The Mermaid of Brooklyn: A Novel

“Fans of acerbic humor should enjoy Mermaid of Brooklyn.”

Take a disappearing husband, a mountain of debt, two dependent children, and add disapproving in-laws into the mix, and it’s easy to see why Jenny Lipkin is in despair.

Once on the fast track to success as a magazine editor, she’s at a loss when her life falls apart. Desperation and a history of depression drive her over the railing of a bridge . . . where she’s saved by a street-wise, tough-talking mermaid.

Though the description on the book jacket of Mermaid of Brooklyn would evoke a happy-go-lucky bit of chick-lit fluff, Amy Shearn’s novel is anything but. There are many laughs to be found, but most come from the dark recesses of the heart, where laughter barely conquers tears.

Jenny’s plight is fairly desperate, after all: no job, no money, an overpriced apartment, and very little sleep. These taken separately have driven many parents to take desperate measures; taken together, they are overwhelming. Though it may be unusual to experience all at once, most readers will be able to relate to Jenny’s bone-deep weariness.

Because she is so relatable, it is easy to empathize with Jenny (and her nameless mermaid) when the chips are low, and to cheer for her when she finally starts getting on top of her problems.

Ms. Shearn leaves it up to the reader to decide whether the mermaid is real or a figment of Jenny’s struggling ego. Regardless, the mermaid’s advice to Jenny is funny, frequently snarky, and exactly what Jenny needs to get herself back on her feet.

Fans of acerbic humor should enjoy Mermaid of Brooklyn.

Those looking for a light story might be offended by the catalyst for the mermaid’s appearance—attempted suicide is anything but common in chick-lit. On the opposite end of the spectrum, those looking for serious solutions in serious literature to serious problems might find the solutions to a few of Jenny’s problems too cavalier.

Willing to brave some dark waters for sake of a decent story? Mermaid of Brooklyn is a delightful bridge between the two extremes.