Samantha Young does it again. By IT I mean giving us a wonderfully emotional story of a complex young women and her complicated life. The details in Samantha's story line always intrigue me (in this it's a new fascination with Irregular Choice footwear) but really she captured so many nuances of a personality in her characters, perhaps none more than that of Comet Caldwell. Comets' sense of self is conveyed so thoroughly, so descriptively, making this young Scottish teenager utterly fascinating. There's no easy was to sum her up so I suggest you just read this story to find out for yourself.

Comet is the only child of a pair of artist parents that are absorbed in their own world creating a strained relationship with their daughter. Comet has 2 really great friends but even that's fraught with the struggle of what I'll call the three's - someone is always left out, and much of the time it's Comet. She's often lonely, she isolates herself, and is only comforted by her wall of books
<blockquote> No matter what was happening in my life, in my room, I had over eight hundred worlds to disappear into, and over a thousand others on the e-reader on my nightstand. Worlds that were better than this one.</blockquote>.

She's a bit frustrating at times but I get her, I really do. I connected with her and found her endearing. Her quirky fashion sense aside, she's very stoic and seemingly scared of life. She's adapted to her situation but has a plan to move past the beach-side enclave in Edinburgh that she resides in. But when she's made to work on a school project with a newcomer from the US, the mysterious Tobias King, everything changes. She begins to find her wings.

This story is packed with a range of emotions. I found myself angry and scared on her behalf. As she and Tobias spend more time together and their worlds begin to meld, they face an uphill battle against circumstances. And everything is complicated the raging hormones of teenagers. No two Samantha Young characters are alike and I think Comet may be the most unique - one you ought to get to know.

In Tobias's words : “What have you been doing since you got here?” He smirked down at me. “Chasing after a girl.” Delighted, I tried hard not to grin back. “He says with absolutely no embarrassment or pricked male pride.” Tobias’s gaze softened. “She’s no ordinary girl.”

Never in my existence of reading, have I identified more with a main character. Like Comet, I was always the friend that would prefer to stay home and read a book, escaping into a world where everything ends happily ever after. At 16, Comet has to be more of a parent to herself than her selfish and neglectful parents have ever been in her life. In walks a new American student in her Irish high school who is the “troubled bad boy”. Assigned together for a project that neither one of them wants to collaborate on, an unlikely friendship grows.

This story is equally a romance and family drama. I felt so bad for Comet and how her parents treat her. I kept waiting for the moment when they would realize how she felt and explain that there had to have been a misunderstanding. It broke my heart when her father admits what she always predicted.

Speaking of characters I hated, Steph can kick rocks. Who needs a fake friend like that. I kept waiting for Comet to realize that girl needed to go. ✌🏼

I loved the romance. By far, popular boy/shy girl, hate to love, friend to more romances are my FAVORITE to read. They’re just so entertaining. I was shocked with the plot twist towards the end. I was expecting something to happen, but not that!

“And the real beauty of life is in the fragile ordinary.”

4.5 Beautiful Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟.5

Samantha Young can write charming relatable characters like nobody else.... I know any time I pick up one of her books I am in for a treat.... she also has done an amazing job with the transition to young adult books... both books I have read from her in this genre have been wonderful and true to the genre.... Samantha writes beautiful emotional books filled with remarkable characters living relatable lives...

This book is aboutComet an intelligent, delightful, introverted girl that would rather be home reading a book then at a party with college boys... now Comet and my teenage self weren’t terribly alike (I would have preferred to be at the party with the college boys) but whether or not you can see yourself in her doesn’t matter, you will find her engaging and somebody you will absolutely want the best for.... her struggle to figure out who she is will pull at your heartstrings and remind you of being a teenager...

This book was more of a coming-of-age story than a romance, but of course there is a boy... Tobias is the stereotypical hot new boy... A little bad boy, a little tragic, just begging to be saved.... even though Tobias was pretty cliché I found him perfect for Comet... he really had a soft sweet side that I found so endearing... also the relationship between these two was perfect... just the perfect blend of friendship and romance... and bonus it was slow burning always love that! Comet also had two delightful BFFs... what I really liked about this friendship was the girls were all there for each other and yet they all were typical selfish teenagers and so sometimes they weren’t the best possible friend they could be....

