Book review time! This month, I decided to request something a little different. More traditional fiction with horror and magical realism elements sprinkled in. At least that’s what the description suggests. Sounded interesting, so I gave it a shot. Chlorine by Jade Song was released yesterday (the 28th) from William Morrow (an imprint of HarperCollins). As usual, I must thank them and NetGalley for granting me access to an ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Let’s get to it.

Chlorine follows Ren Yu as she navigates high school, cultural differences, falling for a girl, and growing up in general. Combine all of that with an obsessive love of mermaids and being the top female swimmer on the swim team, and things get weird. She starts out looking for her place in the world and when she finally finds it, she’ll stop at nothing to achieve her goal. No matter the pain she causes herself or others.

I actually want to start with the characters this time. None of them are remotely likeable, which is interesting. Ren, who is extremely unhappy and manipulative, is telling us her story, so we’re seeing everyone through her eyes. The only character who comes close to being redeemable is Cathy, but even she is portrayed as weak and untrustworthy unless she’s doing exactly what Ren wants. Coach is either one step away from being a child molester or he’s a father figure depending on her mood. Her mother is a saint unless she’s interfering in Ren’s life. And Ren herself is above all the human drama despite being the cause of most of it. I actually enjoyed the self-centered nature of the character development. It felt honest, especially as Ren sank further away from reality.

The plot was cluttered. A lot happens in this short book, so there isn’t much room for most of it to be explored. There’s a sexual assault and it ends up being nothing more than a passing mention in order to explain the summer Ren blew off swimming. As if burnout isn’t excuse enough to take a break and waver from the perfect child routine. There were a few places where major incidents were glanced over in favor of smaller things. Yes, it’s probably just how Ren prioritizes things, but if you’re going to cover heavy topics, the whole “oh, that’s just the character’s way” shtick feels like a cheap trick for not dealing with things.

As far as the genres go, this book isn’t really what it’s marketed as. The description gives off horror mixed with magical realism vibes. The horror is there in the sense that body horror is a thing and a slow descent into mental illness can be horrific. But the magical realism doesn’t come into play until the last chapter and then it’s too little too late. This book is straight up fiction about mental illness and how Ren’s delusions led to a romanticized ending. I’m okay with that. I still would have read it if the description had been more accurate and I probably would’ve enjoyed it a lot more if I weren’t looking for the genre elements that barely existed. It feels like the marketers are trying to force the book to be something it isn’t instead of letting it be what it is.

The writing was raw and open, but nothing special. There were moments where it was amazing, but mostly it was mediocre and occasionally could have used some trimming. I didn’t feel compelled to keep reading when I had reached my quota for the day, but I didn’t dread picking it back up the next day either.

Ultimately, I liked Chlorine for what it was, but not for what they claimed it to be. I don’t regret reading it. I don’t want my time back. But I don’t want other people going into it with the hope that it’s something magical when it isn’t.

Overall, I gave it 3 out of 5 stars. Despite my issues with it, I do feel like it’s a worthwhile read and a good look into the selfish side of growing up and how seemingly innocent obsessions can spiral out of control. Just be aware that it’s probably not what you’re expecting.

Ren Yu is a complicated character to write about and this is a multi-layered story. As this is told mostly from Ren’s perspective, we can see that the life she is experiencing in her mind is very different from the reality that everyone else is living. There are no good characters in this novel to root for, just a lot of selfish and harmful people that lead Ren to her eventual transformation.

Other readers may see something else in this text, but to me this is a girl that is going through a mental health crisis. A lifetime of repressing her sexuality, absent and hands-off parents, plus the addition of a sexual predator and sexual assault, lead this girl to have a true break from reality. In the end is she free…? It is definitely open for interpretation.

Content warning: self-harm; sexual assault; mental health crisis; blood and gore; body horror

I received a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Happy publication day to Chlorine!

This was a great debut novel and I'm sure I will still be thinking about it in the months to come. Part horror, part coming of age story, Chlorine follows the life of Ren Yu and her transition from adolescence into young adulthood. Ren has always loved mermaids and that love turns to obsession the older she gets. Eventually Ren realizes that she is a mermaid and she needs to leave her girlhood behind. I don't think I've ever read a book like Chlorine before.

While this was a horror, there was only one truly horrific moment towards the end that was hard for me to read. Truly, I had to put the book down and stop reading for a moment. Most of the horrors the author presents to us are the horrors girls experience as they grow up - the pain our bodies go through, the unwanted attention from skeezy men, and the general lack of control we have over ourselves. The author's writing is very rich with description and she does a great job of making even the ugly into something beautiful.

Definitely look up content warnings if you are unsure. CW from the author's note: "Please note these pages contain discussion and instances of racism, misogyny, self-harm, eating disorders, homophobia, depression, and sexual violence."

