This story was sad, heartbreaking, and yet, in the end, so full of hope. My thoughts are, to be honest, quite jumbled over this book. There was so much angst and sadness and desolation for these two seemingly hopeless characters, but I still held on to the hope that there would be some sort of happy end for them. Breaking Nova could be categorized as a romance, I suppose, but for me, it was less of a romance and more of a story of two people coming together at the very lowest points of their lives. And they connect with one another in a powerful way, one they’ve never had with anyone else. They may or may not end up together at the end of this series, but I’d be perfectly happy with either way, as long as Nova and Quinton each find a way to have a happy future. (The romantic in me wishes they’ll have a HEA though!)

Sadness. Angst. Depression. Anguish. Pain. These are only a few of the things that Nova and Quinton are going through from the beginning of the book. My heart broke so much for them both. I can’t even imagine the heartache and grief each of them go through in their situations. Already from the get-go, the story goes straight downhill. It went so downhill, in fact, that I became very worried about whether it was possible for either Nova or Quinton to get back up. For both of them, death is sadly a huge part of their lives. From the beginning of the book, they lose people they love in horrifying ways, and those losses shape their very souls: who they are, what they are, how they act, etc. Unfortunately, both turn to drugs to get away from the pain. It was difficult for me to read, since I’m not a fan of reading about drug abuse, but while I didn’t like it, I could understand how they wanted a way to forget the pain and the memories that continue to haunt them.

I honestly loved the writing. The words are almost lyrical in a way, flowing so smoothly. Sometimes, I’d come across a sentence or paragraph that would stick out to me, and it would make me think about myself and about others, and that’s such a powerful thing for books to do. Make you re-evaulate yourself and others, re-evaluate life. I applaud Jessica Sorensen for writing a book that had so much raw, gritty emotion and made me feel so much. Just thinking about the book again makes my heart hurt a little.

I am SO glad for the last 20-25% of the book, because honestly, if I had to read an ENTIRE book that only had pain and suffering, I would not enjoy it at all. So thank goodness for the last part. Because as devastating and heartbreaking the rest of the book was, there was still hope. Breaking Nova is not a happy book, but the end left me feeling like Nova and Quinton might possibly have a better future for themselves. Maybe not right then, but like they’d eventually find a way to pull themselves out of that deep, dark place they are in. Quinton, who has so much more shame and guilt, would have a harder time with this, but I have no doubt that he’ll find a way, or else Nova will for him, to heal.

And I love that the story played out almost like a movie. All of Jessica Sorensen’s books that I’ve read have an almost cinematic quality to them, at least more than the usual imagining the story inside your head thing. Her books would make perfect movies.

I really, really enjoyed Breaking Nova. It was moving and powerful and bittersweet. I didn’t love it, but I’d definitely recommend it to those who like angst to the max in their books. SO looking forward to the sequel. (Fingers crossed for a happier book!)

4 hearts for this difficult, heartbreaking, captivating read.

Reading Order: Nova series

#1 ~ Breaking Nova: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#2 ~ Saving Quinton: Ebook • Goodreads
#3 ~ Nova and Quinton: No Regrets: Ebook • Goodreads
#4 ~ Wreck Me: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#5 ~ Ruin Me: Ebook (Jan. 19, 2015)
#2.5 & #3.5 ~ Taking Chances: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads