Venessa Vida Kelley masterfully combines the aesthetics of Michael Gracey’s The Greatest Showman and Guillermo del Toro’s The Shape of Water with her cinematic writing, but they hold no bars when it comes to back story and context. A satisfying pay off awaits patient readers, especially those who loved Hafsah Faizal’s A Tempest of Tea. The book also superbly delivers a slow-burn romance and themes of found family.

The solid execution of representation in the ensemble cast will appeal to diverse readers. This is also demonstrated in the well-researched inclusion of Puerto Rican Spanish, Hindi and Russian dialogues that are defined in the book’s glossary.

I've been following Vanessa Kelly as an artist for a few years and admire her talent very much. I was curious to see what her debut book would look like and I was not disappointed. I think this book is very much needed in the times we are unfortunately currently living in. The whole found family aspect of When the Tides Held the Moon was definitely a standout for me. But I'd recommend this title to anyone who loves mermaids and queer romance because I believe this exactly the kind of book they'll love, just as I did.

Dotted with gorgeous illustrations, When the Tides Held the Moon is a masterpiece of imagery and atmosphere.

Set in the early 20th century, it follows Benny, a Puerto Rican smithy with busted lungs (asthma) a deep-rooted feeling of unworthiness, and a suspicion he'll never be happy and must simply survive. He falls into a scheme to capture a merman for a side show, finds a new family in the show's cast, and falls in love with the merman (oops).

The atmosphere is seriously impeccable. Coney Island, the slightly run-down sadness of an amusement park out of season, and the the overwhelming spectacle of it being back turned on. Characters in a show of human curiosities but seen as people who have to survive, and above all, a family. Emily and Emmet were so good! Sonia's arc was heartbreaking! And Benny <3

The writing does something interesting with Benny's voice, in that it's really quite idiosyncratic. Lots of words remain in Spanish, but in a way that feel organic and gives a real sense of personality. It does make the novel slightly less easy to read, but I loved it, especially once I got fully used to its beautiful rhythm.

The part that worked less for me, maybe, was the romance itself. It's enjoyable in the beginning, but remains slightly flat throughout, especially in the middle, and is extremely cheesy.
I'd have loved for the novel to actually develop the other characters more (what we got was so good but still firmly in side character territory!) and focus less on the large portion in which these two declare love to each other over and over. Either way, I enjoyed this immensely.

Thank you to Erewhon Books and NetGalley for the chance to read the ARC!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I am definitely an outlier here. Although I loved the premise of this book and was eager to read it (and the artwork was absolutely stunning and an amazing addition to the story), unfortunately, this book did not work for me.

The writing style and pacing issues in this book made it feel drawn out and I did not feel emotionally attached to any of the characters. In addition, it felt like there were separate stories going on and I did not feel invested in the romance.

One critique I have is that I wish translations were put at the bottom of the page. I love dialogue both spoken and unspoken and much of Benny's was in Spanish. I personally do not speak Spanish and I would have to stop reading and either use the translate button on my Kindle or flip to the back of the book in order to see a translation. I liked how the author included Spanish in the book and felt like it added to Benny's character, but the constant flipping back and forth took me out of the story, especially when the translations could have been included as footnotes on the same page.

If you know me you know that I love anything to do with the circus. When I found out that this was going to be set in Coney Island, Luna Park I hit request so quick. I crossed fingers and toes that this book would give me the same feelings in does when walking through the park itself, and I was not disappointed.

I love the dual POV, I feel like it really accentuates the storyline and gives it more in depth emotion.
The message of staying true to yourself whilst trying to navigate finding family is captured perfectly.

For a debut novel, this is really strong work. I would love to read more from this author and I can't wait for people to experience reading this for the first time.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me early access to When the Tides Held the Moon in exchange for an honest review.

It's a perfect story if you like whimsy and found family. All the characters have big personalities and are flawed in their own way, but you still grow to love each one. Through hardships, family means everything to all the characters even if it's not blood and I'm such a sucker for this concept.

The writing voice is perfect for the different perspectives and the plot hooks you in so it was hard to put this down, especially at the end. It's a beautiful read all the way around! I would definitely recommend and read it over and over again.

Reading this book was a delight for many reasons, but partially because I am a huge fan of Venessa Vida Kelley’s art, and have followed their art for many years now. I found them due to their art of Carry On by Rainbow Rowell and Red White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston, and when they began posting art of the characters for an upcoming novel, I waited with baited breath for the release. I want to thank netgalley and the publishers for granting me early access to this book. I’m so excited to support Venessa Vida Kelley.

