ALA Booklist (Thu Apr 28 00:00:00 CDT 2022)

After arriving in Los Angeles for their Journey, Crest, a merfolk, adopts a human form for one moon cycle, during which they must help a human in order to return to their underwater community. Crest doesn't expect to wash up on the beach and be found by overeager lifeguard Sean, heartbroken from a recent breakup with his boyfriend. Forging a bond, the two plan to make Sean's ex believe they're dating asier said than done, as Crest has never heard of YouTube, doesn't know what "hooking up" means, and can't get wet without their orange fin appearing. Jason June's fast-paced sophomore novel will appeal to genre fans who didn't fully understand Ariel's decision to become human in The Little Mermaid. A character-driven fantasy-romance, the story allows both Sean and Crest to exist as complicated, messy, and oftentimes flawed teenagers still figuring out who they want to become. The world building around merfolk gender identity is both beautiful and deeply necessary for young readers. Fans of Jay's Gay Agenda (2021) will connect with this sex-positive LGBTQIA+ merfolk story that is a delightfully fun summer read.

Kirkus Reviews

Merfolk legends get a queer makeover.Told in alternating first-person points of view, the story kicks into action as two very different lives intersect when Los Angeles high school junior Sean, a recently dumped, rom-com–obsessed, aspiring film director and beach lifeguard, rushes to the aid of someone lying in the sand. But Ross, the person he rescues, is actually Crest, a mer who is embarking on a tradition from the ocean, or Blue: They must help a human by carrying out a selfless act during a full moon cycle spent on land before returning to life underwater. The two team up in a Hollywood-inspired fake-romance ploy to help Sean win back the attention of Dominic, the boy who dumped him for Sean's former best friend, no less. As events unfold, Ross' and Sean's feelings become more real than scripted, and they both face truths that challenge their preconceptions. Despite the clear storyline, the pacing is uneven and the character development at times inconsistent. A core strength, however, is June's approach to nonbinary gender as a central facet of merfolk culture, creating a fresh way to explore gender presentation and identity. Ross, Sean, and Dominic read as White; other characters reflect multiple ethnicities and queer identities, the former cued largely by names and physical descriptions.An upbeat romantic fantasy with serious themes. (Romantic fantasy. 14-18)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Merperson Crest begrudgingly embarks on a rite of passage in June’s (Jay’s Gay Agenda) optimistic take on The Little Mermaid, a romance packed with subplots and classic rom-com tropes. Before merfolk can transition to adulthood, they have one month on land to help a human in need. If they succeed, they return to the ocean; if they fail, they stay on land forever. When Crest, now Ross, is transformed into a human and, confused and overwhelmed, washes up on a Santa Monica beach, they meet romance-obsessed lifeguard Sean. Luckily for Crest, Sean needs help winning back his former boyfriend, and the 16-year-olds, cued white, strike a deal: they’ll make Sean’s ex jealous by pretending to date. But as Sean introduces Crest to the beauty and magic of land society, Crest must reconcile their desire to return to the ocean and their growing love for Sean. Crest’s misinterpretations of land culture are endearing, and frank discussions of infidelity, emotional manipulation, sex, and depression are handled with honesty and empathy. In alternating first-person narrations that strike an unhurried pace, June hilariously highlights the often messy realism of interpersonal relationships, and uses that realistic grounding to build toward a true-to-life—rather than picture-perfect—conclusion. Ages 14–up. Agent: Brent Taylor, Triada US. (May)

School Library Journal (Wed Jun 01 00:00:00 CDT 2022)

Gr 9 Up In this LGBTQIA+ and sex-positive stand-alone novel, Crest is a male-presenting Mer who goes on the traditional Mer Journey, above "the blue" to help a human on land for four weeks. During this time Mers have a choice to stay on the land and lose their tails forever, or return to the blue when their Journey is complete. When Crest's Journey becomes about helping handsome human Sean makes his ex jealous, Crest begins to wonder what life would be like on land forever. June once again brings readers refreshingly authentic teen hormones and emotions, while adding a queer spin on a classic dating trope. Crest does not have a gender, but is male-presenting, and Sean identifies as gay. Additionally, all of the secondary characters are LGBTQIA+. There are a few explicit sex scenes, though the characters remain safe and consensual, reaffirming the importance of both to teen readers. However, there are enough similarities to the author's debut title Jay's Gay Agenda (including lists throughout, similar naïve protagonists accidentally making a huge foolish hormone-fueled mistake, and the sex scenes taking an explicit turn out of nowhere) to wonder if the book has enough stand-alone merit; it is unclear if this is a stylistic choice or the author playing it safe. VERDICT While June is well on his way to being a must-read YA author, this book is not there yet. Recommended purchase for large collections and where LGBTQIA+ books are popular. Elizabeth Portillo