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shaniellew's review against another edition
5.0
This isn't a light read this book deals with the shit people go through in real life it speaks of how different people deal with tragedy how a young woman learns the diffrence between grief and self pity how she learns to live again how she finds herself after all the shit that happened to her. This book is akso about a young man who by god has gone through way too much loss in his young life but still holds on this storuy is real it is true it is emotional and I loved every second of it
hernameisgwynne's review against another edition
5.0
This is so going to be a ramble-y review. (seeing that I really am not good in reviewing books I love)
What could I say? This novel is a great start to my 100 books to read.
It moved me to great depths.
There were some parts when I laughed, when I swooned, and when I cried.
I felt both Josh's and Nastya's pain, how they both needed each other, and how they wanted to save each other.
Amazing book. Amazing author.
Five stars is not even enough.
What could I say? This novel is a great start to my 100 books to read.
It moved me to great depths.
There were some parts when I laughed, when I swooned, and when I cried.
I felt both Josh's and Nastya's pain, how they both needed each other, and how they wanted to save each other.
Amazing book. Amazing author.
Five stars is not even enough.
darlingqod's review against another edition
5.0
I can't believe it took me so long to finish such a beautiful book. The start of it was real slow which was quite unnerving and just boring at times, but you shouldn't give up on it. Because everything is in the later parts. I don't think I'll be able to review this book properly, there are no words I could use to describe just how amazing this book is. I have so many emotions right now, you have no idea.
kim_j_dare's review against another edition
4.0
Beautifully written. Nastya and Josh are two broken teens who find each other and slowly, slowly start to open themselves up to second chances. The secondary characters are fully fleshed and add so much to the story-- especially Drew, who does a pretty great job of convincing folks that he's a self-centered jerk, although his true nonjerkiness slowly shines through. Not a five star book because I found the resolution a little too convenient. But absolutely worth reading.
jedicela's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
willowwitchy's review against another edition
5.0
Wow, I absolutely loved this book. If I could give it more than 5 stars I most definitely would! Probably my favourite YA book I've read this year.
"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. "
The story is about 17 year old Nastya, who is starting a new school away from her home town as she is trying to get away from something in her past and she doesn't want anyone to know about it. It has changed Nastya's whole life, who she is. She tries to hide away at school and fade into the background so that people don't get to know her. She sees a guy, Josh, sitting on his own all the time with no one bothering him and she wonders how he manages to keep his "force field up" to keep people away. Josh has his own past issues. We follow Nastya as she starts to form relationships with a small group and deals with her past. We also get to follow Josh and how he deals with things.
Katja does an amazing job of drawing you in to this story. There is the mystery of what happened to Nastya and she drips this out to you slowly, throwing in some things that you really don't expect on the way. Then there is the slow build relationships with Josh and Drew and his family and of course Josh's story of his past. Add in a good dose of angst and heartbreak and you find yourself completely emotionally drawn in and invested in the story. Nothing in this book feels rushed. Katja has taken her time developing the story and the main characters. I was actually disappointed when I finished the book that I would be leaving the characters.
Highly recommend this book.
"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. "
The story is about 17 year old Nastya, who is starting a new school away from her home town as she is trying to get away from something in her past and she doesn't want anyone to know about it. It has changed Nastya's whole life, who she is. She tries to hide away at school and fade into the background so that people don't get to know her. She sees a guy, Josh, sitting on his own all the time with no one bothering him and she wonders how he manages to keep his "force field up" to keep people away. Josh has his own past issues. We follow Nastya as she starts to form relationships with a small group and deals with her past. We also get to follow Josh and how he deals with things.
Katja does an amazing job of drawing you in to this story. There is the mystery of what happened to Nastya and she drips this out to you slowly, throwing in some things that you really don't expect on the way. Then there is the slow build relationships with Josh and Drew and his family and of course Josh's story of his past. Add in a good dose of angst and heartbreak and you find yourself completely emotionally drawn in and invested in the story. Nothing in this book feels rushed. Katja has taken her time developing the story and the main characters. I was actually disappointed when I finished the book that I would be leaving the characters.
Highly recommend this book.
lynseyisreading's review against another edition
4.0
Worthy of the hoopla.
This was one of those Indie books that seemingly popped up out of nowhere last year and quickly earned a name for itself among the die-hard book hounds of the blogging/reviewing community. I kinda missed the party at the time (I was washing my hair), but when I saw it had gotten picked up by Simon & Schuster/Atria and it appeared on Netgalley, I couldn't resist any longer. So I grabbed it and figured I'd have my own dang party all by myself. I'd call it the Day Late and Dollar Short Ball. It would have ice cream.
Except I wasn't by myself, was I? I was with Josh Bennett.
Yes :D
So very yes.
I loved so many things about this book other than Josh, though he was the cherry on top of my ice cream. I loved the alternating POV chapters. I loved Josh. I loved reading about Nastya, without necessarily ever loving Nastya as a character. I loved Josh. I loved the dialogue, the sweet, romantic moments, the really fleshed-out secondary characters like Drew (who ended up being so much more than I'd thought he'd be). And Josh. Don't forget Josh.
The trend for this new wash of New Adult books seems to be to throw two completely messed up young people together and watch the disaster unfold between your fingers until they get so low, the only possible way is up. Usually by crawling there on their hands and knees. In THE SEA OF TRANQUILITY, the characters were certainly troubled; worryingly so. But instead of being angry and dark and all hatey, they both seemed to be punishing themselves more than anything. Nastya in all the bizarre ways Nastya did (more on her in a minute), and Josh by making himself more alone than he needed to be. Their separate issues were interesting, and together, they made this weird kind of sense as long as you didn't stare too closely.
Now Nastya... I've got to admit she annoyed me occasionally. The clothes thing? Hmm, not sure I ever really understood the logic there. It was like, "People are going to look at me anyway so why not give them something to look at by dressing like goth Barbie?". I just didn't geddit. Sorry.
And even my lovely Josh annoyed me once or twice. He might have been the saner of the two, but he wasn't perfect. And he was a very, very naughty boy at one point which, I admit, kinda made me a bit disappointed in him.
But, when all's said and done in this genre that can be really hit or miss, THE SEA OF TRANQUILITY was a hit for me, and I'd definitely read this author again.
4 Josh-shaped stars!
★★★★
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This was one of those Indie books that seemingly popped up out of nowhere last year and quickly earned a name for itself among the die-hard book hounds of the blogging/reviewing community. I kinda missed the party at the time (I was washing my hair), but when I saw it had gotten picked up by Simon & Schuster/Atria and it appeared on Netgalley, I couldn't resist any longer. So I grabbed it and figured I'd have my own dang party all by myself. I'd call it the Day Late and Dollar Short Ball. It would have ice cream.
Except I wasn't by myself, was I? I was with Josh Bennett.
Yes :D
So very yes.
I loved so many things about this book other than Josh, though he was the cherry on top of my ice cream. I loved the alternating POV chapters. I loved Josh. I loved reading about Nastya, without necessarily ever loving Nastya as a character. I loved Josh. I loved the dialogue, the sweet, romantic moments, the really fleshed-out secondary characters like Drew (who ended up being so much more than I'd thought he'd be). And Josh. Don't forget Josh.
The trend for this new wash of New Adult books seems to be to throw two completely messed up young people together and watch the disaster unfold between your fingers until they get so low, the only possible way is up. Usually by crawling there on their hands and knees. In THE SEA OF TRANQUILITY, the characters were certainly troubled; worryingly so. But instead of being angry and dark and all hatey, they both seemed to be punishing themselves more than anything. Nastya in all the bizarre ways Nastya did (more on her in a minute), and Josh by making himself more alone than he needed to be. Their separate issues were interesting, and together, they made this weird kind of sense as long as you didn't stare too closely.
Now Nastya... I've got to admit she annoyed me occasionally. The clothes thing? Hmm, not sure I ever really understood the logic there. It was like, "People are going to look at me anyway so why not give them something to look at by dressing like goth Barbie?". I just didn't geddit. Sorry.
And even my lovely Josh annoyed me once or twice. He might have been the saner of the two, but he wasn't perfect. And he was a very, very naughty boy at one point which, I admit, kinda made me a bit disappointed in him.
But, when all's said and done in this genre that can be really hit or miss, THE SEA OF TRANQUILITY was a hit for me, and I'd definitely read this author again.
4 Josh-shaped stars!
★★★★
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
cavityfila's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. What a great first book by this author. These characters are unforgettable and stayed with me for a while after reading this book. I love when that happens.
javalenciaph's review against another edition
5.0
"The Sea of Tranquility" by Katja Millay has been on my TBR list for a couple of months now, thanks to the nearly 5-star rating it has here on Goodreads and the 5-star rating it has on Amazon. I've been hesitant to read it though because of the very same ratings. I can't count the number of times I've had my expectations set really high only to have them come shattering to the ground once I've closed a seemingly publicly well-received book. But today, I found myself giving in and finally read "The Sea of Tranquility"...and while it isn't the most eloquent word that I can use to describe this book, the first thing that popped into my head after I was done was WOW.
This book took me on a journey and what a journey it was. Nastya/Emilia/Sunshine was indeed a jigsaw puzzle that didn't want to get solved and Josh Bennett definitely didn't want to exert any time or effort into trying to figure her out. Their paths unsurprisingly cross but what does surprise me is the manner in which their dysfunctional friendship/relationship develops throughout the story. These are two characters who have both experienced loss on way too many levels and seeing their worlds from both their perspectives made it difficult to not become invested in them as individuals and as a couple.
The supporting cast of characters are not just well-rounded; they have background stories that make you want to get to know them better. They aren't shallow and just put there as sidekicks. They all play integral parts in the story of Nastya/Emilia and Josh.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants more than the usual run-of-the-mill boy-meets-girl-and-rescues-her story...and having a plate of cookies and a mug of black coffee nearby won't hurt. ^.^ Definitely one of the best books I've ever had the privilege of reading.
This book took me on a journey and what a journey it was. Nastya/Emilia/Sunshine was indeed a jigsaw puzzle that didn't want to get solved and Josh Bennett definitely didn't want to exert any time or effort into trying to figure her out. Their paths unsurprisingly cross but what does surprise me is the manner in which their dysfunctional friendship/relationship develops throughout the story. These are two characters who have both experienced loss on way too many levels and seeing their worlds from both their perspectives made it difficult to not become invested in them as individuals and as a couple.
The supporting cast of characters are not just well-rounded; they have background stories that make you want to get to know them better. They aren't shallow and just put there as sidekicks. They all play integral parts in the story of Nastya/Emilia and Josh.
Spoiler
When Nastya/Emilia saw Josh's garage for the first time and said that she knew this place and when Josh relayed the story his grandfather told about dying for a moment and seeing the porch and swing clicked in my head but I still couldn't help but smile at the end of the story when Nastya/Emilia answered Josh's question. ^.^I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants more than the usual run-of-the-mill boy-meets-girl-and-rescues-her story...and having a plate of cookies and a mug of black coffee nearby won't hurt. ^.^ Definitely one of the best books I've ever had the privilege of reading.