In the Orbit of You draws the reader in from the very first pages. It is a high school story of hope, love, and living after being abused. Nova and Sammy reconnect in high school after being childhood friends. Schumacher seemlessly tells their tale connecting the reader to them, so they too can hope that the days ahead will always be more than the days that were left behind.

This novel sucked me in from the very beginning and I didn’t want to leave. Nova is always on the move for her Mom’s job but she doesn’t mind the constant changes, as she doesn’t have to set expectations for friendships/relationships. Sam is the star football player at school with expectations to go D1 in college. While the two characters live very different lives now, they have a shared past. Written in dual POV, the reader is able to further explore both Sam & Nova’s thoughts and feelings of being reconnected. I quickly fell in love with the wholesomeness of this novel as the two teenagers find what they need in their lives. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes high school romances with tropes like forced proximity, friends to lovers, and second chance!

As with all Ashley Schumacher books, I'm enthralled by the immediate connection between the two main characters and how it goes beyond just surface-level attraction. In the case of Nova and Sam, this is partly due to a shared childhood, but it's also more than that. They get each other in a way no one else gets them. This book also had the characteristic bittersweet flavor of the books I've read of hers before, especially with the ending, and gave me a sort of sad hopefulness the entire time I was reading that felt cathartic. I read this book in one sitting.

I also enjoyed the side characters, especially Abigail and her kindness and good nature. I like how her and Sam's relationship played out (Abigail gave Sam more grace than he deserved, considering how he treated her, and I admire her deeply). I also liked Sam's nature club friends and how we got glimpses into the bittersweet nature of their relationship as well.

The consequences of Sam's abuse even today, even after ten years of living in a loving and supportive family, were well integrated into his day-to-day. I liked the addition of the traits he shares with his adopted father, who was also abused as a child. I also liked the reveal of Nova's mother's parallel story to Nova and Sam's in her own youth with Sam's adopted father, and as someone who enjoys narrative cycles, this pleased me even though it did make commentary on cycles of violence and abuse and the lasting impacts of what is done to children.

This book. This. BOOK. 🥹

I was captivated instantly and held so rapt in the orbit of these 2 main characters. WOW.

I loved every moment of this book. I couldn’t put it down.
Nova and Sam will forever hold a tender place in my heart.

The story was beautifully written, with captivating writing and wonderfully fleshed out characters that made we WEEP with the full spectrum of emotion.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of this incredible YA novel ❤️

I felt all the things while reading this story. I was angry. I was ogling. I was crying. It made me love it even more. It really touches on the importance of relationships while in an abusive home and how they can carry through the lifetime. The real and rawness of the content is what really tied me to this story. The characters were ones that I was cheering on the whole time and I wish I had more time with them!

5/5 stars! Recommend for family, friends, and snails!

**Thank you NetGalley for a free review copy! I am voluntarily leaving this review.

I read the author’s other book The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway. In my honest opinion, I liked that book a lot more than this one. It wasn’t horrible. It was just okay. And Sam cheating on his girlfriend with Nova after he was so upset someone cheated on her before and his abusive dad’s own cheating it didn’t seem like it would be in character for Sam to not think and do it as well. All in all, it did keep me interested until the very end. All opinions stated are my own. Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the arc in return for an honest review!

This story was beautifully written. It really tugged at my heart strings and not just because of the sensitive/emotional history of the main characters. The author really pulls readers into the details with imagery and emotions through the lens of childhood.

There were a few repetitive things that slightly irked me (snails) but I’m a super picky ready overall. The narrator/trubador elements felt a bit unnecessary but I overall I’d recommend this (with trigger warnings for child abuse, mental health, ptsd).

This book follows childhood best friends/neighbors Nova and Sam, who are reunited at the end of high school after not seeing each other for years. Sam had went to live with his uncle and aunt due to abuse, while Nova moved around a lot. They are both struggling, Nova with what to do to with her life in college and Sam with pleasing everyone around him (continuing with football, dating the "right" girl, etc.). They take comfort in spending time together.

This book was very frustrating, Sam most of all. He admitted that he did not love his girlfriend, but refused to break up with her. They are together for almost the entire book. I was happy that his girlfriend was not vilified and got her moment at the end. I appreciated both Sam and Nova's struggles outside of this.

I wish there was more to their backstory than what was shown and also that there had been a better closure at the end. There is more the prospect of a HEA than a HEA shown and I prefer when it shown. That's personal preference though.

I did like the writing and will probably read other books by this author.

Trigger warnings: cheating, child abuse

I love this author's books so much! This may be my favorite yet.

A brilliantly poetic and sweet story of childhood best friends torn apart by circumstances and then reunited, a year too early.

“Maybe we're twin planets and our options are either to distantly orbit the same star or else collide and take everything down with us.”

When Jordan and Nova were little, they build their own kingdom - Snailopolis. But when Jordan is taken away from his abusive parents, he promises to find Nova again when he's eighteen. Nova's mother's job takes them all over the country, however; and one day when she's seventeen, she looks up at a new school and there's Jordan, one year earlier than he promised.

Jordan's now a popular football player with an adoring, genuinely nice girlfriend named Abigail. His life trajectory seems set - date the cheerleader, get a college scholarship and maybe even go pro. But then Nova comes back into his life, unlocking all these layers of feelings that he didn't even know he was capable of.

