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shankl's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
daniallreads's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I will never look at snails the same way after reading this adorable story *inaudible squealing*
Thank you Wednesday Books, Ashley Schumacher and "It Starts With Books" club for this advance copy.
Nothing hits my romantic heart strings like fate bringing together two people who were meant to be...gosh this sweet young adult book made me so happy.
I think my favorite thing about this story is the quotes go so hard. The ending quote just really gave me goosebumps and it will live rent free in my head forever.
As much as I adored Nova and Sammy's love story, this is so much more than romance. It's about self discovery. It's about being confident. It's about being honest. It's about being self resilient. It covers all these important topics that I think are so important for a young adult to feel touched by from their books. Young Dani would would have really appreciated this book.
I think I would have felt not alone with a character like Sam introduced into my world. Having a father figure who is threatening and scary to be around is something that a lot of children and teens deal with. It was interesting to get a point of view from a character that is still trying to deal with the grief and post traumatic stress from their childhood. I liked that we got to see those moments of anxiety and triggers in his everyday life because not a lot of young adults may recognize these important things about their mental health so having a book like "In the Orbit of You" in the world feels super crucial.
This book made me cry and my heart swim with giddiness. It's the perfect mix of everything that you would want in a friends to lovers romance but hits on important topics to open even an adult readers eyes.
How can I not give a high rating to a story that made me tail spin into a core memory from my childhood of watching Brave Little Toaster.
đ High School Nostalgia
đ Soooo Emotional
đ Best Friends to Lovers
đ Underdog Story
âď¸ Fate
Thank you Wednesday Books, Ashley Schumacher and "It Starts With Books" club for this advance copy.
Nothing hits my romantic heart strings like fate bringing together two people who were meant to be...gosh this sweet young adult book made me so happy.
I think my favorite thing about this story is the quotes go so hard. The ending quote just really gave me goosebumps and it will live rent free in my head forever.
As much as I adored Nova and Sammy's love story, this is so much more than romance. It's about self discovery. It's about being confident. It's about being honest. It's about being self resilient. It covers all these important topics that I think are so important for a young adult to feel touched by from their books. Young Dani would would have really appreciated this book.
I think I would have felt not alone with a character like Sam introduced into my world. Having a father figure who is threatening and scary to be around is something that a lot of children and teens deal with. It was interesting to get a point of view from a character that is still trying to deal with the grief and post traumatic stress from their childhood. I liked that we got to see those moments of anxiety and triggers in his everyday life because not a lot of young adults may recognize these important things about their mental health so having a book like "In the Orbit of You" in the world feels super crucial.
This book made me cry and my heart swim with giddiness. It's the perfect mix of everything that you would want in a friends to lovers romance but hits on important topics to open even an adult readers eyes.
How can I not give a high rating to a story that made me tail spin into a core memory from my childhood of watching Brave Little Toaster.
đ High School Nostalgia
đ Soooo Emotional
đ Best Friends to Lovers
đ Underdog Story
âď¸ Fate
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse
craftshley's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
In the Orbit of You is about chance meetings and possibilities. Finding yourself when you have no idea who you are or what you want. And sometimes, making that choice between what you want and what you donât, and how that messes things up. Not everyone gets a happy ending but thereâs a possibility of happiness that is somehow better than that perfect happily ever after.
I enjoyed Novaâs lack of direction. Her momâs job keeps them moving around the country, Nova dragged along for the ride. She tries new personalities and preferences at each school she goes to and still canât figure out who she is or what she wants. Itâs kind of amazing, because she gets opportunities not many other teens get. A chance at a new start every few months. But trying on endless personalities has caused her to lose herself beneath it all. Sam wants to please his mom and dad, who arenât his biological parents but his aunt and uncle who took him in when they took him away from an abusive father. He doesnât know who he is either, embracing what he thinks his parents want him to be so he can make them happy. When Nova comes back into his life through a random happenstance, and matches with him because of a personality test, they both begin to question who they really are and what they want. And what that will cost.
