I've now read this book twice, once for this ARC copy and another as a buddy read, and I've fallen in love with this book more after each re-read. Tragically romantic, but absolutely beautiful!

I received a digital ARC from the publisher via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I loved Muirin and Jean. I wish there was more about Muirin’s “magic”, The full explanation at the end and the epilogue seemed rushed.

An interesting lyrical writing style sets this book aside from others. This is a sapphic tale involving mystery, romance and intrigue. It’s definitely not my usual style or plot but I enjoyed it.

writing style wasn't for me, sadly! I think the wording of a lot of the sentences felt awkward to me. All in all cool concept tho

Lyrical prose that tastes like sea air and heartbreak. Sutherland writes like she’s bottling emotion and releasing it in waves—expect sentences that shimmer and sting. A coastal setting so vivid you’ll swear you’ve got sand in your shoes. If you love moody, salt-soaked landscapes and the kind of small-town secrets that feel like folklore, this one delivers. Complex women with tangled loyalties and sharp edges. The characters aren’t here to be likable—they’re here to be real. And they’re fascinating. Themes of grief, inheritance, and identity that linger. It’s not just a story—it’s a reckoning. With family, with memory, with the self. You may experience a sudden urge to move to a windswept coast and brood. Side effects include staring pensively at the ocean and questioning your life choices.

Not a breezy beach read. This is more “storm rolling in” than “sunny afternoon”—but that’s exactly what makes it unforgettable.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dell for this ARC!

🌊✨ Queer folklore, fierce women, and a midwife who said “Not on my watch.”

This book? It didn’t whisper selkie secrets, it screamed them through a storm.

I devoured this sapphic retelling of The Selkie Wife and then just sat there, salty and emotionally shredded in the best way.

Picture this: a fierce but emotionally bruised midwife, Jean, wakes to the sound of labor cries during a raging tempest (because OF COURSE the drama starts at midnight in a thunderstorm, duh).

She finds a mysterious woman, Muirin, giving birth and barely able to speak...wild, beautiful, and clearly not from around here.

From the second Tobias shows up claiming to be Muirin’s husband, I had my “absolutely not” radar blaring. The way this man’s presence chilled the room? I knew we were in deep, dangerous waters and Jean did too. But oh, sweet Jean, with her buried heart and midwife wisdom, just couldn’t turn away.

This is not a spicy romance, but it simmers.

The tension between Jean and Muirin? Electric. Tender. Terrifying.

It's a slow burn emotional unraveling with stakes higher than a windswept cliffside.

As Jean slowly pieces together the truth and her feelings she has to decide if love is worth risking everything. Spoiler: it is. And I was rooting for her every storm drenched step of the way.

Yes, the pacing starts slow, but that haunting, isolated atmosphere builds like a thunderhead until you’re swallowed whole. The writing is so vivid I swear I felt the sea spray in my face and frostbite on my fingers.

And that folklore? Chef’s kiss.
Mysterious, magical, and full of quiet, simmering rage at what women are told to accept.

This story bit me with its message: that women, especially queer women, deserve to choose their fate, their love, and their power. And if it takes breaking a few ancient rules and fighting a selkie stealing husband to do it? So be it.

If you love:
🩷 Queer reimaginings of folklore
🌊 Gothic, coastal isolation with a stormy atmosphere
💪 Women fighting back with quiet, defiant power
✨ Tender sapphic romance + suspense that hurts

...then trust me, A Sweet Sting of Salt is for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine for the ARC!

Lush and emotionally rich, this debut surprised me with its lyrical writing and exploration of longing and loss. The pace is slow, but intentionally so—inviting a full immersion in atmosphere. Not for readers seeking plot-heavy drama, but a gorgeous, aching experience nonetheless.

I drifted into A Sweet Sting of Salt by Rose Sutherland like I was walking along a misty Nova Scotian beach—and something about the wind and salt in the air just unlocked something inside me. Jean, the 24-year-old midwife living on the fringe of a tight-knit fishing village, immediately pulled me in—quietly competent, haunted by rumors about her sexuality, and big-hearted beneath that solitude .

That stormy night when Jean finds Muirin in labor, barely speaking English and drenched to the bone—that scene gave me goosebumps. The initial bond between them cracked through language barriers and social expectations. I wanted to protect Muirin as fiercely as Jean did, especially once her husband Tobias stepped in, increasingly possessive once Muirin’s difference began to show .

Watching Jean and Muirin’s slow-burn romance unfold felt tender and suspenseful all at once. Their quiet moments—teaching each other words, sharing stolen glances—were full of longing and risk against the backdrop of gossip and rural isolation . The folklore twist didn’t reveal itself until later, but when it did, it felt chilling and beautiful—like discovering there was magic just beneath the waves the whole time .

