This is a coming of age story about three high schoolers. The audio is told from three point of views, a female who is crushing on a male teen (who is bisexual, but leaning towards gay) who also has a twin brother. Relationships get complicated (to say the least). And in the midst of the drama the setting is Maine when the plovers are nesting and a hurricane is approaching.

The audio was well done. Narrated by Lori Gardner, Nick Mills and Tom Picasso.

Throughout this book, I kept wondering where the parents were.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author Cassandra Hartt and the publisher for the opportunity to review this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of the audiobook for of The Sea is Salt and So Am I.

I think this is officially the first book I'm DNFing since I started reviewing books. It's not because it's awful (honestly I think it's very 'meh' right now) but I've been slugging through this audiobook for over a month now and just need to move on.

I listened to the audiobook of 'The Sea is Salt and So Am I' by Cassandra Hartt and right from the start I must say just how beautifully this book was narrated. I'm new to audiobooks and this one was amazing to listen to. The story follows the heartbreaking journey of 16 year old Harlow, who lives in West Finch, Maine. The book tackles so many important issues that I was amazed in the beginning. I should give you early trigger warnings for suicide, depression, death etc. as they form the central theme of the storyline. 'The Sea is Salt and So Am I' is told through multiple point of views and that added volumes to the narration.

Harlow lives in a small town whose existence is being threatened by the effects of climate change, in a few years the town will be engulfed by the endless sea. I think this is the only book I've read till now that focus so strongly on climate change and it was quite enlightening to read. I liked how Harlow tries in his own way to save his hometown and his friendship with Tommy and Ellis. But I certainly wasn't ready for the step Tommy took in the book. This story was whimsical, dark and chaotic and I know there will be conflicting views about this story.

This was sold to me as I'll Give You the Sun meets Normal People, both amazing books. Basically the marketing set a high bar that this book didn't quite reach.

The novel takes up a lot of different points like climate change and how it directly affects people as their homes get slowly claimed by water, depression and suicide, estranged twins, complicated relationships somewhere in-between of love and hate, anxiety facing the end of high school years and the beginning of something unknown, and more. But none of these directions were fully utilized.

I was really enjoying the atmosphere of the story and the themes explored up until about the halfway point when I started getting worried about the direction it was taking. My main issues were the characters and the ending. From the very beginning two out of three main characters were intentionally unlikable and I was intrigued to see how they and their relationship dynamics would develop. And I don't consider it a spoiler, more like a warning, to say that no development or resolution happened.

In conclusion, there were lots of interesting ideas and topics that didn't really get developed beyond surface level. And Tommy deserved better.

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* very different book for sure, not sure how much i liked it so i do plan on rereading this someday but i liked the things it talked about!

DNF

Unfortunately, I really couldn't get into this one no matter how hard I tried. I didn't like the dialogue (it was always really awkward) and the writing felt quite clunky. Also, I'm not sure if it's just because I was listening to an eARC or not, but the audio quality was quite poor. Kind of like the narrators were speaking with a robot filter.

I received a reviewer audio review copy of The Sea is Salt and So Am I by Cassandra Hartt from the publisher RB Media from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

CW: Suicide Ideation, Suicide Attempt, Car Accident, Manipulation, Climate Change, Loss of Parent Figure, Divorce, Ableism, Depression, Sick Dog

What It’s About: This book is pitched as I’ll Show You the Sun fans, which I’ve never read but truly want to read, so I knew I had to jump on this one. I’m assuming that pitch isn’t the best cause this book was not for me. Anyway, the book follows three teens, Elias and his twin brother Tommy, as well as Harlow, living in a town on the Maine coast that is threatened by every storm and climate change is coming for it.

What I Love: I loved the relationship between Tommy and his dog and how connected they were. I loved that storyline and that thread. I also liked how the writer tried to account for climate change. I’m also obsessed with Maine.

I’m gonna be really honest, I did not like this book at all. I’m not necessarily saying this is a poorly written book, because it wasn’t. I am starting to think that unlikable characters is something I can’t deal with, because man I couldn’t stand Harlow and Elias. Harlow and Elias are best friends who have a really codependent relationship and can’t deal with distance or other interactions.

