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Under Water
An intense, atmospheric novel about the devastating power of friendship, set against the backdrop of two cataclysmic events.
After Marissa loses her mother at five, the most intimate relationship of her life begins. Her marine biologist father, determined to channel his grief into completing his wife’s research, whisks her across the globe to Thailand. There she meets Arielle, and a fairytale friendship takes hold. During the week, the girls live at the resort owned by Arielle’s parents; on the weekends they join the tight-knit community of researchers on a nearby island. Together the girls discover the fragile wonders of its reefs, forests, and beaches. Together they learn to dive into the deep, holding their breath for minutes at a time, as effortlessly synchronized as the manta rays they come to know by name. Together they learn to swim their way out of danger. But then comes a wave Arielle can’t outpace, leaving Marissa gutted with loss.
Years later, Marissa is back in New York, adrift and haunted by the memory of her friend. Over the course of two fateful days, as another cataclysm approaches the city and the past comes flooding back, she discovers how to sustain herself in a precarious world.
After Marissa loses her mother at five, the most intimate relationship of her life begins. Her marine biologist father, determined to channel his grief into completing his wife’s research, whisks her across the globe to Thailand. There she meets Arielle, and a fairytale friendship takes hold. During the week, the girls live at the resort owned by Arielle’s parents; on the weekends they join the tight-knit community of researchers on a nearby island. Together the girls discover the fragile wonders of its reefs, forests, and beaches. Together they learn to dive into the deep, holding their breath for minutes at a time, as effortlessly synchronized as the manta rays they come to know by name. Together they learn to swim their way out of danger. But then comes a wave Arielle can’t outpace, leaving Marissa gutted with loss.
Years later, Marissa is back in New York, adrift and haunted by the memory of her friend. Over the course of two fateful days, as another cataclysm approaches the city and the past comes flooding back, she discovers how to sustain herself in a precarious world.
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First published March 12, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 145 reviews
March 17, 2026
i'm ready to cry
(review to come / thanks to the publisher for the arc)
(review to come / thanks to the publisher for the arc)
October 8, 2025
I have never once read a novel twice before it’s even published, but I love this book so much that I cannot even put it into words. Took my breath away on the first read, and somehow did even more so on the second. Spectacular, wonderful, genius, etc. etc.
November 7, 2025
bardzo cicha, ale baaardzo mocna lektura
Menon pisze o stracie tak, jak się o niej myśli – powracająco, nielinearnie, z każdej strony naraz. ale to nie tylko historia straty
to też o tym, jak żyje się dalej, kiedy nic już nie jest takie samo. o żałobie, która nie mija, i o przyjaźni, której nikt nie nauczył nas opłakiwać („wciąż ci źle? To była TYLKO jakaś koleżanka, nie wypada jej opłakiwać tyle czasu”), o tym, że przyjaźń może być TĄ relacją w życiu
o naturze, wobec której autorka ma ogromny respekt – cudownie opisuje jej piękno, ale też nie romantyzuje jej, nie robi z niej metafory — to siła, która rządzi światem i nami, daje życie, ale i odbiera
o tsunami, huraganie, żywiole, martwych, pięknych, złożonych mantach, śmieciach na plaży i Nowym Jorku, który w końcu też tonie, ale też o wdzięczności i ciągłej miłości do tego, co wokół nas, nawet po katastrofie
o tym, jak piękno i przemoc mogą istnieć obok siebie
Menon pisze o stracie tak, jak się o niej myśli – powracająco, nielinearnie, z każdej strony naraz. ale to nie tylko historia straty
to też o tym, jak żyje się dalej, kiedy nic już nie jest takie samo. o żałobie, która nie mija, i o przyjaźni, której nikt nie nauczył nas opłakiwać („wciąż ci źle? To była TYLKO jakaś koleżanka, nie wypada jej opłakiwać tyle czasu”), o tym, że przyjaźń może być TĄ relacją w życiu
o naturze, wobec której autorka ma ogromny respekt – cudownie opisuje jej piękno, ale też nie romantyzuje jej, nie robi z niej metafory — to siła, która rządzi światem i nami, daje życie, ale i odbiera
o tsunami, huraganie, żywiole, martwych, pięknych, złożonych mantach, śmieciach na plaży i Nowym Jorku, który w końcu też tonie, ale też o wdzięczności i ciągłej miłości do tego, co wokół nas, nawet po katastrofie
o tym, jak piękno i przemoc mogą istnieć obok siebie
September 29, 2025
Wow, this book grabbed my attention from the very first page! The prologue is absolutely crazy but amazing at the same time. The story that follows is beautiful and definitely worth the read.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
March 24, 2026
𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗥 𝗪𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗥 by Tara Menon [#gifted from @riverheaedbooks]
I know many readers of this review might first notice the book’s stunning cover and with good reason. It IS spectacular, and so is the world contained within its pages. 𝘜𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘞𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 is a story of deep friendship and profound grief, both of which readers will know and understand from the beginning. Marissa, a broken woman after the loss of her best friend at 16, tells us about the many joys of that friendship and the heartbreak of its tragic end.
“I hate when people say we were like sisters. She was not my sister. You don’t get to choose your sister. We chose each other.”
Menon centered her book around two catastrophic natural disasters: the 2004 Thailand tsunami and 2012’s Hurricane Sandy. Chapters alternate between these two locations, but the focus of both is really Marissa’s life in Thailand. From the age of 5, she lived there with her scientist father in an almost dreamlike existence. She and her best friend spent every spare moment kayaking, swimming, diving in gorgeous waters not far from Phuket. From the opening pages readers understand that Marissa’s idyllic life will be profoundly changed. We find just how much so in the 2012 timeline.
