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caseythereader 's review for:

American Mermaid by Julia Langbein
3.25
dark funny mysterious fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Thanks to Doubleday Books for the free advance copy of this book.

 - AMERICAN MERMAID is two stories in one: Penelope's move to Hollywood interspersed with excerpts from the novel that took her there. As the book progresses, the two stories begin to converge and reality muddles.
- This book is an outrageous satire, each chapter more outlandish than the last, all commenting on the commercialization and flattening of modern feminism.
- However, I do want to note that there is some majorly ableist language and thought that is never really addressed (the book within the book's heroine is in a wheelchair), as well as some murky inclusion of asexuality that is only kind of explored. It wasn't clear to me if these viewpoints were of the characters or of the author. 

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