The Fragile Ordinary, the title of Samantha Young’s newest release, seems quite contradictory; the implication that something normal…something standard…something regular could be vulnerable or delicate doesn’t quite fit its moniker, but it doesn’t mean it’s any less true…it doesn’t mean there’s not value and understanding in that paradoxical idea.

In the continuum between ordinary and extraordinary, especially when it comes to teenagers, there’s a learning curve due to the pressures, insecurities, and expectations that come with traversing through hallways and classrooms where people are constantly judged and evaluated based on their actions and their words, and what that means for those individuals who see themselves as nothing more than ordinary is that they must contend with labels, pressures, and bullying, upsetting the delicate balance that exists for them on any given day, making it difficult to keep themselves and their lives in check, which forces a spotlight on those who would never choose to be exposed as anything but regular.

Based on her name alone, there are certain expectations for Comet Caldwell - thoughts on how she should act and who she should be, and even though that’s not the path that she would ever choose for herself, it places her in a rather precarious position that is further aggravated by the appearance of a certain American bad boy - one who enters her life and brings with him his own issues and demons to fight, which means that, together, Comet and Tobias need to decide if they’re meant to be an extraordinary duo or remain behind the scenes as unequivocally ordinary as they can be.

Before I go any further with my review, I think it’s important for readers to understand that I don’t read a lot of young adult literature; it’s not that I don’t enjoy it; it’s just that my reading schedule, which includes author review teams, ARCs as a blogger, and the books I beta read, isn’t conducive to all of the YA books that have been released. But, not only is Samantha Young one of my absolute favorite authors, but her storytelling and the characters she constructs never fail to illicit a wide range of emotions and thoughts.

And The Fragile Ordinary did just that!

All readers will relate to Comet in some significant way; to me, I felt like she was my high school self kindred spirit. Everything she endures…her views on life and living…the way she handles the multitude of difficult situations and decisions…her love of book characters and her connection to them…Comet is such a relatable character and the turmoil that surrounds her doesn’t feel the least bit contrived or over the top and that is exactly the kind of main character readers can identify with, support, and cheer on because as Comet experiences all of drama and pressures of being a female teenager, her plight resonates with everyone who hears/reads her story.

Tobias King definitely has a hardened edge to him, but in some ways I think that helps him deal with his past and the aspects of his current life that seem out of his control. He doesn’t appear to be someone who would mesh well with Comet, but that’s the thing about preconceived notions and judging people based solely on what is said about them and the mask they wear. To truly understand someone, there needs to be an investment…a common ground and slowly but surely that connection is made and solidified between Comet and Tobias, and it’s heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time simply because of how things play out and the choices that have to be made, not only for them individually but also for any future they could possibly have together.

In every sense of the word, The Fragile Ordinary is a paradoxical title - one that teaches relatable and significant life lessons and then goes about exemplifying those teachings through two main characters who every reader will identify with and be inspired by…Comet and Tobias’ story is an amazing story of resilience…of friendship…of love, and it realistically illustrates a teenager’s journey through life - the highs and the lows and everything in between.

It’s definitely a story that stay with me and its lessons will not soon be forgotten.

5 Poison Apples

4.5-4.75 STARS

While YA is not normally my "go to genre," I am a huge fan of author Samantha Young and find that I’m hard-pressed to read anything she’s written that I haven’t thoroughly enjoyed. Comet and Tobias' story in "The Fragile Ordinary" is no exception. Zeroing in on some key, relevant issues, this author expertly rips those issues open for the reader to examine and explore. It's a raw, honest, and gritty romance that’s written with plenty of insight, compassion, and heart.

Despite the expectations that are automatically hung on a girl with the name of Comet, this shy, introverted book-worm deems herself more ordinary than extraordinary. With artistic parents that are indifferent, neglectful and self-absorbed, Comet Caldwell finds solace in writing poetry and friendship between the pages of her books. That is, until American transplant, Tobias King, enters her highly dysfunctional world.

Following the untimely death of his father, Tobias King is uprooted from his “perfect” life in American and thrust into a brand new life in Edinburg, Scotland, where he seems determined to reinvent his previous squeaky clean image. But despite Tobias’ new bad boy image, this is not the person he truly is at heart. It’s simply a knee-jerk reaction to his own emotional upheaval rooted in a perceived betrayal that had only recently come to light.

