In The Orbit Of You by Ashley Schumacher (2024)
Quite a heart-tugger, this one. If you fall under its spell (which the book casts right away), don't be surprised if it's impossible to get through it with dry eyes.
For sheer emotional power, nothing beats a story of childhood best friends abruptly separated and then reunited years later. And with the passage of time giving them a chance to nurture a long ago friendship into something much more.
Sam and Nova's tender bonding as children was made heartbreaking by Nova's attempts to help Sam cope with the horrific physical abuse his father inflicted on him. Then circumstances end the kids' time together........Sam's rescued into the custody of his aunt and uncle while Nova's mother pursues her career as a travelling freelance accountant, forcing Nova to grow up in temporary locations, always the new girl in school.
Once again, Nova lands in a brand new place for her high school junior year. It's the school where Sam, under the healing parentage of his relatives, has grown into a football star, complete with a beautiful cheerleader girlfriend, athletic scholarships, and maybe pro football in his future.
But secretly, it's not the future he wants for himself. And his reunion with his long lost childhood friend Nova touches off multiple conflicting emotions for both of them. Years of moving place to place has left Nova struggling to define herself and her goals - her rekindled friendship with Sam only serves to send them on an emotional rollercoaster with each other. And their attempts to establish a shaky, semi-secret, platonic relationship brings them both to a breaking point.
For everyone who remembers the brief, golden time they spent with a past childhood crush (and who hasn't?) and also recalls the pre-college agonies of figuring out who you are and want you want.....what can I say except you'll find "In The Orbit Of You" kind of impossible to resist. So prepare to have your heartstrings not merely tugged and played like a rock guitar in a 5 star show....I, for one, didn't mind at all. If you need the book equivalent of a warm hug, look no further..... 5 stars (*****)
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