In Coney Island, true love rises to the surface. With lush illustrations and buoyant prose, Venessa Vida Kelley forges an unforgettable New York fairytale.

Benigno “Benny” Caldera knows an orphaned Boricua blacksmith in 1910s New York City can’t call himself an artist. But the ironwork tank he creates for famed Coney Island playground, Luna Park, astounds the eccentric sideshow proprietor who commissioned it. He invites Benny to join the show’s eclectic cast and share in their shocking secret: the tank will cage their newest exhibit, a live merman stolen from the salty banks of the East River.

More than a mythic marvel, Benny soon comes to know the merman Río as a kindred spirit, wise and more compassionate than any human he’s ever met. Despite their different worlds, what begins as a friendship of necessity deepens to love, leading Benny’s heart into uncharted waters where he can no longer ignore the agonizing truth of Río’s captivity—and his own.

Releasing Río could mean losing his found family, his new home, and his soulmate forever. Yet Benny’s courageous choice may just reveal a love strong enough to free them both.

Believe the hype. Every single word of it. This book is pure magic.

The end.

No, really. This is one of those rare books where everything just works. The story. The prose. The characters. Even the illustrations woven throughout the novel feel like part of the story’s heartbeat. It’s immersive, emotional, and beautifully told. I really, really loved it.

Set in 1910s New York, the story follows Benny Caldera, a Puerto Rican blacksmith and orphan, who’s hired to build an ironwork tank for Luna Park, Coney Island’s famous amusement wonderland. But this isn’t just some flashy sideshow piece. It’s meant to house something extraordinary: a live merman captured from the East River.

Yes, it sounds wild. And yes, it absolutely works.

Benny is a soft, guarded soul who doesn’t believe someone like him can be an artist. Río (the name Benny gives the merman) is a mythical being who’s far more human than many of the people Benny’s met. What begins as reluctant proximity between them as caretaker and captive, slowly blooms into deep affection, and eventually love. The romance is a slow burn in all the best ways: tender, patient, and achingly sweet.

But the love story is just one thread in this rich, atmospheric tapestry. The found family vibe in this book is chef’s kiss. Everyone in the cast of Luna Park’s sideshow has their own story, and none of them feel like background characters. Each one matters. Each one brings something vital to the narrative. No filler here, just people trying to survive, to be seen, to matter and to take care of each other.

And the setting? Breathtaking. From the soot and sweat of Benny’s workshop to the dazzling glow of Coney Island at night, Vanessa Vida Kelley paints it all with such vivid detail that I felt like I’d stepped inside a dream. The visual descriptions are so rich, and when paired with the author’s illustrations, the story takes on a fully immersive quality.

This book is described as “The Shape of Water” meets “The Greatest Showman”, and honestly? That’s a perfect comparison. It’s got the surreal beauty of a dark fairytale, the heartfelt emotion of a sweeping romance, and the soul of something deeply human.

If I had one complaint… just kidding! I don’t. No notes. None. Just me, clutching the book to my chest and sighing at the moon. This is one that I will read again in the near future. This book is gorgeous—visually, emotionally, and thematically. It’s about love, liberation, identity, and the lengths we go to protect those we care for. If you’re looking for a story that will wrap around your heart and never quite let go, pick this one up. It will not disappoint.

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