This was an incredibly poetic and literary book about depression and the complicated relationships of young people in a small Maine town worried about everything. The worry of climate change and coastal erosion; the worry of a rare plover species selecting their beach for nesting and helping it live but also needing a jetty replaced in the same area; the worry about one twin, Ellis, with a prosthetic leg making it to college on a running scholarship with his best friend Harlow like they’ve been planning; the worry of Ellis’ twin brother Tommy’s depression and Tommy's sick dog who is his heartbeat; the worry of the twisty confusing feelings these three teens have for one another - strong familial love, hatred and fear based on past traumas and self guilt, romantic love that feels forbidden and extra dangerous given everything else, jealousy of one another’s various love for each other ... so many extreme and complicated emotions run like a current through this book, but amidst it all is a steady thrumming hum of calm, like a storm’s eye that feels alluring and sad all at once.

I really enjoyed this read because of all it held, but also the writing was truly gorgeous. Can’t wait to see what else the author creates.

2.5 stars

I will start with the positives. Hartt's concept and the way that she uses prose are both incredibly evocative. It's not the first time I've read a story about teenagers struggling with the confines of living in a small town, but it is one of more delicately rendered versions of that trope.

Unfortunately for me, the beauty of the language couldn't overshadow what I felt were glaring issues. Even though the book's main trio were going through events that should have endeared them to me, the majority of each POV was dedicated to discussing how much they hated the other two characters. I could tell that this was done to demonstrate how complex the relationships between the three characters were, but the presentation of positive feelings to establish the tangled web was so scant in comparison. The characters spent the whole book telling me that I shouldn't like or sympathize with them...so I didn't. Using unlikeable characters is normally not an issue for me, but having unlikeable characters in a story where an extreme amount of emotional investment is being asked just seems contradictory.

I will give it to Hartt: she has a facility with language that I very much admire. Unfortunately, this book just didn't do it for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Roaring Brook Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. The opinions expressed herein are mine alone and may not reflect the views of the author, publisher, or distributor.

Something tells me I should vet what I read a little more closely instead of doing my usual "dive in head first and then recover" move. Because I didn't like this...not even a little.

Likeable characters aren't a necessity for me when I read a book. But sometimes you get characters the author presents as wanting you to like them, and they're just awful people. Everyone's down for drama in a book, but like...when you have brothers like Ellis and Tommy, and then someone like Harlow, the active venom gets tiring. The lack of character growth and change is really what sinks the boat here.

Last year I read a book where only one character was remotely likeable, and all the other people around her just constantly insulted her, told her to "get over" the massacre of her people and destruction of her culture, and that really made her my favorite. Because she didn't deserve any of the vitriol and she just took it. I wanted to give her a hug.

In THE SEA IS SALT AND SO AM I, Tommy is that character. And Harlow and Ellis' constant haranguing rightfully drive him into a depressive state. It's no wonder he hates both of them.

Characters like this make it hard to absorb anything else in detail, and all I can think is how much I disliked Harlow and Ellis. Sorry, folks. This one's not a winner.

Wow. What a book. I loved it up until the last 5-10%. I definitely understand WHY the author ended the book the way they did, but I don’t agree with it — especially for a teen and young adult audience, it feels like it unraveled the entirety of the story in one epilogue-esque chapter.

Will post an updated review with a link if I decide to review the book on my blog. Thank you to the publisher for granting my wish on this title!

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.

Overall, I felt kinda meh about this book. Not necessarily bad, but not particularly memorable either. Giving it 2.5/5 Stars.

“Some things have stories behind them and some things don’t.”

I tend to fall in love with books with lyrical writing styles, and The Sea Is Salt and So Am I didn’t disappoint in this regard. The setting of West Finch, a tiny town in Maine that is literally at risk of collapsing due to climate change, gifts the whole novel a semi-magical edge, which balances nicely with harsher realities of car accidents, financial troubles, and SATs (every high school student’s worst enemy). Although the narration style barely changed between the three POVs, it was enjoyable to explore, and I particularly loved how Hartt employed sentence fragments in unconventional ways.

