thank you to NetGalley for sending me an arc of this book!

i’ve never really been much of a romance person, especially YA romance, but after reading the synopsis, i thought i’d give this book a try. and honestly? im so glad i did!

In the Orbit of You by Ashley Schumacher is a young adult book about two high schoolers, Nova and Sam, who used to be best childhood friends, a safe place for each other in their younger years, but were separated by circumstances out of their control. years later, by some crazy act of fate, the two are reunited. they then have to navigate the before they once new with the new people they now are. all the while, Nova and Sam also have to navigate their own futures, and what each other’s renewed presence in their own lives means regarding what happens next.

this book was such a delight and honestly such an easy read. were the characters the most developed? no! was it a little cheesy at times? of course! it’s a ya romance! but i really did not care. the love story was so cute and so pure, and i felt like Nova and Sam truly were written like real teenagers. dumb decisions were made, mean words were said, and angst was reverent went the past was met with the uncertain present. if you are looking for a quick, easy and enjoyable read, this book is the perfect pick!

TW: domestic violence discussed, but occurs off page, cheating

This book is a YA, childhood friends take on Christina Lauren 's The Soulmate Equation. Minus the romance. There is love for sure, but it doesn't end in an HEA.

This book put me through some serious emotions. I love a childhood friend story, whether they've always been together, or they were separated for a time and find each other again. This one is the latter, and it is complicated.

He has a girlfriend. She's only in town for a couple months. They haven't seen each other in over a decade... Surely they just need to know that the other is okay, right? On account of the fact that they don't really know each other anymore.

My heart went through a Space Mountain level roller coaster reading this book. It brought me back to thoughts of friends I used to know, who I sometimes wonder about. It made me wonder if we would still be friends now, or if we would simply smile, and wish each other well.

And honestly, sifting through these thoughts, as if I were Nova, and the other person were Sam (in some cases, and in others the role is reversed) was a healing experience.

I got to see two friends on page who never forgot, nor let go of, each other. Friends who reunited in less than ideal circumstances, and worked through their feelings about the past and present to figure out how they fit with each other's lives now. I got to experience the joy, the confusion, the fear, the sadness, the love, all of it. And let go.

I loved this book, and highly recommend it for anyone who loves a YA that'll rip your heart out. In the best way.

In the Orbit of You is a sweet YA novel with two childhood friends reuniting after 15 years apart. They are now in a Texas High School and now need to figure out how to navigate their history of shared promises, and trying to figure out who they are now and where they want to go next. I appreciated that they placed emphasis on deciding who they are as individuals, rather than mold themselves straight into a relationship.

The writing is beautiful and flowed well, it didn't feel like a high school level novel, and gave me The Notebook vibes. TW: past childhood abuse (off page), cheating (The Notebook-level).

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for providing this ARC for my honest review.

In the Orbit of You by Ashley Schumacher, 313 pages. Wednesday Books (St. Martin’s Press), 2024. $20.
Language: R (54 swears, 10 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
When they were young, Sam had to move away from Nova, but he promise, promised to find her again when they were older. Years later, it’s Nova (17yo) who finds Sam when her mom’s job temporarily moves them to town. Neither of them are the kids they used to be, but neither knows who they are now either—or who they might be together.
Schumacher’s characters struggle with identity, belonging, and feeling like someone gets them, on both ends of the spectrum making them relatable to a wide range of readers. Sometimes it feels like the happily ever after choices are not always the best choices—a hard lesson for parties both on and off page. And still Schumacher brings everything together in a satisfying conclusion.
Nova and Sam are depicted as White on the cover. The mature content rating is for mentions of drugs and alcohol, kissing, innuendo, and partial nudity. The violence rating is for mentions of child abuse.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

In the Orbit of You is about Sam and Nova who were friends as children. When Sam moved away, they lost touch. They reconnect in high school thanks to a quiz, their connection is as strong as ever. I enjoyed the story. I think there's so much pressure on kids with knowing what they want to do with their future and I enjoyed seeing this portrayed. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my review copy of this YA novel.

