This was such a sweet. Alisi and Sean have great chemistry and you can’t help but love them. This is the perfect quick summer read or as a buffer from more of the heavier themes books you’re probably reading. Again I don’t give much by way of spice ratings but I will say this is a closed “shell” story. (See what I did there 😉)

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to ARC read Dishwasher safe!!

This was giving h2o: just add water in the best way and I throughly enjoyed every minute of this read. Both of the MC's live a double life so it was great to see how they connected as humans but should be rivals within their other identities!

I was chosen to read this ARC, and I enjoyed it as a pallet cleanser. It wasn't my absolute favorite, but I did like the basics of it. I have a habit of guessing certain plots as I'm reading, and that was the case with this one. The storyline is basically a mermaid who is trying to find love so she can be released from her mother's controlling grasp. She's wanting to fall in love with a human, but she ends up falling for another mermaid without realizing. Again, it's a good book to read when you're trying to just move on from another book.

If you’re like me, you like to have a little palate cleanser- a nice standalone in between big, long books or series. Dishwasher Safe is a perfect book for this.

I adored all of the cultural and region specific details- I’ve never been to Maine, and I’m a changed woman after learning about potato donuts 👀

The Lore is *chefs (pun intended). I enjoyed the descriptions of the Mer-folk and the way they lived! It was very unique- in a good way.

Sean. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 The lumberjack vibe is my favorite, and communication is H O T. Alisi is a fun FMC and her character development was fantastic. I truly thought I knew where the ending was going and I was pleasantly surprised to have been wrong. Alisi is no damsel in distress and I love that.

This is a modern day take on The Little Mermaid. Alisi is a mermaid, but she more wants to do human things like have a human job, live in an apartment, and date human men. Therefore, when Sean, the new dishwasher, starts working at the same restaurant and Alisi is attracted to him, she has to figure out how to be human and mermaid!

This is a quick, light romance that has you needing to know what will happen with Alisi! I loved the mermaid aspect in it!

Perfect Beach Read! (Thanks to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to ARC read!)
Now, this book likely won't change the way you view the world, but it will definitely be an enjoyable read for beach or poolside reading!

Alisi is an up and coming Chef- she's determined, and a little fierce. She's driven by goals and one of those goals is to get out from under any parental control or influence. Oh, and- she's a mermaid, which of course adds to the challenges of living in a human world. She's decided that she needs to date a human- to solidify her situation.
Enter Sean- the dishwasher at the restaurant. She helps him learn to use the automatic dishwasher, and little tiny sparks fly. (Serious slow burn low spice book) He's kind and funny, and she likes him... but he's at her workplace... and he's human, and even though that's what she wants-to Alisi it also seems insurmountable. Sean- being the sunshine to her grumpy, doesn't see it that way, and he has some secrets of his own. Can these two ever find a way to each other? (Of course they can , this is romance!)
Adventure ensues! With a satisfying happily ever after, I think this will please any romance readers looking for a quick read. A great way to support an indie author!

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read your book it was amazing it was like the little mermaid and I enjoy every word of it I hope others like it as much as me I can’t wait to buy it soon.

This book is exactly what you are expecting. I got The Bear meets H2O Just Add Water vibes, and that was what I needed to finish out the summer. It's a great little palate cleanse. It was predictable and a little cringe at times, but sometimes that is exactly what you need. The mermaid lore was unique enough to keep it interesting. I would like to read more about Alisi's (FMC) family and the dynamic there. Just a silly little good time.

I just finished this book called “Dishwasher Safe” by author M.J. Etkind. It’s a perfect summer/beach read about Mer Folk and romance. It also has a holiday aspect which makes it a perfect Winter read. Set in Boston it’s a delicious and delightful romance where they fall in love but she has a secret that might make their romance a little difficult to sustain. It kept me on my toes to see if they were going to be together or if they were not. It also had just a hint of spice.

