What do you think?
Rate this book
Dishwasher Safe
Alisi Latu is making a splash at the hottest new restaurant in Boston as an up-and-coming chef. By day, she walks among the landlubbers, but at night she is bound to the ocean, forced to transform back to her mermaid
form and rejoin a thriving mer community.
For her entire life, Alisi has been running from the suffocating expectations of her mother. In order to start fresh, Alisi has swum far away from her home in the Pacific Islands to the other side of the world. Now, she is convinced that dating a human man will absolve her of the future her mother has laid out for her.
Sean McClary is the newest dishwasher at the restaurant, but he doesn’t seem to know how to operate the dishwasher. He is also living a less secret double fisherman by day and dishwasher by night. When Alisi swoops in to rescue the newest employee from a kitchen appliance, she wonders if he might be the human man of her dreams.
form and rejoin a thriving mer community.
For her entire life, Alisi has been running from the suffocating expectations of her mother. In order to start fresh, Alisi has swum far away from her home in the Pacific Islands to the other side of the world. Now, she is convinced that dating a human man will absolve her of the future her mother has laid out for her.
Sean McClary is the newest dishwasher at the restaurant, but he doesn’t seem to know how to operate the dishwasher. He is also living a less secret double fisherman by day and dishwasher by night. When Alisi swoops in to rescue the newest employee from a kitchen appliance, she wonders if he might be the human man of her dreams.
291 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 1, 2024
7 people are currently reading
161 people want to read
About the author
M.J. Etkind
3 books14 followersM.J. Etkind lives a double life. By day, she is a corporate girly with a business degree. By night, she writes romance novels in a cozy book filled apartment. When she is not writing, she can be found walking her dog and getting coffee. M.J. Etkind’s most favorite fun fact is that she once took an entire vacation to visit a bookstore. Follow M.J. Etkind on Instagram for updates on future book releases.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
September 27, 2024
Going into this book, I was expecting something totally different than what I got, but not in a bad way. I thought the concept of making a mermaids dream be a head chef of a restaurant was very unique. Her having a crush on the dishwasher was super cute and SPOILER I totally saw Sean being a mer too coming lol but I was pleased by how I guessed right! Overall really cute story, I liked the build-up of their relationship, just wished we would've gotten to see a bit more of them together once they finally decided to make things official.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 29, 2024
If you’re looking for a palette cleanser i’d definitely recommend this book! a quick and easy read with a dash of 🌶️!
Alisi and Sean will have you screaming to just kiss already! Alisi is the first Pacific Islander main character I’ve ever read in a book, our sassy, determined & independent black cat personality falls in love with Sean, the dishwasher at the restaurant she works at, a sweet, innocent golden retriever type of boy🩷
Please check this book out!
Alisi and Sean will have you screaming to just kiss already! Alisi is the first Pacific Islander main character I’ve ever read in a book, our sassy, determined & independent black cat personality falls in love with Sean, the dishwasher at the restaurant she works at, a sweet, innocent golden retriever type of boy🩷
Please check this book out!
July 1, 2024
Such a great quick read.
I would definitely recommend this one to get you out of a reading slump or to cleanse your palate after an emotional/heavy read.
I absolutely loved the slow burn between Alisi and Sean, as well as the authenticity behind the characters. I always love a book with a strong-willed FMC and this book had that in spades!
I would definitely recommend this one to get you out of a reading slump or to cleanse your palate after an emotional/heavy read.
I absolutely loved the slow burn between Alisi and Sean, as well as the authenticity behind the characters. I always love a book with a strong-willed FMC and this book had that in spades!
June 21, 2024
Etkind brings both her characters and her setting to life in her novel, creating a story that is both compelling and immersive. The story follows Alisi, an ambitious mermaid intent on building a life of her own in Boston, as she slowly falls for Sean, the newest hire at the trendy Polynesian restaurant she works at. Their romance builds slowly, forcing both to overcome themselves, making it all the more satisfying when they make it work in the end.
