Kiss the Girl by Zoraida Córdova
Publisher: Hyperion Avenue
Pub Date: 8/1/2023

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Kiss the Girl by Zoraida Córdova is the third book in the Meant to Be series and can be read as a standalone. The Meant to Be series is adult fiction reimagining of classic Disney stories. Kiss the Girl is a modern retelling of The Little Mermaid and dives into identity, familial expectations, pursuit of dreams, and yearning for independence.

Ariel del Mar, a famous singer in the band Siren Seven, yearns for a normal life as their farewell tour concludes. When she meets Eric Reyes, the lead singer of another band, she embarks on a summer adventure, questioning her father’s plans for her solo career and seeking her own path.

I read and enjoyed If the Shoe Fits (Cinderella retelling) and By the Book (Beauty and the Beast retelling) so I was excited to dive into Kiss the Girl! This unique retelling of “The Little Mermaid” set in the modern music industry was a delightful surprise. I admired how the author captured Ariel’s princess-like qualities while giving her a fresh purpose in the world of music behind the scenes. Ariel’s journey to find her true voice by not singing anymore and venturing her voice through songwriting was a powerful and endearing twist. Witnessing her character evolve through throughout the story was a highlight for me. The relationship between Ariel and her six sisters with their unwavering support and love added depth into the narrative. The author’s transformation of Ursula into Vanessa (Eric’s friend) and Odelia (Vanessa’s mom and the band’s manager) was a captivating choice, especially delving into Odelia’s past. I appreciated the use of radio interviews, blogs, and headlines sprinkled between chapters which made it even more exciting and progressed the story. Scuttle’s character transformation was an interesting element in the story. While I found Eric’s character to be off-putting, his hopeless romantic side and optimism felt true to the story. The decision to make all the other band members/Eric’s friends all female was an interesting twist. However, the main part that didn’t work for me was the pacing of the story. Some issues felt repetitive and certain chapters felt like filler pieces. Though I understood the need for the slow burn between Ariel and Eric’s relationship, it felt way too slow and the final 20% of the book was way too rushed and wished it was more fleshed out. Kiss the Girl was a cute read and would recommend this if you’re a fan of Little Mermaid retelling or the Meant to Be series. I can’t wait for Tangled Up in You by Christina Lauren (Tangled retelling) which will release next year!