Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

If one were to judge a book by its cover, this would be the book, very pretty cover!

The story itself just didn’t work get me unfortunately. The book alternates back and forth between Penelope the author’s life, and then excerpts from her book.

The excerpts from the book worked much better in my opinion. Cohesive story, easier to follow, interesting in its own right. The half of the book in present day Penny’s life was kind of a mess; it never really came together for me.

Each chapter felt forced and I couldn’t get invested in any of the characters. More disjointed than I had anticipated.

Maybe this one just wasn’t for me, but I could not get into it and struggled to finish.

I started this novel deeply confused. The cover and description made me think I was a starting a playful and funny romp, and that left me confused for at least the first 1/3. It never turned into what I was expecting, but reeled me in for the middle section, then lost me again at the end. Too modernist for my taste.

Julia Langbein's American Mermaid just might be the most unique book I've had the pleasure of reading so far this year. The story-in-a-story(-in-a-story) structure is incredibly inventive, and though I didn't necessarily find the pace to be all that quick (the beginning was a slow start for me), by the time things with fictional author Penelope and her own fictional creation, uncontrollable mermaid Sylvia, really took off, I found myself swept away in the riptide of something as weird as it was memorable.

And I do mean weird — I know we’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover and all that, but this one is somewhat deceptive. I took one look at the pastel, beachy sunset, doodled mermaid tail, and whimsical font and thought this might have an undercurrent of romance or end up feeling YA adjacent. But that couldn’t be further from the world that Langbein’s melancholy, disconnected, unaffected main character inhabits as she evolves from listless Connecticut high school teacher, to bestselling author, to Hollywood screenwriter as her book blows up and catches the eye of a movie studio.

Penelope’s novel, also called American Mermaid, is billed as a feminist, sci-fi, superhero story about a baby mermaid, Sylvia, who washes up on shore and is taken in by two married billionaire scientists who can’t have children of their own. Through sketchy medical procedures they split her tail and make her “human,” though it leaves her in near-constant pain and confined to a wheelchair. This decision comes back to haunt them when Sylvia grows up and discovers the painful truth about her origin story, and dedicates herself to taking down her father’s company.

We get excerpts of Penelope’s book throughout this book, which are a blast to read. Penelope’s actual life is less exciting — she’s not a mermaid holding the fate of the earth’s oceans in her hands, after all — but her trip though some of the shallowest corners of Los Angeles’s vanity, power, and money-obsessed culture is full of gems (including shooting rats in the middle of a fancy party in the Hollywood Hills, as you do). Some of the best moments come from her interactions with Murphy and Randy, the two misogynistic dolts the studio saddles her with while adapting American Mermaid into a movie.

They desperately want to turn into a sexy teen romp complete with low-cut bikini tops and a waterlogged prom. Penelope’s attempts to fight back are usually fruitless, leading to the table read to end all table reads. But you know who else isn’t on board with Randy and Murphy’s writing plans? Sylvia. Or someone who seems to be Sylvia — mysterious events involving changes to the movie script, Penelope getting dragged underwater in a Malibu riptide, and luring another character into an accident with her siren song start happening. Is she real, somehow? Or are the drastic changes Penelope is going through — including coming to terms with a devastating medical diagnosis — blurring the lines of fact and fiction in ways she never expected?

Penelope reminds me a lot of the main characters in Other People’s Clothes and My Year of Rest and Relaxation, in the sense that it feels like there’s a barrier between her and the world that she just can’t seem to scale. She’s trying to figure out who she really is and what her purpose in life is. She’s [thisclose] to making it, but can’t quite seem to figure out how to go all the way. Until, of course, she does.

By the end of the novel, Penelope — motivated deeply by money and gaining some sense of approval, and also unraveling — starts to resemble the people in LA she’s gotten used to mocking. Has Hollywood officially rubbed off on her? Or has a part of her dissolved into the character she created, whether she wanted to or not? I’ll leave it up to you to answer those questions when you read American Mermaid for yourself, because for me to say anymore would spoil everything in this bizarre, but brilliant, adventure.

Thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for sharing a digital e-ARC with me in exchange for my honest thoughts!

This is a really fun read and it is very impressive that it is her debut novel! It is about a high school teacher who writes a book that gets bought by Hollywood -- the chapters alternate between sections from her novel and her life and there are amazing parallels between her fantasy fiction story of a mermaid adopted by a evil scientist father and her real life issues with her own father as well as other themes about women and agency and relationship to our bodies. There were many hilarious scenes - including her trying to find a bathroom at a party at an arrogant male producer's mansion - as well as trying to stay true to her work when the screenwriters (two guys) want to add their own imprint on what they think will make the film a commercial success. This was an enjoyable read and I recommend it!

Thank you to Netgalley and Doubleday Books for an ARC and I left this honest review voluntarily.

A high school teacher writes a book called American Mermaid that becomes a viral bestseller nearly overnight when a social media hunk posts it.
Penelope our teacher turned best selling author drops everything to move to LA when her book is set to be made into a movie.