While their romance develops, Etkind also masterfully develops her concept of mermaid culture as well as gives life to Alisi's Polynesian heritage, dropping hints of lore and mystery that both keep her readers engaged and expertly foreshadow the events to come.
While their romance develops, Etkind also masterfully develops her concept of mermaid culture as well as gives life to Alisi's Polynesian heritage, dropping hints of lore and mystery that both keep her readers engaged and expertly foreshadow the events to come.
July 14, 2024
e-Arc
Rating: 3.5 stars
Spice: 0.5/5
Tropes: Forced proximity, forbidden romance, mythological creatures
This was a very cute romance book but I struggled getting into it. It starts off with Alisi, the main character, working in a Polynesian restaurant where she is a sous chef. In walks Sean the dishwasher, who has no clue how to actually run the dishwasher, so Alisi shows him. There's about 50-100 pages of context to learn more about Alisi, what she is, her family, etc. with minimal plot development for the book. Around halfway through is where things begin to really pick up. Before this point there was one, maybe two small moments but no real romance. Once the romance started to roll, I enjoyed the book a lot more which saved its rating for me.
I loved the commitment to the polynesian culture, especially through the food showing authenticity. Sean is a little golden retriever boy and I absolutely adore him. He was a very well written character and I love how much he supported Alisi. The romantic scenes in this were GOALS and very cute and fluffy.
Something about the main character to start was just off putting, she was almost too high and mighty about herself. I get that she feels like her mother is trying to run her life but just talk to her about it! Or find another way to get what you want without her. She becomes better later in the book when her and Sean start to have a romance, and she softens up.
Overall an OK rade. If I were to reread, I'd probably skip to the halfway point and start from there. A good palate cleanser for a really easy read.
Rating: 3.5 stars
Spice: 0.5/5
Tropes: Forced proximity, forbidden romance, mythological creatures
This was a very cute romance book but I struggled getting into it. It starts off with Alisi, the main character, working in a Polynesian restaurant where she is a sous chef. In walks Sean the dishwasher, who has no clue how to actually run the dishwasher, so Alisi shows him. There's about 50-100 pages of context to learn more about Alisi, what she is, her family, etc. with minimal plot development for the book. Around halfway through is where things begin to really pick up. Before this point there was one, maybe two small moments but no real romance. Once the romance started to roll, I enjoyed the book a lot more which saved its rating for me.
I loved the commitment to the polynesian culture, especially through the food showing authenticity. Sean is a little golden retriever boy and I absolutely adore him. He was a very well written character and I love how much he supported Alisi. The romantic scenes in this were GOALS and very cute and fluffy.
Something about the main character to start was just off putting, she was almost too high and mighty about herself. I get that she feels like her mother is trying to run her life but just talk to her about it! Or find another way to get what you want without her. She becomes better later in the book when her and Sean start to have a romance, and she softens up.
Overall an OK rade. If I were to reread, I'd probably skip to the halfway point and start from there. A good palate cleanser for a really easy read.
July 12, 2024
This was a great start for a debut novel! The scenery and imagery was very vivid, I found it very easy to imagine myself in each place. The mermaid aspect of it was very H2O vibes, but more grown up and extensive. I also love cooking and restaurant themes in books so that was definitely a highlight for me. As time went on, I did start to get bored of the imagery and wanted more dialogue or interactions with characters.
I personally didn’t find the main character, Alisi, very likable. I felt that a lot of views and reactions to her situation came off as childish. She painted her mom to be a crazy mean villain in her life but when we meet her, she seems reasonable and gives decent reasons as to why she can’t keep sponsoring Alisi’s visa. I felt like the plot was building and building for a long time and then the ending didn’t really satisfy me.
At times, I felt it was hard to get through but the imagery helped me to stay centered in the plot. I wanted more meaningful interactions with her brother and Sean. I also felt like her best friend didn’t really understand her at times and did some things I didn’t love. Overall, the scenery was vivid, the vibes were cool and the world building was fun but I didn’t feel connected to any of the characters and the end left me wanting.
