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Fragile

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Her heart, as delicate as glass. His love, as strong as steel. Can either survive life and death?

Hardy Bradford is an eighteen year old football phenomenon who has the girl, the school, the town and the future in the palm of his hand. His life is all mapped out for him, right down to who he’ll marry and how he’ll become a professional football player. It doesn't seem to matter that Hardy would’ve chosen a much different life if it was up to him. But it's not. At least not until his Miracle comes along.

The first time Hardy laid eyes on Miracle St. James, he didn’t know who she was, but he knew she was something different and that he’d never get her out of his head. And he didn’t. Now, months later, Hardy’s world is turned upside down when Miracle shows up in his class, stealing his heart and forever changing the course of his life.

Miracle’s sick. Very sick. And Hardy might be losing the only thing in his life that has ever mattered. How much is too much to sacrifice for the one you love? For just a little more time? For just one more chance? Can Hardy be the hero Miracle needs? Or is it Hardy that needs saving?

296 pages, Paperback

First published August 6, 2012

64 people are currently reading
4036 people want to read

About the author

M. Leighton

67 books9,435 followers
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, M. Leighton, is a native of Ohio. She relocated to the warmer climates of the South, where she can be near the water all summer and miss the snow all winter. Possessed of an overactive imagination from early in her childhood, Michelle finally found an acceptable outlet for her fantastical visions: literary fiction. Having written over a dozen novels, these days Michelle enjoys letting her mind wander to more romantic settings with sexy Southern guys, much like the one she married and the ones you'll find in her latest books. When her thoughts aren't roaming in that direction, she'll be riding wild horses, skiing the slopes of Aspen or scuba diving with a hot rock star, all without leaving the cozy comfort of her office.

About Michelle: I love coffee and chocolate, even more so when they are combined. I'm convinced that one day they could be the basis for world peace. I also love the color red and am seriously considering dying my hair.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 316 reviews
Profile Image for Azet.
1,090 reviews282 followers
April 6, 2021
It was a long time ago i read a high-school romance."Fragile" is a beautiful love-story about how the popular foot-ball player Hardy Bradford fall head over heels in love with the good-hearted and lively Miracle St.James.

Oh, Hardy was a very smitten hero,and i enjoyed that we followed this book mostly through his POV.He had a very depth to his character,where his life actually was like a prison.His love for Miracle was explosive and understandable,she had such a pure soul that i understood how easily Hardy thought that she was the most beautiful creature ever.He stood out his fathers abusiveness and selfishness so that he could protect his brother and mother,and that made him a very much man in my eyes.And how he managed to blackmail his father at the end just impressed me,WOW he really grows up throughout the story.

The only thing he couldn`t live without was Miracle and my heart broke for them when he gets to know of her sickness.He worshiped the ground she walked on..!

Because of this unusual, undying and bittersweet love between Hardy and Miracle,their relationship also reminded me of Summer`s and Seth`s powerful angsty love-story in "Summer`s Desire" by Olivia Lynde which are one of my favourite books ever..!


“Miracle,” he said sharply, shaking her lightly.  He said her name twice more before she calmed enough to listen to him.  When she did, he bent and looked her dead in the eye.  “Listen to me.  I can live without a kidney.  I can live without football.  I can live without a lot of things.  There is only one thing in this world I can’t live without.  And I’m giving you my kidney so you can live, so we can be together.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Alexis *Reality Bites*.
757 reviews3,658 followers
May 11, 2012
Spoiler Free Review
4 STARS
Genre: YA Romance-Mature

"I don't want to die. I want to live. I want to live life with all its emotions, all its experiences. I don't want to miss anything. But i feel like i will. I feel like i'm living on borrowed time."- Miracle in Fragile

This book was simply Beautiful. Fragile is a story about love, love that endures all.

Hardy Bradford is the man. He's handsome, dating the pretty head cheerleader and is the starting quarterback for his school. While at the park with his hot cheerleader girlfriend Cheyenne for a photo shoot Hardy walks off and settles under a tree opposite a bench. When Hardy overhears two girls talking he looks over and that's when he saw her Miracle St. James and her pretty green eyes. He could tell on sight that something was not right with Miracle she looks frail,under weight and bald. He watches her interactions with others and instantly knows she is a giving loving person. When his spying is interrupted by his girlfriend Cheyenne he is pulled away but not before making eye contact with Miracle and those pretty green eyes.

5 months later Hardy is sitting in class and once again finds himself looking into those pretty green eyes. Miracle St. James is now a new student in school and she is no longer bald and frail. In fact Hardy cannot keep his eyes off her much to the dismay of Cheyenne. Miracle and Hardy b/come friends altho he wants to be more than friends she is reluctant. Miracle has experienced lost and she is scared to watch another person walk out of her life b/cuz they can no longer handle the trials life brings.

This is my first read by M. Leighton and it will not be my last. I think she did an excellent job. I loved watching these two fall in love and i love how Hardy would not allow Miracle to think for a second that he would leave when the going got tough. Miracles outlook on life and appreciation for the small things makes you as a person reflect and see things different. She has to be one of the best female characters i have ever read about and i loved every second of it.

I consider this book YA Mature it does have some sex.

My Ratings
Characters- Lovable and Admirable
Writing Style- Good
Plot/Storyline- Genuine and Forthright
Overall- Enjoyable/A YA MUST READ
Profile Image for KarenH.
189 reviews192 followers
August 12, 2012
Hardy Bradford is a high school senior who, by outward appearance, has it all going on. Tall, with dark hair, light eyes and rockin' a 6-pk, he's the picture you see when you look up "swoonworthy". He's the quarterback "on fire"...the one being scouted most actively by the top colleges in the country; and his girlfriend of several years, Cheyenne, is the best-looking female on the planet. Although Hardy knows his future as a football pro is more for his father than for himself, and Cheyenne - handpicked by his father as well - is NOT the girl of his dreams, he is content for now...until he meets Miracle St. James.

