The Surface Breaks: a reimagining of The Little Mermaid by Louise O'Neill

This book was amazing. This feminist take on The Little Mermaid was searingly poignant and really calls attention to the more problematic themes in The Little Mermaid. This is the story of Gaia, a mermaid who is forced to be what her father deems "perfect" and mold herself into what mermen want. She is the youngest of seven sisters all equally oppressed. Their father forces them to compete for his affections based on how pretty they are and how pleasing he finds them, he even goes as far and to line them up based on who he thinks is the prettiest that day, and Gaia always wins. By pitting the sisters (and all females) against one another allows this oppression to persist. But not only does Gaia have to serve the whims of her father but that of her betrothed. His name is Zane and he is hella old. Like in his sixties, the same age as her father.

With no mother around Gaia is forced to accept her father's ideas of what it means to be a woman in the patriarchal society. When Gaia becomes of age she is allowed to go to the surface, where she finds a yacht full of the rich and beautiful young people. She sees this one boy, Oliver, and is immediately enchanted with him. When a storm rolls up and the yacht is wrecked, Gaia saves Oliver from drowning, sacrificing his girlfriend to the Rusalkas (sirens) who drown men to exact their vengeance because they died at the hands of men and drowned.

 After she saves Oliver she becomes obsessed with the idea that she is in love with him. Meanwhile, she's fast approaching her sixteenth birthday and Zane is starting to get handsy. (ew eW EW!)

He blackmails her with her secret trips to the surface to get some "alone time" with her. Anyone else see how rapey that is?! When she's finally had enough she goes to the Sea Witch Cato and begs her to turn her human. Cato hesitates asking Gaia if she is sure Oliver loves her. Gaia insists all the while noticing some strange things about Cato, she's puzzling together something but can't believe it's true because her father told her differently. Cato agrees and makes a potion to turn Gaia human, she warns her that it will feel like stepping on knives every time she steps but Gaia doesn't care. She can only think of being with Oliver. Finally, Cato tells Gaia that there is a price to be paid for this kind of magic. Her voice. Cato tells her she must cut out her tongue. This gives Gaia pause but she remembers that "men don't like it when women talk" so she agrees. She gives away her voice and goes to the surface where she drinks the potion and becomes human. She has 1 month to make Olive love her or she will die. At first, everything is fine. Gaia tries to become everything Oliver wants. She even accepts his new name for her Grace. While Gaia is trying to win his heart every night her feet bleed and her skin peels off layer by layer. Eventually, Gaia realizes what she has done to herself all in the name of "love".

This book was amazing. You go on this journey with Gaia as she realizes her worth is more than what value men place on her. I cannot reccoment this book enough!