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The Jellyfish Problem
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.
As featured in People ∙ Entertainment Weekly ∙ NPR ∙ Marie Claire ∙ Katie Couric Media ∙ and more!
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.
As featured in People ∙ Entertainment Weekly ∙ NPR ∙ Marie Claire ∙ Katie Couric Media ∙ and more!
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.
Audible Audio
First published June 2, 2026
About the author
Tessa Yang
3 books93 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:
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🌐 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 205 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️ 3.5 ⭐️ Did you guys know that the jellyfish predates the dinosaurs? They are older than sharks, trees and some of the most ancient organisms on this planet. Yet, they are some of the most ancient organisms on this planet but remarkably fragile! If removed from the sea, they die within minutes. Isn't it interesting how some organisms who seem like big bad ocean monsters in actuality have a very fickle life?
The Jellyfish Problem falls within the sci-fi, literary fiction category, blending grief and healing into the loneliness and peacefulness of nature/marine life, slowly showing us how nature can quietly help us process pain. It mainly focuses on the human connection and belonging, very character driven and more on an introspective level. It's tender and quiet, perfect summer read by the lake on a gloomy kind of day (definitely not a beach read!). While the book tries to feel a bit mysterious, there isn't much of mystery to it. It's pretty straight forward--a woman navigating through grief and comes to a secluded island and connects with nature.
In summary:
Josie is a marine scientist who blames herself for her co-writers fatal diving accident. An old friend reaches out for help and Josie accepts an invitation to a troubled Maine Island. But when Josie arrives, her friend seems to be missing and her husband is not concerned at first. When Nadia doesn't return after a few days, Josies fear resurfaces. On the island, inhabited by merely forty seven people, a giant jellyfish seems to be a menacing problem. Josie soon realizes that there is something deeper happening on the island. Is the jellyfish really a big bad monster or a beautiful sea creature that is anything but a monster?
I wanted to point out and say that comparing this book to Remarkably Bright Creatures is a big mistake. It's nothing like it, very different and unique in its own ways. The only real comparison that they have is the sea life and nothing else. It would be a disservice to both authors and say they are very alike when two books carry a completely different meaning.
Why is this not a 4 or 5 star read?
As much as I loved the backdrop of marine life and jellyfish science/facts, I found it hard to root for the main character. Understanding that Josie may be neurodivergent, she felt very messy to me. There are times she was very hot but also very cold. Dealing with grief is never easy, it can make us either very withdrawn or more blunt. In the novel, I found Josie awkward, making it hard to connect with her character. Aside from her grief and loss of Aldo, we don't know much about Josie as Josie. We know her through the lens of her relationship with Aldo. The flashbacks showed us their friendship and the pain that came with his loss, but it never really gave us much about Josie.
Pacing was another issue. As a lover of literary fiction, sometimes slower is necessary to show all the complexities of emotions, characters and personal transformation. I thought that the pacing here was too slow for my liking, taking a while to 'get to the point'. The middle portion was drawn out and frankly I was a bit bored. You have to be in the right headset to start and finish a story as such and I think this would have been better as an audiobook. I waited for something to hook me but even by the end it was just ok.
I enjoyed how Yang used a mysterious giant jellyfish to represent grief. The jellyfish became a symbol for the grief she is carrying--something big, impossible for her to control. It mirrored her pain and belonging and was used as a tool to relay the message of isolation and human connection. Josie is someone who prefers marine life to people but the big jellyfish pushes her back towards friendship, community and transformation. Grief changes people, as it changed Josie, so in essence the jellyfish here can be read/viewed as a tool that helped Josie survive her loneliness and loss.
What's your most favorite sea creature? Mine is a tie between an octopus and a humpback whale, especially the one that I swam with in the depths of the Alaskan wild.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group and the author, Tessa Young for an early ARC.
Publication date: June 2, 2026
The Jellyfish Problem falls within the sci-fi, literary fiction category, blending grief and healing into the loneliness and peacefulness of nature/marine life, slowly showing us how nature can quietly help us process pain. It mainly focuses on the human connection and belonging, very character driven and more on an introspective level. It's tender and quiet, perfect summer read by the lake on a gloomy kind of day (definitely not a beach read!). While the book tries to feel a bit mysterious, there isn't much of mystery to it. It's pretty straight forward--a woman navigating through grief and comes to a secluded island and connects with nature.
In summary:
Josie is a marine scientist who blames herself for her co-writers fatal diving accident. An old friend reaches out for help and Josie accepts an invitation to a troubled Maine Island. But when Josie arrives, her friend seems to be missing and her husband is not concerned at first. When Nadia doesn't return after a few days, Josies fear resurfaces. On the island, inhabited by merely forty seven people, a giant jellyfish seems to be a menacing problem. Josie soon realizes that there is something deeper happening on the island. Is the jellyfish really a big bad monster or a beautiful sea creature that is anything but a monster?
