This book reads like a classic, yet is written in 2024. Its beautiful prose and language is a bit slow to get through, but has left me wondering what I'm going to do now- how I'm going to just move on and read another book like I didn't just read the singlehanded most beautiful book in a very long time. The cast is diverse and nothing is as it seems at first glance. Characters you think you'll hate turn out to have the saddest back stories and things going on in their lives that really make you feel for them, and it's really truly hard to choose a favorite amongst them all. The villains are realistic and the book well thought out in terms of time period and setting. You can tell a great deal of thought and love and labor and care went into the making of this, and I fully expect to see this book on every major newspaper's best seller best of the year list, like Cat Sebastian's You Should Be So Lucky was so highly accoladed by the NYT and several other outlets last year.

I fear that we are skipping backwards in terms of progression here in the US, and reading this book felt eerily similar to some of the things we might face regarding sexuality and gender in these coming years, and I think this book will be a really helpful read to anyone who feels lost or scared, to know that there is a piece of fiction that echoes present issues but retains the sentiment that there's nothing wrong with being the way you are.

"This mans Brooklyn accent was thick enough to insulate a house."

“I cannot take your burdens,” he went on. “But if you let me, I can bear them with you for a while.” I stared at him with his arm lifted over his head like Lady Liberty, his open hand offering promises I was afraid to believe in. With his eyebrows bunched up and low over his wide eyes, he looked nearly as grieved as I felt. “I can’t swim,” I whispered. “I can carry you.” “My lungs—”
“Benigno, I will not let you drown.”

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for a review.

When the Tides Held the Moon follows the journey of Benny Caldera, a young Puerto Rican man who flees his homeland for New York, to fulfil his Tita's dying wish - chance at a better life. Instead, he finds himself in an ironworks surrounded by other immigrants. The oppressive heat and smoke of the forge weigh heavily on Benny, aggravating his asthma and amplifying his profound sense of isolation. Mocked by those around him, Benny feels like an outsider in every sense.
His life changes when he is asked to design a tank for Coney Island's Luna Park—a structure meant to house the park's latest exhibit. However after being deliberately sabotaged by his colleagues his approaches Samuel Morgan, who commissioned the tank and subsequently joins "Morgan's Menagerie of Human Oddities" as blacksmith, general handyman but also the caretaker for the tank’s mysterious resident—a mythical merman Benny names Rio.
Over time, Benny and Rio's friendship blossoms, but Benny faces a harrowing choice: freeing Rio, whose captivity haunts him, or preserving the exhibit, which may be the only thing keeping Luna Park from financial ruin.

When the Tides Held the Moon had such a dreamlike quality that captivated me from start to finish. I loved the blending of genres, from magical realism to historical fantasy, with a touch of folklore-inspired storytelling—there’s a lot of overlap here that works beautifully.

Kelley's writing is so rich with vivid imagery and prose, that the illustrations feel almost unnecessary— her words alone paint such a clear and vibrant picture. That said, I thoroughly enjoyed each one, what a treasure trove. If you have the opportunity to include them, why not take it?. I'm honestly looking forward to purchasing my own physical copy of this book to enjoy as a reread. While the illustrations in the eBook version were lovely (if not finalised in the Arc) I can only imagine how stunning they’ll look printed on a physical page.

As with any circus or carnival story, having a vibrant and extraordinary cast of sideshow characters is essential, and Kelley delivers this beautifully. Her descriptions of stereotypical roles (The tall man, the fat lady, the strongman, ect) like Igor the Giant, had me chuckling more than once. There's also a real focus on found family here, which is a favourite trope of mine. I also appreciated the inclusion of an extra queer couple as side characters—it was a delightful touch that wasn’t immediately obvious. In some LGBT books, secondary queer couples can sometimes steal the spotlight from the main relationship, but that wasn’t the case here. Kelley struck the perfect balance, keeping the focus where it belonged while still adding depth and diversity to her cast.

The romance between Rio and Benny is everything you need in a devastatingly beautiful merfolk narrative. It was slow burn, tender and my heart still aches thinking about it. Rio begins as a "defanged viper," consumed with rage, and slowly transforms into a snobby prince before finally committing wholeheartedly. Every interaction between them feels like a lyrical, musical exchange, full of both joys, sorrows and deeply raw. r>

What I struggled with, was the sheer amount of Spanish phrases in this book (I am English speaking only). While the Spanish phrases adds cultural flavour and depth to Benny's inner world. I often felt as I was lost at sea without an immediate context. Helpfully, there is a glossary at the back which was good for some sections, but for singular words I heavily relied on the ebook function going straight to Google Translate and I had such FOMO.

Fans of Water for Elephants, Big Fish, and the Greatest Showman - A phenomenal debut, Kelley and her team should be very proud.

4.5/5
I loved this book. So much so that I stayed up to finish it and that’s a great feeling I haven’t had much of as an adult. But I didn’t want to put this one down.

To start, this had two things I don’t see a lot of and quite enjoyed: Puerto Rican Spanish and illustrations. I found the author on instagram through their illustrations, and always knew she was boricua, so neither of these things were surprising, but they really did make the reading experience more wonderful. I have Puerto Rican family and a terrible time imagining faces (especially for side charters with minimal description) so this was quite possibly made for me.

Speaking of the characters, I did love Benny. He’s absolutely imperfect, and I think that’s good in a character. I enjoyed his arcs and his emotions and just being in his head and watching him grow. Río, likewise, was lovely, and I enjoyed the glimpses we got into his POV. I do wonder if they could have had a longer getting to know each other phase. Maybe that was just me, but it felt like they had a lot to get over and not enough time. That’s not to say they don’t get enough time as the story goes, but the beginning felt a little bit quick to me considering the stakes.

There were a lot of named side characters—like a lot. And I will be honest, it took me over halfway through to get them figured out. The illustrations did help, but especially because we see more of them as the novel goes on, the beginning was very tough. Did the supporting cast all need to exist? Probably. But they were hard to keep track of and just as difficult to tell apart by name. In truth, some of the minor, barely speaking ones probably could have gone nameless.

It did take me a little bit to get into this. After 20 percent I was in it, but I did have to get there. Overll, though, I quite enjoyed the plot. I might have wanted more clarity for Río and Benny at the end, but the overall story was very engaging.

If Kelly writes another book, best be assured I’m picking it up. I might need to get myself a copy of this one too. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a delightful store filled with atmospheric writing that really envelops the reader. I felt compelled to pick this up every time I had a spare moment because I just needed to know what would happen next. What a riveting read.

Thank you to the author, Kensington books, and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

When The Tides Held The Moon by Venessa Vida Kelley, Ever since the hurricane of 1899 in Puerto Rico Benny cannot remember his past all he knows is the lady who saved him Tida Luz. While tuberculosis racked her body, she made him promise he would go to New York and find his freedom. unfortunately, instead of freedom, he finds himself working at a steel mill, as a blacksmith. this is where he gets a specialty order to make a metal box which he does, but soon after he loses his job when he burns his hand. Thanks to his box. He is searched out by the owner and find himself working for an oddity’s show set on Coney Island. After helping catch a merman where his mer mom was killed, he is put in charge of the creature. He learns he is stubborn and refuses to do anything they ask of him, but when Benny starts spending time with the merman, he realizes he isn’t a creature, but something much much more. how can this metal box which is captivity for one B freedom for another and when it starts killing the merman, can Benny save him in time? there is so much more to this great great story I could not stop reading this awesome book. It is rare I run across such gems. not only does the author write a great tail of found family, and true love. She also writes some of the prettiest pros in writing from any era or genre. The way this author writes is truly a talent, skill, craft and definitely an art. This book is so good and we’ll go on the list of my six, now seven favorite books.#NetGalley, #KensingtonBooks, #VenessaVitaKelley, #WinTheTideHeldTheMoon,

I've been following Vanessa's art for years and just like her art this book is beautiful. It's an amazing immersive queer story that tugs at your heartstrings. I really enjoyed how Kelly included her culture throughout the book and with Benny. A really good story or resilience, self discovery and love.

This is an immersive historical, told mostly from the point of view of Benny, born in Puerto Rico and seeking an uncertain future in New York. Ever the outsider, he's dark-skinned and bilingual in a world run by white, English-speaking men; queer in a world that fears and hates those who love beyond traditional boundaries; and an orphan cast adrift first in a hurricane and later by the death of his beloved adopted aunt.