Comet also had some pretty dreadful parents... seriously, I try not to judge, but these two should not have been allowed to have children.... not sure if Samantha Young had some parent issues, but the parents in both this and her previous young adult book were pretty darn selfish.... some of the things said to her by her father in particular left me wanting to reach through the pages and give her a big hug... indifference not a good quality when it comes to parenting! But the good news is that Comet was a remarkable young lady in spite of it!

A beautiful emotionally charged character driven story that I recommend to people of all ages... now if you are a parent considering whether or not your child should read this book it does touch on some pretty heavy subject matter... including bullying, drug use, sex, teenage drinking, so perhaps it is a better fit for your more mature teenager 15+....

*** many thanks to Harlequin Teen for my copy of this delightful book ***

Every so often a book hits me in ways I never expect and The Fragile Ordinary is one them.

While I was expecting a very well written and interesting YA read (and I did get that), I was blown away by Samantha's poetry throughout this book. Reading her words had me stopping and reflecting on things in life that I never expected. For me, that made this book stand out even more.

The Fragile Ordinary is a story of growth for these young characters. Growing up in world where drugs are more easily accessible, high school tormentors are harsher and trying to be confident in ones' self in a more judgemental world is hard for anyone, let alone a blossoming teen.

Comet and Tobias may come from different backgrounds, but their struggles are the same - to be accepted as they are. The main plot is a story of friendship between two polar opposites and shifting into more as they overcome their own obstacles. Life is the same no matter where you are - whether it be in Scotland where this story is set or in America. But Samantha also throws in the obstacles friends face and how to handle the outcomes of their decisions. There are so many interconnected small plots within this story that make this book as a whole, really great.

I do want to point out that I love the dialogue in this book. I am so used to reading books that are set in America, that the change in the dialogue and the settings, made this book all the more entertaining. I could hear the diverse and unique language in my head as I read the words and I loved it - helped make the story more real and alive.

Samantha has written another sensational book that stands out amongst the rest!

The Fragile Ordinary centers around a teenage girl named Comet. Comet is described as a nerd with an odd sense of fashion, and has two friends with whom she interacts. She is essentially alone as her parents neglect her, and her friends often don't understand her. Tobias, "a hot guy from America" is a new kid in school this year and their relationship develops over time.

Tobias and Comet's relationship is sweet as he encourages her to come out of her shell, but I found him to be very mean at times. This book has all the angst and I really enjoyed Comet's poetry.

This wasn't my favorite of Samantha Young's books, but it was a solid read.

Samantha Young has a knack for writing YA books. This is the second YA book I've read of hers, and it was equally as fantastic as the first. This book had so much heart. The poetry was stunning, it was character driven, heart warming, and an all around incredible read.

Comet Caldwell has spent most of her life feeling alone. She has two best friends, but sometimes she feels like a third wheel. And don't even get her started on her 'parents'. They never wanted a child and basically treat her like she doesn't exist. At almost 17, she's grown used to it. But she desires so much more. Her poetry, which she isn't brave enough to read out loud or share, is her solace. It's where she can freely express her self and just be Comet.

Tobias King is the new student of her class. He's from America and everyone is enamored with him. Even Comet. Tobias is handsome, elusive, and reminds Comet of one of her brooding book boys. Comet never expects for Tobias King to give her a second look. But he does. I loved the friendship/relationship that formed between Comet and King. They were so good for each other and brought out the best in one another.

Comet is a character I think a lot of us can relate to in some way or another. I loved watching her discover herself, stand up for herself, and grow as a person. This book definitely has some romance, but this coming of age story is so much more than a love story.

As much as this book made my heart happy, there were also moments that had me bawling my eyes out. I'm not sure why I was so emotional while reading, but it truly did evoke a lot of emotions from me. Young brings all the feels with this book! The Fragile Ordinary is the best YA book I've read this year, and one I would highly recommend!

Let me start off with by saying I haven't read a YA book that was so deeply rooted, emotionally, in such a long time. I think it was Colleen Hoover's YA books that have done that and it has been quite a few years since I've read her YAs. I never expected to find myself so emotionally in tune with the heroine, Comet. I loved her character so much and was looking forward to seeing her growth into someone who was stronger.

I haven't read a book that has made me cry more than once in a long time. As beautiful and amazing Comet was, I hated that she didn't have much support from the people that truly mattered. A young girl, no, woman, who has so much to say and offer, and shows it constantly through her poetry. We experience every bit of her happiness, wonder, and pain through her words. And the fact the even sometimes her friends never understood her, it just made my heartbreak for her even more. It was hard to watch Comet take what they threw at her, but eventually, she would come into her own and finally start speaking for herself. And what a beautiful sight that was.

