An amazing story. The found family in land and in the ocean made the entire book for me. The portrayal of hardships that south america immigrants had to go through in those times was beautiful written but hard to read. The treatment of the people that were part of freak shows was also heartbreaking specially thw treatment of Mary.

Thank you to Venessa for a beautiful story.

Benny doesn't belong anywhere. He's a Puerto Rican immigrant trying desperately to fulfill his aunt's dying wish by making it in New York City (in the early 1900s). He's a gifted craftsman, however, and one day his welding skills make him an asset to the mysterious leader of an oddities exhibit at Coney Island. Benny unwittingly becomes part of The Plan: to capture a mermaid and become the most successful company in the park. Soon they have their own merman. Initially, Benny is afraid, but quickly, he and the merman discover that they have more in common than they thought. What follows is a gorgeous and dangerous story of found family, tenderness, true love, and finding oneself. You will NOT want to miss it.

I can't remember the last time I read a book this EPIC. There have been comparisons made to the movies "The Greatest Showman" and "The Shape of Water", and I can understand why. Honestly, I felt like I was watching a movie the entire time I read this book. The author is a gifted storyteller, taking us to early 20th century New York City as seen through the eyes of a young Puerto Rican immigrant. They not only write, but ILLUSTRATE the book! I adored the pictures, along with the narration, done beautifully by Lee Osorio and Joel de la Fuente, who has the Herculean task of conveying more accents than you can shake a stick at! (Yes, I bought the book AND the audiobook, despite having the ARC, because I wanted to be fully immersed. I'm SO GLAD I did!)

There are many richly developed characters within these pages, and the story is stronger for it. We get to see flawed but beautiful people who try to hide the ugly parts of themselves in hopes of finding acceptance and success. We learn that often empathy, compassion, and love are the greatest gifts we can both give and receive. Scenes in which loyalties are tested become some of the most gripping of all. But, shining brightest, is the BEAUTIFUL bond between our heroes. It made me want to weep, and use a word like "weep", because no other word will do! To be clear, this is not "man and merman get it on". This is "two gorgeous souls find, uplift, and make one another whole through tenderness, care, and understanding". It's emotional, poignant, and unforgettable. 😭😭

Trigger warnings: shooting/being shot, blood, tuberculosis, asthma (severe), burns, sex trafficking, violence, assault, racism, neglect, homophobia

I'd like to thank Kensington Publishing and Netgalley for the eARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

I have to say, THE WORLD BUILDING, phenomenal!
I was instantly captivated in the first chapter, and I couldn't put the book down.

Compared to another merfolk book I picked up, I thoroughly enjoyed this one, The depth of the characters, the relationship between Benigno and Rio, the development of the story... It had me right in the feels the entire time.

Benigno is a metal worker who is tasked to kidnap and frame a tank for Rio, a merman. The form an unlikely friendship that develops into something...more.

Found family is a weak spot for me in books. This is about finding home in the unlikeliest places, and I am 100% sure that it'll have you in tears.
Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for letting me read this work of art. I am so excited to see what else Venessa has in store!

i went into this thinking nothing more than “man, i love mermaids”. it helps that i was obsessed with the shape of water back when it came out, and i’ve felt like a fish out of water for most of my life, so there’s just something about stories like this/anything with mermaids that Get To Me in a way that other fantasy beasts could never do quite as deep. Benigno is a lonely and orphaned puerto rican metal worker in 1910s new york who builds a tank to trap a merman for a coney island circus show and oops! falls in love with him! and oops! finds himself a whole family in the process! this isn’t exactly low stakes but it’s sweet as hell, had me giggling and ooh-ing and aw-ing all over, and just about gave me everything i expected, even if it did take a while to hook line and sinker me in.
thank you to netgalley and erewhon books for this digital arc, and to Venessa Vida Kelley not only for the words but also for the breathtaking illustrations <3

Personally, the writing style of this just wasn't for me! This was an interesting take on the Greatest Showman, however that story didn't really resonate with me. I wanted to give it a chance though.

