Review: Well done Jessica Sorensen for writing another gut wrenching installment in the lives of Nova and Quinton
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 02 4, 2014
Since the moment I finished Breaking Nova I couldn't wait to get my hands on book #2. As soon as the ARC came across my kindle I immediately dove in. I needed to know what happened to Nova and Quinton. Was she able to stay clean and start living, does she ever forget about Quinton and the summer that changed her life? Is Quinton still struggling with the guilt of his car accident, is he still using, does he forget about Nova? Will these two ever get past their demons and have a chance at true happiness not only as individuals but will they give in to the chemistry and draw towards one another and become the great couple we so desperately want them to be?I'm going to start by saying this book is not an easy read and if you thought Breaking Nova was dark it has nothing on this sequel. It's been almost a year since Nova chose to turn away from drugs, move forward from Landon's suicide and take back control of her life. After confessing to her mother and getting the help she so desperately needed she went back to college a stronger person. While at school Nova connected with Lea, who is not only her best friend and roommate but someone who looks out for her, making sure she doesn't get in too deep and relapse. She volunteers at a suicide hotline and finds comfort in being able to help others because while she may be better emotionally she is still haunted by the fact she wasn't able to help Landon. She has also found a passion in making videos and entries from herself have become therapeutic. However, while she has so many good things going for her now she still cannot get Quinton Carter out of her mind. He saved her, made her feel alive and she wants to return the favor.If we thought Quinton was struggling in book #1 we were mistaken because it was only the tip of the iceberg. A year later and things have gone from bad to worse. Now living in Las Vegas he's dealing and using harder drugs and lots of nameless women to drown out the memories always haunting him. While he knows eventually this lifestyle will be the death of him, he gladly welcomes it and even wishes for it. But the good guy, the one from before the accident, he's still buried deep within and we see glimpses of him as he tries to get his cousin Tristan to clean up his life. Quinton feels responsible for Tristan and is always looking out for him, trying to keep him safe. And even though his life is in a constant drug induced high he cannot get Nova Reed off of his mind. So what happens when she shows up on his doorstep mere minutes from almost being beaten to death?I really feel Nova grew so much between the first book and this one. I liked seeing her as a strong, confident young woman. I respected her drive to help Quinton and even more so when she walked away, albeit forced strongly, because she was in too deep. This wasn't an easy journey for Nova and it isn't going to be an easy one to read, but I honestly think that's the point.Saving Quniton really drives home the point that drugs are evil and when they get a hold of another person absolutely nothing or no one is going to be able to force an individual to give them up, that's got to come from the user. They have to want to be saved and Quinton, who wishes he had died with Ryder and Lexi, doesn't want to be saved. He feels responsible for ruining so many lives and thinks his punishment should also be death. He also doesn't think he deserves having people who love him, which includes Nova, even though she has the power to make him feel things the drugs never will. Nova is really the only person he truly wants in his life, but who he will force out because he doesn't want to disrespect Lexi and because he thinks she deserves more than he will ever be able to give.I'm going to say it again, the Nova series is definitely not a love story. Yes, it's obvious these two have chemistry and would make an incredible couple, but it's not that easy or simple. This series is about struggling, dealing with guilt, finding redemption, choosing to survive, choosing to live life and through all this you'll find yourself hoping they will both eventually make the decision to leave the darkness behind, live life in the light and eventually find even more happiness in one another!Well done Jessica Sorensen for writing another gut wrenching installment in the lives of Nova and Quinton! Honestly, Jessica has written this story in a way that you cannot help but feel each of the characters struggles and emotional turmoil. This story is at times frustrating and depressing, but every now and then we get a glimpse into what these two could be like if they could ever break the chains holding them back. I'm glad I stumbled upon this series and while this wasn't a typical feel-good book and the ending definitely leaves things unsettled I'm looking forward to book #3.