Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press and Tantor Audio for the ARC of this - I switched back and forth between the ebook and audio while reading this.

4.5 glow-in-the-dark stars for this crying book. I knew going in from the synopsis that I was in for a crying book, but it still somehow took me by surprise when I was crying, trying to continue reading through the tears. Anna and Weston were sweet and I had a lot of feelings about Anna’s relationship with her parents as someone who grew up with religious parents who would’ve also been mad about the small “rebellion” of trying to live my life and learn who I was. I really liked the friend groups and I wish there had even been a little more of that dynamic, as well as Anna’s with her sister. Overall, though, I found it really emotional and easy to fly through. If you need a good cry, I definitely recommend it.

Many of you might remember my review of Amelia, Unabridged, which quickly became one of my favorite reads in 2020. Ashley Schumacher returns to the YA stage on February 22nd with her sophomore novel, Full Flight, to showcase first love and how it can so deeply affect us.

Ashley Schumacher has captured my heart once again! I don’t know what I can say about this book without spoiling it, but let me just tell you that this book is breathtakingly beautiful!

The poetic writing style is a joy to read and the allegories and symbolism in this book just heighten the emotions of the story and connect everything in a unique and captivating way. From an extinct bird, starry skies, and music duets, the continual repetition of themes in this book make the story even more developed and intricately beautiful.

Aside from the writing itself, the plot and characters are wonderful and this book will have you devouring it! I legitimately binge-read this book in 24 hours and felt so many emotions while reading it. The book was bittersweet and although I cried for the last 20% of the book, I couldn’t help but feel changed after reading it. This book shows how wonderful and precious first love can be and how despite hardships and the cruel things that life throws at us, we must always move forward. It shows how there is sometimes no explanation for the things that happen in this world and we have no control over them, but we can control how we move forward and finish the symphony we call life. Anna and Weston are both complex, yet simple, characters who feel things so fiercely and it just shows the beauty and heaviness that comes with youth.

Poetic, bittersweet, and astounding, Full Flight is a book that I cannot recommend enough. If you choose to only read one book this year, let it be this one.

*I received an ARC from Wednesday Books in exchange for my honest opinion.

Full Disclosure: I knew I probably shouldn’t be reading Full Flight. I avoid sad books like the plague because I don’t have the emotional cycles to be fictionally devastated. However, I loved @ashwritesbooks ’s writing so much in Amelia Unabridged, I read it anyway. And mostly I’m glad I did.

The writing in Full Flight is just as beautiful. I’m not sure I can think of another YA author who can weave the details of a teenage love story in a way that breaks my heart so thoroughly and makes me remember exactly what it was like to fall in love for the first time. Anna James lives in a small town in Texas where football is king. She has friends, a nice family, gets good grades, and plays saxophone in the school’s marching band but she started playing later than her bandmates. Sometimes she feels like she’s playing a role, like she has no room to fail. When she’s assigned a duet with Weston Ryan, she asks the sort-of loner, possible musical prodigy, and town bad boy (I didn’t get the sense that he was a James Dean type, more cerebral and sad, but with a leather jacket) to help. Weston agrees, but thinks he shouldn’t have. He’s reeling from his parents’ divorce and rumors about him that swirl around town. Still, the two are drawn to each other in a way that’s almost electric.

Things I loved: The writing (OMG, I loved the writing). The characters. The focus on fine arts. The music throughout the book. The depiction of first love and how safe it can feel when it’s the right person.
But the book takes a turn that’s in all the synopses I’ve read at about the 70% mark. It was what I was expecting, but not at all what I wanted.

Thank goodness I had an advanced listening copy of this one or I might have drowned my Kindle. Both narrators were great and gave beautiful performances for both of these characters I loved.
If you like a book that requires Kleenex, definitely pick this one up when it comes out next Tuesday, February 22. If you don’t, I’d still recommend reading it for the beautiful writing and love story, but DM me if you want a suggested stopping point.

Thank you to @wednesdaybooks, @tantoraudio, and @netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest opinion.

