen), the author would have you believe all naval aviator wives are petty and shallow. According to the author, all an aviator wife cares about is how they look on their husband's arm. This rubbed me wrong as I know the Navy spouse to be truly amazing. They have to endure hardships we in the service could never fully understand. They are the ones left behind to deal with the house, the car, the kids, the dog, and whatever else we in the Navy get to abandon for six plus months at a time to party in foreign ports and fly awesome machines. God bless the Navy spouse and all they do for our country. The author's portrayal of them is shameful. 4. This final issue may seem small and insignificent but it bears to speak to. The author is not a pilot. While I respect weapon systems officers (WSOs) and what they bring to the fight, it bothered me how the author made it out that single seat pilots are inferior. Having experience in both single seat and two seat platforms, that is bold face lie. While I have other issues, I'd rather not turn my review into a novel itself. Of note, I have had the pleasure of working with and for some outstanding females in this community. I wish they had been the ones to write a book to portray naval aviation, warts and all. Instead, Jet Girl has to suffice. To conclude, I believe the author's stories were sensationalized to sell. This book feels more like a high school drama-filled, pop culture, fantasy telling of real world events than a true account of what it takes to be a part of the naval aviation community. Hopefully the author goes onto learn a little humility and does well for herself in the future.

Learn first hand how a woman, who dreamed of flying jets, actually made it. Hear her, see her. She will teach you what it's like to be one of the few females flying. What she faced both in the air and on land. Caroline is an incredible woman. She sets goals for herself and strives. Pick up a copy and learn what it's like to fly over enemy land and drop bombs. Feel the repercussions. This life is a challenge but it is for our country. Have you read a book that brings this together? Here it is. Caroline, thank you for writing this book. I wish you the best in all you do.

“My Life in War, Peace, and the Cockpit of the Navy’s Most Lethal Aircraft, the F/A-18 Super Hornet” reads the subtitle of this powerful memoir by a young American hero. She truly believed the sky was not the limit, but the start of her dream job, serving her country. For all her extraordinary skills and accomplishments, she presents herself as a down-to-earth, fun young woman. Her openness and eager enthusiasm makes for an engaging and relatable story. Except very few people could relate to what she’s accomplished- succeeding at every goal she set for herself in a demanding environment. Her story begins in June, 2005, when she enters the United States Naval Academy. Every few chapters, the story skips a few years, switching to the times encompassing her training, and her years on active duty. This time sequence was easy to follow, but a chronological progression of her story would have been just as effective. When Caroline Johnson graduated from the Navy Academy, she entered the rigorous flight school training and then was selected to join the prestigious Blacklion squadron. She deployed on the USS George H.W. Bush to Afghanistan and Iraq for 9 months. This is a massive warship, over 1,000 feet long, with 90 airplanes and helicopters. She was the Weapon Systems Officer and flew in the Super Hornet. Her descriptions of this plane that can go 500 mph, as she took off and landed on the ship-Tailhook!-and as she flew over the Taliban and ISIS are incredibly exciting. Author Johnson shares the everyday details of her life, contrasted with detailed military stories, which gives us a broad picture of what it was like for her during school, training and deployments. Many of her school and training experiences were arduous and difficult and took great focus and determination. She was very driven to succeed, she always aimed to be #1, yet she she also enjoyed hanging with her girl friends. She was fully committed to her mission and believed that the evil of ISIS had to be stopped. However, when she returned home, she experienced a difficult time. She gives us much to think about as to how the military can better support women and I commend her for doing her part to make improvements. I always try to thank military members when I see them, and I thank Caroline Johnson for her dedicated and committed performance and for sharing her military life in a book that is even more exciting than Top Gun. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a digital review copy. This is my honest review. 1 like

