I might've burned through this book in less than 24 hours, but you didn't hear that from me.

If you have trouble with "unlikable" characters, you won't be too fond of the main character. Her inner monologue is academic, morose, obsessive, judgmental and kind of mean. She's smart, so she knows when she's making terrible decisions and does so anyway. If you've experienced mental illness, you might understand enough to forgive her for it. I recognized the "ick" of my lowest points in her narrative.

CW for suicidal ideation: I used to have constant, mundane, casual, sick, romanticized thoughts of suicide/death on loop in my head 24/7. You don't really want to die. You just want the pain to end and don't know another way. Depression blows, full stop.

Imo, Lucy isn't an irredeemable asshole. She seems clinically depressed, in a rut, and directionless. If she can get through this low phase and find her happiness and inherent self-worth, she'll be a better person. "I still didn't love myself. I wasn't sure how or when that was going to happen. But maybe it would if I continued to stay alive."

I enjoyed this book though. It was surreal for the obvious- an actual merman. It was also surreal in that our story doesn't take place in the MC's "real life" with her usual job, scenery and life routine. She's at her sister's beach house, no bills, sorta/kinda no job to worry about - save for dog-sitting and figuring out writing her book. There were clear themes around the flawed ideation of death as a comforting escape, as well love's appeal versus its availability. Tbh, this ended up more like a fantasy/horror in a way.

Spoiler:Oh my god I loathed her for neglecting the dog in favor of running off with boy-toys, though. Unforgivable, truly. I saw that good boy's needless death coming from a mile away and it ****** me off. You literally had one ******* job, you woman-child!! Justice for Dominic!

Also:Yes, there's mer-boning. Yes, we get a description of his piece. No, it wasn't sexy at allllllll. I even felt the MC was showing just how totally delusional, needy for attention and "under his spell" she was to even try it.

The Pisces - Likewise Book Reviews

5 Reviews