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Shorelines
Not yet published
Expected 9 Jun 26When proud mermaid Muireann flees her climate-ravaged ocean in search of hope on land, she confronts human cruelty and body-shaming as she struggles to find her true home and voice. Caught between a dying ocean and a divided world, she must grapple between the sea that made her and the surface that might break her – in this stunning verse novel that reimagines The Little Mermaid.
Muireann is a mermaid – fierce, curious and proud of the body that keeps her warm beneath the waves. But life in the ocean is becoming impossible. The merfolk are at war with the human ramifications of climate change: food is scarce, and her twin sister has been killed in a mass-fishing net. With her mother lost in grief and her world falling apart, Muireann longs to escape to the surface to find some answers. But the human world isn’t the haven she hoped for. It’s colder, crueller – and here, her large body is seen not as strength, but as something to be ashamed of.
In this beautiful novel-in-verse, Muireann must find her voice and fight for where she belongs – whether that be beneath the waves, or above them.
Muireann is a mermaid – fierce, curious and proud of the body that keeps her warm beneath the waves. But life in the ocean is becoming impossible. The merfolk are at war with the human ramifications of climate change: food is scarce, and her twin sister has been killed in a mass-fishing net. With her mother lost in grief and her world falling apart, Muireann longs to escape to the surface to find some answers. But the human world isn’t the haven she hoped for. It’s colder, crueller – and here, her large body is seen not as strength, but as something to be ashamed of.
In this beautiful novel-in-verse, Muireann must find her voice and fight for where she belongs – whether that be beneath the waves, or above them.
- GenresFantasyYoung Adult
304 pages, Paperback
Expected publication June 9, 2026
3 people are currently reading
90 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
Review of advance copy
gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous, but oh so heartbreaking
February 19, 2026
RAGE!!!!
February 22, 2026
Thank you Ruth for making my first foray into the verse novel form so entrancing - could barely put it down!
November 8, 2025
a gorgeous beautiful lyrical book - a modern classic!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A book that does so much – in that it does just one thing to "The Little Mermaid" and proves it to be a small change of much consequence. We know how this runs for the bulk of the first hundred pages, at least – the young mermaid Muireann having to bide her time to see the world of the humans, the Prince that needs rescuing, etc. But Muireann's sister has actually died on the very first pages, and the Prince is nothing like as nice or pleasant as he should be. But love will still occur when she gets her land legs, right?
This might have been the case of me being the wrong audience for this. I mean, I can see the power of it in all directions, the ending giving me much pause if nothing else. It's all thoroughly readable, and with the heartfelt drama you're fully engaged with our heroine's lot. But am I the arsehole, to borrow the phrase, for saying this goes in the wrong direction, for saying it concentrates on the smaller of two sins?
The issue is the Prince is turning to fishing on an industrial scale, causing the merfolk to starve – not least the queenly mother to Muireann and her deceased sister. So contact with him needs to be made. The Sea Witch needs to get our girl to a humanoid state and allow her to change his mind and activities. But here's the stinger, the twist, the change – in this world, deep sea critters like mermaids and mermen need a lot of blubber to stay comfortable, warm and safe, and when Muireann comes ashore, bipedal, and presents herself to the Prince he can only liken her to a beached whale.
And there the torment starts, which is, to repeat, affecting, but to repeat, for me was the wrong way to go. Yes, sizeism and the kind of mediaeval ordeal Muireann faces is hellish, but so – for more people – is over-fishing, issues of food dependency, land and sea rights, etc etc. I wanted the Prince to get his comeuppance, not because he was so bigoted about the chunky, adipose, pyknic, whatever mermaid, but because he was a bastard when it comes to the ecology.
To mention all the other relevant details, this is a novel-in-verse that anyone over about the age of twelve should be perfectly fine with. Sometimes the titles are relevant, sometimes skippable, annoyingly. I didn't get the full purpose of all the changes in justification, from being left-justified to right and back, although centring did allow for some of the several examples of different form, a la concrete poetry. I can see why the author has done away with the 'this year it's your turn' motivation for Muireann, as this isn't a hundred per cent the H C Andersen, but it's that bigger change that didn't work as greatly as expected.
Of course it's unpleasant to see someone lose their agency and have all their pride in their curves taken away from them – barely made a human, Muireann is thoroughly dehumanised. But for me, this felt the lesser of the Prince's evils, and therefore this had oomph galore, just the wrong target for it. I'd still love to see this author's second book as and when. Three and a half stars for now.
This might have been the case of me being the wrong audience for this. I mean, I can see the power of it in all directions, the ending giving me much pause if nothing else. It's all thoroughly readable, and with the heartfelt drama you're fully engaged with our heroine's lot. But am I the arsehole, to borrow the phrase, for saying this goes in the wrong direction, for saying it concentrates on the smaller of two sins?
The issue is the Prince is turning to fishing on an industrial scale, causing the merfolk to starve – not least the queenly mother to Muireann and her deceased sister. So contact with him needs to be made. The Sea Witch needs to get our girl to a humanoid state and allow her to change his mind and activities. But here's the stinger, the twist, the change – in this world, deep sea critters like mermaids and mermen need a lot of blubber to stay comfortable, warm and safe, and when Muireann comes ashore, bipedal, and presents herself to the Prince he can only liken her to a beached whale.
And there the torment starts, which is, to repeat, affecting, but to repeat, for me was the wrong way to go. Yes, sizeism and the kind of mediaeval ordeal Muireann faces is hellish, but so – for more people – is over-fishing, issues of food dependency, land and sea rights, etc etc. I wanted the Prince to get his comeuppance, not because he was so bigoted about the chunky, adipose, pyknic, whatever mermaid, but because he was a bastard when it comes to the ecology.