I enjoyed hearing Jet Girl read her story. She told a very engaging story that makes you feel as though you are there and you can visualize the story as she reads. I enjoyed the honesty. Nice to have a well educated woman get jets and fight. I remember in the 1980s being on the Homestead Air Force Base and women pilots were rare; as they still are today. Many can have combat today, which they strove to do. I was going to be a Naval Officer but had to forget that because I got divorced and raise my children and not be deployed for a year or more. I wanted to experience Jet Girls experiences and life for a short while. This book does not let you down. I flew with the Jet girl and enjoyed the thrill. I could relate to the flight over the mother ship and bounce back by the G force to not get the whip lash. I could envision it all. Discrimination is a huge part of life and I am sure Jet girl experience far greater and more evil than she depicted. I know how the military men are. I love Top Gun and the new one comes out next year. With Pilot Peter from the Bachelor nation and now Jet Girl; I can fly with Tom Cruise once again and feel the life of Peter and Jet Girl. I am sure it is life changing to have a jet in your power and survive. To be able to bomb the nations enemies during war is a thrill. To know Jet Girl got to throw some down on ISIS for me; makes me happy. Take that! Jet Girl is a woman and loves to dress as one with my fav color of Pink nail polish with the regulations to allow it. I always hated the women clothing for Officers and that black purse; to know the Navy did allow cool colors and ways to bust out the boring clothing; makes me happier. That would have been something that I would have tried to change as an officer. Adventures with Jet Girl, Pilot Peter, and Top Gun Tom Cruise makes me fly highly for many more years. I had to fly solo from the first Top Gun. Maybe Tom Cruise will make a third "Top Gun" movie, and get Peter and jet girl to fly in it; that would be sooo cool! ha ha I flew with Tom from the 80s, and now I can fly with the ones who do it FOR REAL!

This coming-of-age book aims to inspire and attract the next generation of men and women to the military. I feel it should enlighten the general population’s ideals on the treatment of anyone that chooses to take an unconventional path in the military or life in general. Remember this is one person’s recollection. It doesn’t make it right or wrong, it just tells it from her point of view. From this memoir; I can see that many things in the military haven’t changed since I was on active duty. It is never easy trying to find your way and establishing yourself. There will always be some supporters, many detractors and those that just want you to fail no matter what the costs. I was fortunate to have a small strong support group. Change is never easy. Caroline Johnson should have been treated more fairly in the Blacklion squadron. Having said that, she should not have been surprised by the ill treatment from the squadron team. I find it hard to believe that academy life was all roses for her even though women have been at the academies since 1976. Also, Tail Hook was another indicator that people are not treated equally and at times not even as people within the military. Her executive and commanding officers’ conduct was abysmal. I truly believe more change is needed in the military regarding discrimination of any kind. Ask Senator McSally and many other veterans serving our nation. I found this story informative. I learned about the Navy and procedures to become a pilot on the F/A-18 Super Hornet. I relished in the details about the jets and the process. This story along with many others about women making their own way through the military is enlightening. Each story is different yet similar on many levels. I recommend this book. If for nothing else, get a look into what it’s like to be someone other than a white male in the Navy. I was allowed to read the advanced e-copy by Netgalley. I am not required to leave a positive review.

As former navy attack pilot who flew two combat tours in Vietnam, Jet Girl, was like reading the tabloid headlines on the check outline. No wonder most male pilots are getting out of the navy and air force if this what the culture has become. Warrior my ass. She is an embarrassment to Naval Air. Her comment on the academy “Sea Trails” event comparing it SEAL BUDS training??? If this is what the Naval Academy is turning out, it’s in need of some serious shock treatment.

She's NOT a pilot. Stop saying you are. As a former naval aviator myself (USMC), I have complete respect for what NFOs/WSOS bring to the mission. But...they are NOT pilots. The good back - seaters are proud enough of what they do that they don't need to mislead people about what their MOS, accomplishments are. Her attempts to portray herself as something she's not speaks volumes...

