Title: Mile High by Liz Tomforde: A Review That Hits Peak Romance
Intro: Why Everyone’s Talking About Mile High
If you’ve been anywhere near the romance book community lately, you’ve heard the buzz around Liz Tomforde’s Mile High. The first book in the Windy City series, this hockey romance has won over readers with its emotional depth, realistic character growth, and swoon-worthy slow burn. I went in expecting a fun, steamy sports romance — and I left with a book hangover that lasted weeks.
The Setup: Meet the Players
Evan Zanders is the cocky, talented star winger for the Chicago hockey team. On the ice, he’s known as “Zanders,” a showboat with a reputation for being difficult. Off the ice? He’s more guarded than anyone expects. Stevie is a flight attendant working for the team’s charter airline — she’s also the daughter of a hockey legend, carrying her own baggage and trying to avoid the spotlight. When they’re assigned to work together for the season, the initial sparks are less “romance” and more “clash of wills.”
What Works So Well
Enemies to Lovers Done Right
Tomforde takes her time here. Zanders and Stevie don’t fall into bed immediately. They circle each other, misunderstand each other, and slowly build trust. The tension is chef’s kiss.
Mental Health Rep That Feels Real
Stevie struggles with body image and anxiety — not as a plot device, but as a core part of her daily life. Zanders has his own insecurities under the bravado. Their vulnerabilities make them feel like real people, not just romance archetypes.
The “Mile High” Vibe
The plane setting is fresh for sports romance. Late-night flights, shared space, forced proximity — it all adds a cozy yet charged atmosphere that’s unique and memorable.
Found Family & Teammate Dynamics
The secondary characters (especially Ryan, the team captain) are layered and intriguing, setting up future books beautifully without stealing the spotlight.
Spice Level & Trigger Warnings
Yes, it’s steamy — but the intimacy is earned. There’s open-door heat, but also plenty of emotional payoff. Please check content warnings for fatphobia (addressed head-on), anxiety representation, parental emotional neglect, and discussions of disordered eating.
Who Will Love This Book
Final Verdict
Mile High isn’t just a hockey romance — it’s a story about being seen. About shedding the labels the world gives you and choosing your own identity. Liz Tomforde writes with heart, humor, and heat in equal measure. I laughed, cried, and highlighted more passages than I care to admit.
If you haven’t read it yet, grab a copy from your library, a local bookstore, or your preferred ebook retailer. Support the author so she can keep giving us stories like this.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/5
Steam level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Best paired with: A window seat, noise-canceling headphones, and a chai latte.
Warning: This review may contain spoilers
"Mile High" by Liz Tomforde is a romantic comedy novel that follows the story of Cat, a successful event planner in her late 20s who has given up on love after a string of failed relationships. She meets Garrett, a charming and handsome stranger on a plane, and they share a passionate and intense connection. As they navigate their whirlwind romance, Cat must confront her past and her fears to take a chance on love again.
Review:
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Pros:
Cons:
Overall, "Mile High" by Liz Tomforde is a delightful and engaging romance novel that is perfect for fans of romantic comedies. If you're looking for a lighthearted and enjoyable read with a great romance, this book is a great choice!
Have you read "Mile High" by Liz Tomforde? What did you think of the book?
verified VK community post focused on "Mile High" by Liz Tomforde
, the content should lean into the "Windy City" aesthetic—combining the high-stakes world of professional hockey with the glamorous, forced proximity of a private jet. 🏒 New Release / Recommendation Post mile high by liz tomforde vk verified
"Fasten your seatbelts, we’re entering our sports-romance era! ✈️🏒 April’s must-read is
by Liz Tomforde. If you love the 'he falls first and falls HARD' trope, this one is for you. Evan Zanders is the NHL’s favorite bad boy to hate, but he’s met his match in Stevie, a confident flight attendant who is completely immune to his charm. Why you need to read this: Enemies-to-Lovers: High-tension banter at 30,000 feet. Realistic Growth:
Deep themes of self-love, healing, and overcoming body insecurities. The 'Rosie' Factor:
Zanders adopts a senior dog just to show Stevie he's more than his persona.
'And you’re not an option, Stevie, because besides you, there’s no other choice.' — Evan Zanders 💙" 📸 Aesthetic & Visual Elements
To match the "Windy City" vibe on VK, use a mix of these visuals:
Searching for "Mile High" by Liz Tomforde on VK (Vkontakte) often leads to community-driven book sharing pages where "verified" users or established group administrators post various digital formats. VK Sources and Availability
Based on current community activity, you can find digital versions of Mile High and other books in the Windy City series through these specific VK sources:
Camille T's Page: This user has shared the Mile High EPUB along with other titles in the series like The Right Move and Caught Up.
