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
Review
Let me start off with by saing I haven’t read a YA book that was so deeply rooted, emotionally, in such a long time. I think it was Colleen Hoover’s YA books that have done that and it has been quite a few years since I’ve read her YAs. I never expected to find myself so emotionally in tune with the heroine, Comet. I loved her character so much and was looking forward to seeing her growth into someone who was stronger.
I haven’t read a book that has made me cry more than once in a long time. As beautiful and amazing Comet was, I hated that she didn’t have much support from the people that truly mattered. A young girl, no, woman, who has so much to say and offer, and shows it constantly through her poetry. We experience every bit of her happiness, wonder, and pain through her words. And the fact the even sometimes her friends never understood her, it just made my heartbreak for her even more. It was hard to watch Comet take what they threw at her, but eventually, she would come into her own and finally start speaking for herself. And what a beautiful sight that was.
Comet and Tobias made it so easy to love their budding relationship. They’re exactly what they needed, they definitely brought the best out of each other. But these two together evoked so much emotion out of me that brought on the waterworks. I can’t exactly pinpoint what it was, but the moments where Comet would finally put herself out there and reveal bits and pieces of herself. And Tobias trying to be someone he’s not, the pain Comet endured from that will really make your heartache.
Like many teenagers, there’s a lot of experiences happening in such a short amount of time. I’m sure we can all remember and relate. I appreciated those relatable topics that were shared in this book, it just made everything much more real. It was another side of being a teenager and the possible outcome of following the wrong crowd. At which point do you stop trying to help someone who doesn’t want to be helped? Or when do you finally tell yourself that you’re going down the wrong road and need to make a change before it’s too late? Decisions are tough as a teenager, I know I didn’t make the greatest ones, but I sure did learn from them. It’s not easy being a teenager.
For once I didn’t mind the teenage angst, Samantha Young was able to convey so much through her words that it was easy to look past a lot of things. I related to Comet in the sense of being a bookworm and I’m sure all my fellow bookworms would have to agree. Since this was my first time reading Young’s books, I’ll definitely be going through her other books.
I just need to say this, I totally understand not wanting to be in social situations, it doesn’t make anyone a bad person or unlikeable. We all have our comfort zones and yes, while I do believe we should always push ourselves past those limits. I’d never try to do it towards the point where it would bring me anxiety. I loved Comet’s character, she hated being in the spotlight, avoided social situations, but you have to commend her for her growth and how much stronger she turned out in the end. For someone who essentially has no parental upbringing, she’s been navigating life on her own, I’d say she was doing the best she could in her circumstances, which is fan-freaking-tastic for not having nurturing and loving parents.
Absolutely amazing read that I’ll be re-reading over and over again!
✮✮✮✮✮
Excerpt
Tobias had offered to spend Christmas Eve with me alone, considering what had just occurred between me and Kyle. Yes, I was devastated by the brief conversation. I was also confused by my reaction, because Kyle hadn’t told me anything I didn’t already know. To hear him confess his own weak will when it came to Carrie, to hear from his own mouth that yes, he did love her more than me and that he’d choose her over me no matter what was painful. I didn’t know if his fears about Carrie’s issues were founded. Maybe. I guess I didn’t know the woman who was my mother well at all. She’d never been verbally unkind to me, though. Her cruelty had always been in her indifference.
Those were my thoughts, going around and around like they were stuck on some twisted, hellish merry-go-round, when I walked into Tobias’s new house.
I tried to focus on Lena. I discovered, however, as I followed her through the narrow hallway of the three-bedroom house in the more affluent area of Porty that Tobias did take after his father in looks. There was a photo hanging on the wall in the hallway of a younger Tobias standing in between Lena and a man I knew must have been his dad. They stood outside a huge white house that reminded me of the wealthy homes featured in John Hughes’s movies. Like Tobias, his dad was extremely tall, broad-shouldered, with fair good looks.
I’d slowed down to look at the photo, and Tobias turned around to see what was keeping me.
“Your dad?”
His eyes flicked to the photo, and I hated the pain that shimmered in his gaze. He nodded and I squeezed his hand.
“Would you like something to drink, Comet?” Lena called from the kitchen. “We have water, Coke, orange juice. Or I could make us all hot chocolate.”
I tugged Tobias away from the photo. There was no need for us both to be a sad, wallowing mess today. “Yes, Mrs. King, hot chocolate sounds lovely.” We wandered into the small, modern kitchen to find her waiting on us.
“I thought I told you to call me Lena.”
“Of course, sorry.” I gave her a smile, trying to ignore the fact that she was raking her eyes over my outfit like she had the last time I saw her.
It was Christmas, so I’d decided on a burgundy long-sleeved thermal with gold sparkles through it, matched with a short burgundy velvet skirt with a dark red tulle underskirt that stuck out rock-chick style from the skirt. I wore thick, black tights and Irregular Choice burgundy suede ankle boots in the Victorian style. They seemed simple until I turned around—they had a huge gold jacquard bow pinned to back of the ankle.
I’d added a bunch of chunky gold bracelets up both arms so I jingled when I moved.
I’d considered toning my clothes down but this was me, and Tobias knew this was me and all that mattered was that he loved me, loud fashion sense and all. Still, I smoothed my hands down my skirt nervously until Tobias captured one of them in his own.
Glancing up at him in question, I found myself caught by the tender reassurance in his eyes. He drew my hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to it while his gaze held mine, and I felt like he was silently reminding me not to worry what she thought of me because he thought I was perfect.
The sound of a throat clearing broke our moment and we turned to find his mum staring at us wearing a huge smile. “Hot chocolate.” She gestured to the mugs in front of us.
Her assessment of my appearance ceased and instead she studied my interactions with her son. In fact, she watched everything Tobias did, and she did it in a way that made me think she missed him. I knew they’d talked and he was attempting to repair the damage to their relationship, but I perceived a wariness in Lena’s behavior. Like she was scared of making the wrong move—one that might cause him to shut her out again.
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
Meet the Author
Meet the AuthorSamantha 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.
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Thank you so much for sharing! ~Jessica, InkSlinger PR