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The Jellyfish Problem
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A marine biologist makes the discovery of a lifetime when called to rescue the inhabitants of a small Maine island being menaced by a giant, glowing jellyfish in this richly imagined, wholly original debut.
Dr. Jo Ness prefers jellyfish to people. Her best friend, Aldo, was the exception, but he died seven months ago. So she spends her days hidden away at an underfunded aquarium with her specimens and a draft of the jellyfish guide she and Aldo had been working on together. His voice is alive in the notes in the margins, and it’s enough. Almost.
Until she receives a call from Nadia, one of the few other humans she’s loved but whom she hasn’t heard from in years, asking for her help. Nadia tells her a grand tale of a giant jellyfish terrorizing her tiny island off the coast of Maine and sends a grainy video of the creature. Frankly, the footage looks fake, but Jo drops everything to fly across the country to see Nadia again, and to find this supposed sea beast. She couldn’t save Aldo, but perhaps she can help Nadia.
But when Jo arrives on Shattering Point, Nadia is nowhere to be found, and the islanders she meets each have something different to say about the creature they’ve dubbed Clementine . . . a jellyfish who changes all who see it.
At turns an ode to classic sea monster stories and a vibrant tale of human connection, The Jellyfish Problem is an unforgettable debut that announces a new talent.
Dr. Jo Ness prefers jellyfish to people. Her best friend, Aldo, was the exception, but he died seven months ago. So she spends her days hidden away at an underfunded aquarium with her specimens and a draft of the jellyfish guide she and Aldo had been working on together. His voice is alive in the notes in the margins, and it’s enough. Almost.
Until she receives a call from Nadia, one of the few other humans she’s loved but whom she hasn’t heard from in years, asking for her help. Nadia tells her a grand tale of a giant jellyfish terrorizing her tiny island off the coast of Maine and sends a grainy video of the creature. Frankly, the footage looks fake, but Jo drops everything to fly across the country to see Nadia again, and to find this supposed sea beast. She couldn’t save Aldo, but perhaps she can help Nadia.
But when Jo arrives on Shattering Point, Nadia is nowhere to be found, and the islanders she meets each have something different to say about the creature they’ve dubbed Clementine . . . a jellyfish who changes all who see it.
At turns an ode to classic sea monster stories and a vibrant tale of human connection, The Jellyfish Problem is an unforgettable debut that announces a new talent.
384 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication June 2, 2026
About the author
Tessa Yang
3 books81 followersTessa Yang is a reader, writer, and shark enthusiast from New York State. She received her MFA from Indiana University where she served as the Editor of Indiana Review.
Her debut story collection, The Runaway Restaurant, was published by 7.13 Books in 2022. Her debut novel, The Jellyfish Problem, will be published by Berkley in 2026. Tessa's stories have appeared in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, The Cincinnati Review, Foglifter, and elsewhere, while her flash fiction has been featured in Best Small Fictions, Flash Fiction America, and Wigleaf's Top 50 Very Short Fictions.
For irregular musings on writing or to learn more about Tessa's work:
🦈 sign up for Tessa's newsletter
🌐 Check out her website
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Her debut story collection, The Runaway Restaurant, was published by 7.13 Books in 2022. Her debut novel, The Jellyfish Problem, will be published by Berkley in 2026. Tessa's stories have appeared in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, The Cincinnati Review, Foglifter, and elsewhere, while her flash fiction has been featured in Best Small Fictions, Flash Fiction America, and Wigleaf's Top 50 Very Short Fictions.
For irregular musings on writing or to learn more about Tessa's work:
🦈 sign up for Tessa's newsletter
🌐 Check out her website
🦋 Follow her on Bluesky
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I think a big reason new releases don't get good reviews is that they're marketed as a comparison of previously beloved books, such as the case with The Jellyfish Problem and Remarkably Bright Creatures. I've yet to read Remarkably Bright Creatures, so I have nothing to compare it to, but I thoroughly liked this book. I'm a lover of any marine animals, so the title of this really caught my eye.
The Jellyfish Problem starts with our fmc Jo, who receives a call from an old college friend about a mystical jellyfish near an island that's scaring the locals. Jo is a marine biologist whose life focus is jellyfish. She's currently in a state of grief due to the passing of her best friend, so when she receives the strange request to visit the remote island, she does not hesitate since it's a possible distraction for her.
The story is layered with so many elements. It's a mix of grief, horror, and mystery, scientific curiosity, and magic realism. Everything on the island is strange, and the author does a great job creating that atmosphere. It's not very action-packed, very tender and somewhat slow-paced, which I surprisingly enjoyed. I loved the way this was written, too. You can tell that Tessa Yang really did her research on marine life, but does not overcomplicate it. The story is a bit unusual, but so creative!
From what I can tell, the only similarity between this book and Remarkably Bright Creatures is that both books contain a marine animal focus. I definitely would recommend this book, but make sure to ignore any promotional stuff about the two books being similar.
The Jellyfish Problem starts with our fmc Jo, who receives a call from an old college friend about a mystical jellyfish near an island that's scaring the locals. Jo is a marine biologist whose life focus is jellyfish. She's currently in a state of grief due to the passing of her best friend, so when she receives the strange request to visit the remote island, she does not hesitate since it's a possible distraction for her.
The story is layered with so many elements. It's a mix of grief, horror, and mystery, scientific curiosity, and magic realism. Everything on the island is strange, and the author does a great job creating that atmosphere. It's not very action-packed, very tender and somewhat slow-paced, which I surprisingly enjoyed. I loved the way this was written, too. You can tell that Tessa Yang really did her research on marine life, but does not overcomplicate it. The story is a bit unusual, but so creative!
From what I can tell, the only similarity between this book and Remarkably Bright Creatures is that both books contain a marine animal focus. I definitely would recommend this book, but make sure to ignore any promotional stuff about the two books being similar.
Want to Read
January 14, 2026After I heard the comparison of this to "remarkably bright creatures," I had to get my hands on a copy.
So many thanks to Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley for sending me this ARC. I AM SO EXCITED TO READ THIS ONE.
"A marine biologist makes the discovery of a lifetime when called to rescue the inhabitants of a small Maine island being menaced by a giant, glowing jellyfish."
Pub Date Jun 02 2026
As always, all thoughts are my own! ✨🖤
So many thanks to Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley for sending me this ARC. I AM SO EXCITED TO READ THIS ONE.
"A marine biologist makes the discovery of a lifetime when called to rescue the inhabitants of a small Maine island being menaced by a giant, glowing jellyfish."
Pub Date Jun 02 2026
As always, all thoughts are my own! ✨🖤
January 19, 2026
The Jellyfish Problem is a fresh, imaginative take on sea-monster stories with heart. There is mystery, quirky characters, and real emotion as marine biologist Jo investigates the strange case of a giant glowing jellyfish. The writing is vivid and thoughtful, and the mix of humor, grief, and connection kept me hooked from start to finish. Highly recommend if you’re into something original and surprisingly moving!
Thanks to NetGallery for providing me with an ARC to review!
Thanks to NetGallery for providing me with an ARC to review!
January 4, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this eARC.
3.5 🌟
Tessa Yang’s novel is a beautiful dive into grief, connection, and the mysteries of the natural world. The story follows Dr. Jo Ness, a lonely jellyfish scientist, who is drawn to an isolated island by a glitchy video of a massive, mystical jellyfish sent by an old college friend she hasn’t spoken to in over a decade. After the death of her longtime friend and peer, Jo is just going through the motions, carrying guilt and unresolved grief. When her friend Nadia asks for her help with a jellyfish problem, Jo jumps at the chance to reconnect, but once she arrives, Nadia is nowhere to be found, and everyone in town acts odd and all over the place around her. It isn’t until she encounters the jellyfish, Clementine, that everything shifts, revealing that appearances are not always what they seem.
What I appreciated most was how the novel explored life, connection, and the emotional pulls that make us human. I really connected with the grief aspect of losing a close friend. While my experiences are not the same, I saw myself in Jo’s self-sabotaging behavior and the guilt she carried. I also loved the scientific elements. Coming from a biology background, it was a fun blast from the past, and the marine biology details, especially the subtle digs at sea turtles and sharks, were delightful. Yang’s perspective on jellyfish resonated deeply, and I found it fascinating to see her approach from a marine biologist’s lens, a viewpoint I haven’t encountered in fiction before.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a gripping man versus nature story with emotional depth. Tessa Yang elevates the genre to something wholly unique, full of surprises and unpredictability. Beyond the adventure, the story touches on universal human experiences, grief, guilt, and connection, and emphasizes inclusivity in subtle but meaningful ways. It is a thoughtful, immersive read that lingers long after the last page.
3.5 🌟
Tessa Yang’s novel is a beautiful dive into grief, connection, and the mysteries of the natural world. The story follows Dr. Jo Ness, a lonely jellyfish scientist, who is drawn to an isolated island by a glitchy video of a massive, mystical jellyfish sent by an old college friend she hasn’t spoken to in over a decade. After the death of her longtime friend and peer, Jo is just going through the motions, carrying guilt and unresolved grief. When her friend Nadia asks for her help with a jellyfish problem, Jo jumps at the chance to reconnect, but once she arrives, Nadia is nowhere to be found, and everyone in town acts odd and all over the place around her. It isn’t until she encounters the jellyfish, Clementine, that everything shifts, revealing that appearances are not always what they seem.
