Initial Thoughts: Absolutely brilliant!I am a teary-eyed mess and I think that this is one of the best books I've read this year. Don't let the description put you off - this book is much more. A must read book!The Review: Wow! Just wow! I have new hope for the young adult/new adult genre. This book is the reason why.Take a damaged girl and move her to another city. Give her as little supervision as possible. Oh, and she doesn’t speak – by choice. Sounds like a recipe for disaster, doesn’t it? Actually, it’s probably one of the best books I’ve read so far this year.First of all, the writing is superb. It does start off a little slowly, but stick with it, it is really worth it. The story is told in alternating points of view of the main characters, Nastya and Josh. Both main characters are well developed, each battling their own personal demons. There is depth to these characters and as the story progresses more details about them are revealed. The book was almost impossible to put down and when I finished reading I was a teary-eyed mess. I fell in love with Nastya and Josh. I felt their pain and I wanted them both to have their happily-ever-after moment. Nastya’s voice is eloquent, especially for a character that chooses to be mute. She is by far, one of the most complex characters I’ve had the privilege of reading. She is damaged by a trauma in her past. There is something wrong with her hand and she will never live her dreams of being a concert pianist. We’re told that something happened, but not what happened. Flashbacks fill in the blanks as the story unfolds. This event damaged her physically as well as psychologically. Nastya hides behind a new persona she has created. She wears sleazy clothes and horrid makeup. “I am a slutty horror show.”She exercises and runs herself to exhaustion. She has a daily writing ritual. On a side note, Nastya is quite the accomplished baker. In contrast, Josh has not had it easy either. His mother and sister died in an accident. His father died a few years later and his grandfather was battling cancer. Josh has difficulty getting close to anyone because he’s afraid that they’ll die. Josh has become an emancipated minor and lives on his own. Josh is perplexed by Nastya at first, but then his garage becomes a refuge for Nastya.Josh and Nastya are perfect for each other but their relationship is far from perfect. There are some rocky moments where I burst out crying. But Josh gets Nastya and feels that he can protect her. Nastya trusts Josh and speaks to him. Sea of Tranquility is one of those books that will haunt you for days after reading. Be prepared with a box or two of tissues. Set aside a chunk of uninterrupted reading time. This is a compelling read – a book you won’t be able to put down. I enjoyed Katja Millay’s writing and I can’t wait to read her future books. Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for a review copy of this book. Review posted on Badass Book Reviews.