I knew this was going to be good. I knew it was going to be excellent, really, but this level of perfection?
Insane. I sometimes truly had to put the book down because my own feelings overwhelmed me so much. The writing is beautiful and expressive and so full of emotion. The world that Venessa Vida Kelley has crafted is magnificent. Horrifying and wondrous. I am so in awe of her immense talent, be it for writing or for illustrating because those illustrations? I RAN to get a physical copy for my shelf because getting to hold these pictures in my hand is so very needed. 10/10, cannot wait for more stories.

5⭐️ 0🌶️ 5 🎧

Wow! Just wow! Literally everything about this book was stunningly beautiful.

Not only did Venessa write the most amazingly cinematic book filled with so much love, compassion and resilience, she filled it with gorgeous illustrations and topped it off with one of the most beautiful covers I’ve ever seen!

Even the audiobook was a work of art! Lee Osorio and Joel de la Fuente gave outstanding performances! The number of accents in Beningo’s chapters was astounding and the lyrical way Rio’s chapters were brought to life both left me in awe.

I loved this book so much! At the heart of it this book was about family and love. Not just the romantic love between Benny and Rio but also the amazing family that the Menagerie found with each other. The no holds barred, sacrifice anything kind of love.

But of course finding yourself and that family doesn’t come without challenges and the Menagerie faced more challenges than usual. While my heart ached for the racism, homophobia, and othering these characters faced, their acceptance of each other, love and resilience brought me so much joy.

I savored this book and took my time reading it and was so sad when it was over. I wanted more!

🧜‍♂️ Slow Burn
🌙 MM Romance
🧜‍♂️ Found Family
🌙 Coney Island Setting
🧜‍♂️ Poetic

4.5 ⭐️

So, this was absolutely enchanting. It's a slow-burn story following Benny (Benigno) as he grapples with his own mortality after he signs on to assist with the capture and exhibition of a merman at the popular (and failing) Coney Island Luna Park.

Benny has fought his way to America and is in a constant battle with systemic oppression and outright racism as a Puerto Rican (and closeted gay) man. This story tells the tale of the relationship that develops between him and the Merman, Rio, in the early 1900s of New York.

The Coney Island Setting, the cast of characters, the poetry of the prose, and the burn romance were so beautifully done. The story definitely has a found-family vibe that develops between Benny and the odd cast of characters that make up the Luna Park sideshow. As far as character development, this story quite frankly knocks it out of the park. With robust and multi-faceted characters, the struggles that are faced feel very realistic and poignant despite the fantasy spin.

The author has created such an evocative tale with vivid imagery that thrusts the reader right into the story setting. I did find, at times, that the story was predictable, but it's still beautifully crafted with SO much heart that it's hard not to get lost within the pages. There's a definite scrutiny of the false promise of the American dream here, and it's also a tale of overcoming prejudices despite the world working against you.

The one thing that held me back from giving this five stars is that the plot feels a little bit slow and meandering. It definitely fits the cozy romantic fantasy vibe but isn't necessarily reflective of my personal taste. I did find, at times, I lost interest as a result of this slow pacing. Despite the minor personal pacing issue, I can't help but point out that this was an absolutely gorgeous story that will stick with me for a while. There are so many wonderful quotable passages, and overall, it's a very soul-soothing read, even with some of the darknessesses we encounter.

It is a beautiful story with gorgeous artistic illustrations and heart; I think this one will be a genre stand-out.

𝓣𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓴 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓽𝓸 𝓝𝓮𝓽𝓰𝓪𝓵𝓵𝓮𝔂 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓚𝓮𝓷𝓼𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓽𝓸𝓷 𝓟𝓾𝓫𝓵𝓲𝓼𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓐𝓡𝓒 𝓸𝓯 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓫𝓸𝓸𝓴. 𝓐𝓵𝓵 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓯𝓮𝓮𝓭𝓫𝓪𝓬𝓴 𝓬𝓸𝓷𝓽𝓪𝓲𝓷𝓮𝓭 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀 𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝓶𝔂 𝓸𝔀𝓷.

Book 17 of 2025 - ✅! Thank you to NetGalley, Kensington Publishing | Erewhon Books & Venessa Vida Kelley for an ARC of When the Tides Held the Moon, in exchange for my honest review.

When the Tides Held the Moon was described as Shape of Water meets The Greatest Showman. Combine that with an absolutely stunning cover and artwork — say less. Prior to this book, it was my understanding that Kelley was mostly known for her gorgeous art within the book community.

