This was a hard one for me to read. I didn’t realize when I started there would be an attempted suicide and such a high amount of depression. Maybe in a different headspace I would’ve enjoyed this book more, but because of these things I couldn’t get past it. It was too difficult to read.

First off I just want to say that I LOVE the cover and the title of this book. Unfortunately the story wasn’t quite what I was expecting. I’m glad the trigger warnings were there, because the subject matter was at times quite confronting, and I’m not sure it was handled well if I’m honest. As someone who has been suicidal, it just didn’t sit well with me. This book was well written though.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley for my honest review.

The premise interested me, and I wanted to read the entire book, but ultimately could not get past the suicidal ideations and acting on them. The synopsis mentions Tommy going out for a swim that he doesn't intend to come back from and that he has an unexpected return. So I assumed that maybe he had decided not to go through with it. Additionally, Ellis attempting suicide was a little bit much for me, and I could not continue with the story.
Great job on writing the novel; the cover is also beautiful.

Thank you for sending me this copy to read. Sorry I could not finish it.

Even though this was just a 6 chapter sample, I was sucked into the story. The emotions that the characters evoked made this a book that I look forward to reading.
I have not reviewed on any sites, because I feel it wouldn’t be right until I read the whole book.

"...Is there a universe where you stay?"

When I first picked up this book I struggled to get into it, and ended up abandoning it entirely, but I'm glad I decided to pick it back up. The book has such a unique writing style - albeit slightly disorienting at times - and complex characters, that I'm sure become more and more complicated as the story evolves. This sampler set the stage for a bittersweet coming of age story, that I just know would simultaneously break and mend my heart, and I would absolutely learn what happens throughout the rest of it. It does feature some heavy topics, and I suggest checking online for trigger warnings if you are planning on reading, but it also seems to be very humorous and relatable. On an even less serious note, I will be very upset if the friends-to-lovers trope doesn't make an appearance.

i really enjoyed the melancholy tone of the book so far and am definitely interested in reading the full length novel!

☆☆☆☆ /5
(I received an excerpt but I recently build the book so here is the review for the whole book)
(english review below)

Une histoire poignante traitant des sujets difficiles mais importants tels que la santé mentale, la dépression, la médicamentation et l’adolescence.
¤
West Finch est à un ouragan de tomber dans la mer.
Pourtant, Harlow Prout, seize ans, est déterminée à sauver sa petite ville natale du Maine. Si seulement elle pouvait arrêter de se mettre sur son chemin et trouver quelqu'un, n'importe qui, prêt à l'aider. Mais sa meilleure amie Ellis MacQueen « résout » les problèmes en les fuyant, y compris sa relation rompue avec son frère jumeau, Tommy. Et la dépression de Tommy a atteint un nouveau creux, il n'est donc pas prêt à réparer quoi que ce soit.
À la suite de la dernière tempête dévastatrice de la ville, Tommy sort nager auquel il n'a pas l'intention de survivre. C'est son retour inattendu qui déclenche un changement radical entre ces trois adolescents. Celui qui teste les anciennes loyautés, suscite une nouvelle romance et découvre des secrets douloureux. Et rien ne reste secret longtemps à West Finch.
¤
J’ai beaucoup apprécié cette triste histoire. Découvrir les vies d’Ellis et de Tommy m’ont fait l’impression que quelqu’un venait me lacérait le cœur. Pour moi, ce roman tourne vraiment autour des difficultés que peuvent vivre des adolescents et qu’on sous-estime trop. Nos protagonistes sont brisés et n’ont pas la sensation d’être soutenus par leur entourage. Ils se cherchent, se remettent en question et culpabilisent beaucoup. L’autrice m’a énormément touché avec les messages qu’elle transmet au lecteur à travers son roman.
Ce roman permet de voir le concept de lâcher-prise, de savoir ce que l’on peut contrôler et ce que l’on ne peut pas contrôler dans la vie et d’accepter que parfois il y a des événements qui doivent arriver pour qu’on puisse évoluer.
Également, à travers les personnages d’Ellis et de Tommy, on finit par comprendre que peu importent nos actions, il y avait des conséquences sur nous, mais aussi sur notre environnement.
Vraiment, cette histoire m’a donné les larmes aux yeux et en même temps, je ressors de cette lecture avec du positivisme. Évidemment que la vie ne sera jamais facile, mais le plus important est de se relever et d’y aller à notre rythme. L’autrice m’a emporté avec son style d’écriture poétique.

