A Bookish Escape: The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay

The Sea of Tranquility

Katja Millay

Nook Edition, 380 pages

Published: November 13, 2012

By: Atria Books

Source: Purchased

GR’s Summary:

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.

Lindy's Thoughts:

Katja Millay has taken my breath away with the poignant and riveting story, The Sea of Tranquility. My heart is heavy and my emotions run deep, for the way this story has made me feel the depths of darkness, and grief, to the slow blossom of hope, redemption, rebirth, and most of all love. This story is unique. It is a gift. The Sea of Tranquility is a masterpiece, unlike any you will EVER read again. This story is about a girl named Nastya Kashnikov. She is broken, and drowning in the depths of her own darkness. She reinvents herself, moves to a new town, a new school, and into a new house with her aunt. She is broken, beyond repair. and pushes people away from her because she doesn't want anyone to love her. If they love her, she will just disappoint them and break their heart. She has nothing to give. Then she meets Josh Bennett. He is broken too, but for different reasons. Everyone he's ever loved has left him and died. So he had decided that it is best to be alone, and not have to feel the terrible pain and despair that the loss of someone you love causes. Josh stays in his own protective bubble, and no one attempts to get close to him. The only friend he has is Drew. His best friend since little league. However, Nastya and Josh's lives transform drasticly when they intersect, and they will never be the same again.

I loved the Sea of Tranquility for many reasons. First and foremost, was that I connected to Nastya and Josh on such a deep level. I felt their loss, pain, and darkness. I also got to experience their hope, rebirth, and love for themselves and each other. I also loved the story. It was unique, it had depth to it, and the author used a lot of symbolism. It was ultimately a story of hope. Many horrible things happen in life, and many times fear and self-pity hold us back from the happiness that can be ours, but only if we are willing to take a chance.

I highly recommend, The Sea of Tranquility. You will cry, and at times you'll feel like your heart is breaking, but you will never forget this story. Long after the final page is read, this story will stay with you, and I guarantee that you will never read another one like It. I give The Sea of Tranquility 5 out of 5 Awestruck Tropical Flowers.

Escape in a book,

Lindy Gomez gave to: The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay (Goodreads Author) read in January, 2013	Read
1 hour, 31 min ago · 3 comments Jen Amazing book! Hope you enjoy it ;) Jan 06, 2013 04:57pm Lindy Gomez Jen wrote: "Amazing book! Hope you enjoy it ;)" Thanks Jen! I've heard so many good things about it. I wanted to see what all of the hype was about :) Jan 06, 2013 06:07pm Ria Spinks told ya told ya told ya told ya! 14 minutes ago · delete

The Way I See It

My first thought after reading the synopsis was, “hey I like worlds with magic and miracles.” With all the tragedies that surround us daily the very last thing I wanted to do was read someones sad tale. Well, was I ever wrong. Wow because of the beauty, and wow because of the melody. Deep sigh, for all of the amazing complex characters that the reader becomes so endearingly attached to. Katja Millay weaves a captivating story of tragedy, mending, rebuilding, understanding, love, acceptance, strength, revelations, unspoken words, and second chances.

Usually when people start to break down books they find flaws, when you start to break down Sea of Tranquility thats when one finds the true treasures contained within. One moment you will cry, laugh, feel frustrated, want to scream, swell with joy and all the while growing to love each and every character. There is nothing I would want to change about this story, I would be outraged if anyone ever did. Life is beautiful and the Sea of Tranquility shows us that. Its powerful and breathtaking this is a story that will stay imbedded in your heart forever

My Fav's

Josh

He is quite possibly the most amazing guy ever!! Not perfect no...He's quite broken but, who doesn't want to fix a broken beautiful boy?! Josh makes the story for me because even though he has gone through so much pain and lost so much he is still absolutely amazing! He has a way with Nastya that no one else does, once she lets him into her heart we really see them both blossom. Josh has a lot of mending to do and his coping methods are so calming and peaceful, just what Nastya needs. Did I mention he's Gaw-Jess!

Nasty-Pants

Lol okay this girl has literally died and is now a shell of what she used to be but some how through the facade I fall in love with her. She is determined to never be weak and works like heck to ensure things stay that way. She doesn't want to be loved because she doesn't feel worthy of the emotion and she doesn't want the responsibility. She is the most beautiful girl and deserves to be loved and happy...This was an amazing story

My Rating

5.Million Trillion Infinite amount of stars!! If I could give more stars, I would fly to the moon, and pull them out of the sky to personally hand them to Ms Millay!! Thank you for sharing a part of your soul because now this book is a part of mine. If you haven't read this book you are seriously doing yourself an injustice!!