Review: Forgive My Fins

Book: Forgive My Fins (Fins #1)
Author: Tera Lynn Childs
Publisher: Katherine Tegan Books
Release Date: 6/1/2010
Pages: 309
Source: Library
Date Read: 1/22/11

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.

Yani's Analysis:

I didn't realize this book would be so fun. I borrowed it from my library just because I couldn't find anything else. Then I read some reviews, and everyone seemed to enjoy this book. I was expecting some deep, romantic love, paranormal novel - and as much as I love those, there is only so many you can read - instead, this book was cute, funny, and smart. It reminded me of the Simon Romantic Comedies books. For those of you who don't know they are a series of standalone books, written by different authors, that stay along the lines of a teen chick-lit novel.

I liked that Lily was a completely normal girl, besides the mermaid part, with a huge crush on the wrong boy. While her "annoying" neighbor is obviously the one for her! I loved Quince, even his name is odd and cute, but who doesn't love a guy who will do anything for the girl he loves.

Predictable: Yes, but still a great beach read that will just make you smile.

Ratings: 

Plot: 3/5
Writing Style: 4/5
Uniqueness: 3/5
Characters: 4/5

Similar Titles:

• Check out Simon Romantic Comedies Blog for similar style books!
• anything Rachel Hawthorne
  

Memorable Quotes:

For Aunt Rachel, I am the living heritage of her sister. For me, my aunt is the scrapbook of my mom’s life.

 and...

“Oh Lily,” he says shaking his head. “I know about love. I know about wanting and dreaming and wishing with every piece of your soul. I know enough to recognize the difference between the parts and the real and the parts that are only fantasies.”