Lily Sanderson is a half-mermaid, half-human who has been in love with the swim champion Brody Bennett for years. But when Lily ends up accidentally bonding with her annoying neighbor Quince, she has to take him to her sea home to meet her father.
This is a cute romance story with lots of puns, so get ready! This book might just Mer-make your day.
You can order Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs here.
The Tail of Emily Windsnap by Liz Kessler
Emily has lived on a boat for her entire life, but has always been kept out of the water. But when she is 12, her mom finally agrees to let her swim for the first time. That’s when Emily discovers that she is no ordinary girl.
You can find The Tail of Emily Windsnap by Liz Kesslerhere.
Aquamarine by Alice Hoffman
When Hailey and Claire are spending their last summer together, they stumble upon something at the bottom of a hole of water. There lives a lonely mermaid with a broken heart named Aquamarine.
As Aquamarine is fading away in one of the hottest summers recorded, the girls must do all they can to save her, and they discover a lot about friendship and loyalty along the way.
You can purchase Aquamarine by Alice Hoffman here.
The Siren by Kiera Cass
Kahlen is a Siren, and she is not allowed to do anything that would expose that secret—especially not forming relationships with humans. But then she meets a human named Akinli, and she’s not so sure that she wants to follow the rules anymore.
This is a cute and lighthearted teen romance, suitable for young adults and adults alike.
Serafina is the daughter of the Queen of Miromara, and she is destined to someday become the ruler of her civilization. On the day before the ceremony where she finds out if she deserves the crown, Serafina has a dream about an ancient evil returning.
During the ceremony, Serafina’s mother gets struck with an assassin’s arrow and her premonition comes to light. Serafina and her friend Neela must now find the assassin’s master so that they can stop a war from occurring between the two civilizations.
You can read Deep Blue, the first of the Waterfire Saga by Jennifer Donnely here.
The Mermaid’s Escape by Kellie McAllen
Princess Coral is destined to inherit the throne and marry a gorgeous, high-ranking man, but all she wants is to decide her own life. So she runs away from her own wedding and ends up on land with just 5 days before she is forced back to the sea.
When 4 shipwrecked divers arrive on the deserted island she’s been on, Coral starts to realize why the human world can be interesting. When Coral has the option of fulfilling her destiny or jumping into a new world full of possibilities, she doesn’t know what to do.
You can purchase The Mermaid’s Escape by Kellie McAllen and find out what happens here.
Sukey and the Mermaid by Robert D. San Souci
This is a short illustrated story about Sukey, a girl who has a mean step-pa who is always yelling at her. One day when she runs away to her special spot near the sea, she meets a mermaid named Mama Jo. Mama Jo shows her a whole kingdom below the sea without people, and Sukey is left wondering if it’s better than the world above.
Find Sukey and the Mermaid by Robert D. San Soucey here.
Atlantia by Ally Condie
Rio has always dreamt of a different life, imagining what it would be like to be above the water and see the sand and the sky. But when her twin sister unexpectedly leaves, Rio is suddenly left alone and has nothing to lose.
As Rio comes up with a plan, she discovers things that she never knew about the system that she lives within, and it’s up to her to figure out what to do with the truth.
When Evie’s best friend Anna drowned, Evie became an outcast. People saw her as a curse and a witch. But when a girl who looks just like Anna appears on the shore, Evie is convinced that Anna survived, though the mysterious girl denies it.
When the two girls start falling in love with two princes, Evie thinks that they will finally have a happily ever after. But her friend can’t stay on land for long unless Evie finds a way to help her and save her humanity.
Real Mermaids Don’t Wear Toe Rings by Helene Boudreau
Jade is just like any other preteen girl. That is, until she takes a bath and discovers a horrific fact: She has a scaly tail!
When Jade finds out that her mom was a mermaid as well, she wonders how her mom could’ve drowned. After all, mermaids breathe underwater, right? Jade is determined to find out what could’ve happened to her mom.
But first, she has to figure out how to tell her best friend Cori and her crush Luke….
You can read Real Mermaids Don’t Wear Toe Rings by Helene Boudreau here.
Of Poseidon by Anna Banks
Emma is a girl on vacation at the beach. Galen is the prince of Syrena who has been sent to land to find a girl who communicates with fish. When they run into each other, they sense a connection immediately.
When Galen is convinced of Anna’s gifts, he needs to figure out how to get her help to save his kingdom before it’s too late.
Purchase Of Poseidon, the first in a trilogy by Anna Banks, here.
The Mermaid in the Millpond by Lucy Strange
Hoping for a fresh start, Bess leaves her job in London to work at a cotton mill. Unfortunately, the job is grueling and a lot more work than she expected. The job is like a prison, and Bess needs to find a way to escape.
When Bess sees a figure in the water of the pond, she wonders if the rumors circulating have been true. Is there really a creature living in the millpond? And is it really that monstrous, or just another creature who is looking for a way to escape?