Comet and Tobias made it so easy to love their budding relationship. They're exactly what they needed, they definitely brought the best out of each other. But these two together evoked so much emotion out of me that brought on the waterworks. I can't exactly pinpoint what it was, but the moments where Comet would finally put herself out there and reveal bits and pieces of herself. And Tobias trying to be someone he's not, the pain Comet endured from that will really make your heartache.

Like many teenagers, there's a lot of experiences happening in such a short amount of time. I'm sure we can all remember and relate. I appreciated those relatable topics that were shared in this book, it just made everything much more real. It was another side of being a teenager and the possible outcome of following the wrong crowd. At which point do you stop trying to help someone who doesn't want to be helped? Or when do you finally tell yourself that you're going down the wrong road and need to make a change before it's too late? Decisions are tough as a teenager, I know I didn't make the greatest ones, but I sure did learn from them. It's not easy being a teenager.

For once I didn't mind the teenage angst, Samantha Young was able to convey so much through her words that it was easy to look past a lot of things. I related to Comet in the sense of being a bookworm and I'm sure all my fellow bookworms would have to agree. Since this was my first time reading Young's books, I'll definitely be going through her other books.

I just need to say this, I totally understand not wanting to be in social situations, it doesn't make anyone a bad person or unlikeable. We all have our comfort zones and yes, while I do believe we should always push ourselves past those limits. I'd never try to do it towards the point where it would bring me anxiety. I loved Comet's character, she hated being in the spotlight, avoided social situations, but you have to commend her for her growth and how much stronger she turned out in the end. For someone who essentially has no parental upbringing, she's been navigating life on her own, I'd say she was doing the best she could in her circumstances, which is fan-freaking-tastic for not having nurturing and loving parents.

Absolutely amazing read that I'll be re-reading over and over again!

It's no secret that I absolutely love Samantha Young's novels and whatever she writes, I read without second thought! I just wanted to clarify that in this review and let you guys know that, The Fragile Ordinary not only reached but also exceeded my expectations! It was everything I'd hoped it would be and I cannot stress my love for it enough! I basically devoured it in a day and nothing could stop me from finishing it at whatever hour in the morning!

As with every Samantha Young novel, the characters were perfectly imperfect and well thought out! I absolutely loved Comet's quirkiness and how she stood out from the crowd. We were never born to fit in with the rest, after all! She's extremely likable from the very beginning of the novel and I felt a beautiful connection with her as soon as I started reading! She's probably one of the most relatable characters in YA that I've come across this far and I just loved watching her discover herself and become who she was always meant to be! The way she handled things was truly mature and I admired her inner strength when it came to dealing with difficult and unexpected circumstances! She grew so much as a person throughout the novel and her character development was quite impressive! She owned up to who she was and never made excuses for it, which set her apart from everyone else! Her parents never wanted to have a child and the way they treated her was atrocious and unacceptable but, I was glad when she finally decided to openly call them out for their shitty behavior! I was glad to see her dad come around at the end of the novel because, truth be told, better late than never but, I absolutely despised her mother! I could definitely understand where they were both coming from but, it did nothing to ease the pain Comet felt because of their blatant disregard for who she was and who she strived to be!

Tobias was also an amazing character that I couldn't help but connect with as soon as he was introduced in the novel! He gave off such mysterious vibes that drew people to him but, he had his own demons to deal with and as the novel progressed, we learned more about him and where he came from! He had his flaws because who doesn't but, he proved to be a caring friend and later on, an attentive boyfriend! I immensely enjoyed how his relationship with Comet developed and the fact that it wasn't an insta love romance restored my faith in humanity! With him, Comet could be herself one hundred percent and I literally swooned every time he encouraged her to do so throughout the novel, instead of trying to change or control her. His faith in her abilities was something we don't see often in YA Contemporaries and that definitely needs to change, ASAP!

As much as I loved this beautiful story, I couldn't help myself and bawled my eyes out - in public, just to clarify that - at a couple of things that happened but, I obviously cannot talk about. What would be the fun in that? Apart from that though, The Fragile Ordinary was a roller coaster of emotions and it made me feel an abundance of things while reading it, which just shows how skilled Samantha Young is at writing novels that tear your soul apart and then stitch it back together effortlessly! I don't even need to talk about the writing and the world building because, guess what!? MAGNIFICENT!