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ENGLISH REVIEW:

A poignant story covering difficult but important topics such as mental health, depression, medication and adolescence.
¤
West Finch is one hurricane away from falling into the sea.

Yet sixteen-year-old Harlow Prout is determined to save her small Maine hometown. If only she could stop getting in her own way and find someone, anyone, willing to help. But her best friend Ellis MacQueen “fixes” problems by running away from them―including his broken relationship with his twin brother, Tommy. And Tommy’s depression has hit a new low, so he’s not up for fixing anything.

In the wake of the town’s latest devastating storm, Tommy goes out for a swim that he doesn’t intend to survive. It’s his unexpected return that sets into motion a sea change between these three teens. One that tests old loyalties, sparks new romance, and uncovers painful secrets. And nothing stays secret in West Finch for long.
¤
I really enjoyed this sad story. Seeing the lives of Ellis and Tommy made me feel like someone was coming and tearing my heart apart. For me, this book really revolves around the difficulties that teenagers can go through and that are too inderestimated. Our protagonists are broken and don't have the feeling of being supported by those around them. They seek each other out, question themselves and make them feel very guilty.
The author touched me immensely with the messages she conveys to the reader through her book. Thi book allows us to see the concept of letting go, to know wjat we can control and what we cannot control in life and to accept that sometimes there are events that must happen for us to evolve. Also, through the characters of Ellis and Tommy, we come to understand that no matter what our actions, there vere consequences on us, but also on our environment.
Really this story brought tears to my eyes and at the same time, I come away from this reading with postivism. Obviously, life will never be easy, but the most important thing is to get up and go at our ownpace.
The author blew me away with her poetic writing style.

Harlow is a 16 year old, who is very much determined to save the small town in Maine that she calls home.
Many problems arise, and she goes through the motions alongside her best friend.
.
.
.
I was very excited for this read, and I went into it with high expectations. (Which I try not to do often, so I won't let myself down.) It came off a little melodramatic and usually I can take that in and roll with it...this time, I just couldn't. I appreciate the arc, and I think this will defiantly be a favorite for someone. Sadly, that someone is not me.

I really liked this sample. I'm very intrigued by Harlow and Ellis, and their banter is impeccable. I love the story so far, and I'll definitely be picking up a copy so I can read the full story and review it.

thanks to NetGalley for giving me the advanced copy of the book and to the author...
3.5
There are many things I have to highlight, for example, it is not a novel suitable for depressive people or people with suicidal acts. Since this book has a melancholic and suicidal theme.

After the last devastating storm in town, Tommy goes for a swim with no intention of surviving. His unexpected return sets in motion a radical change among the three teenagers. A change that tests old loyalties, sparks a new romance and uncovers painful secrets. And nothing stays a secret in West Finch for long.

I liked it, but I didn't love it.

WHY DID I LISTEN TO THE SEA IS SALT AND SO AM I BY CASSANDRA HARTT?
The Sea Is Salt And So Am I by Cassandra Hartt had a comparison to I’ll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson. The comp title is one of the best books I’ve read, so of course that made me want to dive right into this. And so, I impulsively grabbed this off Netgalley on the literal last day it was available. Only, it was only available via Adobe. So, I popped onto Libby, saw the audiobook was available immediately and went for it. Good thing too, because the audiobook version is quite decent.

WHAT’S THE STORY HERE?
Cassandra Hartt’s debut features three teen main characters – Harlow Prout and twin brothers Ellis and Tommy MacQueen. Harlow is close friends with Ellis and kind of has this antagonistic relationship with Tommy. The three live in a coastal town called West Finch which is at risk because of hurricanes. One day, Tommy who is depressed takes a swim that he doesn’t expect to return from. Only, he survives, which puts into motion a chain of events and secrets between the three. Also important to the plot are protesters who descend upon West Finch and the piping plover.

WHAT DID I THINK OF THE SEA IS SALT AND SO AM I?
The Sea Is Salt And So Am I is a bit more literary than I had expected. It reminded me a bit of John Corey Whaley’s books which is truly a compliment. Actually I want to go back in and read through the physical copy for stuff that I missed from the audiobook. I have a hold on the physical copy at the library. This book is really character driven. By the end though, I was just so invested in Harlow, Tommy, and Ellis. Tommy was my favorite of the three and I appreciated having a better understanding of him and his issues by the end. I think if you’re reading for plot and action, you won’t love this. BUT if you’re reading for literary merit and characterization, The Sea Is Salt And So Am I will be right up your alley.

HOW’S THE NARRATION?
So, I won’t lie to you all, I listened to this audiobook at 2x speed, which was A CHOICE. But honestly, I’ve been feeling self imposed pressure to get through books quickly and onto the next one. That TBR pressure is so real. I will say that after listening to this book sped up, I decided to listen to my next audiobook at 1.5x speed which was a much better choice.

Anyways, The Sea Is Salt And So Am I has three narrators for each of the characters. The narrators are Lori Gardner, Nick Mills and Tom Picasso. I thought each narrator was superb — even sped up. I don’t think I absorbed all that I could have but that is purely my fault and not the fault of the audiobook. However, I did like it to the point where I do plan to come back to this book and give it a re-read.

I was given an advance copy of The Sea is Salt and So Am I. It was a teaser sampler but the 59 page book had me wanting to read more. It discusses depression, suicidal thoughts and actions. The characters were unique Harlow, Ellis, and Tommy. The relationships between these characters showed signs of erosion like the town where they lived. The description of the setting and the sea paralleled to the description of the characters. This seemed to correlate the tension between the characters and conflict. I wanted to know the backstory and the reason why the relationships were falling apart. I can’t wait to read the whole book.

I received an excerpt of 'The Sea is Salt and So Am I' by the publisher and I would just like to say thank you.

The book *so far* has been easy to follow along and an interesting read. I will update my review once I finish the book.

The book was very hard hitting and thought provoking, and saying anything more would spoil it. Please look into the relevant trigger warnings for the same.

The Sea is Salt and So Am I is a YA hard-hitting contemporary story. The story follows three POVs that each have an interesting perspective. The main event that starts the novel is an attempted, but unsuccessful suicide. This event impacts everyone. Additionally, a storm is coming in and the town of West Finch might just be on the brink of sinking into the sea.

I enjoyed this story's coastal setting. It would make this book a perfect beach read since it makes you feel on the coast. The three POVs make the story interesting and well-paced. Even though I have only read the first 50 pages as part of the sampler, I am intrigued to read more.

Right off the bat, I knew that I would enjoy this book (or at least the few chapters I got a sneak peak of!). I'm in my early twenties now, but I remember feeling the way Harlow, Ellis, and Tommy feel. It's so refreshing to read about mental health in a way that doesn't a. glorify it, or b. completely misrepresent it.

There's such a beautiful mixture of guilt, regret, denial, and responsibility all bundled up in an exquisite prose from Hartt in this book. Each character has their own unique voice that sets them apart from the other two protagonists. The way Hartt wrote each perspective sort of reminds me of Maggie Stiefvater's "The Raven Cycle" series. (AKA, beautiful, expressive, and so, so raw.)