I personally didn’t find the main character, Alisi, very likable. I felt that a lot of views and reactions to her situation came off as childish. She painted her mom to be a crazy mean villain in her life but when we meet her, she seems reasonable and gives decent reasons as to why she can’t keep sponsoring Alisi’s visa. I felt like the plot was building and building for a long time and then the ending didn’t really satisfy me.
At times, I felt it was hard to get through but the imagery helped me to stay centered in the plot. I wanted more meaningful interactions with her brother and Sean. I also felt like her best friend didn’t really understand her at times and did some things I didn’t love. Overall, the scenery was vivid, the vibes were cool and the world building was fun but I didn’t feel connected to any of the characters and the end left me wanting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 23, 2024
The author couldn't have said it better, this is the perfect summer beach read. This book was so easy to fall into and fall in love with. It look me just a few hours to read it and I was captivated the whole time! The writing was also smart, and for me personally I loved the level of spice. I also found the writing to be clever and witty and I loved how many little fishing/ocean puns were thrown into the text that really made it seem like a mermaid would speak this way. That being said, my only real critique of the book was towards the end of the book, it felt like things were getting a little rushed to get to the conclusion and some of the details were kind of brush over. It would've been nice to explore some of the family/friend dynamics and flesh out some the consequences of the main character's actions. It felt like it all came to a resolution a little too cleanly. But that is literally my only critique of the book. This book is perfect for summer, perfect for a vacation, and perfect to read while by a pool or beach by yourself or with your friends. Lastly this book is a version of a little mermaid retelling in my opinion. I hope you choose to read this book it really is a great summer read!
July 29, 2024
Perfect Beach Read! (Thanks to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to ARC read!)
Now, this book likely won't change the way you view the world, but it will definitely be an enjoyable read for beach or poolside reading!
Alisi is an up and coming Chef- she's determined, and a little fierce. She's driven by goals and one of those goals is to get out from under any parental control or influence. Oh, and- she's a mermaid, which of course adds to the challenges of living in a human world. She's decided that she needs to date a human- to solidify her situation.
Enter Sean- the dishwasher at the restaurant. She helps him learn to use the automatic dishwasher, and little tiny sparks fly. (Serious slow burn low spice book) He's kind and funny, and she likes him... but he's at her workplace... and he's human, and even though that's what she wants-to Alisi it also seems insurmountable. Sean- being the sunshine to her grumpy, doesn't see it that way, and he has some secrets of his own. Can these two ever find a way to each other? (Of course they can , this is romance!)
Adventure ensues! With a satisfying happily ever after, I think this will please any romance readers looking for a quick read. A great way to support a new indie author!
Now, this book likely won't change the way you view the world, but it will definitely be an enjoyable read for beach or poolside reading!
Alisi is an up and coming Chef- she's determined, and a little fierce. She's driven by goals and one of those goals is to get out from under any parental control or influence. Oh, and- she's a mermaid, which of course adds to the challenges of living in a human world. She's decided that she needs to date a human- to solidify her situation.
Enter Sean- the dishwasher at the restaurant. She helps him learn to use the automatic dishwasher, and little tiny sparks fly. (Serious slow burn low spice book) He's kind and funny, and she likes him... but he's at her workplace... and he's human, and even though that's what she wants-to Alisi it also seems insurmountable. Sean- being the sunshine to her grumpy, doesn't see it that way, and he has some secrets of his own. Can these two ever find a way to each other? (Of course they can , this is romance!)
Adventure ensues! With a satisfying happily ever after, I think this will please any romance readers looking for a quick read. A great way to support a new indie author!
