I am obsessed with all things mermaid so this book was a must read for me, and it did not disappoint. On a serious note, there are so many beautiful and positive messages within the pages of this compelling story. A heartwarming message about identity, along with the realisation that we are the ones in control of it. The way Verónica’s ideas about place, gender and her hip dysplasia tie into her identity and help shape her as a young woman provide real food-for-thought for any young minds reading this novel. For anyone who sees this as a simple coming of age romcom, there is so much more to explore: family relationships, sibling loyalty, body image, rewriting stories, ownership, the list goes on. I will be recommending this book once it is published to inspire the students in my classroom.

I got about 50% of the way, and it just isn't the right time for me to read this one. It's like sometimes you think you want to watch a rom-com, but nope. It's just not doing it for you, and you decide to watch a documentary instead. That was me and Breathe and Count Back from Ten.

I should be all over this story because it has things I love in YA:
- Diverse protagonist (Latina)
- Immigrant family/experience
- Mermaids!
- Semi-invisible disability (hip dysplasia)
- Overcoming shame from scars (show them off loud and proud!)
- Working through conservative parental POV about sexuality and being a teen girl who has hormones
- Cutie new guy who just moved in
- Promoting an atypical sport (swimming)

I may come back to this if it speaks to me, but I sat at 30% for more than a week, and now I've been sitting at 50% for at least five days.

THIS. BOOK. WAS. AMAZING. As someone who also has had several orthopedic surgeries throughout the years, I so related to Verónica's struggle and the fear of another surgery. What I loved the most is that Vero's different identities are deftly weaved together and intersect rather than being just a diversity checklist. She is disabled AND Peruvian AND an immigrant AND a woman. The mermaid scenes were absolutely breathtaking and now I want nothing more than to be a mermaid. I've been excited for this book and following Natalia's writing and publishing process for a long time and I'm so, so happy I got the privilege of reading this ARC.