This is such a unique story!

I've never read anything like it, and I was intrigued from the start. I applaud the author's ingenuity. However, I did have trouble following the narrative due to the story-within-a-story format as well as the main character's overly-wordy inner thoughts. The book isn't long, but it felt long.

It wasn't for me, overall, but I know many readers will love it!

This is a distinctly unique book. Toward the beginning, I thought it was trying a little too hard and there were a few passages that felt a little too intentionally obscure. I didn’t really like either of the two protagonists, Penelope or Sylvia. I didn’t see where the story was going and was annoyed by Penelope’s self-destructiveness.

As both stories went along, however, they both hit their stride and I started to care about the characters. The situations Penelope got herself into were humorous, and Sylvia’s quest was harrowing.

I’ve seen other comments calling this “sci-fi” and it’s not, really. It defies genre to some extent, but I think I would call it literary fiction-lite. It’s more about the characters than the plot, though the “book within a book” is a bit more plot-driven. I would only recommend this to open-minded readers who are willing to experience something a bit unusual and eccentric.

Thank you to the publisher - I received a complimentary eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I don't think I am smart enough to fully appreciate this completely unique, genre-defying, book-within-a-book novel about a high school teacher that writes a hit novel and quits her teaching job to become a screenwriter for the production of her novel as a movie. Whew...

What I enjoyed about this story:
The book alternates between Penelope in Los Angeles, co-writing the script with two experienced screenwriters and excerpts from the novel "American Mermaid" that has become a big hit. I actually liked the novel quite a bit. It had serious Marvel Universe vibes, complete with evil genius, and a save the world from eco-terrorism slant, as well. I also enjoyed the behind the scenes view of turning a book into a movie. It went a long way toward explaining why I sometimes don't recognize the book I read in the final movie production.

The dark humor and crazy situations that were portrayed in the Hollywood party scene went over my head, and kept me from really liking the entire book. I have a feeling that this is a book that will grow on me as I sit with it for a while, as it is definitely not my usual genre.

Thank you to Netgalley and Doubleday Books for the digital ARC of American Mermaid. The opinions in this review are my own.

American Mermaid is an interesting novel about a Connecticut high school English teacher, Penelope Schleeman, who has written a best-selling feminist novel about a mermaid. Penelope takes a leave from teaching and moves to Los Angeles to help adapt her book into an action film, and much of the novel revolves around the clash of creative perspectives as studio employees try to transform Schleeman’s work into a blockbuster film.

The story of Penelope’s experience in the entertainment industry is punctuated by excerpts from her novel which tells the story of a young wheelchair bound woman named Sylvia who discovers she is truly a mermaid. Found by an infertile couple who pay to have her tail split into legs so she can be raised as a human, Sylvia has endured a lifetime of pain due to her environment. Penelope’s book explains that Sylvia “has no idea there’s a whole different way of being, an easy automatic power she would possess if she only found her way to the water.” While Hans Christian Anderson’s mermaid trades her voice for the ability to walk on land, Schleeman’s American mermaid starts on land and journeys to find her power in the sea.

Langbein’s book also features chapters of texts and emails between studio executives and Schleeman as they wrestle to bring the book to the big screen. The writing style of this novel is not the beautiful and evocative writing of a fantasy tale, but the author, Julia Langbein, a sketch and stand-up comedian, brings contemporary humor to the narrative which is both funny and poignant at the same time.

The fictional journey of the mermaid mirrors the emotional and medical journey of the novel’s protagonist, and the book will leave readers thinking deeply about the nature of disability, the struggles of teaching teenagers, the fears we inherit from our parents, and the transformative process of endless re-creation.

Thank you to NetGalley for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I did not enjoy my time with this book after the beginning bit. Penelope’s character had a lot of room for growth and this never happened. I felt she was a bit insufferable from start to finish, and not in the way I usually enjoy from unlikeable characters. What started out as quirky personality traits quickly turned into cringe worthy annoyances.

