scribe391's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Set in Little Marmouth Pier, and narrated by thirteen year old Molly Seabrook, Kirkpatrick’s fantasy is funny and age appropriate.
_mbradleyy's review
5.0
This book surprised me in all the best ways!
I knew from the author's other works that it would be funny. However, I didn't expect to be: outright laughing on the train; hit with the friendship feels; be TOTALLY SHIPPING multiple pairings; be freaking out over Middle Grade LGBTQ+ rep; or to be almost in tears at the beautiful sisterly relationships!
This is an amazing book and I can't wait for more of the series and Seabrook sisters 🧡
I knew from the author's other works that it would be funny. However, I didn't expect to be: outright laughing on the train; hit with the friendship feels; be TOTALLY SHIPPING multiple pairings; be freaking out over Middle Grade LGBTQ+ rep; or to be almost in tears at the beautiful sisterly relationships!
This is an amazing book and I can't wait for more of the series and Seabrook sisters 🧡
brittmariasbooks's review
3.0
3 stars
I think I like Laura Steven's YA fiction more compared to her middle-grade fantasy. However, it is still a funny book.
I think I like Laura Steven's YA fiction more compared to her middle-grade fantasy. However, it is still a funny book.
justanotherbooknerd's review
3.0
This book was a little all over the place for my taste! I didn't find it as funny as others seem to have found it. The characters were fun and interesting and I loved reading about the mermaid parts of the story. I wanted more mermaid. I think some of the questions that I wanted answered will probably pop up in book 2 so I might enjoy it more after reading that.
micrummey's review against another edition
3.0
This was in the YA section of the library and got it out to try something different just before lockdown. I'm not the target readership being a 61 year old male but I can see the fascination for young girls.
A bit formulaic in that there's the unobtainable boy, wanting to be popular, falling out with your best friend and the moments in transforming into a mermaid were too infrequent.
Molly is the protagonist and all her sisters, mother and visiting aunt all had names beginning with M, a bit confusing at times.
It was a pacy read with plenty of funny moments and awful puns and dad type jokes to make you groan and smile at the same time.
A bit formulaic in that there's the unobtainable boy, wanting to be popular, falling out with your best friend and the moments in transforming into a mermaid were too infrequent.
Molly is the protagonist and all her sisters, mother and visiting aunt all had names beginning with M, a bit confusing at times.
It was a pacy read with plenty of funny moments and awful puns and dad type jokes to make you groan and smile at the same time.
charlottesomewhere's review against another edition
5.0
And Then I Turned Into a Mermaid is Laura's first middle grade book. It tells the story of the Seabrook sisters and what happens when Molly finds out she is a mermaid. As you would expect from Laura, it is brilliant, sarcastic and hilarious. Think a young, slightly fishy, Izzy O'Neill. The sibling relationships in this book are amazing. The sisters are all very different (Margot was my favourite, but bonkers little Minnie came a close second). the whole family is just wonderfully chaotic and their lives gave me constant giggles. Molly doesn't always love this - dressing as a haddock to advertise the family business is not going to win popularity points. Molly is going through some difficult times, her friendship with her best friend is strained and she is crushing in a big way over a boy at school, so it's not really convenient that she keeps popping out a giant tail whenever she's near water. Laura has written a phenomenal middle grade book. I ate it whole on the train to Coventry and I cannot wait for more stories from the Seabrook family.
l_shibest's review against another edition
3.0
This was a quick, easy read.
Molly and her family live in a light house, own a fish and chips shop and are considered "freaks".
Molly has a best friend named Ada and they are thick as thieves, until Molly overhears Ada telling the populars something she wasn't meant to hear. When Ada and Molly next see each other they have a falling out. Molly says some hurtful things, and Ada says everything she said was in jest.
Molly finds out on her 13th birthday that she is even more "freakish" than even she thought. She finds out she is a mermaid and that her whole family is as well. This, as can be imagined sends Molly spinning. She is also told that she can't tell anyone.
The story takes us through Molly coming to terms with herself and the strong relationships with her sisters.
Molly and her family live in a light house, own a fish and chips shop and are considered "freaks".
Molly has a best friend named Ada and they are thick as thieves, until Molly overhears Ada telling the populars something she wasn't meant to hear. When Ada and Molly next see each other they have a falling out. Molly says some hurtful things, and Ada says everything she said was in jest.
Molly finds out on her 13th birthday that she is even more "freakish" than even she thought. She finds out she is a mermaid and that her whole family is as well. This, as can be imagined sends Molly spinning. She is also told that she can't tell anyone.
The story takes us through Molly coming to terms with herself and the strong relationships with her sisters.
booksandlemonsquash's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars for this hilarious mermaid story! Laura’s writing is still brilliantly funny for middle grade, and her brand of brash sarcasm just works for me. Plus the joy of a family of mermaids owning and running and fish and chip shop is brilliant.
I really liked Molly, and her adventures in life as a 13 year old mermaid. And the last line in the book, delivered by little sister Minnie, is spit-take hilariousness at its best.
I did want more on mermaid life, and Molly’s colours, and how all the sisters have coped with it all. This very much concentrated more on the impact of the discovery and Molly and Ada’s friendship. But I’m hopeful for all this from book 2 :)
There’s also great lgbt+ rep - lesbian and possibly also ace from my favourite sister, Margot. She’s hilarious, even if some of her pranks aren’t my style, I love that she comes up with them!
I really liked Molly, and her adventures in life as a 13 year old mermaid. And the last line in the book, delivered by little sister Minnie, is spit-take hilariousness at its best.
I did want more on mermaid life, and Molly’s colours, and how all the sisters have coped with it all. This very much concentrated more on the impact of the discovery and Molly and Ada’s friendship. But I’m hopeful for all this from book 2 :)
There’s also great lgbt+ rep - lesbian and possibly also ace from my favourite sister, Margot. She’s hilarious, even if some of her pranks aren’t my style, I love that she comes up with them!
goldenbooksgirl's review against another edition
4.0
When I heard about this book, I was incredibly excited, and when I realised it was written by YA writer Laura Steven under a pseudonym my excitement levels only went up even further. Thankfully, I really enjoyed it (it`d be really embarrassing if I hadn`t after all the screeching I did about it on Twitter, both to Laura and to any of my friends who`d listen…). It`s about a girl named Molly, who discovers on her 13th birthday that she and her family are all mermaids, and has to navigate this alongside friend dramas, boys and working in the family fish and chip shop. Molly is so likable and her reactions to this huge news are hilarious, as are her interactions with her mum and sisters- who are all such great characters. The whole book is just hilarious in fact, because Laura Steven/Kirkpatrick`s sense of humour is brilliant and it translated really well to middle grade. That said, I thought the more sentimental side of the family dynamic was super lovely as well, and I loved learning about the merworld, so I hope to learn even more about it in subsequent books in the series. 4.5/5