Review: Breaking Nova by Jessica Sorensen

Breaking Nova (Nova #1) by Jessica Sorensen

Nova Reed used to have dreams-of becoming a famous drummer, of marrying her true love. But all of that was taken away in an instant. Now she's getting by as best she can, though sometimes that means doing things the old Nova would never do. Things that are slowly eating away at her spirit. Every day blends into the next . . . until she meets Quinton Carter. His intense, honey brown eyes instantly draw her in, and he looks just about as broken as she feels inside.
Quinton once got a second chance at life-but he doesn't want it. The tattoos on his chest are a constant reminder of what he's done, what he's lost. He's sworn to never allow happiness into his life . . . but then beautiful, sweet Nova makes him smile. He knows he's too damaged to get close to her, yet she's the only one who can make him feel alive again. Quinton will have to decide: does he deserve to start over? Or should he pay for his past forever?

Publishes in US: September 3rd 2013 by Forever
Genre: NA contemporary
Source: Forever via Netgalley
Series? Yes. Nova #1
#2 is still untitled but releases Feb 4th 2014, and the third March 25th 2014

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    I got lost in Nova's story. It is so powerful emotionally because she has so much pain and heartache and break in her past, and to watch her figure out who she is and how to deal with that pain is such a journey. 

    I think that I also connected with her on a personal level because my dad committed suicide, and she found her boyfriend Landon after he killed himself. That on top of losing her dad, I was so invested in her, and gave me hope to watch her begin to heal and find herself in this huge swirl of emotions and in the scary world where it seems that most people just don't understand. 

    Quinton also brinks a perspective that I haven't read much about, the secrets of his past are just as painful and hard to get past, and it is interesting to see the extremes that depression, guilt and feeling left behind can do to people. 

     There was such chemistry between the two, and they sparked something in the other, a desire to feel again, a reason besides their once beloveds that stirs their heart. 

     I will say though that the constant talk of weed got to me. I understand that it gave them a numbness and a second to forget and not feel, but I understand they are doing something they never once would. I get the need and addiction, but it just felt to me that it was to entwined into everything and that is time that could have been better spent working on the character development or the chemistry. 

     The secondary characters bring things to the table as well. Nova's friend Delilah is quite the character, and I am glad that she accepted Nova. There were some rocky points in the friendship and it was hard to see her hurting but going back for more with her on again off again boyfriend. 

     The ending was nice, but it also didn't really give me the wrap up that I wanted with Quinton. But there was an excerpt from the next book, so I know their story continues and I can't wait to see where that goes. 

Bottom Line: Powerful story with very hurt characters.

My question to you, my lovely readers:

Have you ever felt responsible for hurting someone?