We've been talking a lot about speculative fiction lately, and it's so interesting to see books that experiment with that form, especially ones that only hover slightly at the line of horror/supernatural - which, it sounds like this one does! Your thoughts on this book sound intriguing, it's inspiring us to pick it up!
I love that! I also think speculative that plays with genre-blending and form is having a moment and it's so interesting to see in real time how it evolves and changes. Let me know what you think of the book!
I LOVE THIS BOOK. But I had to step outside my horror expectations to get there. It is quietly horrifying in its own way, but I think it’s more just a love story. Reframing it changed my perspective entirely!
Also I actually did spend extra to purchase the UK cover when it first came out and I do not regret it — I feel like the US cover looks like the book takes place on mars 😂
Yes, totally agree! Once I let go of the horror expectation, it was such a beautiful story on love and grief and sometimes letting the ones we love go.
The cover is an important signal as to what audience the book wants to appeal to. The way you've described the book, the first cover (pink) is the way better one.
Can't wait to read this one! I like this reframing of the genre. I read The Other Black Girl fully expecting a thriller and that was just bad marketing, but it did effect my reading experience negatively.
Our Wives Under the Sea is one of my all time favorite books, it’s so beautifully written. I didn’t go into it expected a lot of horror but I see why the marketing misled some people. I haven’t stopped thinking about it since I read it, it’s such a hauntingly lovely book and like you said very much deserves to be read!!
I read this book last year and was felt disappointed! It wasn’t what I thought it would be, I was definitely waiting for horror and steered in the wrong direction. I think I was waiting for a monster to appear hahah.
This was my fear! I totally heard people talking about it as horror and I kept waiting for it to be something else; once I realized what it was and reframed my expectations, that helped a ton, but I think it’s one you have to go in knowing it’s not a “scary” book.
Thanks for bringing this one to my attention again. It sounds great. I’m currently reading an ARC of The Garden by Clare Beams and similarly, it has a touch of gothic horror, but I think when people start reading a literary novel promoted as horror (or thriller) the overly high expectations for high drama/scares/thrills can undercut the pleasure of reading a thoughtful and atmospheric literary novel. Ah, marketing!
Truthfully, I can’t remember if it’s ever explicitly named. The book takes place mostly from Miri’s point of view, and she experiences watching her wife grapple with PTSD, so I’d say a good portion, but that it’s from the loved one’s perspective.
We've been talking a lot about speculative fiction lately, and it's so interesting to see books that experiment with that form, especially ones that only hover slightly at the line of horror/supernatural - which, it sounds like this one does! Your thoughts on this book sound intriguing, it's inspiring us to pick it up!
I love that! I also think speculative that plays with genre-blending and form is having a moment and it's so interesting to see in real time how it evolves and changes. Let me know what you think of the book!
Definitely - we've really been enjoying the newer genre-blending experimentation!
I LOVE THIS BOOK. But I had to step outside my horror expectations to get there. It is quietly horrifying in its own way, but I think it’s more just a love story. Reframing it changed my perspective entirely!
Also I actually did spend extra to purchase the UK cover when it first came out and I do not regret it — I feel like the US cover looks like the book takes place on mars 😂
Yes, totally agree! Once I let go of the horror expectation, it was such a beautiful story on love and grief and sometimes letting the ones we love go.
so looking forward to read this one!
The cover is an important signal as to what audience the book wants to appeal to. The way you've described the book, the first cover (pink) is the way better one.
Can't wait to read this one! I like this reframing of the genre. I read The Other Black Girl fully expecting a thriller and that was just bad marketing, but it did effect my reading experience negatively.
I still haven’t read that one, but did hear mediocre reviews—maybe that’s why!!
Our Wives Under the Sea is one of my all time favorite books, it’s so beautifully written. I didn’t go into it expected a lot of horror but I see why the marketing misled some people. I haven’t stopped thinking about it since I read it, it’s such a hauntingly lovely book and like you said very much deserves to be read!!
Hauntingly lovely is the perfect way to describe it!
I read this book last year and was felt disappointed! It wasn’t what I thought it would be, I was definitely waiting for horror and steered in the wrong direction. I think I was waiting for a monster to appear hahah.
UK cover supremacy on this one for SURE!
This was my fear! I totally heard people talking about it as horror and I kept waiting for it to be something else; once I realized what it was and reframed my expectations, that helped a ton, but I think it’s one you have to go in knowing it’s not a “scary” book.
Thanks for bringing this one to my attention again. It sounds great. I’m currently reading an ARC of The Garden by Clare Beams and similarly, it has a touch of gothic horror, but I think when people start reading a literary novel promoted as horror (or thriller) the overly high expectations for high drama/scares/thrills can undercut the pleasure of reading a thoughtful and atmospheric literary novel. Ah, marketing!
Ooo adding that one to my list! And totally agree, if you’re expecting jump scares and get quite literary, it can be a letdown!
Be honest: how much of this book is about PTSD?
Truthfully, I can’t remember if it’s ever explicitly named. The book takes place mostly from Miri’s point of view, and she experiences watching her wife grapple with PTSD, so I’d say a good portion, but that it’s from the loved one’s perspective.
Even worse 😂😭 But good to know! Thank you.
<3 <3
Yeah, I could see if you thought this was horror, you’d be disappointed. Hard to describe the exact genre, but I loved it.
So beautiful!