Overall, I was mind blown by The Fragile Ordinary and I cannot express how much I loved it enough! It was a beautifully written coming of age story that explored the truths of life and how they can completely change you, while spinning a tale of romance that was anything but ordinary! I cannot recommend it enough but, be warned! It will probably break you hear in million tiny pieces and then just make it whole again without even trying and within a matter of chapters!

3.5 Stars ~ Reviewed by Sharon Thérèse

The title of Young’s new adult romance couldn’t have been more apt. This heart-wrenching read is fragile in the sense that at sometime or other in our young lives, many of us have experienced directly or indirectly what her two protagonists had, making their story easy to relate to. Whether or not parents have issues at home; even when our children are growing into adolescence, their struggles should become ours regardless of circumstance. Our job is to protect and guide them, these young adults often becoming a mirror image of ourselves. These points and more are highlighted with a sensitivity second to none.

Comet’s thoughts and even some of her actions, elicited conflicting emotions in me. I truly liked this lass who buried herself in books. We all know reading is an escape route from reality, and I’m all for encouraging it; however, in Comet’s case she lived in a world of fantasy and worst still, had trouble adapting to the real one. Being noticed, drawing attention to herself, worried her. Yet her dress sense was totally contradictory to her persona, something I had trouble getting my head round until nearly the end of the book. Her parents. I would have gladly jumped into my Kindle and given them a good telling off! So intelligent but so lacking in parental skills, they selfishness Comet had learnt to live with. But I didn’t like that she’d had to one little bit.

Of course, at this age we all have besties. Comet has two; one I had no problems connecting with, the other a tad airy-fairy for my liking but eventually came into her own. I thought their misunderstandings with Comet quite normal seeing as she’s a tad distracted with her hang ups. Comet needs to be liked, she just doesn’t know how to socialize. There’s a lot of bad feelings with other students which wasn’t of her making and until she starts standing up for herself, goings on at school are tough to deal with. I adored reading her poetry, her way of letting off steam and talent, she has. All she needs is encouragement and the confidence to take it a step further.

Her attraction to Tobias is another thing all together. Their feelings for each other develop at a slow pace; in fact, it starts off as often friendships do yet even so, I wasn’t keen on how one of them handled certain situations. By taking the easy way out seemed to aggravate their already delicate relationship and could have been avoided. Tobias’ past issues have a lot to do with his present day attitude. Learning about what he had to endure as a child is nothing less than tragic, and only then did I begin to understand his stance. But what I did like was them growing together, becoming a team and facing their feelings with the maturity one expects from teens who have little or no help from elders.

I really like YA genre although I found this coming of age book a challenging one to read. It’s very descriptive, harsh subjects abound and not only gave me much food for thought, but also hope for our youngsters. Perhaps if the story had been told from a dual point of view and not from a first-person perspective, I would have enjoyed it more. That being said, the dialogue flows in just the right places complementing the narrator's inner thoughts and I can’t dispute that The Fragile Ordinary is well-written. All in all, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this standalone novel to my friends’ teenagers because it’s definitely aimed at this age group, and will open their eyes in more ways than one.

Sometimes I'm just in the mood for a young adult romance. I hadn't read anything by Samantha Young for a while. At this point, I'm asking myself why. This story was sweet and full of emotions. I read it in one sitting. The poetry was such a nice touch. So were the pieces of Hamlet. I fell in love with Comet she is unique and real. I enjoyed watching her grow. My heart went out to Comet and Tobias. They both had real life issues to deal with. I feel like they handled what life dealt with them very well. I'm glad that I have Samantha back on my radar. I'll be ready for her next read.

I just spent the most wonderful weekend reading Fragile Ordinary. It’s been so long since my last Samantha Young book and I’m glad that this latest one instantly captivated me.

This is a story about a teenage girl dealing with parental abandonment and lack of social skills. Comet Caldwell is someone who’d prefer to stay within the confines of her home, surrounded by her books and write about her thoughts through her poems and blog. A bright girl who is often ignored by her mercurial parents, who favored gallivanting other places than taking care of their child.

Tobias King is an American boy who transferred to Edinburgh and soon becomes Comet’s classmate and presentation partner. On the outside, Tobias is a jerk who doesn’t take his classes seriously eventhough he’s bright and smart. He picks fights with his teachers and spends time with his miscreant cousin. But once Comet gets to know Tobias inside his home, she learns that this misunderstood person isn’t as different as her home situation.