What I appreciated most was how the novel explored life, connection, and the emotional pulls that make us human. I really connected with the grief aspect of losing a close friend. While my experiences are not the same, I saw myself in Jo’s self-sabotaging behavior and the guilt she carried. I also loved the scientific elements. Coming from a biology background, it was a fun blast from the past, and the marine biology details, especially the subtle digs at sea turtles and sharks, were delightful. Yang’s perspective on jellyfish resonated deeply, and I found it fascinating to see her approach from a marine biologist’s lens, a viewpoint I haven’t encountered in fiction before.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a gripping man versus nature story with emotional depth. Tessa Yang elevates the genre to something wholly unique, full of surprises and unpredictability. Beyond the adventure, the story touches on universal human experiences, grief, guilt, and connection, and emphasizes inclusivity in subtle but meaningful ways. It is a thoughtful, immersive read that lingers long after the last page.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A sincere thank you to Netgalley for this ARC!
This is one of the best books that I've read in a long time. It is very clear that the author spent an exorbitant amount of time researching jellyfish, Marine biology, and ocean sciences in general.
The book was intelligently written, there were hints of Mystery and Thriller, and it wraps up very nicely at the end. The author believes in the intelligence and capabilities of her readers and does an excellent job of "show and don't tell".
Its exploration of the power of grief, and the process of healing from loss, was incredibly touching. I teared up more than once.
Though this is not the kind of book I would normally pick up, I will highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys quality writing and an emotional story. The mystery kept me turning pages until the very end.
I look forward to reading other works by Tessa Yang.
This is one of the best books that I've read in a long time. It is very clear that the author spent an exorbitant amount of time researching jellyfish, Marine biology, and ocean sciences in general.
The book was intelligently written, there were hints of Mystery and Thriller, and it wraps up very nicely at the end. The author believes in the intelligence and capabilities of her readers and does an excellent job of "show and don't tell".
Its exploration of the power of grief, and the process of healing from loss, was incredibly touching. I teared up more than once.
Though this is not the kind of book I would normally pick up, I will highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys quality writing and an emotional story. The mystery kept me turning pages until the very end.
I look forward to reading other works by Tessa Yang.
April 8, 2026
The Jellyfish Problem starts off as a science fiction novel, but slowly transforms into an allegory for grief. How grief affects the individual and the community, holding on as it slowly destroys. Just like Clementine, you never fully see it in its entirety, but it’s there pulsing beneath the surface. Being trapped by it causes anger, confusion, and recklessness. Yet even after its crushing weight, the relief of making it through feels like a ship that’s made it through a storm. The future becomes optimistic even if a little bit of grief remains to be later called upon.
Thank you to Berkely for this giveaway win in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
Thank you to Berkely for this giveaway win in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Somewhere between Here Beside the Rising Tide and Bear, *The Jellyfish Problem* is less scary and less laugh‑out‑loud funny, but it’s all heart as with those books. Tessa Yang grounds her story in a richly drawn Japanese American family and a tight‑knit island community, capturing small‑town life at its best and its worst: the comfort of familiar faces, the sting of gossip, and the way everyone’s business is always a little bit yours, too.
I loved the symbolism threaded through the jellyfish appearances and the way the “monster” becomes a mirror for grief, belonging, and intergenerational expectations more than a source of horror. The family dynamics feel lived‑in and specific, and the quiet moments between parents, children, and neighbors often land harder than the scenes of suspense.
That said, I found myself wanting a bigger showdown with the creature. After all the build‑up around what the jellyfish can do and how the islanders have tried to deal with it in the past, the final confrontation felt more like a tentative swim‑about than a true reckoning. I would have loved a bit more detail about earlier attempts to stop or appease the monster, and a climax that pushed the characters further both emotionally or physically.
It’s also worth noting that this is, ultimately, a very gentle book. No one dies or is seriously harmed, and the ending leans into a happily‑ever‑after tone (with one small exception) that suits the novel’s warmth more than its horror trappings. Still, given the premise, I think there was a missed opportunity to weave in more explicit climate themes or ocean conservation especially when jellyfish and shifting marine ecosystems are such ripe territory for talking about our impact on the planet.
Overall, *The Jellyfish Problem* is a quietly engaging, sweet read: less creature feature and more tender character study. It’s the kind of book that would pair perfectly with a breezy afternoon and the sound of waves in the background, especially if you’re spending part of your summer along the North Atlantic coast.
I loved the symbolism threaded through the jellyfish appearances and the way the “monster” becomes a mirror for grief, belonging, and intergenerational expectations more than a source of horror. The family dynamics feel lived‑in and specific, and the quiet moments between parents, children, and neighbors often land harder than the scenes of suspense.
That said, I found myself wanting a bigger showdown with the creature. After all the build‑up around what the jellyfish can do and how the islanders have tried to deal with it in the past, the final confrontation felt more like a tentative swim‑about than a true reckoning. I would have loved a bit more detail about earlier attempts to stop or appease the monster, and a climax that pushed the characters further both emotionally or physically.
It’s also worth noting that this is, ultimately, a very gentle book. No one dies or is seriously harmed, and the ending leans into a happily‑ever‑after tone (with one small exception) that suits the novel’s warmth more than its horror trappings. Still, given the premise, I think there was a missed opportunity to weave in more explicit climate themes or ocean conservation especially when jellyfish and shifting marine ecosystems are such ripe territory for talking about our impact on the planet.
Overall, *The Jellyfish Problem* is a quietly engaging, sweet read: less creature feature and more tender character study. It’s the kind of book that would pair perfectly with a breezy afternoon and the sound of waves in the background, especially if you’re spending part of your summer along the North Atlantic coast.
March 23, 2026
This won’t be for everyone, but it was for me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Jellyfish Problem by Tessa Yang is a highly recommended interpersonal drama, mystery, and science fiction monster tale all mixed together with magic realism in this debut novel.
Marine biologist Dr. Josephine (Jo) Ness loves jellyfish and desperately grieves the loss of her best and only friend, Aldo, who died seven months earlier in a diving accident. Jo is working at a small aquarium while trying to finish the jellyfish guide she and Aldo were writing. After not hearing from her for eleven years, Jo is surprised to have college friend and crush Nadia contact her asking for her help. Nadia tells her that a giant jellyfish is terrorizing the small island of Shattering Point, off the coast of Maine and she sends a video of the glowing red creature. The video looks fake, but Jo flies across the country to help.
Once she manages to get on the island, she discovers Nadia is gone, her husband Roger seems dismissive, and the locals are various degrees of elusive. Eventually, Jo meets Tony at the local B&B, learns from a child that they jellyfish is named Clementine, and discovers that Clementine, who appears every full moon, changes everyone who sees her. All of this while also repeatedly encountering the dive-suited ghost of Aldo. Once Jo sees Clementine, she understands what the locals didn't want to tell her and she looks for an answer to the problem.
This is certainly an interesting, well-written, genre-bending debut novel. I was hoping for the straight-up sci-fi tale of a giant jelly fish terrorizing the island. What I received was something enjoyable, but quite different. While there are sci-fi aspects, interspersed with jellyfish facts, this is all liberally mixed with relationship issues, a ghost story, folklore, and magic realism. it is really more of an even-paced interpersonal drama exploring human connections, grief, friendship, relationships, with marine science and jellyfish facts.
The character development is a key component to the novel. Jo is a complex fully realized individual with strengths and weaknesses who is neurodivergent. She is awkward in social situations and can be blunt and confrontational, but she is also deeply grieving the loss of Aldo and searching for connections to other individuals. All the supporting characters are equally unique individuals.
The narrative follows Jo in the present day. Each chapter opens with a selection from the jellyfish guide she was writing with Aldo but is now trying to finish alone. At the side of the selection are notes written by Aldo and a few from Jo. (This didn't translate very well on my review copy for the Kindle, so it took a minute to figure out what was going on. I'm sure it will be obvious in the finished book.) These little notes give insight into Aldo and their relationship.
While being a unique novel, it's not perfect. It was almost too much genre jumping for me. Perhaps it was due to my expectations, but I could have done without the relationship pining/love story. Building new friendships and connections would have sufficiently sufficed for the purpose of the plot. There was enough going on with Jo's grief, Nadia missing, and Aldo's ghost, while discovering and solving the jellyfish problem. I also wasn't a fan of the discovery that led to the solution, but will not spoil the ending. Yang gets a point, up from 3 to 4 for the uniqueness of her plot and the many jellyfish facts.
The Jellyfish Problem would be a good choice for those who can appreciate a genre-bending interpersonal drama with hints of science fiction. Thanks to the Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2026/0...
Marine biologist Dr. Josephine (Jo) Ness loves jellyfish and desperately grieves the loss of her best and only friend, Aldo, who died seven months earlier in a diving accident. Jo is working at a small aquarium while trying to finish the jellyfish guide she and Aldo were writing. After not hearing from her for eleven years, Jo is surprised to have college friend and crush Nadia contact her asking for her help. Nadia tells her that a giant jellyfish is terrorizing the small island of Shattering Point, off the coast of Maine and she sends a video of the glowing red creature. The video looks fake, but Jo flies across the country to help.
