Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Release Date: June 1, 2010
Source: Traveling ARC Tours
Language: English

Synopsis: 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—the instant 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.

Tera Lynn Childs has done it again with Forgive My Fins--her characters, whether they're naive or snarky, still maintain that loveable charm and this special brand of charm is purely Childs's. Unlike Phoebe from her Oh My Gods series, Childs has created a more clueless (but still likeable) character with Lily Sanderson. Although she was naive and silly at times, Lily's character never made me angry; she's just so bent on seeing things her way that it's difficult for her to realize what's right in front of her. There to swoop in and shake her out of her daydreams is Quince Flether. Quince has joined the ranks of my favorite love interests in YA literature-through Lily's eyes we're introduced to a sarcastic troublemaker with a penchant for mocking Lily but as the reader delves deeper into the story, Quince's tender and perceptive nature is made obvious. Their relationship is full of teasing moments and humerous fights, often ending with Lily's sea-related euphemisms ("Son of a swordfish!"). It's pretty much guaranteed that you'll be cheering for Quince and screaming at Lily to open her eyes to the amazing boy that lives next door. The plot moves along swimmingly (and yes, I totally used that word on purpose), leaving no doubt as to what's going to occur between Quince and Lily; the story is almost entirely about the pair but Childs offers far more than a cliche romance. Her colorful descriptions of Lily's home in Thalassinia make me yearn for an underwater world that I could escape to and there is even a hint of danger lurking near the end of the book that will makes readers even more curious as to what will happen next.

Imaginative and always entertaining, Tera Lynn Childs has proven in Forgive My Fins that she is capable of blending light and dark elements while making also maintaining a playful tone in this enjoyable new series. Any of her books will appeal to those looking for a fun and fufilling read: her novels are perfect for reading at the beach with a smoothie at hand ;)