I loved this story. It was beautiful on every level. Menon took me under the sea off the coast of Thailand and deftly brought so much of it to life. Her pages made me feel like I was seeing all its wonder with my own eyes. She did the same with Marissa and her broken heart. The pain of her loss felt acute to me, allowing me to understand her path through grief. Two of the most amazing things about 𝘜𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘞𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 are the fact that Menon accomplished so much in only 224 pages and that it’s her debut. I have a strong feeling you’ll be hearing much more from me about this book as the year goes by. Clearly, I highly recommend picking it up! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I know many readers of this review might first notice the book’s stunning cover and with good reason. It IS spectacular, and so is the world contained within its pages. 𝘜𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘞𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 is a story of deep friendship and profound grief, both of which readers will know and understand from the beginning. Marissa, a broken woman after the loss of her best friend at 16, tells us about the many joys of that friendship and the heartbreak of its tragic end.
“I hate when people say we were like sisters. She was not my sister. You don’t get to choose your sister. We chose each other.”
Menon centered her book around two catastrophic natural disasters: the 2004 Thailand tsunami and 2012’s Hurricane Sandy. Chapters alternate between these two locations, but the focus of both is really Marissa’s life in Thailand. From the age of 5, she lived there with her scientist father in an almost dreamlike existence. She and her best friend spent every spare moment kayaking, swimming, diving in gorgeous waters not far from Phuket. From the opening pages readers understand that Marissa’s idyllic life will be profoundly changed. We find just how much so in the 2012 timeline.
I loved this story. It was beautiful on every level. Menon took me under the sea off the coast of Thailand and deftly brought so much of it to life. Her pages made me feel like I was seeing all its wonder with my own eyes. She did the same with Marissa and her broken heart. The pain of her loss felt acute to me, allowing me to understand her path through grief. Two of the most amazing things about 𝘜𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘞𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 are the fact that Menon accomplished so much in only 224 pages and that it’s her debut. I have a strong feeling you’ll be hearing much more from me about this book as the year goes by. Clearly, I highly recommend picking it up! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
March 14, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley and Riverhead for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
This book is perfect for two kinds of people: those who wanted to be a marine biologist as a kid, and those who were obsessed with the I Survived books as a kid. (I fit into both of these categories, so it is safe to say i was enraptured from page one.)
Following a dual timeline, this novel is set against the backdrop of two of the most significant natural disasters of the 21st century. The first timeline is set in Thailand during the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami of 2004, that killed over 200,000 people across bordering nations on the day after Christmas. The second timeline is set in NYC during the onset of Hurricane Sandy in October 2012, just days before Halloween.
We follow our main character Marissa, who experiences both of these disasters firsthand. In 2004, she is living in Thailand with her father, who is a marine researcher on a secluded island outpost. He researches manta rays in specific, and Marissa is as tenderly and dearly in love with the sea as one can possibly be. She meets her best friend Arielle in Thailand as well, and at this point in time their friendship is as guaranteed as the next breath. I particularly loved how this novel placed such emphasis on the profound impact of a true friendship, and how that kind of bond can be just as strong as a romantic relationship and, oftentimes, even stronger. This timeline persists through the tsunami and into the aftermath, and I have never read an account of a disaster so raw, so utterly devastating. The tears were flowing from that point in the story all the way to its close.
In the later timeline, Marissa is living alone in New York City, and she is a shell of the vibrant soul she used to be. At the start of the story, the reason for this change in her demeanor is not yet understood, but the interwoven narrative evolves steadily until the reader begins to grasp the extend of what she has seen, what she has suffered. With Hurricane Sandy fast approaching, this resurgence of her PTSD from the tsunami causes her memories to surface, and Menon writes the balance between these two timelines with expert precision.
I cannot recall the last time a novel made me feel this much. I truly do not know if I have ever read something this raw, in both its beauty and its horror. The writing is simultaneously glorious and haunting. Those images of the aftermath of the tsunami will stick with me for a long time, and as soon as I finished this book I itched to reread it all from the beginning. In fact, I preordered it straight away. The central themes of grief, PTSD, friendship, and the resilience of nature in the face of a natural disaster were handled with expert care and contemplation.
This was a very unexpected 5 star read, I really did not expect to connect so much with this novel and feel this story as deeply as I did. I will be thinking about its contents for a long time.
This book is perfect for two kinds of people: those who wanted to be a marine biologist as a kid, and those who were obsessed with the I Survived books as a kid. (I fit into both of these categories, so it is safe to say i was enraptured from page one.)
Following a dual timeline, this novel is set against the backdrop of two of the most significant natural disasters of the 21st century. The first timeline is set in Thailand during the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami of 2004, that killed over 200,000 people across bordering nations on the day after Christmas. The second timeline is set in NYC during the onset of Hurricane Sandy in October 2012, just days before Halloween.
We follow our main character Marissa, who experiences both of these disasters firsthand. In 2004, she is living in Thailand with her father, who is a marine researcher on a secluded island outpost. He researches manta rays in specific, and Marissa is as tenderly and dearly in love with the sea as one can possibly be. She meets her best friend Arielle in Thailand as well, and at this point in time their friendship is as guaranteed as the next breath. I particularly loved how this novel placed such emphasis on the profound impact of a true friendship, and how that kind of bond can be just as strong as a romantic relationship and, oftentimes, even stronger. This timeline persists through the tsunami and into the aftermath, and I have never read an account of a disaster so raw, so utterly devastating. The tears were flowing from that point in the story all the way to its close.
In the later timeline, Marissa is living alone in New York City, and she is a shell of the vibrant soul she used to be. At the start of the story, the reason for this change in her demeanor is not yet understood, but the interwoven narrative evolves steadily until the reader begins to grasp the extend of what she has seen, what she has suffered. With Hurricane Sandy fast approaching, this resurgence of her PTSD from the tsunami causes her memories to surface, and Menon writes the balance between these two timelines with expert precision.