Nova's conflicted because Jordan's life seems so set, and she still can't figure out who she is or wants to be. She feels like all her moves have kept her from putting down roots long enough to find herself. She's drawn to Jordan, but also feels like they should stay away from each other.

This will-they-or-won't-they romance captures your whole heart. The author's signature gorgeous lyrical prose style really sings in this book. The ending is perfection and will leave you with a big book hangover.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance review copy of this book in exchange for a positive review.

Ashley Schumacher weaved a tale of trauma and hope. She elegantly flitted around difficult topics and character growth with the acumen of an archer. Straight through the heart, but with love. Thoroughly Enjoyed.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

1 wanderer, 1 just wanting to make people happy, meet for a second time and aren’t sure how to move forward, or if they even should.
This was an emotional yet predictable read. Set in high school with memories from ‘childhood’, this coming of age story hits on some sensitive topics.
I am 99% positive you would enjoy reading this.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an eARC. The opinion I give is my own.

Schumacher’s books are a salve for my inner teenage soul. I wish I had all of her books 20+ years ago, and I have to believe that is why I love them so much. This one isn’t any different.

In the Orbit of You is a dual narrative of Sam and Nova. Childhood friends that were separated and then thrown back together in high school. When I tell you the level of angst and longing in this book is off the charts, I mean it’s like that scene from New Moon where Bella is staring out the window as the months pass. And I am here for it! I was irritated about halfway through their story, but I knew it would payoff in the end. It definitely does…just not in the way we think. This is a truly beautiful and relatable story about finding out who you are, what you love, and making sure you know what’s in the negative space before you see the final picture.

Well, damn, Ashely Schumacher knows how to RIP OUT MY HEART. And I LOVE IT.

Amelia Unabridged is one of my favorite books ever and I just love Ashley as a writer. I've read all of her books since then, and all were great of course, but this is the first one that rocked my world again. And wow does In the Orbit of You just make me want to weep and smile all at once. I am almost speechless except to say I loved it??? and I want more??? and Ashely never stop writing?? Give me all the teen angst thank you.

Also it must be said, I love how she handled Abigail. Abigail comes out on top, even though Sam didn't always do right by her, and I just really love how beautifully Ashley was able to handle a "competition" between two girls, but one in which neither girl comes across as toxic.

Nova and Sam were once best friends who presided over their own little "Snailopolis" kingdom in the backyard. Nova was too young then to understand all the cuts and bruises Sam tried so hard to cover, or why he had to move. She was just sad to lose her best friend. Sam promised her he'd find her again when they were eighteen.

Now in high school, Sam has a football scholarship on the horizon and the perfect cheerleader girlfriend. Meanwhile, Nova has been transferring from school to school as she and her mom move from town to town following her mom's work. She's tried out so many personalities that she has no idea who she is or what she really likes. The latest job should last about 6 weeks so Nova's determined to use it to figure out who she really is and what Nova really wants. Then, they run into each other at school and all bets are off. Sam is determined to stick to the plan his parents and coaches have for him and Nova is determined to stick to her plan to discover who she really is. Then, they take a school-wide personality test as part of a student council fundraiser and the two of them match @ 99%. That's when things begin to get interesting.

I admit that though this book was super easy to read, and kept me interested, I really struggled because it kept looking like Sam was going to cheat on his girlfriend and I just hate that. I won't spoil it for you, but I will give you a trigger warning for that dynamic. I wanted to like the characters, and for the most part I did. It was an interesting look at trauma response and I definitely related to Nova trying to figure out who she was and what she wanted to be.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read and I recommend it to fans of the author (her previous books have been great!), fans of YA coming-of-age books, and clean YA romance. 3.5 stars

Disclaimer: I received a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC!!!

Firstly, I love the cover!!! I feel like it definitely fits Sam and Nova!
Secondly, this book left me speechless and a rollercoaster of emotions. It's cute and wholesome yet heartbreaking and heartfelt at the same time. Definitely one of my favorites reads this year!

overall a sweet, hopeful story about friendship and love and second chances and discovering who we are, mostly well written, though it did get a bit slow in the middle. I enjoyed it , though it was a little young for me.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! This book has a really cute storyline and a wholesome atmosphere. I was able to finish this book in two sittings and really did not want it to end. I like that the end was open ended so that I can imagine my own ending, but also hope for a second book! I recommend reading this book!

Thank you to St Martins Press and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

I will happily leave a review for this when the racist remarks by one of their employees is addressed. I want to support the author, but also want to know they don’t support this behavior.

I am a sucker for cute long lost love stories and this one does not disappoint. I my favorite thing about this book is the fact that it reflects a realistic look into the situation. I can identify as Nova, immediately recognising her former friend but trying to lay low since they have already forgotten her. But, I can also see myself in Sam, living the life expected of me only to have that glass shattered when the first person I truly cared for is suddenly, inexplicably, in my life again.


I enjoyed seeing things through both perspectives, as well as each person acknowledging the imperfections in their reunion and situation. Everything was extremely heartfelt and had what I believe to be a more than appropriate ending considering both parties wanted to work on their situations.


☆》Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.《☆

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

I was not a fan of this one. Sam should have broken up with Abigail from the beginning. His heart and soul belong to Nova, so there was no need for him to keep Abigail as his girlfriend, it wasn’t fair to Abigail and she didn’t deserve that.
Nothing really happened for pages and pages, I felt the story just kept going in circles and it became drawn out and repetitive.