Thank you to the publisher, the author and to Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book. My gratitude to the author for her selfless service to our country and for her dedication to America. This is the story of her own personal inspiring journey and a inside look at the life of a woman pilot . I enjoyed reading the author's account of her training, dedication and skills . She is to be commended as a outstanding example for all women in the military. She begins with her active duty aboard the USS George H.W. Bush and her indoctrination into various training facilities with the military. She is phenomenal in how she preserved through ongoing sexually harassment and abuse into a career as a pilot with first hand dedication to her country. This is brave of her to place the ongoing abuse of women in the military in the spotlight. Bravo to the author . Her strength and courage will pave the way hopefully to improve conditions for all women in our military. Caroline Johnson was the first US women to fly jets & drop bombs on ISIS. She was driven to achieve this measure of success. She overcame extensive abuse to achieve her goals. This is to be respected as she rose to the top of her profession despite those who attempted to undermine her because she is a woman. I was very impressed with how she rises above abuse to continue her training and reach her goals. She is a strong driven woman and a good example for all young women in the military. She goes onto teach other pilots and that is a secondary measure of her success in how she is respected as a instructor. A very exciting read and a great patriot. Thank you for your dedication to. our great country.

Wow, Jet Girl was easily one of the most addictive memoirs I have ever had the experience of reading. I have greatly enjoyed reading military books, including Lone Survivor, American Sniper, and even American Wife by Taya Kyle. Interestingly, most of the military books I’ve read, including this one, have centered around the Navy. I find it fascinating to learn about life in the military and in war from first-person accounts, without the filter of the news making stories safer for our sensitive civilian ears. Jet Girl did that and eons more. I found this to be an extremely important and educational read! There were so many fascinating elements to this memoir — simply being able to learn a bit what military pilots and weapons system officers do was incredibly enlightening. The amount of education required and the level of intelligence these people possess amazed me! This career path is not for the faint of heart and it makes me thankful a few special folks have the ability to withstand the mental and physical taxing it takes to sit in the cockpits of these jets. One of the things I always find interesting about military books is just how much red tape our military has to cut through just to do their jobs. They can be over 8,000 miles away from Washington, but people behind their safe desks still are somehow in the backseat. Thinking about how much cruelty our military witnessed at the hands of ISIS, including mass-drownings, beheadings, and killings of children, but were powerless to stop it because someone in Washington didn’t authorize it astounds me. My only real complaint about this book was the constant switching between the past and present. I think it would have benefitted the storytelling to have been in chronological order. There were also a few times of technical talk or military-speak that wasn’t exactly explained, which was confusing. One reviewer mentioned this book wouldn’t do much for the treatment of women in the military, but I vehemently disagree. I think Caroline Johnson’s (and the rest of the Jet Girls) whole career was a pioneering endeavor that produced changes in the thoughts and actions of many men in the military. A few scenes reflected such injustice, that I was fuming right along with Caroline. I imagine toeing the line between being respectful, as the military demands, and fighting for change was extremely difficult in many cases throughout her career. The final scene in the epilogue showed that some are determined to make the military a place that is truly equal for women, however. Unfortunately, there were a few instances, still, that came across as slightly over-the-top in negativity or even whiny about her treatment. I haven’t lived in her shoes, though, so I can imagine even the smallest amounts of unfairness would eventually build into something much more difficult to tackle daily. Overall, I found Jet Girl to be completely thought-provoking, interesting, and informational. I read the majority of this book in one sitting, which is quite uncommon for me when diving into Nonfiction. I think civilians should consider reading this book or others like it to understand and develop a real appreciation for what our service members do for our country and our freedom.

I found this to be fully engrossing and entertaining. It delivered Caroline Johnson’s story in wonderful style that was fun to read. Her story made me forget about everything else and I loved that it was so informative about the world of the Navy and the steps it took to become a pilot on the F/A-18 Super Hornet. I enjoyed reading all the details about the jets, procedures for flying, and everything to do with it, and the way this book was written it never got boring. I just kept wanting to read it long past my bedtime. Anyone with an interest in the Navy and/ or flying memoirs should check this out, it’s so good. One of my favorites this year.

This review is going to be split in two aspects. The first is on Caroline Johnson, the person. The second is on the story itself. Caroline Johnson is an absolutely phenomenal woman. What she has achieved and accomplished in her life is nothing short of amazing. She has broken down walls, barriers and glass ceilings that women didn't think they would ever see the other side of. She is a hero to be admired. A woman to be respected. Someone that little girls everywhere should be proud to look up to as an example of what they can become, that literally the sky is the limit of who they can be. The evils she bravely stares down to protect this country should be honored. From that aspect, Caroline Johnson gets 10 plus stars!!! Where this book falls short for me is the telling of her story. I didn't like the structure of the book, it was very jumbled going back and forth between timelines and choppy in the manner it was written. I wanted more feeling, more emotion and not just in the form of 'what color her nails were painted'. Caroline Johnson has an incredible story but that didn't translate right onto the pages. Too much of the book was overly technical or detail driven. At times I felt like I was reading a flight manual or a textbook from the Naval Academy versus someone's life story. The other aspect that didn't sit well with me was I felt she was trying to overly impress how much of a "girlie girl" she is given her job. I can appreciate that she is a minority on the ship and most definitely in her role with the Navy. I don't feel that makes her any less woman or female than a woman in a more traditional female oriented job. Had the story been translated better and more cohesively, this would definitely be a book I would recommend. I would like to end by saying again that Caroline Johnson is an incredible woman and I am grateful for her service to this country. My thanks to Caroline Johnson, St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks for sharing your story; more of us need to hear it. Clearly you were a high performer and if ADM Miller thought your in flight performance and perspective were valuable, then your detractors have little grounds for their outrage. It would have been an honor to fly with you, and was fun to read about Bush’s subsequent deployment after being a part of its maiden voyage myself with Bullet in command. As to the review: if you’ve read enough naval aviation books, you’ll be tired of the typical API through TRACOM narrative that usually takes up the first couple chapters before getting into the interesting stuff, so I like what Caroline did by sprinkling that context in every other chapter mixed with operational coverage. I find there’s a lot of fun reading about the training phases having been though it myself- to see what’s changed and what hasn’t, but it’s nice not to have a full dose of that before getting to the stuff I was really interested in. I found her account very true to the business of naval carrier aviation and extremely well narrated. Nice to hear one of our own wielding acronyms and catch phrases for a change. Regarding her reception in the squadron, she clearly set herself up for a dose of friction beginning with her small rebellions on strict adherence with the uniform standards at USNA. This non conformity likely laid the foundation for additional pushback and estrangement later. Add pursuing a masters on your JO tour and, yep, you’re gonna send the message that you’re not focused on the right things. That said, more objective evaluation from true team builders should have identified Caroline’s talent and better incorporated her. All squadrons are made up of dissimilar parts. You have your tech savants that manage JMPS networks and associated things, your gifted pilots who lack in other areas, you social butterflies that make for good camaraderie and your dutiful custodians that always ensure things are done by the book like life depended on it - and others. These disparate personalities come together to make squadrons whole and effective- I’ve seen it in every squadron I’ve worked with. But the predatory toxic culture Caroline writes about is also common and is extremely detrimental to proper functioning of an organization. These cultures tend to come in waves depending on the makeup of its key personalities. Ive seen first hand the kind of cloud that can strangle people in squadrons and then miraculously lift when better JO leaders fill the shoes of departed cancers. Same goes for senior leadership and men or women. I’ve seen the challenge female aviators face as the culture gradually shifts toward their inclusion. I’ve flown with tremendously gifted and professional female aviators that I admired and have also seen some display their worst flaws and deficiencies at inappropriate times in the workplace. But that goes for all of us and we need to make a better effort to work together. Once we get back to things being about the mission and effectiveness across the board, the cream will rise to the occasion like it always has.

A truly insightful and emotional read about success, failure, camaraderie, and the inevitable target that appears on the backs of successful and confident women. This is a book for anyone who feels/or has felt overwhelmed by life. Caroline is an example of resilience and the journey she takes the reader on as she emotionally grows into the person she has become is inspirational. Furthermore, her commentary on the military is bold and much needed in today's climate.