I cannot recall the last time a novel made me feel this much. I truly do not know if I have ever read something this raw, in both its beauty and its horror. The writing is simultaneously glorious and haunting. Those images of the aftermath of the tsunami will stick with me for a long time, and as soon as I finished this book I itched to reread it all from the beginning. In fact, I preordered it straight away. The central themes of grief, PTSD, friendship, and the resilience of nature in the face of a natural disaster were handled with expert care and contemplation.
This was a very unexpected 5 star read, I really did not expect to connect so much with this novel and feel this story as deeply as I did. I will be thinking about its contents for a long time.
Review of advance copy
This book is a nauseating depiction of grief. It covers friendships and a love for nature, while displaying harsh realities in the tourism sector, touching on societal issues which feed the destruction of the environment and the objectification of local people. I felt sick at the descriptions of the disasters and the display of loving a friend so deeply that their loss changes you forever.
Under Water is simply an incredible novel.
Under Water is simply an incredible novel.
October 21, 2025
I nicked a proof of this book out of a friend's hand at a Five Guys in Germany. I read the first paragraph and I knew. Serendipity. There were so many little things about this book that tied in with my life (past and present). I even remember listening to a song while reading it and one of the lyrics singing in parallel to the words on the page. "When I close my eyes". There is something so special about this novel. It's not just the writing, the kind of writing that makes you taste and feel and hear and see. It's not just the way it feels like you're reaching into someone's most precious and darkest memories. It's the way it sucks you in like riptide. It forces you to hold your breath as if you're under water. Your eyes sting, you can taste the salt on your tongue. It is both a wonder and petrifying. I loved every sentence, every word and only wish there were more of them.
March 17, 2026
I’m so mad. This book has made me so mad! As if my TBR list didn’t already keep me awake at night, the main character in Under Water referenced at least 31 books, poems, and essays for me to add. Sometimes she only alluded to them or mentioned an opening line in passing so I actually had to do research before adding to my list. “Thanks, Tara Menon,” I type with stiff fingers and a forced smile. And also, “dholes” was not at all what I originally thought.
That aside, this book was a top read of the year. There is a dual narrative, both told by the main character named Marissa: the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami in Thailand and the 2012 Hurricane Sandy in Manhattan. While in New York City on the day the hurricane hits, she remembers her life in Thailand and her best friend that was among the dead on the day of that disaster. The loss of that friend who was such a piece of her has never left, nor has the regret and the grief she has never been able to let go of. It is such a tragically beautiful story; she recalls the life she once lived, the friendship she once had, the feelings of regret and grief and blame, and the horrors she saw. She has always tried to understand life through books, and continues to use them in order to process things. She can compare all of her life events to lessons about Greek gods, botany texts, animal reproduction manuals, Thai travel guides, classic and current novels, essays about ethics, and poetry about grieving. The narrative continues building, building, building to the disasters we know will happen, but we can’t look away. It is so difficult to describe how the author did something amazing with this book. I don’t have the words. I don’t have the correct adjectives, as Marissa would say. Just read it, but be prepared to expand your TBR list a bit. 5 stars
Thanks to Riverhead Books, Tara Menon (author), and Edelweiss for providing an advance digital review copy of Under Water. Their generosity did not influence my review in any way.
That aside, this book was a top read of the year. There is a dual narrative, both told by the main character named Marissa: the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami in Thailand and the 2012 Hurricane Sandy in Manhattan. While in New York City on the day the hurricane hits, she remembers her life in Thailand and her best friend that was among the dead on the day of that disaster. The loss of that friend who was such a piece of her has never left, nor has the regret and the grief she has never been able to let go of. It is such a tragically beautiful story; she recalls the life she once lived, the friendship she once had, the feelings of regret and grief and blame, and the horrors she saw. She has always tried to understand life through books, and continues to use them in order to process things. She can compare all of her life events to lessons about Greek gods, botany texts, animal reproduction manuals, Thai travel guides, classic and current novels, essays about ethics, and poetry about grieving. The narrative continues building, building, building to the disasters we know will happen, but we can’t look away. It is so difficult to describe how the author did something amazing with this book. I don’t have the words. I don’t have the correct adjectives, as Marissa would say. Just read it, but be prepared to expand your TBR list a bit. 5 stars
Thanks to Riverhead Books, Tara Menon (author), and Edelweiss for providing an advance digital review copy of Under Water. Their generosity did not influence my review in any way.
March 26, 2026
Im Dezember 2004 ereignete sich im Pazifikraum eines der stärksten jemals gemessenen Erdbeben. Die Folgen waren verheerend: Durch das Beben und die von ihm ausgelösten Tsunamis verloren 230.000 Menschen ihr Leben. In der westlichen Welt wurde hauptsächlich über Thailand berichtet, da dort die meisten Touristen (etwa 2.000) betroffen waren.
Dies ist der Hintergrund für Unter Wasser von Tara Menon. Die Geschichte ist auf zwei Ebenen angesiedelt. Einer kurz vor dem Beben bzw. unmittelbar während und danach. Und einer zwölf Jahre später, als der Wirbelsturm Sandy durch Nordamerika zieht und an die 300 Menschen das Leben kostet. Marissa läuft durch New York, schläft mit unzähligen Männern und versucht auf diese Art mit Schmerz und Trauer umzugehen. Durch den Tsunami verlor sie ihre beste Freundin Arielle. Diese wurde vor ihren Augen ins Wasser gezogen, sie konnte nichts dagegen tun. Arielle war viel mehr als nur eine Freundin für Marissa, mehr wie eine Seelenverwandte. Durch ihren Tod ging etwas in ihr verloren. Ihr Leben scheint keinen Sinn mehr zu haben. Denn sie gibt sich die Schuld an Arielles Tod.
