Katja Millay

This book was so so so good! I read it in spurts at bedtime for a few nights, and each time my eyes got heavy and I started taking loooong blinks, I dreaded putting it down. When I got to come back to it again the next night, I fell right back into the ebb and flow and the feeling of coming home to beloved friends again. The writing was transportive. It subtly drew me in, and by the 2nd paragraph, I was hooked!! I already needed to know who these people were? Why were they so jaded? What were the big, life defining catalysts for their changes? Will their pain violently pull them into each other's gravitational orbit? Will it be the core reason for their repulsion?

I LOVED these characters!! I hate what they endured, but I helplessly fell head over heels in love with (almost) each and every one of them. Our 2 MCs were perfectly written. Our MMC, Josh, was angsty, hot, and prickly. He had a big forcefield surrounding him with a buzzing sign saying, "Stay back, I bite." He was like a spiky marshmallow... all sharp jagged edges on the outside, and when you break through the pokey bits, there's a sweet, soft yet springily resilient, romantic guy in there. The secondary characters (and even Clay, a tertiary character) were all so beautifully morally gray (as all good characters should be), and relateable and endearing and extremely easy to adore. Drew turned out to be one of my favorites and SUCH a great addition to our two MC's chaotic dynamic.

The slow tease reveal of what the impetus of our FMC's destruction was was drawn out to perfection, and it was later unveiled in the best possible way, imho. This book made me feeeeeel and cry and smile but mostly cry. I cried big ugly, empathetic tears and silent sobs of commiseration for all of my own broken parts and the things that broke me before I found the strength to fight back to where I am now. I didn't want it to end... ever! I wanted to know about these characters and their lives forever. I could have easily subscribed to watching their daily lives unfold like General Hospital airing each day (for decades) for we addicts. I cherished this read so much that I wish I was starting it again for the first time.

Overall:
I want moooooore... so much more... I want to know every detail of these yummily gray, oft times dark and gritty, character's lives!! This book took my emotions and flung them about like a toddler throwing a tantrum but I loved every second of it and desperately want more!

AND that ending!!! I was dreading the arrival of the very last sentence, and when it came, it blew me away! It fit the story's mood/timbre/aesthetic perfectly, and I doubt that I've ever used the word (or a variation of the word) "Perfect " so many times in one review. And I doubt that the word "Perfect" has ever had so many imperfect parts making up its sum total perfect label. Knowing that little factoid, I bet you know where this book ended up... yup, it is lovingly nestled among the rest of my most cherished tales in the ever elusive Favorites pile.

To call what I'm experiencing a Book Hangover is an understatement. I wish the book I was about to open now, before bed, was Sea of Tranquility BUT it's not and for that I'm sad. Even days later, my heart still hurts (in a good way??). I highly recommend this read!

~ Enjoy… (more)