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

BOOK REVIEW: 5/5

Comet - I love her name! It’s extraordinary, but the name belonged to an ‘ordinary’ girl who loves weird, loud clothes, poetry and books. She’s introvert and loves her solitude. Comet has two crazy friends - their friendship did a whole loads of ups and downs throughout the story. She has a weird and sad relationship with her parents as well.

Tobias is the new hot Yankee in town. Comet should just get the heck away from him since he goes with the bad guys in school. But there was more to Tobias than what meets the eye. Especially, when they were paired for an assignment. The more she got to know him, the more she wants to get closer. But getting closer to him was a bit complicated, with all the drama and issues surrounding him.

And yet they found themselves drawn to each other. One day at a time. Comet finally found someone who understands her, and Tobias - aww, this guy can be a sweetheart one minute, and an a** the next. But he has a good head on his shoulder and only wants to save people he cares about

I love our heroine. No matter how it kills me I didn’t get to read Tobias POV, I knew that hers was more important. I love the complexity of her character, as well as the rest of the cast. But Comet - she was a winner. I like the fact that she stood on her grounds and maintained to be different despite the pressure that surrounds her. I think of her brave already at that point. I love how she changed. It wasn’t immediate. It was gradual. She was growing right before me. The moment she finally did, it felt like magic. Teared me up a little.

Her friends weren’t perfect, and most especially her parents - they didn’t have that classic HEA, but they were a work in progress that puts a bit of reality into the mix. No one can change with just one or two confrontations, can they? But everyone is owning their mistakes.

The last few pages on my way to that happy-for-now-ending had me bursting into tears. Samantha Young has the audacity to do that to my heart right before the very end! But I was just glad our Comet grew up and she had support of her friends, and surprisingly someone close to her as well. She withstood the crisis and took courage to do what she’s most afraid to do despite the broken heart.

This was the book that gave me unexpected waterworks, heartaches and all the feels. I didn’t expect it. I admit I found the book a little young for me at first (them, being sixteen and all that) - but OMG - this book was just amazing!!! It wasn’t just a love story - it dealt with loads of social and domestic issues that are prevalent and still considered as taboo nowadays.

Did I just tell you how much I love the poetry in between?

Samantha Young bravely tackled the issue through her words in this book, filled with so much heart and emotions but never overdoing it. Reminded me so much of high school (I don’t know if that one is good or bad) - nevertheless, this book goes on my top shelf! I love it, I love it, I love it!

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EXCERPT

I became so preoccupied with the thought of meeting Tobias after school and walking to Stevie’s and his flat with him, and then working in close proximity in their bedroom again, I was utterly useless as a friend. I barely had any recollection of anything Vicki or Steph said to me all day, and it became clear to them why when we walked out of school at the end of the day and I told them I had to wait for Tobias.

“So that’s why you’ve been so distracted all day,” Steph said, sounding put out. “You get to spend the afternoon in Tobias King’s bedroom.”

My God, was she jealous?

It sounded like she might be a little envious.

“Oh, Comet, please don’t tell me you like him,” Vicki said, not sounding jealous at all, but very concerned.

“I don’t,” I lied.

“Good. Because he’s a bad boy. And you’re…”

“Comet,” Steph supplied, like that explained everything.

Ugh. It did explain everything.

Total opposites.

“Well I don’t. Now go, before he thinks we’re standing here gossiping about him.”

Steph laughed and threaded her arm through Vicki’s to lead her away. I gave Vicki a reassuring smile and a wave when she looked over her shoulder at me, still plainly concerned.

“Ready?”

I almost jumped out of my shoes as I spun around to find Tobias towering over me. He was alone.

Hmm.

I’d been partly nervous about meeting him to walk him to his flat because I’d suspected Stevie would be joining us. Relief moved through me. “No Stevie?”

Tobias’s brows drew together. “No. Why would there be?”

I shrugged, confused by his somewhat belligerent response. “You live together.”

“He skipped out after lunch.”

Of course he had. I turned away so Tobias wouldn’t see me roll my eyes. “I suppose we better go then.”

If I’d thought last night’s walk was quiet, this one was positively dead. We said not a word to one another. I was going to start up conversation, attempt to not be socially awkward, but Tobias seemed lost in his thoughts and his silence made me lose my nerve.

“You’re not afraid of me, are you?” He spoke up suddenly, only a street away from the flat.

The question surprised me so much my tongue loosened. “What? Why would you think that?”

“The way you reacted when Mr. Stone made me sit next to you. Your hands were shaking yesterday. You were nervous at Stevie’s flat. The way you’re acting now.”

“It’s not that I’m afraid of you.”

“So you’re just shy as shit?”

What a charming adjective. I wrinkled my nose. “Maybe.”

Tobias chuckled. “You don’t have to be shy around me. Contrary to popular belief, I’m not actually Satan.”

“No one thinks you’re Satan.” I shook my head. “Just…maybe not the kind of boy who would talk to a girl like me. I get that.” I wanted to assure him that I knew we were just presentation partners and not actually friends. “So let’s just get to your place and get our work done.”

“First…go back. The part about me being a guy who wouldn’t talk to a girl like you. Explain.”

I frowned at the demand. “I’m academic. I like school. You…you may be smart, but clearly you don’t like school.”

“I can see where you might think that.” He nodded and then flashed me that boyish grin. “But maybe you’re wrong.”

“Possibly.” I nodded. “I don’t really know anything about you.”

“I don’t know anything about you either. Most girls are pretty talkative about themselves. You’re not. You’re kind of a mystery.”

Tobias King thought I was a mystery.

That made me laugh, and his eyes widened as he watched me, his mouth curling up at the corners in that way it was wont to do in lieu of an actual smile. “I’ve never seen you laugh before.”

Did he think I was some emo, miserable teenager incapable of it? “It’s been known to happen once in a while.”

This time he full-out grinned at my dry tone. “Apparently.”

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.