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A review by kfriend
Fragile Things by Samantha Lovelock
5.0
I love nothing more than finding a new author that I’m going to obsess over- and then, to find out that Fragile Things is Samantha Lovelock’s DEBUT novel! Well, I’m just floored. I could not put this story down. The mystery, the sexuual and emotional tension, and the enigmatic characters all made for an ADDICTIVE first half of this duet. I flew through this in one sitting- and I’m thirsty for more!
From page one, I was captured. We begin with the opening of a literal Pandora’s box, as our heroine Stella receives a mysterious package with an invitation to visit an aunt she didn’t even know she had. Stella has been on her own from the ripe old age of fifteen- abandoned by her mother, a fugitive of the foster care system, and now surviving on her own under a different identity. Not only is the invitation a mystery, but Stella’s own understanding of her history is, too- a missing mother and missing memories and bouts of anxiety have long since left her perplexed. Impoverished and relatively alone, she doesn’t have much to lose and only answers to gain, so she travels across the country to stay with her aunt, thrusting her squarely in the middle of an elite world foreign to her. A chance encounter and an elite inner circle connects her to Poe, the rich golden boy. Stella soon finds herself smack in the middle of a tangled web of secrets, mystery, deceit, and treachery- all part of some mysterious history amongst the town’s most elite. But just where does Stella fit into all of this?
Stella is one of my favorite heroines I’ve read in a good while. She’s so admirably resilient and self-assured. She’s just STRONG- unwilling to be pushed around or live outside of her values. But, she’s also got layers- she’s kind and empathetic, and profoundly patient for all that she’s endured. She’s a heroine you can respect, the heroine you desperately root for. And Poe is the dreamy alpha elite bully- son of a founding family and the defacto leader of the crew. He’s cocky, charming, and smug, but he’s also complex, he’s emotionally aware and understanding. He has a sweet and protective streak a mile long- he sucked me right into his orbit and I never want to leave. And their chemistry is scorching. We get some insta-love, sure- but Samantha really develops their emotional connection- she gives these characters a chance to be open and vulnerable, to invest in each other, and the emotional and sexual tension between them is consuming.
What I loved most about this story, though, was how cleverly Samantha creates two leads who subvert your normal expectations for the bully trope. Both leads don’t exactly play into the normal “rich bully” and bullied types. Poe isn’t your typical alpha bully- in fact, he resents his privilege, would rebuke it if he could. He abhors cruelty and high school hierarchy BS. In fact, none of the elite really play into the whole “rule the school trope”- they just want to exist, be with their friends. And, when he finds himself having to be cruel to Stella, he’s wracked with guilt and remorse. He’s got such a deep soul, such an emotional consciousness that is truly refreshing. And Stella, despite her painful history, isn’t bitter or hostile. She’s strong, but she’s also got an uncertainty and vulnerability to her. She opens up to people, she’s not closed off to others. And best of all, both characters are so self-aware- they understand their own psyche, recognize their own patterns and baggage, and are actively trying to address them as best they can. They accept responsibility for their actions, and they are thoughtful in what they do. It feels so much more grounded and mature- and way more emotionally complex.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t celebrate the QUALITY OF writing here- this reads like a novel by a veteran writer. From the basic mechanics (word choice, syntax, etc) to adept world building and characterization, Samantha Lovelock is clearly a gifted writer. The prose flowed, the characters are dynamic and captivating, and pacing was perfectly balanced and builds a fantastic crescendo to the finale. There’s a real nuance to the story telling- a descriptive quality in both character and place that is really encompassing. And, Samantha masterfully scaffolds and weaves the chemistry and the mystery to create both intensity and intimacy, which kept the pages turning but also kept me emotionally invested. If this is the kind of writing Samantha produces on her debut, then she’s clearly an author to watch.
I’m loving the themes of belonging- this is a story about a girl just trying to figure out just where she belongs. And a thoughtful exploration of just how much where you belong, and where you came from, influences who you are, and who you are meant to be. I can’t wait to see where this goes next in the second half of the duet- I NEED IT NOW!
From page one, I was captured. We begin with the opening of a literal Pandora’s box, as our heroine Stella receives a mysterious package with an invitation to visit an aunt she didn’t even know she had. Stella has been on her own from the ripe old age of fifteen- abandoned by her mother, a fugitive of the foster care system, and now surviving on her own under a different identity. Not only is the invitation a mystery, but Stella’s own understanding of her history is, too- a missing mother and missing memories and bouts of anxiety have long since left her perplexed. Impoverished and relatively alone, she doesn’t have much to lose and only answers to gain, so she travels across the country to stay with her aunt, thrusting her squarely in the middle of an elite world foreign to her. A chance encounter and an elite inner circle connects her to Poe, the rich golden boy. Stella soon finds herself smack in the middle of a tangled web of secrets, mystery, deceit, and treachery- all part of some mysterious history amongst the town’s most elite. But just where does Stella fit into all of this?
Stella is one of my favorite heroines I’ve read in a good while. She’s so admirably resilient and self-assured. She’s just STRONG- unwilling to be pushed around or live outside of her values. But, she’s also got layers- she’s kind and empathetic, and profoundly patient for all that she’s endured. She’s a heroine you can respect, the heroine you desperately root for. And Poe is the dreamy alpha elite bully- son of a founding family and the defacto leader of the crew. He’s cocky, charming, and smug, but he’s also complex, he’s emotionally aware and understanding. He has a sweet and protective streak a mile long- he sucked me right into his orbit and I never want to leave. And their chemistry is scorching. We get some insta-love, sure- but Samantha really develops their emotional connection- she gives these characters a chance to be open and vulnerable, to invest in each other, and the emotional and sexual tension between them is consuming.
What I loved most about this story, though, was how cleverly Samantha creates two leads who subvert your normal expectations for the bully trope. Both leads don’t exactly play into the normal “rich bully” and bullied types. Poe isn’t your typical alpha bully- in fact, he resents his privilege, would rebuke it if he could. He abhors cruelty and high school hierarchy BS. In fact, none of the elite really play into the whole “rule the school trope”- they just want to exist, be with their friends. And, when he finds himself having to be cruel to Stella, he’s wracked with guilt and remorse. He’s got such a deep soul, such an emotional consciousness that is truly refreshing. And Stella, despite her painful history, isn’t bitter or hostile. She’s strong, but she’s also got an uncertainty and vulnerability to her. She opens up to people, she’s not closed off to others. And best of all, both characters are so self-aware- they understand their own psyche, recognize their own patterns and baggage, and are actively trying to address them as best they can. They accept responsibility for their actions, and they are thoughtful in what they do. It feels so much more grounded and mature- and way more emotionally complex.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t celebrate the QUALITY OF writing here- this reads like a novel by a veteran writer. From the basic mechanics (word choice, syntax, etc) to adept world building and characterization, Samantha Lovelock is clearly a gifted writer. The prose flowed, the characters are dynamic and captivating, and pacing was perfectly balanced and builds a fantastic crescendo to the finale. There’s a real nuance to the story telling- a descriptive quality in both character and place that is really encompassing. And, Samantha masterfully scaffolds and weaves the chemistry and the mystery to create both intensity and intimacy, which kept the pages turning but also kept me emotionally invested. If this is the kind of writing Samantha produces on her debut, then she’s clearly an author to watch.
I’m loving the themes of belonging- this is a story about a girl just trying to figure out just where she belongs. And a thoughtful exploration of just how much where you belong, and where you came from, influences who you are, and who you are meant to be. I can’t wait to see where this goes next in the second half of the duet- I NEED IT NOW!