I wanted to point out and say that comparing this book to Remarkably Bright Creatures is a big mistake. It's nothing like it, very different and unique in its own ways. The only real comparison that they have is the sea life and nothing else. It would be a disservice to both authors and say they are very alike when two books carry a completely different meaning.
Why is this not a 4 or 5 star read?
As much as I loved the backdrop of marine life and jellyfish science/facts, I found it hard to root for the main character. Understanding that Josie may be neurodivergent, she felt very messy to me. There are times she was very hot but also very cold. Dealing with grief is never easy, it can make us either very withdrawn or more blunt. In the novel, I found Josie awkward, making it hard to connect with her character. Aside from her grief and loss of Aldo, we don't know much about Josie as Josie. We know her through the lens of her relationship with Aldo. The flashbacks showed us their friendship and the pain that came with his loss, but it never really gave us much about Josie.
Pacing was another issue. As a lover of literary fiction, sometimes slower is necessary to show all the complexities of emotions, characters and personal transformation. I thought that the pacing here was too slow for my liking, taking a while to 'get to the point'. The middle portion was drawn out and frankly I was a bit bored. You have to be in the right headset to start and finish a story as such and I think this would have been better as an audiobook. I waited for something to hook me but even by the end it was just ok.
I enjoyed how Yang used a mysterious giant jellyfish to represent grief. The jellyfish became a symbol for the grief she is carrying--something big, impossible for her to control. It mirrored her pain and belonging and was used as a tool to relay the message of isolation and human connection. Josie is someone who prefers marine life to people but the big jellyfish pushes her back towards friendship, community and transformation. Grief changes people, as it changed Josie, so in essence the jellyfish here can be read/viewed as a tool that helped Josie survive her loneliness and loss.
What's your most favorite sea creature? Mine is a tie between an octopus and a humpback whale, especially the one that I swam with in the depths of the Alaskan wild.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group and the author, Tessa Young for an early ARC.
Publication date: June 2, 2026
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.
June 21, 2026
After 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.
"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."
Update:
While the premise of The Jellyfish Problem was genuinely interesting, I feel that comparing it to Remarkably Bright Creatures did the book a disservice. I personally found the main character hard to root for, and it is quite the slow-burn. It’s not a bad book, just one that didn't fully resonate with me. 3 stars
Pub Date Jun 02 2026
As always, all thoughts are my own! ✨🖤
"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."
Update:
While the premise of The Jellyfish Problem was genuinely interesting, I feel that comparing it to Remarkably Bright Creatures did the book a disservice. I personally found the main character hard to root for, and it is quite the slow-burn. It’s not a bad book, just one that didn't fully resonate with me. 3 stars
Pub Date Jun 02 2026
As always, all thoughts are my own! ✨🖤
June 9, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.75/5)
What if the sea monster story was told by a jellyfish scientist?
The Jellyfish Problem is one of the most original books I’ve read this year. Set on a remote island off the coast of Maine, it follows Dr. Jo Ness, a jellyfish researcher who is still grieving the death of her best friend and research partner, Aldo. When her college friend Nadia contacts her about a massive jellyfish unlike anything anyone has ever seen, Jo heads to Hansen Island to investigate.
If you loved the oceanic wonder and quiet emotional storytelling of Remarkably Bright Creatures, this is probably the closest comparison I can make, although this book is much stranger and more introspective. There are hints of magical realism, a mysterious sea creature, and a deeply atmospheric island setting that feels isolated in the best possible way.
One of my favorite elements was the structure. Every chapter opens with excerpts from the jellyfish book Jo and Aldo were writing together, and throughout the novel we get academic observations, personal notes, and glimpses into a friendship built around a shared love of these fascinating creatures. The grief at the center of the story felt authentic, and Jo is such an easy character to root for. She’s insecure, carrying a tremendous amount of guilt, and still trying to figure out who she is without Aldo.
This is definitely a quiet novel. The plot unfolds slowly, prioritizing atmosphere, grief, friendship, and wonder over action. I would have loved more development for some of the island residents and more time spent with the children on the island. A few side plots, particularly the romantic elements, felt underdeveloped and didn’t quite go where I expected, which occasionally made the pacing feel uneven.
Will this end up on every “Best Books of the Year” list? Probably not. But it’s thoughtful, unusual, and refreshingly original. I’m glad I picked it up, and I’ll absolutely read whatever Tessa Yang writes next.
📚 Recommended for readers who enjoy:
• Remarkably Bright Creatures
• Quiet literary fiction
• Coastal Maine settings
• Stories about grief and friendship
• Light magical realism
• Unusual science-centered narrative
What if the sea monster story was told by a jellyfish scientist?
The Jellyfish Problem is one of the most original books I’ve read this year. Set on a remote island off the coast of Maine, it follows Dr. Jo Ness, a jellyfish researcher who is still grieving the death of her best friend and research partner, Aldo. When her college friend Nadia contacts her about a massive jellyfish unlike anything anyone has ever seen, Jo heads to Hansen Island to investigate.