Rating 3.75

I’m having a hard time rating this one. Part of me thinks it was a beautifully written book while another part of me thinks it was predictable and too angsty. Let’s start with what I loved. I absolutely adored Weston’s character. He was an outcast and didn’t care about being one. He loved Anna before he even started interacting with her and what he thought about when it came to her was so sweet. He really did remind me of a teenager having a huge crush on a girl he never thought he would get. I liked Anna’s character too. I liked that she didn’t care that Weston was an outcast. She needed his help and she was determined to get it. I liked that their relationship helped one another be better people when it came to school.

What I didn’t quite enjoy was all of the band information. Now I knew this book would obviously include some considering what it’s about. But I felt like there was just too much unnecessary band information given and not really explained. If you don’t know much about band you might feel a bit lost. It could also take you out of the story. Like most YA stories Anna and Weston’s relationship was very insta-love. They also decided to hide their relationship from certain people due to Weston being an outcast which I didn’t understand. Weston was an outcast because he wore a leather jacket even in the heat and because his parents got divorced. I know this story takes place in a small town but it was hard to see Weston as a true outcast when he didn’t really do anything. Obviously, them keeping their relationship a secret causes major problems later in the story. I didn’t care for that because again I think it could have all been avoided. I also hated what happened at about 75% in. If you don’t want it to be spoiled then do not read the synopsis as it will give it away. I just felt like having that happen took away from what could have been a great first love story.

Overall, I recommend this to teens or anyone who wants a well written story about first love.

Thank you so much @stmartinspress & @wednesdaybooks for a #gifted copy on #Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

"He always wears that leather jacket."

Ashley Schumacher's debut novel in 2021, was one of my favorite reads of the year. I was so incredibly anxious to read her follow-up novel, Full Flight. This novel is labeled YA | Teens but anyone and everyone should read it. It has left me shattered in ways I'd never imagined but I'll never regret immersing myself in the story of Anna James and Weston Ryan.

Schumacher's writing allows the reader to fall in love with the characters so we feel every emotion. This teen love story is about discovering new friendships to lead you away from the loneliness in your heart. Full Flight is a beautifully, tragic story.

Thank you Wednesday Books for the advance reader copy of Full Flight. YA | Teen

Thank you Netgalley for this audio edition of Full Flight by Ashley Schumacher.

The narration was great, I love it when audiobooks provide multiple voices to help keep the characters straight. It adds a whole other dimension to the book.

I don't know that Ashley Schumacher and I were meant to be. I appreciate her stories, and I think had I read them in my teen years, I probably would have loved them, but this fell flat for me. It had all the bones for a great angsty teen romance, but the bones were a bit too hollow.

I definitely enjoyed this one but it didn't stand out for me. I wasn't immediately captured and didn't feel like I could connect with the plot in general. I think I may need to give this a re-read later.

I loved this authors first book and I appreciate the writing and story of this one. However, I am just not a sad book kind of person. Thankfully I found out what happened prior to reading, but for me personally it made it hard for me to invest in the characters. It also was a bit heavy on the band details at times in the beginning, making it hard for me to find the connection between the characters.

Another hit from Ashley Schumacher! In the first ~2/3 of the book, I felt a little let down because these book didn’t feel as poignant as her debut novel; it felt like any YA love story—albeit one that perfectly captured the feeling of falling in love for the first time and took me back to my own high school days. However, in the last quarter of the book, Schumacher brought the beautiful trauma just like before! I love her explorations of grief. There was more profanity than I would except in a YA novel, but other than that, it fit the genre well. I wondered how it could end well but was so impressed by how well she wrapped it up with such an emotional and fitting conclusion. I will definitely be on the lookout for more books from Ashley Schumacher in the future.

I fell in love with Ashley Schumacher's writing in Amelia Unabridged, and Full Flight was one of my most anticipated reads of 2022.

This follow-up novel is just as beautifully written as her debut. The story started slowly, but I was soon drawn into Anna and Weston's relationship. Their story has my heart.