Once she manages to get on the island, she discovers Nadia is gone, her husband Roger seems dismissive, and the locals are various degrees of elusive. Eventually, Jo meets Tony at the local B&B, learns from a child that they jellyfish is named Clementine, and discovers that Clementine, who appears every full moon, changes everyone who sees her. All of this while also repeatedly encountering the dive-suited ghost of Aldo. Once Jo sees Clementine, she understands what the locals didn't want to tell her and she looks for an answer to the problem.
This is certainly an interesting, well-written, genre-bending debut novel. I was hoping for the straight-up sci-fi tale of a giant jelly fish terrorizing the island. What I received was something enjoyable, but quite different. While there are sci-fi aspects, interspersed with jellyfish facts, this is all liberally mixed with relationship issues, a ghost story, folklore, and magic realism. it is really more of an even-paced interpersonal drama exploring human connections, grief, friendship, relationships, with marine science and jellyfish facts.
The character development is a key component to the novel. Jo is a complex fully realized individual with strengths and weaknesses who is neurodivergent. She is awkward in social situations and can be blunt and confrontational, but she is also deeply grieving the loss of Aldo and searching for connections to other individuals. All the supporting characters are equally unique individuals.
The narrative follows Jo in the present day. Each chapter opens with a selection from the jellyfish guide she was writing with Aldo but is now trying to finish alone. At the side of the selection are notes written by Aldo and a few from Jo. (This didn't translate very well on my review copy for the Kindle, so it took a minute to figure out what was going on. I'm sure it will be obvious in the finished book.) These little notes give insight into Aldo and their relationship.
While being a unique novel, it's not perfect. It was almost too much genre jumping for me. Perhaps it was due to my expectations, but I could have done without the relationship pining/love story. Building new friendships and connections would have sufficiently sufficed for the purpose of the plot. There was enough going on with Jo's grief, Nadia missing, and Aldo's ghost, while discovering and solving the jellyfish problem. I also wasn't a fan of the discovery that led to the solution, but will not spoil the ending. Yang gets a point, up from 3 to 4 for the uniqueness of her plot and the many jellyfish facts.
The Jellyfish Problem would be a good choice for those who can appreciate a genre-bending interpersonal drama with hints of science fiction. Thanks to the Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2026/0...
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
🌅 I was expecting a story similar to Remarkably Bright Creatures, and it really wasn't. This book completely surprised me. I went in expecting a quirky marine biology story and got something far deeper: it was part mystery, part quiet horror, part emotional unraveling of grief, all wrapped in an eerie, ocean-soaked atmosphere that I couldn’t shake.
We follow Jo, a marine biologist who prefers the predictability of jellyfish to the messiness of people. I liked that she was written as neurodivergent with social difficulties but still able to connect with a couple of individuals. However, she’s been barely functioning since the death of her best friend, carrying guilt that clings to her like a sock fresh from the dryer. When an old friend from college reaches out with a strange request, Jo doesn’t hesitate. The request? Come to a remote island off the New England coast to investigate an unusual jellyfish. It’s something to focus on. Something that isn’t grief.
But when she arrives, things are… off. The friend who called her is missing. The islanders are uneasy. And the jellyfish at the center of it all isn’t just unusual, it's mythical. To Jo, everything feels wrong. Too large. Too powerful. The jellyfish's appearance seems to be connected to everything happening on the island.
What unfolds is a layered story that moves between scientific curiosity, creeping dread, and emotional healing. I loved how the book blends grounded details about marine life with something much stranger. Each chapter opens with insights about jellyfish, which not only adds texture but subtly mirrors what Jo herself is going through as she struggles with her grief: fragility, survival, transformation.
This book shines in its atmosphere and themes. The coastal setting feels isolated and slightly unsettling, building tension without constant action. The emotional arc, especially Jo’s guilt and her struggle to reconnect with people, felt honest and grounded. I also appreciated how the story explores community, isolation, and the quiet ways people try to survive loss.
The pacing is definitely on the slower side, especially at the beginning, and it takes time for the story to fully reveal what’s going on. Some of the more surreal elements, particularly the deeper connection between the jellyfish and the events on the island, felt a little abstract and may not work for readers who prefer clear explanations.
The side characters also feel a bit distant at times, but that seems intentional, since we’re experiencing everything through Jo’s emotionally closed-off perspective.
Overall
I really liked this. It’s not a fast, plot-heavy thriller. It’s a reflective, slightly eerie story about grief, science, and the unknown. If you like books that blend literary fiction with a touch of the uncanny, this is absolutely worth picking up. I appreciate NetGalley and The Berkley Publishing Group providing me with this ARC in exchange for my unbiased opinion. And thank you to Tessa Yang for this fun fictional read.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(4 stars)
#BerkleyPublishing #TheJellyfishProblem #NetGalley
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We follow Jo, a marine biologist who prefers the predictability of jellyfish to the messiness of people. I liked that she was written as neurodivergent with social difficulties but still able to connect with a couple of individuals. However, she’s been barely functioning since the death of her best friend, carrying guilt that clings to her like a sock fresh from the dryer. When an old friend from college reaches out with a strange request, Jo doesn’t hesitate. The request? Come to a remote island off the New England coast to investigate an unusual jellyfish. It’s something to focus on. Something that isn’t grief.
But when she arrives, things are… off. The friend who called her is missing. The islanders are uneasy. And the jellyfish at the center of it all isn’t just unusual, it's mythical. To Jo, everything feels wrong. Too large. Too powerful. The jellyfish's appearance seems to be connected to everything happening on the island.
What unfolds is a layered story that moves between scientific curiosity, creeping dread, and emotional healing. I loved how the book blends grounded details about marine life with something much stranger. Each chapter opens with insights about jellyfish, which not only adds texture but subtly mirrors what Jo herself is going through as she struggles with her grief: fragility, survival, transformation.
This book shines in its atmosphere and themes. The coastal setting feels isolated and slightly unsettling, building tension without constant action. The emotional arc, especially Jo’s guilt and her struggle to reconnect with people, felt honest and grounded. I also appreciated how the story explores community, isolation, and the quiet ways people try to survive loss.
The pacing is definitely on the slower side, especially at the beginning, and it takes time for the story to fully reveal what’s going on. Some of the more surreal elements, particularly the deeper connection between the jellyfish and the events on the island, felt a little abstract and may not work for readers who prefer clear explanations.
The side characters also feel a bit distant at times, but that seems intentional, since we’re experiencing everything through Jo’s emotionally closed-off perspective.
Overall
I really liked this. It’s not a fast, plot-heavy thriller. It’s a reflective, slightly eerie story about grief, science, and the unknown. If you like books that blend literary fiction with a touch of the uncanny, this is absolutely worth picking up. I appreciate NetGalley and The Berkley Publishing Group providing me with this ARC in exchange for my unbiased opinion. And thank you to Tessa Yang for this fun fictional read.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(4 stars)
#BerkleyPublishing #TheJellyfishProblem #NetGalley
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Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Like many precocious children who grow into introverted adults, Dr. Josephine "Jo" Ness prefers the company of non-human subjects - in her case, jellyfish. Of course, there were exceptions to this rule - Nadia, her college friend, and Aldo, her fellow jellyfish researcher. But Nadia hasn't spoken to her in over a decade, and Aldo is dead. Jo spends her days secluded with her beloved jellyfish in a backwater lab, picking away at the manuscript she and Aldo were working on together, adrift in her own thoughts, her own grief, her own guilt.
Then out of the blue, Nadia calls her, enticing her with the bizarre tale of a giant jellyfish haunting the waters of her current home on an island off the coast of Maine. WIth nothing more than a grainy phone video and Nadia's word to go on, Jo drops everything in pursuit of science - and perhaps in pursuit of the long-lost friendship with Nadia and ethereal ideas of redemption for the friend she couldn't help, Aldo. But when Jo arrives on Shattering Point, Nadia is MIA, and the islanders are as elusive as Clementine, the creature from the depths who has come to change them all...
I am on something of a sea creature kick with my reading having also just finished "Remarkably Bright Creatures", and I certainly did not have falling in love with marine life on my 2026 bucket list, but here we are. I will absolutely not be taking up diving lessons anytime soon, though - enjoying spooky tales of the ocean and its wonderful, bizarre, terrifying creatures and reflecting on what they can teach us about human connection are enough for me, thank you. After reading this, you may also consider the risk versus benefits of an island getaway a little harder too.
While overall this is the story of a creature from the depths that happened to change an island one summer, it is a greater story of human connection, grief, guilt, belonging, and the forces that ebb and flow throughout our lives. I felt lost in my own thoughts a lot while reading this book and took a lot of time to reflect on the connections in my own life, and feel this would be a good book for readers who want a little of the ocean, a little of the reflection, and more than a touch of the horror and mystery only a mist-capped island off the coast of Maine and the horrors within and without can deliver. This was a fantastic debut, and I would love to read more from this author in the future - after reading 3-4 more books about jellyfish, of course.
