I really enjoyed this book more than I thought I loved the characters and the storyline! I read it in one day. I would definitely recommend this book.

Let's start with the obvious - this is a teen romance so the general thrust of the plot is going to be obvious. And it hangs on a lot of coincidence. Old friends who meet up again in their teens and are immediately entranced with one another. A personality test puts them on each other's radar. The reconnection forces them to address truths about their lives. And if that's all this book was it would be pretty eye-roll inducing. But it doesn't shy away from asking difficult questions and forcing characters to deal with the consequences of their decisions. It manages to achieve what a lot of romances aim for - more depth.

I love Ashley Schumacher's work and this is another winner. My favorite thing about Ashley Schumacher's books is that it's not just a romance -- in this novel, you witness the growth and self-discovery of Sam and Nova as their orbits circle and occasionally collide. It is a sweet romance and a coming-of-age story. Highly recommended.

3.75 stars

This was incredibly easy to fall into, the story is sweet and sad and overall pretty emotional. When childhood friends Sam and Nova reunite more than a decade later in high school, they've both changed so much and aren't necessarily where they hoped they would be. The teens immediately reconnect and remember how easily they click, but will they be able to stay together this time?

I thought this was a good coming of age book and had some cute moments between the two leads. I did think this could have benefitted from a bit more plot and I disliked how Sam treated his girlfriend and that things were just glossed over. Maybe not my favorite Schumacher read, but still pretty good.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for this copy.

When they were younger, Nova and Sam were best friends, but Sam had to move away. Years later, Nova unexpectedly enrolls into the same high school when her mom has a temporary assignment in the town Sam lives in. Nova arrives just in time for a compatibility test fundraiser, and according to the test, Nova and Sam are a near perfect match.

Nova and Sam's relationship tugged at me. I was rooting for them, but both have some growing up to do before they can be together. Their maturity in understanding this shines through. Nova is still trying to discover who she is and wants to be while Sam needs to continue to work through his past trauma and find his voice so he can live the life he wants (rather than the life he thinks he should want). It's the pains of growing up and figuring out what's next further complicated by having found someone who seems to be your other half. This snapshot into their lives is compelling due to their shared history and chemistry. I wanted them to be happy, especially with each other.

While a touching story, their indecisiveness is frustrating. Their reluctance to be together and inability to stay apart is understandable, feeding well into their narrative, but it becomes repetitive. I might have been more disappointed with the story had it not been for the epilogue.

Overall, it was a good read. Schumacher has always been able to pull me into her novels and make me care about the characters. I didn't expect any less here. While I wanted good things for these two, they were also infuriating in many ways. (3.5 stars rounded to 4 stars)

Thanks #NetGalley and #WednesdayBooks for the ARC EBOOK.

In the Orbit of You by Ashley Schumacher"s latest book is a brilliant read. Schumacher's crafts her characters and takes care with their personal journeys. I am moved as I read these characters' stories. It's the perfect mix of everything that you would want in a friends to lovers romance, but hits on important topics to open even an adult readers eyes. I recommend this book to those who enjoy fated stories.

Reasons to read:
- Coming of Age story
- Soul Mates
- Good writing

My Thoughts:

A True YA, In Orbit of You, follows the lives of Nova and Sam, from an innocent, but impactful, childhood friendship to a faithful meeting as teens, now trying to figure out what they want from life.

I loved the emotions explored in this novel and the very special connection shared between Nova and Sam. No matter how hard they tried to remain apart, they would collide. I also liked the themes of family, friendship, and addressing a difficult past and uncertain future. Nova and Sam seemed different in every way at first, their shared history gave them an understanding of each other, at times more so than they understood themselves during the story. I loved the idea that a soulmate doesn’t always have to be romantic, sometimes, they can just be a friend.

