Kiss the Girl

I love when two different things that I enjoy converge. Such is the case with the latest book I read. In the last few years, I’ve become a fan of Zoraida Córdova, having read several of her books. Last year, I also enjoyed Jasmine Guillory’s By the Book, the second installment in the Meant to Be series reimagining Disney classics. (I still need to read the series-starter, If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy!) Now the two are united in Kiss the Girl, Zoraida Córdova’s adaptation of The Little Mermaid. Instead of taking place under the sea (see what I did there?), this modern romance follows musicians on tour across the US. What a glorious reimagining this is!

Summary

Ariel del Mar is the youngest in a pop girl group, Siren Seven, along with her six older sisters. Now the group is retiring and she’s ready to discover who she is, independent of the pop machine and her dad/manager. While secretly out in New York City, she meets Eric Reyes, the singer for an up-and-coming indie band, Star Crossed. She ends up joining the band on tour, serving as their merch girl after their previous hire fell through. Hiding her famous identity from the band, Ariel (going as Melody) forms tentative friendships and a budding romance with Eric. But she can’t keep her full self a secret forever, and she can’t keep running from her dad, either. Can Ariel find a path forward, both for herself and with Eric as part of her future? 

Review

In Disney’s original version of The Little Mermaid, music was a vital component of Ariel’s family, and I love how Zoraida Córdova has amplified that in Kiss the Girl. Ariel del Mar and her six older sisters are part of a hugely successful pop group, Siren Seven, managed by their father, himself the head of Atlantica Records. It’s such a clever and perfect setup. I love music and was instantly charmed by this reimagining’s synopsis. 

Ariel isn’t the only one with musical abilities and ambitions. Eric Reyes is the frontman for a rapidly rising indie band, Star Crossed. (Based on the descriptions in this book, I could totally see myself being a fan if they existed in real life!) Now that Siren Seven is retiring and Ariel is at a crossroads in her musical career (and sense of self identity), she rebels a little bit… and ends up working as the merch girl as Star Crossed embark on their first US tour. She goes by Melody, hoping no one will realize the pop star she actually is.

Both Ariel and Eric are likable and believable characters, with key traits in common with their Little Mermaid counterparts, as well as new characteristics that make them unique and fuller. I also love how Ursula’s characters has been adapted into Odelia, the manager for Star Crossed. The backstory between her and Ariel’s family is interesting and presents new questions about who’s good and who’s the villain of this story. While Ariel seems closer to her sisters here (albeit mainly via a group chat), Eric also has people in his life now, including his four bandmates. I love that his band is all women! 

It does frequently strike me as unrealistic that no one recognizes Ariel despite how famous she is. Sure, she looks different without the red wig and over-the-top outfits. If she was only spending time with people who didn’t listen to Siren Seven, I could believe it. But with Max being such a big fan of Siren Seven, I don’t understand how Ariel is never found out sooner. Regardless, I can let this slide, because the book was fun and sweet otherwise. 

I loved how musical this book is, especially in regards to touring and trying to gain traction within the music industry. From trying to get a record deal and filming a music video for their new single to writing songs together, there are a lot of music and music business elements that shine throughout the book. This music nerd loved all of it.

Kiss the Girl has a sweet romance between Ariel and Eric, a bit instant at first, but then a slow burn before a fade-to-black love scene. The family, friend, and professional relationships fill out the story wonderfully, and I love how Ariel and her sisters ultimately handle their situation with their dad. 

One extra fun element throughout the book: I love the inclusion of media headlines, podcast excerpts, and teen magazine quizzes between chapters. It adds to the popular music vibes perfectly! Also, shoutout to the commenter on page 303 named ZoeyCastile: I see you. IYKYK.

Final Thoughts

Kiss the Girl is a wonderful new interpretation of The Little Mermaid, especially perfect for fans of pop music and indie rock. Zoraida Córdova’s writing is fresh and engaging, as always.

I’ve enjoyed the Meant to Be series so far, and I’m excited to continue it. Next year, the fourth book will reimagine my favorite of the “more recent” (how old do I sound?) Disney movies, Tangled! Christina Lauren’s Tangled Up in You will be out on June 24, 2024. Before then, I think I’ll finally circle back to the first book of the series, If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy. Look out for my reviews of both in the next year!

Get the Book

You can buy Kiss the Girl here – it’s available as a hardcover, paperback, and ebook.

Kiss the Girl by Zoraida Córdova
Series	Meant to Be (#3)
Audience	Adult
Genre	Romance
Setting	USA
Number of Pages	352
Format I Read	Hardcover
Original Publication Date	August 1, 2023

Official Summary

“Kiss the Girl is sheer delight. It’s full of joy and love and self discovery, and I smiled the whole time I read it. Zoraida Córdova wrote the rock star/pop princess romance of my dreams!” —Jasmine Guillory, New York Times best-selling author

A modern tale of unexpectedly falling in love and finding your voice, Kiss the Girl is the highly anticipated third installment in the acclaimed and best-selling Meant to Be collection.

Ariel del Mar is one of the most famous singers in the world. She and her sisters—together, known as the band Siren Seven—have been a pop culture phenomenon since they were kids. On stage, wearing her iconic red wig and sequined costumes, staring out at a sea of fans, is where she shines. Anyone would think she’s the girl who has everything. 

But lately, she wants more. Siren Seven is wrapping up their farewell tour, and Ariel can’t wait to spend the summer just living a normal life—part of a world she’s only ever seen from the outside. But her father, the head of Atlantica Records, has other plans: begin her breakout solo career immediately, starting with a splashy announcement on a morning talk show. 

The night before, Ariel and her sisters sneak out of their Manhattan penthouse for a night of incognito fun at a rock concert in Brooklyn. It’s there that Ariel crosses paths with Eric Reyes, dreamy lead singer of an up-and-coming band. Unaware of her true identity, Eric spontaneously invites her on the road for the summer. And for the first time in her life, Ariel disobeys her father—and goes with him. 

Caught between the world she longs for and the one she’s left behind, can Ariel follow her dreams, fall in love, and, somehow, find her own voice?SEE LESS