To mention all the other relevant details, this is a novel-in-verse that anyone over about the age of twelve should be perfectly fine with. Sometimes the titles are relevant, sometimes skippable, annoyingly. I didn't get the full purpose of all the changes in justification, from being left-justified to right and back, although centring did allow for some of the several examples of different form, a la concrete poetry. I can see why the author has done away with the 'this year it's your turn' motivation for Muireann, as this isn't a hundred per cent the H C Andersen, but it's that bigger change that didn't work as greatly as expected.
Of course it's unpleasant to see someone lose their agency and have all their pride in their curves taken away from them – barely made a human, Muireann is thoroughly dehumanised. But for me, this felt the lesser of the Prince's evils, and therefore this had oomph galore, just the wrong target for it. I'd still love to see this author's second book as and when. Three and a half stars for now.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
My heart broke for Murieann almost constantly as I read this book.
This debut from author Ruth Ennis is one I was very excited to get my hands on. Thank you so much Little Island and Netgalley for the ARC.
I have a huge grá for verse novels, and this one did not disappoint. Shorelines is a reimagining of The Little Mermaid. It focuses on a fat mermaid called Muireann.
Muireann has seen a lot of tragedy recently in her family life. She is also curious about humans and their world and has longed to go and see them. One problem her home is facing is the lack of fish available to eat. Muireann believes she can help solve this situation by visiting the humans.
Despite her hardships at home, Muireann is still so full of curiosity and hope as she embarks on her adventure. As a human, I felt her to be slightly naïve about how the humans would respond to her, but I loved her energy.
Things go from bad to worse for Muireann once she's on land. Some of the scenes were heartbreaking and tough to read as I rooted for our girl through impossible situations.
The theme of fat acceptance and fat shaming runs throughout. Some characters' reactions to Muireann and her size are very upsetting at times.
Overall I adored this book and would highly recommend it for a YA, verse novel, little mermaid fan audience.
This debut from author Ruth Ennis is one I was very excited to get my hands on. Thank you so much Little Island and Netgalley for the ARC.
I have a huge grá for verse novels, and this one did not disappoint. Shorelines is a reimagining of The Little Mermaid. It focuses on a fat mermaid called Muireann.
Muireann has seen a lot of tragedy recently in her family life. She is also curious about humans and their world and has longed to go and see them. One problem her home is facing is the lack of fish available to eat. Muireann believes she can help solve this situation by visiting the humans.
Despite her hardships at home, Muireann is still so full of curiosity and hope as she embarks on her adventure. As a human, I felt her to be slightly naïve about how the humans would respond to her, but I loved her energy.
Things go from bad to worse for Muireann once she's on land. Some of the scenes were heartbreaking and tough to read as I rooted for our girl through impossible situations.
The theme of fat acceptance and fat shaming runs throughout. Some characters' reactions to Muireann and her size are very upsetting at times.
Overall I adored this book and would highly recommend it for a YA, verse novel, little mermaid fan audience.
December 4, 2025
This gorgeous novel took me a few hours to devour, but it will take me a whole lifetime to fully absorb. Wise, warm, compassionate, brave and daring in its scope and in its artistry, it's a book that will stay with me. I was lucky enough to receive a proof, but I can't wait until it's more widely available so that readers all over the world can immerse themselves in it. Ruth Ennis has created a beautiful reimagining of the story of The Little Mermaid, but not only that - the book is genuinely innovative, creative and interesting in how it uses its medium (free verse) as well as the 'white space' on each page. Poems that seem to ripple and change as you read them - just like water on a shoreline - and with typography that ebbs and flows, this wonderful story will heal you.
And that ending!
Do not miss this gift of a story.
And that ending!
Do not miss this gift of a story.
Review of advance copy
As I said to Ruth, not sure if I devoured this book or it devoured me with its raw lyricism and dark beauty. A very worthy retelling that teaches taking up space as you deserve, no matter the cost and that kindness is it's own reward, whilst not shying away from the darker elements of the original and if humankinds ability to be selfish and cruel. Muireann is not perfectly brave throughout but she is stunning in her central strength of self. Ursula is justified here too as a witch who knows magic has uts cost. A moment at least for the format! The verse element further heightens the emotions beautifully expressed in the prose.
September 29, 2025
Received an advance copy of this YA verse novel, which is a retelling of The Little Mermaid and read it in a day. It's smart, haunting and achingly sad and hopeful all at the same time. A highly compelling novel that uses its prose to pull you beneath the waves and leaves you breathless. Add it to your TBR pile immediately.
Review of advance copy
This is a distinctive, original book with vivid world building. It's intense and genuinely upsetting in parts. And it has an ending that is both surprising and inevitable - the best type of ending obviously. An impressive debut.
Note: I bought this book at the Irish book launch so not actually an advance review.
Note: I bought this book at the Irish book launch so not actually an advance review.
December 9, 2025
I was lucky enough to read an early proof of this book and I cannot recommend it enough. The beauty, rage, hope and pain in the words had me gripped. A true telling of The Little Mermaid, a story of love, loss, the ease of cruelty and the cost of hope. An incredible debut.
Review of advance copy
Shorelines is a masterclass of a verse novel. It is singular in its stunning tale. An excellent debut novel and one I will be thinking about for a very long time.
Review of advance copy received from Autre
je viens de le finir et c'était l'un des plus beaux livres que j'ai jamais lu.
écrit comme un poème il est une ode à la vie naturelle et une analyse crue des comportements humains.
merci Muireann 🤍
écrit comme un poème il est une ode à la vie naturelle et une analyse crue des comportements humains.
merci Muireann 🤍
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews