The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay // A New Adult With YA Elements

The Sea of Tranquility, by Katja Millay
Publication: June 4, 2013, by Atria Books
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Abuse, Romance
Pages: 434
Format: Paperback
Source: Borrowed
Rating: 

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.

My Thoughts:

New adults with some deep meaning to them are my remedy. The Sea of Tranquility and its beautiful cover (that I had not really noticed until I picked it up) has been on my eye for ages, ages since before it was released and after. The romance is deep, meaningful, and the whole subject matter is different than anything else I have read in a long time. I cannot get this out of my head, to be purely honest. It has truly been a while since a book has touched me like this had. 

There is more to this story than readers know. Katja Millay starts us off with us getting to know Nastya, who is torn apart by some tragic event that she keeps mentioning. Readers get to figure out that she is continuously trying to overcome her demons and something that has traumatized her. We honestly did not figure this out until the very end when Josh gets to know her really well and all is revealed. This all turned out to have so much meaning to it after all! *smiles*

The Sea of Tranquility features subjects that are rough—not wanting to be mentioned greatly about in YA fiction especially. This could be classified as both YA or new adult, depending on the reader's take. There is a mature subject matter, especially when Nastya gets her flashbacks. No twelve year old would be ready to read about what the young girl had dealt with in the past. Josh, a lovely, lovely fictional boyfriend for Nastya and I, was able to get it out of her. This seemed to be like a mystery in itself, actually. Though you may be asking, you should definitely not turn to the last page and discover the truth. Millay adds so much detail and beauty to the story that you could just not turn back and forget about this.

The drawbacks after looking back is the boringness. Things were wild, going well, and the romance was taking such a dramatic turn, and then everything fell apart at some times. It was honestly going back and forth repeatedly. I kept feeling like the story was not going anywhere, though the emotions were real. Heartfelt. Precious. Those are two words that could perfectly describe the tone of this novel. And I totally get why people are going crazy. Written with a YA flair to it, taking place in a high school from a perspective of a girl who is very insecure and sensitive with her own feelings after bearing such horrendous things in the past, we love it. I loved it. I feel that this is a much-needed story to be stuck on everyone's shelves. Just look at the daring title. TRANQUILITY? That word just makes me feel calm all the same from when I read it. 

This is a complete match made in heaven for readers who enjoy teenage angst and stories about girls who self-pity and need help. Angst is the biggest thing that I witnessed in this story, and I do like some of it to make me enjoy it more. Katja Millay created some of the most beautiful characters that I have ever read about, and the two of them—Josh and Nastya I mean—just click, like two puzzle pieces that are meant to be. I would not have this book change into something any other way. It was pretty hectic with drama, if you ask me.

The Sea of Tranquility could definitely compare to riding on a wave. You feel the adrenaline, the vibe pushing you to go further, but there are those splashes in the face that make you feel a little hesitant at times. But for the most part, you enjoy riding and feeling the rush. Nastya and Josh equal the perfect couple and seriously? The emotions could just help you give this book a positive rating. I am still jittery after reading this a few weeks ago. Take a deep breath and feel the beauty of this story.

What books make you feel tranquility? What is your favourite genre that is mixed with romance? Would you give this book a try?

He Will Be My Ruin by K.A. Tucker // I Cannot Leave This World

He Will Be My Ruin, by K.A. Tucker
Publication: February 2, 2016, by Atria Books
Genre: Adult Fiction, Contemporary, Mystery, Thriller
Pages: 352
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
Rating: 

The USA TODAY bestselling author of the Ten Tiny Breaths and Burying Water series makes her romantic thriller debut with this heartpounding story of a young woman determined to find justice after her best friend’s death, a story pulsing with the “intense, hot, emotional” (Colleen Hoover) writing that exhilarates her legions of fans.
Twenty-eight-year-old Maggie Sparkes arrives in New York City to pack up what’s left of her best friend’s belongings after a suicide that has left everyone stunned. The police have deemed the evidence conclusive: Celine got into bed, downed a bottle of Xanax and a handle of Maker’s Mark, and never woke up. But when Maggie discovers secrets in the childhood lock box hidden in Celine’s apartment, she begins asking questions. Questions about the man Celine fell in love with. The man she never told anyone about, not even Maggie. The man who Celine herself claimed would be her ruin.
On the hunt for answers that will force the police to reopen the case, Maggie uncovers more than she bargained for about Celine’s private life—and inadvertently puts herself on the radar of a killer who will stop at nothing to keep his crimes undiscovered.