Then out of the blue, Nadia calls her, enticing her with the bizarre tale of a giant jellyfish haunting the waters of her current home on an island off the coast of Maine. WIth nothing more than a grainy phone video and Nadia's word to go on, Jo drops everything in pursuit of science - and perhaps in pursuit of the long-lost friendship with Nadia and ethereal ideas of redemption for the friend she couldn't help, Aldo. But when Jo arrives on Shattering Point, Nadia is MIA, and the islanders are as elusive as Clementine, the creature from the depths who has come to change them all...
I am on something of a sea creature kick with my reading having also just finished "Remarkably Bright Creatures", and I certainly did not have falling in love with marine life on my 2026 bucket list, but here we are. I will absolutely not be taking up diving lessons anytime soon, though - enjoying spooky tales of the ocean and its wonderful, bizarre, terrifying creatures and reflecting on what they can teach us about human connection are enough for me, thank you. After reading this, you may also consider the risk versus benefits of an island getaway a little harder too.
While overall this is the story of a creature from the depths that happened to change an island one summer, it is a greater story of human connection, grief, guilt, belonging, and the forces that ebb and flow throughout our lives. I felt lost in my own thoughts a lot while reading this book and took a lot of time to reflect on the connections in my own life, and feel this would be a good book for readers who want a little of the ocean, a little of the reflection, and more than a touch of the horror and mystery only a mist-capped island off the coast of Maine and the horrors within and without can deliver. This was a fantastic debut, and I would love to read more from this author in the future - after reading 3-4 more books about jellyfish, of course.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Dive into the poetics of the ocean and the majestic royalty that lives below. One of the scariest things in our universe is the ocean due to its vastness and largely unexplored masses. So, how do we know if monstrous jellyfish are not already lurking on our coasts? We simply must hope! Or maybe the marine biologist in you may be enticed by this possibility. We always speculate on the unknown because it is up to our imagination to truly understand the concept of what may exist in the ocean. Jellyfish are beautiful creatures that are often overlooked – like the way society overlooks the many beauties around us and fears it instead.
The queerness of all is inclusive and really creates a narrative that is for everyone. More horror that flows so naturally to remind you that we exist as real people too. And then there is Clementine - who will challenge your perspective – so take a swim for this one. Maine was the perfect setting because think of all the unexplored ocean there. If you have ever been to Maine for even a vacation it will make sense. This is also a story about how we isolate ourselves in moments of grief and take any excuse to find ourselves through this isolation.
This is a horror that is exploring the human psyche through narrative. Exploring the why behind our motives. Grief can be both motivating and debilitating. What does Clementine metaphorize? These are the type of questions that Tess Yang so delicately weaves into her writing. I devoured this narrative in a day nearly wishing for more. There is so much to learn about the ways of the jellyfish that translate to a nuanced horror. Horror is inherently a nuanced genre that if you are here – you have learned to appreciate the taste for.
Finally, this is a discovery narrative. We are looking for the living in everything we digest. So why not look deeper into the mysteries of the jellyfish? What does Aldo leave behind that truly show us the desires of the human condition versus the motivations of the sea. There is so much to unravel as the mysteries of the deep become clearer as they surface. It is the surface that truly throws a tidal wave of insecurities our way. Thank you Tess Yang, Netgalley ,and Berkley Publishing Group for this advanced digital copy. All opinions are my own.
Read more reviews, impressions, and tarot readings at my blog, https://brujerialibrary.wordpress.com/
The queerness of all is inclusive and really creates a narrative that is for everyone. More horror that flows so naturally to remind you that we exist as real people too. And then there is Clementine - who will challenge your perspective – so take a swim for this one. Maine was the perfect setting because think of all the unexplored ocean there. If you have ever been to Maine for even a vacation it will make sense. This is also a story about how we isolate ourselves in moments of grief and take any excuse to find ourselves through this isolation.
This is a horror that is exploring the human psyche through narrative. Exploring the why behind our motives. Grief can be both motivating and debilitating. What does Clementine metaphorize? These are the type of questions that Tess Yang so delicately weaves into her writing. I devoured this narrative in a day nearly wishing for more. There is so much to learn about the ways of the jellyfish that translate to a nuanced horror. Horror is inherently a nuanced genre that if you are here – you have learned to appreciate the taste for.
Finally, this is a discovery narrative. We are looking for the living in everything we digest. So why not look deeper into the mysteries of the jellyfish? What does Aldo leave behind that truly show us the desires of the human condition versus the motivations of the sea. There is so much to unravel as the mysteries of the deep become clearer as they surface. It is the surface that truly throws a tidal wave of insecurities our way. Thank you Tess Yang, Netgalley ,and Berkley Publishing Group for this advanced digital copy. All opinions are my own.
Read more reviews, impressions, and tarot readings at my blog, https://brujerialibrary.wordpress.com/
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this eARC.
The Jellyfish Problem is the story of a small island of Shattering, Maine, and Jo, the Jellyfish scientist who has been called in by an estranged friend to investigate a giant jellyfish. At first, Jo doesn't believe the bad quality footage her friend, Nadia, sends her of the jellyfish in the water, but Nadia insists her source is good. When Jo arrives on the island, her friend Nadia is nowhere to be found, and the small community on the island is acting strangely. Jo is also dealing with the death of her best friend/Jellyfish colleague, Aldo, who died on a diving trip with her several months ago. I don't want to give away more of the plot, but this book is about dealing with grief, community, and coexisting with nature.
My favourite part of the book was at the beginning of each chapter. Each chapter begins with an excerpt from Jo and Aldo's Jellyfish book, and has amusing notes between Jo and Aldo. I studied marine biology in my undergrad, so the jellyfish facts at the beginning of each chapter and sprinkled throughout the story just made me so happy.
The story itself has a strong start and lots of intrigue. Once Jo finally comes across the jellyfish, the story changes, and the mystery deepens. I did wonder at the beginning of the story how a giant jellyfish could threaten a community on a small island. It's not exactly an intelligent predator that can hunt people down, like Jaws. The way the Jellyfish affects the island is original and paranormal. I was kept interested and enjoyed the way Jo was able to investigate and uncover more about the Jellyfish was intriguing.
There is some romance between Jo and an island resident, but I wish this had been developed a bit more.
After Jo sees the Jellyfish for the first time, it's communicated that the Jellyfish only comes to the surface for 3 days on the full moon. This led to a bit of a slowdown in the pace of the book. I'd have liked a bit more urgency to Jo's investigation at this stage of the book.
Beyond this book having a marine invertebrate as the focus, I don't see a lot in common with Remarkably Bright Creatures, as this book has been compared to. I think The Jellyfish Problem is a great read, but not really similar to Remarkably Bright Creatures in terms of genre, feel, or content.
The Jellyfish Problem is the story of a small island of Shattering, Maine, and Jo, the Jellyfish scientist who has been called in by an estranged friend to investigate a giant jellyfish. At first, Jo doesn't believe the bad quality footage her friend, Nadia, sends her of the jellyfish in the water, but Nadia insists her source is good. When Jo arrives on the island, her friend Nadia is nowhere to be found, and the small community on the island is acting strangely. Jo is also dealing with the death of her best friend/Jellyfish colleague, Aldo, who died on a diving trip with her several months ago. I don't want to give away more of the plot, but this book is about dealing with grief, community, and coexisting with nature.
My favourite part of the book was at the beginning of each chapter. Each chapter begins with an excerpt from Jo and Aldo's Jellyfish book, and has amusing notes between Jo and Aldo. I studied marine biology in my undergrad, so the jellyfish facts at the beginning of each chapter and sprinkled throughout the story just made me so happy.
The story itself has a strong start and lots of intrigue. Once Jo finally comes across the jellyfish, the story changes, and the mystery deepens. I did wonder at the beginning of the story how a giant jellyfish could threaten a community on a small island. It's not exactly an intelligent predator that can hunt people down, like Jaws. The way the Jellyfish affects the island is original and paranormal. I was kept interested and enjoyed the way Jo was able to investigate and uncover more about the Jellyfish was intriguing.
There is some romance between Jo and an island resident, but I wish this had been developed a bit more.
After Jo sees the Jellyfish for the first time, it's communicated that the Jellyfish only comes to the surface for 3 days on the full moon. This led to a bit of a slowdown in the pace of the book. I'd have liked a bit more urgency to Jo's investigation at this stage of the book.
Beyond this book having a marine invertebrate as the focus, I don't see a lot in common with Remarkably Bright Creatures, as this book has been compared to. I think The Jellyfish Problem is a great read, but not really similar to Remarkably Bright Creatures in terms of genre, feel, or content.
January 31, 2026
I was so excited to read this as I had just finished Remarkably Bright Creatures and read that the vibes of this were similar. Whoever said that was WRONG. The only comparison to be made here was that each book had an invertebrate oceanic animal.
I love ocean creatures especially jellies so I was pumped to read this. It started off great, was really getting into it. But then it got weird, and then it got far fetched, and then there was some weird fantasy and folklore element that didn’t really work here. I loved the concept of the unidentified jellyfish causing havoc on this island and the scientists have to figure out a way to stop it. However, without spoiling the book, the reasons and the way it was terrorizing the town, wasn’t what you expected.
