I live in a world without magic or miracles. A place where there are no clairvoyants or shapeshifters, no angels or superhuman boys to save you. A place where people die and music disintegrates and things suck. I am pressed so hard against the earth by the weight of reality that some days I wonder how I am still able to lift my feet to walk.
Former piano prodigy Nastya Kashnikov wants two things: to get through high school without anyone learning about her past and to make the boy who took everything from her—her identity, her spirit, her will to live—pay.
Josh Bennett’s story is no secret: every person he loves has been taken from his life until, at seventeen years old, there is no one left. Now all he wants is be left alone and people allow it because when your name is synonymous with death, everyone tends to give you your space.
Everyone except Nastya, the mysterious new girl at school who starts showing up and won’t go away until she’s insinuated herself into every aspect of his life. But the more he gets to know her, the more of an enigma she becomes. As their relationship intensifies and the unanswered questions begin to pile up, he starts to wonder if he will ever learn the secrets she’s been hiding—or if he even wants to.
Published: November 2012
Author: Katja Millay
Pages: 448
My Rating: 4/5
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
I have been reading about damaged and broken teenagers with life threatening diseases this year and every time I start by expecting just a light hearted everyday story. But that does not happen. Not that I am complaining.
First of all, I loved this book because of all the sarcasm in it. That edgy sarcastic, fun teenager vibe which I really liked. It made me miss my friends so much more because the one thing I love about them is awesome come backs and all those inside jokes. And I am already missing the fact that that will be hard to accomplish now.
Millay started the story with Nastiya (which I kept pronouncing N-aas-tiya reminding me of 'nasty') starting her life all over again. Instead of hiding herself in oversized sweats and geeky glasses, she does the opposite which I found a little different. And for the first time I read about a popular high school boy having real life issues in his own image instead of just being perfect. So I have to say that the characters were pretty perfect.
I really liked how the story was not just about two teenagers but in fact three of them. I loved all the Sunday dinners at Drew's house, Nastiya's baking, Josh's wood work and Drew's debating. The concept of hobbies is dying these days making people think that watching movies and listening to songs is a hobby which it really is not. So I loved that some real hobbies were incorporated in this book.
Although I did get a little sick of all the high school drama going on in the middle of the book. But the ending did not disappoint me at all. Especially the answer to Josh's question. It was a great book.
...SAP...
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