The novel centers on Benigno “Benny” Caldera, a Puerto Rican immigrant living in 1910s NYC, working as a blacksmith. Brilliant, though underutilized, under-appreciated and underestimated, Benny (unknowingly) builds a tank for the newest exhibit at Coney Island’s Luna Park side show: Río, a merman. Benny and Río slowly start to form a bond, which turns into a friendship, and then ultimately falling in love.

As a lover of historical fiction, and because I have been interested in this particular era thanks to my American Studies classes at UT (I remember a lecture about circuses and sideshows from the early 1900s that’s thankfully seared in my memory) I was intrigued. The love story was sweetly done; there’s something about people falling for each other amidst chaos, disaster and constantly being told to hide who they are, that is so hopeful and necessary for readers to see.

When the Tides Held the Moon feels like it borders on YA & NA - 0.5/5 on the 🌶️ scale, and 4/5 ⭐️ overall. While I thought the book could have been a bit shorter, Kelley’s debut novel is strong, and I’ll definitely be reading more of her work. #NetGalley #WhenTheTidesHeldTheMoon 🌙 🌊 🧜‍♂️

An absolutely beautiful love story that feels like a fairy tale. Merpeople have been my favorite fantasy creatures ever since I was a little girl, who fell in love with Disney’s The Little Mermaid. Benigno and Río’s story holds as much magic as that story always has for me.

Venessa is an incredible writer along with being a remarkable artist. Their artwork stands out on the page. They made Benigno and Río’s world come alive in a way I will never forget. I’m thankful to be able to read a story like this with characters that feel so real. It is a story I know I will never forget and I cannot recommend it enough. To those who love mermaids, a beautiful LGBT romance, and a story that feels like magic: read this novel. I look forward to reading more of Venessa’s work in the future.

I will be picking up a copy for my own library. I cannot wait to see the beautiful illustrations in person.

This book is an absolute masterpiece. The plot line, the character development, the diversity, the challenges. All of it is spectacular. I laughed, I cried, and found so much inspiration within this story. I saw pieces of myself within many of the main characters, and their experiences and the love and acceptance they found within each other healed parts of my soul. This book is so much more than just a historical romance. It’s a work of art.
Not to mention the book is absolutely stunning as well, with gorgeous sketches throughout it showing scenes from the book!
~ historical romantasy, mermaids/mermen, lgbtqia+, yearning, love and sacrifice, found family ~
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 💋💋| 🌶️


Reviews published on Storygraph, Goodreads, and Tome. Review pending on Amazon and post going up on Instagram this week.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read and review this book!

this was really creative and fun! Kelley carefully handles a tender romantic story set against the backdrop of many different types of otherness, and ways that America has historically treated otherness. the pacing is good, i loved the illustrations throughout the book, and you cannot help but fall in love with benny, rio and the found family of the menagerie. my only real complaint is that the ending felt a little rushed; i would have liked to see more of the story played out beyond the resolution. overall i had a good time & would definitely recommend this. can't wait to see what else VVK has in store for us.


thank you to Erewhon Books & netgalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

<i>Thank you Erewhon Press for gifting me an Advanced Reading Copy!</i>

When the Tides Held the Moon was a beautiful, well thought out, queer historical fantasy that is sincerely unmatched. I'd wager there's nothing out there quite like it. The representation in this book was astounding, and I adored that Venessa included a glossary for all the Puerto Rican phrases and terms heavily used throughout the novel. The care that went into this book, too, was incredible. All of Venessa's art is peppered throughout and it led to an immersive reading experience. TIDES is one of those rare books that feels like a dream you don’t want to wake up from. It was lush, lyrical, and quietly powerful. It's a story that flows like the water Río originates from: fluid, mysterious, and deeply emotional. Every page is steeped in atmosphere, from the pull of the sea to the ache of longing and the weight of ancestral memory.

This is a novel about many things, between grief and healing, magic and legacy, identity and transformation. But, above all, it’s about the quiet strength that lives in softness. Not to mention the relationships in this book that are familial, romantic, platonic, and beyond, are beautifully rendered. There's a tenderness to the way they unfold, and a quiet resilience in the way each character holds their own pain and joy. The pacing is gentle, like the tides themselves, but never aimless. It knows exactly where it’s going and it brings the reader along with grace.