If you loved the oceanic wonder and quiet emotional storytelling of Remarkably Bright Creatures, this is probably the closest comparison I can make, although this book is much stranger and more introspective. There are hints of magical realism, a mysterious sea creature, and a deeply atmospheric island setting that feels isolated in the best possible way.
One of my favorite elements was the structure. Every chapter opens with excerpts from the jellyfish book Jo and Aldo were writing together, and throughout the novel we get academic observations, personal notes, and glimpses into a friendship built around a shared love of these fascinating creatures. The grief at the center of the story felt authentic, and Jo is such an easy character to root for. She’s insecure, carrying a tremendous amount of guilt, and still trying to figure out who she is without Aldo.
This is definitely a quiet novel. The plot unfolds slowly, prioritizing atmosphere, grief, friendship, and wonder over action. I would have loved more development for some of the island residents and more time spent with the children on the island. A few side plots, particularly the romantic elements, felt underdeveloped and didn’t quite go where I expected, which occasionally made the pacing feel uneven.
Will this end up on every “Best Books of the Year” list? Probably not. But it’s thoughtful, unusual, and refreshingly original. I’m glad I picked it up, and I’ll absolutely read whatever Tessa Yang writes next.
📚 Recommended for readers who enjoy:
• Remarkably Bright Creatures
• Quiet literary fiction
• Coastal Maine settings
• Stories about grief and friendship
• Light magical realism
• Unusual science-centered narrative
June 19, 2026
4 stars. The Jellyfish Problem was such a unique little surprise - part ocean mystery, part grief story, part giant glowing jellyfish chaos. Jo’s search for answers on a small Maine island pulled me in, but it was the friendship, loss, and quiet healing underneath it all that gave the story its heart. Unexpected in the best way, thoughtful, and totally outside the usual box!
Read
June 2, 2026~AUTHOR NOTE~
Hi, it’s me, the author! Today my debut novel about grief, ghosts, and jellyfish swims out into the world. I want to thank everyone who’s already taken the time to rate and review—yes, even if you didn’t like it—and share some insights about the writing of this book for anyone who’s interested in that sort of thing.
1) I started The Jellyfish Problem in 2021 while working full-time as an English professor in a “hybrid” COVID-era classroom (half my students, masked, in front of me on campus; the other half in Zoom squares on my constantly crashing laptop). Though I deliberately set Jo’s story in 2019 to avoid having to think about the pandemic’s impact on Shattering Point, I consider this to be a pandemic book because its themes of grief, isolation, and community were so prevalent in my life during the writing of it.
2) This book is also a love letter to people with unusual interests. Some of mine include: sharks, yoyos, and license plates.
3) I spent two years researching jellyfish, as well as scuba diving, Japanese folklore, and a host of smaller subjects that appear in the novel. An early breakthrough was the discovery of MBARI’s video on deep-sea siphonophores. If you like ocean aliens, I bet you'll love it as much as I did: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUy8g...
4) “Jellyfish Problems” was the hasty title I gave the Word document where I started writing, and I definitely didn’t think it would evolve into the title of the book.
5) Across its five major drafts, the book gradually became lighter and more uplifting. Something I realized about myself during this process is that I can’t seem to write a story that doesn’t wrestle with heavy themes, but I also can’t bear to leave my characters (or my readers) stranded in a hopeless place.
Thank you again for your interest in Jo—my beloved “bug-eyed weirdo”—and Clementine, Aldo, and the rest of the crew.
Hi, it’s me, the author! Today my debut novel about grief, ghosts, and jellyfish swims out into the world. I want to thank everyone who’s already taken the time to rate and review—yes, even if you didn’t like it—and share some insights about the writing of this book for anyone who’s interested in that sort of thing.
1) I started The Jellyfish Problem in 2021 while working full-time as an English professor in a “hybrid” COVID-era classroom (half my students, masked, in front of me on campus; the other half in Zoom squares on my constantly crashing laptop). Though I deliberately set Jo’s story in 2019 to avoid having to think about the pandemic’s impact on Shattering Point, I consider this to be a pandemic book because its themes of grief, isolation, and community were so prevalent in my life during the writing of it.
2) This book is also a love letter to people with unusual interests. Some of mine include: sharks, yoyos, and license plates.
3) I spent two years researching jellyfish, as well as scuba diving, Japanese folklore, and a host of smaller subjects that appear in the novel. An early breakthrough was the discovery of MBARI’s video on deep-sea siphonophores. If you like ocean aliens, I bet you'll love it as much as I did: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUy8g...
4) “Jellyfish Problems” was the hasty title I gave the Word document where I started writing, and I definitely didn’t think it would evolve into the title of the book.
5) Across its five major drafts, the book gradually became lighter and more uplifting. Something I realized about myself during this process is that I can’t seem to write a story that doesn’t wrestle with heavy themes, but I also can’t bear to leave my characters (or my readers) stranded in a hopeless place.