You can find The Mermaid in the Millpond by Lucy Strange here.
Breathe and Count Back From Ten by Natalia Sylvester
Verónica is a Peruvian-American teen who has hip dysplasia and has had more surgeries than she can count. She spends a lot of her time swimming because it is the best way to strengthen her body. Verónica also wants to audition to be a professional mermaid, but her parents would never let her.
That’s when she decides to take control of her own life, but her plans backfire when she learns what her parents have been keeping from her—the truth about her body.
You can read Breathe and count Back From Ten by Natalia Sylvester here.
The Depths of Atlantis by Hannah Carter
Reanna is a kid who ran away from home. She found a way to get rid of her mermaid tail and ends up on Earth, but when she gets kidnapped and taken back home, her whole world is in danger, everyone fighting over what Reanna’s fate should be.
When Reanna finds out that her mom, Queen Arana, is holding Elves captive in concentration camps, she knows it’s time to step up. Reanna needs to stop the war, save the Elves, and reclaim her tail—before it’s too late.
You can purchase The Depths of Atlantis by Hannah Carter here.
The Heart of the Sea by Chesney Infalt
Caspian is a Mer prince and Sabine is a human princess, and they have been in love ever since they were little. But when their two worlds become separated, they don’t know how to save themselves.
Many years later, Caspian finds out that Sabine’s life has been threatened, and he makes a dangerous deal to save her. When the two find themselves in the middle of an ancient curse, they know that they are taking a tremendous risk to be together.
Lord Heath is from the noble House of Dragonfield, and he’s the only one in his family who isn’t magical. However, that doesn’t stop him from having a dragon as a best friend. All Heath wants is to stop the tension that is rising in his kingdom.
When Heath ends up on the island of Vazula, he runs into an orphan named Merletta. They find out that someone underwater is trying to sabotage Merletta, and someone on land is targeting Heath’s family.
Will they be able to put a stop to it? Find out by reading A Kingdom Submerged, the first book in the Vazula Chronicles by Deborah Grace White, here.
Captivate by Vanessa Garden
17-year-old Miranda’s parents died 12 months ago, and ever since then, she’s been keeping a secret. This secret has strained her relationship with her older sister Lauren, so their grandparents take them on a beach vacation.
But when Miranda is taking a midnight swim, she gets dragged underwater and held captive by a king in his civilization. Marko wants to marry Miranda in order to stop his half-brother from stealing his crown. But Miranda only wants to return back to her world above water.
Read Captivate, the first of the Submerged Sun seriesby Vanessa Garden, here.
The Vicious Deep by Zoraida Cordova
Tristan Hart was sucked out to sea one day and awoke on the shore three days later with no memory of anything that occurred. Now he has dreams that haunt him of a horrifying mermaid with sharp, razor-like teeth.
His best friend Layla knows that something is wrong, but Tristan doesn’t know how to explain it. It’s like he can feel emotions in a way he never has before. The sea claimed him when he was gone, and now it wants him back.
Find out what happens in The Vicious Deep by Zoraida Cordova here.
Daughters of the Sea: Hannah by Kathryn Lasky
Daughters of the Sea is a series that tells stories of 3 mermaid sisters who were separated at birth. The first story is about Hannah, who is now a maid for a very rich and powerful family. She has always been drawn to the sea, and eventually finds out her true identity.
Now she is forced to make a choice: She can remain on land, or she can give in to temptation and go to the sea.
Follow Hannah and her 2 other sisters in this series. You can find Daughters of the Sea here.
FAQ’s:
What age range are young adult books for?
Typically, YA books are meant to be read by people ages 12-18. However, many adults enjoy YA novels as well! There is no age limit to who can read them.
Can kids read YA books?
YA books are usually best suited for people 12 and up. They can have more mature themes, which doesn’t make them great for younger kids. However, this doesn’t mean that younger kids can’t read YA novels. They should just be aware that they’re meant for older audiences.
What are the most popular YA book genres?
Currently, the most popular young adult genres are contemporary books, fantasy, historical fiction, various types of romance, sci-fi, horror, mystery, and adventure. Mermaid books generally get classified as fantasy YA books and romance YA books, with a ton of cross-over.
What is the oldest YA book about mermaids?
You might have guessed it: It’s The Little Mermaid, written by Hans Christian Andersen way back in 1837. Lots of books and movies are based on that, including that well-known animated one with Ariel. It’s a classic. Check it out here.
What are the most popular YA books right now?
These are the most popular YA novels and YA series with our readers and editorial team, across different YA genres. Some are new and some go way back, but all of them are great reads!
Freya grew up in Portland Oregon and still resides there now. She has been reading for as long as she can remember, and loves that books allow you to escape into someone else’s reality for a little while. When she is not writing or reading she enjoys playing piano, baking, and going outside.
