When the Tides Held the Moon

Pub. date 4/22/25

I usually spend several hours editing and polishing my GR reviews, but I'm going to go straight from the heart on this one because it's so freaking good and I want everyone to put it on their TBR shelves.

Like the best fairy tale adaptations, the plot is familiar, but the appeal lies in its lyrical writing, strong sense of time and place, and memorable characters. MC Benigno “Benny” Caldera starts the story alone, an asthmatic Puerto Rican without family or friends who barely gets by on his Brooklyn dockside blacksmith wages. By the exciting climax, he has been befriended by the sideshow's “oddities,” fallen passionately in love, and evolved into a genuine hero who organizes a daring rescue of his beloved. The merman, dubbed by Benny as “Rio,” is noble and beautiful, furious about his captivity but quickly able to discern Benny's pure soul. There's not a lot of nuance to their relationship, but when the two of them sing Spanish love songs to each other my heart grew three sizes. Although I knew there was a happy ending, my anxiety level spiked as the moustache-twirling villain tried to permanently separate them, then settled back down to appreciate the word-perfect finale.

At a time when we need it the most, this book celebrates those who are labeled as “other,” whether they are a queer immigrant, a land-stranded merman, a Russian giant, or an Indian little person. One of the female carnival performers is put through more trauma than a silent movie heroine, but she too emerges on top (CW for forced prostitution).

Kelley's enchanting writing is accompanied by beautiful illustrations that emphasize the early 20th century feel of the story. A number of the drawings were not completed in time to be included in my ARC copy, but you can be sure I will seek out a published version to get the full benefit.

When the Tides Held the Moon broke my months-long fiction dry spell, and I know it will go on my comfort re-read shelf (except for the nerve-wracking denouement). If you are looking for a cheesy but sincerely romantic novel that feels both period accurate and timeless, grab it as soon as you can.

ARC received from publisher and Net Galley in exchange for review.