It must be said, that while I did not care for the cheating (or even implied cheating) plot, and having the main character not break up with his girlfriend while having a very clear connection with the female main character, I did enjoy the writing style and characters enough to be excited to read the rest of Ashley Schumacher’s backlist. The writing style in itself was engaging and kept me invested in the story and the outcomes of the character's decisions. I found the ending fitting and left in a way that made me hopeful, though I was scared for a moment there.

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭
Clean Romance (kissing only), Strong language
Trigger Warning: Childhood Abuse, anxiety/panic attacks, Fire, Cheating

*I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

This is exactly the kind of book I would have loved as a teen. It was sweet and quiet in the best of ways, The central relationship was not only believably deep, but by the end, I felt attached to them and their outcomes. I also really enjoyed the exploration of how friendships ebb and flow, as well as how Ashley Schumacher touch on PTSD and the effects of trauma.

I'd definitely recommend this title to a certain type of reader.

Special thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Content Warning: heavily implied and on-page talks about physical child abuse, PTSD, cheating on a significant other (both in the past and main feature in the book), a few on-page swears, a few thoughts, and insinuations about sexual content, a make-out (but, most are just quick pecks or kisses on the palm).


In the Orbit of You is my second experience with Ashley Schumacher’s writing. And just like last time; she smashed it! The way she writes is so moving. It is not like every other coming-of-age YA book, it’s real and broken and I appreciate that she creates stories with imperfect characters.

The older I get the harder it is to relate to YA contemporary novels (which is totally normal), but I always know with Ashley’s books I can find something that anyone can relate to or that will be relevant for a lot of young adults out there. Like I was saying earlier, she writes broken imperfect characters. Because that’s our reality. There is no perfect person. We all live with the befores of our pasts; the beauty of seeing that physically on a page is overwhelming in the best of ways.

This story was beautiful and heartbreaking. It scrapes together all the joy and pain that comes with growing up and figuring out your place in the world. The hardest thing about the story for me was the cheating (emotional and physical) that was a huge part of the story. I do not enjoy reading any plots with cheating, so nothing against this one in particular (just not my thing!) I will say I did enjoy the way it was resolved.

In the Orbit of You is perfect for fans of Ashley Schumacher’s other books (Especially, Amelia Unabridged). Other recs would be The Rest of The Story by Sarah Dessen (Figuring out yourself/childhood best friends). You’ve reached Sam by Dustin Thao (Sad Second Chance). I Loved You in Another Life by David Arnold (Very similar vibes, but make it historical).

Ashley Schumacher's previous books became some of my favorites and hit me right in feels, but In the Orbit of You didn't pack the same kind of emotional punch. The characters were a little lackluster and the plot was just average. The book was a disappointment.

Thank you Wednesday books for the digital ARC & gifted book. Ashley Schumacher is one of my favorite authors. Her books are always beautiful and authentic, especially in the way she writes young characters. A couple of them have made me sob, but also hug the book at the end.
In the Orbit of You is a sweet story of friendship and connection that had me captivated up until the last page. There are some moments in this book that are so incredibly precious and I absolutely loved the way Ashley wrote the ending. Nova has moved around a lot, way more than most, and as a result she's feeling like she doesn't know who she is or who she wants to be. Sam was rescued from an abusive situation by his uncle and aunt when he was very young and now feels like he'll seem ungrateful if he doesn't follow the plan they expect of him. He's perfect on paper: a football player with college football potential, dating a cheerleader. When Nova shows up, Sam is reminded of his childhood and their friendship. Both Nova and Sam struggle to figure out their relationship in the present. The resulting conflict and emotions take the reader on a wonderful journey. 🐌

Oh this story really tugged at my heartstrings. When you think about a child who was being abused and had to leave everything he knew to start over in a safe place, it's heartbreaking. When you think about his best friend not really fully comprehending what he went through at home, it's heartbreaking. When they meet up again years later and he doesn't seem to remember her - - it's heartbreaking.