My Thoughts:

Thanks to the lovely publisher (and author of course), I have discovered my new favourite read of 2016. K.A. Tucker has continuously made me intrigued to read her books, coming from a fellow Canadian author who knows exactly how to captivate readers with her romance and suspense skills. This time around, He Will Be My Ruin really turned out to be my ruin. It turned out to be everything for me. Everything I expected from this fabulous author and much, much more. I found myself unable to put this beauty down, which does not happen often. 

While on vacation this time around, I decided to take all ARCs with me. ARCs that publishers specifically sent to me—not BEA ones. He Will Be My Ruin was one of the steady, monotone ones that caught my eye. I read K.A. Tucker’s words before, and somewhat enjoyed her stories. When I looked at the books that I chose one day when I finished a book previously, this one specifically caught my eye because of the setting. New York City, my fellow friends! Dealing with endless amount of suspense and plot twists as well as unforgettable romance, I could not have asked for a better put-together of an adult thriller. This is absolutely memorable and deserves all of the critics going crazy, film offers and positive reviews. I kind of felt dead without Maggie and this story afterwards.

"A quick glance out their peephole and they've seen our faces, I have two choices: I either leave, or step inside. If I leave, will my secret stay safe with him? Taking in a deep breath, I step inside."

You see, I was even planning to format this review into “The Highlights” and you guessed it, “The Lowlights.” But I reminded myself that there were not any lowlights. This story was written to perfection. Every word, phrase, chapter was written with passion and you feel the suspense throughout. Readers see flashbacks back and forth from different perspectives—from Maggie and Celine’s—we cannot even configure the true ending to the mystery, or how things will turn out by the end. The biggest thing that whacked my mind? HOW WE THOUGHT WE KNEW, AND THEN WE DID NOT. My oh my, authors are just so talented with making you think that your prediction is correct, and then it turns out that it is not, and then that it actually was by the end. But you cannot give yourself any more credit since you changed your mind. There’s this whole establishment that I went through. And many others will go through the same thing.

After you have heard me being very light on the true nature of the story, I think it is time that you hear the master plot that Tucker has put out into this world. It is about a suicide, but turned murder. Celine Gonzalez committed suicide in her New York apartment, and her ultra-rich best friend Maggie discovers this after a phone call from Celine’s caring mother. Maggie is thrown into the city that she never liked, going to search through all of the things Celine left behind, knowing that her best friend would have never committed such a thing when she simply had it all. She had boyfriends, a job she loved, an admission to a college that she dreamed of, and she seemed happy. Knowing that it is too good to be true, Maggie searches. She meets Celine’s neighbours, friends and people who she connected with prior to her “murder.” 

"Now he's exploiting it. That must be what he does—he uncovers your secrets, your fears, your flaws—and he uses them against you. He did it to Celine. And now he's doing it to me.

Tucker deals with many things in her story. She throws in prostitution and the sex trade, as well as friendship problems and trust. Even when people are adults, they could never be fully trustworthy. There are so many life lessons taught here as well. Readers were part of Tucker’s mystery, which made things interesting. I played along, making theories and trying to answer questions that stirred in Maggie’s mind. I connected to the characters and found that I could relate to Maggie especially so, so well. It’s the absolute best when you’re reading a book and you could feel the character doing something that you would do in their situation, too. Maggie was kick-butt and always there to save the day, even if Celine was gone. I loved her so much. 