Schumacher's latest YA romance novel missed the mark for this reader. Because of the premise of the book--two young adults separated by circumstance reunite and pick up where they left off--there was a lack of tension in the relationship. In the will-they-won't-they paradigm, they were always in the will-they category. The tension lies in how much of a mess they'll make if-they, which didn't work for me. As soon as they agreed to make their relationship "private" despite it's lack of physical intimacy and labels, I got the ick big time. The entire book is Sam emotionally cheating on his girlfriend, not wanting to engage in any form of conflict (for valid traumatic reasons), and Nova saying she doesn't condone it, but fully participating in it (not without guilt). While it's not the responsibility of the author to teach kids how to have healthy relationships, I do worry that this sends the wrong message--that star-crossed lovers who are destined for each other will be together no matter the odds and no matter who it hurts. (And honestly, I didn't really like Abigail's character but I felt the most for her). There was, however, some additional conflict created with the historical motivation for these characters' actions (Sam's abusive father, Nova's constant moving). I found Sam's backstory more persuasive, but Nova's felt simplistic and not realistic, which prevented me from engaging with her as a character in a meaningful way. I did appreciate the discussion of lasting, generational trauma, and I did like the supportive parental figures.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books and NetGalley for an electronic advanced readers copy of this novel.

Nova is yet again starting at a new high school. Her mom's job consists of moving from one place to another and Nova tells herself that she's happy with arrangement. But now, coming up on her senior year, she's wondering if all that moving has made her not know who she really is and what she wants to do.

Nova has strong memories of her childhood friend, Sam, who was being abused by his parents and had to abruptly move away when his uncle and aunt came to remove him from his bad situation. Fate happens and Nova ends up becoming neighbors again in a different state. Sam seems to have it all together, a popular football player with lots of friends and a pretty girlfriend. But has he done so much hiding from Before that he also is scared to know what he actually wants to do with his life instead of what's expected?

In the Orbit of You by Ashley Schumacher is a touching YA coming of age novel about finding out who you are and reconciling the past. It tells the tale in alternating viewpoints and is a super fast read, but it does the job of entertaining without being too sappy.

WOWOWOW this is one of my favorite recent reads. I was immediately swept away by this one. It's written so intricately and thoughtfully, and is more complex than I expected it to be. I do love a good second chance romance, and this one had tension, pining, emotional stakes, and some seriously swoonworthy moments. It moved at a great pace and I was invested in the characters the entire time. I appreciated how they were all complex. I didn't feel like anyone was two dimensional, which sometimes happens when the focus is on romance and it's in the YA age range. I haven't read a YA like this in quite a bit, which was really refreshing and wonderful.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

If you are a reader of YA books, this is one you should not miss. It is definitely a young adult book, not one that boarders on adult. I would recommend it to teens - there is a little language, but not over the top. There are a couple of subjects that might be sensitive, but they are handled so well.

This is so much more than a romance - each character ( even the adults ) show so much growth and understanding of themselves and each other. The adults played a significant part in the story.

Ashley Schumacher just knows how to write a story that makes you feel like you are there. This is my second book by her and I will continue to read what she writes.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Nova and Sam were childhood friends who found comfort in each other. When Sam, who lived in an abusive home, was leaving to live with his uncle, he made a "promise, promise" to find Nova again when they were "big". It seemed the universe thought it was time, and they found themselves reunited when they both seemed to need each other most.

I have adored Schumacher's books since my very first one, Amelia Unabridged. There is something special about the way she crafts her characters and takes such care with their personal journeys. I am always moved as I read these characters' stories and extremely happy for where it takes them.

I found the idea of fate bringing these two in and out of each others lives at vital points so beautiful. When they were five, Nova provided comfort to Sam as he endured physical abuse at the hands of his father. Further down the line, they were at a crossroads in their lives, and it seemed they each had something to offer the other.

