The Island of Sea Women

By: Lisa See

Narrated by: Jennifer Lim

The beautiful novel of female friendship and family secrets on a small Korean island, from the New York Times bestselling author of The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane

Mi-ja and Young-sook, two girls living on the Korean island of Jeju, are best friends that come from very different backgrounds. When they are old enough, they begin working in the sea with their village’s all-female diving collective, led by Young-sook’s mother. As the girls take up their positions as baby divers, they know they are beginning a life of excitement and responsibility but also danger.

Despite their love for each other, Mi-ja and Young-sook’s differences are impossible to ignore. The Island of Sea Women is an epic set over many decades, beginning during a period of Japanese colonialism in the 1930s and 1940s, followed by World War II, the Korean War and its aftermath, through the era of cell phones and wetsuits for the women divers. Throughout this time, the residents of Jeju find themselves caught between warring empires. Mi-ja is the daughter of a Japanese collaborator, and she will forever be marked by this association. Young-sook was born into a long line of haenyeo and will inherit her mother’s position leading the divers in their village. Little do the two friends know that after surviving hundreds of dives and developing the closest of bonds, forces outside their control will push their friendship to the breaking point.

This beautiful, thoughtful novel illuminates a world turned upside down, one where the women are in charge, engaging in dangerous physical work, and the men take care of the children. A classic Lisa See story—one of women’s friendships and the larger forces that shape them—The Island of Sea Women introduces readers to the fierce and unforgettable female divers of Jeju Island and the dramatic history that shaped their lives.

‘For centuries, women on Korea’s Jeju island have been free-diving into the sea, a practice explored through this fictionalized story of two friends who struggle to stay close amid war, family rivalries, and a shifting cultural landscape. It’s riveting, historical, and heartbreaking all at once’ Marie Claire
‘Lisa See excels at mining the intersection of family, friendship and history... This novel spans wars and generations, but at its heart is a beautifully rendered story of two women whose individual choices become inextricably tangled’ Jodi Picoult, author of A Spark of Light

‘I was spellbound the moment I entered the vivid and little-known world of the diving women of Jeju… No one writes about female friendship… with more insight and depth than Lisa See’ Sue Monk Kidd, author of The Secret Life of Bees

©2019 Lisa See (P)2019 Simon & Schuster UK

Critic reviews

'Lisa See excels at mining the intersection of family, friendship and history... This novel spans wars and generations, but at its heart is a beautifully rendered story of two women whose individual choices become inextricably tangled' (Jodi Picoult)

'I was spellbound the moment I entered the vivid and little-known world of the diving women of Jeju... No one writes about female friendship, the dark and the light of it, with more insight and depth than Lisa See' (Sue Monk Kidd, author of The Secret Life of Bees)

loyalty and history

The book was a little too long and would have been improved by some efiting

Captivating Tale of Jeju’s Resilient Haenyeo

The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See is a captivating, multi-generational journey that brings the history and culture of Jeju Island and its remarkable haenyeo divers to life. Through vivid storytelling, I gained a deep appreciation for the resilience of these women and their community. While some sections may feel a bit long, as critics note, the immersive experience is well worth it. Highly recommended for anyone interested in Korean history and unique cultural perspectives.

inspiring story, about friendship, struggles, love

inspiring story, about friendship, struggles and love; historical facts and political influences throughout our lives

I loved this book

Heartbreaking and awe inspiring. Beautiful story about a beautiful place. I was instantly transported into the waters around Jeju Island. The brutality of the Korean government and military against their own people was shocking.

Good message, but longwinded for most parts, going nowhere.

It started of so well, then it got longwinde and went nowhere for most part of the book. I perservered, but was disappointed in the end.