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for a review copy. I can't wait to read more from this author in the future.

The description of this book included so many different things and genres and I thought no way can it actually include all of that and be cohesive.  I was wrong this book lived up to it all!  This is the kind of book you don't want to stop reading but need to go slow to actually take it in and emotionally deal with. It's been a week since I finished it and I am still processing everything it held. Ugh, I am struggling to review this without giving away any details. Be warned though while this may not be a true horror story there is a scene that made my skin crawl and made my heart stop and then thud uncontrollably. I was unfortunate enough to come across that scene right before bed and I proceeded to have horrible dreams and not get much sleep. And the way it ends is a perfect fit for the tone of the entire book. This is the kind of book you just got to recommend with the disclaimer it will make the reader uncomfortable. 

FYI  there are lots of uncomfortable interactions between the coach and the student swimmers. 

*I received a copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

Womanhood is a violent, grotesque thing so Ren Yu is determined to become a mermaid. A gorgeous weaving of a literary coming-of-age narrative and an unnerving horror story, this is not your typical mermaid tale. First generation Chinese American teenager, Ren Yu, is absolutely deprived. She seeks reprieve in her high school’s swim team, needing to be in the water and swim. Underwater, mermaids don’t deal with human trivialities like keeping up with pop culture references, college acceptances, absent fathers, endless competition, ideal body weight, nor murky understandings of consent and domination. Detached from the young human body that garners attention from her predatory swimming coach, shaved clean, and submerged in the chlorine of Pittsburgh public pools, the water is cleansing and suffocating. With folklore (instead of Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Ren favors Native American folklore of Passamaquoddy mermaids who kill their would-be colonizers and rapists) fueling her dreams, the student athlete becomes intimately familiar with meticulous physical strain, blood, sex, drugs, and self-mutilation.

The author dives into American society’s fear: young girls and their yearning. Not an idyllic story akin to the male Western canon, Jade Song’s “Chlorine” is defiant and irreverent towards capitalism and white supremacy. Recounted through love letters from her paramour and Ren’s mermaid hindsight, this debut highlights the dark underbelly of growing up with otherworldly values. I, too, am dreaming of a mermaid Ren who can finally frolic in the water. If you can stomach reading graphic body horror, this is for the lovers of unhinged femme potential—its rage, queerness, and compulsions. I’m starving for more.

I have been waiting my whole reading life for a swimming book that understood the feelings and emotions I felt with swimming. And friends, I have finally, finally found it. I don't think I can even put into words properly what this book meant to me, how deeply in love with it I am. When something has become your whole life, how do you exist without it? This is something it has taken my whole adult life to come to terms with, and frankly, I still haven't fully. This book made me feel so seen in that feeling, that love.

"I’m a permanent swimmer yet an ex-swimmer, and because the circles of these two categories never overlap, I tread aimlessly in between."


Here's the thing: Ren's story obviously isn't the same as my story, not even close. But I just understood her, from start to finish, even if I couldn't commiserate with every single detail. I felt for her, I hurt for her, I celebrated her, every step of the way. Her story has plenty of triumphs and trials, and through it all, being in the water is the thing that grounds her. But she wants only the water, not the tribulations that come with being a young human woman. That in itself is relatable. And look, if you were a swimmer, especially a serious one, this is so beyond accurate, from the feelings to the terminology to the mores, and you'll appreciate the absolute hell out of that.

This story, at some points, takes quite a turn. I have never, ever in my life had such a physical, visceral response as I did to this book. I had to put it down for a minute, because I felt the words so deeply, that at points I thought I might be ill. Truly, physically ill. I think because I felt so completely immersed in Ren's story, it was hard to see some of the turns she took. The writing and character development were truly that engaging.

I will say, I didn't feel wholly satisfied from the ending, though it also seemed fitting? So I suppose I can't be angry with it. And regardless, the story touched me so deeply that it doesn't even matter. Reading through the notes I made and writing this review are even bringing up Big Emotions™, so I am going to leave you with that and beg you to go read this book the second you can.

Bottom Line: From the huge, life changing moments, to the quieter yet still important ones, this book brings so much emotion and loving attention to detail to Ren and her story. I am wholly in love.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and William Morrow for providing me with a digital ARC of this book!

Chorine is a searing, deranged coming-of-age story and an apt depiction of the horrors at the intersection of girlhood and competitive athletics. It's wild and unapologetically, viscerally raw. The story follows Ren Yu, a young girl obsessed with water and the mythology of mermaids who–under the devastating weight of competitive swimming–devises to shed her human form and transform into her true self: a mermaid. Her ascension into her true self is a brilliant vision of body horror.