July 17, 2024
So this is another Arc read and I really loved this one , it made me feel all summery 😍.So this one was about A mermaid and a human falling for one another and it was a sort of forbidden romance with a little bit of spice 🔥.It was a quick read and very fast-paced but that was the beauty in this story.It reminded me of the little mermaid with some elements but I really enjoyed this quick one that gave me the hints of the sun , sea and sand that I am craving at the moment ☀️The characters were really well written and there was a bit twist that I didn’t really see coming and it made the book even better !!!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
🌶️🌶️/5
I would recommend this one to anyone who wants a cutesy romance with a hint of spice and wants to feel the summer vibes 😎☀️👙🍉
Make sure to grab this one on July 30th !!!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
🌶️🌶️/5
I would recommend this one to anyone who wants a cutesy romance with a hint of spice and wants to feel the summer vibes 😎☀️👙🍉
Make sure to grab this one on July 30th !!!!
December 22, 2024
This is either 1 star or 5 stars and I can't tell.
Skimmed this in the all-romance bookstore in Harvard Square with Kira. One of the most incredible premises I have ever encountered. Guy who works at restaurant as a dishwasher but doesn't know how to use the dishwasher machine. Mermaid girl that moves from the pacific islands to Boston, but we find out on the first page that she actually moved JUST OUTSIDE OF BOSTON to Saugus, MA to work on a restaurant on Route 1 (shoutout Kowloon).
Imagine being a mermaid and swimming yourself all the way from TAHITI to THE GREATER BOSTON AREA. Girl falls in love with guy who doesn't know how to use dishwasher. Repeatedly mentions "I can't date the dishwasher." If you command+F-ed the word "dishwasher" in this book I believe it is used upwards of 100 times.
a rich text.
Skimmed this in the all-romance bookstore in Harvard Square with Kira. One of the most incredible premises I have ever encountered. Guy who works at restaurant as a dishwasher but doesn't know how to use the dishwasher machine. Mermaid girl that moves from the pacific islands to Boston, but we find out on the first page that she actually moved JUST OUTSIDE OF BOSTON to Saugus, MA to work on a restaurant on Route 1 (shoutout Kowloon).
Imagine being a mermaid and swimming yourself all the way from TAHITI to THE GREATER BOSTON AREA. Girl falls in love with guy who doesn't know how to use dishwasher. Repeatedly mentions "I can't date the dishwasher." If you command+F-ed the word "dishwasher" in this book I believe it is used upwards of 100 times.
a rich text.
July 17, 2024
**Thank you to NetGalley and Publisher for the ARC of Dishwasher Safe in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.**
3.8⭐️ rounded to 4⭐️
0.25🌶
This novel has an interesting premise! I enjoyed the story and the main characters-- I thought the world-building and the mer culture was a cool touch. I think this story works for people who enjoy: soft and cute romance, light-plot, and for sure happy endings. I rounded this up to 4 stars because while it didn't wow me, this is still a good romance and others who are more versed in the genre will probably love this!!
What I liked:
▪︎the mer culture/rules
▪︎I thought Alisi's dynamic with her family was interesting
▪︎Sean and Alisi were cute together
3.8⭐️ rounded to 4⭐️
0.25🌶
This novel has an interesting premise! I enjoyed the story and the main characters-- I thought the world-building and the mer culture was a cool touch. I think this story works for people who enjoy: soft and cute romance, light-plot, and for sure happy endings. I rounded this up to 4 stars because while it didn't wow me, this is still a good romance and others who are more versed in the genre will probably love this!!
What I liked:
▪︎the mer culture/rules
▪︎I thought Alisi's dynamic with her family was interesting
▪︎Sean and Alisi were cute together
August 4, 2024
If you’re like me, you like to have a little palate cleanser- a nice standalone in between big, long books or series. Dishwasher Safe is a perfect book for this.
I adored all of the cultural and region specific details- I’ve never been to Maine, and I’m a changed woman after learning about potato donuts 👀
The Lore is *chefs (pun intended). I enjoyed the descriptions of the Mer-folk and the way they lived! It was very unique- in a good way.
Sean. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 The lumberjack vibe is my favorite, and communication is H O T. Alisi is a fun FMC and her character development was fantastic. I truly thought I knew where the ending was going and I was pleasantly surprised to have been wrong. Alisi is no damsel in distress and I love that.
