This book broke me. Like. I’ve read lots of books where you know the love is doomed and someone is going to die. Sometimes, like with FULL FLIGHT, I know it before I pick up the book because it’s in the cover copy or the title (looking at you, THEY BOTH DIE AT THE END).

But I’ve never read a book like that and had the experience I had with this one. I had so much anxiety about Weston’s death. I knew it was coming. I’d breathe a huge sigh when the next chapter was his point-of-view. I’d panic when it was Anna’s perspective, and skim ahead until I saw him mentioned and still alive.

This one hit me really hard. And it was more than just liking both characters and finding their romance so sweet and adorable. Y’all. The writing here. Wow. I felt completely immersed. Marching band. The friendships. Music. Emotions. It all blew me away.

I loved Schumacher’s debut, AMELIA UNABRIDGED, and to be honest, I was excited about reading another book by her. I was also really nervous because I knew from the outset I was signing up for some heartbreak. It seemed impossible that I could like another book as much as AMELIA, and they’re not the same. But I loved this one, too.

All in all, I loved FULL FLIGHT. I loved the story (the cleverness of skipping chapter 25!), the characters, and how emotionally immersive it all was. Fans looking for laugh-out-loud great friendships, gorgeous romance and total heartbreak– I think I cried for like 30 minutes– definitely need this one on their lists.

I love YA novels and read them often, but I think this is the first band-centric one I've ever come across, and as a former band geek I absolutely approve. I loved the story of these two characterd who were bith a lottle different who come together because of the saxophone. There was some pretty sad stuff I didn't see coming , and while I'm olay with that I know other people might not want to be blindsided. T

Blindsided. That is how I felt while reading Full Flight. I sat down thinking I would read a few chapters before bed, before I knew it two hours passed. I ended up finishing the last third of the book and I was bawling. Tears streaming down my face.

This YA novel is about first loves, being different, and often feeing alone in a crowd of people. But also finding someone who feels like your other half, someone to feel safe with, to tell the truth too, and push you to be your best self.

As always, I knew nothing about this book. I was sold off the cover alone and don’t even think I read a full description. But I am almost glad I didn’t, especially after seeing it after. I felt in the moment, while reading, digesting what was happening just like the characters. I made me feel more of a kindred spirit for what they were going through.

This YA novel is full of nostalgia for high school (for me), marching band references, and being judged based on the actions of your parents/family members. Full Flight was the first book I have read by Ashley Schumacher, but I will be reading her first novel because if it is anything like this one. I know I will love it.

Thank you @Netgalley and @Wednesdaybooks for the digital ARC copy to read and review. First Flight is out was released last week on 2/22!

3 stars = Good, solid, fine

I requested this ARC because the author wrote my favorite book of 2021, even though the plot description really didn't grab me. And again, the author is a great writer, and I really liked the two main characters in this.

But the story was too sedate for me. While I kept reading, because I liked the characters, I kept wondering what the point was - I was missing the driving mission/mystery/conflict. And the ending was very dissatisfying for me. So, this was just not a great fit.

Readers who have a bigger tie to the marching band world or who like a less plot-driven story might really love this. As I said, the writing is good and the characters are great.

Full Flight is a beautifully written young adult contemporary romance novel and it will make you full on sob. I’m just warning everyone who goes into this one without reading other reviews or a full synopsis like I did because I was unprepared. Ashley Schumacher really knows how to write a story that you fall into, that brings you back to your own high school days (if you were an outskirts-of-the-band-kid like me). I was really enjoying this story, and then bam, right before I broke into full on sobs while finishing the story at the start of my work day. I did feel as though there was something missing from the story, a few things that could have been addressed more somehow with both Anna and Weston feeling lonely while in a crowd of people, feeling misunderstood, or as when Anna refers to the ocean storming inside her at night. My favorite quote from the story was “The ocean in my head spits out a rough piece of driftwood onto its shore, gnarled and sun bleached, and begs me to examine it.” This really resonated with me, and I wish it was explored a little bit more throughout the story.

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for an e-arc of this book!

This is a very sweet YA romance and coming of age story.

