Forgive My Fins

Half-mermaid Lily Sanderson attends high school on land while hiding her true identity from her classmates. She has a crush on swimming champion Brody Bennett and believes he could be her soul mate, but her attempts to get his attention keep going wrong. When Lily's neighbor Quince Fletcher interferes with her plans to kiss Brody, she ends up accidentally bonding with the wrong boy through mermaid magic. The mix-up forces Lily to bring Quince to her underwater kingdom of Thalassinia, where they must navigate royal mermaid politics and culture shock. The story combines elements of The Little Mermaid with contemporary teen romance and fish-out-of-water comedy. Through Lily's journey between two worlds, the novel explores themes of identity, belonging, and the sometimes turbulent process of discovering true love.

Readers describe this as a light, predictable mermaid romance aimed at younger teens. Reviews indicate it works best for readers aged 11-14 who enjoy fantasy romance. Readers appreciated: - Clean content appropriate for middle grade/young teen readers - Fast-paced storyline - Underwater world-building and mermaid mythology - Humorous moments and dialogue Common criticisms: - Main character Lily comes across as immature and whiny - Romance feels forced and unrealistic - Plot relies on miscommunication tropes - Too simplistic for older YA readers Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (26,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (180+ ratings) Barnes & Noble: 4.2/5 (90+ ratings) One frequent comment from reviews: "Perfect for younger teens who loved The Little Mermaid but may frustrate more mature readers expecting complex characters and plots." Several reviewers noted they enjoyed the book more when adjusting expectations for its intended middle-grade audience.

Tails of a Wannabe Mermaid by Katie O'Sullivan A teenage mermaid attends high school on land while struggling to keep her identity secret from her human crush.

Of Poseidon by Anna Banks A girl discovers she carries ancient mermaid genes and becomes entangled in an underwater kingdom's royal politics.

Lost Voices by Sarah Porter Transformed into a mermaid after trauma, a fourteen-year-old joins a tribe of mermaids who lure ships to their doom.

The Vicious Deep by Zoraida Cordova A teenage lifeguard learns he is heir to an underwater kingdom and must compete in trials to claim his throne.

Real Mermaids Don't Wear Toe Rings by Helene Boudreau A girl's first period triggers her mermaid transformation, leading to revelations about her missing mother's true nature.

🌊 Forgive My Fins is the first book in a trilogy, followed by "Fins Are Forever" and "Just for Fins" 🧜‍♀️ Author Tera Lynn Childs was inspired to write mermaid stories after watching Disney's The Little Mermaid as a child 🌺 The book incorporates Hawaiian mythology and culture, as the fictional Thalassinia kingdom is located in the Pacific Ocean 💘 The "mermate" bonding ritual described in the book is loosely based on actual fish species that mate for life 🐚 The author created a detailed system of mer-speak, including specific terms like "son of a swordfish" and "holy mackerel" that serve as mermaid versions of common expressions