ARC Review: The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay

 

Author: Katja Millay

Series: -

Pages: 380

Publisher: Atria Books

Genre: Young Adult - Contemporary

Amazon: The Sea of Tranquility

Synopsis: Goodreads)

I live in a world without magic or miracles. A place where there are no clairvoyants or shapeshifters, no angels or superhuman boys to save you. A place where people die and music disintegrates and things suck. I am pressed so hard against the earth by the weight of reality that some days I wonder how I am still able to lift my feet to walk.

Former piano prodigy Nastya Kashnikov wants two things: to get through high school without anyone learning about her past and to make the boy who took everything from her—her identity, her spirit, her will to live—pay.

Josh Bennett’s story is no secret: every person he loves has been taken from his life until, at seventeen years old, there is no one left. Now all he wants is be left alone and people allow it because when your name is synonymous with death, everyone tends to give you your space.

Everyone except Nastya, the mysterious new girl at school who starts showing up and won’t go away until she’s insinuated herself into every aspect of his life. But the more he gets to know her, the more of an enigma she becomes. As their relationship intensifies and the unanswered questions begin to pile up, he starts to wonder if he will ever learn the secrets she’s been hiding—or if he even wants to.

The Sea of Tranquility is a rich, intense, and brilliantly imagined story about a lonely boy, an emotionally fragile girl, and the miracle of second chances.

Review: 5 out of 5 stars 

The Sea of Tranquility was kindly provided to me by Netgalley for Atria Books. 

I went into The Sea of Tranquility with my expectations extremely high after reading such amazing praise and I have to admit I was completely hooked from the very first page, I cant remember the last time I lost sleep over a book or cancelled plans just to stay home to finish it but this was mesmerizing, I was blown away and I honestly didn’t want it to end.

Seventeen year-old Nastya Kashnikov’s life changed forever at the age of fifteen after a vicious act of violence, she was no longer a prodigy pianist but a shell of her former self and left broken and bitter and as a result taken a vow of silence; until she meets 17 year-old Josh Bennett and the wall she has erected around herself is slowly lowered.

I adored Josh as a character; he has experienced pain and loss and has shut himself off to virtually everyone. His passion is woodwork, it is his solace and his time spent in his garage building things is the time where his friendship with Nastya grew; they had a silent agreement and trust and both don’t break those boundaries, they are each others support without knowing it and the bond they came to share was absolutely beautiful but not without additional pain. He broke my heart at one point but I am glad we got to read from his POV as well to see where he was coming from and what he was feeling.

I thought the main and supporting cast were wonderful and had great connection and friendships, things weren’t always rosy but they were believable and the fun banter and conversation between them all made the characters seem real. I especially loved Josh’s best friend Drew and his wonderful family; they were so accepting towards Nastya with no questions asked and without judgment and Drew certainly bought some humor to the story.

The Sea of Tranquility is a powerful and poignant story filled with heartache, pain, romance and a beautiful friendship and bond that only got stronger as the story progressed. Ms Millay’s writing is absolutely captivating – I was engrossed from the very first page and for a debut novel it was pure brilliance.

Overall, The Sea of Tranquility takes you on an emotional roller-coaster; it is heartbreaking and disturbingly beautiful but highlights the imperfections of life. Everything about it really worked for me and it’s definitely made it on to my all time favorites list.

This is a must read for YA Contemporary fans, it does contain mature content including language, drug/alcohol use, and sexual situations.

A few of my fave quotes:

“I know at that moment what he's given me and it isn't a chair. It's an invitation, a welcome, the knowledge that I am accepted here. He hasn't given me a place to sit. He's given me a place to belong.”

“We're like mysteries to one another. Maybe if I can solve him and he can solve me, we can explain each other. Maybe that's what I need. Someone to explain me.”

“I’m going to walk over to you,” I say, taking one step at a time in her direction like I’m talking down a jumper. “I’m going to put my arms around you and I’m going to hold you,” I pause before taking the last step, “and you’re going to let me.”

Thank-you to Atria Books/Netgalley for the opportunity to read this amazing book.