There’s such a depth and complexity to Ren Yu that the narrative style captures and lures the reader in like a siren… I started reading this book and it’s so easy to fall into the story and completely forget a world exists outside of the one Jade Song constructs. Ren's first person narration is interjected throughout with literal messages-in-a-bottle from Cathy, Ren's friend and fellow swim team member, further detailing the relationship between the two of them and providing more insight into the timeline leading up to Ren’s grand transformation. Song's prose is strikingly evocative and one of my favorite aspects of this book. (Don't ask me how many whole paragraphs I have highlighted on my e-ARC.)

There something twisted yet beautiful about the ending—Ren Yu achieves her escape into the water and finds the home she has always desired, but at a cost. In that sense, it’s almost reminiscent of traditional mermaid folklore where the ending is not always entirely happy.

In conclusion: GIVE! ME! MORE! DERANGED! COMING-OF-AGE! TEEN! GIRL! NARRATIVES!

this coming-of-age story is horrifying and beautiful. the writing and imagery, UNMATCHED. adding jade song to the list of authors i fear... ren yu's obsessive character was so interesting to read and the body horror in this book... i had to take breaks bc holy shit it was intense. phenomenal debut.

Ren is obsessed with mermaids. She loves all of them; from those who sing or lose their voice, and those who lure men to their deaths in the depths of the ocean. In order to feel like a mermaid herself, Ren joins the swim team at school. From there, her story begins.

This story made me sad for many reasons, it’s pretty intense. A lot of topics are touched on like Chinese queer identity, sexual abuse, abuse from coaches, and even the pains of growing up as a teenager.

I don’t think this was magical realism though and more on mental health. I do think the ending was a metaphor but I won’t say what since that would give things away. Overall, I did enjoy this as it made me feel deeply. it was also pretty well written so I would be interested in seeing Songs future work.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book!

This book has everything: sapphic themes, body horror, mermaids, feminine rage... stop me but don't stop me, I could talk about this one all day. It left me breathless!

Ren Yu is a competitive swimmer whose commits her life to the pool and the chlorine within. We follow Ren through her experiences as an Asian girl in Pennsylvania, through her fraught relationship with her coach, Jim, and through her relationship with her best friend, Cathy, who pines for her.

What made "Chlorine" truly stand out for me is its exploration of the darker side of human nature as well as the context of different creatures of the sea. Ren's desire to become a mermaid, to escape the confines of her human body and become something more, was moving but difficult to read, as we see Ren wriggling against the constraints of her human life.

I really loved the themes of rebellion in this novel, as well as how raw I felt like the characters were. I both understood Ren and was completely mystified by her, which is a delicate balance as a reader. Overall, "Chlorine" was really powerful to me and I absolutely anticipate it becoming a community fave for those who love body horror and dark magical realism. If you're looking for a thought-provoking read that will keep you up thinking even after you're done reading it, then this is where you wanna go. I am looking forward to seeing more from this author after such a strong debut!

Thanks so much to William Morrow as well as Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced galley of this book ahead of its publication on 03/28 in exchange for my honest thoughts!

I had some trouble getting into this story and ultimately had to set it aside as I found it too upsetting to read. It's well-written, but intense!

Chlorine is a well-written book that uses the familiar structure of the coming-of-age, high school narrative to its advantage. The narrator, Ren Yu, has a distinct voice on multiple levels, as a high school girl and athlete, as someone of Asian descent, as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, and as a self-identified mermaid. Jade Song recognizes how these facets can, like ripples in water, co-exist peacefully or create conflict when they cross. Psychological horror elements, like obsession, dominate more than physical horror elements, but both are used effectively to undercut the familiar.

The reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is that I can't see myself reading this book again. I have never been fond of high school set narratives, even when I was that age. While I enjoyed the subversion of that structure, Ren Yu as a narrator, and the added fantasy and horror elements, the trappings of the novel just weren't appealing to me. However, I think many will resonate with this book and enjoy it more than I did. I hope you will give it a chance; I'm glad I read it once and look forward to seeing more of Jade Song's work in the future.

This book has been one of the best books I've read this year. Disturbingly gorgeous, this book is the epitome of unhingedness at its fullest. I loved the inclusion of all the small details from ren's life and her struggles as an Asian American but also her identities as a swimmer and a girl in puberty. Every character felt fully fleshed out and the inclusion of the letters from Cathy was super cool, showing how everything was super connected in Ren's world. I loved the body horror as well but I feel like it could've been extended a little longer at the end for all the buildup that's happened. But if you like this book I'd highly also recommend K-ming chang's work. Overall a true 5/5 for me. :)

Some of my favorite quotes:
"On the day of my first period, I was more dead doe than human woman. Was womanhood always so violent, raw?"
"mind—I was a beautiful human girl. So beautiful I could understand why he wanted to touch me. Beautiful things demand touch."
"Are we bodies of water? Are we swimming in pools of blood?"

ARC gifted by Netgalley and William Morrow! All opinions are my own.

A haunting coming-of-age story - it was horrific how the culmination of so many things in Ren's life led her to make a decision. One thing that was a little off to me, however, was that I really couldn't get invested in the whole mermaid arc. I don't think it was portrayed in a way that felt "realistic" -- like I never felt like Ren was actually becoming a mermaid. It felt more strongly like she was struggling with a LOT of issues with her mental health, and ultimately her transformation into a mermaid was a metaphor for suicide. In that way, I couldn't root for that ending - it didn't feel at all triumphant to me, and it didn't feel like anything (that contributed to her suffering) was ever resolved.

Received a free copy from Netgalley.

i got so distracted by the blue eyes white dragon paragraph i never really managed to get back into the book. it's weird and brave but needs to be edited. just because you CAN use 30 words to say something doesn't mean you should

"Chlorine" is told from the first person perspective of Ren Yu (人鱼, "human fish), an aptly named Chinese-American girl who grows up in a nondescript suburb of Pennsylvania in a seemingly normal life. Her father is forced to remain in China to work so she's raised by her tiger mom, forced to follow along the path set to be an over-achieving child and to get into an Ivy League university. It's for this reason that her mother allows her to join the swim team in school, but Cathy's secret, is that she's a mermaid - a form she can't take even when she's swimming in the chlorine-laden pools.

This novel is essentially a coming-of-age for Ren, as she deals with the pressures of growing up with an overbearing parent and simultaneously coming to terms with her sexual identity, grappling with the perils of the female body, and the struggle of being both too much but not enough - a situation that many women find themselves in. Author Jade Song also makes note of other weighty topics, including the precarious and oftentimes inappropriate relationships between athletes and their coaches. Ren's tone and perspective is intentionally neutral, sometimes veering into dark humor, as she describes her experiences and her observations of human beings, sometimes veering into disdain or superiority.

While I appreciated the substance of the novel, it isn't one that I personally would gravitate to - there's a lot of pretty graphic scenes (TW: SA, self-harm/mutilation), and various characters and scenarios included that didn't feel substantial to the plot. I think readers who enjoyed "Disorientation" or "American Mermaid" will appreciate this novel, but may not be for the majority of people given its subject matter.

Chlorine is a story of a mermaid's coming of age. It's beautifully written and perfectly captures the rage of growing up. I love how Song interweaves Ren's queer and feminist awakening with her Asian heritage, and the way all of it braided so beautifully with her life as a mermaid.

This book is easy to read but that doesn't mean it isn't sharp. Chlorine is definitely a must-read.

I.. wow. Just… wow. CHLORINE is one of the most amazing, disturbing, gorgeous books I’ve read in a very long time. I saw a lot of my teenaged self in Ren, a self it’s taken a long time to come to terms with, to accept, and to learn to love and meeting her again here was a reminder both of how close she came to falling off the edge and the strength she showed in making it to 44. Thank you, Jade, for sharing so much of yourself while also giving us the horror twist that makes this novel all the more creepy while also reminding us, Shirley Jackson style, that the most terrifying monsters are usually other people.

This book is one of the most visceral, powerful presentations of young adulthood that I've ever read. I loved all the descriptions of a period, it was so painful and so accurate to what happened. It was unpleasant and uncomfortable, which is something I never see periods portrayed as, despite that being all they are. I loved the chaos of teenage sexuality, of figuring out who you are, of a deep mental illness.

I will say, as someone who gets nauseous with body horror, there were many sections near the end that were hard to read. I was not prepared for this by the blurb, though maybe I should have been. I would caution people reading that get nauseous with overly gory body mutilation descriptions (my personal kryptonite) to either pass on this one, or read ebook or physically, just so they can skim if necessary. If I had been reading this in audiobook form, I may not have finished it.

Really lovely writing. I cannot wait to see what Jade Song does next.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC!

This was a stunning debut from Jade Song about the pressures of expectations and claiming your own independence and choices. Ren is a very compelling, obsessive, and delusional character and I was hooked every step of the way. I also really appreciated the content warnings at the beginning (which I recommend reading since this is book leans into horror quite a bit). I will say that this is not a plot driven book and the focus is more on Ren as a character and thus some of the plot events are a bit slower. It's reminiscent of Black Swan, and I highly recommend this book if you enjoyed the movie! Overall, a really strong debut and I'm excited for what Jade Song comes out with next!

Chlorine comes out March 23rd!