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The Sea of Tranquility
by
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.
Former piano prodigy Nastya Kash ...more
Former piano prodigy Nastya Kash ...more
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Kindle Edition, 449 pages
Published
November 13th 2012
by Atria Books
(first published September 5th 2012)
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Dilek VT
Any age between 15-50, or maybe older than that because my 80-year old mother also loved it...
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Start your review of The Sea of Tranquility
So I ended up creating a new shelf for that book : "Everyone loved but me".
Here I am, all sheepish and disappointed because I, once again, didn’t like a praised Goodreads book as much as I thought I would (should). So many good ratings for this book. So many wonderful reviews, so many people saying they cried over the story. I didn’t. I so fucking didn't.
+ : It’s true what most of the reviewers say, there is no insta love.
- : There is what I call NEVA-LOVE. Or, 800-pages-long-and-still-nothing ...more
An infinite amount of stars!
Beautiful, emotional, powerful, and unforgettable. There is a reason why I love this book so much. It gets better and better with every read. This is easily my favorite book. Period. A story of strength, love, forgiveness, healing, moving on, letting go, and second chances. Both main characters are amazing. They are damaged, broken and perfectly imperfect. There are so many other secondary characters you will fall in love with (Drew ♥). After re-reading this agai ...more
Beautiful, emotional, powerful, and unforgettable. There is a reason why I love this book so much. It gets better and better with every read. This is easily my favorite book. Period. A story of strength, love, forgiveness, healing, moving on, letting go, and second chances. Both main characters are amazing. They are damaged, broken and perfectly imperfect. There are so many other secondary characters you will fall in love with (Drew ♥). After re-reading this agai ...more
love this even more the second time around.
if you are wanting a YA book that isn’t actually YA - read this.
even though the main character are teenagers, i kept forgetting that little fact. everything is just so… mature? complex? well-developed? i dunno. but its definitely more NA.
and i have such a soft spot for characters who come from broken backgrounds and seeing them develop the strength to rise above them. and for that reason, it feels like nastya and josh were written just for me. <3
↠ 5 sta ...more
if you are wanting a YA book that isn’t actually YA - read this.
even though the main character are teenagers, i kept forgetting that little fact. everything is just so… mature? complex? well-developed? i dunno. but its definitely more NA.
and i have such a soft spot for characters who come from broken backgrounds and seeing them develop the strength to rise above them. and for that reason, it feels like nastya and josh were written just for me. <3
↠ 5 sta ...more
Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=...
This book amazed the funny right out of me, but replaced it with something more. So much more that I can't even curse properly! It was so well written it hurt. By the end I was bled completely dry of all thought...all emotion!
I was so incredibly close to just repeating, "OH MY GOD, WOW! OH MY GOD, WOW! GET ME A DRINK! OH MY GOD, WOW!", over and over again for this review, but it's important for me to let you know exactly how this book made me ...more
This book amazed the funny right out of me, but replaced it with something more. So much more that I can't even curse properly! It was so well written it hurt. By the end I was bled completely dry of all thought...all emotion!
I was so incredibly close to just repeating, "OH MY GOD, WOW! OH MY GOD, WOW! GET ME A DRINK! OH MY GOD, WOW!", over and over again for this review, but it's important for me to let you know exactly how this book made me ...more
Sep 26, 2012
Aestas Book Blog
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
favorites
Beautiful. Powerful. Deep. Heart-wrenching. Believable. Uplifting. Unforgettable. A must-read!!
WOW. 5+ stars. One of my favorite reads of the year!
The Sea of Tranquility is a beautifully written, deep and heart-wrenching drama about two damaged teens surviving unchangeable tragedies, and devastating grief, hurt, and pain; learning to cope with them, accept them, and somehow finding healing, safety and finally happiness and love in each other along the way.
Its quiet and very, very slow bui ...more
*5+++ Stars!*
Beautifully tragic and powerfully uplifting!
The Sea Of Tranquility is quite possibly one of the most beautifully written books I've read in its genre. The five stars allotted for rating just don't seem to suffice. Everything about this book pulled me in: from the ample rave reviews decorating Goodreads, to its calming title and enchanting cover--yet all of this was rendered insignificant when I became captured by the artistry within.
The story opens with a powerful prologue, ignitin ...more
Beautifully tragic and powerfully uplifting!
