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 … 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.
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.
more
Another extraordinary story by Samantha Young, of love, loss, guilt, betrayal, jealousy, bullying, addiction. All the things teens must deal with on a daily basis as they come of age. It’s a story about finding oneself in a world where you feel so isolated by your differences.
Comet is so quirky and eccentric. Such as her love of her crazy fashion style and shoe obsession. I’m also an avid reader so it was good to be able to relate to Comet through her love of books. Her poetry was amazing. Comet always felt so alone and afraid too share herself with anyone until Tobias comes along, because of the strained and neglectful relationship Comet has with her parents.
Tobias pulls at your heartstrings when you learn of his past and what he’s dealing with. Yet he still tries to be there for both Comet and Stevie during their problems. He feels like he betrayed Stevie and the guilt eats at him. The chemistry between Tobias and Comet is such a sweet love story you can’t get enough of them. They just both pull the best out of each other.
Samantha doesn’t shy away from any topics which always draws me in. She also pulls at all of your emotions. You cry, you yell at the book and you laugh with the characters. This is most certainly a five star, must read book. Can’t wait to see what she has in store for us next.
The Fragile Ordinary tells the story of Comet Caldwell, a girl extremely devoid of love and attention who only wants to write her poetry and read her books alone. Unlike her friends Steph and Vicki, she does not enjoy parties or fashion clothes preferring the comfort of her bedroom and vintage clothes. But things are changing and her friends are also changing and Comet ends up feeling more lonely and displaced. Even though she was bullied when she was young and seeing how many other kids still suffer, she does not know how her life will change as she approaches the badboys Tobias and Stevie.
Tobias is the rookie boy at school who both draws attention to his beauty and his disrespectful attitudes toward teachers. He has moved from USA and is discounting all his revolt at people around him.
I’m in love with Samantha Young’s writing and found myself stuck in this book, suffering, cheering and following Comet’s journey of maturity. Samantha created characters so real that I saw myself in school again with all the typical conflicts of this stage of life, the doubts, the anguish, the choices and of course the discoveries. With a beautiful romance in the background, I immersed myself in the plot inspired in Hamlet’s conflict and stuffed with poetry.
Narrated in first person by Comet and with each chapter being opened by one of her poems, I could feel the pain of the girl and I suffered with her in several dramatic moments.
I confess that what I found most interesting in the book was the fact that the characters were not miraculously transformed from one time to another, they start as flawed human beings and end up flawed human beings with the difference only that they slowly face life each one at diferents ways and these was very beautiful to see. Obviously growing up involves some suffering and not everyone can face everything with their heads held high and this has been shown during the great plot.
I confess I wanted an epilogue or a few more pages to enjoy the characters a little more, but I loved the way everything was done anyway.
4/ 5 stars
As the beginning of a coming-of-age story, The Fragile Ordinary was amazing. All the things I could think of to address in that genre were there: relationships with friends, parents, romantic partners, teachers, struggling to find your place in the world, bullying, drugs, questions of who you are. As a complete story, however, it felt like it was just getting off its feet.
Comet was all of us. She was strange and awkward, contemplative and self-deprecating, shy and introverted. I easily identified with her and understood her desires. The pain she had suffered at the neglect of her parents was hard to cope with; sometimes I feel like absent parenting is just as damaging and abusive parenting – in different ways of course. Seeing how her lack of parental care manifested in her other relationships was hard. Knowing that she was just a child and she truly had no model to understand what a person should do for the people they love, yet she still strived to be a kind and sympathetic friend made me fall a little bit in love with her.
The primary focus of The Fragile Ordinary was the interpersonal relationships Comet experienced as she finally found herself and how those connections changed. Tobias helped her begin to find the strength she needed to speak up for herself to her friends, her parents, her bullies, and him. Since her life had been so void of real love and affection before he entered it, it was lovely to see how beautifully she flourished when given something so simple as genuine compassion and support.
