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Full Flight
Everyone else in the tiny town of Enfield, Texas calls fall football season, but for the forty-three members of the Fighting Enfield Marching Band, it’s contest season. And for new saxophonist Anna James, it’s her first chance to prove herself as the great musician she’s trying hard to be.
When she’s assigned a duet with mellophone player Weston Ryan, the boy her small-minded town thinks of as nothing but trouble, she’s equal parts thrilled and intimidated. But as he helps her with the duet, and she sees the smile he seems to save just for her, she can’t help but feel like she’s helping him with something too.
After her strict parents find out she’s been secretly seeing him and keep them apart, together they learn what it truly means to fight for something they love. With the marching contest nearing, and the two falling hard for one another, the unthinkable happens, and Anna is left grappling for a way forward without Weston.
A heartbreaking novel about finding your first love and what happens when it's over too soon. Ashley Schumacher’s Full Flight is about how first love shapes us—even after it’s gone.
When she’s assigned a duet with mellophone player Weston Ryan, the boy her small-minded town thinks of as nothing but trouble, she’s equal parts thrilled and intimidated. But as he helps her with the duet, and she sees the smile he seems to save just for her, she can’t help but feel like she’s helping him with something too.
After her strict parents find out she’s been secretly seeing him and keep them apart, together they learn what it truly means to fight for something they love. With the marching contest nearing, and the two falling hard for one another, the unthinkable happens, and Anna is left grappling for a way forward without Weston.
A heartbreaking novel about finding your first love and what happens when it's over too soon. Ashley Schumacher’s Full Flight is about how first love shapes us—even after it’s gone.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published February 22, 2022
About the author
Ashley Schumacher
6 books491 followersAshley Schumacher is the author of Amelia Unabridged and Full Flight and has a degree in creative writing from the University of North Texas. When she’s not reading or writing, she’s either singing Disney songs, finding new and exciting ways to pester her family, or trying to find her inside voice, which has been sadly missing since birth. She lives in a small town north of Dallas with her husband, son, and more books than is strictly necessary.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 641 reviews
December 27, 2021
I cried. I choked. I sobbed. I felt like my inner organs were tearing apart. Oh boy! This is so sad! So unfair! So intense!
Sweet sunshine, alone in the crowd, quirky heroine Anna whose safe place in her mind is living in magical, shiny, peaceful Christmas world, trying to find her own voice in the high school jungle.
Our broken hearted hero who is outcasted by school crowd for living to attend the rival school for one year, returning back and attracting the gossipers’ full attention with his family’s divorce, his lethal jacket, his unique and different vibes. His name is Weston Ryan and he thinks he’s a lost cause. He may ruin anything he connects, anyone he’s getting close.
When shy, sweet, quirky Anna wants his help for playing duet at school band, he gets distracted by her smiling face and he says yes but he does everything to take it back including asking one of his best friend Ratio to help her. But Ratio realizes Weston started smiling again at the first time when she was around her and he rejects to help.
So Anna and Weston stuck with each other and even though Weston tries to keep his distance and the inner circle of Anna thinks he’s weirdo and she shouldn’t spend much time with him including her own family: their friendship blossoms against all odds.
Anna tells her mom she’s not gonna date with Weston but she cannot control her feelings. And she doesn’t even want to control them. She falls hard and she decides to let her emotions take control in expanse of lying to her parents and going against her friends’ opinions!
But… yes the blurb gives it away so much including unnecessary extra spoilers! But you may sense something extremely heartbreaking is coming from the beginning of my review, don’t you?
Anyways, I wish they produce windshield wipers for humans so I can apply them to stop my nonstop dropping tears right now. I couldn’t read the last pages of the book because of crying too much! My vision is so blurry. I’m looking like a raccoon fought with badger and lost her battle.
I loved the second book of the author as like I adored the debut : “Amelia Unabridged “ ( quick confession: I loved her debut more because this book hurt me so much! I’m still screaming “why! Why! Why!”) I’m looking forward to read next Ashley Schumacher book! I already became a fan!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
Sweet sunshine, alone in the crowd, quirky heroine Anna whose safe place in her mind is living in magical, shiny, peaceful Christmas world, trying to find her own voice in the high school jungle.
Our broken hearted hero who is outcasted by school crowd for living to attend the rival school for one year, returning back and attracting the gossipers’ full attention with his family’s divorce, his lethal jacket, his unique and different vibes. His name is Weston Ryan and he thinks he’s a lost cause. He may ruin anything he connects, anyone he’s getting close.
When shy, sweet, quirky Anna wants his help for playing duet at school band, he gets distracted by her smiling face and he says yes but he does everything to take it back including asking one of his best friend Ratio to help her. But Ratio realizes Weston started smiling again at the first time when she was around her and he rejects to help.
So Anna and Weston stuck with each other and even though Weston tries to keep his distance and the inner circle of Anna thinks he’s weirdo and she shouldn’t spend much time with him including her own family: their friendship blossoms against all odds.
Anna tells her mom she’s not gonna date with Weston but she cannot control her feelings. And she doesn’t even want to control them. She falls hard and she decides to let her emotions take control in expanse of lying to her parents and going against her friends’ opinions!
But… yes the blurb gives it away so much including unnecessary extra spoilers! But you may sense something extremely heartbreaking is coming from the beginning of my review, don’t you?
Anyways, I wish they produce windshield wipers for humans so I can apply them to stop my nonstop dropping tears right now. I couldn’t read the last pages of the book because of crying too much! My vision is so blurry. I’m looking like a raccoon fought with badger and lost her battle.
I loved the second book of the author as like I adored the debut : “Amelia Unabridged “ ( quick confession: I loved her debut more because this book hurt me so much! I’m still screaming “why! Why! Why!”) I’m looking forward to read next Ashley Schumacher book! I already became a fan!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
August 17, 2021
im obsessed with ASs writing. its lyrical, yet authentic. and once again, she has proven that emotions written on paper can be felt as if they are living, tangible things. from stolen glances to important celebrations, each action and feeling takes on a life of their own and in a really poetic way. so many sentences are worth highlighting in this! i also adore the title, what it represents, how it manifests in the story, and how the theme of birds (one bird in particular) is so heartbreakingly and beautifully depicted. the way it is all woven throughout is my favourite thing about this book. it really is quite something.
my only complaint is the last 20% kind of let me down. it doesnt help that the synopsis gives away too much. the plots 'big event' can very easily be inferred when reading the blurb, so when it came time for it to actually happen in the book, i felt no emotion because i already knew to expect it. also, the event itself is stated in the space of two lines. thats it! and its towards the end, so any time for anna to learn to move on after the event (which the synopsis implies is a big part of the story) is brief, almost as brief as the actual event itself. its supposed to be this tragically defining moment, but it just doesnt deliver as impactfully or as emotionally as it should have.
regardless of the ending, i cant deny that AS knows how to tell a story about first loves, growing up, and finding yourself as well as finding others. while i may not have wholeheartedly loved this as much as her first book, i think its a nice sophomore novel and has me looking forward to seeing what AS writes next.
a massive thanks to st. martins press/wednesday books for the ARC!!
↠ 3.5 stars
my only complaint is the last 20% kind of let me down. it doesnt help that the synopsis gives away too much. the plots 'big event' can very easily be inferred when reading the blurb, so when it came time for it to actually happen in the book, i felt no emotion because i already knew to expect it. also, the event itself is stated in the space of two lines. thats it! and its towards the end, so any time for anna to learn to move on after the event (which the synopsis implies is a big part of the story) is brief, almost as brief as the actual event itself. its supposed to be this tragically defining moment, but it just doesnt deliver as impactfully or as emotionally as it should have.
regardless of the ending, i cant deny that AS knows how to tell a story about first loves, growing up, and finding yourself as well as finding others. while i may not have wholeheartedly loved this as much as her first book, i think its a nice sophomore novel and has me looking forward to seeing what AS writes next.
a massive thanks to st. martins press/wednesday books for the ARC!!
↠ 3.5 stars
February 20, 2022
“You are the finest, loveliest, tenderest, and most beautiful person I have ever known—and even that is an understatement.” ― F. Scott Fitzgerald
**First off, that cover! I don't think you can really appreciate it unless you hit the enlarge button.
Fall = Football Season. For those living in Enfield, Texas this is especially true, except if you are in the marching band - then it's contest season. This may bring back memories for those readers who were in the marching band.
Anna James has joined the marching band as a new saxophonist. She has magical, musical dreams of being a musician. She is not the only one, Weston Ryan a mellophone player has the same dreams. When Anna and Weston are assigned a duet....
He is looked down upon by the town, her parents forbid her to see him, so she does what teenagers do, and finds a way to see him even if it means a lie or two. Ahh, first love. It's intense, powerful and all consuming! The insta-love that teens fall into. She captures what it was like to be in the middle, no longer a child but not yet and adult and all the raging hormones, insecurities, and emotions that go with it. It's also about not fitting in, being cool while not being one of the cool kids, about friendship, and about finding your own community.