None of the characters were that memorable. They were just boring and not very likeable. Ultimately, I felt like nothing really happened throughout the book. I didn’t really understand why Roger was the chosen one (vague to prevent spoilers). I think Nadia would have been a better choice and would have brought the overall drama and emotion of the book up a level. I found there was more brainstorming than actual presentation of the plot. So many ideas that just didn’t get portrayed well enough.
I did enjoy the little blurbs at the beginning of each chapter. They were little snippets of the book Jo and Aldo were working on together. However, it wasn’t clear that’s what it was and the little text communication between them referring to their book thoughts. The formatting was bizarre there and needs some differentiation for the final copy. It wasn’t very clear that it was a text thread. I changed all my kindle settings trying to fix it until a third of the way in, when I clued in. I think the cover is very pretty and one of the reasons I was drawn to reading.
I was pretty disappointed in this book and really had to force myself to finish it as I had an ARC. It’s alright if you’re looking for a book with minimal stimulation. But I found it quite boring.
I love ocean creatures especially jellies so I was pumped to read this. It started off great, was really getting into it. But then it got weird, and then it got far fetched, and then there was some weird fantasy and folklore element that didn’t really work here. I loved the concept of the unidentified jellyfish causing havoc on this island and the scientists have to figure out a way to stop it. However, without spoiling the book, the reasons and the way it was terrorizing the town, wasn’t what you expected.
None of the characters were that memorable. They were just boring and not very likeable. Ultimately, I felt like nothing really happened throughout the book. I didn’t really understand why Roger was the chosen one (vague to prevent spoilers). I think Nadia would have been a better choice and would have brought the overall drama and emotion of the book up a level. I found there was more brainstorming than actual presentation of the plot. So many ideas that just didn’t get portrayed well enough.
I did enjoy the little blurbs at the beginning of each chapter. They were little snippets of the book Jo and Aldo were working on together. However, it wasn’t clear that’s what it was and the little text communication between them referring to their book thoughts. The formatting was bizarre there and needs some differentiation for the final copy. It wasn’t very clear that it was a text thread. I changed all my kindle settings trying to fix it until a third of the way in, when I clued in. I think the cover is very pretty and one of the reasons I was drawn to reading.
I was pretty disappointed in this book and really had to force myself to finish it as I had an ARC. It’s alright if you’re looking for a book with minimal stimulation. But I found it quite boring.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Jo, a jellyfish scientist, is called out of the blue by a decade old connection to an island off of Maine to investigate a strange jelly phenomenon. The mysteries on the island get tangled with Jo's internal battles and it seems like both problems will need to be solved if she has any chance of making it out alive.
I liked the supernatural and sci-fi elements that were woven in the novel and how it was juxtaposed with chapter headings about jellyfish facts. The jellyfish facts were part of a book Jo and Aldo were writing together and the sidebar comments they added really brought the two characters to life. The jellyfish problem on Shattering was looking to be so inexplicable, I was really happy that the final explanation fit in the realm of real life jellyfish behavior.
This book had a lot going on and played with a ton of different genres. From thriller to horror to romance to magical realism to comedy to sci-fi, Yang throws it all at us and nails each mood when we are in that moment. As a whole though, genre switching this much was a bit overwhelming and felt distracting to the main storyline. The pace of the novel slows exponentially in the middle as we wait a month for another full moon/jellyfish reappearance. Jo fills this time by working on herself and fulfilling side quests from other characters. It was strange to spend so much page time in this 30 day waiting period and then almost no time at all on what happens on the island once a solution is discovered.
And finally, I don't think domestic abuse should be written about lightly or used for comedic relief and this book unfortunately leans heavily on that approach. There are no repercussions to the destruction and harm we are shown and it feels like this was a missed opportunity to comment on who the real villains in our world are.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the advanced reader copy of The Jellyfish Problem, all opinions are my own.
I liked the supernatural and sci-fi elements that were woven in the novel and how it was juxtaposed with chapter headings about jellyfish facts. The jellyfish facts were part of a book Jo and Aldo were writing together and the sidebar comments they added really brought the two characters to life. The jellyfish problem on Shattering was looking to be so inexplicable, I was really happy that the final explanation fit in the realm of real life jellyfish behavior.
This book had a lot going on and played with a ton of different genres. From thriller to horror to romance to magical realism to comedy to sci-fi, Yang throws it all at us and nails each mood when we are in that moment. As a whole though, genre switching this much was a bit overwhelming and felt distracting to the main storyline. The pace of the novel slows exponentially in the middle as we wait a month for another full moon/jellyfish reappearance. Jo fills this time by working on herself and fulfilling side quests from other characters. It was strange to spend so much page time in this 30 day waiting period and then almost no time at all on what happens on the island once a solution is discovered.
And finally, I don't think domestic abuse should be written about lightly or used for comedic relief and this book unfortunately leans heavily on that approach. There are no repercussions to the destruction and harm we are shown and it feels like this was a missed opportunity to comment on who the real villains in our world are.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the advanced reader copy of The Jellyfish Problem, all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Mourning the loss of her friend and book co-author, jellyfish scientist Josephine "Jo" Ness receives a phone call from Nadia, her only other friend who she hasn't heard from in 11 years. When Nadia sends a blurry video reporting an unidentified giant jellyfish, Jo drops everything to fly across the country to help, hoping to repair their past friendship in the process. Except Nadia isn't at Shattering Point when Jo arrives, and the islanders are cagey. Where is Nadia? What is happening on this island? Who and what is Clementine, the giant jellyfish seen in the video?
This book worked for me, and I recommend it for fans of Our Wives Under the Sea, although that book is literary horror, while this book is more literary sci-fi. Both books revolve around gay women and have grief as a central theme. Although, I'd more aptly shelf The Jellyfish Problem as magical realism; it has a sapphic romance, the mystery regarding Nadia, the jellyfish, and the island, and a literary style of prose.
I was actually convinced while reading the novel that the author was a scientist herself; she included the books she used as research in the back of the book, yet the way she writes Jo and Aldo convinced me that she studied jellyfish herself. I found Jo, our lesbian biracial definitely neurodivergent there is no way that someone that obsessed with jellyfish and avoidant of people is neurotypical, to be a compelling protagonist, and I really enjoyed the diverse cast of characters. I thought the book conveyed both that hostility and community small towns have well, and I'm just impressed with how authentic and real this book felt. There is an emphasis on human connection, and I really connected with this book.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!
This book worked for me, and I recommend it for fans of Our Wives Under the Sea, although that book is literary horror, while this book is more literary sci-fi. Both books revolve around gay women and have grief as a central theme. Although, I'd more aptly shelf The Jellyfish Problem as magical realism; it has a sapphic romance, the mystery regarding Nadia, the jellyfish, and the island, and a literary style of prose.
I was actually convinced while reading the novel that the author was a scientist herself; she included the books she used as research in the back of the book, yet the way she writes Jo and Aldo convinced me that she studied jellyfish herself. I found Jo, our lesbian biracial definitely neurodivergent there is no way that someone that obsessed with jellyfish and avoidant of people is neurotypical, to be a compelling protagonist, and I really enjoyed the diverse cast of characters. I thought the book conveyed both that hostility and community small towns have well, and I'm just impressed with how authentic and real this book felt. There is an emphasis on human connection, and I really connected with this book.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group for this gifted ARC!
This was such a unique and interesting book. I absolutely loved the plot, the mystery, the little touches of romance we got were really sweet as well. It was just overall an amazing and captivating time. This was more than a book on a giant mysterious jellyfish, it was about loss and grief and community. It was amazing, and I loved the New England backdrop. I'm from Maine/New Hampshire and this was just really nice to read of some familiar places.
Jo is a fantastic main character, and I related to her quite a bit. She's a bit awkward in intimate situations, she doubts herself somewhat when she is dealing with people and she prefers creatures to people most of the time. She is dealing with the loss of a very important person in her life and she blames herself for his death. This book is really heavy on dealing with grief and trying to find some closure. I felt for her so much, I understand grief and it's heaviness and what it takes to get through some tough days of dealing with it and this demonstrates it really well.
The jellyfish aspects of the book were phenomenal. It honestly makes me want to do a ton of deep dive research on jellyfish and learn even more about them. Each chapter beginning has jellyfish facts and it was so cool. I was not only excited to read to continue the plot, but also excited to continue to get to more jellyfish information. It was so incredibly cool.
If you enjoy a story on dealing with grief and loss and how important community can be, definitely give this a read. Bonus if you're into learning about sea life, that aspect was just really fun and exciting to read. This comes out June 2nd!
*This ARC was given by Berkley Publishing Group through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.*
This was such a unique and interesting book. I absolutely loved the plot, the mystery, the little touches of romance we got were really sweet as well. It was just overall an amazing and captivating time. This was more than a book on a giant mysterious jellyfish, it was about loss and grief and community. It was amazing, and I loved the New England backdrop. I'm from Maine/New Hampshire and this was just really nice to read of some familiar places.