Due to his traumatic past, Sam worked hard to avoid conflict, and often found himself agreeing to or stuck in situations that he really wasn't onboard with. Now, in his senior year, he was struggling with his future - playing football, dating the cheerleader, not pursuing his love of woodwork. His desire not to hurt others was keeping him from his happiness.

Then there was Nova. She moved around constantly for her mother's job. She was a junior and this was her SIXTH high school. In order to survive, she became a chameleon, adapting to her surroundings. Due to this defense mechanism, she was suffering a personal crisis of not really knowing who she was or what she wanted. This scared her because the future was knocking on her door.

I believe so many people will be able to relate to Nova and Sam's personal struggles in some way and will root for these two the way I did. I was so happy they found each other when they did because it helped them make those hard decisions and have those honest discussions with the people they loved. The connection between Nova and Sam was undeniable, and I couldn't help but celebrate each step they took that brought them closer to each other as it was easy to see that they needed to tap into that special bond they shared.

Overall, this was a beautiful story filled with love and friendship. It was about figuring out who you are, what you want, and not being afraid to ask for it. I know I was elated that the universe brought Sam and Nova back into each others orbits, and I was filled with glee at where their journeys took them.

It's been a long time since a book has made me angry. In the Orbit of You was an irritating read. I found the book unnecessary angsty. I didn't understand why Nova and Sam's friendship had to be a secret. The logic behind their whole "farce" made no sense to me. The whole back and forth of "we can't be friends" was maddening. I had a love/hate relationship with the main characters. I empathized with Sam and Nova's situations and can see young readers relating to their struggles. But on the other hand, their decisions regarding Abigial were completely frustrating. It's hard to root for Sam when he's stringing along Abigail. Poor Abigail! The cheating in this story really ruined the book for me. Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC.

4.5/5 - This is a captivating novel about Sam and Nova. A friendship is torn apart at a young age, with a promise to find each other when 18. Sam and Nova meet again when Nova moves to town, having not seen Sam in more than 10 years. A compatibility test at their high school makes them a 99% match, but Sam has a girlfriend and Nova is trying to find herself. Neither wants to hurt each other, or others around them, but they continuously find themselves drawn together. Remembering the life from before.

This is a coming-of-age story and has a lot of the pain and turmoil associated with being a young adult in this world. Ashley Schumacher's writing is beautiful and transports you to this world of Sam and Nova and their story. The characters are so well written and parsed out that I felt for them both. Sam has been through many things in his painful past and is working to keep everyone happy, not ever wanting to rock the boat. He soon discovers that is nearly impossible and worries he is going to end up hurting everyone. Nova is the perfect depiction of someone so lost, not knowing or understanding herself.

They found themselves at what seemed to be a time when they needed each other. Though they experienced and caused pain, they were able to come out of this with growth and a better understanding of themselves.

I thought this was a beautiful story about friendship and love. Sam and Nova are working to figure out who they are, and how to be the person they are. The world the author created drew me in and had me reading page after page. Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for a copy of this book. All opinions are 100% mine.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an e-ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Nova and Sam were inseparable as kids. Until one day, Sam leaves and Nova doesn't understand what happens.

Fast forward to a new high school and Nova and Sam are reunited.

During a school personality test, they find out they are 99% compatible! This reminds them of their childhood friendship and their promise to always look out for each other.

Told through alternating voices, this is a lovely story and a quick read. Highly recommend!

Rating - 5/5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Date Read - February 24, 2024
Publication Date - March 19, 2024

*I received an E-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review* - Thank you @ashwritesbooks, @stmartinspress, @wednesdaybooks and @netgalley!

In the Orbit of You has a very lyrical writing style. I have not read a book with this writing style in a long time but I really enjoyed it! This is a young adult book but it has deeper topics. The angst is very real at times, but that's to be expected with a young adult book. I found that the deeper topics helped balance out some of the angst. Something I liked about this book is that it emphasized how little gestures can be just as meaningful, if not more than, bigger gestures to show that you care! I’m a sucker for those sweet little moments. I also love how everything is interconnected in this book and you're able to understand how it all connects as the story progresses. It's not all relatable but it doesn't need to be!