But this mysteriousness also frustrated me at times. For example, details about the characters’ pasts were gradually revealed, but I wish these reveals had employed more “telling” and less “showing” as I often had to reread scenes to decipher the subtleties. I also had a difficult time getting invested in the main characters, especially Harlow, who was often cruel to Ellis, her supposed best friend, and Tommy, Ellis’s brother. Honestly, I didn’t like the relationship between Harlow and Tommy at the beginning or the end of the novel, despite the major shift that occurred by the latter. Also, I still don’t fully understand what happened between Harlow, Tommy, and Ruby, Tommy’s former artistic friend who drifted apart but still cares deeply about him. The reason for their separation was one of the big reveals at the end of the novel, but it fell flat to me, and it disparaged Harlow more.

“I tell her things I don’t believe. The world isn’t ending. Things don’t always get worse.”

That said, I could still sympathize with each character. Harlow and Ellis were both invested in “The Plan”—a fantasy entailing both of them acing the SATs and Ellis getting an athletic scholarship so that they can attend the same college—to the point of unhealthiness, and Tommy was often excluded from their aspirations. The characters were self-centered, but so many teenagers are, and I appreciated how the characters called one another out for their selfishness and irresponsibleness. The three of them were well-developed—even if unlikeable—and that’s a sign of skillful writing.

The Sea Is Salt and So Am I is the pretty, vulnerable kind of book that confuses you but moves you at the same time. Despite an unsatisfying conclusion, the characters are complex enough to revisit just to parse their actions and motivations, and West Finch is the perfect place for such quiet destruction to ensue.

Disclaimer: The quotes in this review are from an uncorrected proof and are subject to change.

dnf at 15%
I was really hoping to love this book but sadly, I'm not connected to the characters and have very low intrigue.

I'm really sorry to say this, but the content in this book referring to suicide was just too triggering for me to read. From what I read before putting it down, the writing was beautiful and the character work was just exquisite. I can't say I recommend this book or not to all my followers because I didn't read enough to determine my thoughts, but from what I read this book seems to be of high quality. Rating this 5 stars because I don't want to mess up the average rating and ratings are required for review submissions on netgalley. Thank you for the ARC :)

Content warnings: depression, suicidal ideation, and attempted suicide.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I tend to gravitate towards character driven books, and this one is definitely one of those! The characters were real, flawed, and relatable. The depiction of mental illness was tough to read, but well done and necessary. I really enjoyed the writing style and it was always engaging. My only real issue was the pacing. It was not consistent to me, and lulled at some points and felt rushed at others.

I do recommend this book, but just be careful of the content warnings.

I went into this book very cautiously due to the authors trigger warning about the suicidal content.
While I love the writing, suicide is a large trigger for me and I’m choosing to DNF this book because of it.

Unfortunately this book was just not for me. I was not interested in the characters and how toxic they were to each other.

The writing in this novel is absolutely gorgeous-feverish and evocative, strange and compelling. And I was drawn in by the premise (I love a Maine setting, and ecological collapse is certainly a timely topic) and was amply forewarned about the focus on depression and suicidal ideation/suicide attempts (kudos to the author for the full-page content warning at the outset). What I wasn't prepared for, and what in the end kept me from enjoying this book, was the levels of unlikeability these characters would achieve (particularly Harlow). I don't mind an unlikeable character, but Harlow was so self-absorbed and lacking in sympathy that I couldn't really deal. I understand that she has massive codependency and anxiety issues, and I appreciate that they were woven into the narrative in fairly nuanced ways, but I could not stand this character, nor could I really stand her friend Ellis. Tommy and his dog Goose were fairly sympathetic, though Goose's cancer diagnosis and treatment make that element fraught for different reasons. In the end, this book took me forever to get through, and I hated being in the company of these characters and their toxic relationships. I loved the world, and I loved the writing, but I just couldn't deal.