This book really took me by surprise, in the best possible way. I enjoyed the narration of the audiobook! This book put a smile on my face, then took it away. It's sweet, it's tender, it's beautiful, it's heartbreaking.
Whew! Ashley Schumacher should be on your radar if she is not already. She won me over with Amelia Unabridged and stole my heart with Full Flight.
Grab some tissues and enjoy the journey this book takes you one.
Thank you to Tantor Audio and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
#FullFlight
**First off, that cover! I don't think you can really appreciate it unless you hit the enlarge button.
Fall = Football Season. For those living in Enfield, Texas this is especially true, except if you are in the marching band - then it's contest season. This may bring back memories for those readers who were in the marching band.
Anna James has joined the marching band as a new saxophonist. She has magical, musical dreams of being a musician. She is not the only one, Weston Ryan a mellophone player has the same dreams. When Anna and Weston are assigned a duet....
He is looked down upon by the town, her parents forbid her to see him, so she does what teenagers do, and finds a way to see him even if it means a lie or two. Ahh, first love. It's intense, powerful and all consuming! The insta-love that teens fall into. She captures what it was like to be in the middle, no longer a child but not yet and adult and all the raging hormones, insecurities, and emotions that go with it. It's also about not fitting in, being cool while not being one of the cool kids, about friendship, and about finding your own community.
This book really took me by surprise, in the best possible way. I enjoyed the narration of the audiobook! This book put a smile on my face, then took it away. It's sweet, it's tender, it's beautiful, it's heartbreaking.
Whew! Ashley Schumacher should be on your radar if she is not already. She won me over with Amelia Unabridged and stole my heart with Full Flight.
Grab some tissues and enjoy the journey this book takes you one.
Thank you to Tantor Audio and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
#FullFlight
January 30, 2022
4 stars
This was wonderful and terrible all at the same time. Wonderful because I loved the characters, the writing, and so much of the story. Terrible… because I spent the whole last 20% sobbing in my pillow. I love emotional books but this was a little much for me.
Anna James need help with a duet in marching band. She started late and is behind those band members that have been doing it forever. Weston Ryan is the guy to help her. Weston and Anna come from a small town and Weston doesn’t quite fit in. But he fits with Anna. They become friends and so much more. They relate to each other and I loved them together.
Anna’s parents are a bit strict and don’t want her dating anyone, especially someone like Weston, but they come around. I loved watching these two fall in love. Reading about first loves are just so dang beautiful. I truly loved Weston, Anna, as well as their friends Ratio and Andy. This could have been such a sweet YA romance, but then it wouldn’t have been an Ashley Schumacher story, would it?
This author always seems to bring the feels. This one was so emotional. It tackles grief and loss and you’re going to need some Kleenex for this one. I would recommend this one, but be prepared for all the feels.
This was wonderful and terrible all at the same time. Wonderful because I loved the characters, the writing, and so much of the story. Terrible… because I spent the whole last 20% sobbing in my pillow. I love emotional books but this was a little much for me.
Anna James need help with a duet in marching band. She started late and is behind those band members that have been doing it forever. Weston Ryan is the guy to help her. Weston and Anna come from a small town and Weston doesn’t quite fit in. But he fits with Anna. They become friends and so much more. They relate to each other and I loved them together.
Anna’s parents are a bit strict and don’t want her dating anyone, especially someone like Weston, but they come around. I loved watching these two fall in love. Reading about first loves are just so dang beautiful. I truly loved Weston, Anna, as well as their friends Ratio and Andy. This could have been such a sweet YA romance, but then it wouldn’t have been an Ashley Schumacher story, would it?
This author always seems to bring the feels. This one was so emotional. It tackles grief and loss and you’re going to need some Kleenex for this one. I would recommend this one, but be prepared for all the feels.
July 18, 2021
As usual when it comes to Ashley's writing, CUT TO me weeping openly in a public park. (I should? Know better???? BY NOW??????? and yet.) I simply devoured this book, knowing full well it would break my heart, but also knowing that it would do it in the best, most poignant, beautiful way. I loved everything about this from the relatability of the band kid culture (I was not a band kid myself, but anyone who had one of those Extremely Demanding Extracurriculars in high school will be like "ah, yes; it me") to the hilarity of Anna's inner thoughts to the tenderness of her first love to Ashley's ridiculously lovely, often gut-wrenching prose (sorry not sorry that my phone is just a bunch of creepy photos of lines I didn't want to forget!!). Anyway. My heart is still swollen with this and I read it LITERAL MONTHS ago. Yet another book that will cement Ashley as the Queen Of Feelings, and makes me even more excited for anything else she writes down the line.
February 25, 2022
Full Flight by Ashley Schumacher is a young adult contemporary romance novel. The story in Full Flight is one that is told by alternating the point of view between the two main characters of Anna and Weston.
Anna James is a member of the Fighting Enfield Marching Band in Enfield, Texas and while most in the town are football obsessed the band is also going strong. Anna really wants to improve her saxophone playing but is hesitant when she’s paired with Weston Ryan.
Weston is the boy that is known as trouble around the small town so of course Anna knows her parents would not approve. Slightly intimidated of Weston at first Anna really gets to know him as he helps her practice and before she knows it Anna develops strong feelings for the bad boy.
Young adult contemporary novels are not ones that I’m drawn to often but last year I read Amelia Unabridged by Ashley Schumacher and loved it so of course I had to pick Full Flight up too. Now while I enjoyed this story I don’t think it was quite as strong as the first as that was one that would really grab your heart right from the start but of course this one also pulls at to the heartstrings but in a different way. Regardless, I still enjoyed this story and thought the characters were likable so I’d definitely return to this author again.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Anna James is a member of the Fighting Enfield Marching Band in Enfield, Texas and while most in the town are football obsessed the band is also going strong. Anna really wants to improve her saxophone playing but is hesitant when she’s paired with Weston Ryan.
Weston is the boy that is known as trouble around the small town so of course Anna knows her parents would not approve. Slightly intimidated of Weston at first Anna really gets to know him as he helps her practice and before she knows it Anna develops strong feelings for the bad boy.
Young adult contemporary novels are not ones that I’m drawn to often but last year I read Amelia Unabridged by Ashley Schumacher and loved it so of course I had to pick Full Flight up too. Now while I enjoyed this story I don’t think it was quite as strong as the first as that was one that would really grab your heart right from the start but of course this one also pulls at to the heartstrings but in a different way. Regardless, I still enjoyed this story and thought the characters were likable so I’d definitely return to this author again.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
March 21, 2022
Ashley Schumacher wrote an Ode to her first love, and took us along with her on a trip down memory lane. In her Acknowledgement, she speaks directly to her own lost youthful first love, telling him that she finally got around to telling his story.
Weston was an outcast - a trouble-maker, a boy from a broken family who "did not fit in." Anna James came from a "proper" family, so when Weston and Anna are paired for a duet for the state contest, Anna was not expecting to fall in love with the high school "bad boy."
I have to say, Weston was NOT my definition of a bad boy, however. He marched to the beat of his own drum and dreamed of a career involving music. He also had a thing for "good girl" Anna. He had admired her from afar, never expecting to "win the prize" of her heart. (Triple Sigh!) Inevitably, with everyone telling Anna not to go there, she absolutely did! (Forbidden fruit is always so enticing, as most of us know to our own cost!) What an incredibly intense relationship they had, only for it to end before it really even began.... (sob, sniffle!)
Of course, when the tragic event (no spoilers here, but even the blurb hints at it) occurs, Anna is completely broken and rarely leaves her room. She can barely function and her parents worry endlessly: will she recover from this incredibly tragic loss?
I have to say that Anna did, eventually, show us how it can be done. She did, of course, have a lot of help from Weston's friends, the band, her parents and just about everyone who had ever tried to warn Anna that Weston was "bad news!"
Ashley Schumacher is truly a gifted writer who can pull on each and every heart string you own. This is a beautiful story, but these bad boy tropes are difficult because they have been done to death, and it is hard to make any story with this plot line sound new and fresh. Still, this books was well worth the read and all the tears! I'm rating this one a 4 out of 5 stars. My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review!
Weston was an outcast - a trouble-maker, a boy from a broken family who "did not fit in." Anna James came from a "proper" family, so when Weston and Anna are paired for a duet for the state contest, Anna was not expecting to fall in love with the high school "bad boy."
I have to say, Weston was NOT my definition of a bad boy, however. He marched to the beat of his own drum and dreamed of a career involving music. He also had a thing for "good girl" Anna. He had admired her from afar, never expecting to "win the prize" of her heart. (Triple Sigh!) Inevitably, with everyone telling Anna not to go there, she absolutely did! (Forbidden fruit is always so enticing, as most of us know to our own cost!) What an incredibly intense relationship they had, only for it to end before it really even began.... (sob, sniffle!)