Soon they build and share a bond that only the two of them cherish and treasure. Not everything is great between them, but that’s what made their relationship dynamic and fragile. I love these two characters a lot, most specifically Comet. For me, one of the most important things I always consider in reading YA, is how the protagonists evolve and mature. Comet has come a long way from being a lonesome awkward teen to somebody that Tobias King has relied on. I love how they started out as mere acquaintances, classmates and soon became friends. Of course, I was more than pleased and delighted when they decided to take their relationship to another level.

Fragile Ordinary is way beyond fragile and is anything but ordinary. Samantha Young totally captured my heart with book’s sensitivity, relevance, hopefulness and romanticism. Life isn’t bed of roses to the characters involved in the story, but there sure is development and promise. Plus, the poetry aspect of the story is brilliantly adorable. This is a highly recommended read!

The Fragile Ordinary reaffirmed my decision to read more young adult contemporaries - it was refreshing, emotional, and endearing. I related to Comet immediately and within the first chapter, I knew that I wanted to make sure my 17 (going on 18) year old daughter to read it as well. I loved Comet and Tobias together, not because of the romantic aspect of their relationship, but because of the depth and strength of their friendship. The way that they supported and changed each other for the better, how they each saw and brought out the best in the other, was just beautiful and enviable. I got so much from this book - even from reflecting on Comet's relationship with her dreadful parents. It also made me want to recommit to write more myself. Once upon a time, a day did not go by when I did not write something creatively. Now it's become a rarity and Comet's passion and fragility has encouraged me and rekindled that spark within me. This book alone has turned Samantha Young into an auto-buy author for me - I can't wait for her next YA and I'm looking forward to reading her adult romances as well. 4.5 out of 5 wine glasses.

Comet Caldwell lives a fragile existence. Separated from total loneliness only by her two best friends and her books, she sits on the fringes of total obscruity in school, and at home is dimmed under the brilliance of her artist mother and writer father.

With a name like Comet one would envisage a trailblazer. A loud and outgoing individual whose mantra would be to seize the day. In actual fact Comet is a girl whose teenage insecurities are compounded by the knowledge the friendship she has grown to rely on becomes more tentative by the day, and the “relationship” with her parents has ceased to exist. She’s long come to acknowledge her parents are selfish and self absorbed, but even so, it doesn’t stop the hurt she experiences every time they remind her how little they see her.

If nothing Comet is a girl with a plan. She loses herself in writing her poetry and has big dreams of moving to America for University. School is important to her and the arrival of an new American student in her classes brings disruption in more ways than one.

Tobias King causes a stir of excitement and the handsome American soon has most of the student body vying for his attention. He’s instantly popular and runs with a unsavoury crowd. Begrudging Comet acknowledges he’s a thing of beauty but she's less than impressed by his disruptive antics in class and his blatant displays of self sabotage. It’s mortifying for her to be paired with him for a class project. She’s incredibly intimidated by him but as they spend more time together the lessons of the classroom pale in comparison to the lessons they learn about themselves.

THE FRAGILE ORDINARY is an explorative story of life, love and self realisation. Not only was it an incredibly emotional and inspiring read but also a stark reminder of the the care we need to take with one another. Comet is Heroine in the truest sense of the word, and we should be so lucky to have piece of her in all of us.

The latest novel by Samantha Young brings readers close to a narrator who loves books and escapes into them because she feels safe there. Many readers will relate to her and find it homely.

Candid, angsty, predictable yet engrossing, The Fragile Ordinary pulls you in with its fast paced writing as you are glued to its pages to find out the fate of our sweet, fun, hardworking narrator and the equally fulfilling cast as they navigate friends, family and school life.

The chemistry between the characters and the storyline with their juggling of teenage life as they take on adulthood was electric.

The assertive moral of the story was eye opening and refreshing. The need to be oneself before you become someone's person was highly heady among other messages sprawled within the pages of this book.

My first Samantha Young book and it won't be the last.

Fun Fact:
The Fragile Ordinary reminded me of Edward and Bella in the beginning quite a lot with those English class scenes. Lol.

Special thanks to NetGalley and InkSlingerPR and the Publishers for this review copy.

4 coming of age stars

This is a beautiful and heartfelt coming of age story set in a seaside town in Scotland and tells the story of an extraordinary young girl figuring out her life, herself, and discovering the wonder of first love. It’s a gorgeous YA story by one of my all-time favourite authors, and I loved it!