Tara Menon beschreibt die beiden Naturereignisse so spannend, dass es einen förmlich in die Geschichte hineinzieht. Besonders das Verhalten der Tiere steht dabei im Fokus. Die beiden Freundinnen halfen Marissas Vater bei dessen Forschungen an Mantarochen. Auch über diese wird ausgiebig berichtet. Die Autorin ist dabei äußerst einfühlsam. Die Welt und die Charaktere werden sofort lebendig. Trotz der Kürze des Buches und der häufigen Perspektivwechsel schafft sie es, ungeheuere Emotionen zu erzeugen. Die Parallele durch das Beben bzw den Sturm entwickelt eine zusätzliche Spannung.
Tara Menons Roman ging mir sehr nahe und hat mich unheimlich aufgewühlt. Ein ganz besonderes Highlight!
Dies ist der Hintergrund für Unter Wasser von Tara Menon. Die Geschichte ist auf zwei Ebenen angesiedelt. Einer kurz vor dem Beben bzw. unmittelbar während und danach. Und einer zwölf Jahre später, als der Wirbelsturm Sandy durch Nordamerika zieht und an die 300 Menschen das Leben kostet. Marissa läuft durch New York, schläft mit unzähligen Männern und versucht auf diese Art mit Schmerz und Trauer umzugehen. Durch den Tsunami verlor sie ihre beste Freundin Arielle. Diese wurde vor ihren Augen ins Wasser gezogen, sie konnte nichts dagegen tun. Arielle war viel mehr als nur eine Freundin für Marissa, mehr wie eine Seelenverwandte. Durch ihren Tod ging etwas in ihr verloren. Ihr Leben scheint keinen Sinn mehr zu haben. Denn sie gibt sich die Schuld an Arielles Tod.
Tara Menon beschreibt die beiden Naturereignisse so spannend, dass es einen förmlich in die Geschichte hineinzieht. Besonders das Verhalten der Tiere steht dabei im Fokus. Die beiden Freundinnen halfen Marissas Vater bei dessen Forschungen an Mantarochen. Auch über diese wird ausgiebig berichtet. Die Autorin ist dabei äußerst einfühlsam. Die Welt und die Charaktere werden sofort lebendig. Trotz der Kürze des Buches und der häufigen Perspektivwechsel schafft sie es, ungeheuere Emotionen zu erzeugen. Die Parallele durch das Beben bzw den Sturm entwickelt eine zusätzliche Spannung.
Tara Menons Roman ging mir sehr nahe und hat mich unheimlich aufgewühlt. Ein ganz besonderes Highlight!
March 26, 2026
milzīgs sižeta attīstības potenciāls, ko autore, manuprāt, neizmanto. atsevišķi pilnīgas literārās baudas mirkļi, kas mijas ar faktu uzskaitījumu bez tēlainās izteiksmes līdzekļiem un refleksijas. nebūt nav slikta literatūra, nemaz. bet es paliku neziņā, ko man ar šiem norišu fragmentiem autore vēlas pateikt.
March 20, 2026
This is a beautiful meditation on friendship, grief, and connection to place. The descriptions of the main locations in this story and the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami and aftermath were so vivid, I felt like I was experiencing everything Marissa experienced. This is an impressive debut and I look forward to reading more from Tara Menon.
Read
March 18, 2026"I realized after a few years that there are people it is acceptable to mourn. The list of who you can grieve endlessly: a parent (if they die young), a spouse (if you are young), a sibling (if you both are young), a child (always). It is not acceptable to endlessly grieve someone who was just a friend. You must get over it after a period of time... There is no place in our language for grief about friends, or love for them. Our language is tainted by the love and loss of lovers."
..& how perfectly Tara Menon puts the truth out
Amidst the never ending sounds of bombs & firearms, the voices that are largely left muffled are the sobs of grief & loss.
The chorus of heartbreak remains unheard as noone chooses to showcase the aftermath
Thankfully Tara Menon chose to
After losing her mother at five, Marissa is taken by her marine biologist father to a small Thai island in the Andaman Sea. Here she forms an intense friendship with local girl Arielle. The two girls spend their days exploring coral reefs, forests, learning to dive, effortlessly synchronizing with each other, with the nature around them & the manta rays
While Menon's story doesn't stem out from war but the intensity of grief & loss faced by Marissa is no less
The story shines in its depiction of the range of emotions & maturity the character arc of Marissa traverses. Moving from one natural calamity to another Marissa learns how to confront & survive with her grief
The subtle ending is such a fine tribute to human essentials & how we should "..stay with them for as long as we can hold breath."But then it also makes you realise how we are on verge of losing it all
Menon's writing is highly cinematic, sensory, laden with sparse prose
Though this one has all the ingredients of being that perfect one, but the inconsistent pacing & certain unexplored character dynamics made it miss the mark. There were many places where I was unable to feel that deeper connection b/w the character & her grief. But I appreciate it for all that it is trying to achieve
Thank you @simonandschusterin for the advance review copy
Out Today!
Read it for its fine description of beauty of nature & ofcourse Manta Rays
..& how perfectly Tara Menon puts the truth out
Amidst the never ending sounds of bombs & firearms, the voices that are largely left muffled are the sobs of grief & loss.