I was “randomly” looking for another audiobook and ran across JET GIRL and was intrigued with the title and the cover. Then I began listening to Caroline Johnson tell her story about going to the naval academy at Annapolis and becoming a jet pilot. The storytelling is incredible with remarkable detail. From the first chapter, I was hooked. JET GIRL is well-written and filled with excellent storytelling and vivid detail. Whether she was at the academy or flying jets off the aircraft carrier George H. W. Bush the oceans, this audiobook held my attention and I recommend it. W. Terry Whalin is an editor and the author of more than 60 books including his latest

A unique take on women in the military told from the view point of a Jet Girl (F/A-18 Super Hornet Weapons System Officer). Jet Girl is one insider’s view to the highs and lows of a female Navy aviator, still in many ways a good old boys fraternity. From the exhilaration of being the first woman to drop bombs on ISIS, to the ordinary problems of life, love, work, and difficult co-workers and their wives, this book tells all, if a bit difficult to follow at times. I can only imagine how difficult it was to tell the tales and relive the experiences good and bad while making sure to get it right. An interesting read.

I personally loved the book. I listened to the audio version. It was great listening to Caroline read the book. It felt like she was truly telling me her story. One of the bad parts was it ended to soon. I wanted to hear more. I wanted to know the "rest of the story". Throughout the book, I felt the ups and downs she was relaying in the story. I felt happy and sad for her. There were moments my heart hurt for her. I became very proud of her. I believe her honesty and openness in her book was refreshing and appreciated. I read some of the negative reviews. After reading the book myself (having it read to me, by Caroline) I can dismiss most of the negative reviews as just some negative people that aren't going to be happy with much. I saw over and over in the negative reviews "she's not a pilot". Apparently they didn't read the book. She said she got her private pilot's license. 😉👍 Her job in the cockpit was just as important as the pilot. Without a WSO the pilot would just be out for a fast joy ride. It's a team aircraft. Both members of the crew are equally important. Coming from a Medical Flight Team background, it takes more than the pilot to complete the mission. The pilot can't fly and save the patient's life all at the same time. Also very different training. Same thing in a fighter jet. It takes two. They succeed together and fail together. Great Book! God Bless our Military! God Bless the United States of America! 🇺🇸

I find this book almost comical. She was everything but humble. Full of herself. She wasn't even a pilot! Was not liked by anyone who knew her. And from everyone who knew her, she was not liked. Under performed she was mandated (not awarded as she said it) to teach at the academy. What a terrible read! Dont waste your time!

My first thought was that the cited crowning achievement of killing a couple of armored personnel carriers using guided missiles shot from $80 million aircraft, operating from a $10 billion aircraft carrier, necessarily supported by an armada of ships, was a huge waste. As the author points out, current training and operation of these forces is is not only expensive but also exceedingly stressful for the people and equipment involved. Is this really the best way to prepare for dealing with the advisories that may threaten our control of the seas? Many of the injustices described by the author seem to originate in the Mickey Mouse culture of the naval academy. With academy graduates dominating all aspects of the navy, it seems clear that fixing the academy is the unstated task facing the navy. Johnson’s efforts are commendable, but too piecemeal to correct a warped culture.

Nothing disgus me more than a WSO claiming to be a Pilot. Except when the Pilot is outed for being a GIRL in back. A one pum chump

The book provides an in-depth look at what it takes to become a naval aviator--a challenging career path for anyone, but particularly for a woman who wants to fly jets. It spends a bit too much time on the author's romantic relationships (or lack thereof), but plow through those portions, because overall the book is worth reading. I do wish the author hadn't kept referring to female pilots as "girls," because that just perpetuates the stereotypes she was trying so hard to overcome.

