Marine biologist Dr. Jo Ness prefers jellyfish to people. Since her best friend Aldo died seven months ago, she’s been hiding away at an underfunded aquarium, finishing the jellyfish guide they were writing together and keeping his voice alive through his notes in the margins. When Nadia, one of the few other humans she’s ever truly loved, calls out of nowhere asking for help with a giant glowing jellyfish terrorizing her tiny island off the coast of Maine, Jo drops everything to go. But when she arrives on Shattering Point, Nadia is gone and the islanders each have something wildly different to say about the creature they’ve named Clementine.
I’m torn on this one and honestly I’ve been going back and forth on my rating since I finished it. After writing the review I’m going to round it up to 4 instead of down to 3.
What works: the concept is genuinely unique and it’s obvious a ton of research went into the jellyfish science. I learned things about jellyfish I never knew or even thought to wonder about, which doesn’t happen to me often as a reader. The prose is soothing and almost meditative, the magical realism is well thought out without ever feeling forced, and the snippets from Jo’s jellyfish guide at the beginning of each chapter are a really lovely touch. I also liked Jo’s growth throughout the story and the way we learn about Aldo and their relationship through small flashbacks. Those hit harder than I expected.
I literally just finished Remarkably Bright Creatures at the lake last week and I loved it. I think I went into The Jellyfish Problem expecting that same vibe and that’s completely on me. These two books are nothing alike despite both involving a sea creature. Where Remarkably Bright Creatures is heartwarming and plot-driven, The Jellyfish Problem is much more literary. There’s a mystery here but it’s less a “mystery book” and more a contemplation on the world around us, how we connect to nature and each other, and what it means to truly see something. It leans hard into magical realism but stays firmly rooted in science and human relationships.
You can probably tell from that paragraph that I’m having a hard time with this review. That’s kind of the point this is a book that resists easy categorization and I’m still turning it over in my head.
At almost 400 pages it felt a little long, BUT I think that might be a me problem. I’ve been exhausted this past week and falling asleep while I read, which is extremely unlike me. So the pacing issue could have nothing to do with the book and everything to do with the fact that I need a nap. The last chapter saved me though, it gave some closure to feel satisfying without over-explaining, which is exactly the right move for a book like this.
If you enjoy thought-provoking literary fiction, books that sit with you after you finish them, and stories that are more interested in asking questions than answering them, you’ll probably love this. But if you’re looking for something fast-paced and heartwarming that you can’t put down, this probably isn’t it. It’s quiet and contemplative and a little strange. I just don’t think I was in the right headspace for it.
AMAZON | GOODREADS | BOOKSHOP | ★★★.5
The Jellyfish Problem comes out June 2, 2026. Huge thank you to Berkley Books for my copy in exchange for my honest opinion.  If you liked this review please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my Instagram @speakingof.books or on Tiktok @speakingof.books