The chorus of heartbreak remains unheard as noone chooses to showcase the aftermath
Thankfully Tara Menon chose to
After losing her mother at five, Marissa is taken by her marine biologist father to a small Thai island in the Andaman Sea. Here she forms an intense friendship with local girl Arielle. The two girls spend their days exploring coral reefs, forests, learning to dive, effortlessly synchronizing with each other, with the nature around them & the manta rays
While Menon's story doesn't stem out from war but the intensity of grief & loss faced by Marissa is no less
The story shines in its depiction of the range of emotions & maturity the character arc of Marissa traverses. Moving from one natural calamity to another Marissa learns how to confront & survive with her grief
The subtle ending is such a fine tribute to human essentials & how we should "..stay with them for as long as we can hold breath."But then it also makes you realise how we are on verge of losing it all
Menon's writing is highly cinematic, sensory, laden with sparse prose
Though this one has all the ingredients of being that perfect one, but the inconsistent pacing & certain unexplored character dynamics made it miss the mark. There were many places where I was unable to feel that deeper connection b/w the character & her grief. But I appreciate it for all that it is trying to achieve
Thank you @simonandschusterin for the advance review copy
Out Today!
Read it for its fine description of beauty of nature & ofcourse Manta Rays
March 17, 2026
I loved this book. Under Water is a five-star read for me.
Under Water is framed by two cataclysmic events: the December 26, 2007 tsunami in Phuket and the surrounding region, and Hurricane Sandy in October 2012, which struck New York City and the Eastern Seaboard.
At its heart, Under Water is a story about friendship and grief, and it is beautifully written.
The story is told from the perspective of Marissa, whose mother died when she was six. Marissa and her father, a marine biologist, move to Thailand, where he dedicates himself to completing the work of his late wife, who was also a marine biologist. There, Marissa becomes fast friends with Arielle, whose parents own a hotel. We watch their friendship blossom through a series of scenes, as the narrative moves back and forth through time.
I especially loved the role mythology plays in how the characters understand their world.
Throughout the novel, certain animals—turtles and manta rays in particular—appear across generations. That sense of continuity and care becomes a quiet legacy in the story, and I found it really moving.
There was one element that initially confused me, but once I understood what was happening, I found it very effective in showing the depth of grief and love in the book. At first it felt like the story was jumping between timelines even when the chapter suggested we were firmly in one of them. Eventually I realized these moments were Arielle “visiting” Marissa, and that realization deepened the emotional impact for me.
This is a book I will recommend again and again—and in fact, I already have.
I’m grateful to have received an advanced reader copy of Under Water from NetGalley and Riverhead Books.
To see my initial response to this book, check out my post on BookTok. I'm @katemcreader
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZThK1q4V5/
Under Water is framed by two cataclysmic events: the December 26, 2007 tsunami in Phuket and the surrounding region, and Hurricane Sandy in October 2012, which struck New York City and the Eastern Seaboard.
At its heart, Under Water is a story about friendship and grief, and it is beautifully written.
The story is told from the perspective of Marissa, whose mother died when she was six. Marissa and her father, a marine biologist, move to Thailand, where he dedicates himself to completing the work of his late wife, who was also a marine biologist. There, Marissa becomes fast friends with Arielle, whose parents own a hotel. We watch their friendship blossom through a series of scenes, as the narrative moves back and forth through time.
I especially loved the role mythology plays in how the characters understand their world.
Throughout the novel, certain animals—turtles and manta rays in particular—appear across generations. That sense of continuity and care becomes a quiet legacy in the story, and I found it really moving.
There was one element that initially confused me, but once I understood what was happening, I found it very effective in showing the depth of grief and love in the book. At first it felt like the story was jumping between timelines even when the chapter suggested we were firmly in one of them. Eventually I realized these moments were Arielle “visiting” Marissa, and that realization deepened the emotional impact for me.
This is a book I will recommend again and again—and in fact, I already have.
I’m grateful to have received an advanced reader copy of Under Water from NetGalley and Riverhead Books.
To see my initial response to this book, check out my post on BookTok. I'm @katemcreader
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZThK1q4V5/
March 25, 2026
Tas, kas notika, protams ir šausmīgi.
Bet ar šo grāmatu nesadraudzējos jo likās, ka lasu haosu. Nevarēju saprat- kas, ko. Ātrāk gribējās pabeigt un nolikt. Nespēju iedziļināties.
Bet ar šo grāmatu nesadraudzējos jo likās, ka lasu haosu. Nevarēju saprat- kas, ko. Ātrāk gribējās pabeigt un nolikt. Nespēju iedziļināties.
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December 26, 2025ich hab das gefühl die englische originalfassung hätte mir sprachlich besser gefallen, war manchmal etwas holprig und irgendwie zu gestochen, aber die geschichte hat mich sehr berührt und ich bin großer fan davon trauer verlust etc in freundschaftsdynamiken zu erörtern
March 18, 2026
'Under Water', is what I felt while reading this book, and in the best way possible. In this extremely beautifully written, atmospheric novel Tara Menon takes us through the marine life and the beautiful beaches of Thailand. Through her lyrical prose Menon makes the reader see, feel, taste and smell the sea!
The story is narrated by Marissa, who loses her mother at the age of 6. She meets her best friend for life, Arielle, who quickly says to her, "we can share my mother!" Arielle makes Marissa her family. They're both inseparable, and spend most of their days swimming in the pristine waters in Thailand, where Marissa's father works as a researcher.
During the week, the girls live at the resort owned by Arielle’s parents; on the weekends they join the tight-knit community of researchers on a nearby island. Together the girls discover the fragile wonders of its reefs, forests, and beaches. Together they learn to dive into the deep, holding their breath for minutes at a time, as effortlessly synchronized as the manta rays they come to know by name. Together they learn to swim their way out of danger. But their skills don't help Arielle when a wave swallows her during the 2004 tsunami.
