I had a feeling I was going to love "The Sea is Salt and So Am I," but I had no idea just how much. This is a book after my own heart.
The main characters are Harlow, her best friend Ellis, and his identical twin Tommy. I love the complicated mess that is the relationship between these three, and Hartt really nails the way they interact with one another. Harlow and Ellis feel like people who've been ride or die best friends since childhood, Harlow and Tommy feel like two people who've misunderstood and hated each other for just as long, and Ellis and Tommy feel like brothers who've grown apart. Harlow and Ellis aren't always nice and don't always make great decisions, but they're not irredeemable, and anyway they wouldn't be as interesting to read about otherwise.
One of my favorite parts of the book is the evolution of Harlow and Tommy's relationship; they're not great for each other at the start, but I love what they become. And I love Harlow and Ellis as friends! Which is why--well, I'll just say that this is the sort of narrative that uses a lot of subtext and lets you draw your own conclusions about certain things. There is one thing in particular I wish wasn't left up to interpretation, but if I'd gotten what I wanted I might not still be thinking about this book days after finishing it.
The writing is descriptive and beautiful and often emotionally gutting. The way Hartt captures depression in particular hurt to read at points because it felt so authentic.
I adore this book! I know it won't be for everyone, but if you appreciate complex, "unlikeable" characters, and some things left up to interpretation, you might love this book too.
The main characters are Harlow, her best friend Ellis, and his identical twin Tommy. I love the complicated mess that is the relationship between these three, and Hartt really nails the way they interact with one another. Harlow and Ellis feel like people who've been ride or die best friends since childhood, Harlow and Tommy feel like two people who've misunderstood and hated each other for just as long, and Ellis and Tommy feel like brothers who've grown apart. Harlow and Ellis aren't always nice and don't always make great decisions, but they're not irredeemable, and anyway they wouldn't be as interesting to read about otherwise.
One of my favorite parts of the book is the evolution of Harlow and Tommy's relationship; they're not great for each other at the start, but I love what they become. And I love Harlow and Ellis as friends! Which is why--well, I'll just say that this is the sort of narrative that uses a lot of subtext and lets you draw your own conclusions about certain things. There is one thing in particular I wish wasn't left up to interpretation, but if I'd gotten what I wanted I might not still be thinking about this book days after finishing it.
The writing is descriptive and beautiful and often emotionally gutting. The way Hartt captures depression in particular hurt to read at points because it felt so authentic.
I adore this book! I know it won't be for everyone, but if you appreciate complex, "unlikeable" characters, and some things left up to interpretation, you might love this book too.