Jo is a fantastic main character, and I related to her quite a bit. She's a bit awkward in intimate situations, she doubts herself somewhat when she is dealing with people and she prefers creatures to people most of the time. She is dealing with the loss of a very important person in her life and she blames herself for his death. This book is really heavy on dealing with grief and trying to find some closure. I felt for her so much, I understand grief and it's heaviness and what it takes to get through some tough days of dealing with it and this demonstrates it really well.
The jellyfish aspects of the book were phenomenal. It honestly makes me want to do a ton of deep dive research on jellyfish and learn even more about them. Each chapter beginning has jellyfish facts and it was so cool. I was not only excited to read to continue the plot, but also excited to continue to get to more jellyfish information. It was so incredibly cool.
If you enjoy a story on dealing with grief and loss and how important community can be, definitely give this a read. Bonus if you're into learning about sea life, that aspect was just really fun and exciting to read. This comes out June 2nd!
*This ARC was given by Berkley Publishing Group through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.*
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Jellyfish Problem is a fresh, imaginative take on the sea-monster story that balances wonder, mystery, and emotional depth beautifully. At the center is Jo, a marine biologist investigating the appearance of a giant glowing jellyfish, but the novel quickly becomes about much more than the mystery itself. Beneath the strange phenomena and scientific intrigue is a thoughtful story about grief, connection, loneliness, and the ways people try to understand both the natural world and each other.
The writing is vivid and immersive, especially in its descriptions of the ocean and marine life. There’s a quiet sense of awe running through the entire book that made even the stranger moments feel grounded and believable. I also loved the cast of quirky, deeply human characters who brought warmth and humor to the story without undermining its emotional weight.
I’ve seen this compared to Remarkably Bright Creatures, and while I can understand why, for me the similarities mostly begin and end with the presence of marine animals and an eccentric ensemble cast. The Jellyfish Problem feels much more speculative and mysterious in tone, with a very different emotional texture and narrative focus. Readers expecting another Remarkably Bright Creatures should know this novel ultimately stands very much on its own.
What surprised me most was how moving the story became by the end. The blend of humor, melancholy, wonder, and suspense kept me fully invested from start to finish. It’s rare to find a novel that feels this original while still being so emotionally accessible.
Highly recommended for readers who enjoy literary speculative fiction, unusual mysteries, and stories that combine heart with a genuine sense of curiosity.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
The writing is vivid and immersive, especially in its descriptions of the ocean and marine life. There’s a quiet sense of awe running through the entire book that made even the stranger moments feel grounded and believable. I also loved the cast of quirky, deeply human characters who brought warmth and humor to the story without undermining its emotional weight.
I’ve seen this compared to Remarkably Bright Creatures, and while I can understand why, for me the similarities mostly begin and end with the presence of marine animals and an eccentric ensemble cast. The Jellyfish Problem feels much more speculative and mysterious in tone, with a very different emotional texture and narrative focus. Readers expecting another Remarkably Bright Creatures should know this novel ultimately stands very much on its own.
What surprised me most was how moving the story became by the end. The blend of humor, melancholy, wonder, and suspense kept me fully invested from start to finish. It’s rare to find a novel that feels this original while still being so emotionally accessible.
Highly recommended for readers who enjoy literary speculative fiction, unusual mysteries, and stories that combine heart with a genuine sense of curiosity.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
May 9, 2026
Thank you Berkley Publishing Group @berkleypub Netgalley @netgalley and Tessa Yang for this free ebook!
“The Jellyfish Problem” by Tessa Yang ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Genre: SciFi. Location: Shattering Point Island, Maine, USA. NOTE: DEI inclusive.
Dr. Jo Ness prefers jellyfish to people. The only exception, best friend Aldo, died 7 months ago. Now she grieves for Aldo as she works alone on their draft jellyfish guide at an underfunded aquarium. Jo gets a call from Nadia, someone she hasn’t heard from in years. Nadia sends a fuzzy video of a giant, glowing jellyfish terrorizing her tiny Maine island, 22 miles from the coast. Jo flies to help her, but when she arrives, Nadia can’t be found. And each islander has something different to say about “Clementine”-the jellyfish who changes all who see it: is it a Japanese yōkai? Apparition? Sea monster? Demon? Destroyer? Ghost? Jo has 26 days to sort it all out, find the connections between this previously unknown type of jellyfish and the island-and save herself and the people of Shattering Point.
Author Yang’s debut novel focus on human connections hidden in classic sea monster stories. She starts chapters with drafts from main character Jo’s draft jellyfish guide, giving us insights into to jellyfish behavior and life cycles. Her book describes grief, friendship, and romance, tied up in learning to live again after trauma-with a healthy dose of paranormal thrown into the mix. Previously, I read Yang’s short story collection, “The Runaway Restaurant”, and loved it-I had so much to ponder at the end! This novel is just as bewildering and wonderful. It’s tragically wild, scientifically skewed, thought-provoking, and it’s 5⭐️s from me 📚👩🏼🦳 #netgalley #thejellyfishproblem
“The Jellyfish Problem” by Tessa Yang ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Genre: SciFi. Location: Shattering Point Island, Maine, USA. NOTE: DEI inclusive.
Dr. Jo Ness prefers jellyfish to people. The only exception, best friend Aldo, died 7 months ago. Now she grieves for Aldo as she works alone on their draft jellyfish guide at an underfunded aquarium. Jo gets a call from Nadia, someone she hasn’t heard from in years. Nadia sends a fuzzy video of a giant, glowing jellyfish terrorizing her tiny Maine island, 22 miles from the coast. Jo flies to help her, but when she arrives, Nadia can’t be found. And each islander has something different to say about “Clementine”-the jellyfish who changes all who see it: is it a Japanese yōkai? Apparition? Sea monster? Demon? Destroyer? Ghost? Jo has 26 days to sort it all out, find the connections between this previously unknown type of jellyfish and the island-and save herself and the people of Shattering Point.
Author Yang’s debut novel focus on human connections hidden in classic sea monster stories. She starts chapters with drafts from main character Jo’s draft jellyfish guide, giving us insights into to jellyfish behavior and life cycles. Her book describes grief, friendship, and romance, tied up in learning to live again after trauma-with a healthy dose of paranormal thrown into the mix. Previously, I read Yang’s short story collection, “The Runaway Restaurant”, and loved it-I had so much to ponder at the end! This novel is just as bewildering and wonderful. It’s tragically wild, scientifically skewed, thought-provoking, and it’s 5⭐️s from me 📚👩🏼🦳 #netgalley #thejellyfishproblem
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
From the description, I had expected a more gothic, literary thriller novel. "The Jellyfish Problem" isn't that. Yang's novel is more of a science-with-curiosity exploration of grief, community, and how humans interact with a changing world. I think folks who like a bit of folklore and some spiritual elements brought into a more straight-forward narrative will enjoy this novel. (If you're looking for a creepier story about a diver who sees visions, I'm happy to share a recommendation.)
Ultimately, I enjoyed spending time with Josie, and I wish I'd felt more for the other characters. There was an opportunity to make this feel more like Twin Peaks with a sea monster, with the cast of characters on Shattering being much quirkier than they were on the page. It's worth noting that I felt more connected to Aldo than Nadia, and I wish we'd gotten more of Nadia and Tony and less of Rodger and Emmet.
In terms of plot, the mystery at the heart of the story propels things along, but the science bits bogged me down a bit. (I didn't need the graduate student entering the story.) For a book with so much science, I had hoped for a more text-book kind of revelation at the end. I'll be curious to see how readers engage with this one. There is a lot enjoy in this novel, and I hope the right readers find it. (I would have given this 3.5 stars if I could have, but I think 4 is correct for the right reader.)
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Ultimately, I enjoyed spending time with Josie, and I wish I'd felt more for the other characters. There was an opportunity to make this feel more like Twin Peaks with a sea monster, with the cast of characters on Shattering being much quirkier than they were on the page. It's worth noting that I felt more connected to Aldo than Nadia, and I wish we'd gotten more of Nadia and Tony and less of Rodger and Emmet.
In terms of plot, the mystery at the heart of the story propels things along, but the science bits bogged me down a bit. (I didn't need the graduate student entering the story.) For a book with so much science, I had hoped for a more text-book kind of revelation at the end. I'll be curious to see how readers engage with this one. There is a lot enjoy in this novel, and I hope the right readers find it. (I would have given this 3.5 stars if I could have, but I think 4 is correct for the right reader.)
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This debut novel worked remarkably well for me, in large part because of how thoughtfully it approaches its central creature. What could have easily become a straightforward sea-monster story instead becomes something far more compassionate and curious. Jo’s background as a marine biologist fundamentally shapes the narrative: where others see a threat, she sees a living organism worthy of study and understanding. Even while the island is in danger, she approaches the jellyfish not with fear or hatred, but with empathy and scientific fascination.
That perspective gave the novel much of its emotional weight for me. The relationship dynamics also felt believable, particularly Jo’s complicated connection with Nadia and the lingering grief surrounding Aldo’s death. The novel balances those quieter emotional threads with mounting tension on the island, and I appreciated that the scientific explanations—while certainly stretching plausibility at times—still attempted to remain rooted in recognizable marine biology.