The Sea Of Tranquility is quite possibly one of the most beautifully written books I've read in its genre. The five stars allotted for rating just don't seem to suffice. Everything about this book pulled me in: from the ample rave reviews decorating Goodreads, to its calming title and enchanting cover--yet all of this was rendered insignificant when I became captured by the artistry within.
The story opens with a powerful prologue, ignitin ...more
Jan 30, 2013
Emily May
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Fans of Pushing the Limits
Oh my god, I just don't know what to say about this book. I seriously considered leaving the rating blank because The Sea of Tranquility isn't something that can easily be summed up in stars, my feelings for it are much more complex than that. I do realise that I'm pretty much the only person in the universe who gave this less than 4 stars (and most gave it 5) and there are a number of reasons, but I'll get to those in a minute. But it's important to know that 3 stars isn't really accurate a ...more
Jan 06, 2015
TheCrazyWorldOfABookLover
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
i-m-not-crying-you-re-crying,
favorites
**STILL ON SALE!!!! | http://amzn.to/2vG2VU1 **
*The Most Amount of Stars I Can Give*
This…This right here…This is the kind of story that makes you appreciate words. Makes you appreciate when nouns and verbs and adjectives are strung together to form these magical little sentences that touch your heart and you don't even know they're doing it until you're so sucked into t ...more
*The Most Amount of Stars I Can Give*
“I love you, Sunshine,” I tell her, before I lose my nerve. “And I don’t give a shit whether you want me to or not.”
This…This right here…This is the kind of story that makes you appreciate words. Makes you appreciate when nouns and verbs and adjectives are strung together to form these magical little sentences that touch your heart and you don't even know they're doing it until you're so sucked into t ...more
Sep 18, 2012
Alexis *Reality Bites*
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
EVERYONE!!!
Spoiler Free Review -READ THIS BOOK NOW! IT'S A MUST READ!!!
5 STARS out of 5
Genre: YA Romance-Mature Content
Nastya
'Dying isn't so bad after you've done it once.
And I have.
I'm not afraid of death anymore.
I'm afraid of everything else.'
Nastya Kashinkov is a self inflicted mute at age seventeen. She was once an accomplished pianist but then something happens. She dies. She dies a horrific brutal violent death. Yes, death touches her for ninety six seconds before she is brought back to life. Only to ...more
5 STARS out of 5
Genre: YA Romance-Mature Content
Nastya
'Dying isn't so bad after you've done it once.
And I have.
I'm not afraid of death anymore.
I'm afraid of everything else.'
Nastya Kashinkov is a self inflicted mute at age seventeen. She was once an accomplished pianist but then something happens. She dies. She dies a horrific brutal violent death. Yes, death touches her for ninety six seconds before she is brought back to life. Only to ...more
So many glowing reviews for The Sea of Tranquility, yet, I DNFed at 50%....more
Why? Because:
1. Nastya is a twit.
2. Josh is a caricature
3. Both sound virtually identical. At a point, I couldn't distinguish whose POV I just read. Josh and Nastya were the same character, IMO.
4. Why should I care about their class schedules or which teacher was an idiot or the high school angst? I mean, who cares?
5. Nastya is a twat and I felt zero empathy (sympathy) for her ordeal.
6. Not enough plot. I respect all the
“Some things you just have to learn to live with.”
➦Nastya doesn't talk. Not because she can't but because she chooses not to. She tries to go through life unnoticed, while never forgetting that day when her life got taken away from her.
➦In an attempt to restart her life, Nastya attends a new high school where nobody knows her. She meets a boy named Josh , who is not without problems of his own. They become friends and end up helping each other heal.
➦I know I'm 4 years too late to t ...more
I loved this book! The Sea of Tranquility is beautifully written. The words are beautiful and often flowed like water. Katja Millay really knocked it out of the ball park with her debut novel. I loved that it wasn't a typical YA romance book - it is so much more than that. It is heart breaking, it is sad, it is tragic, it is uplifting, it is a journey of sorts,it is about hope, it is about second chances, it's about survival, it's about starting over, it's about finding your way home. This book
...more
Sep 16, 2012
Annie Brewer
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
EVERYONE
*SOB* God dammit. I've been crying for like the last hour. Fucking shit...my heart hurts, my nose is running and my eyes are puffy. To say this book broke me would be an understatement. I can't write a proper review at the moment because I'm an emotional wreck...devastation. But I will say...well hell now I'm at a loss for words choked up...nothing is coming to me. Once I can get my emotions in order, I will attempt at a good review. Bravo Katja, this book topped my list. I love you....seriously
...more
Oct 17, 2012
Amy | Foxy Blogs
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
audible,
headphones,
2015-5-stars,
2021-books,
2022-reread,
2022-5-stars,
2022-books,
2015-re-read,
buddy-reads,
tbbb
4th Re-read
Listening Length: 13 hours 10 minutes.
