What a sweet story ruined by so much grief and loss! I was really hoping for more of a happy ending, but that’s on me. I loved the two main characters’ relationship, but it always bugs me when parents meddle too much as a plot point. Still, it was a poignant novel—just not one I loved.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

From the get go, Full Flight felt like a middle-grade version of Twilight.

Instead of sparkling vampires, we had a male main character that was moody because his parents got divorced and it became his only personality trait. Then we have Anna who lacks personality altogether and is super cringey like Bella Swan. Also this girl is a Christmas girlie, and that was when I knew this book was going to be an absolute trainwreck.

The oddness of this novel does not end there. The characters were 16 yet they pretended they were adults very often throughout the book. Obviously, they came off very immature, especially with the constant reprimanding of cussing. Everything was just disconnected and made me want to vomit at the cringe factor and the forced chemistry (If I have to hear "My Weston" one more time, I will chunk this book across the room).

I will say the writing does get better near the end but overall, this book lacked creativity, intrigue and any type of emotion.

Really, really loved her first book. It was so good and I was excited to see she had another book come out. I really tried with this one. I got over 50% through and it was just not grabbing me at all. I wanted to be able to push through and finish it but I got too worried it wouldn't get any better. So sadly I couldn't finish this one and just don't think I will. Will continue to love and recommend her first book, but this one wasn't for me.

This book and I were just not meant to be so unfortunately this was not my vibe at the moment. Maybe for someone else it will be

While I enjoyed this book I did not love it. Yes I cried during the last 15% of the book. I would still recommend it.

I absolutely loved Amelia Unabridged, such a fantastic debut. To follow such an amazing book is not easy and maybe I expected too much.

It took me a while to get into this book because I wasn't overly invested in the characters. It’s not that I disliked them, they were fine.
Another issue I had was the main storyline. The synopsis basically tells you what is gonna happen (death ). So I was confused why I’m most of the way through the book and nothing has happened. I found that super odd honestly.

The plot and writing were great but the execution of it was not.

Overall I still recommend it! I still look forward to her next one.

Full Flight by Ashley Schumacher is a touching and inspiring novel that tells the story of a young woman's journey to find herself and her passion in life. The protagonist, Tessa, has always felt out of place and uncertain about her future. But when she takes a job as a flight attendant, she discovers a world of adventure and possibility that she never knew existed.

Schumacher's writing is both lyrical and down-to-earth, capturing both the excitement and the challenges of Tessa's new life. As Tessa travels the world and meets new people, she begins to see herself and her place in the world in a new light. But even as she finds joy and fulfillment in her work, she must also confront the reality that life is not always easy, and that even the most exciting jobs have their downsides.

One of the strengths of Full Flight is Schumacher's ability to capture the sense of wonder and possibility that comes with travel. Through Tessa's experiences, readers are transported to exotic locations and exposed to new cultures and ways of life. But the novel also explores deeper themes of identity, family, and belonging, as Tessa struggles to reconcile her own desires with the expectations of those around her.

Overall, Full Flight is a heartwarming and engaging novel that will appeal to anyone who has ever felt lost or uncertain about their place in the world. Schumacher's writing is insightful and compassionate, and her characters are fully realized and relatable. This novel is a must-read for anyone who loves travel, coming-of-age stories, or simply a good tale of self-discovery.

Did I enjoy this book? Absolutely!
Did I love this book? Not particularly.
Was I sobbing the last 15% of it? Yes, yes I was.
Would I recommend it? I would! With the grain of salt that it took me a while to get invested

Overall, this was a really great read. I love that it didn't follow your typical romance plot line, had mixed feelings about the band stuff, and really appreciated the body and "weird kid" inclusiveness.

It took me a bit to get into this book because I wasn't overly invested in the characters and honestly, I LOVE watching those big bands do their thing, but I wasn't super interested in reading about the work and effort it takes to get there. I did band all through grade school and high school and it was NOTHING like Weston and Anna's experiences so I suppose I just found it hard to separate my personal past with the story.

I felt like Weston's weirdness was a bit overplayed and maybe I missed it, but I didn't totally understand why the entire town (including adults) was semi-against him. Sure, sure he wore the same leather jacket 24/7 and he was the scapegoat for the desecration of some memorial in town, but it all felt a bit dramatized.

Additionally, I loved that Anna's body shape was referenced and we had passing remarks of self-consciousness (what 16 year old isn't self conscious?!) but particularly appreciated that it wasn't a huge focal point.

Weston's parents divorce also felt a bit overdone for me but as a child to parents who are still together, maybe I just couldn't appreciate the gravity of his situation.

Again, this was a very good read and one I would definitely recommend. I listened to the audio and while both narrators took a bit for me to warm up to, I think they did a great job.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the copy.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 — This was a sweet but ultimately devastating story about Anna and Weston, teenagers from different social spheres in their small town. Their story is one of first love, bucking external expectations and dealing with grief and loss.

🎷 I read and absolutely loved Amelia Unabridged by this author, so I knew I had to read Full Flight too!