Thank you again for your interest in Jo—my beloved “bug-eyed weirdo”—and Clementine, Aldo, and the rest of the crew.
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.
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.
May 28, 2026
Marine biologist Dr. Jo Ness prefers jellyfish to people. Since her best friend Aldo died seven months ago, she's been hiding away at an underfunded aquarium, finishing the jellyfish guide they were writing together and keeping his voice alive through his notes in the margins. When Nadia, one of the few other humans she's ever truly loved, calls out of nowhere asking for help with a giant glowing jellyfish terrorizing her tiny island off the coast of Maine, Jo drops everything to go. But when she arrives on Shattering Point, Nadia is gone and the islanders each have something wildly different to say about the creature they've named Clementine.
I'm torn on this one and honestly I've been going back and forth on my rating since I finished it. After writing the review I'm going to round it up to 4 instead of down to 3.
What works: the concept is genuinely unique and it's obvious a ton of research went into the jellyfish science. I learned things about jellyfish I never knew or even thought to wonder about, which doesn't happen to me often as a reader. The prose is soothing and almost meditative, the magical realism is well thought out without ever feeling forced, and the snippets from Jo's jellyfish guide at the beginning of each chapter are a really lovely touch. I also liked Jo's growth throughout the story and the way we learn about Aldo and their relationship through small flashbacks. Those hit harder than I expected.
I literally just finished Remarkably Bright Creatures at the lake last week and I loved it. I think I went into The Jellyfish Problem expecting that same vibe and that's completely on me. These two books are nothing alike despite both involving a sea creature. Where Remarkably Bright Creatures is heartwarming and plot-driven, The Jellyfish Problem is much more literary. There's a mystery here but it's less a "mystery book" and more a contemplation on the world around us, how we connect to nature and each other, and what it means to truly see something. It leans hard into magical realism but stays firmly rooted in science and human relationships.
You can probably tell from that paragraph that I'm having a hard time with this review. That's kind of the point this is a book that resists easy categorization and I'm still turning it over in my head.
At almost 400 pages it felt a little long, BUT I think that might be a me problem. I've been exhausted this past week and falling asleep while I read, which is extremely unlike me. So the pacing issue could have nothing to do with the book and everything to do with the fact that I need a nap. The last chapter saved me though, it gave some closure to feel satisfying without over-explaining, which is exactly the right move for a book like this.
If you enjoy thought-provoking literary fiction, books that sit with you after you finish them, and stories that are more interested in asking questions than answering them, you'll probably love this. But if you're looking for something fast-paced and heartwarming that you can't put down, this probably isn't it. It's quiet and contemplative and a little strange. I just don't think I was in the right headspace for it.
The Jellyfish Problem comes out June 2, 2026. Huge thank you to Berkley Books for my copy in exchange for my honest opinion. If you liked this review please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my Instagram @speakingof.books.
Tiktok @speakingof.books
I'm torn on this one and honestly I've been going back and forth on my rating since I finished it. After writing the review I'm going to round it up to 4 instead of down to 3.
What works: the concept is genuinely unique and it's obvious a ton of research went into the jellyfish science. I learned things about jellyfish I never knew or even thought to wonder about, which doesn't happen to me often as a reader. The prose is soothing and almost meditative, the magical realism is well thought out without ever feeling forced, and the snippets from Jo's jellyfish guide at the beginning of each chapter are a really lovely touch. I also liked Jo's growth throughout the story and the way we learn about Aldo and their relationship through small flashbacks. Those hit harder than I expected.
I literally just finished Remarkably Bright Creatures at the lake last week and I loved it. I think I went into The Jellyfish Problem expecting that same vibe and that's completely on me. These two books are nothing alike despite both involving a sea creature. Where Remarkably Bright Creatures is heartwarming and plot-driven, The Jellyfish Problem is much more literary. There's a mystery here but it's less a "mystery book" and more a contemplation on the world around us, how we connect to nature and each other, and what it means to truly see something. It leans hard into magical realism but stays firmly rooted in science and human relationships.
You can probably tell from that paragraph that I'm having a hard time with this review. That's kind of the point this is a book that resists easy categorization and I'm still turning it over in my head.
At almost 400 pages it felt a little long, BUT I think that might be a me problem. I've been exhausted this past week and falling asleep while I read, which is extremely unlike me. So the pacing issue could have nothing to do with the book and everything to do with the fact that I need a nap. The last chapter saved me though, it gave some closure to feel satisfying without over-explaining, which is exactly the right move for a book like this.
If you enjoy thought-provoking literary fiction, books that sit with you after you finish them, and stories that are more interested in asking questions than answering them, you'll probably love this. But if you're looking for something fast-paced and heartwarming that you can't put down, this probably isn't it. It's quiet and contemplative and a little strange. I just don't think I was in the right headspace for it.