Penelope has a gene mutation that will likely result in cancer and this pushes her to wanting preventative surgery which will cost big bucks so once her book becomes a success she makes it clear she’ll do what she can to keep the money flowing, including joining up with two Hollywood screenwriters to work on the screenplay of her book.

The book flips between her experiences in Hollywood and chapters of her “American Mermaid “ book. Her book is a gem with an interesting premise but her experiences in Hollywood are rather cliche and boring. Her issues as the screenplay gets further and further out of hand was entertaining.
Writing was good but not as engaging as I’d hoped given the interesting premise. I also didn’t care for some of the oddly ableist aspects. I love a book with disability rep, but not like that.
For that reason I ended up skimming a lot.

That said with summer coming up I think it’d be fun not to serious beach read..

Thank you so much to the publishers and Netgalley for this review copy and opportunity.

Thank you to DoubleDay, Julia Langbein, and NetGalley for providing this eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

If you're looking for a book that's a little bit twisted, a little bit feminist, and a little bit Hollywood, then bingo bango- here we go.

American Mermaid by Julia Langbein follows Penelope Schleeman, a high school teacher who's written a novel called "American Mermaid," which becomes a bestseller- much to her surprise. She's then lured to LA by promises of easy money to co-write the screenplay for a major studio with two Hollywood dudebros. However, as the studio pressures Penelope to change her story from that of a fierce, androgynous eco-warrior to a teen sex object in a clam bra, things get real. Threats appear in the screenplay draft, siren calls lure people into danger, and Penelope starts to question her own sanity.

I have to say, I had some mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, I loved the premise and the way Langbein blends two narratives in such a seamless way so much that I would be crazy not to acknowledge the talent behind it. I also enjoyed Penelope's introduction to the movie-making process, her experiences in LA, and many of her interactions with the screenwriters, which were entertaining and provided much-needed comic relief.

On the other hand, I found the descriptions of Penelope's experiences with the rich and famous in Hollywood were fun at first and then began to wear me down. By the end, I really felt like I wanted to read American Mermaid (Penelope's Version) and leave Penelope herself behind. I liked the book a lot, but if I had to provide any criticism that would be it. Otherwise, American Mermaid is a unique and entertaining debut that will appeal to readers who enjoy twisted tales and feminist perspectives. If you're a fan of unhinged main characters and books that take on the Hollywood machine, or even just a fan of a good mermaid novel, then this book is certified fresh!

WOW!! what a book. This book is such a mix of so many genres– it’s a mix of real life, fantasy, family, late life coming-of-age, with some dystopian all in there. I enjoyed watching Penelope develop throughout and really enjoyed the parallels between Penelope and Sylvia. This is a great book to bring to the beach this summer!

What did I just read???!!! Langbein takes reads on not one, but TWO wild rides in this witty novel!

A book within a book, English teacher, Penelope, writes a novel that sends her on a journey full of accolades and a film adaptation in the making. This unconventional book takes a “deep dive” into feminism through the eyes of a mermaid named Sylvia. Both Penelope and Sylvia are authentic, quirky, and a pure joy to follow.

American Mermaid is comical, yet thoughtful, magical, yet tender. Langbein is truly a gifted writer who is able to make you laugh, cry, question, affirm, and get lost in two worlds.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC!

Y’all. This book was so much fun!! I loooove books within a book but usually I end up liking one story more than the other. Not with this one. I really enjoyed both, equally, and I love how the ended up mirroring each other! So fun!!

I have also always found mermaids fascinating and this was just such a fun, interesting take! I enjoyed the actual “American Mermaid” segments (so the story within the story) sooo much. Sylvia is an excellent heroine and I loved getting glimpses of her story in the excerpts!

And then the present day bits were fun and hilarious. And honestly a look at why films often don’t match the books they’re based on...

So. I enjoyed this so much and I’m so glad I was able to read it! Highly recommend if you’re also a fan of mermaid/siren stories!

And thank you to NetGalley & Doubleday for allowing me to read this one!

Wow, I can't believe this is a debut novel! I read this shortly before publication and have been thinking about it since. I think it's best to go into this book knowing very little. I will say that it's a book within a book. It combines several genres: Literary (beautiful prose), late coming of age, Hollywood take-down, the writer's life, feminist read, women supporting women, fantasy/dystopian/sci-fi! There are probably more! There is a lot going on in this book. I would like to discuss her best friend in book club!

I hope you enjoy this book as much as I have. I will be watching for the next book from Ms. Langbein!

Thank you to #NetGalley for an eBook copy to read for review. #AmericanMermaid, #JuliaLangbein

I was drawn in by both the cover and the synopsis of AMERICAN MERMAID: "A brilliantly funny debut novel that follows a writer lured to Los Angeles to adapt her feminist mermaid novel into a big-budget action film, who believes her heroine has come to life to take revenge for Hollywood's violations."

I love the premise. You don't have to convince me that a sleeper book can become a bestseller, and the resulting adaptation may stray far from the source material (especially in ways seen as more commercial). I also enjoy reading about women whose careers are a major focus.