At the same time, it's a romantic tale of magical realism, set in a sideshow on Coney Island. Sam Morgan, the carnival manager, steals a merman from the East River to serve as the newest act in his crumbling menagerie. Benny is devastated at having been part of the capture and at having been the one to devise the tank that serves as a prison. As his tentative friendship with Río, as he calls the merman, blossoms into something more, Benny must decide what family and love and courage mean in an often unwelcoming world.

Gorgeously written and illustrated, this novel has a dreamlike quality. As enjoyable as this was as an ebook, it requires the full color print edition to truly shine.

4.5 stars—It’s been years since Benny left Puerto Rico for New York City to fulfill his promise to his aunt, but the American Dream has proven to be anything but for an asthmatic ironworker who is too foreign even for the other foreigners he works alongside. But he’s used to opposition and change, to molding himself into whatever others need him to be and hiding his true self in order to survive. All of that he can handle. So when his boss assigns him an impossible project and potential for promotion, Benny sees it as his opportunity to finally escape the smoke that rattles his lungs and live a better life. Yet when he comes face to face with a living legend, a merman trapped in a tank of Benny’s own design, he must confront his own nature, accept the love he has denied himself, and learn to rely on others who see him as family in order to save them all.

When the Tides Held the Moon is a wonderful, immersive queer fantasy set in 1910s New York City that does a wonderful job of interweaving not only Benny’s identity into the narrative, but highlighting the humanity of the performers he meets in Coney Island’s Luna Park. We come to know characters of every gender, sexuality, culture, and ability who are instrumental to Benny’s journey. Parallel to the narrative on land is that of Rio the merman who’s connection to the world speaks to not only the environmental decay of the early 1900s, but also of today. This story touches on the intersections of identity, the destructive impact of prejudice and hate, and the restorative properties of love, family, and self-acceptance.

If you are a fan of chosen-family, queer romance, and the intrigue of 1910s Coney Island, I would highly recommend this book.

Thank you Netgalley and Erewhon Books via Kensington Publishing for an advance copy of this book to read and review.

DNF at 56%

Unfortunately, this book just didn't work for me. I loved the carnival setting. It is so full of life and energy and the setting is very well realized. However, this book is incredibly slow with a lot of character interactions but very little action. Most of the book is just spent with Benny and Rio talking which ended up just making me bored. I personally just don't care about the romance that is being developed and the romantic plot was not enough to keep me intrigued without a faster side plot to add some action and interest. There is also a lot of Spanish used in the book without translations being provided in the text. While I could normally make out what the intent was from the context clues, it negatively impacted the emotional influence some moments had because the actual meaning and sentiment was not always apparent. The book does provide a glossary of Spanish terms used but they are used frequently enough that flipping back and forth between the glossary and the text started to hinder my enjoyment.

There is an amazing cast of side characters that are very underdeveloped and could add so much life and color to the plot if they were given the chance to shine. But with the extreme focus on the romance, the found family elements and side characters are not developed. I could see some people really loving this book if they are invested in the romance and a ok with a slow character driven story but unfortunately, this book was not for me.

Venessa Vida Kelley’s When the Tides Held the Moon is a beautifully written tale that feels like poetry in motion. Set against a hauntingly vivid coastal backdrop, the story explores themes of love, loss, and resilience with a touch of mysticism that adds an otherworldly charm. The characters are deeply layered, their emotional journeys pulling you in as they navigate personal and shared struggles. While the pacing slows in places, the lush descriptions and heartfelt storytelling make it a captivating read that lingers in your mind long after you finish.