It wasn't a 5-star read for me, though. There was a bit too much technical band talk for anyone without a background in marching band. Christianity also featured prominently in the story, which surprised me, since religion wasn't mentioned at all in the description.

Full Flight took a while for me to get into but I’m soooo glad that I stuck with it. The second half of the book was everything. I loved Weston and Anna so much. I think Ashley did a great job at tackling some of the harder things in the life of a high schooler, including being judged by rumors and people choosing not to get to know the real you based on those rumors. Full Flight definitely helped sooth my soul. I connected with Anna and what she was going through, being in her shoes…and let me tell you I’ve felt EVERYTHING she felt. It’s an awful experience but it’s nice to see you aren’t alone even in the darkest times of your life. I think my favorite part of the whole book was the epilogue. Thank you Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the copy of Full Flight in return of an honest review.

This book was a slow build its a cute slow build story then the last 20-30% tore you apart. If you read the synopses on the story you can figure it out. But I don't always read the whole thing. I'm glad I didn't it gave the end more of a impact for me. I haven't cried cried in a book in awhile and this one got me.

Anna is the sweetest girl and does everything for everyone wants to please everyone. But inside she feels so alone. But she hides it from the world and she never opens up to her family or friends. Just keeps the smile in place.

Weston is the school/ band outcast. He left his Jr. year and when he comes back there's so many rumors and stories surrounding him. He never was that popular but its worse no one wants to give him a chance. The only friends are 2 boys he's always been friends with. But he's not sure if they really want to be his friend or just around because they always have been.

Anna needs help with her bands duet and Weston is playing the other part who better to ask. He says yes without really meaning to. He tries to pawn it off on his friend but there's something about her he cant figure out what it is. Like calls to like

Despite what her friends and family say about him (because of rumors) they start a friendship which turns into a relationship. She's finally standing up for herself to her friends and family and finding herself. Then the End happens and gutted.

I do wish the end expanded on her afterwards how she's changed as a person. Her sadness is 100% but I would of loved to see the shaping years after.

I had the E book and Audio and thank god I did to switch back and forth between the two. I had to switch fully to the audio at the end.

I was about 25% into the book and I knew It was gonna stick with me. One of my favorite movies growing up was garden state there is a quote about people after they grow up there home isn't there home anymore and they spend the rest of there life looking for a place that is home.

Full Flight had a quote very similar and I had to highlight it right away and it will now stay with me.

"<b>When my room is dark and a certain piece of music comes on my headphones, or when the sun hits the lake just right, I’ll feel homesick for a place I’ve never been. </b> But you don’t tell people that, not even the Ratios or Jonathans of the world, because they’ll think you’re being melodramatic or too much of whatever it is that people are afraid of having too much of. Instead, I quietly collect them, the moments that make me hungry for something I’ve never tasted, hoping that someday I’ll be able to piece them together into a map that will lead me to a place where wildfires make sense and the people you love don’t change or leave or break. Anna’s warmth at my side <b> makes me reconsider that the homesickness is an unknown place. Maybe it’s a person. Maybe it’s her. </b>"


Special thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy/ Audio Arc with me in exchange my honest thoughts.

First off thank you to Wednesday books for sending me Ashley Schumacher’s book. After I read Amelia Unabridged I knew she was an auto-buy author for me. She writes with raw emotions that rip my heart into pieces. Feel the feels I never knew I could experience.

Small town, first time love. That’s what this story is about. Anna is the good girl who listens to her parents and doesn’t cause much trouble. She is in the marching band, and during football season it’s her chance to really shine and she wants the top spot. Weston is the small town bad boy who’s always in some sort of trouble. When they get paired together to do a duet Anna finds herself wanting to know more about him. This causes her to finally be in hot water with her parents who forbid her to see him. But how can you stop yourself from falling in love with someone you’re not supposed to be with?