The Jellyfish Problem comes out June 2, 2026. Huge thank you to Berkley Books for my copy in exchange for my honest opinion. If you liked this review please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my Instagram @speakingof.books.
Tiktok @speakingof.books
Currently Reading
June 12, 2026Rating a novel part way through is not appropriate, in my opinion. But logging in observations and comments so that they are freshly delivered along the journey is my new reviewing jam! "The Jellyfish Problem" was gifted to me pre-publish by NetGalley and was indeed recently published on June 2, 2026.
There will inevitably be comparisons to "Remarkably Bright Creatures" by sheer dint of the similarities in topic or theme.
It is not that. And yet, in many ways, it is that.
It is a magnificent debut, and based on my current mindset... it will be a memorable and remarkably bright addition to my love of the world of literary magical realism. Thus far, it is proving to be both a literate and healing piece of storytelling!
More to follow...
There will inevitably be comparisons to "Remarkably Bright Creatures" by sheer dint of the similarities in topic or theme.
It is not that. And yet, in many ways, it is that.
It is a magnificent debut, and based on my current mindset... it will be a memorable and remarkably bright addition to my love of the world of literary magical realism. Thus far, it is proving to be both a literate and healing piece of storytelling!
More to follow...
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.
March 23, 2026
This won’t be for everyone, but it was for me.
June 23, 2026
I wanted to like this more than I did. It was just alright. Pretty cute though, I liked the parts with Jo and Aldo’s book before each chapter. I feel like the story could have been more streamlined. The ending seemed really abrupt to me as well.
June 7, 2026
I really enjoyed this one. A bit of a happy coincidence to be watching Widow's Bay and find a book with another very different cursed island (nowhere near as scary, though).
June 23, 2026
This is a weird book. We have two different storylines going with the same main character.
One-explores college love affairs and platonic friendships and their loss. Two- we have the “Creature of the black lagoon/the blob” where a tiny island off the coast of Maine is being terrorized by a jellyfish who won’t let them leave the island .
Our main character is a 30 something year-old woman who never quite fit in. She had a brief love affair with another woman Nadia in college who promptly dumped her as soon as they graduated. She gets a job in a small (and failing) aquarium where she dedicates herself to studying jellyfish. She was writing a book with Aldo, a platonic partner who recently died in a scuba accident. She is still grieving his death when out of the blue, she gets a phone call from Nadia- asking her to come to this remote Maine island to investigate a gigantic -never before seen- jellyfish. Both intrigued by the scientific prospect, as well as possibly kindling the long, lost love affair- She jumps at the chance and hops on a plane.
When she gets to the island- all is not as it appears. Firstly, the Islanders are openly hostile and her friend is missing. The author does a really nice job here peeling back the layers and letting us figure out what’s going on at the same time as our main character. We need some truly oddball characters from a seemingly psychic child, and an elderly couple who are trying to literally kill each other. However, in the middle parts of the book really dragged for me, especially the ghost Aldo scenes, and I found myself skimming them. The ending of how they solve the “problem” was just… Weird and very unrealistic . I can’t image you would have people actually doing “that”, but desperate times call for desperate measures. I did enjoy the book however, and would recommend it for someone who’s looking for a completely unpredictable read.
I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for a chance to review this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
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.
June 14, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the ARC!
This novel was a deep dive into grief and the architecture of interpersonal relationships across time, trauma and maturity. Jellyfish are the essential language the story is told in. There were fun parallels between a non-fiction book the main character is writing (specifically looking to dispel the negative public perception of jellyfish) in the story vs the real world application of such a book. It was a bit of a slow starter as so much of the opening chapters the reader is lost to the internal dialogue of Jo as she navigates a recent loss, a hyper fixation on an past relationship, and the difficult relationship with her mother.
The real fantastical mystery of the story is told across a handful of chapters and I would have enjoyed a little more attention on that part of the storyline. There was so much buildup based upon the character relationships, both past and present. Clementine received little attention on the page, similarly to the growing dynamic between Jo and Tony. These were true light points to keep the narrative on an upward momentum. Overall, from my personal reading experience, the book felt very heavy.
This novel was a deep dive into grief and the architecture of interpersonal relationships across time, trauma and maturity. Jellyfish are the essential language the story is told in. There were fun parallels between a non-fiction book the main character is writing (specifically looking to dispel the negative public perception of jellyfish) in the story vs the real world application of such a book. It was a bit of a slow starter as so much of the opening chapters the reader is lost to the internal dialogue of Jo as she navigates a recent loss, a hyper fixation on an past relationship, and the difficult relationship with her mother.
The real fantastical mystery of the story is told across a handful of chapters and I would have enjoyed a little more attention on that part of the storyline. There was so much buildup based upon the character relationships, both past and present. Clementine received little attention on the page, similarly to the growing dynamic between Jo and Tony. These were true light points to keep the narrative on an upward momentum. Overall, from my personal reading experience, the book felt very heavy.