This book is well worth the read. It is a fascinating and somewhat depressing look inside the elite world of Navy jet aviation. I loved her descriptions of some of the real life details of life aboard an aircraft carrier and flying missions over Afghanistan at 550 miles per hour. Whoever thought of the beating a body takes sitting in a cramped cockpit for 8-9 hours with a 10 pound helmet on your head. Her description of the flights and landing on the flight deck were really interesting as well as the grit and determination it took for her to be among the top in her class. I enjoyed the personal touches as well. She does not shy away from describing the harassment and lack of leadership she endured and observed as to herself as well as other female aviators. Easy to read - highly recommend!

She did a great job with the book. Spent 10 years active Duty in the navy three with a VF squadron on the America She tell to story real and the way a air wing works Love the part about Shooting beers pier side on NOB Norfolk

An excellent biography with insight into the training, politics, and prejudice in today’s naval air corps, including the naval academy, shore-based training, and life aboard the aircraft carrier.

The book was enjoyable, the author explaining some of what she went through as a woman and being one of the few in the part of the armed forces she was in. In this book, she was a vulnerable as she was allowed to be in a man's world. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All Thoughts and opinions are my own.

My daughter (14) and I read this book together. We can away educated on the Navy, on world events and on how important it is to stand firm in ones beliefs. It prompted many conversations that we wouldn't have otherwise had. I recommend the book to men and women, including those younger women and men in their high-school years.

This book is trash. She’s not an actual pilot, she was not well-regarded by her peers, and she did the absolute bare minimum during her short-lived career. This book elicits a collective cringe from female Naval Aviators, myself included. The author is NOT the spokesperson we deserve.

This book is what happens when a bottomless ego is surrounded by people who cannot say no.

I thought this was a well written story! I enjoyed it and thought the entire story interesting. It was very impressive what she had to do and what she put up with. I did feel like it was a bit wordy at times but it could just be all the technical aspects. Thanks to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for the early copy!

I have read everything i can get my hands on about aviation and am a glider rated pilot. I liked this book. i thought it was well written and it kept my interest all the way through. It wasn't just about being a girl in naval aviation. i learned some new things about aviation and flying jets.

A must read - a terrific look into the fighter pilor community and culture, and a story that shows we are all human. Great book, Caroline. As to the people complaining in the reviews, saying she wasn’t a pilot, she flew in the jet. She did more than most of her detractors can say. As to some calling her whiny, let’s see those people endure what she went through. Having met Caroline, she is a bada$$, and kind at the same time. This book is terrific.

Interesting and fun read of how military life is for a women in a mans world She overcame a lot in the US Navy Smart women

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This is an incredible, honest story about an awesome FEMALE Naval Aviator. I enjoyed hearing her stories from The Naval Academy, flight school and her deployment overseas. I think she paints a great picture of what life is like for women in the military. I’ll always recommend this book!!

What a courageous, confidant woman. Gave an inside look at the Navy and the trials of being a woman in the Navy. Sounds like many of the men are immature jerks, getting routinely drunk and sexually harassing women.

Loved the book. I enjoyed how the author switched between the timelines and pulled it all together. It was a page turner and kept the reader engaged. Very enlightening and eye opening to the challenges of women in the naval aviation community. Very well written and honest. Thank you for the experience and well done!

I was entertained by Caroline's writing and learned so much about the Navy, fighter jets and life on an aircraft carrier. So inspired by her talents, achievements and passion for flying.

Bravo, Jet Girl! Well written. Kept me on the edge of my seat. Appreciated the transparency. Saw a lot of parallels with the private sector, too. You are an inspiration to both women AND men. Can't wait to see what you do next!

White male stereotypes. What a pathetic story. In the corporate private sector today with all the counseling and training those jackasses would be shown the door. From the top down that military culture really is pathetic.

I thoroughly enjoyed Caroline Johnson’s book Jet Girl! She is such an inspiration to women and tells an incredible story, that should be heard. Patriotism at its best! A must read!

Thanks!!

I must say, this book ought to be aviation book of the year! You actually feel like you're training and preparing for the moment to employ weapons against ISIS, only to be treated as less than the action hero you are by your peers. This is the kind of writing technothriller authors ought to go with. Thank you Caroline for your protection of this nation and human rights! 💓👍👍