I adored all of the cultural and region specific details- I’ve never been to Maine, and I’m a changed woman after learning about potato donuts 👀
The Lore is *chefs (pun intended). I enjoyed the descriptions of the Mer-folk and the way they lived! It was very unique- in a good way.
Sean. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 The lumberjack vibe is my favorite, and communication is H O T. Alisi is a fun FMC and her character development was fantastic. I truly thought I knew where the ending was going and I was pleasantly surprised to have been wrong. Alisi is no damsel in distress and I love that.
September 1, 2024
super cute quick read!
i thought the take on mermaids was unique (although kinda sad they didn’t actually have tails lmao) and the story was super fun! did i clock sean as a mer within the first couple of chapters, yes haha, BUT honestly the anticipation of the reveal was chefs kiss. i love when you can clearly see all of the clues for a twist like that, it really shows the thought put into the story! i thought that the story overall was well-written, though maybe a bit redundant and slow at times.
overall, totally worth a read for a fun, super cute closed door romance!! highly recommend (especially if you love mermaids haha)
i thought the take on mermaids was unique (although kinda sad they didn’t actually have tails lmao) and the story was super fun! did i clock sean as a mer within the first couple of chapters, yes haha, BUT honestly the anticipation of the reveal was chefs kiss. i love when you can clearly see all of the clues for a twist like that, it really shows the thought put into the story! i thought that the story overall was well-written, though maybe a bit redundant and slow at times.
overall, totally worth a read for a fun, super cute closed door romance!! highly recommend (especially if you love mermaids haha)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 11, 2024
Just finished reading Dishwasher Safe last night, such a cute romance little read. Its not an overly long story 218 pages, it was a quick and easy one. Which was perfect after reading some larger books recently. Very detailed and explained well. A cute story line about a young girl working in a restaurant but having a double life with being a mermaid too. It did take a little getting used to the story to begin with, with learning new characters, but half way in I got stuck in. However I did thoroughly enjoy the book and look forward to what's next.
July 28, 2024
I was chosen to read this ARC, and I enjoyed it as a pallet cleanser. It wasn't my absolute favorite, but I did like the basics of it. I have a habit of guessing certain plots as I'm reading, and that was the case with this one. The storyline is basically a mermaid who is trying to find love so she can be released from her mother's controlling grasp. She's wanting to fall in love with a human, but she ends up falling for another mermaid without realizing. Again, it's a good book to read when you're trying to just move on from another book.
August 2, 2024
This book is more of a sweet and innocent type of spice. From the beginning it had you wondering will they or won't they. Alisi a mer, works as a sous chef near Boston. She feels she is being controlled by her mother due to her mom's company sponsoring her visa. Alisi feels like if she dates a human her mom will leave her alone. Through many highs and lows for her, she overcomes each obstacle thrown her way. It was a good book, and a great cleanser book. Would definitely recommend it to others. Even though it was a fantasy romance, it still seemed more like a romance book.
November 7, 2024
A sweet and cozy book about a mermaid restaurant owner and the human dishwasher she falls in love with! I loved this unique take on mermaids and the Pacific Islander rep. Alisi and Sean’s romance was so adorable and really made me root for them. To top it all off, it’s a great story about finding yourself and going after what you want :) I enjoyed this one a lot!
July 31, 2024
Arc review
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this book I knew I was going to love it when you said it was like the little mermaid I can’t wait to buy it highly recommend other to read it’s a good read.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this book I knew I was going to love it when you said it was like the little mermaid I can’t wait to buy it highly recommend other to read it’s a good read.
August 1, 2024
This is a sweet romance that will make you smile!
Alisi is a mermaid that wants to do human things and dating human men is one of them. So when Sean, the new dishwasher, starts working and Alisi has an instant attraction, she has to figure out how to be a mermaid and have a human relationship.
Alisi is a mermaid that wants to do human things and dating human men is one of them. So when Sean, the new dishwasher, starts working and Alisi has an instant attraction, she has to figure out how to be a mermaid and have a human relationship.