Ugh I love a good first love story and Ashley hit it put of the park with this one. I stayed up all night devouring this. The story talks about grief and loss and love and forbidden romance. It gets in your feels and makes you really feel their struggles. You’re gaining to need a big box of Kleenex for this one. The characters I felt were complex and well rounded, and I think deep down I knew some of these emotions because I come from a strict old-fashioned family and it brought me back to my first love that my parents didn’t approve of.

rating: ☆☆☆☆
I knew I was going to love this book as Schumacher's previous book "Amelia Unabridged" is a favorite of mine but I did not expect to love it as much as I did. The book wrecked me in the best way possible. I cried so much while reading. The character's relationship was so beautifully written and I won't get over it for a while. I'm obsessed with the author's writing, it is authentic and magical all at the same time. The way in which the cover and title are depicted is so beautiful. The characters are so well written and complex. This book tackles loss in such a delicate way that I felt like I was there with the character through every step. My only critique was that the ending didn't quite hit however it doesn't make the story any less meaningful. This book was so worth the journey and I'm looking forward to what Ashley Schumacher writes next!
Thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley!

This reads almost like Christian fiction as religion does play a part in this story. So does loneliness, depression, and mental health struggles. At its heart, two teens finding each other. You will marvel at the sweetness of first love, and the despair and aching sadness of its loss.

Amelia Unabridged was my fave book of 2021. And for someone who read 200+ books last year, that's saying a lot. So you can imagine just how much of an anticipated read Full Flight for me is.

I do wish I had gone into this book blind. But the blurb gives away too much, hinting at a tragedy that you know is going to happen. It doesn't take much to read between the lines that someone was going to die. And because of that, while reading the book, I felt a part of myself resisting falling in love with Anna and Weston, in fear of the pain and heartbreak I knew would follow. But try as I might, it's a testament to Ashley's amazing writing that I fell in love with them anyway. And yes, my heart broke for them. Tears were shed. Sobs enthused.

This also was a trip down memory lane, bringing back all treasured memories of my first love at 19, and my first real heartbreak at 23. I almost wish I had read this before Amelia, as that one is about grief as well, but ends on a more hopeful, happier note.

Anyone struggling with loneliness and depression will find glimpses of themselves in this book. Imagine the power that this book has, conveying that oh-so-important message to the readers: I see you. I KNOW YOU.

Another home-run for Ashley Schumacher.

In Schumacher's sophomore novel, high school junior, Anna, is struggling with insecurity. She joined the marching band much later than all of her peers, and is struggling to keep up. Love interest Weston has been deeply impacted by his parents divorce and spent his junior year in a neighboring town, but has returned to small-town Enfield, Texas for his senior year. Weston is socially ostracized and struggling academically. When the two get paired up to play a duet in the band’s performance number, Anna agrees to help Weston with his academics if he’ll help her with her part of the duet. Anna quickly learns that Weston is more than his tough (?) exterior.

I absolutely adored Schumacher’s debut novel, Amelia Unabridged, and had been highly anticipating Full Flight. I wanted to love this (and went in completely expecting to love it) but in no way was I the target audience for this book.

Schumacher’s lyrical writing that I loved so much in Amelia Unabridged is here, too, as are a lot of other similar elements including a motif involving a specific animal; this time the Kauaʻi ʻōʻō. I appreciated that the main characters here were outsiders and while their struggles with social inclusion looked different, neither was popular.

Unfortunately, there was a lot else here that didn’t work for me as a reader. First, I wish that Full Flight had been marketed as Christian fiction, because Christianity is so central to this novel. As a result, there was a lot of built-in shame messaging about sex, responsibility, and respect implicit in Anna’s relationships with her parents, the relationship between Anna and Wesley, their friendships, how Weston is treated as a student, and marching band culture.

I am fully in support of authors of YA choosing not to include profanity in their novels, but there were characters here whose central personality traits were that they were offended by cursing. I felt like the characters lacked depth and often read as caricatures (Anna’s parents in particular, though I also can’t understand why Weston had the reputation that he did: because of his leather jacket? The rumor that he cut down a tree? Because his parents are *gasp* divorced?)