The Fragile Ordinary was a snapshot of Comet’s life in a certain, pivotal moment of her life. She changed and grew into herself so much over the course of the novel; I almost wonder if she’d have recognized herself. Witnessing her transformation from somewhat of a doormat to the girl who finally found her voice was fantastic. I did feel like we were left hanging as far as where she stood with most of the people in her life, though.
I wish at least one of the many storylines going on in this novel had a satisfying resolution. There is a case to be made for Comet’s relationship with Tobias finding some sort of resolution, but it felt so rushed, I found it frustrating. I just wish there were a few more chapters to tie up more of the loose ends in Comet’s life.
The Fragile Ordinary is a standalone young adult novel. While there are elements of romance in this book, I wouldn’t qualify it as a romance, but a coming-of-age story. The book is written in first-person perspective, narrated by Comet.
Samantha Young writes powerful young adult stories. She manages to touch on several issues facing teens today in a manner that feels timely and real. She also manages to tie several themes that affect people of all ages, like drug use and the loss of loved ones, into those stories to add a note of poignancy readers of all ages can identify with.
I’ve read nearly two dozen books by Samantha Young across various genres and her gift for crafting heartwarming, emotional, and thought-provoking stories never ceases to amaze me. It’s this confidence in her brilliant storytelling abilities that drew me to her new Young Adult romance, The Fragile Ordinary, even though YA isn’t a genre I typically gravitate towards. Going in to this book, as with any Samantha Young book, I expected an engaging storyline and endearing characters, though I didn’t expect to identify so closely with the heroine or to feel as though I had been transported back to high school. With The Fragile Ordinary, Samantha Young delivers a sweet, angst-filled, romantic story about the intricacies of love, friendship, and family, with a heroine every introverted bookworm can relate to.
With a name like Comet Caldwell, a renowned artist for a mother, and a successful author for a father, our heroine feels pressured to live an extraordinary life. As a sixteen-year-old aspiring poet with antisocial tendencies and a preference for avoiding reality by getting lost within the pages of books, Comet is a seemingly average teenager with seemingly average problems. She has two best friends who don’t quite understand her, parents who leave her to her own devices, and an inconvenient crush on the cute, but troubled, new guy. That’s the beauty of The Fragile Ordinary, though. The narrative is deceptively simplistic, following the story of a girl on the cusp of adulthood as she navigates falling in love and discovering who she is and what she wants from life. The story might follow that of a young adult, but it tackles mature issues and complex emotions that are poignant, thought-provoking, and impactful.
At its heart, The Fragile Ordinary is a coming-of-age story about staying true to yourself and finding your voice, no matter what’s at stake. It’s about learning to not only accept but appreciate your individuality, flaws, quirks, and all. It’s captivating. It’s romantic. It’s introspective. It’s gut-wrenching. It’s compelling. It’s also a tearjerker. As a reader accustomed to Happy Ever Afters, I would’ve loved to know exactly what the future entailed for Comet but, as it is, The Fragile Ordinary left me perfectly satisfied, if a tad bit worse for wear. If you’re in the mood for a sweet, wistful, angst-filled YA romance, The Fragile Ordinary is the perfect read to submerse yourself in.
*complimentary copy provided by publisher for an honest review
Rating: 4.5 Stars
The Fragile Ordinary, the title of Samantha Young’s newest release, seems quite contradictory; the implication that something normal…something standard…something regular could be vulnerable or delicate doesn’t quite fit its moniker, but it doesn’t mean it’s any less true…it doesn’t mean there’s not value and understanding in that paradoxical idea.
In the continuum between ordinary and extraordinary, especially when it comes to teenagers, there’s a learning curve due to the pressures, insecurities, and expectations that come with traversing through hallways and classrooms where people are constantly judged and evaluated based on their actions and their words, and what that means for those individuals who see themselves as nothing more than ordinary is that they must contend with labels, pressures, and bullying, upsetting the delicate balance that exists for them on any given day, making it difficult to keep themselves and their lives in check, which forces a spotlight on those who would never choose to be exposed as anything but regular.