Of course, when the tragic event (no spoilers here, but even the blurb hints at it) occurs, Anna is completely broken and rarely leaves her room. She can barely function and her parents worry endlessly: will she recover from this incredibly tragic loss?
I have to say that Anna did, eventually, show us how it can be done. She did, of course, have a lot of help from Weston's friends, the band, her parents and just about everyone who had ever tried to warn Anna that Weston was "bad news!"
Ashley Schumacher is truly a gifted writer who can pull on each and every heart string you own. This is a beautiful story, but these bad boy tropes are difficult because they have been done to death, and it is hard to make any story with this plot line sound new and fresh. Still, this books was well worth the read and all the tears! I'm rating this one a 4 out of 5 stars. My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review!
Want to read
August 24, 2021i might not be a fan of insta-love, but you sure as heck can bet that ashley schumacher and her heartbreaking books are an insta-buy for me 👉😎👉
yes, this is secretly a plea for help*.
*"help" will only be accepted in the form of an arc of this book.
yes, this is secretly a plea for help*.
*"help" will only be accepted in the form of an arc of this book.
July 31, 2021
After loving Amelia Unabridged so much, I, unfortunately, found Full Flight to be a little bit of a letdown. I do think that one of the reasons why I found the book confusing is that I am not American and was never in band. However, I was constantly googling things to figure out what was happening. Even in one of the most emotional scenes of the book, I had to pause and look something up. It really pulled my focus from the story.
I will say that Ashley Schumacher writes grief like no other, and this book is no exception. Even though I wasn't necessarily feeling the story, she still managed to reach in and give my heart a pretty good squeeze. She gets what loss feels like in a way that most authors do not.
I also really loved Anna James, she's the kind of protagonist that you just want to give a big hug to. She's earnest, charming, and pretty much the only person in their town willing to give Weston Ryan a chance. Weston however... left me a little bit confused as well. His "bad boy" reputation is never really explained, his parents got divorced, he may or may not have damaged a tree, he switched schools for a year, he wears a leather jacket? Not to mention, one of the only reasons we knew that he is a "bad boy" is that HE WON'T STOP SAYING IT HIMSELF! While reading his POVs I couldn't get Jughead of Riverdale's "I'm a weirdo" speech out of my head. It seems like Weston trying so hard to be an outcast was the only thing that made him one.
I definitely think that this is the right book for someone else, I think that Ashley Schumacher really does have a way of writing books that manage to feel so deeply personal to the people who are able to connect with the book. For me, that was Amelia Unabridged, and for others, it will be Full Flight. I 100% plan to pick up Ashely's future books because I know that she is a beautiful writer, but unfortunately, Full Flight was just a miss for me personally.
TWs: death, grief, underage drinking, divorce, car accident
This ARC was provided to me from Netgalley and Wednesday Books in exchange for my honest review.
I will say that Ashley Schumacher writes grief like no other, and this book is no exception. Even though I wasn't necessarily feeling the story, she still managed to reach in and give my heart a pretty good squeeze. She gets what loss feels like in a way that most authors do not.
I also really loved Anna James, she's the kind of protagonist that you just want to give a big hug to. She's earnest, charming, and pretty much the only person in their town willing to give Weston Ryan a chance. Weston however... left me a little bit confused as well. His "bad boy" reputation is never really explained, his parents got divorced, he may or may not have damaged a tree, he switched schools for a year, he wears a leather jacket? Not to mention, one of the only reasons we knew that he is a "bad boy" is that HE WON'T STOP SAYING IT HIMSELF! While reading his POVs I couldn't get Jughead of Riverdale's "I'm a weirdo" speech out of my head. It seems like Weston trying so hard to be an outcast was the only thing that made him one.
I definitely think that this is the right book for someone else, I think that Ashley Schumacher really does have a way of writing books that manage to feel so deeply personal to the people who are able to connect with the book. For me, that was Amelia Unabridged, and for others, it will be Full Flight. I 100% plan to pick up Ashely's future books because I know that she is a beautiful writer, but unfortunately, Full Flight was just a miss for me personally.
TWs: death, grief, underage drinking, divorce, car accident
This ARC was provided to me from Netgalley and Wednesday Books in exchange for my honest review.
February 20, 2022
Thank you to Wednesday Books for providing an e-arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
3.5☆ — this story by schumacher was truly a charming yet devastating one providing the first love heartache readers expect given the synopsis. anna and weston being two characters of complete opposites in terms of socially accepted within their small town but nevertheless see each other on a different level than most of anna's surface level friends. along with both of them struggling under the weight and eyes of pressure the small town has on them with needing to fly their wings free to do what their creativity seeks. sure this story is definitely a bit whirlwind, predictable, insta-love as it is but what was expected of a young adult novel tackling love and then grief soon after. i do wish that we were able to get more time with anna and weston since there was truly little time with them with seeing more growth in their dynamic and a bit more slow burn because i could've seen myself get more emotionally attached to them. but in spite of that, the plot twist that comes in still felt like a punch to the gut honestly, but that could just be me as a mood reader. the grief dealt with that comes after definitely could have been more drawn out but the moments between characters and the legacy left behind with its meaningful impact on the characters and how it gives a full circle to the story of anna and weston how it all started with their duet. would recommend to anyone looking for a quick, easy to breeze through read that still hits with emotion they need despite character development but still wonderful storytelling on schumacher's part being able to convey the deeper feelings and connections between characters and what could have been in another life for them.
3.5☆ — this story by schumacher was truly a charming yet devastating one providing the first love heartache readers expect given the synopsis. anna and weston being two characters of complete opposites in terms of socially accepted within their small town but nevertheless see each other on a different level than most of anna's surface level friends. along with both of them struggling under the weight and eyes of pressure the small town has on them with needing to fly their wings free to do what their creativity seeks. sure this story is definitely a bit whirlwind, predictable, insta-love as it is but what was expected of a young adult novel tackling love and then grief soon after. i do wish that we were able to get more time with anna and weston since there was truly little time with them with seeing more growth in their dynamic and a bit more slow burn because i could've seen myself get more emotionally attached to them. but in spite of that, the plot twist that comes in still felt like a punch to the gut honestly, but that could just be me as a mood reader. the grief dealt with that comes after definitely could have been more drawn out but the moments between characters and the legacy left behind with its meaningful impact on the characters and how it gives a full circle to the story of anna and weston how it all started with their duet. would recommend to anyone looking for a quick, easy to breeze through read that still hits with emotion they need despite character development but still wonderful storytelling on schumacher's part being able to convey the deeper feelings and connections between characters and what could have been in another life for them.
April 11, 2022
Seriously, y’all,
Full Flight
broke me a bit emotionally. But I really loved the story.
In Enfield, Texas, high school football is a big deal, but the marching band is often the center of attention as well, especially in state competition years. For Anna, the first-chair saxophonist, there’s tremendous pressure to get a key duet nailed down; if she fails, the opportunity will be given to someone else and she’ll let a lot of people down.
She decides to ask her duet partner, mellophone player Weston Ryan, for help. (Note: I had no idea what a mellophone was. Who said you don't learn from reading?) Weston is a talented musician yet the whole town thinks he’s a troublemaker, convinced he’s guilty of something he didn’t do. Weston feels an automatic connection with Anna but is afraid to let her in because he’s afraid he’ll ruin her.
The more Anna and Weston get to know each other, the more they see each other’s struggles and joys. But she has to hide their relationship from her strict parents, and that deception can only last so long. When their secret is discovered, Anna and Weston have to fight to stay together and show everyone around them how much brighter they are when they’re together. And then tragedy strikes.
I love YA romances when the characters each have secrets and each are struggling, but they find strength in their relationship. These characters were amazing; even though it's a conservative, religious town, not all of the characters were painted as close-minded or one-dimensional. To top it off, there are literally sentences in this book that took my breath away.
Full Flight is a beautiful story about love, friendship, music, survival, and hope.
In Enfield, Texas, high school football is a big deal, but the marching band is often the center of attention as well, especially in state competition years. For Anna, the first-chair saxophonist, there’s tremendous pressure to get a key duet nailed down; if she fails, the opportunity will be given to someone else and she’ll let a lot of people down.
She decides to ask her duet partner, mellophone player Weston Ryan, for help. (Note: I had no idea what a mellophone was. Who said you don't learn from reading?) Weston is a talented musician yet the whole town thinks he’s a troublemaker, convinced he’s guilty of something he didn’t do. Weston feels an automatic connection with Anna but is afraid to let her in because he’s afraid he’ll ruin her.
The more Anna and Weston get to know each other, the more they see each other’s struggles and joys. But she has to hide their relationship from her strict parents, and that deception can only last so long. When their secret is discovered, Anna and Weston have to fight to stay together and show everyone around them how much brighter they are when they’re together. And then tragedy strikes.
I love YA romances when the characters each have secrets and each are struggling, but they find strength in their relationship. These characters were amazing; even though it's a conservative, religious town, not all of the characters were painted as close-minded or one-dimensional. To top it off, there are literally sentences in this book that took my breath away.