4,5 ⭐
I saw the pretty cover and decided to give it a shot. I’m so happy I did because this book was incredible.
The story follows Benny, a metalworker from Puerto Rico who is tasked with building a tank for a mysterious menagerie show-runner. After losing his job, Benny finds himself back with the menagerie group, where he becomes involved in capturing a real-life merman. From that point on, they connect, and it’s beautiful... despite the fact that Río (the merman) is caged. Although there are ethical conflicts around this (which, personally, I think the author handled very realistically), Benny does his best to help Río.
The author’s writing style is amazing, seamlessly blending multiple languages in a way that makes everything easy to understand. There are also some stunning illustrations throughout the book. Some parts were incredibly emotional, and I found myself fighting back tears because, just like Benny, I didn’t want to cry in public 🤣. The book also explores several themes I love reading about: found family, characters coming to terms with their sexuality, and different cultural identities.
Benny and Río’s romance unfolds in such a beautiful way, my heart just can't-
Also, I completely understand why Benny sometimes hesitated and struggled with taking action. Settling in those types of mid-situations/conflicts can feel easier and safer, and in this case, it made for a really satisfying character arc.
My two not so positive points would be: a) I felt the heist was a bit too simple, with things working out too smoothly, just like the many visits Benny made to Río; b) I desperately wanted more follow-up with Benny and Río at the end of the book.
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC. It was amazing, and I’ll definitely be buying it when it’s released.

When the Tides Held the Moon is a beautifully written story of love between a merman and an immigrant man in 1920s New York. After being commissioned to build a tank for a new exhibit at a Coney island show Benny ends up living and working with the interesting people that are a part of the show including the merman in the tank. I really enjoyed experiencing the evolution of their relationships with each other and themselves. Parts of this book are heart breaking as they navigate this unlikely love between them. The side characters are also well developed and enduring to read about.

“With it, for it, never against it.”

Let me just say this: everyone should read this book at least once in their lifetime.

This is the kind of story we all dream of finding—a fairy tale-like book that touches on so many profound themes while delivering everything you could wish for in a novel. And to make it even better, it’s paired with stunningly beautiful artwork that perfectly complements the story.

Set in 1900, the story immerses you in a richly detailed world full of historical realities, self-discovery, and unexpected magic. We follow Benigno, a Puerto Rican boy who, in a time of great need, immigrates to New York and ends up working in the heart of the industrial era.

What makes this book so special is how seamlessly it weaves real-life historical details into its narrative. For example, we get to experience the attractions of Coney Island sideshow—imagine The Greatest Showman—filled with diverse characters who feel real and alive. Benigno’s journey leads him to find a family in the most unexpected places, showing us how connections can form even in the harshest circumstances.

And then there’s Rio. It’s impossible to think about Benigno without thinking of Rio. He brings an extraordinary layer to the story, blurring the line between reality and magic, and offering a glimpse into a world that feels like a fairy tale.

The writing in this book is breathtaking. I found myself stopping constantly just to highlight sentences that resonated deeply with me. Every word feels carefully crafted, and there’s so much beauty in its simplicity and depth.

At its heart, this story is about resilience and self-discovery. It’s a journey of secrets, dreams, and finding your own strength. The found family dynamic is incredible—diverse, heartfelt, and vital to Benigno’s growth as a character. Every member of this family has a role to play, and their impact is unforgettable.

And of course, there’s the love story. It unfolds in a way that makes you question what love really means and how it can transform us.

I went into this book not knowing what to expect and came out completely changed. The intricate storyline, the emotional depth, and the sheer magic of it all left me speechless.

Honestly, I can’t put into words how much this book moved me. Just read it. Experience it for yourself—you won’t regret it.

Oh goodness. I loved this book. It was incredibly sweet but also made my heart absolutely swell with sadness (but in a good way).

Admittedly the language took some getting used to in the beginning, both the old timey lingo and the Spanish mixed in, but I felt like it really gave SO much to the story and didn’t take long to get used to. It made it feel so much more genuine and it was just so beautifully done. Because I read on my kindle I was able to translate when I wanted to, which I do think I would have missed if I was unable to do. There’s a glossary with the Spanish translations at the back, but again, I just used my kindle to translate along the way and I highly recommend doing that. Some translation is provided in the book but not all. So all that to say, if you don’t speak or read Spanish I would recommend reading this one on kindle specifically so that you don’t miss some of the really beautiful passages in this book.

The romance in this book was very innocent in nature but very sweet. The way the connection, trust, and intimacy grew was just so well done. The anticipation of watching the relationship grow held such an ache knowing the circumstances they were in.

The book really focuses on found family, finding a place to belong. That dynamic offered a lot of interesting characters and fun interactions for sure!

I highly recommend this one. Not spicy. Just sweet. Additional huge bonus to this book is that it’s illustrated!! So amazing!