The first time Hardy lays eyes on Miracle she is sitting on a park bench. He is mesmerized by her emerald green eyes, her sweet smile, her seductive voice. Does her skin feel as soft as it looks, he wonders. Hardy is oblivious to anything but this beautiful girl in front of him until Cheyenne walks up and asks him if he is "into bald chicks now." The spell is broken and he walks away...but he doesn't forget. Five months later, Hardy is ecstatic when he discovers Miracle is now attending his school. Like a moth to a flame, he is drawn to her beauty...her sweet disposition...her joy in experiencing the little things in life that most people take for granted. Unfortunately, everything good that is Miracle is overshadowed by everything bad that is Cheyenne...and Hardy feels no remorse when he kicks Cheyenne to the curb. Yeah!!!

What follows is a touching story about two young people who are fortunate enough to find their lifelong soul mate in each other. The question is...how long is lifelong? Miracle had been diagnosed with cancer the year before, but treatment had been successful and she was clean; however, as the result of high med dosage, chemo, etc, she lost a kidney. Now tests on her surviving kidney are indicating problems...

Hardy is probably the best YA hero I have come across to date. He realizes early on that Miracle is the love of his life; and, while a few of his decisions are probably not too smart (like knocking her ex unconscious with little forethought) he is completely exonerated of any wrongdoing in my book. Miracle holds his heart; therefore, her happiness and well-being are foremost in his mind and affect every decision he makes. At one point Miracle calls Hardy her hero, and he realizes that is exactly what he wants to be...her protector, her lover and her savior...forever. But while Hardy envisions forever to mean he and Miracle sporting white hair & playing with their grandchildren, the heartbreaking truth is that Miracle might not live to see her 19th birthday. My heart went out to Hardy...he had so much conflict at home to contend with, his scholastic future was unclear, Cheyenne kept trying to break him down...yet despite all that, he stayed focused on Miracle and his quest to fill her life with happiness.

Please don't think you can read this story without shedding a tear. If you can, then you are probably made of stone.

Staring deeply into her eyes, Hardy prayed that all he felt for her would show, that she could see what he couldn’t find the words to say.  When her lips curved into a tremulous smile, he cupped her face in his hands and pressed his forehead to hers, closing his eyes. Hardy whispered, just loud enough for Miracle to hear, “Someday I’ll marry you, Miracle.  And maybe someday after that, I’ll deserve you.”

Although Fragile is told in 3rd person with an insight to only what Hardy is thinking, I felt like I knew Miracle just as well. The author, M. Leighton, must have poured her heart and soul into creating Hardy & Miracle because they were living, breathing people from the first page to the last. The dialog flowed smoothly and all characters used to build the story were thoroughly fleshed out. Best of all, I was told nothing and experienced everything. That is the make-it-or-break-it issue for me when I read a book and Ms. Leighton's presentation kicked ass! Indie authors rock!



5 ++ stars!


Hardy Bradford
Profile Image for Darci.
145 reviews104 followers
April 8, 2012
I dub thee M. Leighton the new queen of SWOON in the land of My Pathway to Books! OMGosh!!!! I seriously don't know what else to say besides OMGosh!!!! I literally read this book from cover to cover! My kindle died right smack in the middle of it and I almost died inside until *insert happy music here* I realized I had my cloud reader on my computer so I rushed over and finished the other half on here! It is an understatement to say that this book was captivating! I really wish I could give it more that 5 Stars...I'm thinking about making a 6 Star rating here just for M. Leighton! She never fails to rock my socks off even though in this book she's is out of her already mastered genre! I was actually a little shocked when I found out that M. was writing contemporary *GASP* but OMGosh she mastered this just like she does the paranormal!

The Romance in this book...let's just say there is a reason M. has the crown on her head...and you might need some cold water. Hardy is a hottie and he is now ranking near the top of my book boyfriend list! From the moment Hardy lays eyes on Miracle, he's protective of her and he's enthralled with her! Hardy is seriously everything a girl could ask for! His character really develops throughout the story learning from Miracle's strength and unconditional selflessness. At times in the book, I was even learning from Miracle's mastery of turning the other cheek. This Romance was sweet and hot simultaneously. You are with the characters during sweet times and also ones that will make you SWOON! There are a lot of things the couple has to go through, both of them have gone through so much already, and they are straining to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Luckily they find that light in each other!

You've got to read Hardy and Miracle's story!...Like NOW...If you want a masterpiece contemporary that will draw you in before the first chapter is even over, you will find that in Fragile!
Profile Image for k.
137 reviews275 followers
September 10, 2013

“I don't want you to be afraid of dying. All those people have survived cancer. You just watched hundreds of reasons to have hope drift off into the sky.”

This book was so sweet! The entire time I was reading this all I could think about was how awesome it would be to have a boyfriend like Hardy! All the things he does for her, all the ways that he shows his love for her. You wouldn't think a book about a girl with kidney cancer would be sweet, but this book totally is!

Miracle St. James is the kinda girl that I wish I could be! She is always giving and kind . She let's everything, and I mean everything that would bother most people, roll right off her shoulders. She can always see the good in everyone.

Hardy is amazing! He is such a great book boyfriend. He always fights for her, he never gives up on her, he helps her enjoy life. Totally swoon-worthy. I would have liked to see a little bit more angst, but I guess that's what makes this book so sweet. (I loved that carnival scene, now I want to share a cotton candy with Hardy)

"You are my dream, Miracle, and I love you more than anyone I've ever known. I'll spend the rest of my life loving you. Forever. But, right now, let's start with tonight. Let me love you tonight."