May 27, 2026
To be published June 2, 2026
This really worked for me! I loved the island setting, learning about jellyfish, dealing with grief, the mystery of what to do with Clementine, all of it! This is a great read to usher in the summer. My only complaints are that I wish we’d leaned in harder with the folklore aspect of the yokai, and that we had another scene with Sidney (I think that’s the kid’s name) at the end to see how he feels about the islander’s solution.
Overall a great read and I’ll look forward to any other work by this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!
This really worked for me! I loved the island setting, learning about jellyfish, dealing with grief, the mystery of what to do with Clementine, all of it! This is a great read to usher in the summer. My only complaints are that I wish we’d leaned in harder with the folklore aspect of the yokai, and that we had another scene with Sidney (I think that’s the kid’s name) at the end to see how he feels about the islander’s solution.
Overall a great read and I’ll look forward to any other work by this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 2, 2026
4.5⭐️ Thank you NetGalley for this ARC! I was enthralled by the unraveling mystery of Clementine, the giant glowing jellyfish and her slimy hold on the people of Shattering. This book was right up my alley with all its marine biology and mystery. I really appreciated the exploration of grief and the community that shone as bright as the jelly herself. The writing was nothing short of exceptional start to finish and I hope more people decide to dive into this book!
June 6, 2026
Themes of grief and isolation, but I appreciated the way humor was woven in, too.
June 18, 2026
I went into this blind from a recommendation at a book club…. It wasn’t amazing, wasn’t bad, I just don’t know what it was. Not a book I would normally pick up, that’s for sure.
June 2, 2026
I have not wanted a FMC to die more in a book than any I have ever read before. This speculative story follows an absolutely self absorbed women who is unable to think of any concept outside of herself. I.e. page 123, "I cared about what I cared about; the rest can go to hell." Jo, our main character, inner monologues every encounter with someone to include injuring an elderly, crippled man coming her way if he were to come at her, to thinking she could have a queer relationship with any character with a vagina. Typical man hating, queer leabo who "always expect the worst of people", who never matured during her 11 years post college.
I had such high expectations for the propose storyline of this novel thinking it would be so much more. Instead I am following an annoying, immature twat who should have died in the first part of the book. I would have much rather followed another character like Nadia or even from the perspective of the freaking jellyfish...so disappointed.
I had such high expectations for the propose storyline of this novel thinking it would be so much more. Instead I am following an annoying, immature twat who should have died in the first part of the book. I would have much rather followed another character like Nadia or even from the perspective of the freaking jellyfish...so disappointed.
June 11, 2026
I know next to nothing about jellyfish, but I do love watching them move. I did learn a few interesting things about them in The Jellyfish Problem, but much of the novel dealt with Jo dealing with grief and guilt, a prior friendship she’d believed to have been love, and how to escape an island and a creature that would keep them captive until they died. There were a few threads that were left dangling, and several questions that went unanswered, but, as Jo’s story, I actually really enjoyed it and her journey.
Dr. Jo Ness is a marine biologist in a tiny aquarium in the Southern California desert, studying jellyfish. Until her college best friend/one-time lover calls and asks her to investigate a massive jellyfish terrorizing the small New England island she’s currently teaching at. Jo’s feelings about Nadia are complex, but she’ll do anything for the girl she once loved, so she takes an impromptu vacation and heads east. Only to find Nadia’s husband while Nadia herself is missing. The tiny island town isn’t quite friendly, but they all seem to be leading her to Clementine, the jellyfish, viewing her as their only hope of getting off the island and escaping the monstrous jellyfish. Except nothing is quite as it appears.
There’s a really lovely atmosphere in The Jellyfish Problem. It’s stark and and a little creepy and it brought to mind a windswept, almost vacant island in a roiling sea filled with a sea monster. But there’s also a surprising warmth as Jo deals with the grief of losing her close friend a few months ago on a dive they took together, as well as her feelings learning Nadia’s secrets. I also really loved the slow romance that blooms between Jo and Tony, who is running her aunt’s bed and breakfast. And yet so much of the story was wrapped up in escaping the island instead of properly investigating what’s going on. There were so many questions I had that just were never even addressed. I wanted to know so much more about Clementine, but I felt like I was the only one who did.
I would say this is less about what’s really going on with the island than about Jo’s personal journey. She’s dealing with a lot, and keeps seeing the ghost of her friend. It was a little creepy, especially with the whole atmosphere the isolated island creates, but I liked how he was utilized, and how it helped Jo grieve and start to come out on the other side. I wasn’t so keen on the romance part of this story. The hurt she felt about Nadia cut deep, making her new romance feel a little sudden. But I loved the steps backward and forward they made, especially since Tony knew things no one was telling Jo. It felt both manipulative, and somehow, weirdly, heartwarming. But I did like Jo. The fun part of her character was her reactions to what was happening on the island. As much of a scientist as she is, she’s very human, and I loved the way it came out.
