The Vanishing Deep by Astrid Scholte (review)

Seventeen-year-old Tempe and her sister grew up on a reef, diving for hidden gems in the decrepit underwater cities of the Old World—until the untimely demise of her sister, Elysea, two years ago. Luckily, the island of Palindromena thrives on a market for temporarily reviving the dead: for twenty-four hours, grieving families can say a final goodbye to their resuscitated loved ones for a steep price. After a profitable find from her dives, Tempe purchases a day with her deceased sister Elysea, and Tempe intends to use it to interrogate her about the real circumstances around their parents' deaths. Tempe and Elysea literally race against time to chase clues their parents left behind as they uncover the corruption of Palindromena and face a terrible choice about their future. Scholte's intricate world building stands out from the usual run of post-apocalyptic novels, with a particular emphasis on the effects of a world steeped in overconsumption and an eco-apocalypse (what would happen if water levels rose and flooded civilization?). Furthermore, Palindromena's corrupt business model is eerily familiar and disturbingly plausible, lending relatability to Tempe's dilemmas. Readers will be left with deep questions about personal sacrifice and emotional closure.