Anna James is a Junior in high school. She is in the band and working hard to make her parents proud as she struggles to perform in band. She is offered the chance to do a duet but she has to learn her part and the music in time. Weston Ryan is dealing with some issues at home that has put him in a bad state of mind. He is returning to Enfield after moving away for a year. He is struggling to keep his grades up but he is one of the best in the band. He has a somewhat bad reputation with this small town and is avoided by most because he is "different" or "weird". Anna seeks him out to help her with this duet. And so begins a very sweet romance between the two. I love how Weston refers to her as a Happening. She completely changes his whole life and makes him believe in himself again. They are exactly what the other one needs as they know how to accept one another as they are. Anna is not able to be open with her relationship because her parents do not approve of Weston due to the rumors in town. This leads down the road of lying and deceiving her parents. Eventually, the truth comes out. As we watch this family work through some issues it is beautiful to see the love they have and the way Anna and her sister Jenny help her parents see the good in Weston. The romance is short lived and tragedy strikes.

The whole thing takes place in the span of just a couple of months so it is a bit far fetched in my opinion. I enjoyed the characters, I enjoyed the love story, I liked the family dynamics. The friend group was really great too. There was some language which is typical in high school but still I don't like it in my books. There is one sex scene that seems really unnecessary. Like I said, it takes place in such a small amount of time and it is just sort of thrown in there when it doesn't really need to be. Then the tragic part is hard to take as well. I wish it would have had another ending. However, I also really liked the ending because we see how love really can blossom and change a person. I love to see how Anna is changed and her growth in this book is amazing. Overall, it is really good.

I haven't read Schumacher's debut Amelia Unabridged, but had heard wonderful things about Ashley and her incredible writing talents, which led me to her latest novel, Full Flight.

The first thing I noticed about this book was the beautiful cover, designed by Art Director Kerri Resnick. What lays beyond the cover is a breathtaking story of two high school band members named Anna James and Weston Ryan, who the reader will feel an instant connection to through the power of Schumacher's beautifully poetic and captivating prose.

Ashley writes with pure emotion, pouring her heart and soul into the story and her main characters right from the get go. Strong themes of relationships, love, loss, and grief form the foundations of this one, but there are also many uplifting moments that will carry readers through to the end.

The alternating perspectives where we readers hear things from both Anna and Weston's points of view added depth, and I loved that we got the chance to experience what was going on internally for each of the protagonists as they developed throughout the book, and their love for one another became more realistic and palpable.

An example of Ashley's magnetic and moving prose that resonated with me, one of the many parts of the book I highlighted:

"When I am old, with gray hair and aching joints, I want to remember the way the pavement cracks felt beneath my shoes when I walked next to the tall boy, the one with blond hair that grows alarmingly fast, blue eyes that really see me, and a smile that was wicked fast when I said I was a writer. I want to remember how I shivered when he whispered in my ear."

Overall, this was a gorgeous, layered, and impactful young adult novel. What a memorable story, and what a talented writer Schumacher is. I look forward to what the future holds for her. My thanks to Wednesday Books, St Martin's Press, and the author for my advanced reader's copy in exchange for this review.

This one perfectly captures the essence and all-consuming emotions that come with first love. An equally heartbreaking and healing YA book surrounding two high school band members, one being the town troublemaker and the other the perfect daughter, who share a duet and end up falling madly in love. An achingly realistic coming of age story about acceptance, companionship, and the first time!

Anna James wants to be better with her saxophone, so she convinces fellow band member and town weirdo Weston Ryan to help her with a duet. The two bond instantly and sneak time to practice and hangout at every opportunity. The two try to keep their relationship a secret from Anna’s parents, but like any good secret, the truth comes out eventually.

The writing style and quirkiness of Weston and Anna drew me in immediately. The author did such a good job of building the physical and emotional relationship between these two in a believable and age appropriate way. It felt so familiar and in accordance with my own teenage experiences. I do want to forewarn the reader that there is a lot of heavy subject matter including divorce, death, sex, and tragedy. Even with the heaviness, this book is such a beautiful and tender love story and shouldn’t be missed. If you loved books like “The Fault In Our Stars” or “All the Bright Places” give this one a shot. It’s a story that will leave an impression and linger long after its over.

Full Flight by Ashley Schumacher is a young adult contemporary romance novel. The story in Full Flight is one that is told by alternating the point of view between the two main characters of Anna and Weston.