The book follows the after effects of a storm. Tommy, Elias’s twin, who has never fit in has just been released from the hospital after a suicide attempt. Harlow doesn’t care about Tommy’s attempt, only it’s effect on Ellis. Meanwhile, Harlow is trying hard to save the shore.

Ultimately, there were some interesting strings and stakes in the book but I felt they didn’t connect clearly or play out, I’m not sure if that’s inherent in the story or in the fact that two of the characters are truly unlikable. I felt like there were so many threads I wanted to see play out, but instead saw a love-friend triangle. Yet, on the climate related threads and father figure connections failed to play out.

Who Should Read This: People who like unlikable teenage protagonists facing real issues.

Quick Summary: Three teenagers face storms in their small town coastal Maine life, both emotional and physical.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this a lot! I will be back soon with a full review!

I listened to this book as an audio ARC and was utterly charmed by it. I was aware of the sensitive subject matter going in, and I had my guard up a bit because of this, but it didn’t take long to see the author was doing justice to the mental health issues under consideration here (namely depression and suicidal ideation). Not only did it seem well-researched and realistic, but the story and characters were unique and engaging, lending nuance and specificity to the portrayal of mental illness. The story is told from three alternating POVs, which allows for the perspective of the teenager with depression to constantly be re-centered in the narrative. The setting of small town Maine and the immediate impact of the climate crisis on this place, the various sub-plots related to this, and the storms punctuating the story were incorporated really nicely with the interpersonal drama of the three main characters. Plus I have to say, I found the romance really sweet (love the “forbidden love” trope, personally, haha) - I thought it worked well and reinforced the other journeys of personal growth happening in the story. Audio narration was perfect! I’d recommend this one to adult and YA readers alike.

This was a very sad and depressing read! It is a really hard book to review because of the content of this book. As someone who has been in similar situations as the protagonist, it felt a really good representation.

Trigger Warnings: Bullying, Suicidal Ideation, Suicide Attempt, Clinical Depression

Okay. I really really wanted to enjoy this one - I know a favourite bookstagrammer of mine absolutely adored it, but it was a chore for me to get through the audiobook.

The only character in this book that I actually had any empathy for was Tommy - he was bullied, he suffered from clinical depression and he was taken for granted and his emotions made fun of throughout the book by none other his own twin brother, Ellis and his best friend Harlow.

On top of which, this was a love triangle, when it honestly shouldn’t have been. Harlow and Ellis deserves each other, they were horrid rotten human beings and they had no character depth beyond being mean and selfish.

Harlow, the girl in the middle of this triangle - has feelings for Ellis, is horrible and mean to Tommy; and most of all even admits that her comments may have been a catalyst to Tommy’s suicide attempt, kisses him in pity and still continues a “down on the low” make out sessions with him.

Nope. Just nope. Nopity nope. At. All.

not an easy feat giving a book a 1 star rating, let alone reviewing it—but sadly this one in particular was just irredeemable for me.

the sea is salt and so am i had a promising premise, and the first chunk of the book showed great potential too. small seaside town teetering on the edge of natural dangers? following 3 teens as their lives tangle and untangle only to tangle again? real and raw depictions of depression and mental illness? i was all in for it, and the writing was good, the setting and atmosphere were there, the characterizations were vivid and real—and i really could see myself loving this book.

unfortunately, that was not the case. there came a point where it was just a frustrating experience of seeing the characters “develop” (but that’s really not the word to use, in fact the opposite.) abruptly. two of the three main povs we’re following were unlikable (as intentional by the author) which interested and intrigued me at first, until their arcs fluctuated with actions that were out of character or didn’t really fit the story.

at the start of the book, i was very much enjoying diving deep into tommy’s character and seeing how he deals with his mental illness—although that quickly fell flat later and became very surface-level. on the other hand, following ellis and harlow was a nightmare; the toxicity brewing between them could be spotted a mile away. now, i understand we are following teenagers in this story and the drama and angst is understandable, but i found the overall themes in this book to be hypocritical and paradoxical and did not serve a real purpose.

on top of all that, there was no real resolution by the end. and if there was a part i didn’t like, there was a part i was bored with and found added nothing at all to the story or the crumbling character arcs. it’s very evident how i couldn’t find a single thing to save this book—thinking on it just gives me a sour feeling.

i’m more frustrated than anyone that i disliked this book that much. i do not recommend.

content warnings: car accidents, death of loved ones, depictions of (severe) depression, suicide ideation, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts, etc.

— audiobook provided via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this audio arc. I much prefer audio arcs as I am able to get through them quicker than other books. I didn’t hear about this book at all before receiving this title so the story was not know to me. Going into it I was hesitant about the contemporary themes as I am a more fantasy type reader but I was definitely more at ease when the story got going. We are introduced to three characters that stories are constantly intertwining and numbing at the best and worst times. This book was true to life. It felt very real which I think is a good testament. This book dives deep into mental health in a very positive way and I can’t wait to see how it changes people lives and perspectives. It definitely has changed my perspective.

I decided not to listen to this book because the reviews dropped on Goodreads & I was previewing it for a reading program that requires books to have high Goodreads reviews.

I did not like this book at all, it was not for me, sure it made me sad sometimes but it was not about what was happening, but about things that sounded similar, but overall I was bored and wanted to sleep, I wanted to like this book so hard.

Remember this is my own opinion, and anyone can think differently.

This wasn’t a bad but it didn’t caught me.
The fact that talked about climate change and that was very interesting, we sure need more books with those themes.

Format: audiobook
Author: Cassandra Hartt ~ Title: The Sea is Salt and So Am I ~ Narrators: Lori Gardner, Nick Mills, Tom Picasso
Content: 4 stars ~ Narration: 4 stars
TW: suicidal tendencies, depression, mental illness, death, ...

This novel was a difficult read. Mainly because of depression, suicidal tendencies, and because the characters are quite unlikeable. The Sea is Salt And So Am I is a story of three young adults, told from multiple POVs. Tommy and Ellis are estranged twins. Harlow is Ellis's best friend but doesn't get along with Tommy.

The narration was good. There are three different narrators, one for each main character. At first, I disliked the one that narrated Harlow, but I got used to it because her style was perfect for Harlow. That's Harlow - you just hate her.

If you struggle with depression or have suicidal tendencies, this novel might be overwhelming, and I would not recommend it. Otherwise, in my opinion, this is a very good character-driven YA novel. It's hard to like a book with unlikeable main characters, I know. But sometimes, maybe also the most annoying girl in town has a story worth reading.

Thanks to the publisher Recorded Books for the ARC and the opportunity to listen to this! All opinions are my own.

I really liked Tommy's character, the way Elis' bisexuality was such a small deal, and the side plot of climate change, however this read was so slow in my opinion. A lot happened without anything happening and Harlow's character may be well written but that does not take away from the fact that she does and says many unforgivable things. I couldn't stand Harlow- and that added to the slow writing really killed this book for me; I was not interested in the romance and everything felt very dragged out.

2.5

I loved the idea of this book - a sleepy town struggling to survive amidst erosion and storms coupled with alllll the teenage angst. But I felt like it was too much angst and not enough actual drama. I wish we could've delved more into Tommy's depression rather than spending so much time on a love triangle... There's no real resolution to any of their problems and it's just so frustrating! But the audiobook was really nice for helping to get into Tommy, Ellis, and Harlow's heads. I quite enjoyed the narration.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Recorded Books for the ALC in exchange for my honest review*

“𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘶𝘯𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯’𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘰 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯’𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯.”

𝘙𝘢𝘸, 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨!

What a breathtaking and emotional story.
This book deals with difficult topics like depression and suicide written in a beautiful way. I loved the characters, I loved the setting, I loved the pace, and did I mention there’s a rescued dog??
An amazing debut from Cassandra Hartt.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 NetGalley , BookishFirst , Macmillan Publishers 𝘢𝘯𝘥 Recorded Books 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺.

Read if you like: coming-of-age, character driven and YA stories.

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