First in the Nova series
1.25 stars DNF
SPOILERS as to why I read 33% and then skipped to the end
Breaking Nova follows the story of Quinton and Nova. Nova and Quinton have been suffered through tragic deaths that have left the broken, reeling, and guilt-ridden. Their first love’s death was the source of their pain and turmoil. Nova deals with wallowing in depression and filming herself in hopes of capturing some essence of life. Quinton deals with shooting and smoking up whatever he can find to numb the pain and memories of the past. I reached the 33% mark when I realized I had enough. After hitting that realization, I skipped to the last chapter and epilogue. Reading the last chapter and epilogue made me happy that I didn’t waste my time on this crap. I felt pretty meh and uninterested in this book, until I realized how much a shitty person Nova’s friend, Delilah is. After that every little thing began to really piss me off and don’t even get me started on how Quinton doesn’t own up to anything in his past and only wallows in pot, beer, and eventually meth. HE BECOMES A DRUG DEALER and I’m supposed to root for Nova and Quinton as a couple? Nope, bye. I have no time for that.
The writing wasn’t horrible. In fact, there were a few quotes I highlighted because I liked, but most of the writing is just wallowing in self-pity. I’ve been depressed and I’ve lost someone who I loved greatly. I was filled with anger and resentment. Then overwhelming sadness and the worst empty hollow feeling. Nova had a good bit of that, but Quinton was too high to be anything but whiny to me.
Whimsical Writing Scale: 2
The characters aren’t horrible, but they aren’t good people. They all suck. The only good person is Nova and she’s supposed to be “too good for this world” to showcase how different she is in comparison to all these wasteoids who just smoke and snort. Delilah is also the worst person in this novel. I don’t care what her past is and what she’s gone through she’s a bitch. Examples:
“Nova, what the hell.” Delilah waves her hand in front of my face and I flinch, breaking the steady pattern of numbers in my head. “You’re totally spacing on me.”
In this scene, Nova is having a panic attack and Delilah is completely offended that someone has emotions and may just need a friend to help calm and diffuse the situation. As someone who has had panic attacks and helped friends through panic attacks this shit pisses me off.
“Look, when I first met you, you were seriously so sad, and I was kind of terrified of you. But then I got to know you, and you know what? My opinion changed.”
Delilah also talks like a stuck-up idiot. Her vocal patterns and diction annoy the shit out of me. “Literally” ten seconds ago, she was complaining about how sad Nova is all the time and now she’s buddy-buddy.
“But it was hard, you know, being your friend…”
FUCK YOU, DELILAH. I hate “friends” that make everything about themselves. Instead of trying to be a better friend and talk to Nova about what she’s dealing with, Delilah makes rude comments about her “bestie” and then diverts the conversation back to herself and the struggle it was to be Nova’s friend. SHUT UP.
While I don’t like Delilah, what pushed me over the edge is when she allowed her boyfriend, Dylan, to verbally abuse her. He grabs her aggressively and forces her legs around him and then makes her go to the bedroom. Delilah looks at Nova pleadingly, but kisses Dylan before they disappear. WHAT THE HELL. Nova doesn’t even say anything to stop it. Delilah doesn't want to be in this situation, but she feels like this is all she has and Nova doesn't help her friend.
In the end, Delilah, Dylan, Quinton, and Triston all become meth heads and drug dealers. Nova comes out on top in college and has to make it her mission to save Quinton.
Character Scale: 1
Nova isn’t a bad character. She is tolerable and a decent heroine for a novel of this content. My problem is that everyone paints her to be “too good”, “above all the bad”, and they all seem to be under the impression that she shits roses. I have no patience for that kind of characterization.
Kick-Butt Heroine Scale: 2
Quinton started out good and then his drug addiction became too much a blasé mention. It was his crutch. I know what drugs can do to people, I’ve seen it happen, but I don’t want to read about from someone who digs their own hole. I’ve read enough Ellen Hopkins to have my fill of those type of characters.
Swoon Worthy Scale: 1
I’m not wasting my time on this or any of the books in this series. I’m hoping that Sorensen isn’t a one-time good writer for me. I enjoyed The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden, barely tolerated The Secret of Ella and Micha, but I’m FUMING over Breaking Nova. Three strikes and this author will be out of my game.
Plotastic Scale: 1
Cover Thoughts: Shitty cliché romance cover.
Thank you, Netgalley and Forever Publishing for allowing me to review this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Have you read Breaking Nova? What were your thoughts on it? Do you enjoy Jessica Sorensen's novels? If so, let me know down in the comments!
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