CW: depression, suicidal ideation, attempted suicide, previous alcoholism and infidelity, death of loved one, car accident, cancer and chemotherapy (pet dog related), underage drinking

I'm not quite sure how to rate/review this book. It may definitely be a case of it's me not you. Cassandra Hartt's writing was really beautiful and thoughtful and kept me reading into the wee hours of the night, but it was also too convoluted at times with many things implied or hinted at but never fully stated. Perhaps that was the point though?

The Sea is Salt and So Am I is a character driven novel and is told from the POV of the three teen main characters - Harlow and identical twins, Ellis and Tommy. All the characters are flawed from the adults to the teens that the story focuses on, and though I didn't particularly like any of them, I felt that the relationships depicted were very accurate and honest. The complex relationships between childhood friends, parent and child, siblings, found families, classmates, and town residents. Ellis and Tommy's estranged relationship as well as Tommy and Cliff's was especially moving and thoughtful. The discussion and depiction of depression and mental illness was frank and raw and I thought the author did an amazing job. Although I am not sure of the accuracy, the cycle of progression and regression was presented in such a unique and emotional way.

I enjoyed the writing overall, but the pacing of the book stalled at times and made it feel overly long. There just wasn't a lot of action for the majority of the book. The overall tone was very somber and I'm still not sure how I feel about the book. I didn't love it, but I also didn't hate it. Many plot points were left unaddressed, but that was likely the point (especially given the way the book concluded). I think perhaps I just didn't fully understand this one.

*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*

Cassandra Hartt’s The Sea is Salt and So am I is a beautiful novel filled with poetic words and powerful imagery. In a symbolic nature, the story navigates both personal changes affecting the main point of view characters and the environmental change affecting their home. Overall, the book is a thoughtful and fantastic debut for Hartt.

Readers of The Sea is Salt and So am I follow the stories of three main characters. First, Harlow is a violet-eyed teenager driven to fix things (both people and places). even though her actions are more likely to break them. The twins, Tommy and Ellis are very different. Tommy suffers from depression and suicidal thoughts and is an artist who has lost the drive and ability to draw. His brother, Ellis, is best friends with Harlow. Following a childhood accident, Ellis has a prosthetic leg and dates across the gender spectrum. The relationship between Ellis and Tommy is fragmented, and neither of them seems rather interested in fixing it. Their home, the town of West Finch, Maine is on the precipice of falling into the sea. The three teenagers deal with real-world problems (not something out of a fantasy novel) like love and trust between one another, and readers are simply taken along for the ride.

I admit, there were multiple times when I considered not finishing this book. This is not due to the quality of writing, but rather the depth and emotion that Hartt has poured into the book. Depression and suicide are not easy topics to stomach. There is also a distinct lack of “action” and the pacing is slow at times. However, I pushed through and eventually got to the end. I’m glad I persevered, but this is not the type of book that I would re-read multiple times (specifically due to the subject material).

CONTENT WARNING: Readers should be warned that the book features depictions of suicide and depression. They should also know that the depictions are handled with sensitivity and care.

#NetGalley #TheSeaIsSaltandSoAmI
I thank NetGalley for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review :)
All I have to say is this....everyone pick this book up when releases. it was quite good

I really struggled to finish this book. It’s one of those ones where issues seems less resolved by the end, but the book is without a doubt finished. However, without a doubt my favorite part was the setting. The idea of an sea town being washed away carries a very powerful tone that is felt throughout the book.

West Finch is clinging to the sea coast, erosion eating away at it each year. Twins Tommy and Ellis no longer have a close relationship. Ellis and Harlow are inseparable best friends. Following one big storm, the three will find themselves competing, testing and bonding in ways unexpected and surprising.

