5/5 stars. To be released May 2022.

This was a wonderful contemporary novel. I was immediately drawn to it since the main character, Verónica, has a goal of becoming a mermaid at a local attraction. I mean, who hasn't wanted to become a real life mermaid? The blurb describes this as an "authentic" novel and it truly was. Verónica has hip dysplasia just like the author of this book, Natalia Sylvester. Verónica struggles with acceptance of her own body, navigating choppy waters with her overbearing and strict parents, all why trying to be who she truly is - and for everyone to see her true self as well. I loved every moment of this book.

I'm so glad that I had the chance to read an early copy of this book! As a Peruvian American, I love reading work by Peruvian authors. I'm a fan of both the author's adult and YA backlist novels, but I unfortunately didn't enjoy this one as much. I found myself very frustrated with the main character's father for a majority of the book. Other than that, I enjoyed the mermaid stuff—so fun!

This teen/YA novel tells the story of a young girl who has always had a connection with the ocean and dreamed of mermaids. Born in Peru, Veronica is very much the daughter of immigrants who have very firm beliefs about how she should behave, what she should do and where she can go, but at 17 she is beginning to test those boundaries and resent her parents for their controlling nature. During the summer before senior year, several opportunities to test these boundaries come her way including: auditions to be part of a mermaid performance group, medical-related decisions and a cute boy who just moved in near by! It’s great to see more books feature diverse characters while still meeting all of the critical YA elements of a coming of age story full of attraction, risk and growing pains. It was a pleasure to read an advance copy of this book through Netgalley and the publisher! If you’re looking for a new YA book definitely add this one to your list!

I am obsessed with all things mermaid so this book was a must read for me, and it did not disappoint. On a serious note, there are so many beautiful and positive messages within the pages of this compelling story. A heartwarming message about identity, along with the realisation that we are the ones in control of it. The way Verónica’s ideas about place, gender and her hip dysplasia tie into her identity and help shape her as a young woman provide real food-for-thought for any young minds reading this novel. For anyone who sees this as a simple coming of age romcom, there is so much more to explore: family relationships, sibling loyalty, body image, rewriting stories, ownership, the list goes on. I will be recommending this book once it is published to inspire the students in my classroom.

I got about 50% of the way, and it just isn't the right time for me to read this one. It's like sometimes you think you want to watch a rom-com, but nope. It's just not doing it for you, and you decide to watch a documentary instead. That was me and Breathe and Count Back from Ten.

I should be all over this story because it has things I love in YA:
- Diverse protagonist (Latina)
- Immigrant family/experience
- Mermaids!
- Semi-invisible disability (hip dysplasia)
- Overcoming shame from scars (show them off loud and proud!)
- Working through conservative parental POV about sexuality and being a teen girl who has hormones
- Cutie new guy who just moved in
- Promoting an atypical sport (swimming)

I may come back to this if it speaks to me, but I sat at 30% for more than a week, and now I've been sitting at 50% for at least five days.

THIS. BOOK. WAS. AMAZING. As someone who also has had several orthopedic surgeries throughout the years, I so related to Verónica's struggle and the fear of another surgery. What I loved the most is that Vero's different identities are deftly weaved together and intersect rather than being just a diversity checklist. She is disabled AND Peruvian AND an immigrant AND a woman. The mermaid scenes were absolutely breathtaking and now I want nothing more than to be a mermaid. I've been excited for this book and following Natalia's writing and publishing process for a long time and I'm so, so happy I got the privilege of reading this ARC.