The pacing made the book easy to read and I finished it in less than two hours. I was engaged the whole time, with how fast paced everything was and how easy it was to empathize with Sam and Nova. The characters were incredibly engaging and the side characters added depth to the story and interacted well with Sam and Nova. Nova, with no friends of her own, didnât really get a chance to shine when interacting with others in the same way Sam did.
I recommend this book for young adult readers. While the topics of abuse and the aftermath thereof could be triggering, they fit into the story well and are handled logically and with compassion. Because the story is told from dual points of view, we get insight into two different ways a person can struggle with finding themselves and making choices about their future. Iâve read all of Ashley Schumacherâs books and itâs neat to see how her writing has developed over time. I very much enjoyed Sam and Nova, and hope to read more of Schumacherâs character-driven books in the future. Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for sharing this ARC with me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse
thebeesknees79's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Schumacherâs books are a salve for my inner teenage soul. I wish I had all of her books 20+ years ago, and I have to believe that is why I love them so much. This one isnât any different.
In the Orbit of You is a dual narrative of Sam and Nova. Childhood friends that were separated and then thrown back together in high school. When I tell you the level of angst and longing in this book is off the charts, I mean itâs like that scene from New Moon where Bella is staring out the window as the months pass. And I am here for it! I was irritated about halfway through their story, but I knew it would payoff in the end. It definitely doesâŚjust not in the way we think. This is a truly beautiful and relatable story about finding out who you are, what you love, and making sure you know whatâs in the negative space before you see the final picture.
Schumacherâs books are a salve for my inner teenage soul. I wish I had all of her books 20+ years ago, and I have to believe that is why I love them so much. This one isnât any different.
In the Orbit of You is a dual narrative of Sam and Nova. Childhood friends that were separated and then thrown back together in high school. When I tell you the level of angst and longing in this book is off the charts, I mean itâs like that scene from New Moon where Bella is staring out the window as the months pass. And I am here for it! I was irritated about halfway through their story, but I knew it would payoff in the end. It definitely doesâŚjust not in the way we think. This is a truly beautiful and relatable story about finding out who you are, what you love, and making sure you know whatâs in the negative space before you see the final picture.
libraryjen's review
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Nova and Sam were once best friends who presided over their own little "Snailopolis" kingdom in the backyard. Nova was too young then to understand all the cuts and bruises Sam tried so hard to cover, or why he had to move. She was just sad to lose her best friend. Sam promised her he'd find her again when they were eighteen.
Now in high school, Sam has a football scholarship on the horizon and the perfect cheerleader girlfriend. Meanwhile, Nova has been transferring from school to school as she and her mom move from town to town following her mom's work. She's tried out so many personalities that she has no idea who she is or what she really likes. The latest job should last about 6 weeks so Nova's determined to use it to figure out who she really is and what Nova really wants. Then, they run into each other at school and all bets are off. Sam is determined to stick to the plan his parents and coaches have for him and Nova is determined to stick to her plan to discover who she really is. Then, they take a school-wide personality test as part of a student council fundraiser and the two of them match @ 99%. That's when things begin to get interesting.
I admit that though this book was super easy to read, and kept me interested, I really struggled because it kept looking like Sam was going to cheat on his girlfriend and I just hate that. I won't spoil it for you, but I will give you a trigger warning for that dynamic. I wanted to like the characters, and for the most part I did. It was an interesting look at trauma response and I definitely related to Nova trying to figure out who she was and what she wanted to be.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read and I recommend it to fans of the author (her previous books have been great!), fans of YA coming-of-age books, and clean YA romance. 3.5 stars
Disclaimer: I received a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Now in high school, Sam has a football scholarship on the horizon and the perfect cheerleader girlfriend. Meanwhile, Nova has been transferring from school to school as she and her mom move from town to town following her mom's work. She's tried out so many personalities that she has no idea who she is or what she really likes. The latest job should last about 6 weeks so Nova's determined to use it to figure out who she really is and what Nova really wants. Then, they run into each other at school and all bets are off. Sam is determined to stick to the plan his parents and coaches have for him and Nova is determined to stick to her plan to discover who she really is. Then, they take a school-wide personality test as part of a student council fundraiser and the two of them match @ 99%. That's when things begin to get interesting.
I admit that though this book was super easy to read, and kept me interested, I really struggled because it kept looking like Sam was going to cheat on his girlfriend and I just hate that. I won't spoil it for you, but I will give you a trigger warning for that dynamic. I wanted to like the characters, and for the most part I did. It was an interesting look at trauma response and I definitely related to Nova trying to figure out who she was and what she wanted to be.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read and I recommend it to fans of the author (her previous books have been great!), fans of YA coming-of-age books, and clean YA romance. 3.5 stars
Disclaimer: I received a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
andrearbooks's review
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Nova and Sam were childhood friends, and then Sam moved away. Nova has always wondered where her friend went, and then, she finds out. Enrolled at a new high school (she and her mother frequently move), she is reconnected with Sam - only he doesn't seem to remember her despite all they shared. Then, they each decide to participate in the compatibility test fundraiser (Sidebar - These are so weird as I think about them now), and they find out they are a 99& match. The story is then about them exploring what that means for them from back then (because Same does recall who she is) and now. This was a sweet little story about the friends we make as kids and how those relationships both evolve and change AND how they can stay the same. Thanks to NetGalley for the early look at this March 2024 release.
readinwithnicole's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I loved this story! It had such great writing, adorable plot, and I had such a good time with the characters. I enjoyed seeing the male main character have emotions and being able to be with him through them.
doodledoo03's review
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Neighbors Nova and Sam meet when they are young and quickly become best friends. Sam's home life is abusive and unpredictable, so their time spent together playing in Nova's backyard is a comforting escape for him. When Sam is eventually sent to live with his aunt and uncle, the two children promise to find each other again one day when they are older.
Now seventeen, Nova is starting over at yet another new school. She has spent most of her life traveling from place to place for her mother's job, never staying in one town for more than a few months. She desperately wants more stability and time to figure out who she is. To her surprise, she sees Sam on her first day at school. Sam is a senior and, from the outside, is living the perfect life. He has supportive parents, is the school's star football player, and has a close group of friends. On the inside, however, he is trying so hard to constantly please those around him that he is losing parts of himself. As Nova and Sam reunite and spend more time together, they must figure out how they fit into each other's lives now and what their friendship looks like for their future.
This one had me hooked from the very first chapter. Ashley Schumacher has a way of writing books that burrow into your heart and make you feel every emotion. The dual points of view in this story gave a more profound understanding of how much they both struggled with the pain of the past and their current situations. It had me rooting for both of them to get what they wanted out of life and their relationship with one another. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an emotional story of second chances and self-discovery.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books, NetGalley, and author Ashley Schumacher for an eARC of In the Orbit of You in exchange for my honest review.
Now seventeen, Nova is starting over at yet another new school. She has spent most of her life traveling from place to place for her mother's job, never staying in one town for more than a few months. She desperately wants more stability and time to figure out who she is. To her surprise, she sees Sam on her first day at school. Sam is a senior and, from the outside, is living the perfect life. He has supportive parents, is the school's star football player, and has a close group of friends. On the inside, however, he is trying so hard to constantly please those around him that he is losing parts of himself. As Nova and Sam reunite and spend more time together, they must figure out how they fit into each other's lives now and what their friendship looks like for their future.
This one had me hooked from the very first chapter. Ashley Schumacher has a way of writing books that burrow into your heart and make you feel every emotion. The dual points of view in this story gave a more profound understanding of how much they both struggled with the pain of the past and their current situations. It had me rooting for both of them to get what they wanted out of life and their relationship with one another. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an emotional story of second chances and self-discovery.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books, NetGalley, and author Ashley Schumacher for an eARC of In the Orbit of You in exchange for my honest review.
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