Sara Ella: Coral

By Kelly Bridgewater

Taking a new twist on Hans Christian Andersen’s beloved—yet tragic—tale, “The Little Mermaid,” Coral explores mental health from multiple perspectives, questioning what it means to be human in a world where humanity often seems lost.

There is more than one way to drown.

Coral has always been different, standing out from her mermaid sisters in a society where blending in is key. Worse yet, she fears she has been afflicted with the dreaded Disease, said to be carried by humans—emotions. Can she face the darkness long enough to surface in the light?

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 Fathoms—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, and Coral might even catch a prince in the process. But what—and who—must they leave behind for life to finally begin?

From Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Coral by Sara Ella is an imaginative version of fantasy and discussing a disorder without being too brash. The writing is vibrant and full of sensory details. I love the way she describes the ocean from Coral's perspective. Everything sparkles and shines, bringing this underground world to life. I have never seen the ocean, and honestly, don't like waters, so I'm okay without seeing it, but Ella captured the wonder and the mystery of the ocean in her writing. As for the plot, when I first started the story, I was a little confused with the three storylines. They don't interact, and I didn't understand why the three mental issues were being told this way, but don't worry, Ella ties things up nicely at the end of the story. The plot moves a little slow at certain parts, but overall, it is a story that I believe teenagers would relate to and enjoy. A good gift for a troubling teen. Now I'm curious what else Ella will come up with.

I received a complimentary copy of Coral by Sara Ella from Thomas Nelson Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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About the Author:

Taken from Amazon

Sara Ella is the award-winning author of the Unblemished series and Coral, the upcoming reimagining of The Little Mermaid. She spends her days throwing living room dance parties for her two princesses, raising her little prince to be a king, and conquering realms of her own imaginings with her swoony husband by her side. She may or may not be obsessed with #Bookstagram, which feeds her current addiction to bookish tea and candles. A lover of fairy tales, she believes "Happily Ever After is Never Far Away." (Taken from Amazon.)