Just Beautiful.

filled star filled star filled star filled star star unfilled
jklmnatom Avatar

By

The Sea is Salt and So Am I is a multi-perspective story that follows Harlow, Ellis, and Tommy in their junior of high school. Set in a small seaside town, this book is about romance, friendship, climate change, activism, mental illness, and forgiveness.

The Sea is Salt and So Am I is a beautifully written novel with dynamic, morally grey characters that you can't help but want more of. They are faced with so many struggles and make countless mistakes, but they always seem to find a way back to each other. They are flawed, and they accept each other as such, which I found really refreshing.

This book was a real page turner for me. I wanted to see the secrets come out and learn if there truly would be something too horrible for these friendships to overcome. I really enjoyed that this novel didn't shy away from the pain of depression, the complexity of young people, and swearing. I usually struggle to get through YA that features such young protagonists, but I loved these characters, and I loved that they had as many redeemable qualities as insurmountable flaws.

The writing is gorgeous, and the novel really captures the artistic aesthetic that 2 of the protagonists share. The only thing I'd change is the vagueness of the ending. It closes on a perfect note, but I wish it would more plainly spell out where things are left. I would highly recommend this read to people of all ages looking for a serious novel about young people suffering, growing, and overcoming. I can't wait to read more from this author. I'm so glad I had the opportunity to read this book and play a role in spreading the word about how great it is.