Content levels
Trigger warnings
Hero archetypes
Heroine archetypes
Tropes
Themes
Synopsis
Previously published as The Tale of Capri: A MerMay Story by Kathleen Ramirez.She mistrusts humans. He hides a dark secret. One wish will change everything.Eden is a kind but lonely young lifeguard whose world comes to a sudden halt when he encounters something impossible in the tide pools along the southern California coast—an injured mermaid who goes by the name of Capri. She’s beautiful, but she’s bitter and wants nothing to do with humans after what they’ve done to force her and her pod to move out into deep and dangerous waters in order to survive. Now, after narrowly escaping death and with no chance at survival at sea, Capri must rely on the human kindness of Eden for protection, finding refuge in his secluded saltwater pool until she can recover. As the two spend time together in secret, Capri’s guarded heart begins to melt as she discovers a different side of humanity…and Eden finds himself reluctantly falling in love with someone he can never truly be with. Even worse, Eden is hiding something—a secret from his past that, if revealed, could shatter the fragile trust he’s developed with the mermaid. To express her gratitude for saving her life, Capri offers Eden the gift of a lifetime—a wish! Eden’s unexpected choice could forever change his life and hers, binding their worlds together in a way neither of them anticipated, and reveal far more than either of them ever bargained for.With direct inspiration based on the official 2019 prompts from Tom Bancroft's worldwide phenomenon MerMay, this charming mermaid fantasy is sure to delight readers with its slow-burn, no-spice romance, cozy coastal vibes, and gentle ocean conservation messaging.
Is The Tale of Capri: A Story Inspired By MerMay appropriate for my child?
Suitable for most readers 13 and up.
A gentle YA fantasy romance about a lifeguard who rescues an injured mermaid and must keep her hidden while earning her trust. Features ocean conservation themes, slow-burn romance with no sexual content, and mild peril from the mermaid's injury and past trauma.
What to know going in
This book has mild violence, no sexual content, and clean language. Content notes include captivity, deception, and environmental harm (see the full list above).
Who'll love this
Teens will love the sweet romance between a lonely lifeguard and a mistrustful mermaid learning to trust humans again in this cozy coastal fantasy.