We had two love interests that Maggie deals with throughout the novel though both turn out to have their disadvantages. There’s Jace, the utter-rich son-of-a-senator boy who works at the same building as Celine did. Then we have Grady, the building super who seemed to be the complete opposite of Jace. Maggie fell for both, and ended things off on different terms with the two. It truly was satisfying but gross at the same time, seeing what these guys were capable of doing. I guess that us just shows how everyone has their own secrets and how many are willing to keep them to do treacherous things in the end.

The novel was written superbly. I read this super quickly, unable to put it down and let the characters go without stopping. THE SHOCKS WERE REAL AND I AM STILL TRYING TO GET OVER THAT ENDING, YOU KNOW? I bet that I will never read a book like this again.

He Will Be My Ruin ruined all of the other psychological thrillers out there for me because this one shot them down. K.A. Tucker planned out the treacherous ending, gave it to readers and did so much more with our minds. I cannot help but continuously rave about this story and ask for more. Where is my futuristic sequel and continuation of Maggie’s story, I ask? This made my life so much better. Agh.

*A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much!*

Have you read anything by K.A. Tucker in the past? What is your favourite adult/YA suspense thriller novel?

Sky Key by James Frey and Nils Johnson-Shelton // An Electrifying Sequel

Sky Key (Endgame #2), by James Frey and Nils Johnson-Shelton
Publication: October 6, 2015, by HarperCollins
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Dystopian, Action
Pages: 464
Format: Hardcover
Source: Borrowed
Rating: 

Endgame is here. Earth Key has been found. Two keys—and nine Players—remain. The keys must be found, and only one Player can win.
Queens, New York. Aisling Kopp believes the unthinkable: that Endgame can be stopped. But before she can get home to regroup, she is approached by the CIA. They know about Endgame. And they have their own ideas about how it should be Played. Ideas that could change everything.
Kingdom of Aksum, Ethiopia. Hilal ibn Isa al-Salt narrowly survived an attack that leaves him horribly disfigured. He now knows something the other Players do not. But the Aksumites have a secret that is unique to their line. A secret that can help redeem humanity—and maybe even be used to help defeat the beings behind Endgame.
London, England. Sarah Alopay has found the first key. She is with Jago—and they are winning.But getting Earth Key has come at a great cost to Sarah. The only thing that keeps the demons at bay is Playing. Playing to win.
Sky Key—wherever it is, whatever it is—is next. And the nine remaining Players will stop at nothing to get it.

My Thoughts:

The Endgame is here. It has begun. The characters are all rivals and things are seriously getting started. James Frey and Nils Johnson-Shelton provided readers with a continuation of the story of a lifetime. It was not as good as the first, though I am throughly impressed with the action, development and memorable parts of this all. The characters continue to play the game, searching for keys, in different parts of the world that puts this all together like puzzle pieces. This novel is racing, gorgeous, memorable and reminds me of why I enjoyed the first book so much and stood up for it. It was not just because of a game, or because it featured a unique dystopian experience. This series rocks my world and causes me to be so obsessed with everything about this. Including the writing.

Frey and Johnson-Shelton begin this novel off with a fresh start. As we know, the first novel ends off with quite of a cliffhanger dealing with Sarah and Jago's relationship. I wanted the two fabulous authors to continue with that... but of course they did not, which makes the sequel more worthwhile. The authors provide readers with a continuation of the last book, with more drama, action and moments with characters who seemed to be more secondary in the first one—like Aisling. All of the good stuff is thrown into the story to show that the series is just not over yet. 

I have to embrace the beauty of the different settings in the book that make this not even a speck of confusing. Normally, I am hesitant with books with multiple perspectives, but the duo writers did it fabulously. The plot was fast-paced for most of the time and I really enjoyed it all overall. 

The Highlights:

Sarah and Jago. The power couple (and practically the only couple in the story) keep on doing their thing beautifully. There was constant drama between them and the game, and they all turned out to be stronger than ever by the end, even though readers had this constant doubt in our minds that something bad would happen, spoiler alert, it all went pretty well.

