In the Orbit of You by Ashley Schumacher was a bust. I loved her last two novels I just couldn’t behind
this one. It felt like immature and it felt like a miscommunication trope and it drove me crazy.
2⭐️
Thanks St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley.

3.5 stars

I’m a big fan of Ashley Schumacher’s writing and In the Orbit of You started off really strong. The premise intrigued me (please be sure to check CW’s) and I was drawn into the story right away. Unfortunately, the beginning, middle, and end chapter format/breaks didn’t make the most sense to me and the story went from love to like by the end.

Ashley Schumacher captured all the yearning, joy, confusion, and heartache of young love well. I wanted to root so hard for Nova and Sam (even if it was a little odd that they would have such deep and lasting feelings for each other starting at the age of 5/6). As certain plot points continued to drag on and on (and on) though, things started to derail. I can forgive a certain amount of back and forth and lack of communication, even more so in YA, but this pushed me beyond my limit.

***** SPOILER *****

The emotional cheating (and ultimately physical cheating) really soured the romance between Sam and Nova for me. His childhood was 100% heartbreaking, but just like Abigail pointed out - that doesn’t excuse his terrible behavior. Sam said “cheater” was a trigger for him and Nova’s previous boyfriend cheated on her, yet they still did this. I guess these choices just drove home the author’s point that Sam and Nova are young and needed to step back and figure themselves out first, before anything else.

***** END SPOILER *****

The ending was hopeful though and allowed our characters to grow into themselves. It left me smiling, but I’m sad this one didn’t fully work for me.

CW: child abuse, transient childhood, grief, cheating, anxiety/panic attacks, lightning strike & fire

OW/OM: The MMC has a girlfriend for almost the entire novel. There is emotional and physical (kissing/light touching/hand holding) cheating.

*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*

I feel like I expect Ashley Schumacher to rip my heart from my chest, run it over with a car, and then plop it back in. This was not that.

It certainly had its melancholy moments, but felt a little more on the fluffy YA contemporary side. Not to mention that we don't get a happy ever after or even a happy for now. We just get ... whatever that epilogue was. I did enjoy the dynamic between Nova and Sam, the little flashbacks to Snailopolis, the complex relationships between their guardians. There was a lot that was right in this book - I just had the wrong mindset going into it.

*Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

My thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books/St. Martins Publishing for the ARC of "In The Orbit Of You" in exchange for an honest review.
Quite a heart-tugger, this one. If you fall under its spell (which the book casts right away), don't be surprised if it's impossible to get through it with dry eyes.
For sheer emotional power, nothing beats a story of childhood best friends abruptly separated and then reunited years later. And with the passage of time giving them a chance to nurture a long ago friendship into something much more.
Sam and Nova's tender bonding as children was made heartbreaking by Nova's attempts to help Sam cope with the horrific physical abuse his father inflicted on him. Then circumstances end the kids' time together........Sam's rescued into the custody of his aunt and uncle while Nova's mother pursues her career as a travelling freelance accountant, forcing Nova to grow up in temporary locations, always the new girl in school.
Once again, Nova lands in a brand new place for her high school junior year. It's the school where Sam, under the healing parentage of his relatives, has grown into a football star, complete with a beautiful cheerleader girlfriend, athletic scholarships, and maybe pro football in his future.
But secretly, it's not the future he wants for himself. And his reunion with his long lost childhood friend Nova touches off multiple conflicting emotions for both of them. Years of moving place to place has left Nova struggling to define herself and her goals - her rekindled friendship with Sam only serves to send them on an emotional rollercoaster with each other. And their attempts to establish a shaky, semi-secret, platonic relationship brings them both to a breaking point.
For everyone who remembers the brief, golden time they spent with a past childhood crush (and who hasn't?) and also recalls the pre-college agonies of figuring out who you are and want you want.....what can I say except you'll find "In The Orbit Of You" kind of impossible to resist. So prepare to have your heartstrings not merely tugged and played like a rock guitar in a 5 star show....I, for one, didn't mind at all.

In the Orbit of You

"We don't have to be more than we are."

Ohhhhh my gosh what a beautiful and powerful love story. Nova and Sam have my heart for sure. Two childhood friends who used to play in the dirt together as the King and Queen of Snailopolis, torn apart when Sam is taken from his abusive father to live with his safe and loving Aunt and Uncle. Nova and her mom follow a turbulent path until they collide with Sam in his new hometown when Nova and Sam are in high school.

Nova crashes into Sam's orbit and he cannot avoid her gravitational pull, despite having a carefully constructed life that should be enough. He's the football star with scholarships coming his way even though he doesn't love the game. He has the perfect cheerleader girlfriend who is kind and delightful. Nova isn't sure who she is, but she's trying to figure it out on her own this time.

Theirs is a beautiful coming of age story about discovering who you are and being true to that person, even if it means telling hard truths to your loved ones.

I highly recommend for fans of high school aged YA. Despite the darker themes with memories of childhood, this was a beautiful story. Thank you to Wednesday books and Netgalley for this ARC! In the Orbit of You is on shelves March 19th, 2024. My opinions are my own.

Unfortunately I’m chalking this up as just a book that wasn’t for me. I adored ‘The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway’ last year, and was intrigued to read more by this author.

I did like the writing style, but the story just wasn’t my preference. I have seen reviews with spoilers out there so I’m going to leave this spoiler free, but some topics and tropes in this book aren’t my preference. Which is why I’m not saying it’s bad by any means, just not for me.

Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book! I voluntarily read this book, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

**CW: Contains themes of child abuse and trauma.

This book is ~sweet~. Like sipping lemonade out on the front porch kind of sweet. In the Orbit of You had me from the very beginning, when we meet young Nova and Sam playing in the dirt by their connected fence. The queen and king of Snailopolis, as they call it. (Freaking adorable.) They’re torn apart, however, when Sam is taken away from his abusive home to live with his uncle. Snailopolis and its royalty become a distant memory. Until Nova and Sam meet again in their final years of high school.

In general, I think it’s a bit overkill when a romance really pushes the fate card. When it’s practically screaming See? They’re totally meant for each other! See?! I’m all for destined love — just don’t shove it in my face. This book does push the fate card pretty hard, with the friends’ reunion and all the subsequent coincidences, but Ashley Schumacher wrote it in a surprisingly charming way. I could see why Nova is special to Sam and vice versa, and how that makes their feelings inevitable. Of course, there are obstacles in their way: Sam has a girlfriend, Nova is only at the school for two months, and they’re both too scared to stray from their life plans.

As much as I loved the main couple, watching them try so hard to stay away from each other when it’s clearly killing them… was frustrating. There was a lot of back and forth happening, which started feeling repetitive. It was worth it, though, because they’re just so dang ~sweet~. I liked their inside jokes, their vulnerable conversations, their soft palm kisses. I also liked that we don’t see too much of Sam’s past, unless it includes Nova. Frustrations aside, this is a delightful read about childhood friends-to-lovers who are just trying to find their place in life.

**Much thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. In the Orbit of You will be released on March 19.

Thank you @wednesdaybooks @netgalley for a copy of this book.

Sam and Nova were friends they were little kids and when Sam moved away, they lost touch. They randomly reconnect in high school and their connection is as strong as ever. I love how they reconnected but didn't like how they kept their friendship a secret. It felt they were both unfair with Sam's girlfriend, despite they were not "cheating". Aside from this aspect, I did enjoy 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.

I’m not sure I can find the words to express how Ashley’s writing this time around made me feel. Very much character driven and I’m not even sure a ton actually happened for the plot but I just LOVED it. I loved all of the characters and it just made me warm and fuzzy and had such a great message for a teen. Thanks NG for the ARC!

This coming of age story is one that was well-crafted and full of heart. Sam and Nova are characters that I couldn’t help rooting for, throughout all the ups and downs they experienced. Their romance along the path of self-discovery was truly touching!

My thanks to Netgalley, St Martin's Press and Wednesday Books for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.!

This is a cute YA about discovering yourself, your actual wants and desires, amidst a blast from your past.

While this does have strong language, I felt like this was a very typical, age appropriate YA story. The struggles of high school are very relevant. I was completely drawn in with the character’s internal struggles. The story of Nova and Sammy was very tender.

Even though I was expecting more heart ache and ugly crying in this book, I wasn’t disappointed with the fact that I didn’t experience either of those things. This story is very well written, easy to read, and still pulled me in and made me completely invested in the characters and wanting to know the outcome. I did feel like the story was very slow moving, but the flash backs to the past helped a little.

I would definitely recommend this to high school kids, the lesson of figuring out what things aren’t can help you discover what they are is a good lesson I think everyone can benefit from.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and Ashley Schumacher for an advanced copy of the book to read. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Schumacher's books are always an emotional journey, and In the Orbit of You was no different. This was seriously so good and I could not put it down.

Ashley Schumacher is one of my favorite writers! I am so glad I was sent this book. Her writing is so beautiful and she pulls you into loving her characters so much even while she's leaving you guessing. I love it so much.

When she was young, Nova Evan was best friends with her neighbor Sam, and she was heartbroken when he moved away. Too young to understand the injuries he hid before he left, the two promised to find one another in the future. Fast forward to her first day in a new high school. Nova spots someone familiar, Sam, who is all grown up. But he doesn't seem to remember her, leaving Nova questioning her memories and wondering what happens next. What follows is a heartfelt and emotionally resonant journey.
"In the Orbit of You" by Ashley Schumacher is a beautifully crafted story about the complexities of love, loss, and the fragile bonds that connect us all. As the characters confront their pasts, they discover that sometimes, the greatest strength lies in embracing our vulnerabilities.

With depth and unforgettable characters, "In the Orbit of You" is a story that will linger in your heart long after you've turned the final page.

4/5 ⭐️
This was a very adorable YA romcom. I was giddy during certain cute moments, and loved how it tackled the typical teenager’s dilemma of discovering who are and want to be. I related to the dynamic between Sam and Nova, feeling like this is your person, that the universe drew you two together, but everything else is pulling you away. I also understood the dynamic between Sam, Nova, and Abigail, having experienced that too. The story was very cute, however, there are a few things that had me debating if I wanted to give it 4 stars, or 3.5. There was a lot of time spent in the two narrator’s internal thoughts. It felt like 60% of the book was their thoughts, and only 40% actual action and dialogue. Which was sad cause when the narrators interacted with each and others, that was where the real magic occurred. That’s when I really enjoyed this story. I just wish it l spent less time in the heads. That it was sprinkled in to emphasize things rather than be an actual main ingredient to this dish. And because so much was spent in their heads, it felt like we were cut short during actual conversations and interactions. There were numerous times I wish the interactions were prolonged and fleshed out. And as I said, I loved that it brought up the normal problem in every teenager’s life of figuring out who they are and their future. But I felt Nova was just saying she needed to figure it out, never really showed us her actively trying to discover it.
Overall, I’ll definitely be recommending this book to others. I’m just a little sad cause I think in my personal opinion, this could’ve be exceptional if a few things were tweaked. But despite that, it was very enjoyable and cute and even had me tearing up during the corsage scene. So yeah, I would recommend this book
Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Publishing for providing an advance reader copy of this book for my honest review.

Two childhood friends, Nova and Sam, who are separated by a move reconnect years later during their senior year of high school. Despite the gap, the two are still drawn to each other. The only problem is that Sam has a girlfriend and Nova will move soon.

Schumacher’s books always manage to tear up my heart while doing so in deep, meaningful, significant ways. In this book, we explore the effects of abuse, constant moving, identity struggles, trauma, messy relationships, and finding one’s self.

Nova and Sam have my heart!! As childhood friends, the comfort these two had for each other was so heartwarming despite the heartbreaking conditions. There was some grey area emotional ‘cheating’ which had me and the characters fumbling. Knowing their backstory too had me rooting for them but the present day drama had me anxious and wishing that Sam would speak up. Still, I loved how raw, authentic, and layered each person’s story was.

The writing and pacing are captivating and had me speeding through! The heavier topics and triggers were addressed with care and the ending had me on edge. There was such a mix of emotions and though I’m not sure how I felt about the epilogue, I still enjoyed this overall!

Thanks, Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for my arc!

This book had so many cute moments!

Nova and Sam are childhood friends who were the King and Queen of Snailopolis. They go their separate ways with Sam moving to live with his Aunt and Nova traveling the country with her mom who takes contracting jobs. This book is the definition of coming of age.

Sam and Nova meet again when they are a senior and junior in high school. Nova is only living in town for 2 months before she leaves with her mom for another job. Same doesn't recognize Nova at first, but quickly catches on that she is Nova, Queen of Snailopolis.