“Someday I'll marry you, Miracle. And maybe someday after that, I'll deserve you."


I enjoyed reading Fragile. It warmed my heart. Sometimes you just need to read about some good people finding each other. It doesn't have to be filled with angst, just a sweet read that will warm your heart, and give you hope that you can find true love like theirs.

Profile Image for Anna Jackson.
134 reviews15 followers
April 13, 2015
5 This Is What Books Are Made Of Stars !

This book was sweeter than sweet!
From the very first chapter until the very last, this book held my heart in the palm of it's hand. Fragile was a very powerful, uplifting, inspirational story that literally gave me chills throughout the book.
M. Leighton blew me away with the depth of her writing.
It took me no time at all to fall utterly in love with both Hardy and Miracle's journey.

Hardy Bradford is your all typical popular football player, on the verge of securing a football scholarship. He is also dating the most popular, most beautiful girl in school who just so happens to be yes you guessed it the head cheerleader, and the biggest superficial bitch ever! But, Hardy's life is a far cry from picture perfect, he has had his life dictated by his abusive father for years. The life his father has planed is not what Hardy wants, but it's been much easier to go with the flow than to argue with a man like his father.

That is of course until he meets Miracle St. James...

Gosh Miracle is truly and utterly the definition of goodness. Her strength throughout her life is something that I could only hope to achieve. She is the type that takes all the negative and is able to turn it into something positive even if something or someone is undeserving. She knows that tomorrow is never promised so she chooses to live a happy and fulling life on her terms. It was a true pleasure to read about her.

When Hardy and Miracle meet yet again, it is nothing short of beautiful. Honest to goodness Hardy is what boyfriends should be made of. The emotional and physical impact that these two have on each other is just phenomenal!

And that's all I'm going to say about this book. I really just can't say enough how much I loved this beautiful journey. I actually thoroughly enjoyed having read this book from only Hardy's point of view. I usually do not like when I can't have two sides, but in this case I absolutely loved it. I adored everything about Hardy.
I would even say that this book kind of reminded me of "A Walk To Remember," but with a happy ending, so if you like that then you will love Fragile.

Beautiful, beautiful!
Profile Image for Scott-robert Shenkman.
235 reviews77 followers
January 10, 2013
Damn!

Damn! Damn! Damn! Damn! Damn! Damn! Damn! Damn! Damn! Damn! Damn!

Damn!

This book made me cry like a girl, and I’m not ashamed to admit it. Not sad tears, though there is obviously some sadness, given the subject matter, but tears of happiness. Because the story was so incredibly beautiful.

Yes, there is insta-love here. Like, love at first sight love. But there has to be, because Hardy is living under the threat that Miracle’s cancer could return at any moment. And he falls hard. In fact, I don’t think I’ve seen a character fall that much in love ever. It’s ridiculous. But it’s cute, ya know? And Miracle? Well, she’s kind of perfect. Except she’s not. But because her life has essentially sucked so much for the past few years, she has learned to find something good in everyone and everything. Such as the ex-girlfriend from hell. And millipedes. Anyone who can like a millipede is sort of supernaturally amazing to me. What she isn’t is trusting, because so many people have deserted her because of her sickness. She’s too “high maintenance”. But she learns to trust that Hardy won’t leave. And what he does for her is amazing. Just amazing.

My only problem were the villains: Hardy’s father and Cheyenne, the ex. They are essentially pure evil and therefore caricatures. I find this a lot in YA books – especially with the father figure. There are no nuances. Just badness. But that’s OK, because this book is about Miracle and Hardy, and they are awesome.

Oh, and it’s not Love Story. Or Nicholas Sparks.
Profile Image for Emily.
5,813 reviews543 followers
November 7, 2012
Hardy Bradford believes in rituals, his father has drilled them into his head. As a rising Quarterback entering his senior year, the one ritual he can't wait to break is to end his long term relationship with popular cheerleader Cheyenne. Her vapid, self-absorbed attitude has become even more warring on him. With his rambling thoughts swirling around his head he comes across the most beautiful sight he has ever seen, a young girl his age whose every breath and little reactions to things burrow there way into his heart, he is immediately mesmerized by her.

It has been five months since Hardy has seen her, but he still thinks about her often. When the girl walks into his chemistry class he finally gets to attach a name to her, Miracle St. James. His luck continues to grow when he finds himself partnered with him in photography class and a delicate friendship is made. Hardy has never come across someone so genuine and full of appreciation for everything she does as he has with Miracle. When his girlfriend sees her as competition though she goes out of her way to make sure Miracle knows her place, revealing something very private that sends Hardy reeling and changing his rituals in a dramatic way.

Miracle is used to people walking away once they realize she is a cancer survivor, but she feels like she is on borrowed time and chooses to look the other way instead of letting it bother her. She is afraid of what Hardy wants to offer, his promises of staying by her side have her wishing it were true but she is also scared about if her kidney fails where it would leave him in all this.

I thought this was a powerful story. I laughed, cried, and cheered for Hardy who finds himself becoming the man he wants to be and releasing those outside pressures that have been slowly chipping away at him. The story is told from Hardy's POV which I liked a lot because he is conflicted with his feelings and frustrated that Miracle is not as hard to read, he fumbles but the one thing he never wavers on is his commitment to her. Passionately written, well worth reading.
Profile Image for maddy.
231 reviews53 followers
December 11, 2021
+1 star = 5 stars
for Hardy, my favorite YA hero ever!

Hardy should give a lecture to book Hs on How Not to be an A**hole Despite Your Awful Life.😌

〰️〰️〰️

4 stars

Sweet, swoony and emotional. I was teary-eyed on some parts, I had to pause and breathe deeply to calm myself 🤧.
Some cliché YA scenes are present but this is still a refreshing read.


