Adrienne lives in a small island village, working desperately to support her mother and little sister. Living in poverty, half-starved, and dirty, Adrienne is teased by the village boys, and even her best guy friend, Denn, can't see the beauty she holds within herself. But a mysterious and fierce mermaid chooses Adrienne as her victim, leaving a mermaid's mark on Adrienne that the villagers say is a curse. Adrienne has to navigate the murky waters of poverty, friendships, and first love, all while keeping her broken family from falling apart even further. Adrienne must choose whether to surrender to the alluring sea, or keep fighting for a meager existence on land.

I loved Adrienne's character! She's so strong and determined. She has a high sense of right and wrong that guides her, and a true heart full of compassion. But she is also kind of dumb sometimes. She's moody and grouchy, but brave and kind when it counts. A well-rounded character who reacted in believable ways to uncommon situations.

The mermaid lore is so interesting and unique! So many little details about the mermaids' world were incredibly imaginative. I wanted to know more and more!

Adrienne's relationships with her mother, her sister, and aunt are complex and intricate, with little words or gestures taking on big meanings as Adrienne's past is slowly revealed. The development there is well-written.

But the best development comes in Adrienne's relationship with her best friend, Denn, the boy she grew up with, thinking of him as a brother. Those two have some excellent dialogue and adventures together, and you never know what to expect from either of them, so every conversation they have is a total surprise. They are fun, and adventurous, and sometimes silly. The affection between them is adorable!

Great writing! I want to read more!