Full Flight is a beautiful story about love, friendship, music, survival, and hope.
February 28, 2022
Rating 3.75
I’m having a hard time rating this one. Part of me thinks it was a beautifully written book while another part of me thinks it was predictable and too angsty. Let’s start with what I loved. I absolutely adored Weston’s character. He was an outcast and didn’t care about being one. He loved Anna before he even started interacting with her and what he thought about when it came to her was so sweet. He really did remind me of a teenager having a huge crush on a girl he never thought he would get. I liked Anna’s character too. I liked that she didn’t care that Weston was an outcast. She needed his help and she was determined to get it. I liked that their relationship helped one another be better people when it came to school.
What I didn’t quite enjoy was all of the band information. Now I knew this book would obviously include some considering what it’s about. But I felt like there was just too much unnecessary band information given and not really explained. If you don’t know much about band you might feel a bit lost. It could also take you out of the story. Like most YA stories Anna and Weston’s relationship was very insta-love. They also decided to hide their relationship from certain people due to Weston being an outcast which I didn’t understand. Weston was an outcast because he wore a leather jacket even in the heat and because his parents got divorced. I know this story takes place in a small town but it was hard to see Weston as a true outcast when he didn’t really do anything. Obviously, them keeping their relationship a secret causes major problems later in the story. I didn’t care for that because again I think it could have all been avoided. I also hated what happened at about 75% in. If you don’t want it to be spoiled then do not read the synopsis as it will give it away. I just felt like having that happen took away from what could have been a great first love story.
Overall, I recommend this to teens or anyone who wants a well written story about first love.
Thank you so much @stmartinspress & @wednesdaybooks for a #gifted copy on #Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I’m having a hard time rating this one. Part of me thinks it was a beautifully written book while another part of me thinks it was predictable and too angsty. Let’s start with what I loved. I absolutely adored Weston’s character. He was an outcast and didn’t care about being one. He loved Anna before he even started interacting with her and what he thought about when it came to her was so sweet. He really did remind me of a teenager having a huge crush on a girl he never thought he would get. I liked Anna’s character too. I liked that she didn’t care that Weston was an outcast. She needed his help and she was determined to get it. I liked that their relationship helped one another be better people when it came to school.
What I didn’t quite enjoy was all of the band information. Now I knew this book would obviously include some considering what it’s about. But I felt like there was just too much unnecessary band information given and not really explained. If you don’t know much about band you might feel a bit lost. It could also take you out of the story. Like most YA stories Anna and Weston’s relationship was very insta-love. They also decided to hide their relationship from certain people due to Weston being an outcast which I didn’t understand. Weston was an outcast because he wore a leather jacket even in the heat and because his parents got divorced. I know this story takes place in a small town but it was hard to see Weston as a true outcast when he didn’t really do anything. Obviously, them keeping their relationship a secret causes major problems later in the story. I didn’t care for that because again I think it could have all been avoided. I also hated what happened at about 75% in. If you don’t want it to be spoiled then do not read the synopsis as it will give it away. I just felt like having that happen took away from what could have been a great first love story.
Overall, I recommend this to teens or anyone who wants a well written story about first love.
Thank you so much @stmartinspress & @wednesdaybooks for a #gifted copy on #Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 23, 2021
Flash Book Review: This made me cry a lot, and I'm mad about it.
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Anna is one of few people in the small town of Enfield, Texas to join the school band as a freshman, which leaves her constantly scrambling to catch up with everyone else. When she’s given a duet with Weston Ryan, the boy who’s trouble and may or may not have murdered the school tree, she’s worried she’ll never be able to get it right. But Weston turns out to be an excellent tutor, and the more she gets to know him, the more she realizes how much the town has misjudged him. If her parents find out they’re dating, she’ll be in a world of trouble, but Weston is the one person who makes Anna feel like it’s okay to be completely herself. When the unthinkable happens, Anna has to find a way to move forward without a partner to answer her call. I received an invitation to read a free e-ARC through NetGalley from the publishers at St. Martin’s Press. Trigger warnings: character death, car accidents, divorce, bullying, vomiting, grief.
I enjoyed Amelia Unabridged despite its sadness, so I thought I was prepared for the sadness of this book. I was wrong. I finished it in the morning, and the gloom of it hung over me for the rest of the day and my face hurt from crying so much. Little known fact about me: sometimes crying makes me mad (and the reverse is also true: make me mad enough and I’ll probably cry, which makes me more mad, etc. it’s not a fun cycle), so all the feelings walking away from this book were Smad. There are a handful of books I feel are worth crying over (Looking for Alaska, The Song of Achilles), but this isn’t one of them. It’s just grief with no silver lining. Tragic shit happens and there’s no message or meaning in it. While I find that useful as a life strategy–sometimes things just hurt, and there is no why–it’s not that satisfying in fiction.
Further, knowing that the Big Tragic Thing was coming limited my enjoyment of the rest of the book. It’s hard to get invested in characters when I know something bad is coming for them (the main reason I have never read They Both Die at the End– it’s right there in the title!), so I struggled to get invested in Anna and Weston’s relationship. I like them well enough as characters, and I like the character development that their relationship brings about. I like Anna’s relationship with her family and Weston’s with Ratio. All are well done. But I read a lot of YA romances (weirdly? somehow? how did this happen? I’m supposed to be the horror girl.), and some work well for both adults and YA while some feel very YA, and Full Flight is the latter. That’s not in any way a bad thing; it’s actually perfect for its audience, but as an adult, I found it hard to connect with some very teenage problems.
One thing I’ve noticed about both of Schumacher’s books is how deeply entrenched they are in a certain topic. Amelia Unabridged is a love letter to books and fandom, and as a book lover it was like sinking into a cozy bath. Readers are my people. Full Flight is organized around the school band, and I emphatically do not relate. I can see band kids really loving it, but I quickly got tired of reading about marching and band practice and uniforms and Gilligans. But that’s the problem with books that are so immersive. The very thing I didn’t enjoy about it is probably going to be the thing that makes it someone else’s favorite book. I don’t have any reservations about recommending Full Flight to someone who finds the premise interesting. It does what it sets out to do, and it does it fairly well. But in terms of things I enjoy (and my ratings reflect enjoyment at least as much as anything else), I found it needlessly sad.
I review regularly at brightbeautifulthings.tumblr.com.
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Anna is one of few people in the small town of Enfield, Texas to join the school band as a freshman, which leaves her constantly scrambling to catch up with everyone else. When she’s given a duet with Weston Ryan, the boy who’s trouble and may or may not have murdered the school tree, she’s worried she’ll never be able to get it right. But Weston turns out to be an excellent tutor, and the more she gets to know him, the more she realizes how much the town has misjudged him. If her parents find out they’re dating, she’ll be in a world of trouble, but Weston is the one person who makes Anna feel like it’s okay to be completely herself. When the unthinkable happens, Anna has to find a way to move forward without a partner to answer her call. I received an invitation to read a free e-ARC through NetGalley from the publishers at St. Martin’s Press. Trigger warnings: character death, car accidents, divorce, bullying, vomiting, grief.
I enjoyed Amelia Unabridged despite its sadness, so I thought I was prepared for the sadness of this book. I was wrong. I finished it in the morning, and the gloom of it hung over me for the rest of the day and my face hurt from crying so much. Little known fact about me: sometimes crying makes me mad (and the reverse is also true: make me mad enough and I’ll probably cry, which makes me more mad, etc. it’s not a fun cycle), so all the feelings walking away from this book were Smad. There are a handful of books I feel are worth crying over (Looking for Alaska, The Song of Achilles), but this isn’t one of them. It’s just grief with no silver lining. Tragic shit happens and there’s no message or meaning in it. While I find that useful as a life strategy–sometimes things just hurt, and there is no why–it’s not that satisfying in fiction.
Further, knowing that the Big Tragic Thing was coming limited my enjoyment of the rest of the book. It’s hard to get invested in characters when I know something bad is coming for them (the main reason I have never read They Both Die at the End– it’s right there in the title!), so I struggled to get invested in Anna and Weston’s relationship. I like them well enough as characters, and I like the character development that their relationship brings about. I like Anna’s relationship with her family and Weston’s with Ratio. All are well done. But I read a lot of YA romances (weirdly? somehow? how did this happen? I’m supposed to be the horror girl.), and some work well for both adults and YA while some feel very YA, and Full Flight is the latter. That’s not in any way a bad thing; it’s actually perfect for its audience, but as an adult, I found it hard to connect with some very teenage problems.
One thing I’ve noticed about both of Schumacher’s books is how deeply entrenched they are in a certain topic. Amelia Unabridged is a love letter to books and fandom, and as a book lover it was like sinking into a cozy bath. Readers are my people. Full Flight is organized around the school band, and I emphatically do not relate. I can see band kids really loving it, but I quickly got tired of reading about marching and band practice and uniforms and Gilligans. But that’s the problem with books that are so immersive. The very thing I didn’t enjoy about it is probably going to be the thing that makes it someone else’s favorite book. I don’t have any reservations about recommending Full Flight to someone who finds the premise interesting. It does what it sets out to do, and it does it fairly well. But in terms of things I enjoy (and my ratings reflect enjoyment at least as much as anything else), I found it needlessly sad.