**spoiler*alert*warning**

Hardy and Miracle.
The bond, friendship and love story of two seemingly different characters.
A rich, campus popular, football player, with a cliché girlfriend, and a dark childhood hidden behind a perfect family. All was normal and ordinary for him until he met Miracle.
The new pretty girl, carefree, always happy and optimistic despite the fact that life wasn't all sunshine and rainbows for her. Being a survivor, she's determined to live life fully and without regret.

...

My small issue:
As someone who have (and had) loved ones with kidney diseases, I cringed every time Miracle binged-eat. The amount of sugar and salt she ingested on this book was alarming. She should've been aware of her health condition- that even normal amounts of food could still put a strain on her kidney, and large amounts of food would overwork and might cause an irreversible damage to it.
I'm all for her YOLO, live life to the fullest, BUT not to activities that would shorten her life, literally.


What I liked the most is their emotional connection. Slowly they fell in love but still took time to change their friends status to lovers.


It's sweet, genuine, swoony, with some YA angst. ❤️


〰️〰️

Safe?
Profile Image for Jannat Bhat.
Author 10 books134 followers
October 26, 2012
The first thought that comes to mind when I consider FRAGILE is sweet. From beginning to end, this was a charming, thoughtful, and sweet story. With Hardy's wonderful attributes, I never found him boring, simply swoon-worthy. And Miracle. She is exactly as you would expect with a name like that. She walks into Hardy's life and shifts his entire world. She wakes him from a deep sleep. His entire world was orbiting around someone else's dream and Miracle inspires him to strive for the life he wants. She's practically perfect, but not in an off-putting way. Miracle just happens to know what's truly important, and doesn't let herself be bothered or distracted by the trivial.
The relationship that develops between them is so beautiful. I don't know how else to describe it. Hardy really sees Miracle for who she is and vice versa. Miracle is the first person to really see inside Hardy. He feels a comfort with her to be himself. It's just so sweet. The story also remindede me of the book/movie A WALK TO REMEMBER. I was so emotional at the end of the book, I was almost afraid to finish. This is such a beautiful story of love, hope, and faith. I highly recommend this book.

Fav Quote-

Idiot! Hardy thought.  She knows you know her name.  Now you just sound like a mental patient.

“Yes. I’m very serious.  I refuse under threat of death to tell you that I’ve never been to a carnival,” she teased.
Profile Image for Annie Brewer.
Author 14 books787 followers
September 23, 2013
Such a sweet and heartwarming story. I loved the ending. I loved Hardy and everything he was and all he did for Miracle. Omg, I cried like a baby, but most of it was tears of happiness and joy. Could he have been more perfect? Miracle was amazing as well. Her kindness and zest for life despite what she'd gone through was inspiring. The way she handled situations, especially involving Hardy's jealous, bitchy ex-girlfriend with such grace was so hard to swallow. I wouldn't have been as forgiving. But I was happy she finally put that skank in her place.

I was more than thankful this wasn't A Walk to Remember story with that ending. Or The Fault in Our Stars. Gah, those endings are more than I can bear. Of course it doesn't stop me from reading them anyway. I was happy I read this. And will read more books by Mrs. Leighton.
Profile Image for Tessamari ♥Many Waters...♥ ~ Sweet Spot Book Blog.
1,003 reviews163 followers
April 17, 2012
A Strong Four Stars

**Sigh** Yes, I have a dumb grin on my face. I got my HEA and I'm a happy camper. For the most part, the story was ridiculously sweet and emotional, but it did have some cheesy moments. Hence the four star rating.

Hardy made a wonderful hero. I mean, how can a story go wrong with a sensitive hot jock playing hero? Hardy's character was pretty stereotypical in the beginning. He's the high school quarterback; He was dating the all too stereotypical cheerleading captain. And, to top it all off, he has the stereotypical controlling father trying to live vicariously through him. He had his whole future all planned out. Unfortunately, it wasn't the one he wanted. Reality of what he really wanted in his life came crashing down on him when he meets Miracle. He falls hard and fast for Miracle's sweet and generous nature. Miracle has been fighting her Cancer for years and has made a point to live her life as if it was her last. Hardy starts to see things in a whole new light when he meets Miracle. Their relationship was sweet and I loved how protective he is of her. The only thing I found a little unbelievable how fast he falls for her. I'm usually a sucker for the love at first sight plot, but for some reason, I was wasn't that impressed with this one. I don't know, I needed just a little more convincing.

Anyway, like I said, this did have a very good HEA. Hardy really did become Miracle's hero. Oh, and just an FYI...though, this was basically YA, it did have a little steam ;)
Profile Image for Tough Critic Book Reviews.
308 reviews2,181 followers
April 15, 2012
Knowing how much time an author puts into a book makes it hard not to write a good review, but Fragile just wasn't for me. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that it was written in third person. I don't purposely avoid these types of books, but lately it seems that everything is written in first person; maybe I'm just not use to it. I'm also a huge non-fan of instant love. Hardy falls for Miracle way too quickly. I know that love at frist sight fiction is suppose to be romantic, but I'll say it again...It's just not for me. I have met very few authors that can pull off love at first sight without it feeling rushed. What I have to say about Miracle is going to make me look like a complete ass, but she was just too good. It felt like the author was trying too hard to make us love her; she was way too perfect.

