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There are currently 32 member reviews
for The Jellyfish Problem
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Kathleen K. (Johnson City, TN)
The Jellyfish Problem
This book is perfect for those who crave a strong emotional punch from a story but do not mind an ambiguous ending. The imagery of the jellyfish throughout the book are both ethereal and haunting. I particularly liked the inclusion of snippets of the book the two primary characters are writing together, including the editing notes back and forth to each other. The author included many nods and references to Japanese folklore throughout the narrative which added a richness to the story and made the characters feel more nuanced.
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Helen B. (WINTHROP, ME)
The Jellyfish Problem
At first I wasn't one hundred percent sure where this novel was headed. Was it a love story, an adventure, a horror story? In the end, the novel is about forgiving yourself, building a community and believing enough in yourself to take risks, whether it's in love, adventure, or work. Yang's debut novel is filled with quirky, yet loveable characters, folklore, and magical realism. You will definitely need to allow yourself to believe in the creature the author has created and the storyline, if you do, you will be treated to a wonderful story! As a Mainer, I loved the island and felt Yang understood well the personality of the islanders who spend so much time isolated, and those that come and try to fit in. As this story is also at its heart an adventure story, there is a lot of great information about jellyfish, diving, and discovery.
Many thanks to Bookbrowse.com, Netgalley.com, and Berkley Publishing Group for this eARC in exchange for a fair and honest review
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Elizabeth V. (Bellbrook, OH)
The Jellyfish Problem
I have to admit, it took me awhile to warm up to Jo and her story but I'm glad I stuck it out. I do wish the author had spent more time on Clementine (who was supposed to be the point of the story) and less time on the sort of love triangle between Nadia, Roger and Jo which I didn't find very interesting or entertaining. Overall, a good read but not character driven as I would have liked.
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Cheryl R. (Jeannette, PA)
Stranded
I'm not a fan of the blurbs at the top on chapters. I like to read a story without commercial breaks. But, that's my preference. The story itself was a cute story about an extraordinary jellyfish that has the ability to keep everyone who sees it trapped on the island. It revolves around a marine biologist who studies jellyfish and has just lost a friend who worked with her. The guilt she has surrounding Aldo's death weighs heavily on her and in the end his spirit comes to help her. It was interesting how the characters played off one another and finally came together in the end. I was surprised at how it all worked out.
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Linda B. (Leesburg, VA)
A gripping story about the loneliness of grief...and the power of community.
This was an intriguing book with a concept unlike anything I've read before. It follows Jo as she navigates her grief after the loss of her best friend, as she unexpectedly comes into contact with the most exciting opportunity of her professional life on a remote island.
I do enjoy magical realism, but this took things almost too far with the instant acceptance of the fantastical elements of the story without any prior worldbuilding that would have supported such an instant and complete reversal. It is rare for me to say a book should have been longer, but in this case, I would have liked to see a more gradual shift from disbelief to complete acceptance, even if that meant another chapter or two.
Still, I would definitely recommend this book as it told a very unique story and was also very informative about the wide world of jellyfish.
I received this as an advanced review copy before publication. My review was optional.
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Charity M. (Herndon, VA)
Jellyfish, friendship, and grief
The Jellyfish Problem is a unique story of a woman who is grappling with loss, both through the death of her best friend and the estrangement of a lover.
While some of the writing felt odd and forced to me, I did enjoy the way the main character was forced to confront her painful experiences and move through them instead of just past them.
This was not my favorite overall, but I'm glad I read it.
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Dawn Z. (Canton, MI)
A thoughtful story of grief and connection—if you're on board with the sci-fi
I went into The Jellyfish Problem expecting something grounded in science and human connection, and while I did find both of those things, the book ultimately leaned much more heavily into science fiction than I had anticipated.
At its core, this is a story about grief. Jo is a compelling protagonist, and I connected with her—particularly in how she navigates the loss of Aldo. Her expertise, her relationships, and the quiet ways her grief shapes her decisions all felt authentic and well developed. I also appreciated the reconnection between Jo and Nadia, which added emotional weight to the story, even if some aspects of that relationship left me with lingering questions.
Where the book lost me was in its more surreal elements. The jellyfish, Clementine, was often confusing and frustrating for me as a reader. I understand that there may be a metaphorical layer at work, but I struggled to fully engage with it. The story pushed further into speculative territory than I was comfortable with, and that made it difficult for me to stay immersed.
That said, there is a lot here to appreciate. The scientific aspects were accessible and genuinely interesting—I learned quite a bit about jellyfish, and the lab scenes in particular were well done. The island setting was also incredibly effective; this story couldn't exist anywhere else, and the sense of isolation added to the overall atmosphere. Characters like Margo stood out as well, bringing resilience and texture to the community.
The pacing was strong, and the ending felt emotionally consistent with Jo's journey, even if its open-ended nature wasn't entirely satisfying for me.
Overall, I think this will really resonate with readers who enjoy science fiction blended with emotional, character-driven storytelling. For me, the balance tipped a bit too far into the speculative—but I can still appreciate what the author was trying to do.