I do think this book will be hit or miss for many people. The reason for this is simple: Venessa Vida Kelley writes like an artist. All of her words are chosen for the beauty of them. It reads in a very lyrical, maximalistic sort of way that revels in the space on the page, the sound of the language. As such, I think some looking for something light will be disappointed. But enjoyers of historical and literary fiction that leans on the lyrical, poetic side of writing will be enthralled. I know I was.

Bringing artistic prowess to a literary endeavor, Venessa Vida Kelley brings beauty not only through a fantastical love story, but through lyrical, poetic prose. Perfect for fans of queer historical fiction and romantasy.

When the Tides held the Moon was riveting! I truly was not prepared for this story, I went into it blind and I have to say I was so pleasantly surprised! I depth the author went to in creating such a beautiful piece of art was just mesmerising. Seeing the friendship between the 2 MMC was so organic and really lulled me into what I perceived as such a fated love story. Thankyou so much for allowing me the privilege of reading their story. It will stay with me for an age ❤️

What an incredibly written book! It was so poetic and well structured with the art being a beautiful addition in adding so much more depth to the imagination with scenes.

Every character was complex and well written, each having their own backstories which made our side characters really stand out. (Don't get me started on Shark!)

When The Tides Held The Moon was structured well but at the start, I found the pacing slow until around 30% and soon realised how important the first 30% was for character development.

The ending was perfect and it honestly had me scared!! But I am very happy with how it ended.

This book DESERVES and NEEDS to hold space in the book community, there is so much representation and diversity that is IMPORTANT!

~♡~
I want to thank netgalley and venessa for the opportunity to read this ARC

Thank you to NetGalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a beautiful, historic romance between a Puerto Rican metal worker and a merman during 1910s America. After Benigno crafts a mysterious tank, he finds himself caught up in capturing a merman from the river. Circumstances lead him to Luna Park on Coney Island where the merman is being held as an attraction. 
Slowly Benigno and the merman, Rio, develop a relationship. Benigno promises to save Rio but it becomes increasingly hard for him to keep his promise.


‘“Your heart in my keeping,” he whispered, “would always be safe.”’

This book is beautifully wrought. It’s not over written or too flowery, but a perfect match to the time and story being told. I highlighted so many lines that had such emotional punch. Both the characters were deep and complex. For a debut, I felt the large cast of secondary characters was handled extremely well. They all had distinct voices and were always true to themselves.

And the illustrations throughout the book were stunning even in e-book format. I can’t wait to see the finished layout in physical form.

I think the only thing I would have liked to have been better executed, was the ending. I was kind of confused what exactly happened. While the author did give us foreshadowing that it was going to happen, we’re never told anything on the why. Was Benigno actually a merman too? Was it Rio’s magic? Did the currents grant them a happy ending? I wish there’d been more in the way of Merfolk lore that would have hinted at why the ending was possible.

Overall, I can’t recommend this book enough. Gorgeous writing, beautiful art, soulful characters, and a touching story. If you like historical, queer romance, I would definitely recommend this.

This book has such a stunning vibe! Set in 1910s New York, it features circus performers and mythical mermen. I absolutely adore it. Plus, there are illustrations! Key moments in the story are beautifully depicted, which adds so much to the experience.

The story revolves around Benigno, a queer Puerto Rican immigrant struggling to get by in early 20th-century New York. He gets caught up in a plot to capture a mermaid alongside a circus troupe. Instead of a mermaid, they end up with a merman, Río, who becomes the troupe’s newest spectacle. Confined to a tank crafted by Benigno, an unexpected bond—and perhaps something deeper—develops between them.

At its core, this book is about finding a sense of belonging. The performers create a chosen family, where acceptance is rooted not in appearances or who you love but in who you truly are.

It’s not without flaws, though. At times, Benigno’s fear of taking action, while understandable, left me frustrated—I wanted to shake him and yell, “Come on, do something already!” But even so, I couldn’t help but love him. He’s such a tender, lost soul just trying to find where he fits in.

Overall, When the Tides Held the Moon was an enchanting read. The beginning took me a little time to get into, but once I was hooked, I couldn’t put it down. If you enjoy stories about merfolk, found family, or queer romance, this one’s for you! 💘 Add it to your TBR list—you won’t regret it!

First of all, I really loved the writing style. It felt very mature and assured for a debut novel. The author created a really strong sense of time and place and it was easy to imagine all the settings in the book. The amazing illustrations contributed a lot to it too (I’d followed and admired Venessa’s art on IG before the book was announced).