If you like girl next door, childhood friends, young adult books with deeper topics, this is the one for you!

Get excited to read In the Orbit of You, available March 19, 2024! 🎉

*Please check trigger warnings*

I absolutely loved Ashley Schumacher’s previous books so I was really excited for this one but unfortunately it wasn’t for me. The beginning was so good but my interest started to fade the more I read. Nova & Sam’s relationship was very strange to me. I really disliked the sneaking around & cheating. I know they are young but I can’t get behind that. This felt so different compared to the author’s other books. I’m a bit disappointed!

4.5 stars

Oh my GOSH.

This one is a heartbreaker. Schumacher writes so beautifully here and tells the story of Sam and Nova with such tenderness and genuine love.

I’m taking away half a star here because the ending felt really rushed in comparison to the very natural unfolding of the rest of the novel.

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

Wednesday Books eARC
Ashley Schumacher writes such devastatingly beautiful YA books that I look forward to every year. This year's book is all about Sam and Nova and figuring out who they are. I think there was such a delicate balance here with the normal teenager things like homecoming, along with rekindling an old friendship of kids who bonded while one dealt with heavy trauma as a child. This book explored friendships, dating, secrets, and learning to trust. I liked how there are enough elements going on here that it'll be easy for most teenagers to find a main or side character to connect with. It was a moving and profound story and I can't wait to see what this author does next.

I've really enjoyed each of Ashley Schumacher's books, but I was underwhelmed by this one. Like her other work, the writing is excellent, but I couldn't get past the cheating throughout the entire story and Sam refusing to break up with his girlfriend. I also found Sam and Nova's relationship very instalovey. While they were friends when they were five, they instantly fall in love with each other after suddenly meeting again years later in high school, which felt unbelievable to me. I was disappointed in this one, but I still look forward to Ashley Schumacher's future books.

After bumping into each other years after a bonded childhood, Nova and Sam find themselves once again living close. Each struggled through a traumatic upbringing that only brought them together as kids but is a barrier as teens. Their friendship grows as they are matched through a school-wide personality test. This confirms their complex feelings for each other.

Ah the joys of teenage angst! I am getting pickier and pickier about which YA books I read. Teen romance is especially unappealing to me and teen drama goes in the same category. This why I tend to stick with fantasy for YA.

With that being said, I adore this author. She is one of the few that I don’t question if I will read her latest release. Her writing is somewhat poetic and perfectly matched to the passionate relationships of teens. I’m immediately enthralled by her writing each time..

How does she continue to write romance that I love? And it’s YA! Schumacher excels in building relationships that are charming and realistic. She has the ability to make them feel more mature without taking away too much of their teen selves. The story she crafts is emotionally charged and beautiful in only a way she can create it.

I highly recommend this author for her beautiful writing but for her stories that will touch your heart.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the copy!

I'm 99% sure you're going to find yourself pulled into 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐎𝐑𝐁𝐈𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔 (Pub 03.19) You will find yourself utterly enraptured by the tender, layered YA story of Sam and Nova.

"𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘨𝘰 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘰..."

At the core, this story is about being at the crossroads of life and needing to find yourself before you can find anything, or anyone else. That heaviness is balanced with powerful rediscovered friendships, hope, and romance. It breaks your heart but then carefully pieces it back together. The writing had a beautiful prose-like quality and the characters had me rooting for them. As soon as I read the last page I exhaled a contented sigh and immediately re-read the last 20 pages. Heartwarming and simply lovely.

I did have to suspend reality and resist the urge to get hung up on "real life details" and just escape into the story.


When you're waiting for this book to release I highly recommend Schumacher's debut- 𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐚 𝐔𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐝. It's my favorite of her published works.