But something's just not clicking for me with this one. It might be the casually ableist language, which I'm not convinced is always intended as satirical. Or the muddled discussion of women's sexual desire. Or the humor not landing, like the comments around breast reconstruction (rather than remotely funny, they just struck me as judge-y and kind of mean toward other women).

Maybe my curiosity in where the story's headed will reignite, but setting this one down for the time being. DNF at 21% (Still, big thanks to the publisher for granting me access to the e-arc.)

Penelope Schleeman is a high school teacher from Connecticut who has recently had success with her bestseller debut novel “American Mermaid” about Sylvia, a wheelchair bound woman who discovers that she was born a mermaid. When Penelope is approached with the opportunity to have her book be adapted to a screenplay for a movie she heads to L.A. to help two writers rewrite the story to fit the big screen. When she arrives, she is faced with these writers trying to completely rewrite her story and what it stands for, turning her book into the complete opposite of its meaning. When the screen writers plan to kill off sylvia for dramatic cinematic effect, Penelope begins to notice strange things start to happen in real life similar to the book that make her think the impossible.



This book was one strange and wild ride. I enjoyed how the book goes back and forth between present real world time and experts from Penelope’s novel. I like how you have a book within a book and how you see the development of two female characters and how their situations are different yet at the same time very similar. I was super invested in Sylvia’s story, it was reading as a story completely on it’s own and it was fun to sort of read a book within a book. The humor in this one however, was a bit of a miss for me. The writing at times was also a bit confusing, the two stories have different writing styles, the style coming from Penelope’s POV was a little hectic and all over the place at times and was hard for me to connect with. Overall, I really enjoyed the idea of this story, I do believe that this is a book that won’t be everybody’s cup of tea but it was very interesting and unique. Thank you so much to NetGAlley and the publisher for an eARC of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion. This title is now available to purchase.

A story within a story about a high school English teacher that writes a bestseller that gets turned into a motion picture. Told in alternating chapters, the first being the author's journey and the second being her book. I found both stories to be interesting, but I do understand other reviewers opinions of being unable to finish. The mermaid aspect appealed to me which made it easier to stay interested.

A book within a book trope, with a teacher as the main character. I was sold from the start! This book sort of reminded me of the Steve Martin movie, Roxanne. Have you seen that?
Penelope, a high school teacher who doesn't make nearly enough money (sigh - the truth of all us teachers), has written a book, which gets published. She writes the story of Sylvia, a mermaid made by human scientists, and tells the story of her life from infancy to her provocative teenage years. Penelope's book gets sold to a Hollywood agency, and her world changes profoundly. She leaves her quiet Connecticut teaching life, and heads to busy LA . Soon enough, Penelope's world seems to spiral as Sylvia's takes on a whole new life.
This book was fantastic and I cannot recommend it enough!

DNF at 40%. I was drawn in by the premise - loved the concept of an author writing a bestselling novel and then being involved in developing the screenplay and fighting to keep the fierce feminist aspects in the story. However so far the synopsis that sold me on the story is much better than the actual story. It’s told in alternating chapters between the author working on the screenplay and going into the actual book. I’m not sure if it would have worked better without the book within a book aspect but this wasn’t for me. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the advance reading copy.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

This was a very unique read. I really enjoyed the writing style and the characters were well developed.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
The synopsis of this book sounded interesting to me so I requested a copy to read.
Unfortunately, I have tried reading this book on 2 separate occasions and during this 2nd attempt, I have
decided to stop reading this book
and state that this book just wasn't for me.
I wish the author, publisher and all those promoting the book much success and connections with the right readers.

I really enjoyed this one even though it's far from my usual kind of read. An interesting blend of things with a quippy enough writing style. Will keep an eye out for what this author does next.

Take one part feminist novel, add in a Hollywood backdrop, mix well. add a big dose of humor and stir in a mermaid for a delightful new novel by a debut author. Julia Langbein's American Mermaid is different from other books that I've read and that's part of what makes it such a good read. Penelope and Sylvia's story made for an entertaining read on the beach and I look forward to the next book by Julia Langbein.
Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for an advance copy of American Mermaid in exchange for an honest review. It is on sale now.

I haven't read a book like this ever, which is probably one of the best things about it. An English teacher named Penelope has a surprising hit in her novel American Mermaid. She moves to LA while the novel gets worked into an action flick. The chapters rotate between what is happening to Penelope and what happens in the novel. Both storylines are so bizarre, but it makes sense in Hollywood because everything is slightly unbelievable there. You just have to go with it in order to fall into this book. The mermaid is found by humans, is forced into surgery to turn her tail into legs, and tries to die by suicide because of all the trauma she has undergone. Meanwhile, Penelope is living the surreal life of ridiculous LA people who completely change the story for her sad novel. I am not sure what this novel is about because it's a little bit about everything. As long as you're ok with some absurdity and darkness, and sort of mythic storytelling, you'll enjoy this book.

Thank you NetGalley for the digital ARC of this book.