From the New York Times bestselling author of The Impossible Vastness of Us and the On Dublin Street series comes a heartfelt and beautiful new young adult novel, set in Scotland, about daring to dream and embracing who you are. Order your copy of THE FRAGILE ORDINARY today!
The Fragile Ordinary by Samantha Young Published by Harlequin Teen on June 26, 2018
Genres: Contemporary, Love & Romance, Young Adult
Pages: 304
Format: Audiobook, eBook, Hardcover
ISBN: 1335016740
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I voluntarily reviewed an advance review copy of this book I received for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my open and honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
From New York Times bestselling author Samantha Young comes a riveting new contemporary YA tale set in the author's homeland of Scotland, about an American boy in need of a fresh start and a Scottish girl who believes in second chances—perfect for fans of Julie Buxbaum, Stephanie Perkins and Jenna Evans Welch.
Tobias King has it all. He's a straight-A student, youngest starting quarterback at his high school in a decade, dating the head cheerleader and has more friends than he knows what to do with. But his world is shattered when the father he reveres dies in a car crash--alongside the girlfriend Tobias never suspected his father had. Distraught and reeling from betrayal, Tobias's mother uproots them from their comfortable life in Chicago to live near family in Edinburgh, Scotland, hoping for a fresh start. But Tobias quickly finds himself falling in with a troubled crowd at school. Even when he's paired in English class with quiet, shy, artsy Comet Caldwell, and discovers the first real female friend he's ever had, he can't seem to stop his life from spiraling out of control. But can Comet, who's used to living life unnoticed by her peers, find the courage to speak up to save Tobias from a path he'll regret forever?
“Endearing and relatable, Comet-the girl who is searching for her place in this world-will shoot through the sky and into your heart.”
— #1 New York Times bestselling author Erin Watt
Excerpt
I knew the show meant a lot to her and Steph but I was kind of glad it would be over soon. It had stolen all their time, and yes, as petty as it may seem, I was jealous it had brought the two of them closer together.
Nerves returned with a vengeance as I made my way to the esplanade. Not only was I jittery over my confusing conversation with Vicki about what it was Tobias wanted from me, but I was tense over meeting up with Stevie. We were basically about to hand him an ultimatum, and ultimatums usually didn’t turn out well.
As soon as I saw Tobias standing outside the Espy my heart started to pound, my pulse thrumming hard in my neck. He turned and caught sight of me and began to stride up the street toward me. His pace quickened and he seemed so determined my knees quavered a little.
When he reached me I opened my mouth to say hello, but the greeting died on my lips as he cupped my face in his warm hands and bowed his head to kiss me.
Shock, thrill, fear, want, all mixed inside of me as I closed my eyes and clung to his arms. His lips were soft, coaxing, brushing against mine, teasing me. Heat flashed through my body from the tips of my toes to my cheeks, and I leaned in, looking for something beyond even this. This felt nothing like Ethan’s kiss.
It was lovely…and yet…I wanted more.
Tobias drew his lips from mine ever so slightly and murmured against them, “Open your mouth.”
I flushed even hotter at the command but did so without hesitation. When his mouth returned to my mouth he touched his tongue to mine, just a flick, a torment that made me whimper in confusion. Everything within me seemed to tighten, coiling into an increasing tension as his tongue danced more forcefully with mine. It was a dance I easily followed, kissing him back with more fervor, my fingers digging into his arms.
This was the more I’d been waiting for.
This was everything.
He broke the kiss, gasping my name against my lips.
I blinked, discombobulated. My whole body hummed with an urgency I’d never felt before.
Tobias leaned his forehead against mine as we sought to catch our breaths and equilibrium. “I should have done that last night,” he finally whispered.
Relieved laughter bubbled out of me in giggles that made him smile with such affection that I wondered how I could have possibly doubted his feelings for me. Tobias King liked me. Me. Comet Caldwell. If someone as special as Tobias could like me so well, maybe I was a little bit special, too?
Review
The Fragile Ordinary by Samantha Young is the story of Comet Caldwell who has her nose in her books and her poetry. First off the inclusion of Comet’s poetry in the book adds nice bits to it that make the book more special and helps really set the tone and the character. When Tobias King, a student from American comes to her Edinburgh High School it shakes things up. Comet and Tobias are not ones that should typically be in each other’s circles, but a friendship develops that just continues to grow.
Both of these characters had issues that drove them in different directions but somehow they connect. There is a lot that resonates about Comet, the shyness, the living in her books, the being unsure of the typical high school social norms. Comet gives you a reminder of what that’s like, while Tobias is the person driven the other way.
Overall, The Fragile Ordinary by Samantha Young was an intriguing book and one that will make you think.
