Full Flight by Ashley Schumacher

Full Flight by Ashley Schumacher

Full Flight by Ashley Schumacher is a beautiful book, but it is also one that will break your heart. Following two band kids who fall in love despite the odds being stacked against them, this one contains the excitement of marching band and two complex main characters. The writing style is also poetic, making this a great read for those looking for a more thought-provoking and emotional read.

Full Flight by Ashley SchumacherTitle: Full Flight
Author: Ashley Schumacher
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult Fiction
Publication Date: Febraury 22, 2022
Rating: four-stars

Summary (from Goodreads):

A YA contemporary novel told in alternating perspectives, about an exuberant girl and a solitary boy who are forced to work together on a duet in their small-town marching band. With rumors flying and time running out before the big competition, the two must perfect their music while coming to terms with the loneliness they are both battling.

Amazon “iBooks” Amazon Canada” data-recalc-dims=

❃ I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. ❃


Review: Full Flight by Ashley Schumacher

After joining her school’s band later than everyone else, Anna constantly feels like she’s falling behind, especially with the upcoming competition season. However, when she is assigned a duet with Weston, an outcast with a reputation as a troublemaker, he becomes her tutor, and Anna’s skills start to improve. As they spend more time together, Anna realizes that Weston is nothing like the rumours, and what starts as a few practice sessions quickly blossoms into romance. However, because of Weston’s reputation, Anna’s parents would never approve, forcing them to hide their relationship. Together, Anna and Weston must fight for love with the odds against them.

❀ Complex Main Characters

Anna and Weston are both complex main characters, and I enjoyed their emotional depth. As she is a newcomer to band, I really felt for Anna and her desperation to prove herself as a musician, and I was struck by the contrast between her bright personality and the darkness she experiences. Weston’s character is also interesting, as the mystery surrounding him has made him the subject of much of the town’s gossip–gossip which is completely false. Both characters experience loneliness in their own way, but I loved watching them find comfort in each other as they slowly reveal their true selves.

❀ Poetic Style

This book has the kind of writing that I immediately knew would break my heart. As it tackles themes like loneliness, the style is very poetic, and I really enjoyed the way the bird motif ties in with this. Ashley Schumacher has proven herself as an author who is able to make me feel the emotions behind her words–not only sadness and grief, but also the giddiness of first love–so I look forward to reading more of her books in the future.

❀ An Emotional Story

Full Flight by Ashley Schumacher is an emotional story of love and loss. I enjoyed the premise of a marching band contest, and the main characters are well-developed. The poetic writing style reminded me of Nicola Yoon’s work, so I’m sure fans of books like Instructions for Dancing will enjoy this one.

About Ashley Schumacher

ashely schumacher

Ashley 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.

candid cover avatar

About The Candid Cover

Olivia ❀ YA book blogger, Starbucks lover, novice New Yorker, & professional bibliophile.

26 thoughts on “Full Flight by Ashley Schumacher

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badge

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.