The setting—wild waves, frigid air, looming pine forests—felt like a character in itself. I could almost smell the brine and hear the gulls crying in each scene . And Jean’s inner life—her lingering heartbreak, her fierce protectiveness, her longing—made me stay up late with a tug in my chest .

A few moments felt predictable—we all know selkie lore has a certain arc—but Sutherland’s writing kept me guessing, and the emotional current of Jean and Muirin’s devotion made each turn feel earned .

A Sweet Sting of Salt didn’t just tell me a love story—it invited me into a world where folklore and love collided, where pulses quickened at the touch of salt‑stung lips and stolen kisses in candlelight. I closed it feeling stirred, seen, and craving for an ocean breeze of my own.

This one just wasn’t for me.. DNF @23%. I wasn’t a fan of the writing so it made it hard to continue or want to read

I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading this book, but I really enjoyed it. I appreciated the historical fiction mixed in with Celtic folklore. This put a unique spin on it and felt different from other books I've read so far. I also appreciated the LGBTQIA+ rep in the book, especially in a historical setting. The story was definitely a slow burn but worth it if you can stick it out. I liked the found family vibes as well. I enjoyed that this revolved around a real-life event and a ghost ship as well. I'm grateful for a positive ending to the book as well.

The premise? Intriguing. A queer reimagining of The Selkie Wife? Yes, please. But unfortunately, that’s where my excitement ended.

I gave this two stars because while the core idea had potential and the atmosphere almost captured something haunting and folkloric, the execution fell flat. The pacing dragged for a good chunk of the book, and by the time things picked up, I was already checked out.

The romance? Instant and unbelievable. Zero chemistry, and I mean zero. Honestly, it read more like women’s fiction with a speculative twist than anything truly romantic.

There were also a lot of thrown-in identities and surface-level attempts to explore queerness, marriage, and autonomy—but those conversations lacked depth and nuance. Tobias, the “villain,” came off as a cardboard cutout, and the book leaned on too many tropes to feel fresh or meaningful.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Thank you to the publisher for approving me for this book!

I’m choosing not to review this book at this time but will do so with the finished copy on audio in the future.

I enjoyed reading this book but I didn't love it. I had high expectation for reading this which if I didn't I think I would have enjoyed it more.

I like this retelling of The Selkie Wife! It was very feminist! I like the characters in the novel! The writing had gorgeous prose! I recommend this for fans of Susannah Kearsely!

A beautifully melancholic and atmospheric re-telling of "The Selkie Wife". The sea-side setting is easy to get lost in, and it's impossible not to fall in love with our leads.

This was a sweet yet somewhat spicy story with luscious folklore and beautiful characters. The plot was well written and held my attention. I enjoyed how the story unfolded and appreciated the depiction of love. The characters leave you satisfied and the tale will capture your heart. This was a brilliant debut and the string set off of what will be a beautiful career as a storyteller for Rose. #KatyApproved

I reaf this book a year ago but forgot to review it on Netgalley.
This book took a while to pull me in, I kept putting it down and forgetting to pick it back up. But once the story sucked me in it was beautifully written and I was captured by the writing.

I went into reading this book not knowing much about it and finding out it is based around some folklore, and oh man, I was enjoying it so much. And finding out it is a sapphic historical fiction, I was in awe. I could not help but find myself rooting for Jean and Muirin. If you are looking for some spice this is not it, this was more romantic and sweet. Also can we take a moment to appreciate that cover? It is so gorgeous!

A lonely pregnant woman alone in a stormy night, in labor and stumbling to the nearby midwife's house.

This was a fun, adventure of a story. I hadn't heard of the original so this was a first for me and not the re-telling it may be for others. I loved Jean, our main character. She lives alone and keeps to herself, except to travel to the nearby homes and help deliver babies - as she's been trained as a midwife. But when the nearest neighbor (which is still very far away) shows up in the middle of the night, a woman she has only glimpsed once but she finds that she is pregnant and very much in labor, Jean jumps into action to help her deliver safely. When the husband arrives the next day, Jean is instantly on guard. Why is his wife so jumpy and why is he so keen to keep her in his sights.

This was a great story, kept me hooked with the mystery. I loved the light, sweet romance and them learning to communicate. The found family was also wonderful.

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

Very predictable if you know anything about the selkie myths/abusive men, but very sweet and enjoyable nonetheless. Would love to read more sapphic fiction from this author (this is her debut novel).

Thank you to netgalley for the eARC!