This story about two friends who had a bond that lasted years was a beautiful story about broken people who are doing to absolute best that they can. Nova and her mom have been moving around almost constantly for years because Nova's mother takes temporary accounting positions, fixes problems there and moves on to the next job. Nova has never told her mother that she doesn't like it because her mother seems happy with the lifestyle, but secretly she's miserable. When she finds her friend Sam lives in the latest town they've moved to, she's initially thrilled until she sees he has a very full life without her. Sam moved when they were young to live with his aunt and uncle where he'd be safe and Nova never saw or heard from him after that. Now here he is and he doesn't seem to remember her. But she remembers him and everything they shared as children. Sam has made a conscious choice not to look back to his painful past. His aunt and uncle have treated him like a son and his only goal is to never let them down. In doing so, he finds its easier to move forward and live only in the life they've provided for him.

When they two lives collide, Sam has to make choices on how to live his life in the "now" and Nova has to acknowledge that her life and all the moving around aren't conducive to her building relationships. Will working through their issues be something they can do together or will it be something that will further separate them?

This was a really unique and well written book. The character development felt real and emotional. Thank you to NetGalley for the early copy.

"𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘨𝘰 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘰."

Ashley Schumacher's debut novel 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗮 𝗨𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲𝗱 wrecked me in the best way. 𝗜𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗢𝗥𝗕𝗜𝗧 𝗢𝗙 𝗬𝗢𝗨 has the same magic to it, and I couldn't put it down.

This YA long-lost-friends-to-lovers story is sweet and swoony with the emotional depth that Schumacher does so well. The way she writes teens and their struggles is authentic without being all angst - there's also a charming innocence to the characters as they try to figure out who they are. I was so sad when this book ended, even though the conclusion left a huge smile on my face. I'll be thinking about this one for a long time.

Thanks to Wednesday Books and St. Martin's Press for the copy to review.

Ashley Schumacher writing is always captivating and lyrical. Her stories always have me in an emotional state that requires my heart a few days to heal. In the Orbit of You, weaved a tale of childhood trauma and abuse. If you are interested in childhood friendship; right person/wrong time then this is perfect for you. I adored this story and would recommend to my students. I will definitely continue to support Schumacher’s work because her story telling is absolutely beautiful. Thank you NetGalley for giving me this amazing opportunity.

I had a hard time rating this one, waffling between 3 and 4 stars, but ultimately settling on 3 stars because as sweet as I thought the romance between Nova and Sam, I just couldn't wrap my head around excusing him for cheating on Abigail. He had too many moments when he could have come clean and saved her from a lot of heartache.

Yes, the author did a great job showing how child abuse can cause long-term PTSD that can lead to not making the best choices and I appreciated that she took us through his thought process as he tried not to rock the boat, not just with Ashley, but also with his parents. But his parents showed him nothing but unfailing support AND they constantly asked him if everything was okay. They gave him many opportunities to open up and he even thought about it. The main reason I kept on reading is because she did a great job of taking us through his thought process every time he decided against opening up. The same thing with Ashley--she gave him plenty of opportunities to open up and not only did he choose not to (which I understood), but he also made the bad choice to keep on hanging out with Nova, but in secret. It was the "secret" part that got to me. I think that was the biggest hang-up I have about this story. And while it would have been just as bad if Ashley had been a bad person, she wasn't. Not only did she love Sam, but I think she cared about Nova as well, so much that her last words to Sam was that he not rush into anything with Nova, until he figured himself out. I think that whole thing is what saved the ending for me.

I think this story is beautifully written and I was absorbed by the story, and those who can get past Sam's choice to pursue Nova in secret will probably enjoy it. I loved the idea of them meeting when young, during a traumatic period of Sam's life, and meeting again years later. Ultimately, I think you'll have to decide for yourself if you like the story. I do think it's worth reading, but your mileage may vary.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Schumacher is a truly gifted YA author. I love the way she writes YA. She creates these worlds and incredibly in-depth characters that I am instantly drawn to. This is a story in which two characters are destined to be together but the timing just isn’t right. Honestly, I don’t usually love it when that happens but it really works in this one because these two got the epilogue they deserved. My only complaint is I wanted more! I really rooted for these two and hope they find the happiness they so deserved. This one is out in the world today!