Years later, Marissa lives and works in New York, still grappling with the grief of losing the only person she's loved the most. Everyday things seem like Herculean tasks to her. But there's more coming her way. Another natural disaster. Another cataclysm, as she slowly learns how to handle her grief and face the world.
Under Water reads more like a soothing poetry than a novel. While reading, try closing your eyes, and you will feel the calm of lounging by the beach! Menon makes even the grief seem bearable with her calming writing. It is all simply breathtaking and wonderful.
This little book, with its surprisingly sparse prose will blow your mind. I'm sure I will reread it at some point in life, just to relax and unwind.
The story is narrated by Marissa, who loses her mother at the age of 6. She meets her best friend for life, Arielle, who quickly says to her, "we can share my mother!" Arielle makes Marissa her family. They're both inseparable, and spend most of their days swimming in the pristine waters in Thailand, where Marissa's father works as a researcher.
During the week, the girls live at the resort owned by Arielle’s parents; on the weekends they join the tight-knit community of researchers on a nearby island. Together the girls discover the fragile wonders of its reefs, forests, and beaches. Together they learn to dive into the deep, holding their breath for minutes at a time, as effortlessly synchronized as the manta rays they come to know by name. Together they learn to swim their way out of danger. But their skills don't help Arielle when a wave swallows her during the 2004 tsunami.
Years later, Marissa lives and works in New York, still grappling with the grief of losing the only person she's loved the most. Everyday things seem like Herculean tasks to her. But there's more coming her way. Another natural disaster. Another cataclysm, as she slowly learns how to handle her grief and face the world.
Under Water reads more like a soothing poetry than a novel. While reading, try closing your eyes, and you will feel the calm of lounging by the beach! Menon makes even the grief seem bearable with her calming writing. It is all simply breathtaking and wonderful.
This little book, with its surprisingly sparse prose will blow your mind. I'm sure I will reread it at some point in life, just to relax and unwind.
March 17, 2026
Taking place across dual timelines, "Under Water" is told from the first-person perspective of Marissa, a young woman living in New York City in 2012. Much of her present is haunted by her past, however, and we jump back in time to 2004 when she was living in a remote island in Thailand with her father, who moved there after the sudden passing of Marissa's mother. A marine biologist, he sought solace in a completely new place where he could continue his research, and it's on this island in the Andaman Sea that Marissa meets Arielle, the daughter of a Thai mother and English father who own the upscale hotel she resides in.
The friendship that they build is one of closeness and a shared love for nature and the marine life they encounter. But in the oncoming tsunami that strikes Thailand in 2004, Marissa suffers yet another devastating loss, and returns back to New York City - where, years later, she's forced to confront the devastation of Hurricane Sandy.
This is normally the type of novel I love, and I thoroughly appreciated Menon's exploration of female friendships (which aren't given enough attention in contrast to romantic relationships), grief and loss, and the focus on marine life and nature. It's clear that this is subject matter she's well-versed in and done extensive research in, and I found her descriptions incredibly immersive and the sheer amount and diversity of facts inspiring. However, I did find the overall writing difficult to get through at times. The time jumps between past and present seemed too quick, and the prose and plot felt sluggish and repetitive at times. Even though this is told from a first-person perspective, I don't think we really came to understand the protagonists, especially Arielle, in this novel, which is perhaps also because of how short of a work this is.
I applaud this debut novel from Menon and I think many others will enjoy it, but I do not this it was developed in a way I could fully appreciate.
The friendship that they build is one of closeness and a shared love for nature and the marine life they encounter. But in the oncoming tsunami that strikes Thailand in 2004, Marissa suffers yet another devastating loss, and returns back to New York City - where, years later, she's forced to confront the devastation of Hurricane Sandy.
This is normally the type of novel I love, and I thoroughly appreciated Menon's exploration of female friendships (which aren't given enough attention in contrast to romantic relationships), grief and loss, and the focus on marine life and nature. It's clear that this is subject matter she's well-versed in and done extensive research in, and I found her descriptions incredibly immersive and the sheer amount and diversity of facts inspiring. However, I did find the overall writing difficult to get through at times. The time jumps between past and present seemed too quick, and the prose and plot felt sluggish and repetitive at times. Even though this is told from a first-person perspective, I don't think we really came to understand the protagonists, especially Arielle, in this novel, which is perhaps also because of how short of a work this is.
I applaud this debut novel from Menon and I think many others will enjoy it, but I do not this it was developed in a way I could fully appreciate.
March 22, 2026
A moving meditation on female friendship, loss, grief, the natural world and climate change from a debut author whose style is sure to appeal to fans of authors like Jessica J Lee. Great on audio and highly recommended. This book will make you feel and think and it was a quick, intensely emotional journey told in a dual timeline structure with flashbacks to the narrator's past and present set mostly in Thailand and a bit in NYC.
November 10, 2025
A story told in two different times lines about Marissa who is living with the devastating loss of her best friend Arielle.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster UK my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster UK my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 21, 2026
something about the cover of this book just immediately hooked me and i’m glad i followed that instinct.. beautiful descriptions of wildlife and the ocean and friendship and grief. what a punch is packed into this little book
March 25, 2026
Gorgeous writing, I’d love more lit fic surrounding the tsunami in Thailand or the exploration of grief and loss after natural disaster
March 19, 2026
The timeline in this book was not linear. Maybe it was hard to keep track of because I was listening to the audiobook, but I found it took me out of the story each time I had to figure out where they were and when it happened.
