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Crest is not excited to be on their Journey: the month-long sojourn on land all teen merfolk must undergo. The rules are simple: Help a human within one moon cycle and return to Pacifica to become an Elder-or fail and remain stuck on land forever. Crest is eager to get their Journey over and done with. Humans are disgusting. They've polluted the planet so much that there's a floating island of trash that's literally the size of a country. In Los Angeles with a human body and a new name, Crest meets Sean, a human lifeguard whose boyfriend has recently dumped him. Crest agrees to help Sean make his ex-jealous and win him back. But as the two spend more time together, and Crest's perspective on humans begins to change, they'll soon be torn between two worlds. And fake dating just might lead to real feelings... This sophomore novel from Jason June dives into the many definitions of the word home and shows how love can help us find the truest versions of ourselves.… (more)
User reviews
This book was a JOY to read. This book has everything you need, rom-com, LA and movies, smol loves big bear, mer-people, meddling, and non-binary rep!
I finished this book in one sitting and it was SICKENINGLY cute. I LOVED it. I felt that
The overall plot gives Little Mermaid vibes while also having a hand in teaching the correct lessons (unlike The Little Mermaid); you don't need to give up everything about yourself to be with the person (or mer-person) you love, and vice versa. The only way to truly give your heart to someone is if you first love yourself for being you.
I LOVED Sean, because he reminded me of my own partner: lovingly large, hairy, and so kind-hearted and full of love. I don't find that kind of representation in most books, and it made my heart so happy while I was reading. Of course, Ross was just as wonderful. I loved their sarcasm and endless courage navigating this strange new world, while never stopping to be their authentic self. I can't emphasize enough how much I loved
This is SO CUTE. Highly recommend.
First of all, the characters. I don't know what it is about Sean and Ross, but as soon as I started reading, I could not get them out of my head. They feel incredibly real, and I appreciate that we're given both of their perspectives throughout the book, as I think it would have been less enjoyable had it only been written from one or the other. I loved how they described each other; while Ross is fascinated by humans in general, there's something special about how they talk about Sean that's clear even from the beginning.
The only thing that I can complain about - and this really is a personal thing more so than an actual issue - is the ending. I understand why it ended the way it did; I don't think it would have been true to the message of the book if it had concluded any other way. That being said, my stupid little heart was a little disappointed - not enough to write off the book by any means, but enough to lower my personal star rating for it.
I was not expecting to love this book as much as I did - as soon as I finished reading my eARC, I actually tracked down where I could pre-order a signed, personalized copy for my own collection, which I practically never do. Though the ending wasn't what I'd hoped for, the characters are so rich and wonderful that I was thinking about them long after I finished the book, and ultimately that's the draw for me in any read.
Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for providing a copy for review.