The Island of Sea Women

THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

"A mesmerizing new historical novel" (O, The Oprah Magazine) from Lisa See, the bestselling author of The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane, about female friendship and devastating family secrets

The Island of Sea Women is an enthralling story set in a sweeping span of history, featuring two friends from vastly different backgrounds. The novel takes place on the Korean island of Jeju, where two girls from different backgrounds become best friends. They work for the village’s all-female diving collective, where they are intimately connected to the sea.

As they grow up, one of the girls, Young-sook, is the daughter of a diver, and her best friend, Mi-ja, is the daughter of a Japanese collaborator. Despite their differences, they remain close until outside forces alter their lives and their bond forever. This saga of friendship reveals the cultural mix that emerged out of a nation torn apart by decades of conflict, colonisation, and war.

The Island of Sea Women illuminates a world where women risk their lives to earn a living, and a world governed by female mentors, mothers, and friends. Deeply haunting, it explores the complexities of forgiveness and love on an island few readers have ever encountered.