The Island of Sea Women

The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See is a breathtaking, meticulously researched historical novel that honors the extraordinary haenyeo—a matriarchal society of female free-divers on Korea's Jeju Island. Spanning several decades from the 1930s to the 2000s, the story follows Young-sook and Mi-ja, two girls from very different backgrounds who join their village's all-female diving collective. Operating in a society where women are the primary breadwinners doing dangerous deep-sea diving while men stay home, the two girls form an inseparable bond. However, as Jeju is caught in the crossfire of WWII, Japanese colonialism, the Korean War, and the devastating 1948 Jeju Uprising massacre, horrifying tragedies force a devastating rift between the friends. Lisa See crafts a poignant, powerful epic about the bonds of female friendship, the weight of historical trauma, and the healing strength of forgiveness.

Because it offers an immersive look into a fascinating, real-world matriarchal diving culture while delivering a profoundly moving story about friendship, survival, and reconciliation.

For readers of rich historical fiction, fans of Lisa See, those interested in Asian culture and women-centered narratives, and anyone moved by complex stories of friendship and healing.