I was initially worried the ending might not work for me, especially given the increasingly strange direction the story takes, but I ended up enjoying the conclusion quite a bit. Looking back, many of the revelations were carefully foreshadowed throughout the novel; I simply failed to connect some of the clues while reading.
While I can acknowledge some characterization issues that keep me from fully calling this a flawless novel, this was absolutely one of my most enjoyable reading experiences of the year.
That perspective gave the novel much of its emotional weight for me. The relationship dynamics also felt believable, particularly Jo’s complicated connection with Nadia and the lingering grief surrounding Aldo’s death. The novel balances those quieter emotional threads with mounting tension on the island, and I appreciated that the scientific explanations—while certainly stretching plausibility at times—still attempted to remain rooted in recognizable marine biology.
I was initially worried the ending might not work for me, especially given the increasingly strange direction the story takes, but I ended up enjoying the conclusion quite a bit. Looking back, many of the revelations were carefully foreshadowed throughout the novel; I simply failed to connect some of the clues while reading.
While I can acknowledge some characterization issues that keep me from fully calling this a flawless novel, this was absolutely one of my most enjoyable reading experiences of the year.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was a different book. It seemed to be realistic fiction and as you got deeper into the story you realized there was a huge fantasy component to it. Jo Ness is a marine biologist specializing in jellyfish. She is not a social person. She has worked for years for a small aquarium that is basically a dead-end job, but it allows her to research and write a tome on jellyfish. She also lost her best friend Aldo a number of months ago (in a scuba accident she feels responsible for) and now she is surviving and going through the motions of life. Out of the blue she is called by Nadia, one of her few friends who unfortunately dropped out of her life ten years previously. Jo is immediately drawn in as she has mourned the loss of Nadia all these years.
Nadia has had many jobs, but she now lives on Shattering Point, a small island off the coast of Maine. She sends Jo a picture of a huge jellyfish and wants her help and expertise. Jo drops everything (which is not difficult as she has felt she has no life anyway) and travels to Maine. Once she gets to Shattering Point, she finds out that Nadia is not there. There is so much going on that Jo is not aware of and it turns out that is a bad thing, and it gets worse.
In some ways this was a hard book to get into. It takes a while for the story of Jo and Aldo to come out and what is happening on Shattering Point adds to the confusion. I would give it 3 stars except the book did pull you in and I enjoyed the ending.
Nadia has had many jobs, but she now lives on Shattering Point, a small island off the coast of Maine. She sends Jo a picture of a huge jellyfish and wants her help and expertise. Jo drops everything (which is not difficult as she has felt she has no life anyway) and travels to Maine. Once she gets to Shattering Point, she finds out that Nadia is not there. There is so much going on that Jo is not aware of and it turns out that is a bad thing, and it gets worse.
In some ways this was a hard book to get into. It takes a while for the story of Jo and Aldo to come out and what is happening on Shattering Point adds to the confusion. I would give it 3 stars except the book did pull you in and I enjoyed the ending.
Review of advance copy
Every once in a while a book comes along that restores my hope and heals my heart especially at a time in our country that feels so hopeless. Theo of Golden was one and The Jellyfish Problem is another. It’s the story of a giant jellyfish. Kind of. It’s definitely a story of people and a community that is struggling to survive an untenable situation. Jo Ness is a scientist who studies jellyfish. In fact she’s obsessed with them. But she has also recently lost her best friend and has been overcome with grief, self blame, and a new terror of the waters she loves. When a long lost friend sends her a video of what looks like a giant jellyfish she runs to help even though she really believes it’s a hoax. She also wants to reconnect with this friend that she loves and regrets losing. What she finds on Shattering Island leaves her stunned and eager to help while doubting her ability to do so. The story is one of overcoming grief and self doubt, relying on a community of people for strength when the preference is to go things alone and finally finding joy and love and self renewal after loss. The book is also dispersed with lots of wonderful information about jellyfish and I really learned a lot. I was on an international flight home that suffered a great many glitches and snags and a mad dash through an airport to make a connection that left me in tears. I read this book and it truly uplifted my spirit. I recommend it to everyone
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Jo Ness is a marine biologist specializing in jellyfish. Ever since her best friend died, she's become even more buried in her work. And she's doing a pretty good job of avoiding her grief and other people, until Nadia, an old college crush that she hasn't talked to in a decade, sends mysterious video footage of what may or may not be a giant jellyfish. Jo doesn't know what to believe, but she's curious and could use a distraction.
When she arrives on the island of Shattering, the locals are strange and all seem to be in on something. Jo is having a hard time locating Nadia, despite the invitation. Nadia's husband, Roger, doesn't know where she is either. Some islanders seem intent on getting Jo to leave the island, and a few others want her to find the rumored jellyfish. It's only once she uncovers the secret that she understands how big her problems are, and that her fate is now intertwined with everyone else on the island.
I was drawn to this novel for the strange premise, and I enjoyed how the author combined dreamy nature sequences with thriller-like jump scares. It's hard to categorize this book because it has elements of several genres: thriller, mystery, science, action, horror, and domestic drama. Toward the end, the drama relied on some cliche dialogue in the vein of "I need you to trust me," which fell flat. However, this is a unique story overall with unexpected execution, and I recommend it.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing and Netgalley for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
When she arrives on the island of Shattering, the locals are strange and all seem to be in on something. Jo is having a hard time locating Nadia, despite the invitation. Nadia's husband, Roger, doesn't know where she is either. Some islanders seem intent on getting Jo to leave the island, and a few others want her to find the rumored jellyfish. It's only once she uncovers the secret that she understands how big her problems are, and that her fate is now intertwined with everyone else on the island.
I was drawn to this novel for the strange premise, and I enjoyed how the author combined dreamy nature sequences with thriller-like jump scares. It's hard to categorize this book because it has elements of several genres: thriller, mystery, science, action, horror, and domestic drama. Toward the end, the drama relied on some cliche dialogue in the vein of "I need you to trust me," which fell flat. However, this is a unique story overall with unexpected execution, and I recommend it.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing and Netgalley for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
An intriguingly fresh monster mystery featuring a frustrated academic, a long-lost love, and a poignant exploration of grief.
Dr. Jo Ness is floundering after the death of her best friend and collaborator, Aldo, in a scuba diving accident. When "the one who got away" from college, Nadia, calls asking her to travel to an isolated island to investigate a mysterious jellyfish, she jumps at the chance, despite the decade of silence between them. But when she arrives, she finds Nadia missing and nothing quite as she expected. Even worse, Aldo's ghost - or something worse - keeps showing up at inopportune times.
But when Jo finally meets the giant jellyfish Clementine, she's even more mesmerizing than she imagined. But she soon finds out that Clementine may be endangering the lives of everyone on the island, unless Jo and the villagers can figure out a way save her and themselves.
This story comes alive through its quirky cast of side characters. Even the villagers who appear for only a scene or two are vividly drawn, a testament to the author’s talent for sketching big personalities in just a few strokes.
The author's at her best when she's describing Clementine through Jo's eyes. Her breathless enthusiasm draws the reader - even those who've never given jellyfish a second thought - into her love of the marine animal.
This one became an instant favorite. I hope Jo has more adventures involving jellyfish, and I wouldn't even mind a prequel with her and Aldo (hint to the author!)
Dr. Jo Ness is floundering after the death of her best friend and collaborator, Aldo, in a scuba diving accident. When "the one who got away" from college, Nadia, calls asking her to travel to an isolated island to investigate a mysterious jellyfish, she jumps at the chance, despite the decade of silence between them. But when she arrives, she finds Nadia missing and nothing quite as she expected. Even worse, Aldo's ghost - or something worse - keeps showing up at inopportune times.
But when Jo finally meets the giant jellyfish Clementine, she's even more mesmerizing than she imagined. But she soon finds out that Clementine may be endangering the lives of everyone on the island, unless Jo and the villagers can figure out a way save her and themselves.
This story comes alive through its quirky cast of side characters. Even the villagers who appear for only a scene or two are vividly drawn, a testament to the author’s talent for sketching big personalities in just a few strokes.
The author's at her best when she's describing Clementine through Jo's eyes. Her breathless enthusiasm draws the reader - even those who've never given jellyfish a second thought - into her love of the marine animal.
This one became an instant favorite. I hope Jo has more adventures involving jellyfish, and I wouldn't even mind a prequel with her and Aldo (hint to the author!)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Jellyfish Problem blends together cozy mystery and science fiction.
When an mysterious creature surfaces near a quant island, Josephine receives a frantic call from an old college schoolmate. Struggling with the grief of losing a close friend, she takes the opportunity to reconnect...and find out more about a jellyfish that has never been seen before. But when she finally lays her eyes on the magnificent beast, she discovers that everyone on the island is in danger. And they need her help before it's too late.
The Jellyfish Problem was an enthralling adventure that had just the right amount of science, conflict, interpersonal relations, problem solving. The conundrum of a jellyfish that shouldn't exist yet brings together the small community of Shattering Point is a story that explores much more than just a marine biologist trying to find herself again after the death of her closest friend. Between the grief, we see how much we as people rely on each other in times of need. I love that the main character is gay, but that this story isn't about being gay. I find it incredibly satisfying when the character's simply just are because that is what real life is like, at least for me. I too would be curious of the cute B&B owner who also rehabilitates injured animals.