It wasn't a complete loss. I did really enjoy the last five chapters; things really started to heat up and the pacing greatly improved. Ms. Leighton even gives us some pretty steamy scenes which was a total shocker because up until that point there were only a few subtle hints here and there. So I was completely surprised that this somewhat cheesy and predictable romance got a little naughty ;-)

It was a really sweet romance and the ending was great, but this book just wasn't written for me. Maybe it was written for you. Who knows?? I do know that I'd be willing to give the author another shot by trying another one of her books. You never can tell.
Profile Image for Lauren.
1,181 reviews322 followers
April 9, 2012
A master of the paranormal, M. Leighton has made a seamless transition into contemporary young adult romance. Fragile is the beautiful love story of Hardy and Miracle and it is mainly written from Hardy's perspective, which is one of the things I LOVED about the book. I haven't read a romance that is mostly from from a male's POV, and Michelle did an excellent job capturing Hardy's voice. I also really enjoyed seeing Miracle through his eyes, and I think that I'm even more in awe of her because we saw her as he does.

I just loved how well Hardy and Miracle fit with each other. On the surface a healthy, beautiful boy, who seems to have it all, and a small, sick girl who is quiet and unassuming, may not make sense. But then you see that the boy is broken inside and that the girl has a strength that comes from deep within. It makes you wonder who is the fragile one. Hardy and Miracle are stronger together. They make each other better people, and that is the magic of the love story. Although they fall in love quickly, it felt believable to me. Especially from Hardy's perspective, because he sees something in her character that he doesn't have, and he will do anything not to let it go. What that is, you'll have to read and find out.


Note: This book does contain some mature themes. Not for young teens.
Profile Image for Ellen Ramey.
187 reviews10 followers
April 16, 2012
Simply. Beautiful. Oh, that we all were so blessed:) Ms. Leighton, if you do not continue writing in this genre we will all be very disappointed. Your gift is tremendous:)
Profile Image for ❀ Crystal ✿ -  PEACE ☮ LOVE ♥ BOOKS .
2,532 reviews306 followers
September 5, 2019
*Potential Spoilers*
This was not the first time I read Fragile and I am sure it is not the last. Every single time this story amazes me and deserves it's own galaxy of stars. It is such a beautiful love story filled with pain, sorrow and determination it’s hard to believe the characters are only in high school. M. Leighton struck gold with the beauty of this story and has forever become a favorite.

Hardy is a star football player with a star lifestyle, or so it seems. On the outside Hardy has the ideal high school life, he’s the star quarterback, dating the head cheerleader and hopes to get a football scholarship to a prestigious college. But in reality the life Hardy leads is not what he wants. Rather he lets his domineering father steamroll his life and live vicariously through Hardy who secretly loves photography and art.

“Nothing seemed as interesting, as captivating, as important as the face of that girl.”-Hardy

Miracle is literally a shining star in Hardy’s life. She never gets upset or angry and takes all the negatives in life and makes them livable. When Hardy first glimpses Miracle, she’s a beacon of hope in his turmoil ridden life. Even with her bald head and anorexic like appearance Hardy glimpses something special within her. And when they meet it’s like a gooey love connection that you can’t help but smirk over.

Miracle helps Hardy fight for the life he wants. At the same time Miracle is fighting for her life and poor Hardy who isn’t ready to lose her, does everything he can to find a way for her to live. (His solution will make you tear up so have tissues on hand.)
description
I will say Hardy’s ex-cheerleader gf Cheyenne needs a serious smack down. I was expecting some sort of apology on her part or at the very least a moment of payback. But Miracle is above all that petty juvenile behavior and barely bats an eye at her antics. She’s the epitome of evil, stuck up, popular cheerleaders everywhere, who live only to make your life hell. Only this time her focus is on Miracle. What she doesn’t realize is her complete oppositeness to Miracle is what attracts Hardy in the first place and every stupid move she makes only solidifies his choice to leave more. (I was pleased also by his lack of interest in her for months. It helped make him and Miracle less rushed and more realistic as Hardy finally started to see the error of his own ways. And the pure evilness the way Cheyenne that he ignored as most teen boys would in honor of her smoking bod lol). He becomes ashamed of her and the choices he made but at least he wakes up in time to make his own decisions and see the light, if you will, with Miracle. She gives him the ability to appreciate every little thing whether it be the sun in the sky or a loss of a football game.

I was disappointed by there not being a more satisfying epilogue. Partly, because, I’ll admit, I didn’t want the story to end. But a 5 year from now or 10 year from now epilogue would have made me more happy especially considering Miracle’s already fragile health. Even without the epilogue I was still grinning like a fool and wishing for more when I read THE END.

And her sister Mila. Can she get a book lol, she’s pure awesomeness. And the lucky star Miracle needs at home to keep her steady and act the part of an average teen, even if she is the younger one. I love how she openly admits how hot Hardy is and wants any and all details from Miracle on his kissing prowess.

What I Loved
Everything

“He’d never wanted someone so badly. Ever. And so completely, too. He wanted her heart, her body, her mind. He just wanted to watch her, to listen to her, to just stand in her presence.”

Miracle is beyond brave. Even I got squeamish when she let the millipede crawl all over her. No thanks.

OMG the balloons. Hardy is both pure genius and sweetheart.

What I Didn’t Like
I’m so sick of domineering parents living through their children especially the sports-minded ones

Cheyenne-ugh someone hit her with a car quick

How long Hardy takes to see the light (but since Miracle helps him outta his safe-zone I accept it)

Overall
Screw Nicholas Sparks, he’s got nothing on Fragile. Fragile covers all the bases but without all the added fluff and boring interludes. Every page is interesting and you will be sucked into Hardy and Miracles friendship/love. Reading through it, it does have many similarities to A Walk to Remember, but somehow Fragile is five million billion times better.
description
“Listen to me. I can live without a kidney. I can live without football. I can live without a lot of things. There is only one thing in this world that I can’t live without. And I’m giving her my kidney so she can live, so we can be together.” –Hardy

~*~*~*Swoon~*~*~* Hardy gets me every time.

It’s a beautiful story that may invoke tears, mostly happy ones. Everyone should read this, especially fans of M. Leighton.

5 Well earned Stars


*********** Re-Read Sept. 4th 2019***********

It’s been a few years since I read this last but it’s one of those books that sticks with you so it’s been on the back burner for a while. This book is overly cheesy and so sugary sweet my cavities have cavities. Maybe it’s the turnover from my 20’s to 30’s but looking upon this story now it’s all a bit forced and overdone. Not that I love this book any less, I’m not one to turn down overly sappy YA. But for instance the character of Miracle is beyond believable. Miracle (the name alone says enough) suffered horrible health issues in her life and this has this changed her outlook. She views the worlds now as sunny, bright and fairies sprinkle dust on everything and unicorns roam free. As a reader I guess I would have liked to see more of her inner turmoil. No one can be or is so happy and carefree as she is and as a reader it was hard to find her believable or relatable. She deals with so much, too much for someone her age it’s easy to also fall in love with her, it just seems like we are not seeing all of her if that makes sense. For the most part this book does follow Hardy and his evolution. With his rose colored glasses, like hers, he only sees the good in her and nothing is wrong or imperfect and she never complains. His bully ex is enough to make me froth at the mouth wanting revenge but Hardy and Miracle just keep taking it. Now I can definitely say this book is insta-love, Cupid’s arrow hits Hardy point blank and if you need something disgustingly sweet and beautiful this book is for you.
Profile Image for Ren.
153 reviews50 followers
April 26, 2012
Originally posted at A Little Bit of R&R Reviews

The book is told in Hardy's POV. Hardy is the school's star football player and dates a shallow cheerleader named Cheyenne. At first glance, it looks as if he has everything a teenager could ever want. That is until he sees Miracle for the first time. Hardy first notices Miracle in the park with her younger sister, Mila. Hardy notices that she is bald and a bit frail, he's taken aback by her pleasant demeanor. He wonders what she has been through in her life and how she could be so peaceful. Seeing her that way makes him reevaluate his own life.

Fast forward a few months. Hardy hasn't seen Miracle since that time in the park so he was surprised to see her in class. He wants to get know her better but his girlfriend, Cheyenne, gets in the way every time. Hardy is pleased to learn that he has his favorite class with Miracle, and no Cheyenne. Miracle and Hardy are assigned to work on a photography assignment together. This gives Hardy the in to get to know her better. After spending time together, he's convinced that he has never felt so strongly about another person in his life. Someone unexpected turns back up in Miracle's life and Hardy is determined to keep her.

Will Hardy continue down the path that his father wants or choose to follow his heart? Wherever it may lead.

How do I begin to tell you how much I loved this book? Paranormal romance is usually my go-to genre. When I get to a story like this, where the issues are so real, it really gets to my heart. Hardy is a big sweetie and I loved reading the book from his point of view. He was determined to show Miracle how much he cared for her. Miracle was hesitant about being with Hardy, boys had a hard time staying when they learned their girlfriend was sick. Oh boy, the things that Hardy did for that girl...swoon! After everything Miracle went through, she still saw the good in everything. Even in the meanie, Cheyenne. This book kept me captivated from the very first page. The sacrifice he made for her was beautiful. Did I mention I cried my eyes out?! But it was a happy cry :-)
Profile Image for Carrie.
189 reviews
April 14, 2012
Breathtaking.
Genuine.
Heartfelt.
Brilliant in a quiet and meaningful kind of way.

This may contain some mild spoilers...so fair warning :)

This is M. Leighton's first Contemporary Romance and what a lovely debut! It's a beautiful love story between a girl named Miracle who has a potentially life-threatening illness, but has not let herself be defined by it and the 'boy-next-door', quarterback-type, Hardy, who has lived his life trying to make everyone else happy and longs for something more.

Miracle has vowed not to take any moment or any person for granted. And this makes her a beautiful person. But in addition to being totally selfless and always seeing the good in others, she is playful, spunky, and fun! She is literally a breath of fresh air.

The story is told in 3rd person subjective...basically Hardy's POV. This aspect of the book was so excellent in and of itself! It was so neat to get to see inside the hero's mind and literally feel his emotions...we got to fall in love with Miracle through Hardy's eyes...amazing! Hardy is a good person who, for too long, has lived under his heavy-handed father's control, making superficial decisions to please his father and his catty girlfriend. I really felt like, when he met Miracle, he came back to himself. He just forgot for a while...

Hardy and Miracle's love story is quite a thing to behold. Their interactions are some of the most meaningful I have ever read. Absolutely heartwarming! I truly, truly liked Hardy as a person and Miracle was so enjoyable.

I highly recommend this book if you want a tender, sweet, inspirational read. Just wonderful!

For the more sensitive reader...a small smattering of mild swear words. A scene of sexuality that is mildly graphic, but emotionally riveting! Very tasteful!
Profile Image for Melluvsbooks.
1,569 reviews
January 11, 2025
3.5 stars - this was very sweet - probably a bit too YA for me, but entertaining anyway.
Profile Image for Beeg Panda.
1,572 reviews552 followers
November 6, 2016
Book review Including possible spoilers : Fragile by M Leighton (Contemporary YA)

It's seldom that a book touches me enough to warrant a FULL 5 stars. If 10 stars were a valid rating, I used it for this book.

There's is NOTHING I would change about this book, simply because  perfection cannot be improved upon.
The title already is relevant to the story. 
We have a summary at the beginning of the book. For ONCE I don't have to google a blurb or summary by the time I get around to reading a book on my tbr list. 
There's an epilogue! Wraps up the story perfectly.
Flawless editing. Highest standard of writing. Realistic, engaging repartee. Spot on, well researched depiction of the various medical issues. The length of the book is just right: not too short, not too long.

Is it possible to want to meet a fictional character? Because I NEED to meet beautiful Miracle.
  I agree with Hardy: 
"Nothing seemed as interesting, as captivating, as important as the face of that girl."

She's dignified, beautiful inside and out,courageous, a survivor, sweet, kind, understanding. A true heroine in every sense of the word. (yes, I know, I'm being a total cliche' whore, but I'm telling it like it is)

She adores Hardy:
“You’re the stuff dreams are made of, Hardy Bradford,” she said wistfully.

She is vulnerable but not needy.  
She's forgiving but not a pushover. 
She suffers but shes not a victim
She's a realist but still a dreamer.



Then, is it possible to LOVE a fictional character? Because I love Hardy Bradford.

He is a quiet, strong, handsome, ripped, sweet, thoughtful, alpha, a leader, gentle, honest, just blinking adorable.

He is perfect in every possible way, yet:
"Hardy whispered, just loud enough for Miracle to hear, “Someday I’ll marry you, Miracle.  And maybe someday after that, I’ll deserve you.”

He is vicious in his will to protect her:
“So help me God,” Hardy hissed between gritted teeth, releasing Miracle’s hand to wrap his fingers tightly around Cheyenne’s upper arms.  “If you so much as breathe in her direction ever again, you will regret the day you met me, Cheyenne.  And please, please test me.  I’m begging you.”

 His jealousy of her ex boyfriend, Jonas:
"..........(Jonas) grinned like the cat that ate the canary.  Hardy hoped he choked on the feathers."

He is possessive and protective of her, to the point of violence:
"Bone hitting bone split the quiet night like a crack of thunder. Hardy felt very little pain as the bones in his hand gave way.  He didn’t realize what had happened until he landed his second punch and felt the splintering in his wrist."

Truly, it's like he has blinkers on when he's in her presence. He literally doesn't see ANYONE or ANYTHING else, so much her very being consumes him.



To me, this is the essence of their story:
"Miracle was thinking she’d finally fallen in love, for the first time and maybe the last, with someone who may or may not be around for very long.  Hardy was thinking he’d found someone that made his past and his future not matter quite so much, someone who gave him a present that eclipsed everything else.  But there was a chance he might lose her. "

We read about a jealous vindictive girlfriend, an abusive father, a reluctant football hero, a heroine who lives her life to the best of her abilities.

 I don't quite know how the author managed this but she captures the expressions, mannerisms, dialogue, of the various characters of all ages: toddlers, teenagers, young adults and adults, in such an accurate, natural way. Its like I can actually SEE their expressions and HEAR their words like the scenes are being played out in front of me, so REAL they were.

Look at them laugh. Just laugh. How well its captured:
"When her eyes met his, they sparkled with mischief.  He knew her laugh was coming before it bubbled from her lips.  When it finally did, it gushed over him like a warm tide and he laughed, too."

I hope there is no sequel. It doesn't need a sequel. Well, unless it's their offspring's love story yes, because that way I can get a glimpse of how well the H and h in this book have loved and lived.

There  are no imperfections in this book. NONE. And I have the utmost respect for this author.
Profile Image for Tee loves Kyle Jacobson.
2,507 reviews177 followers
October 22, 2012
I have to start by saying I am a HUGE fan of M. Leighton's. Her writing always draws me in and it is smooth and precise. She never ceases to amaze me with her writing. It draws you in right from the beginning and holds you there captive. So when I saw that AToMR was hosting a tour for Fragile I signed up to be a tour host. I have to say that this story blessed me in more ways than one.

Fragile is a story about love, sacrifice and finding oneself. Hardy Bradford has it all.He has the looks, the grades, the it girl and friends. But Brady longs for something else. His girlfriend Cheyenne is a shrew and shallow and he is tired of her. He just wants a break from her because she is just to much. She is grating on his nerves and he just does not want to be bothered by her anymore. Then he has his father barking down his back about Football. How he is going to make it to the Pro's all he has to do is concentrate and focus on it and it will be his.

At first Brady is all for it but one day before the beginning of his Senior year he is taking pictures for Football at a park when he sees two girls. One sounds older than the other but she is bald and sickly looking and for some reason Hardy can't look away from her. He is captured by her beauty and strength. Her smile totally unravels him and he is a goner lost in this complete stranger until his reality sets in and Cheyenne finds him and tells him it is time to go. Hardy is so lost in this girl that as he is leaving he is still looking for the girl with big green eyes and a bigger smile. But she has gone off with the other girl and he leaves with Cheyenne.

Hardy starts his Senior year of high school and he is excited to be playing football and he is also excited because he knows that at the end of football season he is going to break up with Cheyenne. He has had enough of her crap and just wants to settle down and prepare for college and what his decisions are going to be. He knows that his decision is going to upset some people namely his father but Hardy is tired of living a lie. He wants to do something that is going to make him happy.Then the best thing that could have happened to him does a few months into school who walks into his class> Yes you guessed it the mystery girl from the park with her big old green eyes and her easy smile but she has a full head of hair and rosy cheeks this time.Man Hardy is thrown a curve ball and it is all he can do to keep his cool in front of his girlfriend Cheyenne.

Miracle St. James has been sick. She is recovering nicely enough to go back to school. So she shows up at the school where Hardy is. She remembers him from the park and when she sees him she smiles that million dollar smile at him. Miracle has been through a lot so when Cheyenne starts acting like a tool towards her it does not effect her the way Cheyenne expects it to. Miracle knows something that Cheyenne does not know. Miracle has been sick and has had to fight for her life so she does not take everyday things for granted. She loves the sun on her face the different smells she smells and she loves just being around people. She does not say mean things to people and she does not do mean things to people.

Together Hardy will discover what it means to live and it will cause him to make choices for himself and no one else. Miracle will see what it is to truly open your heart and love someone. This story made me cry because love at first sight is a rarity but when it does happen it knocks you off your feet. I should know because it happened to me. Miracle and Hardy go through some stuff but together the conquer it all. This is a MUST READ for 2012! M. Leighton you have done it again!
Profile Image for Hayley .
72 reviews20 followers
October 6, 2012
I honestly, hand on heart, don't know what words to use to describe the effect this unique love story has had on me... I will try but don't think i can do it justice. We meet Hardy Bradford, who's father, Wayne, is living a life and career that he should of had via Hardy but also has a violent streak that people have never witnessed. Miracle St James, a young girl who has lived a life that many shouldn't, a father who couldn't cope and left and is waiting for the people that come into her life to walk out of it but no matter what she still saw the best in them. A brief fleeting meeting in a park where their eye's meet and their worlds collide. I loved watching the way Miracle made Hardy see everything differently and how she saw him was truly something memorable and defiantly a game changer for Hardy. It was extremely special being able to follow them both and find out everything about them, Hardy with the situation with his father, the need to protect his mother and brother from him. Miracle, everything she has been through and still has to go through, the way their story was written was attention grabbing, magical, full of love and i will be eternally grateful to M Leighton for writing Fragile and allowing me to go on their journey with them. Hardy's gift to Miracle at the end was selfless, heart warming and a defining moment that showed they were destined for each other in every way. The book is inspiring and installs in me that life can be short and we have to treat everyday as if it could be our last and live life to the full. From now on i will look at Orchids, Red and Pink balloons in such a different way. This unique story is beautiful beyond words and simply amazing and it will hold a special place in my heart forever.

“That's the day i decided to live every minute of every day like it might be my last.”

"In a way, you live vicariously through them. You have your first kiss with them, you go to your first party, skip out on your prom, and drink your first beer with them." She paused, a wistful smile fluttering across her lips before she spoke again. "You fall in love with them."

“But that wasn't enough for him anymore. He wanted more. He wanted substance and depth and love. He wanted Miracle. It was as simple as that.”

“No i don't. I can't imagine how you, of all people, could be a burden to anyone. And i certainly don't think you're hard to love.”

“Hardy recognized what it was that she made him feel. Hope. Miracle gave him hope.”

Profile Image for Lindsey Greer.
285 reviews71 followers
April 16, 2012
I was excited for Fragile to come out and actually won it from Courtney Cole. My excitement was well placed! Fragile was an amazing story. I loved both Hardy and Miracle. I adored Miracle's strength and outlook on life. I admired how she could find the good in people, even when they don't deserve to be looked at as a good person and I admired the way she looked at everything around her with... open eyes. She appreciated life, what she'd been given in the life, the time she had and...well, life in general. Hardy is one of my favorite leading guys! He is a genuine person and learns how to see life as Miracle does. He also is a very strong person to handle Miracle and her situation. I've seen boyfriends in real life walk away because they couldn't handle it. I also loved how M. Leighton painted Hardy's homelife, but made Hardy strong enough to handle it. Unlike what I've seen in some novels he takes his situation, but still allows himself to live. To not let it run him or destroy his life and he protects the innocents in hos family with strength and in a safe way, he didn't resort to violent methods of handling it. The story was very realistic and was well written. I'm glad she chose this subject matter, some people are too uncomfortable to wrote about it and tries to sugar coat the things children go through, but this story does not. Children go through these things every day. In fact, I can relate as one of my childhood friends did. While we were in fourth grade she was diagnosed with cancer and it was found all over her body and she went through the very thing Miracle did in Fragile, but it was with her mother. So I can definately appreciate Fragile, but even some of the people I know personally who have been through it don't have the outlook Miracle does. I hope those people read Fragile and learn to see life that way.
Profile Image for Andrea.
227 reviews
October 7, 2012
I'm sitting here, after just having read Fragile, thinking of what I can say and all I can think of is WOW!!! Michelle, you have done it again, I'm simply without words. To anyone who is reading this review and hasn't read it, I can only urge you to do so as soon as possible, like NOW!! But be warned you WILL need a huge supply of tissues. I have cried buckets over this book but so worth it. The love that Hardy has for Miracle is so beautiful and proves he will stop at nothing to let her know how he feels, no matter the cost. As usual with Michelle Leighton's books you are taken on a roller coaster ride of emotions, joy, sadness, anger, frustration, the whole shebang but I for one wouldn't have it any other way. If you don't cry at this beautiful love story then you either have no heart, no tear ducts or you must be dead.
Profile Image for Justjay Go.
99 reviews22 followers
July 7, 2013
This was an ok read. I felt that this was a bit slow of how they got together and was rushed at the end. The epilogue was a bit vague for me, I wanted to know how his family got on or did his dad was still the same? How did he get on with his moving out? It left me wanting to know more but had to settle for unanswered ones.

I wanted to see more interaction between Miracle and Hardy when they become an item coz M.Leighton just described it in a couple of sentences that they had become one and then a new

I liked how Hardy was into Miracle but it got pretty unbelievable sometimes, I just rolled my eyes.

Overall it was an ok read.
Profile Image for Meagan.
551 reviews31 followers
November 20, 2012
Corny, even for my tastes, and lacked the depth I think the author was hoping for.

I am coming back to lighten the review above since it might have been a little too harsh. Cute book. Sweet happily ever after ending. Just a little too superficial and light for the topic. Reminded me A LOT of A Walk to Remember.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
2,080 reviews92 followers
April 11, 2012
I thought this was a wonderful book. I would definitely recommend this book to everyone. It is well written and I felt many different emotions while reading this book. I read it in one day, I couldn't put it down:)
Profile Image for Summer.
366 reviews53 followers
October 18, 2012
Yuck this book was a major disappointment. Cheesy like a rom-com but not funny, with a touching premise, but not touching at all...
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