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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This book had so many cute moments!

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In support of the SMP boycott, I will be withholding my review of this title until SMP speaks out. If the boycott is resolved, I will update with a full review.

Ashley's work is always on the extreme side if teen angst and this novel isn't any different. If you liked her earlier works you will like this one. Her writing leans more towards the literary John Green esque sorts of plots and details.

Would be great for the deep YA reader. The poetic introspective teens will find a lot to love in this story.

I really wanted to love this, Amelia Unabridged is one of my all time favourite YA books, but ITOOY was a bit of a miss.

The writing is lovely, I really liked both characters, I felt their tender love and I was routing for them to be together. But the biggest issue I have is the dishonesty/cheating done by Sam, and it was completely unnecessary. I think when you are talking about teenagers it can absolutely be messy but not unnecessarily so and this just set a bad precedent for young readers alike and therefore left me disappointed.

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin’s Press all opinions are my own.

This book is hard for me to review because I have very conflicted feelings about it.
I read through some reviews who have the same feeling as me, so I think this book missed the mark.
Ashely Schumacher is an amazing author. Her stories are beautifully crafted, and this one is no different. I just cannot get over the cheating. I understand it's important to the story, but it is something I really hate reading. And the character of Nova was very unlikeable to me. And what exactly did her mother do that had them moving every 3 months? Why wasn't she in online school?? These are things that made me not enjoy this book. :/

DNF @ 56%

The only reason I read over half of this book is because I absolutely adored the first two novels of Ashley Schumacher’s that I read and reviewed. They were beautiful and poetic and completely heartbreaking, and this one started out the same. But the more I read, the more repetitive this story became. It started out wonderfully with two old friends reconnecting after years apart. And there was so much to relate to here with Nova not knowing who she was or wanted to be and with Sam feeling stuck on a predetermined path that he didn’t know how to deviate from.

But then the insta-love hit and Sam and Nova decided that their friendship should be kept a secret, especially from Abigail, Sam’s perfectly kind and, of course, unsuspicious girlfriend, despite her having been cheated on in the past. In trying not to hurt her like she was hurt in the past (and despite Nova having been cheated on in the past as well), they both end up doing exactly that (or I assume they do since I didn’t end up getting to that part).

In the end, I just couldn’t take that kind of deception. It was way too uncomfortable and yucky for my taste.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

"It goes where it needs to go." From that quote begins an innocent love that crosses states/time. A very sweet love story of a boy and a girl and Snailopolis. Who knew that snails would be so sweet? The author addresses a childhood trauma with care. I read this in two sittings and would love to go back and read again.

Book: In Orbit of You
Author: Ashley Schumacher
Rating: 5 Out of 5 Stars

I would like to thank the publisher, Wednesday Books, for sending me an ARC. I think it’s kind of sad that more people are not talking about Ashley’s work. She has this way of taking the every day and making it magical. I wish her books got more love and hype. She truly has a lot of talent.

In this one, we follow Nova, who is used to moving around. She used to like it, but now as she is applying to university, she wishes that she had a bit more of a grounding. The last time she felt grounded was as a child when she and Sam would pretend to have this city of snails. Sam lived an abusive life and the last time she saw him, he was being taken away to live with his aunt and uncle. At the time, both were too young to know what was happening. They made this promise to meet up again when they turned eighteen. Nova and her mom find themselves in a football-centred Texas town. They are only supposed to be there for a few months. Nova knows the drill. However, one day at lunch at her new school, she finds herself at the edge of the jock table. To her surprise, the star football player is none other than Sam. She doesn’t think it's possible. He doesn’t know it's her. Then, the school does a Crush test, which is supposed to hint at who you should love. It’s all fun and games until Nova and Sam end up being matched. As Sam comes to realize who the new girl is, it brings up both the good and the bad times.

This is very much a coming-of-age story. There is a lot of self-discovery and reflection going on between Nova and Sam. Sam is the star football player and is expected to do great things with it. He is supposed to be getting a scholarship offer and go beyond that. Everyone knows that this is what he is supposed to do. He also has a dream girl. Yet, Sam is having doubts. He has these doubts before Nova even comes into the picture. He is afraid of letting people down because everyone has given up so much for him. He knows that the current path he is supposed to take is the safe one. Yet, it’s not what his heart wants. The thing is he doesn’t know who he will be if he veers from the current path. He will be letting a lot of people down. He wonders if it is even worth it. Nova is also on her path of self-discovery. She keeps telling herself that she is fine with always moving. She even takes on these different roles at each new place. However, as she starts to think about different universities, she comes to realize that this is the first time that there will be a long-term place. She doesn’t know what to expect and comes to realize just how much she has missed out. She and Sam become close, but she forms a group of friends here. It hurts whenever they all talk about the future and she realizes that she will not be there. She comes to realize that maybe moving around all the time is not what she wants.

The personal growth and coming to realize that it’s okay not to want what others think you want is something that stood out to me. This will speak to several people. I’m not just talking about teens either. So many times, we are forced to take the path that others want for us because it is easy and we don’t want to hurt anyone. Sam and Nova both go through this. Sam knows just how much his aunt and uncle have given him for football. Not playing anymore feels like a betrayal. After all, they have taken him in and loved him as their own. Nova knows how important her mom’s work is and knows that it is easier to just go along with it. Yet, she has never felt like she belonged anywhere. Both don’t want to hurt anyone, but both are suffering. Speaking up for what you want is one of the most difficult things in life. It is scary and you don’t know what is going to happen. It brings into question so many things. I just think that this will speak to a lot of people. It will touch the hearts of many people.

This is a romance and it does have a touch of cheating in it. I don’t know how I feel about this. Cheating is never okay and it does cause damage. However, I get why it is in here. It almost had to play out this way in order for the story to make sense. Keep in mind that both characters are trying to figure themselves out. I am not saying that this justifies what happened, but it does fit the story.

Overall, I did really enjoy this title. I thought it hit where it needed to .

This book comes out on March 19, 2024.

Youtube: https://youtu.be/BtkV6oDXscc

This was good until it wasn't especially when the topic and thoughts of cheating were repeated over and over again. Everyone was hurt in the end because of bad decisions, no wonfer this was categorized as teen/young-adult. I wanted to enjoy this but triggering theme of cheating and repeated cheating is never good. With the exception of Emily Giffin's Something Borrowed, it is rare there is a happy ending.

I liked the cover!

Cannot recommend this one.

Thanks to Netgalley, Ashley Schumacher and St Martin's Press Wednesday Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Available: 3/19/2024