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Content snapshot
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Violence
Barely any
Both protagonists are survivors of extreme violence — Josh's family was murdered, Nastya nearly beaten to death
Language
Some
Adult language with some strong profanity consistent with the New Adult voice
Sexual Content
Some
Sexual content is present but restrained given the protagonists' trauma histories — closed-door to mildly warm
Substance Use
Barely any
Social drinking in a teen/young adult context
Emotional Intensity
Very heavy
The psychological weight is immense and sustained — both characters are profoundly damaged, and the novel traces every step of their slow trust
What this book is about
Josh Bennett's family was murdered when he was fifteen. He hasn't spoken since. Nastya Kashnikov was nearly beaten to death; she gave up her name, her past, and the piano that defined her. They find each other in a high school in a small Florida town. Katja Millay's New Adult debut is one of the genre's most emotionally devastating novels — quiet, precise, and built around the slow process of trust.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
Both protagonists are survivors of severe violence — backstory is traumatic
Josh's family was murdered — he carries this across the entire novel
Nastya's near-fatal beating defines her entire identity in the novel
Reader Verification
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