This was a mixing bowls of genres to the point where this feels like it doesn’t fit anywhere. The writing was too dense for a contemporary, the plot and characters a bit silly for lit fic, throw in some magical realismish feels and satirical commentary and you are left with something you don’t know quite where to put it.

There was absolutely so much going on here and messages we were given with a big arrow pointing to them the whole time. I felt everything was way too on the nose and I didn’t find the humor many others are seeing. I understand the author is a comedian and I can see where this came into play with some of the dialogue and banter, but to be honest I was mostly annoyed. With that being said, I’m seeing some glowing reviews so I would encourage others to give it a try to see if this brand of humor/storytelling works for you. This just doesn’t align with what I enjoy in a book but books are subjective and this could very well be someone’s favorite of the year!

I received an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars, rounded up because of the ambition, spectacular inventiveness, and structural complexity of this novel. High school English teacher Penny Schleeman is on the brink of penury when her fantastical novel about Sylvia, a repressed powerful mermaid, hugely takes off due to the twin powers of social media and influencer culture. This happens when her book randomly pops up on the nightstand of an Instagram celebrity. Soon afterward, Penny is swept into LA, into a book to movie deal where she is paired with a seasoned writing dude duo, and into a business relationship with Danielle, a callous, zealous film agent. Danielle, encourages Penny to lead a “boss bitch” life comprised of showing up at the right parties, wearing the right clothes, terrorizing wait staff, and “paying people to pay people.” And as Penny dutifully follows this advice, the venal screenwriting bros take an ax and auger to her novel and go after the body, soul and heart of Sylvia, turning her from a feminist water warrior into a sexy doomed teenage Disney caricature that must die, because it plays better than targeting men and trying to restore ecological balance.

Langbein cleverly alternates sections between Penny’s life and Penny’s novel, also titled American Mermaid, Sylvia’s origin story. Wheelchair-bound Sylvia, adored by her mother and controlled by her brilliant mega-wealthy inventor father and her physician, has no idea she is a mermaid, so her discoveries of all the flavors of betrayal do not end well…for some. Sylvia’s story is also what propels Penny’s transit through the LA round of industry gatherings, events, promotions, and pitiless editing by her co-writers. For the most part, the writing is compelling in both narratives. What bubbles to the surface is the tension between Penny’s authorial frustration in trying to preserve the integrity of Sylvia with Penny’s growing complacency as she plumbs the vacuous surfaces of Hollywood parties and players (including her guilty pleasure at finally being able to afford the expensive brand of shampoo). But something strange is happening to the script and to those that would script it. As the rewrites begin to take on a life of their own or perhaps of Sylvia’s, Penny’s life seems to be echoing parts of her book, going beyond ocean injuries and father issues. The convergence of these two stories is complex, and is complicated by a wall behind the fourth wall; the scathing critique of the novel “American Mermaid” by a private school teenager at a bookstore reading. And the structural twist, when this teenager gets absorbed into the narrative of Penny’s experience, cunningly defies every expectation of where the story will lead. But although the combined weight, twisted POVs, and unanswered questions of these narratives eventually overpowers the conclusion (or conclusions), there is much to be appreciated here. Langbein excels at acid rain scrutiny of the patois and casual cruelty of the elite and entitled and especially of teenagers of all ilk. The result is consistently hilarious and at times heartbreaking and the same can be said for her expansive descriptions of the landscapes of the very rich and those that serve them or reside in another galaxy far far away and teach for a pittance in a public school. I appreciated this introduction to the worlds of Penny and Sylvia and to the piercing comic insight of Julia Langbein. My thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday.

This was one of those times when something that sounded very much like it would be my kind of thing ended up not being for me. While the real world story--especially the Hollywood satire--was funny and engaging, I couldn't get into the book-within-a-book and *really* couldn't buy that the text of that book would ever have been a bestseller, let alone a *YA bestseller*. Aside from my just not liking the writing, it felt too off tonally from the framing chapters to work with the surreal conceit here, and overall, AMERICAN MERMAID felt more like an interesting series of concepts than a cohesive novel. For a more successfully executed literary feminist mermaid horror story dealing with some similar themes, I would recommend the forthcoming CHLORINE by Jade Song instead. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Meh. I had hopes for this story but it was kind of a mess throughout. The book interspersed with the main character point of view did not work as well as expected. Truthfully the book itself was pretty campy, not in a fun way. The ending was a big let down.