I wasn’t as keen about how the mystery of what was going on with the island and the giant jellyfish unraveled. It felt more like an escape-the-island story instead of a mystery of figuring out what’s going on. I enjoyed learning a bit about jellyfish, and I loved the way facts just slipped out of Jo, but I wish the scientist part of her had wanted to really figure out what was happening instead of focusing so much on escaping and her personal problems. I did like how she went against what the rest of the townspeople wanted to do as it felt true to character, but I really wanted more curiosity in her. Unfortunately, it felt like her personal life took up too much space, leaving the reader, and everyone else, with questions of why and how.
Still, I did enjoy The Jellyfish Problem. The setting was wonderfully sparse and the people really helped bring it to life. I liked the dichotomy of how they’re going into the summer tourist season while something crazy is happening, so there are tourists wandering around while the residents tried to both keep them from getting trapped and escaping the island themselves. It didn’t land quite as hard as it could have as I frequently forgot about the tourists, but I liked the idea behind it. It was also really fun to get a glimpse of this massive creature terrorizing the people, and the horror of what it was trying to do.
The Jellyfish Problem is less about jellyfish and more about people. It’s strewn with a few facts, but it’s mostly focused on Jo and her personal problems. It leaves a lot of unanswered questions, but it was heartwarming the way Jo was able to reconcile her past and present and find ways to move forward.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
Dr. Jo Ness is a marine biologist in a tiny aquarium in the Southern California desert, studying jellyfish. Until her college best friend/one-time lover calls and asks her to investigate a massive jellyfish terrorizing the small New England island she’s currently teaching at. Jo’s feelings about Nadia are complex, but she’ll do anything for the girl she once loved, so she takes an impromptu vacation and heads east. Only to find Nadia’s husband while Nadia herself is missing. The tiny island town isn’t quite friendly, but they all seem to be leading her to Clementine, the jellyfish, viewing her as their only hope of getting off the island and escaping the monstrous jellyfish. Except nothing is quite as it appears.
There’s a really lovely atmosphere in The Jellyfish Problem. It’s stark and and a little creepy and it brought to mind a windswept, almost vacant island in a roiling sea filled with a sea monster. But there’s also a surprising warmth as Jo deals with the grief of losing her close friend a few months ago on a dive they took together, as well as her feelings learning Nadia’s secrets. I also really loved the slow romance that blooms between Jo and Tony, who is running her aunt’s bed and breakfast. And yet so much of the story was wrapped up in escaping the island instead of properly investigating what’s going on. There were so many questions I had that just were never even addressed. I wanted to know so much more about Clementine, but I felt like I was the only one who did.
I would say this is less about what’s really going on with the island than about Jo’s personal journey. She’s dealing with a lot, and keeps seeing the ghost of her friend. It was a little creepy, especially with the whole atmosphere the isolated island creates, but I liked how he was utilized, and how it helped Jo grieve and start to come out on the other side. I wasn’t so keen on the romance part of this story. The hurt she felt about Nadia cut deep, making her new romance feel a little sudden. But I loved the steps backward and forward they made, especially since Tony knew things no one was telling Jo. It felt both manipulative, and somehow, weirdly, heartwarming. But I did like Jo. The fun part of her character was her reactions to what was happening on the island. As much of a scientist as she is, she’s very human, and I loved the way it came out.
I wasn’t as keen about how the mystery of what was going on with the island and the giant jellyfish unraveled. It felt more like an escape-the-island story instead of a mystery of figuring out what’s going on. I enjoyed learning a bit about jellyfish, and I loved the way facts just slipped out of Jo, but I wish the scientist part of her had wanted to really figure out what was happening instead of focusing so much on escaping and her personal problems. I did like how she went against what the rest of the townspeople wanted to do as it felt true to character, but I really wanted more curiosity in her. Unfortunately, it felt like her personal life took up too much space, leaving the reader, and everyone else, with questions of why and how.
Still, I did enjoy The Jellyfish Problem. The setting was wonderfully sparse and the people really helped bring it to life. I liked the dichotomy of how they’re going into the summer tourist season while something crazy is happening, so there are tourists wandering around while the residents tried to both keep them from getting trapped and escaping the island themselves. It didn’t land quite as hard as it could have as I frequently forgot about the tourists, but I liked the idea behind it. It was also really fun to get a glimpse of this massive creature terrorizing the people, and the horror of what it was trying to do.
The Jellyfish Problem is less about jellyfish and more about people. It’s strewn with a few facts, but it’s mostly focused on Jo and her personal problems. It leaves a lot of unanswered questions, but it was heartwarming the way Jo was able to reconcile her past and present and find ways to move forward.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
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
✨ Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC of The Jellyfish Problem! This review represents my honest perspective.✨
A moving novel that is nearly impossible to describe: at times an emotional journey through grief, simultaneously a meandering contemplation of the importance of community and the bonds that tie us to the natural world as humans, with a dash of romance for good measure. At no point did I know what to expect while I was reading, and I think that if you go in with an open mind, this will be an enjoyable read for those who enjoy literary prose with supernatural elements.