August 4, 2024
This was such a cute story! An easy read with a few predictable twists, but it was just what I needed in a book right now. I work in a kitchen so I can be easily skeptical of books with chefs as the main characters, but I was really happy with how kitchen life was portrayed in this book!
March 20, 2025
This is a cute, quick read!
I loved the mermaid vibes, and I loved visualizing their underwater houses/towns.
I liked the characters, but Alisi got on my nerves sometimes, lol.
I enjoyed this and would definitely recommend it!
I loved the mermaid vibes, and I loved visualizing their underwater houses/towns.
I liked the characters, but Alisi got on my nerves sometimes, lol.
I enjoyed this and would definitely recommend it!
August 4, 2024
This book was absolutely amazing. It was a great story that provides a lot of hope. It shows that with hard work and an open mind you can do anything you want to.
January 6, 2025
cringe but cute
January 14, 2025
3.5/5 stars. It was a cute read, but the ending felt abrupt.
July 22, 2024
I don’t think I’ve ever read a book quite like this one! I loved how the mermaid lore was reimagined with mermaids walking among us. (Think Luka, the Disney movie but these mermaids only switch back in saltwater.) The world of the merpeople was described with such beauty and wonder that it made me wish I could dive in myself.
Alisi is a great FMC, and I was definitely rooting for her both professionally and relationally. The romance was sweet and fun. And I thought the book had a satisfying conclusion.
This is a great fantasy read. And I recommend it to mermaid and romance lovers alike.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for my review copy.
Alisi is a great FMC, and I was definitely rooting for her both professionally and relationally. The romance was sweet and fun. And I thought the book had a satisfying conclusion.
This is a great fantasy read. And I recommend it to mermaid and romance lovers alike.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for my review copy.
October 9, 2024
Alisi Latu is making a splash at the hottest new restaurant in Boston as an up-and-coming chef. By day, she walks among the landlubbers, but at night she is bound to the ocean, forced to transform back to her mermaid form and rejoin a thriving mer community. For her entire life, Alisi has been running from the suffocating expectations of her mother. In order to start fresh, Alisi has swum far away from her home in the Pacific Islands to the other side of the world. Now, she is convinced that dating a human man will absolve her of the future her mother has laid out for her.
Sean McClary is the newest dishwasher at the restaurant, but he doesn't seem to know how to operate the dishwasher. He is also living a less secret double fisherman by day and dishwasher by night. When Alisi swoops in to rescue the newest employee from a kitchen appliance, she wonders if he might be the human man of her dreams.
This was such a sweet. Alisi and Sean have great chemistry and you can’t help but love them. This is the perfect quick summer read or as a buffer from more of the heavier themes books you’re probably reading. Again I don’t give much by way of spice ratings but I will say this is a closed “shell” story. (See what I did there 😉)
.
.
.
#bookstagram #bookstagrammer #romance #romancebooks #romancereader #reading #books #kindle #arc #arcreader #bookreview #bookfunnel #booklover #bookworm #booknerd #readforfun #readabook #bookish #booksandplants #icedcoffee #booksandcoffee
Sean McClary is the newest dishwasher at the restaurant, but he doesn't seem to know how to operate the dishwasher. He is also living a less secret double fisherman by day and dishwasher by night. When Alisi swoops in to rescue the newest employee from a kitchen appliance, she wonders if he might be the human man of her dreams.
This was such a sweet. Alisi and Sean have great chemistry and you can’t help but love them. This is the perfect quick summer read or as a buffer from more of the heavier themes books you’re probably reading. Again I don’t give much by way of spice ratings but I will say this is a closed “shell” story. (See what I did there 😉)
.
.
.
#bookstagram #bookstagrammer #romance #romancebooks #romancereader #reading #books #kindle #arc #arcreader #bookreview #bookfunnel #booklover #bookworm #booknerd #readforfun #readabook #bookish #booksandplants #icedcoffee #booksandcoffee
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews