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rachr's review against another edition
3.5
The writing is exquisite. I wanted to like the story more than I did.
jconn4's review
4.0
Spoiler
Like many other reviewers on here, I have some complicated feelings about this book—maybe a 3.75 would be a better rating to give, but anyway.I’ll be blunt: if you don’t like novels that focus on character examination/development, you will hate this book. There is a very thin plot, just enough to keep things moving and progress time, but not much really “happens” otherwise. The problems that exist in the town in the beginning still persist in the end. The jetty is still there. The protestors leave of their own accord, not because of anything Harlow or anyone else did.
However, the characters undergo tremendous transformations—some for the better, others worse. I’m glad Harlow grew throughout the novel into a character you could at least respect was trying to become a better person, and I think was making leaps and bounds by the end. She started off selfish, wanting to help Tommy for all the wrong reasons, and then their relationship grew into something I genuinely enjoyed reading and even rooted for.
Tommy was by far my favorite character, and yes, even he had his darker moments, just as every character in this book did. And I’m pretty sure EVERYONE agrees they wanted to punch Ellis by the end, as his character continued to deteriorate and he just grew increasingly petty and selfish.
(Speaking of which, I’m not mistaken in assuming Harlow stayed with Tommy in the end, right? I know the author left it vague, but those first few lines where it talks about how she and Ellis “didn’t fit” in Ellis’s bed anymore seemed pretty concrete.)
As much as I love character-driven novels, I do wish the plot had been stronger. Nevertheless, I think Harrt did an excellent job of capturing the complexity of teenagers—and people, in general—and it was interesting to read something where the main characters weren’t always supposed to be likable for a change. I recommend giving it a try!
zellreads's review
2.0
Some good depictions of mental health here but this book was mainly toxic as heck. None of this is healthy or normal and no one really gets redeemed. I feel awful for Tommy having such a manipulative brother and "friend", he truly deserved better and was the only interesting or relatable character here.
hrobison11's review
2.0
Simply not my genre.
Fans of John green will probably enjoy this. It’s a realistic fiction, love triangle, and secrets that break things apart.
I just pushed through it to finish it. The characters weren’t compelling to me, I didn’t connect with any of them. I didn’t really connect with the environmental issue that’s used as a core point. Overall, I couldn’t get into this one.
Fans of John green will probably enjoy this. It’s a realistic fiction, love triangle, and secrets that break things apart.
I just pushed through it to finish it. The characters weren’t compelling to me, I didn’t connect with any of them. I didn’t really connect with the environmental issue that’s used as a core point. Overall, I couldn’t get into this one.
jadabelle's review
3.0
When I first heard about it, I was really excited to read this book. But then I started it, and I found myself rereading the first few chapters over and over again, because I just couldn’t get into it. Then once I was able to get into it I often felt lost within the story, not sure of exactly what was going on. On the bright side though, I always found myself always wanting more, this desire to see what would happen next, which surprised me, because I didn’t really love the characters all that much. Even from early on, there was something about both Ellis and Harlow that didn’t sit right with me. There was something about them that annoyed me, and especially towards the end, they were so cruel! I really liked Tommy though, and he didn’t deserve to deal with the problems of his companions in the way that he did. Honestly, I think this was a good book, I just think it could’ve been better.
hey_hail's review
3.0
i would have given this four stars but i need someone to explain that ending to me.
izzys_internet_bookshelf's review
1.0
1/5
I was excited at first but as I read the book it ended up not entirely being my cup of tea.
I was excited at first but as I read the book it ended up not entirely being my cup of tea.
paz_books's review
3.0
I really liked Tommy's character, the way Elis' bisexuality was such a small deal, and the side plot of climate change, however this read was so slow in my opinion. A lot happened without anything happening and Harlow's character may be well written but that does not take away from the fact that she does and says many unforgivable things. I couldn't stand Harlow- and that added to the slow writing really killed this book for me; I was not interested in the romance and everything felt very dragged out.
dame_samara's review against another edition
4.0
THEY ALL NEED THERAPY!!!!
It's also gay, But the need for trauma and mental health therapy for these young adults is paramount.
This book does contain a content warning in regards to suicide and suicidal ideation.
This book will pull you in and throw you around. Much like the tumultuous sea depicted on the cover, it will pull you in and throw you around without any moment to relax. This feels way more like a piece of literary fiction that you would dissect in a class. Rather than a YA book, you pick up for a good time.
Hartt's depiction of mental illness resonated with me; I would say it is honestly the high note of this book. Tommy's growth in this book and watching him gain insight into his mental illness is significant.
Harlow has room to grow as a person, as expected for someone who is still in High School. But she tries hard at what she sets her heart on.
Honestly, I hate Ellis, and there is no excuse for him to be as much of an asshole as he is to both Tommy and Harlow.
Ellis is the Salt.
It's also gay, But the need for trauma and mental health therapy for these young adults is paramount.
This book does contain a content warning in regards to suicide and suicidal ideation.
This book will pull you in and throw you around. Much like the tumultuous sea depicted on the cover, it will pull you in and throw you around without any moment to relax. This feels way more like a piece of literary fiction that you would dissect in a class. Rather than a YA book, you pick up for a good time.
Hartt's depiction of mental illness resonated with me; I would say it is honestly the high note of this book. Tommy's growth in this book and watching him gain insight into his mental illness is significant.
Spoiler
Harlow has room to grow as a person, as expected for someone who is still in High School. But she tries hard at what she sets her heart on.
Honestly, I hate Ellis, and there is no excuse for him to be as much of an asshole as he is to both Tommy and Harlow.
Ellis is the Salt.
chivalricmaiden's review
3.0
Let me say this: Cassandra Hartt is a FANTASTIC composer.
The way she writes prose is magnificent and reels me in with her description and clever use of vocabulary. However, throughout reading this story I wanted to beat all the characters with a hairbrush.
Except Tommy — you're an angel and we're all thrilled to have you here.
I didn't feel like Ellis and Harlow got proper closure on their character arcs, which is why the ending was unsatisfying. I know the characters were meant to be unlikable which hey, I'm actually all for when it's done right. But I don't see their growth for better or for worse. Could've been polished quite a bit more.
The way she writes prose is magnificent and reels me in with her description and clever use of vocabulary. However, throughout reading this story I wanted to beat all the characters with a hairbrush.
Except Tommy — you're an angel and we're all thrilled to have you here.
I didn't feel like Ellis and Harlow got proper closure on their character arcs, which is why the ending was unsatisfying. I know the characters were meant to be unlikable which hey, I'm actually all for when it's done right. But I don't see their growth for better or for worse. Could've been polished quite a bit more.