Anna James is a member of the Fighting Enfield Marching Band in Enfield, Texas and while most in the town are football obsessed the band is also going strong. Anna really wants to improve her saxophone playing but is hesitant when she’s paired with Weston Ryan.

Weston is the boy that is known as trouble around the small town so of course Anna knows her parents would not approve. Slightly intimidated of Weston at first Anna really gets to know him as he helps her practice and before she knows it Anna develops strong feelings for the bad boy.

Young adult contemporary novels are not ones that I’m drawn to often but last year I read Amelia Unabridged by Ashley Schumacher and loved it so of course I had to pick Full Flight up too. Now while I enjoyed this story I don’t think it was quite as strong as the first as that was one that would really grab your heart right from the start but of course this one also pulls at to the heartstrings but in a different way. Regardless, I still enjoyed this story and thought the characters were likable so I’d definitely return to this author again.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

This book slayed me.

Full Flight by Ashley Schumacher reads as an ode to music, to high school bands, and to those first loves that change us forever.

Anna and Weston are both in the marching band, and they form an unlikely friendship when she asks him for help perfecting their duet. Weston is an outsider, the troubled kid of divorced parents in a tiny Texas town. Anna struggles with an inner darkness she hides with smiles and people-pleasing. They fit together like two puzzle pieces, like two halves of the same whole…if only people could see past their preconceptions.

When I say encountering Anna felt like looking into a mirror, I’m being 100% serious. Not only did I grow up in a small Texas town and play saxophone in band (I too joined in ninth grade), I also longed to write and my smiles hid a similar sadness.

The descriptions of band life—from early morning practices and learning our marks, to hanging out in the band hall and riding on the band buses—it was so familiar and accurate. I know I slipped up and called my band director dad a time or two, too, and I remember the nerves that came around each time we tested for chair rankings. (I still have nightmares about being unprepared for band…like, legitimate nightmares. 😆)

The ending left me stunned, silent tears streaming down my face. I was unprepared for how thoroughly it wrecked me.

This is Ashley Schumacher’s second book, and I loved it every bit as much as I loved her first, Amelia Unabridged. If you haven’t read her books yet, it’s time to change that. 😉 This one especially catapulted me back to my high school days and filled me with a wonderful sort of nostalgia.

Pine-scented tormented musician boys going through family things are fine, but what thrilled me in the first few pages was this: Anna is a saxophonist! Fictional musicians are never saxophonists, especially not main characters who are love interests and shaped like the Little Teapot (short and stout). This would have made my high school self so happy. Especially since she’s a late joiner, as I was, whose friends were all band kids and who was present at most band events.

This forbidden love story takes place under the disapproving gaze of a tiny, religious town. It is a fantastic depiction of what it feels like to be in love for the first time, and what it's like to discover kissing and beginning to think of yourself as part of a couple. It also delves into the complexities of family and faith (thankfully, not religious faith for the most part, but the kind of faith you put in other human beings). It also covers loss, but it takes so long to get around to the Sad Thing, which you know is coming from the outset if you read the book summary, that when it happens, it feels completely out of nowhere, much like it does for the characters.

Overall, I have things that I can quibble about, but but reading this brought back all my best memories of being in band, and I know exactly which friends I want to give this book to, and I hope this book gets enough publicity from libraries and BookTok or wherever young people learn about books nowadays that the bookish band kids like me find it and get to read it, because it’s great.

I will start off by saying that I have not yet read Schumacher’s debut novel and therefore do not have any prior opinions on her writing. I will say that this book, while sweet and sorrowful, was not for me. However, while this novel did not appeal to me as an adult reader, I can identify numerous students who would enjoy this piece. It was great that Schumacher put band students front and centre in this novel, a new perspective for me and one that many students would enjoy. However, the plot is comparable to many teen dramas and therefore didn’t offer any unique perspectives on identity, love, or grief. A lovely story with a well known trope. Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday books for the e-ARC addition of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I went into this blind (as I prefer to do) and was not expecting such an emotional book. On the one hand, it is a sweet YA romance filled with the usual teen angst but on the other hand there's loss, grief, and redemption. This was my first book by Ashley Schumacher and I look forward to reading more.

That cover is so beautiful. The vibrant colors just left me mesmerized. This is a deep read that I thoroughly enjoyed. It's well written with a nice flow. Characters are fully fleshed out and pull you into the story. Definitely a powerful read.

