REVIEW – BREAKING NOVA by Jessica Sorensen

Posted January 31, 2015 by Emma in Blog / 20 Comments

Breaking Nova (Nova #1)
by Jessica Sorensen
Publisher – Sphere
Release Date – October 9th 2015
Buy – Amazon | Book Depository

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?

Please note: This book isn’t for younger readers. 

Breaking Nova is nothing like Jessica’s Secret series, it’s far more emotional, complicated and such a heart felt novel that it simple takes your breath away. I literally only just finished this book at the time of writing this and I’m already on Saving Quinton. As Jessica first brought me to the NA genre, I find myself binge reading her entire collections of novels.

Miss Sorensen certainly doesn’t stray away from her lost, broken and soul/life-searching characters when we have Nova and Quinton. Told through her classic dual perspective, we see the how one moment, can shatter them completely. Nova Reed wants to be a drummer, but that was the old version of her before everything happened with first her dad and her boyfriend, three years later. At the beginning of the book we see a glimpse of happiness in her life, when Landon her best friend and loved one, but only briefly until she is left alone underneath the stars… now she lives counting her life away, from when the sun comes up then down while just trying to get through each day as it comes. Quinton Carter, wants to be an artist, marry his beautiful girlfriend and have children, it was his life plan… now that plan no longer exists, when he killed his girlfriend, Lexi and her friend, Ryder. But he also died that day, though resuscitated by the paramedics. Now he has to live each day, alone, haunted, broken and despaired of the what he believed he was his fault.

Now whilst you’ll probably thinking what a depressing book this is. Although I did ultimately feel quite emotional towards Nova and Quinton, I found that I was enthralled and captured by Jessica’s writing throughout the their relationship and that of the plotline. Both Nova and Quinton suffer from blocking out their past, if you ask them a question they will either refuse to answer or they just can’t remember because they don’t want too. Between them they make one person, standing alone they really find themselves at a loss. When they both met through their friends, they both saw the sadness that radiated off each other. Whilst it isn’t the best one-liner for starting relationships, they found that they shared something that no-one else can identify with, and they both needed to that connection, that life isn’t always cruel.

Like I said, I found both characters to be so much stronger stylistically and I found I didn’t need to connect with them like you do but I just wanted to see what they’re story is. It was their trauma, their life that made me so addicted to the novel, that I really couldn’t put it down. Whilst there were some parts that could be considered shocking, it isn’t what you call unusual in this day and age either. I don’t know what it was about Breaking Nova that I enjoyed a lot more, Jessica, still retained her writing style, her knack for wonderful and heartbreaking characters, throughout the dual POVs.

I’m lucky enough to receive the next book already, because there is no way you could leave it like Breaking Nova did. So please be aware that there is a cliffhanger which is not unusual with Jessica which I learnt form The Secret of Ella and Micha. I can’t tell you what made it that much better, it’s fast paced, thrilling and emotional ride between two very vulnerable and breakable characters. All you need to know is…. Read their story and you will be Breaking your love this series.

Rating – 5

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20 responses to “REVIEW – BREAKING NOVA by Jessica Sorensen

  1. I think I'm gonna be adding this one and the sequel to my list of books to read but with your warning about a cliffhanger… I'm gonna wait till the sequel releases to binge read both for sure!
    Thank you for putting this book in my radar, Emma!

    • Oh you should definitely read this series. It really great, a little hard and shocking at times, but a real deep novel too. Thanks Pili! 🙂

  2. Sorry you couldn't really connect with the characters and well for the cliffy. I heard about the author but I don't remember where… I need to investigate. thanks for the review!

  3. I'm not a huge fan of stories where the characters are on a destructive, downward spiral with drinking and drugs, but I connected with this story, too, Emma. I felt their pain and struggles and I think I managed to like this one, because Nova was hopeful when all was said and done. Quinton is just a mess. I never did pick up the next book, but I'm wondering how it all turned out. Wonderful review! 🙂

    • Oh you must read the next book, Rachel. Although it was again painful to see Quinton like that, I felt a need to really read this book next after the cliffhanger. Thank you! 🙂

  4. I still haven't read anything by this author, although I know her books are very popular. So glad to see you enjoyed this one too, Emma–I definitely need to pick up a book or two by her soon.

  5. This really was a crazy emotional read wasn't it? I think I only read the first couple and then had to stop. I am sure I will be picking up the others though because I really do love her work.

    • It certainly was, I didn't think a book could bring out that many emotions. She is a talented writer. I hope you get to finish the series soon.

  6. I love emotional books that totally mess with the feels except I don't think this author is for me. I tried reading one of her books ages back and I couldn't get into it at all. i'm glad that you loved this!

    Lovely review, Emma <33

    • Oh I'm sorry you couldn't get into her work. I guess you either love it or hate really. It's not really for everyone. Thank you, Mel. 🙂

  7. She's a popular author in this genre, isn't she? I haven't had the chance to read any of her work, but would really like to check her out. Which series do you think should I start with?

    • She certainly is and I totally recommend this series first rather than The Secret series. I loved this one more personally despite the crazy emotional rollercoaster.

    • Oh I love her books and she is very good at creating such a compelling, driven and emotional NA story. I hope you get to read this book soon! 🙂

  8. Anonymous

    I've read some other books by this author before and I've noticed that she likes following the same pattern in all her books. This series just wasn't for me since I couldn't connect with the characters and like you, the cliffy was a major deal for me. Hopefully you continue to enjoy this series.

    • Yes I can see that she does have similar tastes in her work and styles between her series. But I quite liked the familiarities. Sorry you couldn't get into this book at all!