Based on her name alone, there are certain expectations for Comet Caldwell – thoughts on how she should act and who she should be, and even though that’s not the path that she would ever choose for herself, it places her in a rather precarious position that is further aggravated by the appearance of a certain American bad boy – one who enters her life and brings with him his own issues and demons to fight, which means that, together, Comet and Tobias need to decide if they’re meant to be an extraordinary duo or remain behind the scenes as unequivocally ordinary as they can be.
Before I go any further with my review, I think it’s important for readers to understand that I don’t read a lot of young adult literature; it’s not that I don’t enjoy it; it’s just that my reading schedule, which includes author review teams, ARCs as a blogger, and the books I beta read, isn’t conducive to all of the YA books that have been released. But, not only is Samantha Young one of my absolute favorite authors, but her storytelling and the characters she constructs never fail to illicit a wide range of emotions and thoughts.
And The Fragile Ordinary did just that!
All readers will relate to Comet in some significant way; to me, I felt like she was my high school self kindred spirit. Everything she endures…her views on life and living…the way she handles the multitude of difficult situations and decisions…her love of book characters and her connection to them…Comet is such a relatable character and the turmoil that surrounds her doesn’t feel the least bit contrived or over the top and that is exactly the kind of main character readers can identify with, support, and cheer on because as Comet experiences all of drama and pressures of being a female teenager, her plight resonates with everyone who hears/reads her story.
Tobias King definitely has a hardened edge to him, but in some ways I think that helps him deal with his past and the aspects of his current life that seem out of his control. He doesn’t appear to be someone who would mesh well with Comet, but that’s the thing about preconceived notions and judging people based solely on what is said about them and the mask they wear. To truly understand someone, there needs to be an investment…a common ground and slowly but surely that connection is made and solidified between Comet and Tobias, and it’s heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time simply because of how things play out and the choices that have to be made, not only for them individually but also for any future they could possibly have together.
In every sense of the word, The Fragile Ordinary is a paradoxical title – one that teaches relatable and significant life lessons and then goes about exemplifying those teachings through two main characters who every reader will identify with and be inspired by…Comet and Tobias’ story is an amazing story of resilience…of friendship…of love, and it realistically illustrates a teenager’s journey through life – the highs and the lows and everything in between.
It’s definitely a story that stay with me and its lessons will not soon be forgotten.
5 Poison Apples
The Fraginal Ordinary was incredibly captivating, a can’t put down, up well into the night book. Young has a way of pulling you with her amazing storytelling and making you feel right along with the characters of her story. This story is a must read!
Wow, at first I had no words, but this was an amazing story. Comet, was a character that I related to and connected with through her entire journey. Comet kept to herself, read a lot, independent, but ends up coming out of her shell when she meets Tobias. Their stories pulled at my heart strings, the journey was an emotional roller coaster. Comet has been through so much that a child should not have to go through and starts to find herself with her budding relationship with Tobias. Tobias also has been through a lot and has chip on his shoulder until he starts to hang out with Comet. Comet and Tobias balanced each other out and brought out sides of each other that was best for them both. This story is one of finding oneself and figuring out friendships, relationships, and if parents will be there like they should be. Samantha has blown me away with Comet’s story and I was pulled in and felt like I was there with Comet. Absolutely, a super nova of a story.
Oh man, I really loved this book. Comet was simply an amazing character that is sure to make any reader love her. I truly related to her on a very deep level simply because she lives her life in a way I wish I was brave enough to live (at her age). Each character was fleshed out and I loved the backstories that were present. I do wish that we learned a little more about the side characters but I truly loved Tobias & Comet. Their story was fresh and I loved that it didn’t feel too young nor did it go into too much of an adult realm. At 28, I was still able to love the story.
