In the Shallows

In this captivating YA novel, a girl is found caught in the fishing nets of a boat and brought to shore with no memory of how she came to be there. Nicknamed the Black Rock Mermaid, she sets out to uncover where she came from—and why no one misses her—and falls in love along the way.

On New Year's Day, three fishermen haul a teenage girl out of the ocean. By the time they bring her to land, it’s clear that she doesn’t know where or who she is. The media calls her Nicoletta, after the fishermen’s boat. The rumors take a dark turn the next time the fishermen head out to sea—and fail to return. People say Nicoletta lured them to their deaths—their lives in exchange for hers.

Eighteen months later, Mara Malakar meets Nicoletta at a café. The two become fast friends, but as Mara realizes she wants more from their relationship, Nico remains oblivious, focused only on remembering. She may not want to, though. Could there be a reason she’s locked everything behind a door? And once she's brave enough to open it, what will happen to her? To them?

Tanya Byrne is an award-winning author and freelance journalist who lives in Brighton, England. She has written three young adult novels, including Afterlove and her first book, Heart-Shaped Bruise, which earned her a nomination for New Writer of the Year at the National Book Awards. Tanya writes about LGBTQ+ characters in high-concept worlds.