The story is adorable, it is just not my style of writing. I am so glad I had the opportunity to read this book in advance and I know that many will love it! I hope it is very successful!

I don’t think I’ve ever read a book quite like this one! I loved how the mermaid lore was reimagined with mermaids walking among us. (Think Luka, the Disney movie but these mermaids only switch back in saltwater.) The world of the merpeople was described with such beauty and wonder that it made me wish I could dive in myself.

Alisi is a great FMC, and I was definitely rooting for her both professionally and relationally. The romance was sweet and fun. And I thought the book had a satisfying conclusion.

This is a great fantasy read. And I recommend it to mermaid and romance lovers alike.

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for my review copy.

I had such a hard time finishing this book. I honestly thought I would put it down and never pick it up again. Why? It felt underdeveloped in almost every way. I thought the characters and their relationship lacked development. The world building /magic was lacking. I still don’t know why the mer transform the way they do, how they have legal documents like visas, or what No Moon is and why it happens. I struggled to connect with the characters. There were a number of side characters readers are introduced to and no nothing about other then the FMC is mistreated by them in one way or another.

I enjoyed seeing the FMC push for her culture to be honored in the restaurant.

**Thank you to NetGalley and Publisher for the ARC of Dishwasher Safe in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.**
☆As of 7/17/2024, this review has been posted to Goodreads.☆

3.8⭐️ rounded to 4⭐️
0.25🌶


This novel has an interesting premise! I enjoyed the story and the main characters-- I thought the world-building and the mer culture was a cool touch. I think this story works for people who enjoy: soft and cute romance, light-plot, and for sure happy endings. I rounded this up to 4 stars because while it didn't wow me, this is still a good romance and others who are more versed in the genre will probably love this!!

What I liked:
▪︎the mer culture/rules
▪︎I thought Alisi's dynamic with her family was interesting
▪︎Sean and Alisi were cute together

Just finished reading Dishwasher Safe last night, such a cute romance little read. Its not an overly long story 218 pages, it was a quick and easy one. Which was perfect after reading some larger books recently. Very detailed and explained well.
A cute story line about a young girl working in a restaurant but having a double life with being a mermaid too. It did take a little getting used to the story to begin with, with learning new characters, but half way in I got stuck in. However I did thoroughly enjoy the book and look forward to what's next.

e-Arc
Rating: 3.5 stars
Spice: 0.5/5
Tropes: Forced proximity, forbidden romance, mythological creatures

This was a very cute romance book but I struggled getting into it. It starts off with Alisi, the main character, working in a Polynesian restaurant where she is a sous chef. In walks Sean the dishwasher, who has no clue how to actually run the dishwasher, so Alisi shows him. There's about 50-100 pages of context to learn more about Alisi, what she is, her family, etc. with minimal plot development for the book. Around halfway through is where things begin to really pick up. Before this point there was one, maybe two small moments but no real romance. Once the romance started to roll, I enjoyed the book a lot more which saved its rating for me.

I loved the commitment to the polynesian culture, especially through the food showing authenticity. Sean is a little golden retriever boy and I absolutely adore him. He was a very well written character and I love how much he supported Alisi. The romantic scenes in this were GOALS and very cute and fluffy.

Something about the main character to start was just off putting, she was almost too high and mighty about herself. I get that she feels like her mother is trying to run her life but just talk to her about it! Or find another way to get what you want without her. She becomes better later in the book when her and Sean start to have a romance, and she softens up.

Overall an OK rade. If I were to reread, I'd probably skip to the halfway point and start from there.

Delightful story about a merwoman and a handsome dishwasher. Set in the Boston area this book features great world building, steamy friends to lovers pining, and some Polynesian recipes to boot. A delicious and fun romp.

Imaginative, funny, and downright cute romcom linking mer with humans, and a rollercoaster of obstacles along the way. Adorable characters without being "cutsey" make the story engaging and you will be rooting for this pair until the end. Super summer fun read.