Thank you so much to Venessa Vida Kelley and Kensington for the ARC of this beautiful book!

I am so in love with this book. This was so romantic, beautifully written and moving as hell. I cannot recommend this enough!!

5 ⭐️s
First of all thank you to NetGallery and Kensington Publishing for allowing me the pleasure of reading this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I’ll be honest I’m still processing the ending but I can say that this was a wonderful story and I really hope it blows up because this deserves all the love. I’ve never read a book by Venessa before but I’m now a sincere fan of their work. It was beautiful, I just can’t put it into words truly. Benny and Río had a lovely relationship and this is the slow burn we all need. The representation in this was honestly refreshing to see and I love the found family relationship. Every character was in depth and felt real, I loved how Venessa added ethic backgrounds and truly just nailed it. I’d highly recommend this story if you’re looking for a slow burn romance, found family and a queer representation in a book. I just really can’t say more than I love these characters and they felt real and were well-developed even for side characters, and the ending was lovely. I’m just happy I got to experience Benny and Río. 🥹

Thank you so much god netgalley for approving me for this arc. The illustrations in the book were absolutely gorgeous and that’s why the book gets two stars. However unfortunately the book wasn’t for me and I had to DNF it. I couldn’t get into the writing style or the pacing of the book and I found it hard to connect to the characters. Another thing I didn’t like was the setting and the world, it was so urban and dark and that’s not a vibe I tend to lean towards and pick up. I mentioned that this book wasn’t for me but I’d definitely recommend to readers who prefer this backdrop, era and writing.

What a wonderful, whimsical book.

Reading it on my phone, I will say I missed the fact that there were translations in the back. That is more of a me issue than a book issue. I just didn't read the table of contents. It's very nice the author provided them. It was easy to use context but I would have used the translation pages if I knew they were there. I loved that Benny's native language of Spanish was incorporated so much. It really reminded you of his hardship and journey from Puerto Rico to New York.

I also enjoyed the addition of pictures. The descriptions did well enough to picture them myself but to then see some of the scenes was a treat.

Fantastic story, lovable (and unlovable) characters, found family, and discovering to love oneself. This book has it all, wrapped in a 1900s Coney Island New York scene.

Highly recommend!

When the Tides held the Moon was a magical historian fantasy set in the 1911s New York. Not only was the story lovely but the book was filled with stunning artwork. I really enjoyed this book and the only thing I wish was different was that I wanted more of the Rio and Benny's love story. It felt like there was so much happening around it that it kind of got second place at times. The book tackled the subjects of being an immigrant in a not so friendly environment and being a part of the queer community in a way that felt natural and not over the top. Overall a really magical book and I can't wait to get a physical copy for my collection.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Let me start by saying the cover of this book is a stunning piece of art, it and the description are what really drew me into the story. I’ve noticed a trend in siren/Mer books and was eager to dive in! While I did enjoy Benny and Rio’s dynamic when they were alone I felt like their storyline was a bit beside the plot going on otherwise. It felt like their moments together were the biggest focus of the author and it read a lot like fanfic in the way that they had a deep poetic connection, which mind you I did enjoy, but it felt like two stories happening side by side instead of one cohesive plot. After some research I did find the self pubbed version on Fable that was originally Rainbow Rowell fanfic, so I’m not surprised my read was not far off. This is not to say fanfic is bad, but I expected a bit more structure to the plot and editing from a traditionally published novel. The writing style unfortunately was also not for me, there was a lot of explaining every move and thought and expression that made me feel a bit bored because I wasn’t seeing the scenes in my mind because every detail was explained; a lot of repetitive descriptions that I think were intended to emphasize the importance of certain moments that instead made me say “I get it!”. I also didn’t love the inclusion of Rio’s chapters, the contrast in writing style between Benny’s simplicity (gonna, gotta, etc.) and Rio’s prose was very shocking given how I already felt a little removed from the plot and it only intensified my eagerness to learn the characters were falling in love from their yearning instead of reading them each say “I think I love him”. I did really enjoy the atmosphere and world building and the twist at the end, for their romantic story and less the plot, as well as all of the drawings throughout. It was nice surprise to see them. Unfortunately, it seems I’m an outlier in that this one fell flat for me overall. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!