Kiss the Girl by Zoraida Córdova was a delightful, magical read! The romance was sweet and full of chemistry, and I loved how the author brought the world of The Little Mermaid to life with a fresh twist. The diverse characters and lush setting made it even more enchanting. I couldn’t put it down!

A unique and really fun adaptation of The Little Mermaid, with music and fandom and a delicious slow burn.

The third book in the "Meant to Be" series, "Kiss the Girl" is a reimagined version of Disney's "The Little Mermaid". Following pop singer Ariel del Mar, the book reinvents the classic tale by having Ariel yearn to be free of her father's producing powers and to take a break from the spotlight, instead of embarking on the solo career that he has set out for her. Ariel ends up meeting Eric, lead singer of an indie band who is going on their own tour for the summer. I liked how Cordova created a unique storyline while also adding enough references to the source material for readers to recognize. I liked all of the little Disney Easter eggs, along with seeing characters in reimagined roles. I loved the romance between Ariel and Eric, and how it improved upon the original story by having the two get to know one another much better.

This whole series is adorable! Easy, fun reads & if you are a fan of romance & Disney stories, this is right up your alley.

Zoraida Córdova’s Kiss the Girl is a spellbinding and fresh retelling of a beloved classic, blending romance and self-discovery with a modern twist. The story follows Ariel del Mar, a pop star yearning to break free from her demanding life and rediscover her voice—both literally and figuratively. Córdova’s vibrant writing immerses readers in Ariel’s glamorous yet restrictive world, making her struggles deeply relatable despite the fantastical premise.

The romance between Ariel and Eric is electric, filled with tender moments and a slow-burn intensity that keeps readers hooked. Córdova excels at crafting multi-dimensional characters; Ariel’s journey toward independence is as compelling as the love story itself. The supporting cast, especially the sassy and loyal bandmates, adds humor and heart.

While some plot elements feel predictable, the sheer charm of the characters and the lush, escapist quality of the writing make it a joy to read.

Received a digital ARC of this book via NetGalley.

This is the 3rd Meant to Be book I’ve read and I really enjoyed it as much as the others. Most retellings stop at Cinderella and Belle. So, this was the first retelling of Little Mermaid that I’ve read. I really liked all the small details that played a nod to the original Disney movie. For example, keeping Max and Sebastian as prominent side characters, the trident that’s associated with Ariel’s family, and trinkets. I especially liked that music played a bigger feature in the story as that was a part of the beginning of original movie. Can’t wait to see what other story lines the Meant to Be series bring!

Sadly, this was my least favorite of the series. I took me over a year to finish as I just keep putting it down to read other things. Eventually, I switch to the audio to try to complete it and was able to, but overall, I just found that this one was not for me, unfortunately.

I'm so sad I didn't love this book after loving the first two in the series. This one just didn't have enough of the Little Mermaid vibe for me as a retelling lover. It really only had the names of the characters and it was just an overall miss for me. I'll still be continuing though because I do love this series overall.

Kiss the Girl offers an interesting premise but ultimately falls short in execution. The plot, while promising, feels overly familiar and lacks the depth needed to engage readers fully. Character development is minimal, leaving protagonists feeling one-dimensional and their motivations unclear.

Much like Hannah Montana: The Movie, this book relies on the consumer’s absolute suspension of belief. Am I really to believe that this woman takes off a wig and wears less makeup and suddenly no one can recognize one of the biggest pop stars in the world? In order for the book to work, I have to.

I loved noticing how movie elements were incorporated into the story. I always enjoy seeing the creativity that goes into the Meant to Be collection. The story was, of course, what I expected, but still fun and enjoyable.

Other non-Little Mermaid songs this book evoked were “Can You Feel the Love Tonight?” from The Lion King and “Reflection” from Mulan.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review Kiss the Girl. I recommend this book to young adults who enjoy a fun romance.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this title. All thoughts and opinions are my own and were in no way influenced by receiving this copy.

I think I need to let the Meant to Be novels go. They are so cringe-y and focus way too hard on being close to the source material (ie, the disney movie) over creating their own unique story to tell. Also for a book titled "Kiss the Girl" the kissing plot was so underwhelming and when they actually kissed it was on the set for a music video??? How anti-climatic.

I love the Little Mermaid but this was seriously not for me.

Give me all of the Little Mermaid retelling!!

How fun was this that Ariel and her sisters were a girl band! When their band has their last concert Ariel takes on a new identity and ends up joining another band in which the lead singer is…,, ERIC!

This story was equally light and meaningful and I really appreciated that.

This book is the perfect adorable romance for all the 90’s Little Mermaid fans! It’s a beautiful contemporary story young people in the music business and all of the little mermaid details and Easter eggs will warm your heart. 5 stars!

I thought this was fun, and I’m impressed with all the Disney parallels. I’m not sure what I expected regarding the storyline with a modern twist, but the music industry felt like a decent choice. The heart of the novel was very similar to the movie: Ariel was searching for herself throughout the novel, figuring out what she wanted without the voice she built a reputation on, and falling in love with Eric. But I felt like not having an Ursula character really switched up the conflict and slowed down the plot, and not in a good way. King Triton was her keeper in the beginning of the movie, causing her to run away, but he saves Ariel at the end out of love and understanding of her dreams, which doesn’t happen here. He’s portrayed as the bad guy from the beginning and then nothing else really happens..?

I received an advance review copy for free via Netgalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I mean, this is an utter delight. One of the few times I thought about getting something from Etsy made about a fake band. Fun, sweet, and a great retelling of the little mermaid.

Such a cute adaptation of the Little Mermaid adult love story. I love music and this series. The book is predictable as fairy tales should be. It’s a clean adult love story with some cussing, but not over done. Great addition to the series.

I've enjoyed the Disney retellings that have been published in this series so far, but this one fell a bit flat for me. I love The Little Mermaid, but this felt like it relied too much on the story and not enough on developing the characters and storyline. It was still enjoyable, but my least favorite of the three I've read.

Written by Zoraida Córdova, this reimagination of the Little Mermaid is a fun read. It's the third book in the new Meant to Be series published by Penguin Random House where Disney Princesses become real, modern girls. In this version, Ariel is Ariel del Mar, a rock star in the family band with her sisters. Managed by their father, the Del Mar girls have been famous since they were children with their band, the Siren Seven. Ariel is the lead singer and as the sisters agree to a farewell tour, they all plan to go their separate ways, at least for a time.

Ariel's father wants her to begin her solo tour right away but she has other ideas. Sneaking out of their Manhattan penthouse, she goes to hear another band and gets into a night-long conversation with the lead singer, Eric Reyes. He doesn't recognize her and at the last minute, finds he needs to replace one of the roadies. Offering the job to Ariel (who has given him her real name of Melanie), he's thrilled when she takes the job.

While her father is most decidedly not happy with her decision and pulling out all stops to get her home, Ariel enjoys her time 'incognito' and manages to become closer and closer to Eric.

Recommended for all Disney fans, teens who like romance, and anyone else looking for a light, satisfying read.

Note: I received an ARC from NetGalley

I love the Meant to Be series, so much. If the Shoe Fits is one of my more recommended books at work for various reasons. But this book felt different. It was a struggle for me. I spent months looking into if the audiobook was finally out, attempting to read the physical book, attempting to read it on Kindle. When I saw the audiobook finally was, it took so much of me to press play every time I had time, even opting to just... not listen to anything.

There was nothing inherently wrong with this, it just didn't vibe with me. I'm sorry.