Book Review: In the Orbit of You by Ashley Schumacher
Thank you to Wednesday Books for the gifted copy. Title: In the Orbit of You Author(s): Ashley Schumacher Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Release Date: March 19, 2024 Genre(s): Romance, Young Adult, Contemporary Synopsis: In…
In the Orbit of You is a YA story of enduring love from acclaimed author Ashley Schumacher, where a personality test reunites two friends and makes them second guess their careful plans.
It's been years since Nova Evans last saw Sam. She was too young then to understand why he had to move away―and what it had to do with the cuts and bruises he got from home and never wanted to talk about. All she knew is that they promised to find each other when they were older, something she thought was impossible thanks to her and her mom moving around constantly. Until she bumps into Sam in her new school, and realizes he has clearly forgotten their childhood promise.
Sam Jordan has a plan for his accept his college football scholarship, date his girlfriend Abigail, and―most importantly―hide how much he wants to do something, anything other than The Plan™ his parents and coaches have set before him. It doesn't matter if sometimes he finds himself thinking about the new girl he met in the cafeteria, a girl who reminds him of a past that hurts to remember.
When a school-wide personality test reveals Nova and Sam to be each others' top matches―not only that, but a match of 99%, the highest in the school―they begin to remember why they were such close friends, all those years ago. As well as the myriad of reasons this new-yet-familiar, magnetic, sparkling thing between them will never, ever work out.
In the Orbit of You is a story about the enduring and changing nature of friendship, of the strange struggle between who you are and who you want to be, and finding your voice after trauma.
My Review:
My first time reading Ashley Schumacher is a success. I was left gripping the book close to my chest, closing my eyes as if I could imprint that beautiful feeling of attachment and fondness for these characters in my brain. In the Orbit of You is a whole-hearted young adult novel about the impact a lasting and meaningful friendship can have on a person and how significant it is to allow yourself to speak your truth about what you want and who you aspire to be.
Nova and Sam are childhood friends and next-door neighbors. They love each other in the pure way children do and yet know the value of true friendship. When Nova begins to notice bruises and marks on Sam, she wants to comfort him in the only way she knows how; she kisses his palm to make all the pain and sadness disappear. He appreciates it more than she understands and it is heartbreaking when they are separated. But there is hope because they made a promise to find each other when they got older.
Fast forward to high school and Nova is once again the new girl. She is used to starting over since her mom's job causes them to relocate frequently. It's her junior year and she contemplates who she wants to be; this time she will attempt to lay low and coast by. Those plans go out the window when she sees him; her childhood best friend Sam. It isn't a big ole reunion because he doesn't even recognize her. Sure it hurts that he doesn't remember, but she is just happy to see him doing well. Then, it all comes back after the results of a personality matching test come back and he is a 99% match with the new girl. He sees the name Nova and all the memories good and band resurface.
Sam and Nova's connection and chemistry stand the test of time. They want to be around each other all the time, but she doesn't want to cause problems for him and his girlfriend. So, they agree to keep their distance and not let anyone know about their past. Keeping their distance from each other doesn't last more than a couple of days. Together they let down their walls and realize a hard truth; they don't know who they are. So much of their lives have been influenced by their parent's expectations and others' hopes. Will they have the bravery to speak up or allow themselves the room to grow and figure out who they are?
I didn't want to put this book down! I had only read about 60 pages on my first day of reading and had to put the book in a different room because I had to get up super early. As soon as I got home the next day, I picked it up and never let it go until I finished the last page. It was so special because of the enchanting writing, extraordinary characters, and the magnetic friendship between the two. Their long-lasting bond led to deeper feelings as they got older but there were a few obstacles that prevented them from crossing that line. Maybe that was fate intervening and being able to not fight what the stars had in store for them took courage and highlighted how far they grew as individuals. I think the author letting things fall into place made the book feel right! A happily ever after may or may not be in the cards for them, but their friendship will stand the test of time!
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