Benigno, AKA boy named kind, was an exceptional protagonist. His origin story, his hesitancies, and especially his self-doubt were achingly relatable. There’s something so human in the way he second-guesses his own worth, and it made me ache for him. I truly believe Río entered his life at exactly the right time. Not to "fix" him, but to reflect back the strength Benny already carried, even if he didn’t see it himself.

Río was a joy in his own right. He was resilient, fiery, and fiercely loyal. His sharp tongue and unshakable spirit were the perfect counterbalance to Benny’s softer, more introspective nature. Their dynamic was electric yet tender, and it made watching their bond deepen all the more rewarding. I cannot express how much I loved their love.

The menagerie were equally captivating, each of them distinct, some more lovable than others, but all adding heart to the story. I found myself rooting for everyone to find happiness, which is no small feat in a cast this large.

If I had one small qualm, it would be Benny’s hesitation when it came to saving Río. Given the stakes (Río’s literal life versus the menagerie’s fragile sense of stability) I found myself wishing Benny had someone in the menagerie for support earlier on, someone who could have helped bolster the courage Río had been so carefully nurturing in him. It felt like there was an opportunity there for community to step in before things reached the brink.

Even still, this didn't diminish my five-star rating. It’s a beautiful, emotionally rich book that struck all the right chords. Tender, magical, and layered with heart—this story left me feeling full.
Venessa Vida Kelley is a writer to watch, and this novel is a gift.

This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year. I have a signed copy preordered as well as a special edition preordered.

It’s been marketed as a story that has similar vibes to The Greatest Showman (a high I’ve been chasing).

There’s a lot of great things that work here in this story such as the illustrations, the prose, & the premise.
However, storyline fell flat for me. I think there’s a lack of conflict. I understand the merman in the cage is the conflict (I guess this is forbidden love but no one really seems to mind them hanging out so often?). Ultimately I was a little bored. Maybe it’s me & I just didn’t get it! Which is why I’m choosing to give it 3 stars over anything less.

I found myself disappointed with this & I think I’ve landed on the fact that there is no emotional pull here for me.

Thank you to Erewhon books, the author, & to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

QUITE a contrast to my last mermaid read-- Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant-- but I enjoyed this one a lot too! The writing was beautiful and so was the story. I could tell that the author really did her research about this time period. My only issue is that I wanted to learn more about the fantasy elements. I didn't come away with much knowledge of that world, especially with the ending. I still absolutely recommend this though! The pictures were a really cool touch and I enjoyed those quite a bit. We need more pictures in novels!

Thank you to Hambright PR and Kensington Books for the free book.

This was such a unique read (and listen!) Benny is a Puerto Rican immigrant who gets caught up with a bunch of circus performers, and helps them capture a merman. And he’s immediately drawn to the merman, who he names Rio.

Benny really find his family with the circus “freaks;” he’s always felt like the odd man out (hiding his queerness) but he finally has found some people who accept him for who he is. And I can totally understand him feeling conflicted with hurting his new family—helping Rio escape will harm the company who has accepted him. But I still wanted him to make more of a stand. Alexa play “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat.”

I loved him getting to know Rio and his connection to Benny. The mysticalness of them, their magic together really made this such an enthralling story.

This is also illustrated by the author and it’s glorious, I highly recommend reading with a physical copy!

Tropes:
found family
MM Romance
merman x human
slow burn
Dual POV

When the Tides Held the Moon was beautiful. It was reminiscent of The Greatest Showman meets Water for Elephants for me. I've heard it reminded others of Shape of Water-- but I've never read it. I'll get to the story in a second but I want to go ahead and call out the Stunning illustrations within the book. Within my digital copy, the images were in black/white/ and blue and I think they're some of my favorite book illustrations I've seen in a long time. Simple, but yet the most detailed of each scene they portrayed. I loved them.

This story.... it was heart breakingly beautiful for me. I truly enjoyed it. When the Tides Held the Moon takes place in New York City during the 1910s. Benigno, or Benny, is an immigrant working in ironwork the last few years when he's commissioned to create a giant water tank for a Coney Island sideshow called Luna Park. Happy with Benny's work, the owner of the side show brings Benny along to help fill the tank- with a captured merman.