The Ending. I NEED MORE. MY LIFE DEPENDS ON THE ENDING AND WINNER(S)? OF THIS LEGACY/STORY/WHATEVER. If it does not get shoved into my hands soon enough, I will write a satisfying ending for myself. (I do whatever it takes honestly).

The Characters. Many pissed me off, but as a reader, that always seems to happen when I enjoy a series so much. Every character is involved with some kind of catastrophe that the authors include to keep readers in on this wild ride. It is wild, it is hectic. You can never find that safe spot when reading The Endgame, that's for sure.

The Lowlights:

The Fact That... this journey is not going anywhere. I am pretty sure that this is a trilogy... and not many people are killed. NOT THAT I WANT CHARACTERS TO DIE. I am just waiting for more to happen, for the bloodlines to come alive and for readers to discover who is left, you know? I expected more from this story. Meh. Watch this novel fool me. 

Sky Key quickly revolved around the actual key itself. A group found it, and honestly, nothing much happened after that. I, as a reader, expected more to actually come out of this story and hit me... in the feels. The writing style is so bizarre, mysterious and irregular compared to other dystopians that I just cannot function anymore. I ADORED THAT PART. I also need the final novel, just like the endless amount of other fans like myself. *cries of happiness*

Do you like novels that are written with multiple perspectives and/or written bizarrely? Does this series interest you?

Some Spotlight on The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem

Let's shine some spotlight on a beautiful book today.

The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem, by Sarit Yishai-Levi
Publication: April 5, 2016, by Thomas Dunne
Genre: Adult Fiction, Historical
Pages: 384

The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem is a dazzling novel of mothers and daughters, stories told and untold, and the binds that tie four generations of women.
Gabriela's mother Luna is the most beautiful woman in all of Jerusalem, though her famed beauty and charm seem to be reserved for everyone but her daughter. Ever since Gabriela can remember, she and Luna have struggled to connect. But when tragedy strikes, Gabriela senses there's more to her mother than painted nails and lips.
Desperate to understand their relationship, Gabriela pieces together the stories of her family's previous generations—from Great-Grandmother Mercada the renowned healer, to Grandma Rosa who cleaned houses for the English, to Luna who had the nicest legs in Jerusalem. But as she uncovers shocking secrets, forbidden romances, and the family curse that links the women together, Gabriela must face a past and present far more complex than she ever imagined.
Set against the Golden Age of Hollywood, the dark days of World War II, and the swingin' '70s, The Beauty Queen of Jerusalemfollows generations of unforgettable women as they forge their own paths through times of dramatic change. With great humor and heart, Sarit Yishai-Levi has given us a powerful story of love and forgiveness—and the unexpected and enchanting places we find each.

This book sounds absolutely awesome and I am so excited to read it and share my review with all of you! Now, for an excerpt!

1

MY MOTHER LUNA PASSED AWAY shortly before my eighteenth birthday. A year earlier, while the whole family was sitting around the table for lunch as usual, and she was serving her famous sofrito with peas and white rice, she sat down on her chair and said, “Dio santo, I can’t feel my leg.”

Father ignored her and went on reading the paper and eating. My little brother Ronny laughed and shook Mother’s leg under the table. “Mother’s got a leg like a doll’s!”

“It’s not funny,” my mother said angrily. “I can’t feel my foot on the floor.”

Father and I continued eating.

“Por Dio, David, I can’t stand on my leg,” she repeated. “It’s not doing what I tell it.”

Now she was on the verge of hysteria. Father finally stopped eating and took his head out of the paper.

“Try and stand up,” he said. Mother was unsteady on her feet and held on to the corner of the table.

“We should get you to the doctor’s,” Father said.

But the minute they walked out the door, Mother’s leg did as it was told, and she could feel it again as if nothing had happened.

“See? It’s nothing,” said Father. “You’re being dramatic as usual.”

“Yes, right. I’m dramatic,” Mother replied. “If it had happened to you, people would have heard the ambulance siren from here to Katamon.”

The episode passed as if it had never happened. Mother would recount it over and over to Rachelika and Becky and anyone else who was prepared to listen, and Father would lose his temper and say, “Enough! How many times do we have to hear the story about your marionette leg?”

Then the second incident occurred. Mother came home from the grocery, and just as she was about to walk inside, she fell and lost consciousness. This time an ambulance was called and Mother was rushed to Bikur Holim Hospital. She couldn’t stand or walk and was diagnosed with cancer. That was when Mother began to stop talking, especially to Father. He’d try to engage her and she just wouldn’t answer. Her sisters, Rachelika and Becky, neglected their families so they could sit with her almost around the clock. Despite their pleading, she refused to leave the house, ashamed that people would see her, Luna, the woman who had the most beautiful legs in Jerusalem, in a wheelchair.

As much as I hardened my heart at the time, it was distressing to see Rachelika peeling an orange for Mother, begging her to eat her favorite fruit, and Becky gently painting Mother’s nails with red polish, for even then, when she was so sick and weak, she was still meticulous about her manicure and pedicure. Rachelika and Becky both did their utmost to behave naturally, as if nothing terrible was happening, and chattered away, “yackety-yak like a couple of hens,” as my grandmother Nona Rosa used to say. Only Luna, the biggest chatterbox of all, remained silent.

At night one of them would stay over to sleep with Mother, who now occupied the living room sofa’s pullout bed, encircled with dining chairs to prevent her from falling off. All of Father’s pleas that she sleep in their bedroom and he in the living room fell on deaf ears.

“She says she can’t breathe in the bedroom,” Rachelika told Father. “At least youcan get a proper night’s sleep so you’ll have the strength to look after the children.”

But my little brother Ronny and I didn’t need Father to look after us. We both took advantage of the fact that everyone was preoccupied with Mother and gave ourselves the freedom to roam. Ronny preferred the company of boys his age and spent whole days in their houses, and many nights as well, while I spent my time with Amnon, my boyfriend. Amnon’s parents had a bookshop at the center of town and his sister was married, so their big house on Hamaalot Street was ours for the taking. Had my father known what we were up to, he would have beaten Amnon to a pulp and sent me to live on a kibbutz.

After her diagnosis, Mother no longer called me a “street girl” or threatened to tell my father when I got home late. She wouldn’t even look at me, but just sat in her wheelchair staring into space or whispering with one of her sisters. Father would make dinner, and he too wouldn’t ask me any questions or show interest in what I was doing. It seemed they all preferred that I spend as little time as possible at home so I wouldn’t annoy Mother, God forbid, who even when in her wheelchair didn’t get good behavior from me.

One afternoon when I was about to leave the house to meet Amnon, Rachelika stopped me.

“I have to stop home,” she said, “so stay with your mother until Becky gets here.”

“But I have a test! I have to go to my friend’s to study.”

“Ask your friend to come here.”

“No!” My mother’s voice, hardly ever heard in those days, made us jump. “You’re not asking anyone to come here. If you want to go, go. I don’t need you to stay here and look after me.”

“Luna,” said Rachelika, “you can’t stay here on your own.”

“I don’t need Gabriela to hold my hand. I don’t need her to look after me or you to look after me or Becky to look after me or the devil to look after me. I don’t need anything, just leave me be!”

“Don’t get angry, Luna. It’s been two days since I saw Moise and the children. I have to go check in.”

“Go wherever you want,” my mother replied and withdrew into herself again.

“God forgive us,” Rachelika said, wringing her hands. I’d never seen my aunt in such despair, but she quickly regained her composure. “You’re staying here with your mother!” she ordered me. “I’m going home for a few minutes and I’ll be right back. And don’t you dare leave her for one second.”

She turned and went, leaving me alone with my mother. You could have cut the air with a knife. My mother sitting in her wheelchair, her face sour and angry, and me standing in the middle of the living room like an idiot. At that moment I would have done anything just not to be alone with her.