From the outside looking in, Comet and Tobias couldn’t be more different. But, in fact, they are more alike than one would think. Still, their friendship and ultimate pairing wasn’t automatic--it began awkwardly and blossomed slowly over time. But despite their deep, emotional connection, Tobias seemed intent on keeping their relationship strictly private, pushing Comet away whenever others were in view. Hurt and confused, Comet watched from the sidelines as Tobias fell further under his cousin’s destructive influence. And when Comet stepped in to keep him from falling any further, they both got caught up in a situation that led to a campaign of bullying, torment and eventual heartbreak.

From start to finish, it is quite evident that (despite her shyness) Comet is incredibly strong and resilient. Tobias, in his own right, is devoted and loyal to a fault. Though his actions might be misguided, Tobias’ heart is always in the right place. Still, I’m not a fan of the “push-and-pull” actions that result in hurt, even if the intent behind said actions is for the better good--especially when those actions could be avoided altogether through simple communication and trust.

As a whole, Comet and Tobias’ story is as compelling as it is heartbreaking. It is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of love to heal all wounds. It reminds us not to make snap judgments based on outward appearances, while it delivers a lesson in compassion & understanding towards those who either suffer in silence or who act out in ways that serve to detract from their suffering. Yet, at its very heart, “The Fragile Ordinary” is simply a romance… one you’ll want to savor and one you won’t easily forget.

I’m more into NY/Adult genre, but I love some YA too, especially from one of my favorite authors.

This story is so beautiful and emotional, and I related so many times to Comet, I saw so much of my “younger me” in her.

Tobias and Comet will make you swoon and cry.

I really appreciated the way Samantha Young dealt with some topics like parents/children relationships and/or conflicts, friendship, loss, bullying, social pressure and how teenagers have to find themselves, grow up, make decisions… and deal with consequences…

And the poetic part was just amazing...

I really recommend this book!

I really liked this book. However, I felt like It jumped from one scene to another without a smooth transition. Like we were in one place and then all of a sudden we were somewhere else. That is the only issue I had with this book. I liked how this dealt with true teenage feelings and of how hard school can be. And how cruel kids can be. Samantha did a great job showing all of the ups and downs in her writing. Thank you for another great book!

Samantha Young gives us a beautiful, exquisite story with The Fragile Ordinary that will touch you deeply. Comet’s emotional, heartfelt journey will take hold of your heart and never let it go.

Comet is socially awkward and keeps to herself. She is full of pain and heartbreak. I loved the slow build of her friendship with Tobias. I loved the way they help each other. Their chemistry and the way their relationship blossoms and grows is so heartwarming. Comet breaking out of her shell and taking so many leaps and watching her grow is beautiful and uplifting.

This story is full of ups and downs and so many emotions. I smiled, I cried, I hoped, and I loved. This story is sincere, raw, and honest and the sheer beauty of it will leave you with a smile on your face and a heart full of love.

" To Thine Own Self Be True - Be True To Yourself. "

The Fragile Ordinary by the outstanding and incredibly talented author Samantha Young - I´ll love her On Dublin Street Series forever and ever - is a full-length, standalone young adult romance.
Comet Caldwell is a young girl in her last year at highschool. She´s shy, highly intelligent and her life isn´t a easy one. Her dream is to attend a US college and master in literature.
When Tobias crashes into her life everything´s about to change.

Tobias King is a new student at Edinburgh highschool. He´s the bad boy from US, shakes the school up, but when they get assigned to a class project they form a connection. Comet´s world shifts.
I started reading and was hooked from the beginning. I totally connected with Comet. M yheart was bleeding for this beautiful soul. Samantha Young painted a very fitting world with her words. You can feel every emotion of the characters. Every insecurity, pain, hope and blossoming love.

Samantha Young blew me away with the story, the characters, her words and her writing.
I recommend The Fragile Ordinary and give 5 wonderful stars.

“But I’ve learned that time is not so forgiving, And the real beauty of life is in the fragile ordinary.”

The Fragile Ordinary is an utterly spectacular coming of age young adult romance novel written by the marvellous Samantha Young.