I really wish we could get another book with Drew's story.
_____________________
3rd time reading it.
Still loved it!
2/13/2021
_____________________
2nd time reading it.
I reread this one via an audio book.
After 3 years I decided to listen to this one and I have three words for the second time-> I LOVED IT!
11/14/2015
_____________________
LOVED IT
You know it's good when you can't put it down and you stay up reading until you fall asleep with the boo ...more
Listening Length: 13 hours 10 minutes.
I really wish we could get another book with Drew's story.
_____________________
3rd time reading it.
Still loved it!
2/13/2021
_____________________
2nd time reading it.
I reread this one via an audio book.
After 3 years I decided to listen to this one and I have three words for the second time-> I LOVED IT!
11/14/2015
_____________________
LOVED IT
You know it's good when you can't put it down and you stay up reading until you fall asleep with the boo ...more
Oct 16, 2012
Duchess Nicole
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Everyone!!
Recommended to Duchess Nicole by:
Tom
5 ++++++ stars!! A must read for any of my reader friends, and I don’t say that lightly!
This is one of those books that make me want to re-evaluate all of my five star ratings. This is NOT just for readers of the YA genre. It’s for everyone. It’s not a feel good book, though I did put it down for the last time feeling good. Throughout most of it, though, my emotions were in such a turmoil that I didn’t know WHAT I was feeling. I had sad tears in my eyes, and then angry tears. By angry, I mean I ...more
This is one of those books that make me want to re-evaluate all of my five star ratings. This is NOT just for readers of the YA genre. It’s for everyone. It’s not a feel good book, though I did put it down for the last time feeling good. Throughout most of it, though, my emotions were in such a turmoil that I didn’t know WHAT I was feeling. I had sad tears in my eyes, and then angry tears. By angry, I mean I ...more
FIVE STARS CANT POSSIBLY BE ENOUGH.
I am moved beyond words. What an incredibly moving, beautifully tragic novel. Poignant, heartrending, moving, touching, emotional, captivating, intense, tragic, wistful, tender, dreamy, hopeful, enthralling, impassioned, sentimental, stirring, inspiring, monumental, unforgettable. These are Just some of but not all of my descriptions of this book. Whatever I write in my review it will not give this book justice, I know that this story has buried itself in my he ...more
I am moved beyond words. What an incredibly moving, beautifully tragic novel. Poignant, heartrending, moving, touching, emotional, captivating, intense, tragic, wistful, tender, dreamy, hopeful, enthralling, impassioned, sentimental, stirring, inspiring, monumental, unforgettable. These are Just some of but not all of my descriptions of this book. Whatever I write in my review it will not give this book justice, I know that this story has buried itself in my he ...more
Apr 15, 2017
L A i N E Y
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Anyone who wants to learn how people realistically deal with grief & loss of dreams & self
Shelves:
ya,
contemporary,
much-heard-of,
feel-this,
audiobook,
reviewed,
girl-crush-maximum,
humor-i-get,
real-tears,
unforgettable
People who have never been through any sort of shit always assume that they know how you should react to having your life destroyed... As if there's a playbook for surviving hell.
The resignation and grief, the guilt and self-hatred. Especially the 'getting away from your loved ones' thing? Bull's eye.
**If you want to learn a bit about how people, in the real world, actually deal with guilt and loss and profound disappointment, this book would be illuminating to you.** And I can't say that em ...more
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"I hate my left hand. I hate to look at it. I hate it when it stutters and trembles and reminds me that my identity is gone. But I look at it anyway, because it also reminds me that I'm going to find the boy who took everything away from me. I'm going to kill the boy who killed me, and when I kill him, I'm going to do it with my left hand."
WOW.... AMAZING..... I've been thinking about this book all day... wondering where to start with this review. I just don't know where to ...more
"I hate my left hand. I hate to look at it. I hate it when it stutters and trembles and reminds me that my identity is gone. But I look at it anyway, because it also reminds me that I'm going to find the boy who took everything away from me. I'm going to kill the boy who killed me, and when I kill him, I'm going to do it with my left hand."
WOW.... AMAZING..... I've been thinking about this book all day... wondering where to start with this review. I just don't know where to ...more
The love story between Josh and Nastya is so very romantic because of how difficult it is for these characters to allow themselves to love. Their romance is not a stereotypical love story, nothing is easy about it but they are both unable to fight it. The pace with which the intimacy between them slowly grows will undo you, every look they share, every touch, every gesture will melt your heart. This for me was the perfect love story because of how imperfect it is. We are not force-fed a fluffy l
...more
So you see the title The Sea of TranquilityReview here: Hello Beautiful Book Blog
I'm doing a short review since there are so many to choose from and also because I am late to the party!
My favorite part was really just the smaller details woven in.
Her love of name meanings
The chair ♥
Sunshine
Ice cream
I could go on and on
^^^ I guess I really like to cling to the good things and the lighthearted moments, but there was a lot of pain and depression. Nastya hasn't spoken a word in over a year. She ...more
When two worlds full of tragedy collide, prepare yourself for some heartbreak...
Sometimes there are books that take my breath away, sometimes my emotions flood my soul, sometimes words cut deep into my heart, sometimes stories don't want me to let go, sometimes I fall in love... with a character, with a paragraph, with an author... sometimes I just feel like falling.
Deep and raw, that's how this story is.
It breaks your heart and even makes you enjoy that feeling, it plays with your mind, it ...more
Sometimes there are books that take my breath away, sometimes my emotions flood my soul, sometimes words cut deep into my heart, sometimes stories don't want me to let go, sometimes I fall in love... with a character, with a paragraph, with an author... sometimes I just feel like falling.
Deep and raw, that's how this story is.
It breaks your heart and even makes you enjoy that feeling, it plays with your mind, it ...more
Aug 15, 2012
Fred
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Readers of Grounding Quinn, Beautiful Disaster, Easy, The Opportunist
Recommended to Fred by:
Katja Millay
Shelves:
favorites
I loved this beautiful and emotional contemporary romantic drama. I felt caught up in, and utterly swept away by its power, like a small boat being slowly but inexorably driven by the wind into a storm, an emotional storm that left me washed up and wrung out, but somehow richer as a person for having experienced it. It's beautifully and poetically crafted - every element, every character, all combine and contribute to the artful and emotionally intense world author Millay creates.
So what's up wi ...more
So what's up wi ...more
4 stars!
"I think I can believe in hope and I would like to believe in the dream of second chances."
Well Katja Millay just brought on all of the feels.
This is one of those books that has been sitting on my tbr shelf forever. I had made a 2015 resolution that I would do my best to read all of the physical books I owned that have been sitting on my bookshelves for months, some even for years. The first book in line was this one. I cannot believe I waited this long to read it. It's such a ...more
"I think I can believe in hope and I would like to believe in the dream of second chances."
Well Katja Millay just brought on all of the feels.
This is one of those books that has been sitting on my tbr shelf forever. I had made a 2015 resolution that I would do my best to read all of the physical books I owned that have been sitting on my bookshelves for months, some even for years. The first book in line was this one. I cannot believe I waited this long to read it. It's such a ...more
Nov 30, 2015
Dilek VT
rated it
it was amazing
Recommends it for:
Everyone who loves reading a good piece of work
Awesome book... More than 5 stars...
Such good story. So touching...
Burst into tears a few times... Laughed many times.
It really warmed my heart...
It is a hidden gem not everyone seems to be aware of...
Do read it!
The book is really very well written. Some pages are told by the female character, some pages by the male character. Because both characters are so messed up, this dual storytelling helps us to get in the minds of both characters, which was great.
Reading this book felt like a sharp po ...more
Such good story. So touching...
Burst into tears a few times... Laughed many times.
It really warmed my heart...
It is a hidden gem not everyone seems to be aware of...
Do read it!
The book is really very well written. Some pages are told by the female character, some pages by the male character. Because both characters are so messed up, this dual storytelling helps us to get in the minds of both characters, which was great.
Reading this book felt like a sharp po ...more
![Carol [Goodreads Addict]](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1626057011p2/10717098.jpg)
Nov 15, 2013
Carol [Goodreads Addict]
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
favorites,
contemporary-romance
“If we had a telescope, I could show you the Sea of Tranquility.” She points up at the sky. “See? Up there on the moon. You can’t really tell from here.” “Is that why you have a picture of the moon in your bedroom?” “You noticed that?” “It was the only thing on the wall. I thought you were into astronomy.” “I’m not. I keep it there to remind me that it’s bullshit. I thought it sounded like this beautiful, peaceful place. Like where you’d want to go when you die. Quiet and water everywhere ...more
Sep 24, 2012
Jennifer Kyle
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Readers of Crash, Pushing the Limits and the Breathing Series
TOP FAVORITE!!!
My Cast:
"He needs to be able to fix things and make it all better; to believe that you’re okay so that he can believe he’s okay.”
Nastya is an illusion. She has changed schools and fled the safety of her family because she can’t be who she used to be before her life took a horrific detour. She has moved in with her aunt and has begun classes at a new school. She also dresses to scare/repel other students. Josh Bennett is as socially inept as Nastya. He has lost every single pers ...more
My Cast:
"He needs to be able to fix things and make it all better; to believe that you’re okay so that he can believe he’s okay.”
Nastya is an illusion. She has changed schools and fled the safety of her family because she can’t be who she used to be before her life took a horrific detour. She has moved in with her aunt and has begun classes at a new school. She also dresses to scare/repel other students. Josh Bennett is as socially inept as Nastya. He has lost every single pers ...more
RATING: 5+++++ Hearts!! :D <3 <3 <3
“Sometimes I just forget how to breathe.”
The Sea of Tranquility is one of those reads that stays with you long after the last page is flipped. It’s beautifully flawless, defining and then redefining relationships and friendships, and leaving us with a smile on our faces despite its seriousness. It’s a story of love, healing, forgiveness, family, and second chances as detailed through two stunningly complex, broken main characters. Josh and Nastya mi ...more
They say there's a place you go when you die
Perhaps it's full of life, laughter, and loved ones
Perhaps there's no light, no laughter; only darkness
Perhaps it's a place you've never seen before
Or perhaps it's a place familiar to you...
You can't know unless you've survived death
Survived and come back;
But what if...what if upon returning to life
All you've discovered is that you're still dead?
Walking around aimlessly with no purpose
Walking around and simply just existing
What if existing is all you h ...more
Perhaps it's full of life, laughter, and loved ones
Perhaps there's no light, no laughter; only darkness
Perhaps it's a place you've never seen before
Or perhaps it's a place familiar to you...
You can't know unless you've survived death
Survived and come back;
But what if...what if upon returning to life
All you've discovered is that you're still dead?
Walking around aimlessly with no purpose
Walking around and simply just existing
What if existing is all you h ...more
Rating: 4.5 Review:
"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 must 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 and walk."
Former piano prodigy Nastya Kashnikov wants to get through high school without anyone learning the secrets of her past. She a ...more
Former piano prodigy Nastya Kashnikov wants to get through high school without anyone learning the secrets of her past. She a ...more
I'm speechless, this book was FANTASTIC!!
A must read!!! I don't have any words to describe how beautiful it was. I had to keep reminding myself it was YA because it didn't feel like it at all. The entire book was very emotional to me. Loved it!!! ...more
A must read!!! I don't have any words to describe how beautiful it was. I had to keep reminding myself it was YA because it didn't feel like it at all. The entire book was very emotional to me. Loved it!!! ...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What's the Name o...: SOLVED. YA book about girl who is selectively mute, loves to bake, and her nickname is Sunshine. [s] | 5 | 771 | Feb 02, 2022 06:16PM | |
| What's the Name o...: SOLVED. YA Romance? Girl gets assaulted, changes her name and changes school... Spoilers ahead. [s] | 5 | 30 | Dec 26, 2021 12:09PM | |
| YA Buddy Readers'...: The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay - MMC GBR - Starting August 1st 2021 | 36 | 164 | Aug 29, 2021 02:10AM | |
| What was the reason Nastya broke up with Josh after they slept together? | 14 | 535 | Nov 29, 2020 06:09AM | |
| Play Book Tag: [Trim] The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay - 3 stars | 3 | 17 | Feb 04, 2019 01:13PM | |
| Read-along: DT Setembro | Mar da Tranquilidade | 22 | 19 | Nov 07, 2018 03:37AM |
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Katja Millay graduated with a degree in film and television production from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and has worked as a television producer and film studies & screenwriting teacher. Her debut novel The Sea of Tranquility was a recipient of the American Library Association’s Alex Award and was named one of the Best Books of 2013 by the School Library Journal. She currently re
...more
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