This is the first young adult novel that I have read by Samantha Young. I’ve been hooked by her books for years so I was a little nervous to go from adult romance to young adult romance. It’s always interesting to see how a writer’s writing changes when it comes to age. Though I prefer Samantha Young’s adult novels, I truly loved this book. It is realistic, it’s fast paced, and it is sure to make you think back to your high school woes (if you’re older). Honestly, it was fantastic. I truly loved it.
**I received this book in exchange for an honest review.**
“There’s something nostalgic and almost magical about reliving first crushes, first loves and high school friendships all over again.” ~ Misty, White Hot Reads
I have to admit I am usually not a huge YA/Teen book fan but I think as my son gets closer and closer to this age I find myself seeking these out to remind myself of that time. It really takes something special in this genre to keep me engaged and this author did that with The Fragile Ordinary.
Young captured the essence of those formidable teenage years of finding oneself, learning how to navigate life, first crushes and loves and even learning the value of true friendships. Don’t get me wrong, with the magic of those things in this book, Young also tackled some of the darker parts of what kids are living through and at times this book was heartbreaking.
First let’s talk about the darker parts of this book. Bullying, drugs, parents indifference to their child, and fatal illnesses are all touched in this book. I loved that Young did not glorify the “bad boys” or even girls in this book but shone a true light on how drugs and bullying can affect not only the individuals but all those around them. These are things we seem to be taking lightly in this world today but TFO makes one realize that this is something we NEED to be dealing with on a much larger scale and with a heavier hand.
Relationships were another hot topic in this book. Relationships between the teens with their parents and of course with each other. All the different issues touched on something we go through everyday whether it be friendships going through rough patches, divorce, death of a loved one or just a parent not being present and how all of that can shape a person is those critical years we all go through. Although at some point I think my heart broke at every single relationship by the end I was content with how the author handled them all.
I think the best part of this book was seeing Comet blossom from a girl hiding in the shadows to someone who realized her worth and that although she felt invisible she was in fact not. That sometimes those who are quiet and keep to themselves can shine brighter than anyone. Seeing her blossom under the encouragement of Tobias, her best friend, her teacher and eventually her dad was hands down the reason this book worked so well. She faced each and every obstacle in her way and learned that keeping quiet and in the shadows was not the answer to get the things in life she wanted.
All in all this was a great book. I’m not convinced I would read it again but I do and will recommend it to not only my peers but those with teens. I think this book could be a good bridge to talking about all those issues no one wants to talk about but are so very necessary.
Samantha Young gives us a beautiful, exquisite story with The Fragile Ordinary that will touch you deeply. Comet’s emotional, heartfelt journey will take hold of your heart and never let it go.
Comet is socially awkward and keeps to herself. She is full of pain and heartbreak. I loved the slow build of her friendship with Tobias. I loved the way they help each other. Their chemistry and the way their relationship blossoms and grows is so heartwarming. Comet breaking out of her shell and taking so many leaps and watching her grow is beautiful and uplifting.
This story is full of ups and downs and so many emotions. I smiled, I cried, I hoped, and I loved. This story is sincere, raw, and honest and the sheer beauty of it will leave you with a smile on your face and a heart full of love.
As you probably know, I have been a fan of Samantha Young’s books since a very long time and since I discovered the synopsis and the amazing cover of her new novel, I was just looking forward to discovering Comet’s story . This Young Adult romance will make you live beautiful emotions and make you laugh and share some tears.
In July 2016, I had the chance to go on holiday in Scotland, in Edinburgh and to be able before RARE event to meet Samantha Young for a tour of the iconic places of her Dublin Street series. I loved this sublime city but also staying a few days in Portobello, a place that serves as a setting for our romance. So I can tell you that I perfectly visualized the places visited by our heroine and that reinforced my feeling of realism by reading this story.
Realism is also felt through Comet Caldwell who is a young heroine who can only find an echo in us and who shares many common points with the author. Comet is going to be 17 years old and she enters her final year with the desire to be able to apply to the best universities in the United States. Comet is a very lonely teenager who feels out of place either at home or in high school. There is a huge emotional distance in her that is necessarily linked to her more than special relationship with her parents. Kyle and Carrie are artists who live only for each other. Their daughter seems to be an accident they get accustomed to but they never changed their lifestyle to make her feel integrated or loved. So it is not uncommon for them to leave her alone at home and go abroad to rejuvenate themselves without their daughter. Imagine the suffering and deep wounds that Comet may feel. She is not loved and she doesn’t feel very good. Luckily, she can rely on her best friend Vickie and her friend Steph to be with her at school, but once again a distance will gradually be put between them because she doesn’t have the same interests and she doesn’t go out to party like them.
Comet has become accustomed to this life of loneliness, her gaze lost in the sea stretching out as far as the eye can see. The girl is a true artist and she can exteriorize her thoughts, desires and fears thanks to the poems she writes as an exutory. The talent of our heroine is undeniable and yet she absolutely doesn’t want to confront others’ judgement because their judgment could break her even more. It’s simple in high school, she’s only looking for one thing: to be invisible. But this goal will be difficult to achieve with the arrival of a young American who will see her and discover her little secret. Does the young popular man want to meet her and share good times together? The themes will be strong and they can affect us and move us. Other people’s stares, their judgment will be at the present and it will be a matter of dealing with adult problems while being a teenager, this period where anger, disappointment and resentment are so important
Tobias King is our hero and you will love him. He left the United States to live with his cousin and friend Stevie. The family situation does not seem to be calm and you have to learn to go beyond appearances. He seems to want to take on a role that doesn’t suit him perfectly. To stay in the group of popular students, he will have to pass allsorts of tests but Comet could see that he is not necessarily the one he claims to be. I really liked this character because we feel that he could bring lots of things to Comet. He will discover her secret but he will not use it as a weapon against her. Tobias is a young man who will have to bear the consequences of his choices. He will be able to show a certain maturity for his age and with him, we will dive into other important and challenging themes. Could he become friends with this young woman who is out of the ordinary? Will he manage to adapt to this new life far from his native country? Will he be able to appear in broad daylight with Comet or will she remain his little secret?
In short, once again I was more than conquered by this romance written by the talented Samantha Young. The Fragile Ordinary brilliantly tackles teenage themes with dazzling maturity. I felt very close to Comet because she is a heroine who looks like us and who, hopefully, can evolve over the pages. You will smile at times, you will often be moved, but one thing is certain: you will not forget Comet, this character who seems fragile and ordinary but who will face the trials of life.
Final Score – 5 Cosmic Stars!
The Fragile Ordinary was a book that offered me a glimpse into my forgotten adolescent years. I’m never one to look back and reflect, but this book had me doing so. And in that, I found a little bit of solace and forgiveness. I was very much like Comet … I hung out in my room, surrounded by my Harlequin Romance Books. I escaped from life because I didn’t have very many true friends and my home life was far from ideal.
It’s not hard to see the parallels from my life to Comet’s – it’s like Samantha Young wrote this story about me! – and that’s just the icing on the cake that drew me in. I can’t tell how often my heart broke in two reading Comet’s story – whether it be her feelings of invisibility where her parents are concerned or her lack of understanding with her peers – no one likes to feel excluded or isolated.
I was so happy that in the end Comet stuck to who she really was and stood up for herself, whether it be her parents or friends. I was applauding her courage to do – something I never quite was able to do until much later in life. The difference between us though lies in Tobias. I never had an opportunity to find someone like him. He was good for Comet. Yes, he put her through the ringer at times, but it was just what she needed to break out of her self imposed bubble.
On a whole The Fragile Ordinary is anything but ordinary. This is a story about finding your voice and identity, beautiful poetry, and finding one’s courage to live & enjoy the beauty of life.
