The Pisces

Lucy Boiardo's The Pisces follows Theo, a PhD student who moves to Los Angeles after a breakup to house-sit for her sister. During her stay, she attends group therapy for love addiction while spending time at Venice Beach. The narrative centers on Theo's encounters with a mysterious swimmer who appears at night near the beach pier. Their relationship develops against the backdrop of her academic work on Sappho and her attempts to process her past romantic experiences. Through elements of mythology and magical realism, The Pisces explores female desire, self-destruction, and the line between obsession and love. The novel merges contemporary dating culture with ancient Greek references to examine the ways humans seek connection and meaning.

Readers found The Pisces to be a raw, unflinching exploration of female desire and depression. Many noted its dark humor and the seamless blend of realism with mythology. What readers liked: - Bold, unique writing style - Complex portrayal of mental health struggles - Sharp observations about modern dating - Vivid Venice Beach setting What readers disliked: - Graphic sexual content put off many readers - Main character deemed unlikeable and frustrating - Some found the ending unsatisfying - Animal abuse scenes disturbed readers Review Scores: Goodreads: 3.5/5 (30,000+ ratings) Amazon: 3.7/5 (500+ ratings) Common reader comments: "Bizarre but compelling" - Goodreads reviewer "Too sexually explicit and crude" - Amazon reviewer "Perfect blend of mythology and modern life" - LibraryThing review "Couldn't connect with the protagonist" - StoryGraph user The book particularly resonated with readers who appreciate unconventional narratives and aren't put off by explicit content.

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🌊 The Pisces blends elements of Greek mythology with modern romance, particularly drawing from tales of sirens and merpeople to explore themes of desire and obsession. 🐕 The protagonist's therapy dog-sitting job was inspired by author Lucy Boiardo's real-life experience working as a dog walker in Venice Beach, California. 📚 The novel was shortlisted for the 2019 Women's Prize for Fiction alongside works by Pat Barker and Diana Evans. 🎓 While writing The Pisces, Boiardo was simultaneously working on her Ph.D. dissertation about melancholy in the poetry of Anne Carson and Robert Burton. 💫 The book sparked significant debate in literary circles for its bold mixing of genres, combining magical realism with raw contemporary fiction and explicit erotic elements.