Title: Mermaid in ManhattanAuthor: Jessica Gadziala
Pages: 416
Publication Date: April 23, 2026
Publisher: AVON BOOKS
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Contemporary / Fantasy
Synopsis:
One mermaid + one human = one very interesting arranged marriage
Iris loves being a mermaid. So, when her Mom, Queen of the Ocean, declares that she’s to be wed to a human, she’s furious.
Finn wants to be the first human mayor of magical New York. He needs a magical wife as part of his PR strategy to win over the paranormal communities of New York, and he’s fine with a loveless marriage. But after his reluctant fiancé Iris douses him with seawater at their first meeting, Finn finds himself wanting this romance to be more than a business arrangement.
Iris can’t stand Finn on principle, but no matter how far she pushes him, Finn just won’t break off their engagement. In fact, he keeps going out of his way to make her life easier. And soon, this mermaid is left wondering if life might be better in Manhattan than under the sea…
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I have mixed feelings about this one. The cover is gorgeous, and I was really interested to read it because the premise sounded so fun and different. I was immediately sold on the idea of a mermaid princess stuck in an arranged marriage with a human politician. It’s not a common premise in the romances I’ve read, and I think the concept has a lot of potential. Unfortunately, the story didn’t completely work for me, and I had a hard time getting fully pulled into the romance despite the sizzling chemistry between Iris and Finn.
I liked Iris and thought she was a compelling protagonist, and I liked that the story had a dual pov. However, I didn’t love the romance between Iris and Finn. (I did love the fact that the mermaid married a human named Finn. hahaha) There wasn’t much of a buildup between them, and their relationship didn’t feel convincing. Don’t get me wrong, the couple has a ton of chemistry, and the spicy scenes are steamy, but there’s not a lot of depth to their relationship and connection. Also, I feel like Finn wasn’t as supportive a partner as he should have been, and some of his inactions felt like disinterest. There definitely needed to be more communication between them.
Overall, this ended up being an ok read for me. It’s unique and sexy, and I like the modern fairy tale vibes. The sassy pelican was a fun addition, too, and the story as a whole had a lot of charming elements. I think I just wanted a bit more emotional depth and communication between the main characters.
Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
arranged marriage
only one bed
forced proximity
Jessica Gadziala is a USA Today bestselling author who lives in rural New Jersey with her parrots, dogs, and an ever-growing collection of houseplants. A lifelong dreamer, she’s been writing stories since childhood and published her first book in 2015. When not at her desk, she’s usually feeding backyard birds, rewatching crime dramas, period pieces, and 90s supernatural TV shows, or adding to her towering stacks of unread books.