Comet Caldwell is a 16 year old girl who is unique as her name. With a love of poetry, books, and a quirky sense of fashion, she is an individual who is comfortable with who she is, though she is shy and quiet and keeps to herself, preferring to escape into her world of books than pretty much anything. She has a comfortable homelife, though her parents are too wrapped up in each other to give any love or attention to her, but she has good friends and is about to embark upon her final year of high school before pursuing her dream of attending college in America so that she can get a fresh start and explore her love of writing.

And then along comes Tobias King. New to Scotland, the gorgeous American brings a dose of bad boy into Comet’s world. Tobias hangs with the bad crew, but he’s the new golden boy of the school, and though she can’t quite figure him out, Comet experiences her first real crush. And when the unlikely duo are paired of up for an English assignment, it gives them a chance to get to know each other. They see into each other’s worlds, and come to understand the difficulties that the other is dealing with, and as they grow close, their friendship slowly and naturally blossoms into young love.

“What if what I really want…is you?”
… My answer was instant and absolute. “Then you have me.”


Oh, I love these two together!!! There is something so easy and so beautiful about the two of them, and I reveled in both their friendship and their romance. It all felt so right!

We loved each other. This was real love, I decided as he hugged me close to his side. It had to be. Because nothing had ever felt more real in my entire life.


But their lives are far from easy. They are dealing with family drama, friend drama, bullying, and the usual teenager drama of trying to figure out who they are and what they want from life. Comet and Tobias have their ups and downs – individually and together as a couple. And their individual journeys are just as important as their journey together as they deal with all that life throws at them. It’s all beautifully pulled together into a very special story that had me reminiscing about my own teen years, and made me laugh, cry, swoon and sigh at the beauty of it all.

Before you, I believed real, true, glorious living was in adventure, was in the extraordinary. But I’ve learned that time is not so forgiving, and the real beautify of life is in the fragile ordinary.


This book took me by surprise with its emotion. I wasn’t expecting the feels, but I was easily swept up into Comet’s world, and I loved watching her story play out. She is brave and relatable, and she's a wonderful narrator for her story. It ends well, though not everything is completely tied up (view spoiler). But it sort of fits the book, so I was ok with it.

This was a truly gorgeous read! 4 stars.

I started reading this book the day after I got it at the ALA convention, and could barely put it down to meet other authors and go to library sessions for the rest of the time I was there. Halfway through the book all I could think about was how much I connected to the main character, Comet. Comet was a total booklover, nerd girl, who had friends that wanted to go out and party and didn't understand why she wouldn't try to meet guys. That sounds so much like me, even up to this day, I would rather stay home and read. Back in college, I'm sure a lot of my friends were disappointed in me when I didn't want to go out, but like Comet, I'd often go, feeling guilted into doing it for my friends.

There was one point where Comet mentions that even though she doesn't want to worry about what other people think about her, it isn't a choice. This really resonates with me as I see more and more people bring up the quote about how it's none of your business what other people think about you. I get that, I do. But, it's like my brain is hardwired to stress over that, to want everyone to like me. There's also a part where Comet talks about how it's nice sometimes just to have the crush, that if it were to actually become something real, that takes some of the fun out of it, and makes it more stressful.

As usual, Young's story had me crying, actual tears, and I had to put it down for a few minutes, because I was sitting in the middle of a restaurant in New Orleans eating, so was feeling a bit conspicuous. Such wonderful characters in this book. As you have already read, I loved Comet. And then there was Tobias, the love interest. Well, the way the story started, I didn't think I would like him. But soon, he grew on me. There was even a part where I was thinking there was no way he could really be that great of a guy. So that made it perfect when the final conflict came around. A conflict or issue that I had a feeling was going to happen, even if it once again made me cry. I loved how Comet's friends were realistic, and the growing pains they went through. I really fell in love with Tobias's cousin Stevie as well.

I can't wait to get this into my school library this fall, to share with my students. I highly recommend yet another Samantha Young book, go get it today!

Samantha Young has NAILED YA. Not that I should be surprised because she really has excelled in each genre she has tried.

One consistent thing I have found among her books are her unique and amazing characters. Each time I read a new book, I leave the story feeling like I was a part of these characters lives. That I loved. That I cried. That I fell into grief and despair.

Comet and Tobias are no exception. The beauty seen while watching these two come of age and truly find themselves and each other is awe-inspiring. Together the ride the tumultuous waves of high school bullying and learning to make the right choices.

“Before you, I believed real, true, glorious living
Was in adventure, was in the extraordinary.
But I’ve learned that time is not so forgiving
And the real beauty of life is in the fragile ordinary.”

There are plenty of heavy topics in this story, none of which I’m willing to spoil because the friendship and eventual love Tobias and Comet build should really be experienced by everyone who chooses to read this book. It’s burns slowly and comfortably, and it left me with a smile on my face knowing both, Comet and Tobias, would be okay.

Samantha Young has NAILED YA. Not that I should be surprised because she really has excelled in each genre she has tried.

One consistent thing I have found among her books are her unique and amazing characters. Each time I read a new book, I leave the story feeling like I was a part of these characters lives. That I loved. That I cried. That I fell into grief and despair.

Comet and Tobias are no exception. The beauty seen while watching these two come of age and truly find themselves and each other is awe-inspiring. Together they ride the tumultuous waves of high school bullying and learning to make the right choices.

“Before you, I believed real, true, glorious living

Was in adventure, was in the extraordinary.

But I’ve learned that time is not so forgiving

And the real beauty of life is in the fragile ordinary.”

There are plenty of heavy topics in this story, none of which I’m willing to spoil because the friendship and eventual love Tobias and Comet build should really be experienced by everyone who chooses to read this book. It burns slowly and comfortably, and it left me with a smile on my face knowing both, Comet and Tobias, would be okay.

I have been an ardent fan of Samantha Young’s books for a few years now. It always excites me whenever I get the chance to re-read or read a book by this author.

It’s safe to say that The fragile Ordinary is a fantastic read! I can see why this book is one of the most highly anticipated YA books for the summer.
As an avid reader, I’d like to believe that Comet is a character we can all relate with: from our preference of fictional characters to real human kind, our tendencies to get immersed into the worlds created by authors that leave us entrapped…to…ahem… This I can vouch for: Comparing book friends to real ones. Comet is a character that I fell in love with from the get go. I loved that Comet was such a beautifully confidence character yet shy and endearing at the same time.

Tobias is honestly what any reader would expect in a YA book..hot, smart, slightly misunderstood, a little broody. Almost cliche, yet so good!

The Fragile Ordinary is no ordinary YA book. It is beautifully written…the poetry in this book will take you into the different dimension! Every word is a Gem, every sentence is more beautiful than the next.

The fragile Ordinary is a simplistic adventure… It’s beautiful and sensitive. I am going to be honest here and say that yes, I did cry my eyes out reading this book.

It was an absolute joy to read this book!
It’s one the best YA books I’ve read this year.

I highly highly recommend it!

Wow, Samantha Young once again confirms her sublime mastery in writing stories that really touch a reader's heart <3
I have to admit I don't read a lot of YA books anymore, but this book was really a great read for me.
First of all, it was soooo realistic! Sometimes YA books have so much drama, and every emotion needs to be exponentially magnified... But not in "The Fragile Ordinary", nono. This is one of the things that I appreciated the most, the fact that there were some difficulties to overcome, and also big and though ones, but everything was developed really well, the storyline flew, and nothing felt forced or constructed.

Comet was such an interesting character, in so many different ways. From her fashion style, to her personality, to her way of dealing with her life and every situation. She was really mature for her age, and I recognised myself a little bit in her. I loved the fact that she had firm life goals already at 16, and that she did her best to reach them, even by being brave and overcoming her insecurities.
Samantha Young managed to make of Comet a strong and mature teenager, but yet still a teenager, so with difficulties typical of her age: balancing friendships, love issues, family problems.

The book was written from Comet's point of view, so we don't get a direct insight of Tobias's thoughts, but like for Comet, I really liked how he was portrayed and characterised. He had a different life story than Comet, he is a different person with a different personality, but he fit perfectly in this book. Through Tobias and his family, Samantha Young talks about some really delicate issues that unfortunately are quite frequent right now, and I admired how those issues were dealt with.

A great addition to the story were also the secondary characters, how each one of them represented part of the real word and its diversity.
We can say that this book saw a very important character growth for many of its characters, and this is another reason why I appreciated it really much.

I don't want to spoiler anything about this book, but I will just say that I definitely recommend it, both if you are a YA lover or not, because this book it's not a simple YA romance book, but in a certain way it also gives some very important life lessons.