EHJ Creative

The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See

If you like your historical fiction raw and heart-wrenching, this one delivers. The Haenyo, female free divers from Jeju Island, South Korea, dive together, but war and politics pull them apart. Secrets surface, loyalties fracture, and survival comes at unimaginable costs.

⭐️ Rating: 5/5 stars
📚 Highly recommend for a bookclub

Devastating. Unforgettable. Beautifully human.

A note about the art:

Stolen Innocence by Kang Duk-kyung depicts the “comfort women” of Japan—girls and women forced into sexual slavery during the occupation. While not directly referenced in The Island of Sea Women, both works share a time period and echo the devastation of female power stripped away. The painting stands in stark contrast to the matriarchal strength of the Haenyo culture, showing how war and politics fracture women’s will, bodies, and voices.

📚 September Reading Recap 📚
This month = vibes. Fantasy, heartbreak, swoons, and one audiobook narrator I’ll never forgive. Swipe for ratings and my eight-word hot takes.

Octavia Books (New Orleans) 📚

The staff was delightful, the shelves packed with gems—especially cool art books and a huge, playful children’s section. If you’re in NOLA, I highly recommend a stop here.

Pro tip: grab a delicious lunch at Saba (just a short walk away) and then lose yourself in the stacks.