This story. I honestly am at a loss for words at how much I loved this story and connected with this one. There is so much about this angsty story that I fell in love with. Comet is such a unique character that I connected to on so many levels. I was that girl. Though never had to wear uniforms, but I was that quirky one that only had a couple friends and even then, that was give or take. The bullying was off the charts as well, just like Comet. And my nose was always in a book. Comet is an old soul to me. She is very eclectic as well. Enter the new man on campus, Tobias. He has the tortured, sullen teen boy thing down pat but with good reason. The way these two connect, it was stunning. I love how these two characters develop as the story progresses. The teen drama off the charts and I found them reacting exactly like a teen would.
The concept alone of this story is a beautiful one of coming of age and coming out of your shell. Developing yourself into what you want to be and not how they want you to be. My heart breaks for everything that both Comet and Tobias go through. I could feel their pain in the words that the author wrote. I could feel their anger and so much more. The ending though. While young, I love that the author finished it the way she did. It leaves you wondering and that is the most beautiful thing about this story. They are so young and so much ahead of them, it is best to leave you with wonder but also awe. I am usually not a YA reader, but the words that this author gives us, leaves you breathless and begging for more so much! Snag this book up!
I don’t read a lot of young adult books, but when I heard that Samantha Young was releasing a new one, I was super excited to check it out. This is a great coming of age story revolving around Comet, an introverted, socially awkward bookworm. From the beginning I completely could relate to Comet, she reminded me so much of myself when I was younger.
Tobias, an American, moves to town and they have to work together on a school project. Through this they grow close and we learn a lot about the issues both are dealing with. Samantha Young does a great job of writing these incredibly well developed characters, even the secondary characters are fantastic.
This story is so incredibly relatable, it deals with real issues, at times they are painful. But ultimately this is a story of finding one’s self.
Wow .. this book blew me away. I’m an emotional person but these days a story has to really move me before I cry over the characters. This book, I cried – the storyline, the characters and what they had been through and dealing with it was so raw and real. Samantha’s writing is exceptional and the way she writes has you there right along with them.
Such a beautiful story of finding love when you don’t expect it. I adored Comet and her name suited her perfectly. My heart broke for her with how she grew up and what she missed out on. On the outside she didn’t care what anyone thought of her and I loved this about her.
Tobias was there at the right time and took Comet by surprise with how well they got on.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and could not put it down. This is defintely one of my top reads for 2018.
The Fragile Ordinary bought back so many memories of my teenage years, of the hopes and dreams we all have at that age and the struggles that we all face where we live in a world of peer pressure to be cool, behave like something were not or to dress in a certain way. Comet Cauldwells faces all of these things but she also lives a life of loneliness and without love as her parents are so wrapped up in each other that they constantly forget about their only child and her needs. Comet is a shy girl that hides away from any drama at school hoping not to be seen and would rather be home reading a book than be out at parties with her two close friends, that is until Tobias King is thrown in her path and her world becomes chaos.
This is an emotional story that has some socially driven aspects, like that Comet is from a well off family and lives in a good area whereas Tobias King and his cousin Stevie are from a rough estate. It’s almost an opposites attract love story, that she is a good girl and he is a bad boy. Having said that it’s really an eye opener to the fact that you don’t always have a perfect life just because of where you live and that you can be just as intelligent and smart regardless of your background.
This story is one that has a slow build at first while setting the scene but by the end of it you will be wondering OMG what the hell just happened?? Samantha Young is so good at writing stories such as this that open your eyes to how hard it is going through your teenage years, having to trust in people to do the right thing by you. There is lots pressure to be popular and to lose your virginity, while giving your heart away to someone, falling in love with them and hoping that they won’t break it.
If you like books full of teenage angst and drama you will love this, as it’s a hard hitting read that will totally blow your mind and leave you a hot mess by the end. Another fantastic book by this author.
5 Amazing Stars!
I’m more into NY/Adult genre, but I love some YA too, especially from one of my favorite authors.
This story is so beautiful and emotional, and I related so many times to Comet, I saw so much of my “younger me” in her.
Tobias and Comet will make you swoon and cry.
I really appreciated the way Samantha Young dealt with some topics like parents/children relationships and/or conflicts, friendship, loss, bullying, social pressure and how teenagers have to find themselves, grow up, make decisions… and deal with consequences…
And the poetic part was just amazing…
I really recommend this book!
***ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review***
Visit my French blog: https://isalacroqueusedelivres.wordpress.com
It has been a minute since I read a YA contemporary romance and I must say, I am so happy I read The Fragile Ordinary by Samantha Young. It was such a sweet story about young love and everything that comes with that.
Comet is that awkward and shy girl in school that basically keeps to herself and lives in her head and dreams and loves her books and her poetry. She just wants to get through high school and see what life has to offer afterwards, because it must be better than what she has now, right?
Then Tobias King comes from America and completely changes everything. The bad boy with a past. Though Comet wanted to be invisible, because in part, that is how she sometimes felt, Tobias changes everything. Neglected by her parents and dealing with issues many high school students do now, she broke my heart.
I loved Comet and Tobias together. Friends first, their relationship was a slow-burn romance that was perfect. Add in family issues, friends and bullies and you have a wonderfully touching book. The Fragile Ordinary was a story that deals with so many current issues faced by teenagers and one that will touch you in so many ways.
4.5 stars. Loved it! Read and reviewed for Sultry Sirens Book Blog.
Happy reading!
* A review copy was provided by the author/publisher via Netgalley for the Blog Tour *
The Fragile Ordinary is a young adult contemporary romance story. It is a coming of age story for a misunderstood high school girl.
I found this to be a thought provoking and enjoyable read. I thought it was an accurate portrayal of what high school students go through today. There are many trials and tribulations that face our teens today and some are easy to navigate but some are extremely hard. But with any good support system in place you can get through them. That’s the message I got out of this story.
The Fragile Ordinary is a standalone novel told solely from Comet’s POV. I will say I wished we would’ve gotten some of Tobias’s POV. I would’ve liked to know what he was thinking at certain points in the story. But this truly was Comet’s journey to take. This story was set in Portobello Beach, which is a suburb of Edinburgh Scotland. I have personally never been to Scotland, but I felt I have a better understanding of Scotland after reading this story. I felt like I was there. I thought the flow and pace of this story was great. The storyline moved along without being too rushed. But she also didn’t drag things out.
In this story we follow the journey of Comet and Tobias. Comet is a shy and social awkward teen who just wants to get through high school and then go to the University of Virginia to follow her passion for writing….mostly poetry. Growing up with parents who really don’t even see her, she struggles with conversation and feeling wanted. Tobias is a new student and walking on the wild side. He moved to Scotland with his mom. Tobias harbors a lot of anger towards his mom and dad, which makes him make some bad decisions. Comet is drawn to Tobias but is too shy to do anything about it. Over the course of the story Tobias and Comet strike up a kind of peculiar friendship….until Comet is put into a dangerous situation and Tobias comes to her aid. Things change from there on.
Samantha Young talks about many important issues for high schoolers today, but towards the end of the story she takes an even more emotional look into something, that truly hit me hard. She pulled on my heartstrings at the end of the book. I thought the growth that the characters went through during this book was fantastic!!!
I would recommend this to anyone who is a fan of Samantha Young’s books. You see a different side to her writing in this book. If you are a fan of young adult novels then I think you should give this one a try. I think this is a story that most high schoolers should read.
Comet and Tobias as certainly anything but ordinary with their heartfelt, relatable, and loving tale. Comet, contrary to her awe inspiring name, enjoys being on the fringe. She has a need to be unseen that stems from her Wallflower personality mixed with the growing pains of teenagedom. Through her poetry she privately spills her souls and that’s all the external validation she wants. When bad boy Tobias King streaks across her life she is not sure how to manage him. His gruff exterior and dangerous devil may care personality are so foreign to the shy and bookish girl. When their orbits intertwine, she finds herself helplessly intrigued by his layers. When it becomes apparent that his past and crowd have a hold on him and she has slowly needling her way in, they find themselves in everyone’s crosshairs. They can either give in to the darkness or they can let their lights shin.
I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this book