Press for Sea Change

News and Reviews

A Most Anticipated Book of 2023 (Literary Hub, The Millions, Debutiful, Zibby Mag,

One of the 105 Buzziest Debut Novels of 2023, Readers' Most Anticipated Book of March, Most Popular Debut Novels So Far This Year, 7 New Books Recommended by Readers,
99 Upcoming Books the Goodreads Editors Can't Wait to Read —Goodreads

17 of Our Favorite Books Coming Out This Summer —The Skimm

12 Summer Reads Starring New Jersey —NJ Monthly

What to Read this Summer - 2023 —Stanford Magazine

One of 16 Can't-Miss Debut Books of March —Debutiful

One of 62 Books By Women of Color to Read in 2023 —Electric Literature

One of the Most Anticipated Feminist Books of 2023 —Ms. Magazine

Picador swoops for Chung's 'enchanting' debut novel and story collection —The Bookseller

"Sea Change is a standout of the 2023 debut class. It will pull you in from the first page and not let go as you traverse through a sea of originality. It’s filled with stunning and scrumptious prose."

—Adam Vitcavage, Debutiful

“This stellar debut novel opens on a horny octopus. I feel like this blurb could end there, because you’re probably sold, but I’ll keep going. . . . Gina Chung writes about the marvels of marine life with such intense care and beauty. . . . Sea Change is sure to make a splash! (Sorry.) Get ready to dive in!”
—Katie Yee, Lit Hub

"Trust us: This unique, smart, emotionally rich book is a must-read."

—The Skimm

"Delightful and slightly off-kilter . . . This off-beat tale has heart."
—Publishers Weekly

"Charmingly offbeat. . . emotionally involving"

—Shelf Awareness

"Compelling and surreal. . . a disarmingly moving study of grief, healing, and intergenerational trauma."

—Dazed

"Heartfelt. . . With great tenderness, Chung explores the themes of family and belonging, the people who come in and out of our lives, the ones who leave, and the ones who stay."

—New City Lit

"Sea Change turns the Asian American family drama on its head. . . . It posits that the heart of healing often lies in the friendships we choose to cultivate and the relationships we choose to preserve."

—Washington Square Review

"Awash in effective and moving storytelling. . . Fiction in which young adult characters recognize the full humanity of their parents --- their intricacies and flaws --- is nothing new, but Chung addresses these issues with unusual perception and care."

—Book Reporter

"Sea Change is one of those special books that captures extremely important themes at a time when we all might need it most."
—Soapberry Review

"Emotionally rich and propulsive. . . In following Ro’s growing pains, we also come away with a clearer, more optimistic perspective of our sense of community and place in the world."

—The Georgia Review

"Sea Change is an immersive and unforgettable debut, that melts the cockles of your heart."

—The Masters Review

Essays

Literary Hub: Why Learning About Other Animals Makes Us Better Writers

Foyles - Further Reading: On Change, Loss, and the Power of the Sea