All of the stars in the sky I will never shut up about this book. Full Flight broke me, and I’m not entirely sure how to review it. I’ve been struggling to come up with the words since I put it down, and Ashley Schumacher is just such a poet that anything I write up feels like an injustice to what she penned. I also should have known better and been more prepared after reading Amelia Unabridged last year, but I am a FOOL and was not.

I don't know how to convince you to read this little book, other than to tell you to do it. Pick up this haunting, magical, wonderful, painful little book, about two lonely band nerds who help each other feel less alone, and you'll understand why I'm at a loss for words, but you'll also be so so glad you read it.

I am not only a crumpled up piece of paper lying here in my feelings, I am, emotionally, a plastic bag stuck to the front of a mac truck that's flying down the highway. An utter wreck. But I'm happy about it. I am happy I read this book and I will absolutely never shut up about this story and I will absolutely be trying to get people to read it until I am dead and gone.

If Ashley Schumacher writes it, I'm gonna read it. End of story.


[I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.]

This is amazing, heartbreaking and uplifting! I would re-read this just for the joy of being part of Anna’s and Weston’s world of band, high school and first love. As a band mom, this is very true-to-life and so wonderfully written that it brings to life the all-consuming nature of band in high school. I thank #netgalley and #wednesday books for this complimentary copy of #fullflight to read and review-all opinions are my own.

Full Flight by Ashley Schumacher
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This is a story about a small Texas town, a high school marching band, and two teens who come together to work on their duet for the marching band.
I loved this book.
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-Anna and Weston are the cutest. I love them.
-I adored all the thoughts that Weston had throughout the book about the Hawaiian ‘ō’ō bird. “You call and I answer.”
-I have never been a band kid, but I loved reading about it.
-I felt so many feelings reading this.
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4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 The award for book that made me cry the most this month goes to Full Flight. It was such a beautiful story. If you want to feel all the things I would definitely recommend. If you love books about first love and finding where you fit, I recommend.

I was having the loveliest time reading this book. The marching band scenes were just *chef’s kiss*. The author got it so right in her descriptions of how the bus for away games, and calvacades, and parades always goes.

And I was right there with Anna, in the biggest trouble but for no real reason. Knowing I couldn’t trust my own parents.

Weston was so good. The romance was so sweet.

And I admit, I even had an affinity for the author because my maiden name is Shumaker. It’s spelled differently, but I feel an immediate kinship with anyone who grew up hearing “haha do you make shoes?”

Like I said, I was really having the loveliest time.

Then it got to the last quarter of the book. And I WILL NEVER FORGIVE THE AUTHOR FOR WHAT HAPPENS HERE AND NEITHER SHOULD YOU.

She is a beautiful writer and I will read whatever she puts out next, albeit with trepidation. And listen, yes, I read her debut last year and it was also incredibly sad but I do not remember being BLINDSIDED by it at the END for NO REASON THIS WAS NOT NECESSARY AT ALL TO THE STORY ASHLEY.

Full Flight by Ashley Schumacher does it again. I loved her debut book, and this sophomore release is even better. I fell in love with Anna and Weston in this double point of view YA novel. Ashley writes raw emotions into her novels, so be prepared to contemplate real-life issues. This book is beautiful, but you have been warned this will leave you with a heavy heart - this is not a happy book.

I highly recommend reading both of her books because Ashley has a gift of words. Thank you for sharing them with us, Ashley.

Thank you, Wednesday Books, for my ALC for this honest review.

3.5 Stars. Anna James, a saxophonist for the Enfield Marching Band, is thrilled for the opportunity the play a featured duet. However, her close-minded community has always assumed that her duet partner, Weston Ryan, is trouble. As Anna begins to develop feelings for Weston, and see beyond the rumors and assumptions of the town, she’s forced to keep her relationship secret from her strict parents.

I readers that are/were in HS marching band will love this book, as it fully immerses you in the band-life experience. As a non-band participant, I appreciated reading about all of the hard work, dedication, and perseverance that goes into each and every practice and performance, and the friendships/romantic relationships that form. In terms of the story, I found the first two thirds or so of the novel to be somewhat slow, but felt like the third of the novel picked up for a stronger finish. Overall, the book was a good YA read about first love and heartache.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for my gifted e-ARC!