Self-proclaimed ‘average 16-year-old’ Comet Caldwell has never wanted to be the centre of anyone’s attention. With a barely existent relationship with her parents, and only two close friends, Comet is keeping her head down and her grades up so she can make her escape to college. Preferring the fictional worlds of books and her imagination, Comet is shocked to find herself with a crush on the new boy at school, American Tobias King.
Struggling to deal with his father’s death, Tobias wasn’t too keen for the move his mother insisted on from North Carolina to Edinburgh. Acting out and letting his grades fall, the last thing Tobias expects is to form a connection with the shy nerdy girl he was paired with for a class assignment, a girl whose poems make him not feel so alone.
But when bullies threaten Tobias and Comet’s relationship they have two choices, go their separate ways or weather the storm together and take a risk on something extraordinary.

I’ve been a fan of Samantha Young’s for a while now, so when I received an Advanced copy of this novel for review I was ecstatic, and I’m so, so glad it lived up to my colossal expectations.

Like many novels the initial character/world building, and the exposition that’s needed to ‘set the scene’ made the early chapters of the novel come across as a bit monotonous. Thankfully this impression did not last and before long it had launched into what has now become one of my favourite contemporary YA stories I’ve ever read.

I loved almost everything about this novel, from its portrayal of healthy and supportive relationships, to its realistic handling of bullying and harassment and the impact it can have on a person.

One of the themes that runs throughout this novel is Comet’s lack of supportive parents and the impact that has had on her. Comet states quite early in the novel that she and her parents did not have a good relationship and that her parents had, in fact, never wanted a child;

“…proceeded to treat me with offhand kindness, disinterest and sometimes outright negligence. I was an accident, and not a happy one.”

Comet is such and strong and inspiring character, who despite her painful shyness, her fear of being judged, and abandoned by those she cares about, tries every day to stay true to who she is and what she believes in.

“Don’t you get it, Tobias? This—” I gestured to what I was wearing “—it’s my way of fighting the girl who doesn’t want to share her poems with anyone. This is the part of me that could give a crap what anyone thinks of me. I’m proud of myself when I walk down the street wearing the clothes I want to wear, because it means I’m standing up for who I am. I wish… You have no idea how much I wish I could care less what anyone thinks about me at all, whether it’s my clothes or the words coming out of my mouth or the words I put on paper.”

Tobias and Comet’s relationship was so sweet and wholesome, and it was so refreshing to read a Young Adult novel that showed a healthy and supportive relationship where both people grow and change and I absolutely LOVED this aspect of the novel.

One of my favourite parts of the novel, however bitter sweet it soon became, was the friendship that developed between Comet and Tobias’ cousin and close friend Stevie. This was such a sweet and pure friendship and I adored seeing it unfold.

“My whole life I’d grown up in school with Stevie Macdonald and I’d never once thought to look beneath the surface… So I made the decision right there and then to give Stevie the chance Tobias wanted me to. For Tobias I would have done it anyway. But getting to know Stevie, seeing that beneath the bravado and cheekiness was a nice guy with a crappy home life, I did it for me and Stevie, too. Because maybe Tobias was right. Maybe if you took a chance on people, rather than writing them off before getting to know them, reality could be fun.”

The Fragile Ordinary is a story of love and loss. It’s a story about overcoming your fears, learning to be brave, and most importantly staying true to yourself.

The Fragile Ordinary was a tremendous pleasure to read and releases June 26th.

Final Score - 5 Cosmic Stars!

The Fragile Ordinary was a book that offered me a glimpse into my forgotten adolescent years. I'm never one to look back and reflect, but this book had me doing so. And in that, I found a little bit of solace and forgiveness. I was very much like Comet ... I hung out in my room, surrounded by my Harlequin Romance Books. I escaped from life because I didn't have very many true friends and my home life was far from ideal.

It’s not hard to see the parallels from my life to Comet's - it's like Samantha Young wrote this story about me! - and that's just the icing on the cake that drew me in. I can't tell how often my heart broke in two reading Comet's story - whether it be her feelings of invisibility where her parents are concerned or her lack of understanding with her peers - no one likes to feel excluded or isolated.

