The Girl from the Sea

I am always myself, no matter what skin I wear. But you... The girl I saved from the water was different from the girl with her friends. You're the true shapeshifter.

Such a great read to kick off Pride Month! I absolutely loved the art: the colors, the diversity in body types, the characters' body language. And the story has so much going on in it, for such a short read, and it all ties together so well. 

Morgan's desire to keep all parts of her life "sorted neatly into separate boxes" irritated me the way only the most relatable things can. I felt for her so much, with all her fears and her clear wish for more control over her life after her parents' separation, and it was beautiful to see her gradually loosen up and embrace the messier parts of life. I loved her interactions with her mom, her strained yet enduring bond with her friends, and her short, beautiful romance with Keltie. I really liked Keltie, too, and how she stayed very true to her selkie nature. She went along with Morgan wanting to keep her a secret for a while, but she didn't actively try to act human for Morgan's sake, and I don't know, I felt like it added an extra dimension to their relationship. Somehow, I find such an explicit "we can compromise on what we do, but not on who I am" approach both simply appealing in a character and very romantic in a relationship.

The ending wasn't what I expected (and frankly made me tear up a little), but it also felt completely right for this story and these characters. I'd love to read a sequel with an older Morgan, but I'm also content with the story as it is. Sometimes, not knowing what's going to happen next is kind of the whole point.