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!
About THE FRAGILE ORDINARY:
I am Comet Caldwell.
And I sort of, kind of, absolutely hate my name.
People expect extraordinary things from a girl named Comet. That she’ll be effortlessly cool and light up a room the way a comet blazes across the sky.
But from the shyness that makes her book-character friends more appealing than real people to the parents whose indifference hurts more than an open wound, Comet has never wanted to be the center of attention. She can’t wait to graduate from her high school in Edinburgh, Scotland, where the only place she ever feels truly herself is on her anonymous poetry blog. But surely that will change once she leaves to attend university somewhere far, far away.
When new student Tobias King blazes in from America and shakes up the school, Comet thinks she’s got the bad boy figured out. Until they’re thrown together for a class assignment and begin to form an unlikely connection. Everything shifts in Comet’s ordinary world. Tobias has a dark past and runs with a tough crowd—and none of them are happy about his interest in Comet. Targeted by bullies and thrown into the spotlight, Comet and Tobias can go their separate ways…or take a risk on something extraordinary.
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“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:
As much as I was desperate to see Tobias and afraid
to at the same time, I’d like to think I’m not that
self-absorbed. I did offer to spend the rest of the day with Vicki, not wanting
to leave her alone when she was feeling so down about her parents’ separation,
but she insisted she had a ton of work to do for the show.
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?
My Review:
Genre: YA contemporary
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release Date: June 26th, 2018
Source: Physical ARC from publisher received at ALA Annual Convention - which did not affect my opinion in any way
My rating: 5 stars
I started reading this book the day after I got it at the ALA convention, and could barely put it down to meet other authors and go to library sessions for the rest of the time I was there. Halfway through the book all I could think about was how much I connected to the main character, Comet. Comet was a total booklover, nerd girl, who had friends that wanted to go out and party and didn't understand why she wouldn't try to meet guys. That sounds so much like me, even up to this day, I would rather stay home and read. Back in college, I'm sure a lot of my friends were disappointed in me when I didn't want to go out, but like Comet, I'd often go, feeling guilted into doing it for my friends.
There was one point where Comet mentions that even though she doesn't want to worry about what other people think about her, it isn't a choice. This really resonates with me as I see more and more people bring up the quote about how it's none of your business what other people think about you. I get that, I do. But, it's like my brain is hardwired to stress over that, to want everyone to like me. There's also a part where Comet talks about how it's nice sometimes just to have the crush, that if it were to actually become something real, that takes some of the fun out of it, and makes it more stressful.
As usual, Young's story had me crying, actual tears, and I had to put it down for a few minutes, because I was sitting in the middle of a restaurant in New Orleans eating, so was feeling a bit conspicuous. Such wonderful characters in this book. As you have already read, I loved Comet. And then there was Tobias, the love interest. Well, the way the story started, I didn't think I would like him. But soon, he grew on me. There was even a part where I was thinking there was no way he could really be that great of a guy. So that made it perfect when the final conflict came around. A conflict or issue that I had a feeling was going to happen, even if it once again made me cry. I loved how Comet's friends were realistic, and the growing pains they went through. I really fell in love with Tobias's cousin Stevie as well.
I can't wait to get this into my school library this fall, to share with my students. I highly recommend yet another Samantha Young book, go get it today!
Giveaway:
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:
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