🎷 The love story in this book is simple and sweet, yet heartbreaking. This author writes very well about average teenagers who experience tragic circumstances. I cried in both of her books so far!

🎷 You find out at the end what the title means... 🥺

🎷 As a former marching band member myself (2 years color guard, 2 years drum major) I appreciated that band was shown in a positive light in this book. Marching band is hard! It requires a lot of work! Early and late practices, the ability to multi-task, memorize, play music, survive itchy uniforms… and you have to make it all look effortless! I’ve always thought marching bands weren’t appreciated enough so I loved that this book did such a great job depicting how band really is.

🎷 If I’m honest, I think I enjoyed Amelia Unabridged just a little bit more than Full Flight. Full Flight dragged a bit for me and the ending felt too abrupt. That said, I would still recommend either of these books to anyone who enjoys a sweet, clean, first love story. And I am definitely looking forward to Schumacher’s next book!

Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress @wednesdaybooks for an eARC of this book, which I have read and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

I loved Amelia Unabridged last year - so I was hyped to snag this one on Read Now. Unfortunately I just didn't connect with this story - especially with the male lead

This is a case of the synopsis majorly letting down the book. If the synopsis mentions moving on after the unthinkable happens, that should be within the first 20-25% of the book. Not 85% of the way through! It sets up entirely the wrong expectation and turns it into a totally different story.

I will read anything Ashley Schumacher writes and this did not disappoint. It met everything Ashely does well: recovering from traumatizing experiences, finding love on the other side, learning to love yourself, and finding how to move forward. Both characters in this book have their traumas and they don't hesitate to embrace the pain, but when the pain filters into their personal lives and the way their families feel about their love. They persevere beyond it but trauma takes no breaks and Ashley knows that, embracing it and writing the pain as it happens. It's deep and passionate and yet another fantastic book by her.

Thank you for this arc copy of Full Flight. It wasn't my type of book but others may like it. I did enjoy the cover picture though.

The prose is well done, as is the dialogue. I enjoyed both characters' POVs equally, and in different ways. There was quite a bit of exposition at the start, as we’re introduced to their histories. Anna and Weston’s love of band made me yearn for the fact that I was never able to be in band (never enough money and my parents never improved their lot like Anna’s did). It was a neat little sense of belonging that I will never feel in real life.

The plot rests on Weston being an outcast for weak reasons. His parents are divorced and he went away to a different town for a year, and wears a leather jacket. I don’t understand why people don’t like him when he’s even got friends who hang out with popular people? Who might even defend him to them if they speak negatively about him? I suppose this happens in real life, too, especially when a person is absent. Rumors abound and an image is built up without the consent of the interesting party.

Wes and Anna’s love is well described, and grows and changes at an appropriate pace, even considering their age. The pacing of the entire novel was well done, until the end bits. I knocked the rating down a bit because of the ending. It felt like a cheap shot when things were going so well. The shock value of it all kind of ruined the ending and the novel for me in the end.

Even so, I enjoyed this book more than Schumacher’s first book. It felt more solid and well put together. While I don’t like comparing one book to another, it feels necessary in this case for me. I was not a fan of Amelia, Unabridged and felt hesitant to pick up this novel because of that. I’m glad I did as it was an enjoyable book, good for a younger audience or anyone wanting a romance.

I adored Amelia Unabridged, so I was delighted to receive a copy of Full Flight by Ashley Schumacher.

As a former band kid, I appreciated the focus on the contest season of marching band, which just happens to coincide with football season.

This is a timeless tale of teen love, despite the odds.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me. All thoughts are my own.

Full Flight is a young adult contemporary fiction. The story was really touching but the writing style wasn't quite what I was expecting. While it was very personal and an excellent representation of grief, but at times it left me wanting more. I have heard that her books are fantastic and am definitely planning to check out another one, this one might just not have been the right book for me!

3.5/5 stars

This is a YA romance and my first book by this author.

The book has two 1st person POVS: Anna and Weston.

They live in a small town in Texas. And they are both part of the high school band. Anna needs help with a duet. And she gets Weston to agree to help her.

I did enjoy all of the story surrounding the band. And the duet was definitely a fun part of the book.

I didn't love how everyone thought that Weston as so weird. And the religious and strict parents were not my favorite.

I did sort of like seeing Anna and Weston's friendship evolve. And I loved her writing. And how they helped each other (her helping him with his homework and him helping her with music).

There were definitely things that happened towards the end that seemed too quick for me. Also I don't really understand what the point of the end was. Possibly the author was telling about her own experience. I definitely think that the blurb gives away too much of the story. But overall it was an interesting coming of age story.

First off, how stunning is this book cover?! This drew me in right away. I am happy to say I loved the book as well. This is such a beautiful and heartbreaking read. The writing will draw you in immediately and make you not want to put it down. I recommend checking it out!!

Full Flight is a brilliant YA novel, surrounding Anna and Weston, where they fall into each other’s paths through their school’s marching band program. One is beholden to their parents opinions, and the other is the notable bad boy of the town.

This story pulled at all of my heartstrings and is perfect for lovers of Sarah Dessen and all YA-loving ages!