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The Island of Sea Women: A Novel Audiobook
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Publisher Description
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 on a small Korean island.
Mi-ja and Young-sook, two girls living on the Korean island of Jeju, are best friends who 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 find it impossible to ignore their differences. The Island of Sea Women takes place over many decades, beginning during a period of Japanese colonialism in the 1930s and 1940s, followed by World War II, the Korean War, through the era of cell phones and wet suits 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. 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 forces outside their control will push their friendship to the breaking point.
“This vivid…thoughtful and empathetic” novel (The New York Times Book Review) illuminates a world turned upside down, one where the women are in charge and the men take care of the children. “A wonderful ode to a truly singular group of women” (Publishers Weekly), The Island of Sea Women is a “beautiful story…about the endurance of friendship when it’s pushed to its limits, and you…will love it” (Cosmopolitan).
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“Lim’s clear and sensitive portrayals, complete with believable accents, make it easy for listeners to keep track of the characters…[in] this well-researched, affecting story.”
— AudioFile
Quotes
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“Vivid…thoughtful and empathetic.”
— New York Times -
“Beautiful.”
— Vanity Fair -
“Celebrates women’s strengths—and the strength of their friendships.”
— O, The Oprah Magazine -
“A stupendous multigenerational family saga…[A] stellar novel.”
— Booklist (starred review) -
“Jennifer Lim reads with enormous dignity, almost reverence, for the tale of diving women while conveying the day-to-day banter and jostling among the women.”
— Booklist (starred audio review) -
“This beautiful story…is about the endurance of friendship when it’s pushed to its limits, and you (+ your BFF, when you lend it to her) will love it.”
— Cosmopolitan
Awards
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New York Times bestseller
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An O Magazine Pick of Most Anticipated Books of 2019
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A Cosmopolitan Pick for March
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A Refinery29 Pick
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A Booklist Top 10 Pick of Best Women's Fiction on Audio
The Island of Sea Women Listener Reviews
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Kimberley Montini, 4/6/2025
About Lisa See
Lisa See is the acclaimed author of several novels, including five New York Times bestsellers. She has won the Golden Spike Award from the Chinese Historical Association of Southern California and the Historymaker’s Award from the Chinese American Museum. She was also named National Woman of the Year by the Organization of Chinese American Women
About Jennifer Lim
Jennifer Lim is a voice talent and audiobook narrator.