I wanted to like this but got bored halfway thru, it needed a more compelling plot line to keep the reader interested.

This book had me at "mermaid" but I felt ready to swim away about 1/3 of the way through the book. It's essentially a "book within a book" (although a bit more complex than that) and the switches between the "real life" story of Penny and the "book within a book" of Sylvie were incredibly distracting / needed to be a lot more seamless to keep me hooked. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free advance copy.

3.5⭐️

The primary narrative follows former high school English teacher Penelope “Penny” Schleeman as she moved to L.A. after the rights of her debut novel,” American Mermaid” is acquired by a Hollywood Studio. The money and the fame propel Penny into a new life, distinctly different from her low-paying job in New Haven, Connecticut wherein she could barely make ends meet. Hired to co-write the screenplay with a professional screenwriter duo, she struggles to protect her source material and her MC, wheelchair-bound asexual scientist Sylvia from being rewritten into a more “cinematic” adaptation. But Penny has very little say in the process. As the narrative progresses, and Penny is gradually pushed out of the project on account of mysterious modifications made to the script that the others involved in the project believe were made by Penny, the lines between reality and fiction begin to blur.

Julia Langbein’s American Mermaid is genre-defying, unique, entertaining, creative and exhausting! The author blends two narratives (three if you include the continuously evolving screenplay) to create a cleverly crafted novel that touches upon several themes – self-acceptance, feminism, stereotyping of women in media, and environmental concerns among them. Penny’s introduction to the movie-making process, her experiences in L..A., and her interactions with the screenwriters were entertaining and provided much-needed comic relief between the pages of her novel which was more intense and dealt with darker themes. Sylvia is an interesting character and I enjoyed the trajectory of her character in Penny’s novel. Following the two storylines did prove to be a bit taxing primarily because the excerpts from Penny’s novel are quite detailed and overshadow Penny's storyline (I think we practically read the full novel and I did like it, maybe a bit more than the primary narrative before it ventured into world domination territory) and the descriptions of Penny’s experiences with the rich and famous in Hollywood become a tad tedious around the halfway mark. The introduction of Derek into Penny’s Hollywood storyline felt forced and unnecessary. But the pace does pick up towards the end as the author blends the narratives and we venture into some intense territory. This is an impressive debut that will appeal to many readers. There is a lot to like about it. For me, however, this book falls into a category wherein I enjoyed the concept/premise of the book a bit more than the book itself.

Many thanks to Julia Langbein, Doubleday Books and NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This book is due to be released on March 21, 2023.

Fun, hilarious, and full of surprises!

JULIA LANGBEIN, a sketch and standup comedian for many years, holds a doctorate in Art History and is the author of a non-fiction book about comic art criticism (Laugh Lines, Bloomsbury Visual Arts, 2022). She wrote the viral comedy blog The Bruni Digest (2003-7), which reviewed New York Times critic Frank Bruni’s restaurant reviews every week and has since written about food, art, and travel for Gourmet, Eater, Salon, Frieze, and other publications. A native of Chicago, she lives outside of Paris with her family.

Penelope Schleeman quits her job as a teacher and moves from Connecticut to LA to co-write the screenplay of her novel, American Mermaid. But her dreams quickly fade when the two screenwriters she’s been paired with to adapt the novel try to scrap the elements that mean the most to her. Meanwhile, she’s advised by her agent to attend Hollywood parties and rub shoulders with creative types to broaden her connections in the industry. Her story is interlaced between chapters of her novel in which Sylvia Granger, an androgynous eco-warrior mermaid, is wheelchair-bound after her adoptive parents split her tail as a baby in order to keep her true identity a secret from her. When she attempts to commit suicide by diving into the ocean, her legs fuse together revealing she has special mermaid powers and propels her on a revenge mission against her father for perpetuating a lie.

This book was a fun change compared to the gritty thrillers I usually read. The idea of a vengeful mermaid taking on her fictitious father and a team of Hollywood executives for trying to kill her on the page made me laugh. I liked that Penelope (or Penny), the protagonist, is a writer and finds success when the movie rights to her book are sold. I also enjoy stories set in Hollywood and it was entertaining to learn about the industry parties and strange introductions she made—including the eccentric fictional screenwriter, Dick Babbot, who eventually ends up being hired to bring ‘fresh eyes’ to the script following the attack of her two screenwriting colleagues by her main character. Langbein’s writing is whip-smart and hilarious, creating a strong feminist narrator in Penny as she navigates toxic corporate culture. A scene I can’t shake is when she goes swimming and ends up being dragged out to sea by a riptide before being rescued by a lifeguard and pulled back to shore. Later on, she considers that maybe it was the work of Sylvia, as a warning for Penelope to protect her story from being butchered.

I always enjoy novels about writers, revenge, and quirky characters. The chapters between Penny and the industry bros were hilarious, especially the text messages in which they discuss the script vs the novel. Some of the comments exchanged were vile and cringe-worthy, but they breathed life into the characters revealing an uglier side to Hollywood that not everyone is aware of. Penny’s novel and its main character, Sylvia, mirrored her own life in parts but I still felt it lacked in connecting the two. I would have liked a deeper understanding of Penny’s background and family, especially details of her own strained relationship with her father. Aside from that, I really enjoyed the book including the ending, when Penny’s success as a screenwriter is revealed.

3/5⭐️⭐️⭐️
For readers who enjoy a book within a book, compelling characters, and hilarious dialogue.

I wanted to like this one so much more than I did. The concept sounds so interesting, and different, but the execution was just flawed in so many ways. Penelope just didn't come off as likable to me, and I found myself wholly uninterested in her issues the longer I read. And the story within a story is just....bizarre. 2 stars for the original concept, but this just wasn't a hit for me.

I have no clue how to rate this. On the one hand it’s really odd but I couldn’t put it down. We follow former teacher turner writer whose book American Mermaid is being turned into a big Hollywood production.

There were some really funny moments. Case in point, quotes like: at the table read there was also, “a guy who looks like matt Damon and is matt Damon” and “actors really are great readers. They don’t have public hair or debt but they can read!”

And then you have a very serious book within the book about Sylvia, a girl/mermaid. That story is weaved throughout.

And then…penny becomes convinced Sylvia is exacting revenge on the Hollywood peeps she’s become entangled with. And the ending… am I sure I even know what happened? No. Yes? Idk someone let me know.

So who do I think would like this? Readers who can keep an open mind, and are cool with quirky and unhingyness. This book is really unique so I’m not going to compare it to anything but I’m definitely curious to see what my book friends think of this one.

3.5ish star? I think? I’ll round up here.

Very weird, but in a good and interesting way. I liked the story-within-a-story construct and liked the other narrative elements like IMs scattered throughout. Part of the story is about how it feels like the American Mermaid narrative has been removed from Penelope’s hands, so seeing all of these pieces of commentary from other characters added to that effect. Sylvia’s story was interesting too, and once they started combining, the plot went very quickly for me.

American Mermaid is a book within a book, and I loved the premise. And who doesn't want to read a book about Mermaids?! I loved the story line around Sylvia, her disability, and how that was woven in throughout the story. I was not as connected to Penelope's story, however, the premise of "real" life influencing the book, and vice versa with the siren calls was an intriguing concept and the impressions post-read have continued to linger with me.

