Review: Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs

Forgive My Fins


Author: Tera Lynn ChildsPublication: Katherine Tegen Books; 1 edition (June 1, 2010)
Description: Lily Sanderson has a secret, and it's not that she has a huge crush on gorgeous swimming god Brody Bennett, who makes her heart beat flipper-fast. Unrequited love is hard enough when you're a normal teenage girl, but when you're half human, half mermaid, like Lily, there's no such thing as a simple crush.
Lily's mermaid identity is a secret that can't get out, since she's not just any mermaid—she's a Thalassinian princess. When Lily found out three years ago that her mother was actually a human, she finally realized why she didn't feel quite at home in Thalassinia, and she's been living on land and going to Seaview High School ever since, hoping to find where she truly belongs. Sure, land has its problems—like her obnoxious biker-boy neighbor, Quince Fletcher—but it has that one major perk: Brody. The problem is, mermaids aren't really the casual dating type—the instant they "bond," it's for life.


When Lily's attempt to win Brody's love leads to a tsunami-sized case of mistaken identity, she is in for a tidal wave of relationship drama, and she finds out, quick as a tailfin flick, that happily ever after never sails quite as smoothly as you planned.

My Thoughts: I hesitated quite a while before I decided to buy this book. I was really put-off by the blue lips on the cover. Then I remembered how much I had enjoyed Oh. My. Gods. and Goddess Boot Camp and took the plunge (sorry about that). However, this was a cute, quick read and everything that I have come to expect in a book by Tera Lynn Childs. 


I loved all the fishy idioms that Lily used. However, I kept wanting to shake Lily and tell her to "buy a clue". She was so single-minded in pursuit of Brody that she didn't even notice how great Quince was. I thought the descriptions of a teenage crush were right on. I could sympathize with Lily as she was afraid to talk to her crush. I just wish we could have had more from Quince's point of view. 

I thought the descriptions of mermaid life and the kingdom of Thalassinia were fascinating. 

I recommend this book to Middle Graders and YAs who want a quick light read that is very like contemporary romance fiction but with mermaids.


Here is the book trailer:

Challenges: RYOB Reading Challenge, 2010 YA Reading Challenge