Huge thank you to #wednesday and @netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
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Ashley Schumacher is now one of those newer authors who, when I see a new book of hers coming out, I immediately grab an ARC. Her first book, Amelia Unabridged, was a lovely story about friendship, grief and the magic of books. And her most recent, The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway, set at a Renaissance faire, was sweet and nerdy and great fun.

She continues an excellent writing streak with In the Orbit of You, about a young woman who has moved around so frequently with her single mother that she never gets to set down roots or make good friends. Nova is now a junior in high school and has “experimented” with different personalities and interests in all the schools she’s attended. Now, as she faces yet another school and ponders on trying to figure out who she really is, she’s shocked to come face to face with Sam, the boy who was her best friend and next-door neighbor as a child. They played outside together and promised, when he moved away, that they would find each other.

Nova was vaguely aware of his frequent bruises and cuts and how he tried to hide them, but she was too young to understand what they meant.

For his part, Sam has put that part of his life behind a wall. He’s been living with his loving and supportive aunt and uncle for more than a decade. No one at school knows about “the before.” Now he’s just a talented football player, popular, good-looking, with a cute cheerleader girlfriend and a promising future ahead of him.

When he sees Nova, he’s scared to look back at that early part of his life, but he can’t resist the pull to the close friend he had. That’s especially the case when a personality test everyone takes at school shows them to be a 99 percent match.

Nova and Sam revisit their friendship and realize there’s more to it, but life is complicated. And each of them has things to figure out about themselves. How can they possibly move forward with it?

I can say that Schumacher has scored again. In the Orbit of You doesn’t have the wit and entertainment value of Renaissance, but it’s another fine study on loss, trauma, friendship and finding yourself. I hope she keeps on bringing us more great books.

Nova Evan’s and Sam Jordan used to best friends when they were really young. They played in the backyard between their fences, until one day Sam’s uncle comes to take him away from his abusive parents. Sam and Nova make a promise to find each other again when they’re older.

Fast forward to the present where Nova is starting a new school (again) and guess who she bumps into - Sam! Only he doesn’t recognize Nova. Sam only realizes who she is after the whole school takes a personality quiz to find out who they’re compatible with. Guess who is Sam’s 99% match?

This story is so much more than just rekindling a lost friendship. Both characters are also discovering themselves and what they want. It’s almost like a coming of age story for them both on top finding their friendship again and where they want o take it.

I really enjoyed both characters. I feel like they both had great character arcs. Sam went from a guilt-ridden people pleaser to really trying harder to be his true self. Nova, who was always on the move because of her mom’s job, never really knew who she was so she was always trying out different personalities at different schools but I think she finally found herself or at least started working at it.

All in all, it was a great story despite one part I didn’t love but liked how it was handled in the end so I wont hold it against the author. I am a huge fan of Ashley Schumacher’s books. If you haven’t read this one or any of her other books - you are missing out!

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

This is a mostly satisfying read. It is full of sweet moments and likable characters. Some of the characters, particularly Sam's girlfriend, Abigail, are a little too nice to be real. The ending is fairly satisfying, but it may leave you wanting more.

In the Orbit of You by Ashley Schumacher

The writing is beautiful and there are some really sweet and heartfelt moments. The story showcases the power choices and where they can lead us.

I struggled with the concept that’s it’s okay to cheat on someone as long as it’s with “your person.” I feel that could have been handled better. It really degraded the beautiful romance that was happening. It felt a little like Schumacher was trying to ruffle some feathers with that one.

There were several important topics covered and it was like a true coming of age, self discovery being a major theme.

That cover though 🤩

Content: several f-words, off page child abuse, house fire