Thank you to NetGalley, Doubleday, and Julia Langbein for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

American Mermaid is an intriguing story, a bit unexpected in good ways. This is a book within a book, excerpts from a surprise bestseller from a debut author who is now navigating (like a mermaid out of water?) the terrains of Hollywood parties, script writers, and project development. There is a nuanced and unique, and needed, examination of women's bodies, sexuality, and their right to an identity of their choosing.

strengths
1. The excerpts from the story reveal a really fascinating and creative voice, a powerful taken on female sexuality, desire, and intelligence and how men/society take and take and take,. The weaving in of suggested script edits (complete rewrites) also further explore the taking away of female identity and the singular focus on female body and sexuality. This was deft and thoughtful.

2. Penelope's experiences with the script writers made me laugh. This was nicely done (though readers have to be prepared for text/email like dialogue but this worked for how this thread was developed.

3. The idea of finding voice ands strength when forced into unexpected new life. This is a theme in the novel as well as the book in the book; if you read for it... the parallels between Penelope's story and the book she wrote are really worth talking about.

This is for a literary reader, someone up for a somewhat shifting writing style, and a slight sense of disorientation. For me the chapters were bit too short at times, making it hard to stay with one story even though the stories did parallel each other. I think this is a perfect choice for many literary focused book clubs and will lead to some interesting discussions.

“American Mermaid” by Julia Langbein ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Genre: Satirical Magical Realism. Location: (Penelope) Los Angeles, California, USA. (Sylvia) East Coast USA and across the North Pacific Ocean. Time: Near present.
NOTE: It’s a book about a book being made into a movie.

There are 2 stories here. The 1st is the story Penelope, 33, tells: She’s an introspective Connecticut high school teacher. She writes a book that begins with Sylvia (a 24-year-old woman in a wheelchair) falling into the Atlantic Ocean. Hollywood recruits her to adapt her feminist mermaid novel into a screenplay. Naturally, typical Hollywood types want her to change Sylvia from a strong, androgynous eco-warrior to a teen sex symbol. Penelope is a dreamer. Her voice is sadly ironic as she navigates Hollywood’s meaningless, temporary social contacts.

The 2nd story, interspersed throughout the book, is from Penelope’s novel. It’s the story of a hurting woman’s return to the sea. Fictional mermaid in a wheelchair Sylvia, convinced that she’s broken, is quietly sad, lonely, and longing to belong. But then-the 2 stories start to connect. When threats show up in the screenplay, and co-writers are siren-called into danger, Penelope is convinced fictional Sylvia has become real. Is she? It’s not that simple- it’s very twisty-turny.

Author Langbein has written a brilliant and savage Hollywood satire. She’s also written a magical realism vision of evolution and nature. It’s an amazing blend of the two. Her wordplay is sharply funny, oddly alluring, full of jokes and metaphors. Langbein’s book is elegantly literate. Favorite sentence: “…and his hard rs are the only thing curbing his formless vowels.” Her writing is also thought-provoking and soulful. My only complaint is that the book ended! It’s 5 stars from me. Thank you to NetGalley, Doubleday Books, and Julia Langbein for this early ecopy. Publishes 3/20/2023.

This was really unique and interesting! I loved the novel within a novel setup and found it incredibly intriguing and different.

I found the hollywood setting fun, if a bit overplayed in books, but I felt connected with the characters and invested in the storyline.

The cover totally felt different than the story within, not a critique, just an observation!

Penelope is a high school teacher. So as anyone can imagine, she is pretty broke. When her book American Mermaid sold, she was thrilled, and when she sold the film rights she was beyond. She quickly moved to LA to help write the script. When her writing partners try to kill off Sylvia the mermaid however, things start getting weird. This is a book in a book-we follow Penelope in LA and her book about Sylvia the American Mermaid.

So I gotta say, I enjoyed the excerpts from American Mermaid more than the rest of the book, but luckily it was about half and half of the book vs. the book in the book! Penelope’s book immediately captivated me. I adored Sylvia, and I just wanted her to find her peace. This was a unique story that I really enjoyed! It moved a little on the slower side, but that didn’t keep me from being totally entranced in the story!