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!!

Benny Caldera, a metal worker from Puerto Rico, was tasked with crafting a big tank for a circus, and soon finds himself involved in more than he was prepared for when he joins the party responsible for capturing the inhabitant for his own creation - a merman. He later finds himself looking back to the capture and remembering a plain request made to him that he feels compelled to fulfill: "save him".

When the Tides Held the Moon was a lovely and very emotional read, perfect for lovers of found family, historical setting, soft fantasy and queer romance.

I really enjoyed this story and it's 1910s setting. And the mini illustrations throughout the book were such a treat to see!

Thank you Erewhon Books for providing me with an ARC via NetGalley.

I had really been looking forward to reading this but about 10% in it became clear this book wasn't for me which is such a shame. There was nothing wrong with the writing, I just couldn't get into the story itself.

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc!

One part love letter to Puerto Rican culture and one part beautiful love story, When The Tides Held the Moon is an adult romantasy set in 1910’s New York. We follow Benny, who’s just trying to survive in the city after arriving from Puerto Rico, and his relationship with Rio, a merman.

Yes, there’s a found family of diverse and lovable characters, a beautifully compelling romance, a dreamy merman love interest, and a main character who feels real in his struggles and triumphs, but it’s so much more than that.

Through Benny the author personifies the resilience of the Puerto Rican people, and the care and love they took when crafting this aspect of the book brought tears to my eyes. Puerto Ricans have been through a lot, having gone from the grips of the Spanish to that of the United States, and Venessa Vida Kelley weaves that history (as well as themes of resistance and music as resistance) seamlessly into the narrative. In addition to that, the prose is lush and gorgeous, and the romance will have you kicking your feet and giggling.. I can't wait to read more from this author!

This was a cute story with BEAUTIFUL artwork. I loved the way the author writes. I did find the constant use of Spanish a bit distracting- I don’t know a lick of Spanish so I felt like I was missing out.

I love her art and I really wanted to love this book but it wasn't for me. It was missing some details that would have made it, but it fell flat in some areas. I found though that it was a great debut novel. I just found it would have been much better with a little more editing.

10/10 no notes - this was utterly delightful and emotional. Creative and imaginative in the best of ways. I loved every minute of this magical story and can’t wait to read more from this author.

The best way to describe this book is to imagine a version of the Little Mermaid where Prince Eric finds and falls in love with Ariel first. It's a very lovely and pretty story, but didn't feel very deep or profound.
I really liked the side characters and the cast of the menagerie. They all had such unique backstories and life experiences that rounded out the group as a whole. A lot of them could have their own books or novellas written about them that would be very interesting.
The foreshadowing was quite heavy in some areas, and kind of took away from the ending. On the flip side though, the ending would have felt super random if not for it!
Overall, I found this to be a decent read! This could be the one for you if you love a good romantic and beautifully worded story!

Vanessa Vida Kelley's "When the Tides Held the Moon" is a lyrical and beautifully illustrated story that thoughtfully explores magic, queer identity, and the vibrant historical setting around 1910s Coney island. The narrative centers on Benigno 'Benny' Caldera, an orphaned Puerto Rican whose life is reshaped by migration to a new land due to climate disaster. His journey of hardship takes a magical turn when an encounter promises him his deepest desires in exchange for his heart. This book presents a compelling latinx fairytale, examining queer identity through the lens of the immigrant experience, and incorporates significant tropes such as found family, unique abilities, and the complexities of racial relation during a repressive American era. I found the illustrations to be enchanting, truly enhancing the immersive quality of the story's details. While I noted that some character descriptions felt jarring and potentially offensive, even if intended to be cartoonish, I believe more nuanced language could have been used. Despite this reservation, as a queer Puerto Rican, I found' When the Tides Held the Moon' to be an enchanting and heartfelt story, a needed fairytale grounded in important historical context and the journey to queer self-discover. It offers a unique blend of magic and reality, making it a worthwhile read for those interested in historical fantasy with meaningful themes.

Thank you NetGalley and Publishers, for sharing an Advanced Reader's copy with my person.