I review regularly at brightbeautifulthings.tumblr.com.
December 31, 2022
*thank you Wednesday books for the ARC*
I really enjoyed Schumacher’s debut and found her writing very magical, so I don’t know what happened here. The writing here is… fine… but it’s plot is extremely overdramatized and cringey. The setting and characters aren’t unique enough to warrant this level of reaction from the characters. I unfortunately was not invested in this story at all and most of the good is very much overshadowed by the issues I personally had with the story.
I do not understand why these band kids in a small town are so… much. Like it’s like they acting like they live in Riverdale (as Cosette would say) but nothing crazy is happening they literally are just practicing for their band recitals. I didn’t feel much of the urgency of their band contests and such; granted I have no investment in band and I was only in band in middle school.
Anna James and Weston Ryan are two band kids who have to do a duet together and are in love with each other… but I have no idea why. The way it’s introduced it’s like they barely knew each other but for some reason mutually crushed on one another HARD but again I don’t know why they were attracted to each other. Anything that should be written off as “teenagers being dumb and goofy” doesn’t work cause it takes itself so seriously.
Also, everyone hates Weston for no reason. They think he’s weird, sure, but like he doesn’t even do anything… he’s very plain. People just think he knocked over some tree and his trait is that he wears a leather jacket… ok? Why would anyone be suspect of that. He’s just good at band and his parents are getting divorced like nothing much there to actively avoid.
I have no idea why Anna and Weston are so dramatic too. They are acting like their love story is forbidden and they have the most intense romance ever with nothing to back it up. It is hard not to cringe or be annoyed about how intensely romantic they try to be. They, again, are high school band kids why are they so serious about their love story. High schoolers can be dramatic sure but they also are just goofy.
Also you are telling me that this is a story about HIGH SCHOOL BAND and we didn’t really see any of the football games and I couldn’t even get one funny jock being a bully to a band kid. (/lh)
This book unironically uses the “there are two wolves inside of me… fighting” thing which is a meme people use a joke… so that kind of tells me Schumacher unfortunately didn’t either see the opportunity to be humorous or didn’t see how the relationship and plot wasn’t as huge as she perhaps felt? I lowkey felt like she was projecting maybe her own want in high school? It has a lot of these unironic intense like lines about romance and stuff and, again, it’s hard to take seriously or feel like it’s beautiful lines because the situation is so stupid. It’s like, seriously, I’m supposed to believe these two have to sneak around because their love is forbidden? They are white and heterosexual. Relax.
It’s just… too much and too little at the same time. The intensity doesn’t match the plot, the writing isn’t as intriguing as it was in “Amelia Unabridged” yet the author had an opportunity to also try a different tone yet still was sort of trying to reach for that romantic language that doesn’t fit.
Also that ending was a whiplash. I completely forgot the blurb says what happens when “love is over too soon” like that shit happens at the VERY VERY end like why would you spoil that cause I feel like most of the book doesn’t give much tension to that
I really enjoyed Schumacher’s debut and found her writing very magical, so I don’t know what happened here. The writing here is… fine… but it’s plot is extremely overdramatized and cringey. The setting and characters aren’t unique enough to warrant this level of reaction from the characters. I unfortunately was not invested in this story at all and most of the good is very much overshadowed by the issues I personally had with the story.
I do not understand why these band kids in a small town are so… much. Like it’s like they acting like they live in Riverdale (as Cosette would say) but nothing crazy is happening they literally are just practicing for their band recitals. I didn’t feel much of the urgency of their band contests and such; granted I have no investment in band and I was only in band in middle school.
Anna James and Weston Ryan are two band kids who have to do a duet together and are in love with each other… but I have no idea why. The way it’s introduced it’s like they barely knew each other but for some reason mutually crushed on one another HARD but again I don’t know why they were attracted to each other. Anything that should be written off as “teenagers being dumb and goofy” doesn’t work cause it takes itself so seriously.
Also, everyone hates Weston for no reason. They think he’s weird, sure, but like he doesn’t even do anything… he’s very plain. People just think he knocked over some tree and his trait is that he wears a leather jacket… ok? Why would anyone be suspect of that. He’s just good at band and his parents are getting divorced like nothing much there to actively avoid.
I have no idea why Anna and Weston are so dramatic too. They are acting like their love story is forbidden and they have the most intense romance ever with nothing to back it up. It is hard not to cringe or be annoyed about how intensely romantic they try to be. They, again, are high school band kids why are they so serious about their love story. High schoolers can be dramatic sure but they also are just goofy.
Also you are telling me that this is a story about HIGH SCHOOL BAND and we didn’t really see any of the football games and I couldn’t even get one funny jock being a bully to a band kid. (/lh)
This book unironically uses the “there are two wolves inside of me… fighting” thing which is a meme people use a joke… so that kind of tells me Schumacher unfortunately didn’t either see the opportunity to be humorous or didn’t see how the relationship and plot wasn’t as huge as she perhaps felt? I lowkey felt like she was projecting maybe her own want in high school? It has a lot of these unironic intense like lines about romance and stuff and, again, it’s hard to take seriously or feel like it’s beautiful lines because the situation is so stupid. It’s like, seriously, I’m supposed to believe these two have to sneak around because their love is forbidden? They are white and heterosexual. Relax.
It’s just… too much and too little at the same time. The intensity doesn’t match the plot, the writing isn’t as intriguing as it was in “Amelia Unabridged” yet the author had an opportunity to also try a different tone yet still was sort of trying to reach for that romantic language that doesn’t fit.
Also that ending was a whiplash. I completely forgot the blurb says what happens when “love is over too soon” like that shit happens at the VERY VERY end like why would you spoil that cause I feel like most of the book doesn’t give much tension to that
February 25, 2021
Schumacher's FULL FLIGHT has officially usurped a decade-long position held previously by John Green and TFIOS as the book that made me cry the hardest and for the longest time. I am quite literally hungover from my tears. So frigging good. Ugh.
March 9, 2022
Enfield is a small town in Texas whose world revolves around football season. With football comes Marching Band. For Anna James, that means contest season and having to learn a new piece on her saxophone. She's paired with mellophone player Weston Ryan for a duet. Her tiny town has big thoughts on Weston, none of them good. But as the two work together to learn the piece, Anna sees past the rumors to the real Weston, and she likes him, a lot. Anna's parents don't, however, and when they find out she's spending time with him, they are not happy.
This is often a lovely and well-written book, though other times it had me questioning decisions and plot points. It's a little slow and the cover and description literally scream that something tragic is going to happen, so I felt extremely tentative, knowing that everything was working up to something apparently awful and sad. It seems slow, at times, too, as Weston and Anna spend time thinking and re-thinking things, and then it rushes the ending.
I liked Weston and Anna as people. What I did not like was the extremes they were sent to, especially as kids. Weston, you see, cannot love Anna because his parents are divorced, and therefore, since his parents once loved one another and then broke up, all is doomed, and he cannot ever love. Anna, meanwhile, seems to fall into insta-love with Weston (which is reciprocated, but remember, HE NEVER CAN LOVE EVER), but her strict parents hate him for no real reason (apparently your parents divorcing and being sent to another high school for a year is a sin like no other in Enfield), so she is banned from seeing him. But, then, magically, it's all okay, and we love Weston. Extremes! And, then, also magically, Weston seems fine loving Anna. Anna, thankfully, seems fairly steady through all of this or I would have thrown my book out the window. (Fine, I get that's an extreme too.)
There are a ton of references to marching band, band music, band things, things that happen on the band bus, band contests, and more. If you were in band, you would probably rate this book a bit higher just by default. (I was not in band.)
That's not to say I didn't like a lot of FLIGHT. There are plenty of lovely romantic moments and good moments and funny moments. I just don't like books that set out to make me sad, but I didn't realize that's what this book was before I won the Goodreads giveaway. It's interesting, but also tragic, and things just swing from one extreme to the other too often for me. A lot of people seemed to enjoy it, though. 3 stars.
I received a copy of this book from Wednesday Books via a Goodreads giveaway.
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This is often a lovely and well-written book, though other times it had me questioning decisions and plot points. It's a little slow and the cover and description literally scream that something tragic is going to happen, so I felt extremely tentative, knowing that everything was working up to something apparently awful and sad. It seems slow, at times, too, as Weston and Anna spend time thinking and re-thinking things, and then it rushes the ending.
I liked Weston and Anna as people. What I did not like was the extremes they were sent to, especially as kids. Weston, you see, cannot love Anna because his parents are divorced, and therefore, since his parents once loved one another and then broke up, all is doomed, and he cannot ever love. Anna, meanwhile, seems to fall into insta-love with Weston (which is reciprocated, but remember, HE NEVER CAN LOVE EVER), but her strict parents hate him for no real reason (apparently your parents divorcing and being sent to another high school for a year is a sin like no other in Enfield), so she is banned from seeing him. But, then, magically, it's all okay, and we love Weston. Extremes! And, then, also magically, Weston seems fine loving Anna. Anna, thankfully, seems fairly steady through all of this or I would have thrown my book out the window. (Fine, I get that's an extreme too.)
There are a ton of references to marching band, band music, band things, things that happen on the band bus, band contests, and more. If you were in band, you would probably rate this book a bit higher just by default. (I was not in band.)
That's not to say I didn't like a lot of FLIGHT. There are plenty of lovely romantic moments and good moments and funny moments. I just don't like books that set out to make me sad, but I didn't realize that's what this book was before I won the Goodreads giveaway. It's interesting, but also tragic, and things just swing from one extreme to the other too often for me. A lot of people seemed to enjoy it, though. 3 stars.
I received a copy of this book from Wednesday Books via a Goodreads giveaway.
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August 1, 2023I don’t think I can give this one a star rating but I can say I am wholeheartedly sobbing at the moment.
What I liked: Ashley Schumacher has a way of writing that will absolutely rip your heart out of your chest. No exaggeration, in the last 16% I was SOBBING, questioning the cruelty of the world, and the author for making me feel these things. I think this book did a great job at slowly getting you invested in it’s characters, to the point where you don’t even realize how much you care for them until the Horrible Thing happens. There’s also some great exploration of what it’s like being a teen, struggling with dark thoughts (maybe a little depression rep?), loneliness, and pressures from everyone around you. I
What I didn’t like: let me start by saying that I think this book was based on the author’s real life experiences, and therefore I don’t feel I can critique certain parts of it (if that’s what happened, who am I to disagree??) My biggest issue is that this book dealt with grief but in a way that almost doesn’t actually let you grieve. The whole thing is largely happy and cute and then you get hit with this huge thing in the last ~40 pages, that leaves you feeling awful and like your soul has been ripped out and, as my brother pointed out, maybe that’s the point. Because that’s how life happens sometimes. HOWEVER that isn’t really what I was expecting from a YA contemporary romance. Because the rest of the book is so YA contemporary, with mental health issues, slightly cheesy insta love, and the experience of being a teen.
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Better late than never, right? Thank you Wednesday books for the ARC!
What I liked: Ashley Schumacher has a way of writing that will absolutely rip your heart out of your chest. No exaggeration, in the last 16% I was SOBBING, questioning the cruelty of the world, and the author for making me feel these things. I think this book did a great job at slowly getting you invested in it’s characters, to the point where you don’t even realize how much you care for them until the Horrible Thing happens. There’s also some great exploration of what it’s like being a teen, struggling with dark thoughts (maybe a little depression rep?), loneliness, and pressures from everyone around you. I
What I didn’t like: let me start by saying that I think this book was based on the author’s real life experiences, and therefore I don’t feel I can critique certain parts of it (if that’s what happened, who am I to disagree??) My biggest issue is that this book dealt with grief but in a way that almost doesn’t actually let you grieve. The whole thing is largely happy and cute and then you get hit with this huge thing in the last ~40 pages, that leaves you feeling awful and like your soul has been ripped out and, as my brother pointed out, maybe that’s the point. Because that’s how life happens sometimes. HOWEVER that isn’t really what I was expecting from a YA contemporary romance. Because the rest of the book is so YA contemporary, with mental health issues, slightly cheesy insta love, and the experience of being a teen.
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Better late than never, right? Thank you Wednesday books for the ARC!
July 24, 2021
Ashley Schumacher won me over years ago with her Amelia Unabridged and with this new book, she continues to amaze me. With her fleshed out characters, stand out story lines and heartfelt writing, she is an author I count on to give me a good story.
This is a book that will wreck you to the core. I don't want to give any of the plot or romance away, because it is so beautiful that if should be experienced first hand, but just know that once you start, you won't be able to stop.
If you love YA, emotional romance stories and deep characters then definitely pick this one up!
Special thanks to St. Martin's Press & Wednesday Books and Netgalley for sending me the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is a book that will wreck you to the core. I don't want to give any of the plot or romance away, because it is so beautiful that if should be experienced first hand, but just know that once you start, you won't be able to stop.
If you love YA, emotional romance stories and deep characters then definitely pick this one up!
Special thanks to St. Martin's Press & Wednesday Books and Netgalley for sending me the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 22, 2022
“Full Flight” by Ashley Schumacher is a bittersweet YA love story.
First of all, do not read the book blurb. It gives the whole story away.
Anna James and Weston Ryan are assigned a duet in their marching band. Anna needs extra help as she hasn’t been in band as long the others. She gets Weston to assist her with her part and she helps him keep his grades up. They are supposedly opposites with Anna being known as the happy, cheerful girl and Weston being the town’s weird guy. However, the more the get to know one another they realize they’re exactly what the other needs.
While I was expecting to love this, it just didn’t work for me. Schumacher writes beautifully and I did come to care about Anna and Weston and some of the side characters. The problem was that this is a new level of insta-love where Anna and Weston basically make eye contact and instantly KNOW and adore one another. I am not a fan of insta-love so I was aggravated from chapter one and while I did enjoy the story once they started actually getting to know each other, I never really got over my initial aggravation.
Another issue was the reasoning behind Weston’s being an outcast. Apparently, in this small Texas town, having divorced parents and wearing a leather jacket makes you the local pariah and I just didn’t understand it. He is literally the misunderstood sweet guy with a heart of gold that has a bad reputation that keeps him apart from everyone else. I also had a slight problem with Anna’s happy-go-lucky attitude on the outside while covering up her “shadows.” I understand putting on a front but this felt like it was a bigger problem and I didn’t appreciate how the shadows went away with Weston’s love. I don’t love the message that some person’s love can change you or help you so I was iffy on that.
Now for things that did work for me! Being a teenager can be a hard time for a lot of kids and I loved seeing Anna and Weston grow and evolve and realize they’re not as alone or as weird as they imagined. Also, I love Schumacher’s writing! She has an almost lyrical style of writing that works for me without it being over the top or showy. She’s one of those writers that I’ll sometimes go back and read a line just because it was so good. She also knows how to brings the emotions. In her characters and the reader. I love books that make me feel and Schumacher has brought that in both of her books.
Overall, I think this will work better for others. It wasn’t a me book but I can see how others will feel differently.
I received an ARC from Wednesday Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
First of all, do not read the book blurb. It gives the whole story away.
Anna James and Weston Ryan are assigned a duet in their marching band. Anna needs extra help as she hasn’t been in band as long the others. She gets Weston to assist her with her part and she helps him keep his grades up. They are supposedly opposites with Anna being known as the happy, cheerful girl and Weston being the town’s weird guy. However, the more the get to know one another they realize they’re exactly what the other needs.
While I was expecting to love this, it just didn’t work for me. Schumacher writes beautifully and I did come to care about Anna and Weston and some of the side characters. The problem was that this is a new level of insta-love where Anna and Weston basically make eye contact and instantly KNOW and adore one another. I am not a fan of insta-love so I was aggravated from chapter one and while I did enjoy the story once they started actually getting to know each other, I never really got over my initial aggravation.
Another issue was the reasoning behind Weston’s being an outcast. Apparently, in this small Texas town, having divorced parents and wearing a leather jacket makes you the local pariah and I just didn’t understand it. He is literally the misunderstood sweet guy with a heart of gold that has a bad reputation that keeps him apart from everyone else. I also had a slight problem with Anna’s happy-go-lucky attitude on the outside while covering up her “shadows.” I understand putting on a front but this felt like it was a bigger problem and I didn’t appreciate how the shadows went away with Weston’s love. I don’t love the message that some person’s love can change you or help you so I was iffy on that.
Now for things that did work for me! Being a teenager can be a hard time for a lot of kids and I loved seeing Anna and Weston grow and evolve and realize they’re not as alone or as weird as they imagined. Also, I love Schumacher’s writing! She has an almost lyrical style of writing that works for me without it being over the top or showy. She’s one of those writers that I’ll sometimes go back and read a line just because it was so good. She also knows how to brings the emotions. In her characters and the reader. I love books that make me feel and Schumacher has brought that in both of her books.
Overall, I think this will work better for others. It wasn’t a me book but I can see how others will feel differently.
I received an ARC from Wednesday Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 4, 2021
Anna is a new member of her high school’s marching band. She is paired with another student, Weston, who is assigned to help her master the duet they are supposed to play in a competition. Their story is told in alternating chapters as their unlikely friendship develops.
Despite the fact that I am not familiar with marching band etiquette and terminology, I found it hard to put this book down.
Beautifully written, with relatable, likeable, and unforgettable characters, this coming of age novel will appeal to young adults and adults as well. It’s a heartbreaking story of loneliness, friendship, love, and tragedy that will stay with you long after you’ve finished reading it.
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and author Ashley Schumacher for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC of this unforgettable novel.
Despite the fact that I am not familiar with marching band etiquette and terminology, I found it hard to put this book down.
Beautifully written, with relatable, likeable, and unforgettable characters, this coming of age novel will appeal to young adults and adults as well. It’s a heartbreaking story of loneliness, friendship, love, and tragedy that will stay with you long after you’ve finished reading it.
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and author Ashley Schumacher for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC of this unforgettable novel.
February 22, 2022
4.5 stars. When I saw that Ashley Schumacher was releasing a marching band book, I knew I had to read it, even though the blurb and Schumacher’s tweets have made it no secret that it’s sad. I thought Amelia Unabridged was a perfect YA book in every way, and I couldn’t wait to again get lost in Schumacher’s unique, delectable, emotional writing style. After reading both Schumacher’s books, I love Amelia Unabridged a bit more, but Full Flight holds a special place in my heart as well.
Full Flight alternates between the first-person POVs of Weston Ryan and Anna James, two members of the Enfield High School marching band. Sax player Anna is relatively new to band, and when she’s assigned a duet with talented mellophone player Weston, she elicits his help. Anna is a cheerful straight-A student, teacher’s pet, and lover of all things Christmas. Weston is labeled as a “bad boy” over something he didn’t do, but he’s a gentle soul with a promising future in music. Anna and Weston felt like band kids I would have known in high school, and I connected to each of them in different ways.
Anna and Weston connect immediately and fall for each other quickly. While I preferred the depth of the romance in Amelia Unabridged, this pairing is believable because they’re teens and band is such a bonding activity. When Anna and Weston start dating, Anna keeps it from her parents because she knows they think Weston is a bad influence. I think Weston’s bad reputation felt a bit forced, though I don’t know what it’s like living in a town so small that rumors spread like wildfire. Also, Schumacher wrote this book based on personal experience, so Weston’s reputation could be based on some truths.
As a former marching band member, I adored reading a book about it :,). Band is a wonderfully all-encompassing experience, and Schumacher beautifully captured the vibes: the pressure, the long hours, the close bonds that form, the high of a great performance. I pictured my own high school football field and band room, and all those memories kept flooding back.
Where do I even begin with Schumacher’s writing?? Her style is one of my favorites ever, and I lost track of how many passages I highlighted in this book. Her words are like bold brushstrokes of color, forever imprinted in my mind. Schumacher also has a great grasp of the teenage experience: the MCs’ thoughts are dramatic and fatalistic and resonated with my high school self. I also loved the way the Kaua'i o'o (the bird pictured on the cover) was integrated as a symbol within the story.
Like Amelia Unabridged, this book deals with grief, but in a more direct way. It does get extremely sad, and if I hadn’t been mentally preparing myself for months, I might have shed some tears. I adore the way Schumacher writes about grief, even though I haven’t been through that kind of experience. The harsh realities of grief aren't glossed over, but there’s something comforting about the way Schumacher writes it, almost like a warm hug. By the end of the book, there was a melancholy aura around me, yet I felt hopeful and somewhat happy.
In short, this book is gorgeous and heartbreaking and everything I expected it to be. I can't wait to fall in love with Ashley's next book.
I received an ARC from Wednesday Books via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.
content warnings: grief, bullying, non-graphic sex, divorce (past)
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Sometime in 2021: I loved Amelia Unabridged and I was a marching band nerd. I also need another book to make me cry because my "wow-i-actually-cried" shelf only has one book and she's lonely. Honestly idc if this isn't queer like 95% of my reads; I need it like, yesterday.
Full Flight alternates between the first-person POVs of Weston Ryan and Anna James, two members of the Enfield High School marching band. Sax player Anna is relatively new to band, and when she’s assigned a duet with talented mellophone player Weston, she elicits his help. Anna is a cheerful straight-A student, teacher’s pet, and lover of all things Christmas. Weston is labeled as a “bad boy” over something he didn’t do, but he’s a gentle soul with a promising future in music. Anna and Weston felt like band kids I would have known in high school, and I connected to each of them in different ways.
Anna and Weston connect immediately and fall for each other quickly. While I preferred the depth of the romance in Amelia Unabridged, this pairing is believable because they’re teens and band is such a bonding activity. When Anna and Weston start dating, Anna keeps it from her parents because she knows they think Weston is a bad influence. I think Weston’s bad reputation felt a bit forced, though I don’t know what it’s like living in a town so small that rumors spread like wildfire. Also, Schumacher wrote this book based on personal experience, so Weston’s reputation could be based on some truths.
As a former marching band member, I adored reading a book about it :,). Band is a wonderfully all-encompassing experience, and Schumacher beautifully captured the vibes: the pressure, the long hours, the close bonds that form, the high of a great performance. I pictured my own high school football field and band room, and all those memories kept flooding back.
Where do I even begin with Schumacher’s writing?? Her style is one of my favorites ever, and I lost track of how many passages I highlighted in this book. Her words are like bold brushstrokes of color, forever imprinted in my mind. Schumacher also has a great grasp of the teenage experience: the MCs’ thoughts are dramatic and fatalistic and resonated with my high school self. I also loved the way the Kaua'i o'o (the bird pictured on the cover) was integrated as a symbol within the story.
Like Amelia Unabridged, this book deals with grief, but in a more direct way. It does get extremely sad, and if I hadn’t been mentally preparing myself for months, I might have shed some tears. I adore the way Schumacher writes about grief, even though I haven’t been through that kind of experience. The harsh realities of grief aren't glossed over, but there’s something comforting about the way Schumacher writes it, almost like a warm hug. By the end of the book, there was a melancholy aura around me, yet I felt hopeful and somewhat happy.
In short, this book is gorgeous and heartbreaking and everything I expected it to be. I can't wait to fall in love with Ashley's next book.
I received an ARC from Wednesday Books via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.
content warnings: grief, bullying, non-graphic sex, divorce (past)
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Sometime in 2021: I loved Amelia Unabridged and I was a marching band nerd. I also need another book to make me cry because my "wow-i-actually-cried" shelf only has one book and she's lonely. Honestly idc if this isn't queer like 95% of my reads; I need it like, yesterday.
February 5, 2022
CW: death of loved one, grief, divorce, bullying
I'm not 100% sure how to feel about this novel. It's beautifully written and captures first love so perfectly, but it's also heartbreaking and had me in tears by the end. Full Flight brought me right back to high school and the giddy, lighter than air feelings and excitement that come with new love. I felt the progression of Anna and Weston's relationship was really well done and was very accurate. Doesn't every relationship at that age feel all consuming and meant to be forever? Unfortunately, even knowing what would happen to one of the main characters didn't soften the blow to my heart. That knowledge actually cast a pretty grim shadow over the entire book, and made it hard to feel invested in Anna and Weston at times. I also found the pacing a bit off, with a lot of page time spent on band details, which were interesting but a bit overwhelming. I think the author made the transition between before and after the tragedy intentionally abrupt, but it was hard to recover from that gut punch while also rushing towards the end. Also, I'm not sure if it was just an ARC issue, but was chapter 25 supposed to be missing? Ultimately, the message of Full Flight is an uplifting one and finding out how personal the story was to the author only made it more special.
I both read and listened to this one and thought the performances by Cody Roberts and Tina Wolstencroft were really well done. Oftentimes, narrators can sound too mature for the teenage characters they're voicing, but the casting was great and their voices complemented each other nicely.
Audiobook Review
Overall 4 stars
Performance 4 stars
Story 4 stars
*I voluntarily read and listened to an advance review copy of this book*
I'm not 100% sure how to feel about this novel. It's beautifully written and captures first love so perfectly, but it's also heartbreaking and had me in tears by the end. Full Flight brought me right back to high school and the giddy, lighter than air feelings and excitement that come with new love. I felt the progression of Anna and Weston's relationship was really well done and was very accurate. Doesn't every relationship at that age feel all consuming and meant to be forever? Unfortunately, even knowing what would happen to one of the main characters didn't soften the blow to my heart. That knowledge actually cast a pretty grim shadow over the entire book, and made it hard to feel invested in Anna and Weston at times. I also found the pacing a bit off, with a lot of page time spent on band details, which were interesting but a bit overwhelming. I think the author made the transition between before and after the tragedy intentionally abrupt, but it was hard to recover from that gut punch while also rushing towards the end. Also, I'm not sure if it was just an ARC issue, but was chapter 25 supposed to be missing? Ultimately, the message of Full Flight is an uplifting one and finding out how personal the story was to the author only made it more special.
I both read and listened to this one and thought the performances by Cody Roberts and Tina Wolstencroft were really well done. Oftentimes, narrators can sound too mature for the teenage characters they're voicing, but the casting was great and their voices complemented each other nicely.
Audiobook Review
Overall 4 stars
Performance 4 stars
Story 4 stars
*I voluntarily read and listened to an advance review copy of this book*
December 30, 2021
I feel like I was stabbed in the heart but want it to happen again and again. Ashley Schumacher is a genius at sucking me in, at comforting me through my relatable teenagery angst, and then twisting my heartstrings and creating unstoppable waterworks. I currently have tears in my eyes as I write these nonsensical thoughts.
Amelia Unabridged is on my YA pedestal. Ashley hits hard and fast with grief and the aftermath of collecting oneself in the ruins. Full Flight - on the other hand - is like a sleeper cell. You almost get too comfortable before the punch to the gut. You know it's coming, you know it will hurt. While devastating to my heart and eyeballs - I don't know when they've leaked quite this much - the entirety is simply too beautiful to miss.
I refused to read reviews or spoilers heading into this read. I knew it would require tissues and a comfort blanket but I didn't know why. Throughout reading, I had my guesses but I was all over the map with how and when it would happen. And then it did and just WOW.
I love Ashley, I love her writing, and I can't wait for her to give me all the feels again. Full Flight is completely full of heart and love and the range of emotions that will make it completely unforgettable.
Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
Amelia Unabridged is on my YA pedestal. Ashley hits hard and fast with grief and the aftermath of collecting oneself in the ruins. Full Flight - on the other hand - is like a sleeper cell. You almost get too comfortable before the punch to the gut. You know it's coming, you know it will hurt. While devastating to my heart and eyeballs - I don't know when they've leaked quite this much - the entirety is simply too beautiful to miss.
I refused to read reviews or spoilers heading into this read. I knew it would require tissues and a comfort blanket but I didn't know why. Throughout reading, I had my guesses but I was all over the map with how and when it would happen. And then it did and just WOW.
I love Ashley, I love her writing, and I can't wait for her to give me all the feels again. Full Flight is completely full of heart and love and the range of emotions that will make it completely unforgettable.
Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
August 25, 2021
I might be broken now, this book chipped away a bit of my heart. I expected this might happen after reading the author's previous book, but I was not prepared. The amount of emotion in this is amazing and cuts right into your heart. The story takes you on a rollercoaster and I'm glad to have been along for the ride.
Our main characters feel adrift, separate from those around them and struggling with loneliness. When Weston and Anna come together to work on a duet for marching band, they recognize something in each other. Anna is able to open up about feeling alone and having to pretend everything is fine and Weston talks about his parent's divorce and how he's not sure about his future.
I loved the deep moments the couple had and the way they helped each other with their goals. Anna and Weston are stronger together, they're meant to be. There is tragedy in this story and I definitely cried, wishing for a different outcome but still glad I had a chance to read this. I can't wait for to see what else Schumacher comes out with!
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the copy.
Our main characters feel adrift, separate from those around them and struggling with loneliness. When Weston and Anna come together to work on a duet for marching band, they recognize something in each other. Anna is able to open up about feeling alone and having to pretend everything is fine and Weston talks about his parent's divorce and how he's not sure about his future.
I loved the deep moments the couple had and the way they helped each other with their goals. Anna and Weston are stronger together, they're meant to be. There is tragedy in this story and I definitely cried, wishing for a different outcome but still glad I had a chance to read this. I can't wait for to see what else Schumacher comes out with!
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the copy.
May 31, 2022
I went into this book with zero expectations, and I’m walking away with a fond yet bittersweet smile. Because I did not go into this book thinking I’d get hurt. Alas, here I am.
Both of our main characters were so endearing. I adored them.
I’ve personally truly felt for our main characters and their struggles, in regards to loneliness or love. Though our their experiences far differ from my one. And yet that didn’t stop me from being moved by them. I don’t read a lot of contemporary, but books like these make me feel like I should.
Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/ Wednesday Books for sharing this ARC with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
(Detailed review to come?)
Both of our main characters were so endearing. I adored them.
I’ve personally truly felt for our main characters and their struggles, in regards to loneliness or love. Though our their experiences far differ from my one. And yet that didn’t stop me from being moved by them. I don’t read a lot of contemporary, but books like these make me feel like I should.
Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/ Wednesday Books for sharing this ARC with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
(Detailed review to come?)
December 3, 2021
One of my all time favorite books is Amelia Unabridged. So it's no small thing that I was HIGHLY anticipating this book. Although if I knew how thoroughly it would wreck me maybe I would have held off......psych. never. I love Ashley's books and they can get me in my feels anytime BUT....please Ashley be nicer next time ok? You will cry big crocodile tears...I expect nothing less after reading this book.
Ashley totally captures what it feels like to be a teenager...all caught up in a strange awkward hierarchy with its invisible rules and prejudices. And how vast and scary the future might seem and how we are all desperately looking for somewhere to belong and maybe someONE to belong to. This book is about being weird and owning it, knowing its what makes us really special.
Full Flight is about outcasts, two in particular, who find in one another something simply magical and beyond explanation...an echo of souls. They find belonging, love, and connection with tangible chemistry.
This book tackles loss in such a magnetic way that I was there with Anna crying into a leather jacket...feeling her utter devastation. It is about how loss changes us....when life seems to stop but everything else keeps moving by. When the ending hits its not quite what you hoped/wanted but I don't believe it makes the story any less important or meaningful.
This book truly encompasses the phrase, "it is better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all".
It hurt me, but gosh dang it i'm still giving it 5 weeping puffy eyed stars. But Amelia Unbridged remains the favorite because i'm a bit salty about being hurt like this.
Warning: Have tissues nearby.
Ashley totally captures what it feels like to be a teenager...all caught up in a strange awkward hierarchy with its invisible rules and prejudices. And how vast and scary the future might seem and how we are all desperately looking for somewhere to belong and maybe someONE to belong to. This book is about being weird and owning it, knowing its what makes us really special.
Full Flight is about outcasts, two in particular, who find in one another something simply magical and beyond explanation...an echo of souls. They find belonging, love, and connection with tangible chemistry.
This book tackles loss in such a magnetic way that I was there with Anna crying into a leather jacket...feeling her utter devastation. It is about how loss changes us....when life seems to stop but everything else keeps moving by. When the ending hits its not quite what you hoped/wanted but I don't believe it makes the story any less important or meaningful.
This book truly encompasses the phrase, "it is better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all".
It hurt me, but gosh dang it i'm still giving it 5 weeping puffy eyed stars. But Amelia Unbridged remains the favorite because i'm a bit salty about being hurt like this.
Warning: Have tissues nearby.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 2, 2022
I got an ARC of this book.
I keep bouncing between 1 and 2 stars. It isn't the worst book I have read, but I did not enjoy it at all.
The romance is instant and for no reason. Within a few pages they are in love and angsting about it. There is no lead up. No reason they are into each other. Lots of smiling and staring. It was incredibly awkward. I just don't get why they were into each other at all.
There really is no compelling plot by 50% (where I gave up). They are heavily into each other, they play music. That is really it. Nothing stands out.
It is told in a dual narrative, but the only way I can tell the voices apart is by who they are in love with. There is no real difference between the characters when it comes to voice, which is just one of my biggest pet peeves when it comes to books. If you are going to do this, I need the voices distinct or to have them not be in first person.
Overall, it isn't a terrible book. It just really didn't work for me. I need a reason there is romance, I need distinct voices. I just needed a lot more than this book offered.
I keep bouncing between 1 and 2 stars. It isn't the worst book I have read, but I did not enjoy it at all.
The romance is instant and for no reason. Within a few pages they are in love and angsting about it. There is no lead up. No reason they are into each other. Lots of smiling and staring. It was incredibly awkward. I just don't get why they were into each other at all.
There really is no compelling plot by 50% (where I gave up). They are heavily into each other, they play music. That is really it. Nothing stands out.
It is told in a dual narrative, but the only way I can tell the voices apart is by who they are in love with. There is no real difference between the characters when it comes to voice, which is just one of my biggest pet peeves when it comes to books. If you are going to do this, I need the voices distinct or to have them not be in first person.
Overall, it isn't a terrible book. It just really didn't work for me. I need a reason there is romance, I need distinct voices. I just needed a lot more than this book offered.
Shelved as 'did-not-finish'
September 12, 2021I loved Amelia Unabridged but this was just too much. Very insta-love, very intense and it just felt suffocating. There was a whole page dedicated to describing his eyes? The band stuff was a lot more than I expected too and as a Brit, I didn't understand any of the terms they used so I just felt left out. I kinda feel like this was Ashley's first novel and Amelia Unabridged just happened to be published first.
July 4, 2022
Full Flight is a young rom-com that pulls at the heart strings. It’s about Anna and Weston who secretly need each other but who try not to make it to obvious.
I knew when reading this book that it would be about two different people who fall in love. Yes it is a little insta love but was cute anyways. I love the two different perspective.
Thank you Wednesday books and Netgalley for providing and early read for an honest review.
I knew when reading this book that it would be about two different people who fall in love. Yes it is a little insta love but was cute anyways. I love the two different perspective.
Thank you Wednesday books and Netgalley for providing and early read for an honest review.
February 22, 2022
Review to come.
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