Coral by Sara Ella

Coral

by Sara Ella

Inspired by “The Little Mermaid,” Coral explores what it means to be human in a world where humanity often seems lost.

Coral has always been different, standing out from her mermaid sisters in a society where blending in is key. She fears she has been afflicted with the dreaded Disease said to be carried by humans: emotions. Her sister had the Disease, and Red Tide took her away. Will it come for Coral next?

Above the sea, Brooke has nothing left to give. Depression and anxiety have left her feeling isolated. Forgotten. The only thing she can rely on is the numbness she finds within the cool and comforting ocean waves. If only she weren’t stuck at a new group-therapy home that promises a second chance at life. But what’s the point of living if her soul is destined to bleed?

Merrick may be San Francisco’s golden boy, but he wants nothing more than to escape his controlling father. When his younger sister’s suicide attempt sends Merrick to his breaking point, escape becomes the only option. If he can find their mom, everything will be made right again—right?

When their worlds collide, all three will do whatever it takes to survive. But what—and who—must they leave behind for life to finally begin?

Praise for Coral:

“This heart-wrenching tale will pull you under its spell.” —ANNIE SULLIVAN, author of A Touch of Gold and Tiger Queen

“A beautiful reimagining.” —LAUREN MANSY, author of The Memory Thief

“A breathless, powerful journey of the heart and mind.” —LINDSAY A. FRANKLIN, award-winning author of The Story Peddler

  • A stand-alone, full-length Young Adult novel
  • Trigger warning: suicide and depression

Reviewed by Julie @ Struck by Stories on

5 of 5 stars

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* I received a free eARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my thoughts or opinions of this book *

This book, was just, WOW.

When I went into it, I was expecting a retelling of the Little Mermaid, but, oh my gosh, this book is so much more than that. It was a beautiful and exquisite take on mental health in today's society, and for that, I honestly cannot recommend it enough.

However, I will say that I experienced a lot of difficulty following along with the story, especially towards the end. While it begins as a YA contemporary fantasy blend, somewhere in the middle it does a complete genre-switch that I wasn't really expecting.

It also became super-graphic at times, which made it a very difficult and emotional for me. As some of you may know, I have been diagnosed with both depression and anxiety, so it hit me that much harder while reading it.

Overall, I really enjoyed this. Now that I have a better understanding of the genre/message of the book and the direction in which it was heading, I'm hoping that I'll be able to re-read it in the future to gain a fuller appreciation of it!

3.5/5 stars

Trigger warnings: depression, anxiety, suicide, cutting, etc.

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  • 22 February, 2019: Reviewed