This book follows Sam and Nova in finding out who they are and working through the pressures of doing what they think is expected of them. The book was realistic and was done in such a way that nothing was glossed over. I felt connected to both characters and I felt like I could relate to the obstacles both characters felt. These characters are the definition of human as they do typical high school behaviors but have supportive parents. I believe that the parents in this book are such an important part of helping them to recognize their full potential. I've said it again and I'll say it again, as a therapist, I did enjoy how Ashley did a great job of reducing the stigma of therapy and showing its benefits.

5/5 for this book as I was sucked into this world and the theme of space was integrated throughout the whole book. The pacing, the characters, and just the world itself were such a treat to read. ****I will agree that this book might be controversial in how to perceive the actions of the characters***


Thank you Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and Ashley Schumacher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love Ashley's writing. She is such a a talented author with beautiful prose and stories that always tug on my heartstrings.
I genuinely wasn't sure what to expect going into In The Orbit of You, since Full Flight wrecked me but Gwen Hathaway was more lighthearted. Now that I've finished, I can say that I think this book was a good middle ground between the two, not heartbreakingly sad but also not super light and fun.
"Everybody needs somebody."
This is a story of finding yourself and finding your person in a busy, confusing world full of expectations. I loved each of the characters and how it all resolved in the end.

*Some strong language throughout
*Mentions of physical and verbal abuse in the past

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for my complimentary e-arc of this book. All opinions here are my own.

Sometimes you read a book and it is so clear that two people should be together, but the timing is just not right.
That is the case in this new YA release.
As young kids, Nova Evans and Sam Jordan created a special bond.
One filled with a Snailopolis (a world for snails, obviously).
And special innocent kisses.
"The kisses go where they need to go."
But their time is cut short when Sam has to move away.

Fast forward to their teen years (17 to be specific), and they meet once again.
Only this time Sam has a girlfriend and Nova is only in town temporarily.
That doesn't stop them from gravitating to one another.

I loved the innocence of this story, where two young people are old enough to recognize there is something special between them, but too young to know how to handle things given their situation. Nevertheless, they show some maturity in being cautious.

I also liked how the two leaned on one another to help guide them with their future path.
For Sam, a star football player, he struggles with whether he even wants to continue to play, and how any change would be a letdown for his family.
For Nova, she has no idea who she is or what she wants to do.
Some heart to hearts provides the motivation needed to speak up and be honest to their families about their situations. Again, very mature of them.

Once again, this author has delivered a charming YA story with a slow burn romance. Worth checking out if you are a fan of the genre.

Thank you Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

"In the Orbit of You" by Ashley Schumacher is a heartwarming and emotionally charged YA book that explores the enduring bond between childhood friends, Nova and Sam, as they navigate the complexities of life and love. From their humble beginnings as neighbors, Nova and Sam forged a deep connection in the innocence of youth, finding solace and support in each other's company. Despite the challenges they faced, including Sam's traumatic experiences of abuse, their friendship remained steadfast, a beacon of light in a tumultuous world. If you are a fan of the friends-to-lovers troupe, you will definitely enjoy this book. I absolutely adored the developing relationship between the two. With the beautiful writing and their growth, their relationship felt authentic and real. You could tell that the two are fated for each other.

Schumacher's masterful storytelling brings together themes of fate and resilience. Through Nova and Sam's journey, you are drawn into a story that is both deeply poignant and profoundly hopeful. Like I said earlier, the writing is absolutely beautiful and sometimes gut-wrenching, especially when looking into Sam’s past and the trauma he experienced as he grapples with the aftermath of his abusive childhood. Nova, too, undergoes her own journey of self-discovery, navigating the complexities of adolescence with grace and determination. I think many readers will find themselves connecting to Nova and will learn from the experiences that both of the characters have. I was so invested in these characters and their growth that I found it difficult to stop reading.

At its core, "In the Orbit of You" is a story about the enduring power of love and friendship to overcome life's greatest challenges. Schumacher's poignant prose and vivid characterizations breathe life into Nova and Sam's story, leaving you deeply moved and inspired. This book is definitely one that will stick with me for awhile. With its powerful themes and unforgettable characters, it is a must-read for fans of YA contemporary romance.