The Sea of Tranquility Review

The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay
★★★★★
Release Date: ebook available now!
Publisher: Atria Books
Age: Mature YA/New Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Issues, Drama, High School, Death, Illness
Format: ebook
Source: Purchased
Buy it: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

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.

Full of rage and without a purpose, former pianist Nastya Kashnikov wants two things: to get through high school without anyone discovering her past and to make the boy who took everything from her pay.

All 17 year-old Josh Bennett wants is to build furniture and be left alone, and everyone allows it because it’s easier to pretend he doesn’t exist. When your name is synonymous with death, everyone tends to give you your space.

Everyone except Nastya, a hot mess of a girl who starts showing up and won’t go away until she’s insinuated herself into every aspect of his life. The more he gets to know her, the more of a mystery she becomes. As their relationship intensifies and the unanswered questions begin to pile up, he starts to wonder if he may ever learn the secrets she’s been hiding or if he even wants to.

The Sea of Tranquility is a slow-building, character-driven romance about a lonely boy, an emotionally fragile girl, and the miracle of second chances.

Please Note: This book contains mature content including profanity, drug/alcohol use, and sexual situations/language.

There are so many strong and tough issues surrounding this book. It's a compassionate story of loss and hope and one that I found very refreshing in the way it plays out. It's an incredible book and one I know a lot of people will love. While a contemporary romance at its core, this book is much deeper than most and will work its' way into your mind and heart. Filled with all the rage, hurt, passion, and mystery I've ever felt in one setting and more. Not the book to miss, it is truly a must read!

Nastya moves a few hours from home to get away from her past; she's escaping the scenery that is all too familiar and changing everything about herself in the process. Disconnected from her life and loved ones she moves in with her aunt and starts fresh. Only fresh for her is faking everything about her life. And, she doesn't talk anymore. When she moves to a new school, where no one knows her past, everything she is trying to get over still haunts her in a lot of what she does and especially in those things she can no longer do. Driven to forget but never forgive, Nastya burrows herself in and her shell is on the surface dealing day to day. Enrolled in a shop class that she has no idea the first things about, Nastya slowly lets herself make an effort to be present in her life. Late one night she runs into a boy named Josh and from then something in her shifts. He catches her with her guards and mask down.

"You don't have to trust me. I don't have any of your secrets."

Josh was by far my favorite character of the book. He's known more loss than anyone can imagine and is learning how to deal, he's a strong individual. He'd rather be left alone but Nastya feels a kinship in him and doesn't really give him any say in the matter as she wiggles herself into his heart. And, there their friendship begins. It builds slowly and gradually as she shows up at his house late at night to watch him work and in silence they begin to get to know each other.

Nastya is an extremely complex character, and I loved getting to know her and her secrets (which this book is full of). The trauma she has experienced is unimaginable and she deals with it the best she can without help. I won't give more of the story away but it's an intense plot filled with shocking revelations and twists and turns. It has all of the elements in a contemporary romance and those of a suspense. This book kept me on my toes and my eyes never left the pages.

"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."

A great addition to the book are the many secondary characters. They are fully developed, well rounded, and likable. I enjoyed getting to know each and think any of them could have a spin off book as well (especially Drew!). Katja's book is flawless and I can't wait until June to purchase a physical copy!

The Sea of Tranquility is one of the most emotion filled stories out there. It's shocking and heartbreaking and Katja Millay makes the reader feel all the pain and happiness the characters are experiencing. I loved it. It's not a light read, and it's worth every tear. I can't get this book out of my mind! It has honestly invaded every piece of me!

"Everyday you save me."

So, to sum up my feelings: READ IT! Right this second. Go. Why aren't you moving? Stop reading this and go BUY this book! Oh, and buy a few copies because it's one you'll want to gift around!