Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my free digital ARC in exchange for a review!

Sea Change was a beautifully melancholy reflection on complex family relationships, muddling through your late 20s and dealing with heartbreak - with a giant octopus thrown in for good measure.

I think this book is set in a near future, given Ro’s boyfriend has left her for an experimental trip to Mars and her father went missing on a research trip to a part of the ocean made dangerously strange by climate change, but otherwise it’s rooted in our reality. Gina Chung does an amazing job of bringing complicated relationships to life, and I loved how the main focus wasn’t actually on romantic relationships. I’d say the majority of the time is spent reflecting on Ro’s relationship with her parents, both before and after her father’s disappearance, and the one with her childhood best friend who is getting married.

Ro does have a massive self-destructive streak, so if you have little patience for that then consider this your warning. But if you love a messy character then you’ll love Ro. I liked the back and forth narrative, as we get to see Ro growing up, the tumultuous relationship with her parents evolve, and I think it helps understand why she is the way she is at 30. Chung addresses all the messy family stuff like resentment, infidelity, unmet expectations. The focus is mainly on Ro, but we also get a glimpse into her mother’s disappointment at life in America as Korean immigrants.

I had a deep fascination with marine biology as a kid, so I loved the Dolores side plot even though octopuses do scare the shit out of me. But Dolores was amazing and I loved how Chung managed to write a moving human-animal friendship without sacrificing Dolores’ wildness.

I’d definitely recommend this one if you like messy, reflective books with not much plot but a lot of complex relationships!