Review: Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs

Posted by Jessi (Geo) on November 2, 2011 | 0 Comments


Review: Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn ChildsForgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs
Series: Fins #1
Published by Katherine Tegen (5.19.2010)
Genres: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
Format: Hardcover, 293 pages
Source: Library
Buy on Amazon


4.5 Stars

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.

My thoughts

While I hate chick flicks, I adore Disney movies. And this book is definitely Disney material. It’s like the Little Mermaid meets the Ugly Truth (if you haven’t seen it, you should watch it).
 
Lily has been “in love” – and I quote because it’s really more of obsession – with Brody for 3 years. They have a passing conversation here and there but for the most part he doesn’t really notice her. Her arrogant neighbor, Quince, decides to help her to ask Brody to the dance and win his heart. But things don’t go quite as she planned. I can’t say what exactly without giving spoilers. But it’s obvious from the start that Quince has a thing for Lily – he teases her and makes her life miserable (as she calls it).
 
Lily’s infatuation with Brody reminds me of a crush I had in high school (for 3 years as well, coincidentally), so I really understand her position. But as the story progresses, she starts to get on my nerves a little because yes, she has a thing for Brody, but if she could just open her eyes she’d see what was right in front of her (Quince). Then, toward the end, the annoyance develops into me just wanting to smack the crap out of her. Um, hello? How can you be so blind? Poor guy. Hey Quince, forget about Lily because you won me over.
 
This book is totally unique in so many ways that it had me from the first page – hook, line, and sinker (hee hee!). Lily uses a lot of sea puns in her dialogue that really add to the story – terms such as “blowfish” for jerk, “carp” instead of crap, “damselfish” instead of damn, and “speak of the devilfish.” Witty, right?
 
I don’t want to say much more because of giving an unknown piece of the plot away, but I adored this book. A big factor of that is because she starts out hating Quince and slowly warms up to him. Like I’ve mentioned, I love that sort of thing. Is there a word for it? If not, there needs to be! Like stated in the book, “some people find beauty in chaos.”
 
 assessment
Plot: 5/5
Not something you read everyday!
Writing Style: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
The characters were realistic and made me feel like I was right in the story with them.
Pace: 4.5/5
Aside from a small bit at the beginning, I was totally hooked.
Cover: 4.5/5
This cover is beautiful to me because I love bright colors. The .5 docked is because her lipstick isn’t on her lower lip all the way and it annoys me.
 
Overall rating: 4.5/5 starfish

 

Jessi (Geo)

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