I liked the cast too, I’m a sucker for found family and although it took some time for them to come together, the elway they stuck together at the end was very nice. I think I liked Emmett, Eli, Vera and Matthias the most.

The central couple was lovely although I found the way their relationship is described too sappy and overdone in places, even for a romance novel. But it’s true that I don’t much care for the fated mates trope and this comes with the territory.

The plot was nicely done, if predictable. I always enjoy a group of misfits beating the odds.

Benny, a Puerto Rican ironworker in 1911 New York tells us "I had lost track of all the times I had melted myself down just to recast myself as someone with a slightly better shot at belonging someplace". And he finds himself in a new family when he joins a carnival sideshow, only to fall in love with the captive merman. Gorgeous vivid world-building, lovely found family and a very sweet love story. Picked it up based on the cover and was delighted with the story. Will look out for this author in the future!

This book is BEAUTIFUL.
I love finding LGBTQ representation, not only is this perfect for that it’s also a historical romance which I adore!!

As a boy who always dreamed of being a merman or drifting off in the waves, When the Tides Held the Moon was a beautiful escape into those wishes. The book includes illustrations which I loved, further clarifying the images I was seeing in my head. The mixing of languages, like most multilingual people I know do, was extremely well done and while I understood most, I really appreciated the glossary in the back of the book for clarification. The showcasing of different cultures and religions and belief systems throughout the story proved how important the points-of-view and stories unlike our own are. The relationship between Benigno and Río is slower than I anticipated but it is so beautifully developed. It warmed my heart and made me ache and pray to the gods that things would work out for them. I found this book full of hope and love. Familial and romantic. Sometimes our families are found in unexpected places and love is found with even stranger tides. This story was overall beautiful and I think everyone should read it.

Set in early 20th-century New York, When the Tides Held the Moon tells the story of Benny (short for Benigno) Caldera, a blacksmith and immigrant from Puerto Rico, struggling to find his place in an often unwelcoming society. The novel starts with Benny crafting a large metal tank—a job that draws him into the world of Sam Morgan, the leader of a Coney Island curiosities show. Soon, Benny becomes entangled in the capture of a merman, Rio, and their fates intertwine in unexpected ways.

The novel begins with richly detailed descriptions of places, professions, and characters. Vanessa Vida Kelley takes her time, introducing each protagonist with care before the plot fully unfolds. While this slower pace might challenge some readers at the start, the story gains momentum once Benny and Rio meet. Their relationship grows beautifully, and the narrative becomes gripping and emotionally charged.

One of the standout elements of the novel is the author’s use of language. The inclusion of Spanish and other languages in the dialogue adds authenticity and highlights the cultural diversity of the characters. It also shows how communication can transcend language barriers, which is an important theme in the story.

At its core, the novel explores what it means to feel trapped—not only in physical spaces but also in one’s circumstances, environment, or even one’s own body. This theme is handled with sensitivity and depth, making the story relatable on a profound level.

When the Tides Held the Moon is a beautifully written and thought-provoking novel that combines historical fiction with a touch of magical realism. It’s a must-read for those who enjoy character-driven stories with emotional depth and cultural richness.

I loved this one. Kelley masterfully crafted a lyrical, vivid, lush, poetic, and evocative story. Did I cry? Perhaps. You can prove nothing.

Plus - look at that cover!

Set in early 20th-century New York, primarily in a vibrant and lively Coney Island, When the Tides Held the Moon is at once a moving immigrant story, a sweet and tender romance, and a powerful portrait of found family--with a dash of intrigue and adventure.

The writing is gorgeous, the narrative is utterly heartwarming., and the characters are compelling.

Full of wonder and nostalgia (the old-timey slang!), this book is a celebration of camaraderie and community, and of acceptance and love in all its forms--between friends, among family, and for oneself. The story brims with memorable scenes, including some laugh-out-loud moments, some heart-stopping moments, and some moments that brought tears to my eyes. And what an ending!

The author also illustrated the book, and the images really bring the story to life. This is just a fantastic and lovely book in every way.

A beautiful story from start to finish. I loved the cultural aspects of it, the way it made me think of the Spanish I've learned over the years. It painted gorgeous imagery underwater and complex dynamics between the characters.

Thank you Venessa Vida Kelley, Kensington Publishing, Erewhon Books, and NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I felt the synopsis was true to the book and the book cover art was gorgeous. The setting was beautiful and the world building was rich. The romantic plot let the book down unfortunately and the lack of action bored me. The side characters didn’t seem fully fleshed out either. I dnf this book wanting more and wishing I knew Spanish. With some editing, I think it could be a solid 3.5-4. There is definitely an audience for it.