As Benny comes to work along side the sideshow acts, he also begins taking care of Rio, the merman's water tank. The sideshow business is in need of a new act to stay afloat, but at what cost to Rio's life? Benny's then faced with the dilemma of assisting the men and women he comes to love as family in their sideshow business vs his blooming relationship with Rio. Can he save both?

I loved this story. It was heart tugging and that can be hard for me to read sometimes, but I'm so glad I did. The relationship between Benny and Rio- one that started from enemies, to friends, to lovers was so beautiful. Love knows no boundaries. My favorite scenes were the two of them lying side by side, one in a tank, one against the glass, just being together the best they could. Rio's chapters were so poetic and while short, sometimes I think they gave us more information and feeling than any of Benny's. I felt for Rio this whole book, and just wanted him to be free. Then that ending..... it tore your heart out and put it back together so delicately that you wanted to Burn. It. All. Down. I kind of wondered about how the ending would play out and I think there was definitely some foreshadowing that I caught.

I also loved the relationship Benny built with the sideshow acts. How they all had come together as a family, and they set differences aside, accepted each other for who they were, and were willing to put the happiness of 1 above the show. People today could take note from this ragtag group of fictional characters from 1910 on how to love others.

I think Studio Ghibli should make this book into a film. It's the only acceptable way lol. Also, please go read this one!

Benigno and Rio's story was gorgeous. Lush in words and visuals. Their love was warm and based on a mutual respect and fascination with each other.

Benny Caldera is an immigrant from Puerto Rico, a survivor of a hurricane, and a beloved son to an adoptive mother whose last wish is that he live - he ends up in NYC but he is still just surviving. He is tasked to create this fantastic tank to hold something for a sideshow on Coney Island, and gets swept up into the world of this dilapidated theatre. Rio and his mother are taking care of the ecosystem of the East River until he is captured by the business man who runs the side show and deposited in the tank that Benigno created. As Benny falls into the role of caretaker, Rio and him become closer than Benny expected and he struggles with his role in Rio's capture and imprisonment. He must rally his found family to help him out of this predicament.

Themes and topics I loved in this book include: Asthma - Benny's inability to breathe in his life in NYC, and that issue slowly going away as he finds & falls for Rio. Accents - Benny's ability but also compunction to blend it wherever he goes so he won't be discriminated against, but also the parallel to Rio being able to speak all the languages, because the ocean goes everywhere. Setting - 1910 Coney Island Side Show, was all the moods. The found family was shaped by the setting and all the characters were so lush.

The illustrations were so gorgeous. It is so amazing to see Vanessa focus on this story and see the characters from different angles and change as the story progresses. This is such a beautiful book.

When the Tides Held the Moon was a beautiful and enchanting story about finding your place in the world, finding your family, and standing up for what is right. The story follows Benny, a Puerto Rican immigrant in New York City & Rio, a captured merman who is supposed to become the main attraction for a Coney Island side show in the early 1900s. Benny is an iron worker at the beginning of the book & is tasked with building the tank that will eventually hold Rio. Following the capture of the merman, Benny is tasked with Rio’s care. Benny and Rio develop a friendship over their shared love of music, yearning for a home they’re no longer in, and speaking Spanish together. I loved the slow burn of Benny and Rio’s tension, and I found Benny’s internal struggle with his sexuality and identity realistic. The side characters to the story were memorable, hilarious, and showed the personalities behind sensational “oddities”. Each of the side characters brought an important element to the story and enriched the overall plot. The author also included illustrations that add more depth and connection to the characters. I will absolutely be recommending this book to many people in the future. Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy

I have been following author/artist @vkelleyart for a long time, and so when she announced she was releasing her first book that was a #romantasy AND was going to be fully illustrated, I was all in!

I really loved this book, and it’s one of my top reads ever ❤️ Some of the things that made it so:
- #boricua and #nuyorican rep (my boricua grandparents were factory workers in NY a few years after this book is set!)
- found family (“With it. For it. Never against it.” One of the best mottos ever)
- an epic and all encompassing love between our two MCs
- beautiful illustrations that help set the atmosphere that alternates between the somewhat chaotic carnivals and the quiet of Rio’s water world
- a surprise heist that had me glued to the page!

For all these reasons and more, pick this one up now wherever you buy books, and stay tuned to my feed for a giveaway coming soon!!