You might have to call me biased for this review, but honestly, I don’t care! I’ve known this author for a few years now, as we met online through Instagram, but actually met at a YALC convention at London Olympia a couple of years ago. We both love YA books and were both planning on attending the event, so of course this would be the perfect time for us to meet. At the time, Ally was looking at querying her novel to literary agents, and I was drafting one of my novels as well, so we decided to attend a pitching event together, and I felt so proud, watching her pitching the novel to a literary agent and could see the passion there.
Ally was also the one that got me hooked on the idea of self publishing, and has also recently beta read my upcoming YA fantasy novel, as well. But I read her novel earlier this year and loved it, so I couldn’t be more excited to talk about it here.
If, like me, you’re a sucker for a book with mermaids in it, you’ll love this one! But it’s not, Little Mermaid style, exactly. Think more, the film Splash, where the man brings a real life mermaid into his world. It’s set in the UK, with a love triangle and some teenage drama as well. We don’t really see the main character, Mariah, under the water, apart from some later scenes where she develops a romance with a new character, (no spoilers, though!) But this YA contemporary novel has a magical twist, when a teenage girl realises her mother has been keeping secrets from her, and she’s actually a mermaid.
The poor girl was already trying to get over being in love with her childhood best friend, Jace, who’s sadly made it clear that he doesn’t feel the same. But when Mariah joins the swim team and meets lots of new friends, one called Murray who has a very similar secret to Mariah, even though she doesn’t know it at first, Jace’s affection for his best friend suddenly seem to change. Some jealousy, perhaps, for the girl he thought he cared for more like a sister at first?
There’s some great twists in this book. It’s definitely aimed at the lower age level of YA fiction, but it’s a gripping read with a wonderful atmosphere. Imagine if you suddenly realised you wanted to join your school swim team and then discovered you were a mermaid? That’d really put being a great swimmer into perspective.
I’d definitely give this a read! It’s well written, and worth the read. I can’t wait for book two!
April Grace 