Ghost Fish

“A refreshingly playful take on magic realism, Ghost Fish turns the idea of a grief novel on its head. With wry humor and real feeling, this wise new writer shows the lengths we'll go to in order to cling to those we love. A pitch perfect portrayal of the chaos and heartbreak of sisterhood.”—Marie-Helene Bertino, author of Beautyland

“Alison is twenty-three and alone in the world. One night she is visited by a ghost in the shape of a fish that bears an uncanny yet unmistakable resemblance to her dead sister. Thus begins Alison’s deeply moving, often hilarious—and ultimately life-affirming—journey to confront her grief while also figuring out how to rejoin the land of the living. Stuart Pennebaker’s debut is full of tenderness and deep feeling. I loved it.”—Laura van den Berg, author of State of Paradise

"Ghost Fish is a luminous novel of grief, sisterhood, and the necessary magic we need in order to bridge loss and healing. Stuart Pennebaker has written a shimmering, otherworldly exploration of love that persists beyond the boundaries of life and death. A dazzling, original debut that will leave you forever changed."—Chelsea Bieker, author of Madwoman and Godshot

“For all those wistful fresh-eyed girls trying to find their way in that big rotten apple, Stuart Pennebaker has written the anthem! Ghost Fish demands your utmost empathy as we follow Alison in the city of dreams, a newbie restaurant hostess and lonely heart navigating sketchy dates and striving for reinvention. All while her reincarnated sister-fish shakes her fin! I devoured this whole book in a weekend. It is spooky, heartfelt, tender, and above all, never afraid to go there.”—Sidik Fofana, author of Stories from the Tenants Downstairs

“A gorgeous, heartfelt story about a floundering girl trying to start over and the loss that won't let her go. Brimming with hope and yearning, along with a sly dose of absurd charm, Ghost Fish manifests a truly original haunting to lead us gently and lovingly through Alison's grief.”—Kerry Cullen, author of House of Beth

"An otherworldly exploration of siblinghood, grief, and loneliness, Ghost Fish reminds us there is nothing stranger—or more human—than loss. This book will hang around like a specter, long after you've put it down."—C. Michelle Lindley, author of The Nude

"Pennebaker debuts with a haunting and memorable novel...Alison’s wry voice carries the book, taking readers along with her and her ghost fish. Pennebaker’s compelling prose and unique concept will draw readers of Shelby Van Pelt's Remarkably Bright Creatures (2022) and Emily Habeck's Shark Heart (2023)."—Booklist (starred review)