Jo Ness is a marine biologist who has made her home in an under-funded lab at a tiny aquarium studying the lives of jellyfish. Grappling with guilt and grief over the recent death of her best friend, Jo accepts an invitation to a tiny, remote island off the coast of Maine to study a giant jellyfish terrorizing the local inhabitants. It doesn’t hurt that the invitation comes from an old friend-turned-college-flame who she hasn’t heard from in a decade. When Jo arrives on the island and begins to investigate the gigantic, rare jellyfish, though, she realizes she might have bitten off more than she can chew.
Much of this book is about the experience of grieving a major loss and feeling disconnected from your lie and future. Yang does a masterful job detailing the raw instability of grief - feeling unmoored from your own identity and society - and how it impacts your mental and spiritual self. Weaving in the folklore of the yōkai and its impacts on Jo deepened the connection between Jo and her cultural heritage as a half Japanese woman and made for a more impactful story. At the same time, this book is, on its face, about a jellyfish. Jo’s fascination with and appreciation for ocean life serves as an interesting backdrop to a story like this: she’s approaching her experiences through the lens of a biologist but also as a human, grappling with her own loss and unexplained feelings.
Every interaction, character, and even place is crafted with intention and serves to move the story forward in a meaningful way. It’s a delight as a reader to experience a novel where each scene is very deliberate and the connections between individuals and the natural or supernatural world serve as chess pieces for the larger points being made. The setting is very ethereal and unsettling, which again lends itself well to the type of story Yang is trying to tell here.
There are moments where pacing felt a bit off - for example, the conclusion of the book arrives rapidly and seems to conclude without much fanfare, despite the hundreds of pages of emotional build up that came before it. I wish we could have seen and understood more of the community’s experience and reactions to the climax. I’m glad I came in with no preconceived notions of what this book would or would not be, as it helped my enjoyment greatly.
This novel won’t be for everyone, but I recommend not thinking too hard about it before just diving in (pun intended) - while a meandering reflection on grief, the unexplained, and surviving in a tight-knit community, there are elements of it that will appeal to most readers.
A moving novel that is nearly impossible to describe: at times an emotional journey through grief, simultaneously a meandering contemplation of the importance of community and the bonds that tie us to the natural world as humans, with a dash of romance for good measure. At no point did I know what to expect while I was reading, and I think that if you go in with an open mind, this will be an enjoyable read for those who enjoy literary prose with supernatural elements.
Jo Ness is a marine biologist who has made her home in an under-funded lab at a tiny aquarium studying the lives of jellyfish. Grappling with guilt and grief over the recent death of her best friend, Jo accepts an invitation to a tiny, remote island off the coast of Maine to study a giant jellyfish terrorizing the local inhabitants. It doesn’t hurt that the invitation comes from an old friend-turned-college-flame who she hasn’t heard from in a decade. When Jo arrives on the island and begins to investigate the gigantic, rare jellyfish, though, she realizes she might have bitten off more than she can chew.
Much of this book is about the experience of grieving a major loss and feeling disconnected from your lie and future. Yang does a masterful job detailing the raw instability of grief - feeling unmoored from your own identity and society - and how it impacts your mental and spiritual self. Weaving in the folklore of the yōkai and its impacts on Jo deepened the connection between Jo and her cultural heritage as a half Japanese woman and made for a more impactful story. At the same time, this book is, on its face, about a jellyfish. Jo’s fascination with and appreciation for ocean life serves as an interesting backdrop to a story like this: she’s approaching her experiences through the lens of a biologist but also as a human, grappling with her own loss and unexplained feelings.
Every interaction, character, and even place is crafted with intention and serves to move the story forward in a meaningful way. It’s a delight as a reader to experience a novel where each scene is very deliberate and the connections between individuals and the natural or supernatural world serve as chess pieces for the larger points being made. The setting is very ethereal and unsettling, which again lends itself well to the type of story Yang is trying to tell here.
There are moments where pacing felt a bit off - for example, the conclusion of the book arrives rapidly and seems to conclude without much fanfare, despite the hundreds of pages of emotional build up that came before it. I wish we could have seen and understood more of the community’s experience and reactions to the climax. I’m glad I came in with no preconceived notions of what this book would or would not be, as it helped my enjoyment greatly.
This novel won’t be for everyone, but I recommend not thinking too hard about it before just diving in (pun intended) - while a meandering reflection on grief, the unexplained, and surviving in a tight-knit community, there are elements of it that will appeal to most readers.
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
Follow along & like!
https://fable.co/review/53fdb668-fe82-4780-b610-21033468616e/share/
https://1stlightdawnreads.blogspot.com/
https://www.instagram.com/1stlight.dawnreads/
https://www.tiktok.com/@1stlight.dawnreads
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.
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