February 20, 2026
my first proof given by the new job! it’s so beautifully written, covers a deeply moving female friendship, with an additional focus on the environment/natural disasters.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
this book tells a story about friendship between Marissa and Arielle. what i enjoyed the most about this book was their friendship in Thailand. the setting was something new for me, reading about the beach and creatures like manta rays and turtles felt like a breath of fresh air for me.
however, i didn't like the writing. sometimes it overexplained things to the point i felt like i was reading the news, because literally there's too many numbers, like years, death tolls, and stuff like that. this book also keeps mentioning many things/examples. i thought it would get better, but ....
later, i realized that this book was very repetitive. i kept finding paragraphs that started with the same pattern, for example always using the word 'when' at the beginning every time Marissa talked about flashbacks with Arielle in Thailand. i could just ignore it, i really could. but there were too many, to the point i kept noticing it and it distracted me. sometimes there were also just short, unimportant scenes before moving on. too many scene breaks for very short scenes.
i really wanted to love this book. but it looks like the universe didn't let me, i guess ....
however, i didn't like the writing. sometimes it overexplained things to the point i felt like i was reading the news, because literally there's too many numbers, like years, death tolls, and stuff like that. this book also keeps mentioning many things/examples. i thought it would get better, but ....
later, i realized that this book was very repetitive. i kept finding paragraphs that started with the same pattern, for example always using the word 'when' at the beginning every time Marissa talked about flashbacks with Arielle in Thailand. i could just ignore it, i really could. but there were too many, to the point i kept noticing it and it distracted me. sometimes there were also just short, unimportant scenes before moving on. too many scene breaks for very short scenes.
i really wanted to love this book. but it looks like the universe didn't let me, i guess ....
February 4, 2026
Incredible. Exquisite. Sublime.
A stunning story of the underwater world that brought two young women into a deep, intimate friendship. Described in breathtakingly sparse prose, Menon masterfully captures the beauty of the ocean and its ambivalence to human life.
Like the tide crashing onto the shore, grief and loss erode the sand away from beneath our feet and soon we (just as Marissa does) find ourselves stranded within the cataclysm of hurricanes and tsunamis. Achingly heartbreaking, asides about red-eared slider turtles or chili’s or paint colors (and their myriad names) or manta rays and the use of their gills (known to harbor heavy metals) in Chinese traditional medicine for pregnancy are, like currents, through lines that, seemingly out of place at first, connect one point of the story to another with practiced, graceful skill.
I could not put this book this down, I kept thinking about getting back to the story throughout the three days I was reading. I am almost certainly going to reread this at some point. It’s a quick but engrossing novel that simply doesn’t let the reader go.
A stunning story of the underwater world that brought two young women into a deep, intimate friendship. Described in breathtakingly sparse prose, Menon masterfully captures the beauty of the ocean and its ambivalence to human life.
Like the tide crashing onto the shore, grief and loss erode the sand away from beneath our feet and soon we (just as Marissa does) find ourselves stranded within the cataclysm of hurricanes and tsunamis. Achingly heartbreaking, asides about red-eared slider turtles or chili’s or paint colors (and their myriad names) or manta rays and the use of their gills (known to harbor heavy metals) in Chinese traditional medicine for pregnancy are, like currents, through lines that, seemingly out of place at first, connect one point of the story to another with practiced, graceful skill.
I could not put this book this down, I kept thinking about getting back to the story throughout the three days I was reading. I am almost certainly going to reread this at some point. It’s a quick but engrossing novel that simply doesn’t let the reader go.
December 3, 2025
A beautiful and haunting little book
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ I would recommend this book to just about anyone. This book offers some combination of enthralling plot, good writing, and lasting imagery, emotional impact and/or educational value.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ I enjoyed this book and would recommend this book to anyone with interest in the topic matter or genre.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ I recognized something of value in this book, and would maybe recommend it to select people, but ultimately it missed the mark for me.
⭐️ ⭐️ I finished this, but would not recommend it.
⭐️ DNF
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ I would recommend this book to just about anyone. This book offers some combination of enthralling plot, good writing, and lasting imagery, emotional impact and/or educational value.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ I enjoyed this book and would recommend this book to anyone with interest in the topic matter or genre.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ I recognized something of value in this book, and would maybe recommend it to select people, but ultimately it missed the mark for me.
⭐️ ⭐️ I finished this, but would not recommend it.
⭐️ DNF
March 22, 2026
I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to hear Tara Menon in conversation with her editor talking about her writing process for this book, but even without that context, I would have finished reading Under Water with the same thought: that it was one of the most brilliant books I'd ever read.
At its core, this is a story of friendship. I loved all the details Menon wrote into the book: it's really the small moments between Marissa and Arielle that contain whole worlds. It's a relationship that's expansive and intimate. It argues that grief for friends is worthy of exploration, which is something briefly touched on in the book. I was reminded of how intense friendships can feel when you're young, or when they're made quickly under pressure, but also how joyful they are even amongst the friction.
As a story of details, every single word was deliberate, and everyone knows that scratches my brain in just the right way. I love writing like this, that's so piercing and nearly blistering in its specificity. Menon mentioned all the research she did, and all the unpublished words tossed out in favor of the final project, and I could feel all that energy behind what ended up behind the page.
In addition to feeling humbled by all the emotions I felt while reading, I was struck by all the descriptions of the natural world. I think reading this after having engaged with Project Hail Mary (the movie specifically) recently and really feeling infinitesimal in the universe, Under Water continued that conversation for me, but closer to home. There is a lot that's just not in our control! And so many other creatures that bring color to our days and experience on the planet. You could absolutely do a reading of this book focusing specifically on all the wildlife and natural elements and write a whole essay about it.
Of course, as a girl with an English degree, I loved and deeply appreciated all the literary references and the way this engaged with Victorian literature and In Memoriam specifically. I am who I am.
Under Water is melancholy, it's angry, it's beautiful, it's devastating, it's blistering (probably my favorite way to describe it at the moment), and I can't recommend it highly enough!
At its core, this is a story of friendship. I loved all the details Menon wrote into the book: it's really the small moments between Marissa and Arielle that contain whole worlds. It's a relationship that's expansive and intimate. It argues that grief for friends is worthy of exploration, which is something briefly touched on in the book. I was reminded of how intense friendships can feel when you're young, or when they're made quickly under pressure, but also how joyful they are even amongst the friction.
As a story of details, every single word was deliberate, and everyone knows that scratches my brain in just the right way. I love writing like this, that's so piercing and nearly blistering in its specificity. Menon mentioned all the research she did, and all the unpublished words tossed out in favor of the final project, and I could feel all that energy behind what ended up behind the page.
In addition to feeling humbled by all the emotions I felt while reading, I was struck by all the descriptions of the natural world. I think reading this after having engaged with Project Hail Mary (the movie specifically) recently and really feeling infinitesimal in the universe, Under Water continued that conversation for me, but closer to home. There is a lot that's just not in our control! And so many other creatures that bring color to our days and experience on the planet. You could absolutely do a reading of this book focusing specifically on all the wildlife and natural elements and write a whole essay about it.
Of course, as a girl with an English degree, I loved and deeply appreciated all the literary references and the way this engaged with Victorian literature and In Memoriam specifically. I am who I am.
Under Water is melancholy, it's angry, it's beautiful, it's devastating, it's blistering (probably my favorite way to describe it at the moment), and I can't recommend it highly enough!
March 25, 2026
“There is no place in our language for grief about friends, or love for them. Our language is overwhelmed by the love and loss of lovers.” -Tara Menon, Under Water
This book broke me. I have never read anything like it. A beautifully written literary fiction novel, Under Water by Tara Menon is a portrait of the experience of lingering grief years after a loss, and how it can shape you every day.
Set in dual times of Marissa in present day (2012) New York readying for Hurricane Sandy and Marissa’s childhood memories of her late best friend Arielle and the times they spent together in Thailand in 2004.
In the present day, Marissa is haunted by Arielle memory, and while the reader isn’t immediately told how Arielle died, it’s clear that the storm approaching is bringing up memories of previous trauma for Marissa. Through both timelines it’s clear Marissa is no stranger to grief, she lost her mom and a young age and Arielle took Marissa in, offering to share hers. Marissa is affected daily by the loss of Arielle in a way that is incredibly lonely and realistic.
There are exceptional details in here that endeared me to the characters- Arielle and Marissa listening words describing groups of animals, Marissa writing work articles on her notes app. This book gives such immersive settings too, in both Thailand 2004 and and New York City 2012. It shows in a way that is very hard to describe how water can be so beautiful and life giving while also so deadly and life ruining. I’ve experience hurricanes (luckily have only lost belongings) and aspect of loving and fearing nature at once.
This book is beautiful and both sad and redemptive. Can’t recommend it enough to the literary fiction crowd. Thank you @Riverheadbooks for the copy and thank you Tara Menon for writing this work of art.
This book broke me. I have never read anything like it. A beautifully written literary fiction novel, Under Water by Tara Menon is a portrait of the experience of lingering grief years after a loss, and how it can shape you every day.
Set in dual times of Marissa in present day (2012) New York readying for Hurricane Sandy and Marissa’s childhood memories of her late best friend Arielle and the times they spent together in Thailand in 2004.
In the present day, Marissa is haunted by Arielle memory, and while the reader isn’t immediately told how Arielle died, it’s clear that the storm approaching is bringing up memories of previous trauma for Marissa. Through both timelines it’s clear Marissa is no stranger to grief, she lost her mom and a young age and Arielle took Marissa in, offering to share hers. Marissa is affected daily by the loss of Arielle in a way that is incredibly lonely and realistic.
There are exceptional details in here that endeared me to the characters- Arielle and Marissa listening words describing groups of animals, Marissa writing work articles on her notes app. This book gives such immersive settings too, in both Thailand 2004 and and New York City 2012. It shows in a way that is very hard to describe how water can be so beautiful and life giving while also so deadly and life ruining. I’ve experience hurricanes (luckily have only lost belongings) and aspect of loving and fearing nature at once.
This book is beautiful and both sad and redemptive. Can’t recommend it enough to the literary fiction crowd. Thank you @Riverheadbooks for the copy and thank you Tara Menon for writing this work of art.
March 29, 2026
3.5 stars
I had to sit with this story for a little while before writing a review to see if it “sticks”
The novel captures the particular ache of grieving a friend, the relationship society often treats as secondary.
The imagery of life on a Thai island and the rich biodiversity its oceans hold was a pleasure to read and makes me look forward to going diving again soon.
My main issue lay with the two timelines. Spanning eight years, the structure made it difficult for me to stay fully invested in Marissa’s ongoing sorrow. I understand that grief is not linear and often comes in waves, yet the intensity of the trauma and grief Marissa feels in the present sometimes felt disproportionate to the time that had passed.
This is a novel I admired while reading it but one whose full emotional weight felt a bit muted. Perhaps that was the point…….
I had to sit with this story for a little while before writing a review to see if it “sticks”
The novel captures the particular ache of grieving a friend, the relationship society often treats as secondary.
The imagery of life on a Thai island and the rich biodiversity its oceans hold was a pleasure to read and makes me look forward to going diving again soon.
My main issue lay with the two timelines. Spanning eight years, the structure made it difficult for me to stay fully invested in Marissa’s ongoing sorrow. I understand that grief is not linear and often comes in waves, yet the intensity of the trauma and grief Marissa feels in the present sometimes felt disproportionate to the time that had passed.
This is a novel I admired while reading it but one whose full emotional weight felt a bit muted. Perhaps that was the point…….
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