If I had to compare it to anything, I would say The Jellyfish Problem is as if Tessa bottled up an episode of Gilmore Girls and put it in a book.
Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this!
When an mysterious creature surfaces near a quant island, Josephine receives a frantic call from an old college schoolmate. Struggling with the grief of losing a close friend, she takes the opportunity to reconnect...and find out more about a jellyfish that has never been seen before. But when she finally lays her eyes on the magnificent beast, she discovers that everyone on the island is in danger. And they need her help before it's too late.
The Jellyfish Problem was an enthralling adventure that had just the right amount of science, conflict, interpersonal relations, problem solving. The conundrum of a jellyfish that shouldn't exist yet brings together the small community of Shattering Point is a story that explores much more than just a marine biologist trying to find herself again after the death of her closest friend. Between the grief, we see how much we as people rely on each other in times of need. I love that the main character is gay, but that this story isn't about being gay. I find it incredibly satisfying when the character's simply just are because that is what real life is like, at least for me. I too would be curious of the cute B&B owner who also rehabilitates injured animals.
If I had to compare it to anything, I would say The Jellyfish Problem is as if Tessa bottled up an episode of Gilmore Girls and put it in a book.
Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book feels hard to rate. Jo is an autistic coded FMC, who turned her obsession with jellyfish into a career. I loved that she found a job she was happy in that allowed her the freedom to study and research jellyfish.
This is a story about grief, acceptance and moving on as much as it is about a mystery jellyfish trapping an island.
Jo learning how to deal with the recent loss of her best friend, and facing the reality that her former best friend in college never felt what she did is hard for her.
The story gets pretty mystical and magical - and while I do love the bits with Aldo's ghost (and the back and forth comments on the paper that are writing), the connection to the jellyfiah and effects it had were eyebrow raising and a little baffling.
It's definitely got a slow and steady feel to the writing, and while I liked Jo and Tony, I found the rest of the Islanders a little flat as Jo herself never allowed much of a connection. Even Margo who I loved, didn't contain much substance as Jo was always rushing away from her.
Overall I liked the story, and it was a very different kind of book. There is a lot of mystery surrounding the Jellyfish and the island, and while there is no animal voice, there is a deep connection between the creature and the humans.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. Opinions are my own.
This is a story about grief, acceptance and moving on as much as it is about a mystery jellyfish trapping an island.
Jo learning how to deal with the recent loss of her best friend, and facing the reality that her former best friend in college never felt what she did is hard for her.
The story gets pretty mystical and magical - and while I do love the bits with Aldo's ghost (and the back and forth comments on the paper that are writing), the connection to the jellyfiah and effects it had were eyebrow raising and a little baffling.
It's definitely got a slow and steady feel to the writing, and while I liked Jo and Tony, I found the rest of the Islanders a little flat as Jo herself never allowed much of a connection. Even Margo who I loved, didn't contain much substance as Jo was always rushing away from her.
Overall I liked the story, and it was a very different kind of book. There is a lot of mystery surrounding the Jellyfish and the island, and while there is no animal voice, there is a deep connection between the creature and the humans.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. Opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Like many others, I loved Remarkably Bright Creatures and hoped this novel would offer a similar experience. Sadly, it fell short of those expectations.
Jo Ness is a marine biologist summoned to a small island off the Maine coast to investigate what appears to be an unknown species of jellyfish. She arrives burdened by two painful pasts: a brief relationship with Nadia that ended eleven years ago, and the recent loss of her colleague Aldo, for whose death she feels responsible. Shatterling Island itself is richly populated with memorable characters, most notably Tony, who becomes central to Jo's time there. A line of Tony's struck me as the novel's most fitting epigraph: "Things die, Jo, she said quietly, so that others can live."
I enjoyed the short quotes opening each chapter, and particularly loved the exchanges between Jo and Aldo that followed them — these felt true to both characters and were among the book's highlights. Unfortunately, they weren't enough to elevate the novel as a whole. The story carries too many subplots, each competing for attention without fully earning it, and the frequent use of scientific nomenclature felt more distracting than immersive.
A disappointing read, though not without its moments.
Thank you to Berklt Marketing for an advance copy of this book.
Jo Ness is a marine biologist summoned to a small island off the Maine coast to investigate what appears to be an unknown species of jellyfish. She arrives burdened by two painful pasts: a brief relationship with Nadia that ended eleven years ago, and the recent loss of her colleague Aldo, for whose death she feels responsible. Shatterling Island itself is richly populated with memorable characters, most notably Tony, who becomes central to Jo's time there. A line of Tony's struck me as the novel's most fitting epigraph: "Things die, Jo, she said quietly, so that others can live."
I enjoyed the short quotes opening each chapter, and particularly loved the exchanges between Jo and Aldo that followed them — these felt true to both characters and were among the book's highlights. Unfortunately, they weren't enough to elevate the novel as a whole. The story carries too many subplots, each competing for attention without fully earning it, and the frequent use of scientific nomenclature felt more distracting than immersive.
A disappointing read, though not without its moments.
Thank you to Berklt Marketing for an advance copy of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
To be honest, I wasn't entirely sure how to rate this book. It had moments were it captured me and I found the storyline really compelling and interesting and other times where I just found the storyline to drag on. I found it especially hard to connect with any of the characters. I just felt like we didn't really know the characters that well or the information we did learn was pretty surface level.
I would classify this book as a realistic fiction that has elements of fantasy to it. 'The Jellyfish Problem' not only discusses jellyfish, but it also deals with themes of grief, acceptance.
I actually really did love the moments we got to learn more about the mysterious jellyfish and all their wonderful quirks. 🪼 I loved the excerpts at the beginning of each chapter that included editing comments from the main characters from their book on jellyfish. It was something I haven't really seen before in other books I've read and I thought it added such a funny and refreshing touch to the storyline.
Overall, I feel this book would be good for readers who are looking to slowly be introduced into the fantasy genre but who still want some realistic aspects to the storyline. 2.5 ⭐️
Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an eARC of 'The Jellyfish Problem' by Tessa Yang in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I would classify this book as a realistic fiction that has elements of fantasy to it. 'The Jellyfish Problem' not only discusses jellyfish, but it also deals with themes of grief, acceptance.
I actually really did love the moments we got to learn more about the mysterious jellyfish and all their wonderful quirks. 🪼 I loved the excerpts at the beginning of each chapter that included editing comments from the main characters from their book on jellyfish. It was something I haven't really seen before in other books I've read and I thought it added such a funny and refreshing touch to the storyline.
Overall, I feel this book would be good for readers who are looking to slowly be introduced into the fantasy genre but who still want some realistic aspects to the storyline. 2.5 ⭐️
Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an eARC of 'The Jellyfish Problem' by Tessa Yang in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
The cover is gorgeous. This title is marketed as "for fans of Remarkably Bright Creatures." This book is nothing like that title and is very misleading. I forced myself to finish it because it is a slow paced novel without a lot of action. I don't feel like anything was actually resolved. I guess I wanted more about Clementine and was expecting more of a mystery/thriller vibe since Nadia disappears but that wasn't the case either.
Dr. Jo Ness prefers jellyfish to people except her best friend, Aldo, but he died seven months ago. So she spends her days hidden away at an underfunded aquarium with her specimens and a draft of the jellyfish guide she and Aldo had been working on together.
Until she receives a call from Nadia, one of the few other humans she’s loved but whom she hasn’t heard from in years, asking for her help. Nadia tells her a grand tale of a giant jellyfish terrorizing her tiny island off the coast of Maine and sends a grainy video of the creature. Frankly, the footage looks fake, but Jo drops everything to fly across the country to see Nadia again.
But when Jo arrives on Shattering Point, Nadia is nowhere to be found, and the islanders she meets each have something different to say about the creature they’ve dubbed Clementine . . . a jellyfish who changes all who see it.
The cover is gorgeous. This title is marketed as "for fans of Remarkably Bright Creatures." This book is nothing like that title and is very misleading. I forced myself to finish it because it is a slow paced novel without a lot of action. I don't feel like anything was actually resolved. I guess I wanted more about Clementine and was expecting more of a mystery/thriller vibe since Nadia disappears but that wasn't the case either.
Dr. Jo Ness prefers jellyfish to people except her best friend, Aldo, but he died seven months ago. So she spends her days hidden away at an underfunded aquarium with her specimens and a draft of the jellyfish guide she and Aldo had been working on together.
Until she receives a call from Nadia, one of the few other humans she’s loved but whom she hasn’t heard from in years, asking for her help. Nadia tells her a grand tale of a giant jellyfish terrorizing her tiny island off the coast of Maine and sends a grainy video of the creature. Frankly, the footage looks fake, but Jo drops everything to fly across the country to see Nadia again.
But when Jo arrives on Shattering Point, Nadia is nowhere to be found, and the islanders she meets each have something different to say about the creature they’ve dubbed Clementine . . . a jellyfish who changes all who see it.
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