English books EPUB 2026: This group frequently shares contemporary romance and hockey-themed titles. You may find links to Download Files for various Liz Tomforde books here.
French Language Learning Community: Interestingly, a popular French VK topic contains shared EPUB files for the entire Windy City series, including Mile High (Windy City T1), often in both English and French translations. Book Overview: Mile High Series: Book 1 of the Windy City Series. Genre: Contemporary Sports Romance (Ice Hockey). Trope: Enemies-to-lovers with a "forced proximity" vibe.
Protagonists: Evan Zanders (hockey player) and Stevie (flight attendant).
Community Reception: It is a highly-rated "TikTok sensation" with over 590,000 ratings on Goodreads. Camille T | ВКонтакте - VK Title: Mile High by Liz Tomforde: A Review
by Liz Tomforde is a popular sports romance following Evan Zanders, an NHL player who finds his match in flight attendant Stevie Shay. The novel is noted for its deep dive into emotional vulnerability, mental health, and plus-size representation, elevating it beyond a typical hockey romance. For a detailed review, visit Write Watch Work Book Review: Mile High by Liz Tomforde - Windy City #1
Subject: Reading Recommendation and Verification Report: Mile High by Liz Tomforde
Date: October 26, 2023 To: Interested Readers / Book Club Members From: [Your Name/Assistant] Topic: Analysis of Mile High (Windy City Series, Book 1) and "VK Verified" Status
The Setup: The story follows Stevie, a flight nurse living in Chicago who is struggling to make ends meet. She comes from a humble background and is juggling multiple jobs to support herself and her family. She is independent, hardworking, and frankly exhausted.
On the other side is Bishop "Evie" Evans, a star center for the Chicago NBA team. He is the son of a billionaire, meaning he is set for life financially, but he lives in the shadow of his father and carries the burden of family expectations.
The "Meet-Cute": They meet on a plane—hence the title Mile High. Stevie is working a flight, and Bishop is a passenger. Unlike the typical "man spots woman and falls in love" scenario, their meeting is chaotic. Stevie accidentally spills a drink on him, and their banter is immediately contentious. Bishop finds her frustratingly rude; Stevie finds him to be just another entitled rich guy.
The Core Conflict: Bishop is injured during the season and requires medical assistance. Through a twist of fate (and his sister’s interference), Stevie is hired to be his private at-home nurse while he recovers.
This is where the "verified" viral element comes in: the forced proximity. They have to live together. Stevie needs the money desperately, and Bishop needs the care but hates having a stranger in his space. The tension is high because Stevie refuses to take Bishop’s attitude, and Bishop is surprised to find that someone isn't impressed by his money or status.
While the plot sounds like a standard romance setup, Liz Tomforde executes it with specific nuances that made it explode on platforms like TikTok and VK:
1. The "Gold Digger" Reversal Usually, in romance novels involving a rich man and a poor woman, the conflict is that the man thinks the woman is a gold digger. In Mile High, this is flipped. Stevie assumes Bishop is a "Trust Fund Baby" who has never worked a day in his life. She judges him for his wealth, assuming he is lazy and privileged. Watching Bishop prove he is hardworking and passionate about his sport—and watching Stevie realize her prejudice—adds a unique layer to their dynamic.
2. The "Touch Her and Die" Energy Bishop falls first and falls hard. Once he realizes he has feelings for Stevie, he is all in. Readers love a hero who is grumpy to the world but soft for the heroine. The contrast between his public persona (tough athlete) and his private devotion to Stevie (massaging her feet after work, defending her honor) drives the popularity of the book.
3. The Heat Level The book is undeniably spicy. Liz Tomforde writes very detailed, high-tension intimate scenes. The chemistry between the characters shifts from annoyance to intense attraction, which is a hallmark of the genre that fans look for.
4. Found Family Stevie is an orphan with a younger sister she cares for, making her a pseudo-parent. Bishop has a complicated relationship with his own family. The story isn't just about them falling in love; it's about Bishop integrating into Stevie's chaotic life and becoming a father figure to her sister. It adds an emotional depth that makes the reader root for them beyond just the physical attraction. Enemies to Lovers Done Right Tomforde takes her time here