At one point, from Tommy's perspective, Hartt writes, "When I was at my lowest, Goose curled up in bed beside me and it was like, as long as you're breathing, I'm breathing. I need to get out there. Now. She's got half a crayon box in her coat alone and I want to remember colors other than beiges and grays."

I mean.......WOW. Hartt captured mental health issues in such a raw and unwavering way that I am extremely desperate to continue this story (and will most definitely be purchasing it the day it comes out)!

If you like any form of literary fiction, you will probably love this book. It's considered young adult, but I can already tell it will set itself apart from the traditional young adult novels that we've grown used to over the last half-decade.

I have a feeling this book will absolutely destroy me, but I can't NOT finish the story at this point. Destroy away, Cassandra. I'm here for it.

This sneak peak did a lot. It introduced us to Harlow and Ellis and Tommy. It showed us around West Finch. It made us feel for an old dog named Goose. It was a good sneak peak.

However, I’m not super intrigued in anyone’s story except Tommy. Harlow is extremely dislikable and there wasn’t much of Ellis except from Harlow and Tommy’s POVs, and they didn’t leave me wanting more.

The writing is good. I haven’t read too many stories written in present tense, but this one does that well. I really appreciate the different point of views, though I think it would have been better if the chapters were from third person rather than first.

This has big potential to be a great full-length book. I hope Harlow has a good character arc and I hope that the issues this story deals with are done in a tasteful and helpful way.

(Thank you NetGalley for the sample of The Sea is Salt and So Am I in exchange for this review!)

I am really upset I will have to wait a whole week for the publishing day. And then for however long it takes me to get my hands on a copy.

I absolutely loved the characters. In such a short time, I have become attached. Their personalities are complex and as close to reality as they can be. What I liked even more was the writing. It just blew me away. The metaphors. The sentence structures. Just everything. I am a fan of seaside towns and this book had just that. The whole book was on a whole other level from most of the books I have read.

I don't think I will be able to think about anything else until I finish this story.

⚠️[Tw: suicide, depression, self-injurious behavior, animal cruelty, animal death,
Violence, abuse, cancer and chemotherapy(pet dog), death of a loved one]⚠️


- If you are struggling in any way or are having thoughts of hurting yourself please contact your local helpline or talk to a trusted loved one.

Characters & Plot: so far we have met the three main characters Harlow, Ellis, and Tommy. And for some reason Harlow and Ellis hate Tommy. And for some other reason, Tommy hates Harlow but not Ellis. Something big definitely happened and I really want to know what it is because it really messed up their "friendship" if there ever was one. So by what we know so far the plot evolves around Harlow, Ellis, and Tommy. Harlow is trying to save her town that is really changing because of climate change. Ellis is about to run away again which is what he does when problems arrive and now his problems have doubled. Tommy attempt suicide but unexpectedly, jumping off into the Atlantic didn't kill him. Harlow, Ellis, and Tommy's relationship is as horrible as ever. And now they have to live with it. Or die with it?


The environmentalist in me was just screaming at Ellis a rooting for Harlow. The rest of me was angry at everyone. I was angry at Harlow I was angry at Ellis I was angry at Tommy! I was angry at everyone for their own reasons especially Harlow for the fact that she hated Tommy even as he almost died because of that hatred! Why can't they all just be friends in this universe? I am so confused as to why they all hate each other. Why do they all hate Tommy, like can't they just put their hate aside and actually be there for him?
I WANT THE BOOK!!! NOWWWW!


A special thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with the excerpt of this book!

5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What I Love:
-Small town setting
-Multiple POVs (especially written all in the first person!)
-Conversational text reads as legitimate and agr appropriate amongst the main characters

What I Don’t Love
-That this was just a sneak leak and not the full book!

I am so so excited to read the rest of The Sea is Salt and So Am I and even more excited I only have to wait another two weeks until the release!


Kristin 📚