This beautiful book belongs in every school library. It's a richly complex conversation about growing up, figuring out who you are through the disasters you survive and deciding what to do in their wake. Life is messy, complicated, and full of muddy choices and worse hurdles. How Tommy, Ellis and Harlow navigate; who they choose to rely upon and ultimately see their way clear of the debris of those disasters is how they grow. I love that the three main characters in this book are complex, flawed and by turns frustrating and likeable. All three earnest, authentic and vulnerable. So much of this reads of beautiful desperation. Seizing the moment even though they know it's fleeting. This book will resonate for readers who’ve felt overwhelmed and vulnerable beyond measure in the face of everything life throws because sometimes we thrash hoping for the best while bracing for the worst.

“Where you can touch stones carved thousands of years ago and see that most things can be saved, if not always in the ways you expect.”

Reader warnings: clinical depression, suicide

Content Warnings at end of Review.

Thank you to Netgalley and Fierce Reads for the arc of this book.

Sometimes you read a book and you just know it is going to haunt you. You'll be in the grocery store 15 years from now and remember exactly how it felt to read it. You'll wake up in a cold sweat at 2 am with lingering images from a scene in the book that somehow made it into your dreams even though you weren't thinking about it before you went to sleep. That's what this book was for me.

West Finch, Maine has been slowly sinking into the ocean. With rising tide levels and crumbling sea walls, any big storm could mean the end of another business. Harlowe is determined to stop it and save her town, and her best friend, Ellis will help her because saying no to each other would feel like cutting off their own limb. But when Ellis' twin brother, Tommy, swims into a stormy sea without the intention to return, things begin changing for the three teenagers in ways they never thought possible.

I am absolutely obliterated by the writing in this book. It destroyed me. I shouldn't be surprised that the title comes from a poem because everything about this book is pure poetry. It's gripping, haunting, painful and tense and real and I will absolutely never forget it. It left a mark on me.

There is something magnifying about the relationships between Harlowe and Ellis and Tommy in this book. They are in no ways healthy relationships, but they are certainly unforgettable. And gut-wrenching.

The ending of this book killed me. It's completely ambiguous and I will probably never stop thinking about it.

Pub Date: June 8, 2021

Content Warnings:
Graphic: Car accident, Death, Grief, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Vomit, Self harm, Cancer, and Medical content

*TRIGGER WARNING: Book contains instances of suicidal ideation and attempted suicide, as well as detailed depictions of depression*

In the small town of West Finch, Maine, three people’s lives are intertwined. Sixteen-year old Harlow Prout is an activist who has a complicated relationship with her best friend Ellis and his twin brother Tommy. Ellis, having suffered a childhood injury that has left him with a severe injury, constantly runs away from his problems and has a broken relationship with his twin brother. Tommy, is clinically depressed, and in the wake of the town’s latest devastating storm, attempts to commit suicide but is saved at the last minute. Harlow and Ellis have always been best friends and have an extremely codependent relationship (to the point where it is unhealthy) and Harlow and Tommy have always disliked each other....until now. Harlow and Tommy begin to start a relationship and with this, Harlow and Ellis begin to separate, on top of that all three harbor secrets that threaten to destroy all their relationships.

If I’m being real honest here, Harlow and Ellis were not great people and were extremely unlikeable. The only characters I actually liked and connected with were Tommy and his dog. Harlow is obsessed with “the plan”, her perfect plan for her future with Ellis and constantly fixing things, fixing people, and least we forget she constantly bullies Tommy and when the secret of what she does to him comes out I wasn’t even surprised. Ellis on the other hand is also not a great character, he is the type of person who must have it be about them and no one else. He can’t stand to see Harlow focus on anyone but him and he has to have the separation of Harlow and Tommy, and then when Harlow and Tommy start dating he does everything to separate and destroy that relationship. And onto Tommy, he is someone who is still trying to deal with his mental illness and trying to find some semblance of what to do next. All three of them just do not work together, I so badly wanted Tommy to cut them out of his life.

Onto the ending of the book.... I hated it. I just... I was left with the feeling of “what did I just read? thats it? Is that how this ends??”

*Thanks Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*