Kiss the Girl by Zoraida Cordova is a brilliantly modern adaptation of the story within The Little Mermaid. She takes us through the chance meeting of Ariel del Mar, a sheltered pop star that just wants a taste of life outside of her father’s control, and Eric Reyes, an aspiring singer who is about to go on tour with his band for their big break. He invites “Melody” to be their merch girl on their summer tour and she accepts, running towards the experience to be an aspiring songwriter without the fame of her family following her. Without her signature red wig and makeup, no one but the band’s manager recognizes her. Will Ariel and Eric manage to stay apart throughout the tour, or are they destined to be together?

Zoraida Cordova blends modern times with fantastically hidden easter eggs for the true Little Mermaid fans to bring this story to life. She artfully takes us through the ups and downs of a budding romance with two less-than-enthusiastic lovers as they try to run away from each other. They’re running for good reasons, but each time they circle back and are reminded why they’re so perfect together. This cozy romance made me laugh and cry in so many ways.

As cliche as some of the tropes in this story are, this was a refreshing read. I devoured this book in two days and could not put it down. This story is the absolutely perfect blend of low-key Hispanic culture and my love for the story of the little mermaid in a punk romance kind of way. I read this book on a whim because I won a copy from their goodreads giveaway and I have to say I will be working to get my hands on the other three books in the Meant to Be collection.

I give this book a wholehearted five out of five stars. The classic fairy tale with a modern twist is always well-received for me and Cordova did a fantastic job at this adaptation. I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys fairy tale adaptations, especially if you’re looking for a cozy romance steeped in Hispanic immigrant culture.