I was so happy that in the end Comet stuck to who she really was and stood up for herself, whether it be her parents or friends. I was applauding her courage to do - something I never quite was able to do until much later in life. The difference between us though lies in Tobias. I never had an opportunity to find someone like him. He was good for Comet. Yes, he put her through the ringer at times, but it was just what she needed to break out of her self imposed bubble.

On a whole The Fragile Ordinary is anything but ordinary. This is a story about finding your voice and identity, beautiful poetry, and finding one's courage to live & enjoy the beauty of life.

Comme vous le savez sans doute , je suis fan depuis très longtemps de la plume de Samantha Young et depuis que j'avais découvert le résumé et la sublime couverture de son nouveau roman VO, je n'avais qu'une hâte : découvrir l'histoire de Comet. Cette romance Young Adult va vous faire vivre de magnifiques émotions et vous faire passer des rires aux larmes.



En juillet 2016, j'ai eu la chance de partir en vacances en Ecosse, à Edimbourg et de pouvoir avant la RARE rencontrer Samantha Young pour un tour des lieux emblématiques de sa saga Dublin Street . J'ai adoré découvrir cette sublime ville mais aussi séjourner quelques jours à Portobello , lieu qui sert de cadre à notre romance. Autant donc vous dire que j'ai parfaitement visualisé les lieux visités par notre héroïne et cela a renforcé mon sentiment de réalisme en lisant cette histoire.



Le réalisme se ressent aussi par le biais de Comet Caldwell qui est une jeune héroïne qui ne peut que trouver un écho en nous même et qui partage de nombreux points communs avec l'auteur. Comet va avoir 17 ans et elle entame son année de terminale avec l'envie de pouvoir postuler dans la meilleure université aux Etats Unis. Comet est une adolescente très solitaire qui ne se sent pas à sa place que ce soit chez elle ou au lycée. Il y a une énorme distance émotionnelle chez elle qui est forcément liée à sa relation plus que particulière avec ses parents. Kyle et Carrie sont des artistes qui ne vivent que l'un pour l'autre. Leur fille semble être un accident dont ils se sont accommodés mais ils n'ont jamais changé leur style de vie pour lui faire une place. Aussi ce n'est pas rare qu'ils la laissent seule chez eux et qu'ils partent à l'étranger pour se ressourcer sans leur fille. Imaginez donc la souffrance et les blessures profondes que peut ressentir Comet. Elle n'est pas aimée et elle le sent très bien. Heureusement , elle peut compter sur sa meilleure amie Vickie et son amie Steph pour être avec elle à l'école mais une fois de plus une distance va petit à petit se mettre entre elles car elle n'a pas les mêmes centres d'intérêt et elle ne sort pas faire la fête comme elle.



Comet s'est donc habituée à cette vie de solitude, le regard perdu dans la mer qui s'étale à perte de vue. La jeune fille est une vraie artiste et elle peut extérioriser ses pensées, ses envies et ses peurs grâce aux poèmes qu'elle écrit tel un exutoire. Le talent de notre héroïne est indéniable et pourtant elle ne veut absolument pas se confronter au regard des autres car leur jugement pourrait tout envoyer balader en éclat. C'est simple au lycée, elle ne cherche qu'une seule chose : être invisible . Mais cet objectif va être difficilement atteignable avec l'arrivée d'un jeune Américain qui va la voir et découvrir son petit secret. Lui le jeune homme populaire pourrait il avoir envie de faire sa connaissance et de partager de bons moments ensemble? Les thématiques abordées seront d'autant plus fortes qu'elles peuvent nous concerner et nous toucher. Le regard des autres, le jugement seront donc au rendez vous et il s'agira donc de traiter de problèmes d'adultes tout en étant adolescent , cette période où la colère, la déception et les rancoeurs sont de rigueur.



Tobias King est notre héros et vous allez adorer le découvrir. Il a quitté les Etats Unis pour aller vivre chez son cousin et ami Stevie. La situation familiale ne semble pas être des plus calmes et il faudra apprendre à aller au delà des apparences. Il semble vouloir endosser un rôle qui ne lui sied pas parfaitement. Pour rester dans le groupe des élèves populaires, il passera tous les rites de passage avec brio mais Comet pourrait voir qu'il n'est pas forcément celui qu'il prétend être . J'ai vraiment aimé ce personnage car on sent qu'il pourrait apporter des tas de choses à Comet. Il va découvrir son secret mais il ne s'en servira pas comme une arme contre elle. Tobias est un jeune homme qui devra assumer les conséquences de ses choix. Il saura montrer une certaine maturité pour son âge et avec lui, nous allons nous plonger dans d'autres thématiques tout aussi importantes et éprouvantes. Pourrait il devenir ami avec cette jeune femme qui sort de l'ordinaire? Parviendra t-il à s'adapter à cette nouvelle vie loin de son pays natal? Pourra t-il s'afficher au grand jour avec Comet ou restera t-elle son petit secret?



Bref, une fois de plus j'ai été plus que conquise par cette romance de Samantha Young. The Fragile Ordinary aborde avec brio des thématiques adolescentes avec une maturité éblouissante. Je me suis sentie très proche de Comet car c'est une héroïne qui nous ressemble et qui , espérons le, pourra évoluer au fil des pages. Vous allez sourire par moments , vous allez souvent être émue mais une chose est sûre : vous n'oublierez pas Comet, ce personnage qui semble fragile et ordinaire mais qui saura affronter les épreuves de la vie.

It has been so long since I read a YA novel and I’m so glad that this was the book I chose. Samantha always seems to draw me into her stories with her ability to write about such realistic characters.

Comet is a girl that I am sure everyone can relate to. Especially when you think back to those times in your teenage life when you weren’t quite considered an adult and experiencing some ‘firsts’ on your way across the bridge of adolescence. Those experiences make it easy to understand what she was feeling throughout this story.

Comet could be described as a shy person but a lot of her shyness comes from a lack of confidence. She is an only child and lives with her self absorbed parents who seem to be lacking the maternal gene when it comes to their daughter. Comet is a young woman anyone would be proud to call their child, she is witty, clever, intelligent, creative and has an eclectic fashion sense.

I think the thing I loved the most about her was her love of books and how she enjoyed getting lost in them. I’m sure all bookworms can relate to this! When Tobias King, the american boy, arrives at her school he causes quite a stir. He is very handsome, which makes the female population a bit giddy and for the first time in her life Comet feels the flutterings of a crush in her belly.

When Comet and Tobias are paired up for an assignment an unlikely friendship between them develops. Underneath all his bravado and gruffness in class is a very clever and insightful guy. There are many layers to Tobias and they find themselves sharing their most inner thoughts with each other. It has been a long time since someone made her feel like she was important and worthy of their attention. Comet feels this way when she is with Tobias.

When friendship between them crosses into something more, Tobias is determined to protect what they have, even if it means upsetting the people closest to him. This sets off a chain of events that reminded me just how nasty some school bullies really can be. However, the deeper consequences of this are absolutely tragic.

Comet’s connection with Tobias has changed something in her. She has found her voice and isn’t afraid to use it anymore to speak up. He has given her confidence to believe in herself and shine like the amazing comet she is. She learns that living in the fragile ordinary life she has is actually quite extraordinary.

‘But I’ve learned that time is not so forgiving. And the real beauty of life is in the fragile ordinary.’

This book is a great one that covers so many relevant topics to not only young adults and teens but adults as well. The topics involve, self care, development, worthiness, friendships, young love and a huge spotlight on parent and children relationships. I found it fascinating to read and experience a relationship so broken between the protagonist and her parents. I found it easy to relate to and it would be a great read to educate and encourage a strength of character in young women, believing in themselves and standing up for what they love, their own voice, sense of style and their feelings. For me this was the best part of the novel, seeing the growth and experiencing the growth of Comet from beginning to end. Samantha Young is amazing at writing characters that feel so real, you do not just go on a journey through the pages of the book but through to the end as well. You catch yourself wondering what happens next, imagining them after and wanting to know more. There is always the aspect of wanting more! The dialogue is well written, witty and will also bring you to tears. Without spilling the story line, the full circle of topics this book covers for young adults is educational and I believe would encourage anyone with similar feelings to really step into their own. It would also get you thinking about how you deal yourself emotionally with situations and how being a good and intelligent person ( nerd ) is not a bad thing, it in fact is a really good thing! I highly recommend the read and getting to know Comet and the King. If only he existed when I was a teenager.

"No matter what was happening in my life, in my room, I had over eight hundred worlds to disappear into, and over a thousand on my e-reader on my nightstand."


I was so happy when I received an e-arc for this book from the author because I had been eagerly waiting to get my hands on it and Samantha Young is one of my favourite authors of romance. YA is not my favourite genre but since it was Samantha Young, I was sure, I would enjoy this book immensely.

Coming to the book, it tells the story of Comet Caldwell, who is an introvert, a bookworm and a secret poet. This is the story of her finally finding her voice and coming out of her shell and the catalyst for all that is the new boy in school, Tobias.

This was a deeply nostalgic read for me because there was so much of the highschool me in Comet. I was an introverted bookworm who would rather read than socialize. So as soon as I started reading, even from the very first chapter, I connected with her and I could deeply empathise with everything she was going through at that particular stage in life.

Tobias, like all other bad boys in romance was a hardshell with a marshmallow heart. He was perfect for Comet because he understood her and encouraged her. He never tries to change her and I loved him just for that one fact. I did feel some animosity towards him in the middle when he was acting like a jerk but all was forgiven once the reason was clear.

The only thing I didn’t like was how the friendship between Comet, Vicky and Stephanie was portrayed. They seemed more like frenemies than best friends and didn’t give a good impression on female friendships in general.

But nevertheless, I really enjoyed this rare foray into YA romance and if you recognise even a tiny bit of yourself in my description of Comet, then you have to pick up this book.
The book has released now in India and you can click the link below to get your copy.

Rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Perfect story

When I read the last page of this book, all I could initially think was, wow. This book evoked so many feelings and I fell in love with Comet immediately - I adored her, and her quirkiness. Real issues that are prevalent in today’s society such as bullying and drugs, were handled with care and tact. Samantha Young has this amazing capability of writing characters in a way that makes them feel real, and I was so invested in Comet and Tobias - their story had me crying, smiling and laughing.

As a story, the plot moved well, the writing was engaging and the dialogue felt natural. I also enjoyed the side characters, as well as the descriptions of Edinburgh. It added a depth to the story that really made it feel real and I could envision Comet’s world so easily.

All in all, this was a beautiful and heartfelt story about an epic first love, and I would highly recommend it!

I’m kind of in a tough spot here. I absolutely loved both Comet and Tobias as individual characters, but I wasn’t the biggest fan of the plot.

So let me just get out of the way what I didn’t like so we can move onto the good! This was filled with high school stereotypes. There was your typical mean girl, absentee parents, bullying in school (and adults not caring about it), and yes, some insta-love. And there is one main plot point with a side character that I saw coming a mile away. Overall, the plot could have used some work.

But the characters! This is a very character-driven book. Comet is a sixteen year old girl who loves to disappear into fictional worlds (don’t we all). She is a very shy and somewhat awkward character. She makes some decisions that kind of have you tilting your head. But she’s teenager! She’s growing and learning, and I for one was rooting for her throughout the book.

On her first day of school she meets Tobias, an American exchange student. When he let his guard down and showed his trueself, I adored him! I thought he was very sweet and he clearly cared about Comet a lot. I liked that Tobias and Comet formed a bit of a friendship before getting together, it was a way of showing their connection a bit more clearly. Though I do wish we would have been able to see a deeper side to this.

I could feel Comet’s struggle when it came to her parents very clearly. I just wanted to hug her and make sure no one ever hurt her. I was very unsure of her two best friends, Vicki and Steph, throughout most of the story. But Vicki especially was a great friend towards Comet. I was glad to see a positive relationship in Comet’s life.

This was a cute love story, but an amazing coming-of-age YA book!

Oh man, I really loved this book. Comet was simply an amazing character that is sure to make any reader love her. I truly related to her on a very deep level simply because she lives her life in a way I wish I was brave enough to live (at her age). Each character was fleshed out and I loved the backstories that were present. I do wish that we learned a little more about the side characters but I truly loved Tobias & Comet. Their story was fresh and I loved that it didn't feel too young nor did it go into too much of an adult realm. At 28, I was still able to love the story.

This is the first young adult novel that I have read by Samantha Young. I've been hooked by her books for years so I was a little nervous to go from adult romance to young adult romance. It's always interesting to see how a writer's writing changes when it comes to age. Though I prefer Samantha Young's adult novels, I truly loved this book. It is realistic, it's fast paced, and it is sure to make you think back to your high school woes (if you're older). Honestly, it was fantastic. I truly loved it.

A tale of a girl who lives her life inside of the books she reads. There are some that believe Comet has a weird name and is a weird girl because she lives outside of the social norm. She doesn’t do social media and only talks to her two best friends. She judges people before getting to know them and has parents that ignore her. Her being smart and quiet gives people the opportunity to bully her when all the while they could just be jealous of her. Until she meets Tobias and then her world takes her on an adventure she did not see coming. Comet and Tobias are both smart in their own way but Tobias hides behind his anger until Comet brings a new light into his life. One-night Comet gets into a pickle and Tobias is there to come to her rescue, but he ends up leaving his cousin to his own devices. That night will change all three of their lives in diverse ways. Comet and Tobias embark on a relationship and they both open their hearts to new challenges. Comet starts making friends outside of her two best friends and Tobias starts making school a priority. Just when they start to drop the walls around their hearts they both lose someone and let the guilt of eat it distance them from each other. Comet and Tobias must fight their way through their own darkness to find each other again.

I love this story of teens finding their way through high school and social status. Comet is walking through life not really living and only staying hidden from all that life has to offer. Tobias brings something out in her that she did not know was there. This is a sweet story with some teenage angst and drama. It also hits on some hard issues that teenagers do not let the adults in on. Sometimes I do not like reading teen books because of the drama but this one was more realistic and how these teens have real issues that adults ignore. I love the sweetness and how the drama didn’t outshine the reality of every character’s story. It’s a great read for those of you who do not have an issue reading about teenagers and it will not disappoint

I tried getting into this story but for some odd reason, I wasn’t felling it. Liking a certain book is subjective. What I might like some might not and vice versa.

Comet is a shy girl who is her own person and doesn't want the lime light. She's happy to stay in the shadows and just get through school, she doesn't want to put herself out there. She has 2 friends that's enough for her.

Then Tobias comes to her school and everybody likes him, girls want to date him and guys want to be his friend. You remember that guy from school right? When partnered together with Comet she gets to learn more about him and his family and not everything is as it seems.

They have a slow burn chemistry, lots of things to learn about each other and outside influences to get through. I felt like I was back in school with my friends watching this all unfurl, my heart hurt at places, I wanted to yell at adults, pat Comet on the back for FINALLY saying something to her parents and just wanted to sigh at other places.

Loved this sweet teen romance that spoke of harsh realities in today's world and handled it beautifully.

I don’t think Samantha Young can write a bad book. This is another stunner. 💗

What a beautiful and romantic coming of age story. One I believe so many book lovers can relate to!

Comet is a young girl that prefers the world in her books to the real world and that is something I think we are all guilty off. She is very shy and finds it difficult even relating to her closest friends at time. She doesn’t have anyone real that she can reply on including her self absorbed parents.
That is until the new boy starts at school. Tobias King like Comet says he even as a book boyfriend style name 😂
I don’t want to go into too much about their story as I think you need to experience that for yourself but I urge you to please pick up the beautiful relatable story of first love and a girls journey to finding out whilst real life is painful and tough, it’s also rewarding and beautiful and worth taking risks on.

10/10 - 5/5 a must read!

Can’t be missed ❤️

This is a sweet coming of age novel featuring 16 year old Comet, a girl who lives life through her books ( familiar)! and through the love of a new student (Tobias) finds the courage to step into her real life. It’s a novel about being brave, following your dreams and having the strength and courage to stand up to difficult people and situations.

The Fragile Ordinary was good but it was a shade away from brilliant. The romance could have done with a little more heat - I know it aimed at teenagers but I’ve read steamier scenes in other. YA novels! There were no surprises in the story, but because Samantha Young has such an engaging style of writing I was still hooked to the tale.

A nice light summer read, making me want to get on a plane and visit Edinburgh!