“I’m going to my room to study,” I said. “I’ll leave the door open. Call me if you need anything.”

“Sit down,” my mother said.

I paused, caught off guard by her request.

“I want to ask you for something.”

I tensed. My mother never asked me for anything. She only ever told me what to do.

“I want to ask you not to bring your friends here. I don’t want any strangers in the house until I die.”

“Until you die?” I was so alarmed that the only way I could deflect what she’d said was to respond with words that even I couldn’t believe. “You’ll bury us all.”

“Don’t worry, Gabriela. It will be you who buries me,” she said quietly.

The room felt too small for the both of us.

“Mother, you should be thanking God. There are people who get cancer and die right away. God loves you. You can talk, you can see, you’re alive.”

“You call this living?” My mother snorted. “My enemies should live like this. It’s a living death.”

“You’re the one who’s choosing to live like this,” I retorted. “If you wanted to, you could get dressed, put on makeup, and go out.”

“Yes, right,” she said. “Go out in a wheelchair.”

“Your friend the redhead, the one who was in the hospital with you during the war, he was in a wheelchair, and I don’t remember him not leaving the house, and I remember he was always smiling.”

My mother looked at me incredulously. “You remember him?” she asked softly.

“Of course I do. He used to sit me on his knee and spin us in his wheelchair like the bumper cars at the Luna Park.”

“The Luna Park,” Mother murmured. “The ghost train.” She suddenly burst into tears and with her hand signaled that I should go.

I took to my heels. The almost intimate conversation we’d had was too much for me to take. It was the closest we’d come to having a mother-daughter talk, and it too ended in tears.

My mother wept in waves that rose and fell, and in my room I shut my ears with my hands. I couldn’t bear the sound of her despair. Years later I’d regret that moment. Instead of my heart opening, it closed up tight. Instead of taking her in my arms and comforting her, I lay on the cold floor of my room, hands over my ears, and uttered a silent cry to God: Shut her up, God. Please shut her up.

And God foolishly heard me and shut her up. That night the ambulance siren wailed and its brakes screeched outside our house. Four brawny men climbed the fifty-four stairs to the top floor of our apartment building, laid my mother on a stretcher, and rushed her to the hospital. On the operating table the surgeons discovered to their horror that my mother’s body was completely ravaged inside.

“It’s all over,” my father told me. “There’s nothing the doctors can do. Your mother’s going to die.”

Many years after her death, when I found room in my heart for my mother, my Aunt Rachelika told me the secret of her suffering, the never-receding pain. But by then it was already too late to fix what had been broken between us.

SARIT YISHAI-LEVI is an English-speaking journalist and author. She has been a correspondent for Israeli newspapers and magazines and has hosted Hebrew TV and radio programs in Los Angeles. She is the author of four non-fiction books and the bestselling and award-winning novel, The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem. She lives in Israel.

How does this book sound, in your opinion? Are you willing to read a historical fiction story like this?

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys // A WWII Historical Action Tale

Salt to the Sea, by Ruta Sepetys
Publication: February 2, 2016, by Philomel Books
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Historical
Pages: 391
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
Rating: ½

Winter, 1945. Four teenagers. Four secrets.
Each one born of a different homeland; each one hunted, and haunted, by tragedy, lies…and war.
As thousands of desperate refugees flock to the coast in the midst of a Soviet advance, four paths converge, vying for passage aboard the Wilhelm Gustloff, a ship that promises safety and freedom.
Yet not all promises can be kept.
Inspired by the single greatest tragedy in maritime history, bestselling and award-winning author Ruta Sepetys (Between Shades of Gray) lifts the veil on a shockingly little-known casualty of World War II. An illuminating and life-affirming tale of heart and hope.

My Thoughts:

Sometimes, I agree with other people that books could seriously be remedies. Whether it is a remedy for a broken heart, for a bad day, for a good day, for a snowy day, for a sunny day, I believe that every book contains some kind of magic that could make a person feel great/horrible but still always enjoying it in one way or another. For me, and for the past few years where I have been experiencing Ruta Sepetys' writing, I found that her writing provided me with some kind of happiness/sadness—more of a depressing feeling, but that was ought to happen anyways. Historical fiction novels always seem to hit the heart, but Ruta's writing causes me to become (a) more obsessed, (b) a person with higher expectations and (c) want to become a cover designer. Because damn, THAT COVER IS SPECTACULAR.

"For the first time in years, people cared for me. Protected me. I looked down at Halinka. I could actually feel her. She was mine. I was hers. Her perfect cheeks and fingers were pink, just like my hat. What the knight said was true. She was part of me, my family, and Poland." (301)

Salt to the Sea caused my heart to go on a literal roller coaster ride. We readers get to know four teenagers with four different hometowns/countries, four different secrets and roles that carry out throughout this thrilling novel. Florian, Alfred, Joana and Emilia. My heart goes out to them. As always, Ruta Sepetys somehow causes readers to create a bond with each of this character that extends beyond the actual story and its pages. I still am thinking about the "ever after" of these characters. That must tell you something. Something exquisite. Something marvellous. Something that a positive adjective can describe. As always, Ruta's words combine with her dramatic settings and message, throwing in a great read for any reader. 

I have always been a fan of World War Two action novels that are simply YA. I like the emotions and romance, and one of those stories that seems so real that readers feel like the author must have heard the story somewhere and wrote it down. Those experiences can make a girl feel so happy. When I heard that the author was releasing a new book after the astonishing Between the Shades of Gray, I became more obsessed than I ever had been to get my hands on this story. Each character is somehow placed into each other's lives and the magic has really spun to create something memorable.

"Fate is a hunter. Its barrel pressed against my forehead." (347)

The only thing I could complain about is the plot. I loved the idea of creating a story that provided readers an action story that is taking place in a time era that had so many mixes of situations that affected everyone differently. This was an utterly long novel, and I wish more came out of the middle portion where I was bored. For a wartime novel where things go boom, boom, boom quickly, I certainly was surprised, though this had not caused my reading experience to be horrible in any way whatsoever.

Get ready for the ships. And by ships, I literally mean actual boats and relationships. The four teenagers who are mentioned here actually all do have their own special quirk that made me love each of them separately for separate reasons. My favourite character, you ask? Alfred. DUH. You'll see why, my friends.

Salt to the Sea is a book for any lover of any genre. There are real historical facts in the story that made me want to head on to the internet and read for hours about what Ruta wrote about. Although slow at times, the characters and setting picked it up and made it a beautiful experience. If you do not know much about the war, read this. If you know tons, still read it. Anyone could find a part they adore.

*A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much!*

Do you think YA-historical books have the ability to become a great movie? What have you heard about Ruta's books?

Waiting on Wednesday #32: Signs of You

Signs of You, by Emily France
Publication: July 19, 2016, by Soho Teen
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 240

Since sixteen-year-old Riley Strout lost her mother two years ago, her saving grace has been her quirky little family in the grief support group she joined as a freshman. Jay, Kate, and Noah understand her pain; each lost a loved one, and they’ve stuck together in spite of their differences, united by tragedies only they understand.
When Riley thinks she spots her mother shopping in a grocery store, she fears she is suffering some sort of post-traumatic stress. Then Jay and Kate report similar experiences. Only Noah hasn’t had some kind of vision, which is perhaps why he’s become so skeptical and distant.
When Noah disappears, Riley fears she’s lost another loved one. As they frantically search for him, she, Kate, and Jay are drawn into the mystery surrounding a relic that belonged to Jay’s dead father and contains clues about the afterlife. Riley finds herself wrestling with her feelings for both Noah and Jay—which have become clear only in Noah’s absence. If Riley is to help those she loves, and herself, she must set things right with the one she’s lost.

This cover of this gorgeous novel is absolutely beautiful. From the first instant when I spotted this, I FELL IN LOVE. My heart goes out to the actual copies because I would seriously like one to be in my shelf right now. This is a coming-of-age story that will surely hit the heart. Agh.

What are you anticipating the most this week? Don't you love the cover of this book?

The Chrysalids by John Wyndham // Rich and Fascinating

The Chrysalids, by John Wyndham
Publication: 1987 by Penguin
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Dystopian
Pages: 200
Format: Paperback
Source: Borrowed
Rating: 

In The Chrysalids John Wyndham takes the reader into the anguished heart of a community where the chances of breeding true are less than 50 per cent and where the deviations are rooted out and destroyed as offences and abominations. The narrator of the Chrysalids is David, who can communicate with a small group of other young people by means of 'thought shapes'. This deviation from a cruelly rigid norm goes unnoticed at first. But sooner or later the secret is bound to be discovered, and the results are violent, horrific...and unbelievable.

My Thoughts:

The Chrysalids kind of changed my life. Kind of. I cannot stress too much on it other than the fact that it was literally a success and the true meaning is so relatable to our modern world today, but I could say that it is a pure dystopian classic. Imagine the book that Lois Lowry's The Giver was originally based on. John Wyndham threw this concept to life and into readers' hands, showing a book (with a horrible, hideous cover) that has so much meaning to it and relates to discrimination in society today. With Petra, Rosalind, David, Michael and the bunch of memorable characters, I would not ever change my experience with this story.

It all began with English class. A semester before, I had friends who read this. You know what this means. Friends who do not normally read (only when they are required to) usually have mixed feelings about a book. They could seriously adore everything my province's curriculum has chosen because they never experienced anything like it, or they could find it horrible and so utterly boring that they refuse to analyze it and look for similes and whatnot. Y'all are expecting me to say that I heard great things about this book. My friends hated this novel. I bet that they felt this way because teachers spend so much time on books and we have to do millions of presentations to make sure that we completely understand it all. 

Although I have spent a month on this novel now (as I am counting), I have enjoyed every second of reading it. John Wyndham knew how to throw suspense in his writing, even better than many modern-day authors do. I never knew what to expect with every chapter going by. Everything made so much sense and it all clicked together as the plot unfolded. Seventeen chapters, so many shocking moments and parts where I wanted to scream. This is the true unfolding of an utter fangirl.

"Once we allow things that we know are not right, there's no telling where it will ends. A god-fearing community doesn't have to deny its faith just because there's been pressure brought to bear in a government licensing office."

To sum it up in a paragraph, John Wyndham's classic tale is about discrimination and friendship, mainly. David Strorm is our main character, who lives in a post-apocalyptic world after "The Tribulation." This Tribulation essentially refers to a nuclear disaster where all of the land is left radioactive and has caused humans to never see the real image again. Those who are mutants are killed, burned, and so on. Vegetables have to be a certain colour and people have to follow the certain rules. David, his sister Petra and the others all live in a society that has been run down, also known as Labrador. David discovers that he also has a secret that others must not discover, especially his father who preaches against the blasphemies. 

This novel showcases to what extent humanity can become horrible. Discrimination comes in all ways and forms, and in this case, it was disability. Against it, in fact. It is an interesting story that is a lesson for many. I adore this, it could touch many hearts, and knowing that the main characters themselves who are stuck in a strict society could experience what it is like to be discriminated. 

The themes that are showcased here could depend on the reader's perspective. Anyone can infer or predict anything about this story. There are eerie relationships (cousins? Really?) but it is an eerie novel at a whole. In a good way, obviously.

"The inspector was the inspector, and an important person; all the same I could not believe that the Devil sent Sophie. I found it hard to see how the very small toe on each foot could make much difference either." (55)

It truly is the best when a book makes you feel light, happy and completely satisfied. I absolutely recommend this to all. Your inner book obsessed self will be thankful for it afterwards. Oh, how I wish we got to experience more. *dreams* *awes*

What would you call a "dystopian classic?" Are there any other YA books about discrimination in this sense?