Samantha Young’s’ THE FRAGILE ORDINARY – Review & Excerpt Tour Schedule:
June 25th
A Book Nerd, a Bookseller and a Bibliophile – Review & Excerpt
Book Freak – Review
For The Love of Fictional Worlds – Review & Excerpt
Garden of REden – Review
Reading Between the Wines Book Club – Excerpt
The Book Boyfriend Addict – Excerpt
June 26th
Blog of Books – Review
Bookalicious Babes Blog – Review & Excerpt
Kick Back & Review – Review & Excerpt
liber_lady – Review
Miss Riki – Review & Excerpt
Read more sleep less – Review & Excerpt
White Hot Reads – Review
June 27th
A Literary Perusal – Review & Excerpt
Book Bitches Blog – Review
Kindle Friends Forever – Excerpt
LoveFades – Review
MrsLeif’s Two Fangs About It Book Reviews – Review & Excerpt
Smut Book Junkie Reviews – Review & Excerpt
June 28th
A British Bookworm’s Blog – Review
bad boys and bedtime stories book blog – Review & Excerpt
Catty Jane Book Lovers – Review & Excerpt
Novel Addiction – Review & Excerpt
the lovely teacher addictions – Review & Excerpt
Smokin’ Hot Book Blog – Review & Excerpt
The Reading Faery – Review & Excerpt
June 29th
Ali’s Reviews and More – Review & Excerpt
Bookish Proclivity – Review & Excerpt
Confessions of a Pinay Bookaholic – Review & Excerpt
Ficwishes – Review & Excerpt
Read Love Blog – Review & Excerpt
The Bookish Sisters – Review & Excerpt
June 30th
Lisa Loves Literature – Review & Excerpt
Movies, Shows, & Books – Excerpt
Nose Stuck in a Book – Review & Excerpt
Pervy Ladies Books – Review & Excerpt
Read. Eat. Love. – Review & Excerpt
The Escapist Book Blog – Review & Excerpt
July 1st
Crazy Chaotic Book Babes – Review
KDRBCK – Review & Excerpt
Once Upon A Page – Review & Excerpt
Reading with 2 book lovers – Review
The Coffeeholic Bookworm – Review & Excerpt
The Wandering Bookaholic – Review
July 2nd
Alpha Book Club – Review
Book Babes Unite – Review
Crazii Bitches Book Blog – Review & Excerpt
Naturally Nerdy Books – Excerpt
Rad Babes Read – Review & Excerpt
Spellbound Stories – Review
The Book Dutchesses – Review & Excerpt
July 3rd
Adventures in Writing – Excerpt
Book Lovers Hangout – Review & Excerpt
gata leitora – Review & Excerpt
KM Sultry Reads – Review & Excerpt
Relentless Romance – Review & Excerpt
Sweet Red Reads – Review & Excerpt
July 4th
Bookaholic Confessions – Review & Excerpt
Margaux – Excerpt
Obsessive Book Nerd – Review
Sofia Loves Books – Review
Sultry Sirens Book Blog – Review & Excerpt
Tales of the Ravenous Reader – Review & Excerpt
What Is That Book About – Excerpt
July 5th
After Dark Book Lovers – Review & Excerpt
Book Lady’s Reviews – Review
Literary Misfit – Excerpt
More Books Than Livros – Review & Excerpt
Ramblings From This Chick – Excerpt
Romance Book Explosion – Review
July 6th
Audio Killed the Bookmark – Review
Liezel and Angie’s Book Blog – Review
mustreadbooksordie – Review & Excerpt
Romance Schmomance – Review & Excerpt
Sentranced Jem – Review
The Bookish Introvert – Review
Witchy Richey’s Booktastic Reviews – Review & Excerpt
About Samantha Young
Samantha Young is the New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of adult contemporary romances, including the On Dublin Street series and Hero, as well as the New Adult duology Into the Deep and Out of the Shallows. Every Little Thing, the second book in her new Hart’s Boardwalk series, will be published by Berkley in March 2017. Before turning to contemporary fiction, she wrote several young adult paranormal and fantasy series, including the amazon bestselling Tale of Lunarmorte trilogy. Samantha’s debut YA contemporary novel The Impossible Vastness of Us will be published by Harlequin TEEN in ebook& hardback June 2017
Samantha has been nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award 2012 for Best Author and Best Romance for On Dublin Street, Best Romance 2014 for Before Jamaica Lane, and Best Romance 2015 for Hero. On Dublin Street, a #1 bestseller in Germany, was the Bronze Award Winner in the LeserPreis German Readers Choice Awards for Best Romance 2013, Before Jamaica Lane the Gold Medal Winner for the LeserPreis German Readers Choice Awards for Best Romance 2014 and Echoes of Scotland Street the Bronze Medal Winner for the LeserPreis German Readers Choice Awards for Best Romance 2015.
Samantha is currently published in 30 countries and is a #1 international bestselling author.
