Sky Daddy by Kate Folk — Review
Sky Daddy by Kate Folk - Review Snapshot:
What mood is this right for: You’re in your weird girl lit-fic era.
Length: 368 Pages
Genre: LIterary Fiction
Source: Self Purchased - Local Bookstore
Where to Buy: Bookshop.org | Libro.fm | Amazon.com | Kobo
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Vibes Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
CAWPILE Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
1 Sentence Summary: Woman attempts to appear normal and fails miserably.
Synopsis:
Linda loves planes. Not just in a “hey, I really want to fly places” kind of way. More in a “it’s my destiny to die in a fiery plane crash so my soul can bond to one for eternity,” kind of way. When she’s not taking flights from SFO, she’s doing her best to maintain a ‘normal’ life. As a part of her ploy to appear normal, she starts attending “vision board” nights with her co-worker/best friend, Karina. She decides to do her best to manifest her deepest desire, without revealing exactly what that is.
A modern-day Captain Ahab, her fury builds throughout the story as she gets closer and closer to her destiny and her very own white whale (Melville’s Moby Dick heavily inspired Kate Folk). Will she be able to leave all the people she has come to love if they accept her, or will she give those things up for her destiny?
“But no man could do for me what a plane could. What man could propel himself to a speed of 150 knots before lifting us to an altitude of 37,000 feet? What man could carry me across continents and seas, all while keeping me warm and oxygenated inside his aluminum torso? No man I’d ever chanced to meet!”
My Thoughts:
Despite a concept that sounds like a bad '90s comedy movie, this book ended up being so tender and heart-warming. I was rooting for Linda while also side-eyeing her choices the entire time, which is my favorite type of reading experience. Kate Folk manages to balance absurdity and sincerity so well
It’s rare to find a story that lets a protagonist be unlikable yet still deeply relatable, but Linda’s longing for acceptance made me feel unexpectedly protective of her. I loved the interplay between her stubborn devotion to her “destiny” and the softer moments where she opened up to those around her. And while I would personally have been the friend dragging her to therapy, I couldn’t help but admire the way her relationships deepened as she revealed more of herself.
By the end, I was surprised at how much this book made me feel—not just amused by its strangeness, but genuinely moved. It’s a story about obsession, yes, but also about intimacy, belonging, and the strange ways we try to make sense of ourselves.
The CAWPILE Review of Sky Daddy
Characters - 10
I love to hate a well-developed character. Being able to write an unlikable protagonist well is such an impressive skill. Kate Folk described her in an article in The Lit as a combination of both Captain Ahab and Ishamel. She’s devout in what she perceives ot be her destiny but she has a softness that adds a different depth to her.
I was surprised by how relatable I found Linda. Not that we're all harboring some longing to be married to a plane, but that at our core, we do desire just to be known and accepted by those around us. We want to be able to share the weirdest parts of ourselves and to have people hold our hands and say, "ya know what, weirdo, I still love you". As she peels back the layers around her desire to find her soulmate plane, the most important people in her life draw closer to her in the end.
“I accepted that this was the consequence of getting close to someone and calling her my best friend: she would want to do things with me.”
Atmosphere/Setting - 8
There wasn’t anything remarkable about it being San Fran, but it worked within the story.
This is an entirely arbitrary aside: I do think it would have been hysterical if, during her grunge phase towards the end of the book, she ended up at the Denver airport because I couldn’t stop thinking about the Mole People in Denver. IYKYK.
Writing Style - 8
The style of this book worked well. The tone was unique; it’s such an odd concept to be able to write without it sounding outlandish. I was constantly impressed that I found myself reading Linda’s experience and not laughing out loud. Being able ot create actual moments of humor within this sort of book is a signal of excellent writing.
Plot - 8
This is a very character-driven story, but it also has a decent plot with a good flow. There were a few spots where the pacing could have been slightly tightened up, but really, that doesn’t take away from the story when we’re so focused on Linda.
This is a complete personal preference, but I love an ambiguous ending. I always have. I especially like it when they fit into the story, which this one does. To end with Linda being wholly accepted by Karina is beautiful, regardless of whether they lived or died.
I think the plane crashed, but I've come across some incredible theories online that suggest it didn’t.
Intrigue - 9
The concept on its own is intriguing—a girl who wants to marry a plane, sold. The author did a great job keeping the intrigue throughout the story. I was so invested in what was going to happen that I stayed through the end.
Logic/Relationships - 6
The logic is where this felt flat to me. I know the theme of the story is mirroring the White Whale, and Linda’s primary antagonist is N92823. But for no one in her life to suggest therapy at any point is odd. I was screaming it at her through the whole book.
Enjoyment - 10
I devoured this book - finished it in two sittings. Could not stop reading it, and I loved the end.
Overall score = 61/7=8.71 = 4 Stars
Final Thoughts
If you like weird girl fiction, you will love this story. Akin to Shark Heart, Kate Folk was able to take a downright odd concept and make it into a heart-warming story.
Sky Daddy by Kate Folk FAQ:
Why do you have two different star ratings?
The vibes rating is always my immediate ‘this was probably X star,” the CAWPILE is after I have reflected, thought about it more in-depth. Sometimes the vibes are lower than the CAWPILE, sometimes it’s the other way around.
What’s the spice level of Sky Daddy Kate Folk?
2/5 - there are a handful of spice scenes but not too much.
What is the meaning of the book Sky Daddy?
Sky Daddy dives into human loneliness, obsession, and the yearning for connection.
Why does Linda want to die in a plane crash?
It’s not suicidal—it’s romanticized obsession. Linda sees a fiery crash as the ultimate communion with her soulmate: a plane. It’s a surreal fantasy that speaks to her profound isolation and craving for belonging
Trigger Warning for Sky Daddy by Kate Folk
Source: StoryGraph
Graphic
Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Death
Moderate
Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Grief
Minor
Pregnancy, Alcohol, Sexual harassment