I felt so alienated as a reader, the instalove (and this is very much instalove) relationship between Anna and Weston just didn’t feel genuine to me. And because so much of what happens in this novel hinges on believing this soaring, deep, love connection, things that other readers describe as heart-wrenching felt melodramatic to me.

I think that this book will resonate better with readers who share things in common with Anna and Weston: experience with marching band, the small-town Texas vibes, the youth group hopping, divorce. I’m thinking that readers who appreciated books like A Walk to Remember may be more the target audience for this one than I was.

I ended up reading the majority of this on audio, and I think, unfortunately, the narration only compounded the challenges that I had with this book. It was hard for me to hear Cody Roberts’ narration as that of a teenage boy, and Anna’s point of view often felt overacted in a way reminiscent of someone reading poetry from their journal at an open mic night. I’d recommend picking this one up in print, if possible.

Thank you to Wednesday Books, Tantor Audio, and NetGalley for advanced ALC and DRC copies to review. All opinions are my oen.

Ashley Schumacher has singlehandedly given new and intimate light to the YA contemporary romance genre.

Schumacher’s story of Anna and Wes’ romance is written in a way which makes anything possible. She romanticizes the quotidian, gives us a tender first love story, and above all, writes real characters with strengths as important as their flaws. This genre is not my favourite, and I find that many times the stories lack chemistry and the characters are flat, but I truly saw not a trace in Full Flight.

Set in small town Texas, marching band is the most important thing to some of the students at Enfield, and Anna just wants to get better. So she enlists the help of the one person everyone has been telling her to avoid. The result is explosive. Told in alternate POVs, Anna and Wes share the unique opportunity to pursue requited love in ways that are so important to each of them.

The symbolism of birds made me shed a tear more than once in this story. But more than anything, it showed that Anna and Wes’ biggest fear - loneliness - was something that could be overcome. Schumacher shows us that we are never alone, not in a cheesy musical way, but in a way that proves passions can unite people, people who never should have met. Schumacher also tackles topics like religion, mortality and divorce in a way that feels both natural and enlightening. The bad things are part of life too, and discussing them in a way that humanizes and makes them more accessible is a great need.

Full Flight is a story destined to stay with you, the title alone stirring up emotion after those final pages. Schumacher shows us the human experience and the beauty of remembering others and finding solace in the ways they loved and were loved.

Special thanks to #netgalley and #wednesdaybooks for the ARC of this incredible book. It is available to the masses on 2/22. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

-I've always loved the idea of an unstoppable force. A volcano that could erupt at any moment. The promise of the tides. Maybe, in hindsight, this love of the inescapable was preparing me for Weston.
Maybe all of it, the little bits of personal history, my memories have brought me here, to this moment. To his room. To him.

Anna is a high school student in Enfield, Texas, a good girl/band geek in a state where football is typically king. She enlists the help of Weston to help her learn a duet that she is struggling with. Weston, although also a band geek, also has a James Dean, leather jacket, rebel without a cause vibe going on and most of the students at Enfield High think he's a little strange. A relationship begins to develop without her parents' knowledge. What is going to happen when they find out their little girl is dating the bad boy? Read this one to find out!

Ok, y'all, this book is absolutely amazing. I had to rate it 5/5 stars. I love the idea of two band geeks being true to their passion for music at a high school where football is everything. I loved the way their love story progresses. Your feelings are right up in it the whole way until Ashley Schumacher makes you ugly cry. I just am still gutted by it but if you're one of those who loves to get all up in their feels while reading, this one will definitely do that! Get your hands on this one. You'll be glad you did!

Oh, my what an awesome read. I only read a few Young Adult books a year and this one was a great pick! Even if this is not your typical genre - I highly recommend this one. The main characters are high school students. Both of their families are very involved ( in a positive way )in their students lives.

This was written with a lot of emotion. You could feel it as you read it. I really liked that it was not overly dramatic - felt real to me. I am ready to see what Ashley writes next.