Review: Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs

Mermaids! Who doesn't love them?

When I was little, I'd often dream of being one (while playing with my Barbies in my bathroom, dunking them to the water). These beautiful mythical creatures, I think it would be really nice if I really did became one.

Which isn't the case if you're Lily Sanderson. For one, she's a real mermaid. Two, she's half-human. Three, she's a princess! And four, mermaids have pretty complicated "bonding" rituals. Yes, they're very big on monogamy. Which can be a very bad thing if you ended up bonded with the wrong boy.

Title: Forgive My Fins
Author: Tera Lynn Childs
Pages: 293

Summary:

Lily Sanderson has a secret, and it’s not that she has a huge crush on gorgeous swimming god Brody Bennett, who makes her heart beat flipper-fast. Unrequited love is hard enough when you’re a normal teenage girl, but when you’re half human, half mermaid like Lily, there’s no such thing as a simple crush.

Lily’s mermaid identity is a secret that can’t get out, since she’s not just any mermaid – she’s a Thalassinian princess. When Lily found out three years ago that her mother was actually a human, she finally realized why she didn’t feel quite at home in Thalassinia, and she’s been living on land and going to Seaview high school ever since, hoping to find where she truly belongs. Sure, land has its problems – like her obnoxious, biker boy neighbor Quince Fletcher – but it has that one major perk – Brody. The problem is, mermaids aren’t really the casual dating type – when they “bond,” it’s for life.

When Lily’s attempt to win Brody’s love leads to a tsunami-sized case of mistaken identity, she is in for a tidal wave of relationship drama, and she finds out, quick as a tailfin flick, that happily-ever-after never sails quite as smoothly as you planned.

I love Tera Lynn Childs' writing style, she always keeps her writing simple and yet its still very, very entertaining and addicting to read. I was expecting a lot with this novel, and I wasn't disappointed at all.

However, I can't say the same for Lily. I didn't like her personality that much. I am not saying I like female protagonists to be perfect in every story, that just wouldn't be realistic, but Lily just seemed too childish for me. Maybe that's how mermaid princesses are supposed to behave, but I didn't like it. Somehow I don't think Quince deserves the treatment he was getting from Lily just because they accidentally kissed. And that THAT kiss, for mermaids, means bonding. And bonding, for mermaids, is like marriage for humans. For life.

Or that's just me rooting for Quince.

Quince, the one who makes Lily realize a lot of things, the one who isn't afraid to tell what he thinks of Lily and her unhealthy obsession with Brody, the one who was secretly in love with the mermaid princess who was looking at Brody all the while. I guess in a story, there really is one you'll be pining for to end up with the female lead. Team Quince! (Though there isn't much of a challenge on Brody's side.)

I think though, that she's suited for Quince. They complement each other. I already have a clue on who she will end up with the moment I read about the bathtub, but I loved seeing how it eventually played out in the end. I guess in a relationship, one can be the brat and the other can be the more "mature" person. I think the quirks Lily have matches Quince in a very opposite way, which brings me to the saying "Opposites attract.". They definitely do. Lily is a mermaid, and Quince is a terraped, someone who lives on land. Lily is the probably the most insecure princess there is (both on land and water) and Quince was just comfortable being himself, someone who doesn't get worked up over what other people thinks of him.

What really made me enjoy this book was reading about Lily's attempts to break off the bond created by the accidental kiss between her and Quince. In her attempts to break it off, the more it strengthens, the more she gets closer to Quince, the more she understands him, and the more she realizes that maybe, just maybe, it wasn't a mistake at all.

Overall, Forgive My Fins is a quick, fun read you wouldn't want to miss! Lily might know a lot about the sea, but I think she's a girl who needs to grow up and learn a lot about relationships and love as well. It's a romantic, magical story that will surely keep you entertained. Seriously, I find myself smiling while I was reading those moments between Lily and Quince. Definitely recommending this for everyone to read!

I feel like a dork for wishing for happy endings every time I read a novel. So I am fairly satisfied I got that in this book. :)

I can't wait for Book 2, which is about Dosinia, Lily's naughty, flirty cousin. Very excited for that one!

Rating: ★★★★☆ : FANTASTIC! - This is a really nice book. I love it!