The Sea Is Salt and So Am I

Written by Cassandra Hartt

Narrated by Lori Gardner, Nick Mills and Tom Picasso

West Finch is one hurricane away from falling into the sea.

Yet sixteen-year-old Harlow Prout is determined to save her small Maine hometown. If only she could stop getting in her own way and find someone—anyone—willing to help. But her best friend, Ellis MacQueen, “fixes” problems by
running away from them—including his broken relationship with his twin brother, Tommy. And Tommy’s depression has hit a new low, so he’s not up for fixing anything.

In the wake of the town’s latest devastating storm, Tommy goes out for a swim that he doesn’t intend to survive. It’s his unexpected return that sets into motion a sea change between these three teens. One that tests old loyalties, sparks new
romance, and uncovers painful secrets. And nothing stays secret in West Finch for long.

Exquisitely honest and shimmering with emotion, The Sea Is Salt and So Am I is a captivating multi-POV story that probes the depths of what it means to love and trust—both ourselves and others.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Jun 8, 2021
• ISBN: 9781705029114

Cassandra Hartt

Cassandra Hartt grew up in upstate New York and Maine, where she spent most of her childhood among the seaside suburbs and rocky beaches that inspired the fictional town of West Finch. She went on to earn an English degree from Dartmouth College and currently works as a program manager for Google. She lives in the Bay Area and wishes she had a dog. The Sea Is Salt And So Am I is her first novel.

Reviews for The Sea Is Salt and So Am I

[renee581 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book and story are absolutely gorgeous! First, the cover art is stunning and will really draw you in. This is exactly what happened to me. I saw the cover and loved it so much. Next, you slowly get introduced to the characters and the small town in Maine, where this book is set, as you read and it really helps build a rapport with each character and the story as a whole. This is such a great way to write a story and share it with readers. It made me want to keep reading just to stay in the world with these characters. Next, the overall story is one focused on friendship, healing, and what a community does in times of crisis or turmoil.This story also has a strong vein on environmentalism and I love how this is worked into the story in terms of the rising ocean and how we are able to read and experience climate change as a real character and see how it can or could directly affect a person. Overall, this story is one that I really loved and I can't wait to see what else this author writes in the future.

[brangwinn · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

If you are looking for a melancholy book, this is the book for you. It deals with so many serious issues including depression and suicide. There is a bisexual amputee among the mix of teenage friends. Their town of West Finch, Maine is being swallowed by the ocean. This is an admirable debut because of the variety of characters and the narration from different points of view. But all in all, such sad serious stories to speak to me the reader.

[simmmba · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I just finished reading "The Sea is Salt and So Am I", and was completely STUNNED to learn that this is Ms. Hartt's debut novel. I'm very much looking forward to following her career, and seeing what she comes up with next!The author includes a trigger warning at the beginning, and I'll do the same here: This book deals with teen depression, suicidal thoughts, and a suicide attempt. If these topics are triggers for you, you should probably look elsewhere for reading material.That being said...the author handles these intense topics in a way that is simultaneously realistic, beautiful, and heartbreaking. Her main characters and their experiences are completely believable, and I had trouble putting the book down without seeing what happened to them next. I adored Tommy, liked Harlow, and was mostly mildly annoyed by Ellis, but all three of them captivated me. I am already mentally working out what comes next for them, as I can't stand not knowing how their lives turn out after the end of this story.The book is set in the fictional town of West Finch, Maine. The town is almost a separate character, and reading about it, the local problems, the wildlife, and the weather added another layer to this already incredibly nuanced novel.Finally, I appreciated Ms. Hartt's candor in the Author's Note at the end. I will happily read anything else she writes, even if it's just a to-do list. Seriously, readers of the world: Take note! This is an up-and-coming literary talent worth watching!Five out of five super-sized chunks of the best sharp cheddar money can buy!

[alliepascal-876024 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I had a feeling I was going to love "The Sea is Salt and So Am I," but I had no idea just how much. This is a book after my own heart.The main characters are Harlow, her best friend Ellis, and his identical twin Tommy. I love the complicated mess that is the relationship between these three, and Hartt really nails the way they interact with one another. Harlow and Ellis feel like people who've been ride or die best friends since childhood, Harlow and Tommy feel like two people who've misunderstood and hated each other for just as long, and Ellis and Tommy feel like brothers who've grown apart. Harlow and Ellis aren't always nice and don't always make great decisions, but they're not irredeemable, and anyway they wouldn't be as interesting to read about otherwise.One of my favorite parts of the book is the evolution of Harlow and Tommy's relationship; they're not great for each other at the start, but I love what they become. And I love Harlow and Ellis as friends! Which is why--well, I'll just say that this is the sort of narrative that uses a lot of subtext and lets you draw your own conclusions about certain things. There is one thing in particular I wish wasn't left up to interpretation, but if I'd gotten what I wanted I might not still be thinking about this book days after finishing it.The writing is descriptive and beautiful and often emotionally gutting. The way Hartt captures depression in particular hurt to read at points because it felt so authentic.I adore this book! I know it won't be for everyone, but if you appreciate complex, "unlikeable" characters, and some things left up to interpretation, you might love this book too.