Hey Jade Song, what the fuck?

Right off the bat I just know that this book isn't going to be for everyone, either for the "HUH?!" of it all, the body horror, or just the writing style. However it struck so many cords with me and so, I shall be forced to thrust this into the hands of everyone I speak to for the foreseeable future.

From page one Chlorine transported me back to my days as competitive swimmer, whether that was for better or worse is up for debate, and it pulled at my soul. I've not read a book that depicts the struggles, the love and the all consuming need to swim as well as this story.

I could relate to Ren's obsession with being in the water and the way that it calls to you, regardless of the pain and sacrifices it requires of you. In Chlorine, Song tackles so many different topics and aspects of life as someone perceived as "girl".  The way that men look at you and take from you, the way that you are demanded perfection in every aspect, how your body is never really your own when you live and breathe sports. 

The body horror was so effective at evoking a visceral reaction from me even though I saw it coming! It was truly stomach churning in the occurrences, but where I think Jade Song was the most masterful in including these elements was the way I felt sickened by the REASONING behind the choices. All born from a desperation to be better, to be what others want, to receive the praise that the character is DEPENDENT upon due to the conditioning of her entire life. 

The blend of surrealism and realism left me beautifully baffled for the majority of the book. I was questioning how much of this was delusion vs how much of this was mythical. Even at the end there is  room to ponder the questions. 

LOVED THIS BOOK!! As a young queer girl, I grew into my true self right along with the main character. She wants to be a mermaid and I want to be a unicorn, a zombie, a wolf. I am already magical <3

This was my favorite read so far this year. Wow. I started reading and couldn’t put it down the rest of the day until I finished it. 
If you had a complicated relationship with sports growing up, this book will tear into your soul. 
Had me crying while reading and after finishing. 
A truly gut wrenching narrative that gives perspective from two kids who grew up with a toxic relationship to their sport. 

Favorite read of the year. So so great.

 This book is so fucked up in a good way. There were so many times where I assumed the story would take a darker turn, like how it felt like her coach was grooming her or Cathy pulling a whole yandere move with Ren and just kidnapping her and keeping her in a tank in her basement; but I think letting the horror stay focused on Ren being so sure about her being a mermaid and sticking to body horror. Considering the only thing that can be a possible reason for Ren thinking she’s a mermaid could be her getting a concussion and not letting it heal properly; and not attributed to something like a trauma response. I’m not sure whether it’s body horror in general that gives me the heebie-jeebies, or whether Jade Song just does body horror right and made my skin crawl; but oh my god did this make me feel sick in the best way