by Jason June
First published 2022
Crest despises humans and everything about them. The teen mermaid must spend one month on land helping a human or face permanent exile from their underwater home of Pacifica. Armed with a human body and fake identity, Crest arrives in Los Angeles determined to complete this Journey as quickly as possible. They meet Sean, a lifeguard recently dumped by his boyfriend. Crest offers to pose as Sean's new romantic interest to spark jealousy and win back his ex. The arrangement seems perfect for both of them. But as Crest spends time with Sean, their disgust for humanity begins to crack. The fake relationship grows complicated when real emotions surface. Crest faces an impossible choice between the underwater world they've always known and feelings they never expected to develop. Their monthlong deadline approaches while they struggle with questions of identity, belonging, and what home truly means.
Genres: romance, fantasy, young-adult, lgbt, contemporary-romance
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, fake-dating
Setting: Los Angeles, Pacifica
Period: 21st-century
375 pages · Hardcover · HarperTeen
Content warnings: anxiety, depression, mental-illness