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The cover of the novel The Mermaid of Brooklyn, featuring a mermaid-shaped cloud above the brownstones of Brooklyn

AVAILABLE FROM THESE FINE BOOKSELLERS

The Mermaid of Brooklyn is now

available in the UK!

The Mermaid of Brooklyn

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Wise, witty, and critically-acclaimed, The Mermaid of Brooklyn (Touchstone/Simon & Schuster, 2013) was a selection of Target's Discover New Writers program, and a Hudson News Summer Reads pick. 

Jenny Lipkin is an average, stretched-too-thin Brooklyn mom, tackling the challenges of raising two children in a cramped Park Slope walk-up and bonding with other moms about breastfeeding while spending endless hours in Prospect Park. All she really wants is to survive the sweltering New York summer with a shred of sanity intact. But when her husband Harry, a compulsive gambler, vanishes one evening without a word, Jenny finally reaches her breaking point. And in a moment of despair, a split second decision changes her life forever.



Pulled from the brink by an unexpected (and, as it turns out, sometimes annoying) supernatural ally, Jenny is forced to rethink her ideas about success, motherhood, romance, and relationships. But confronting her inner demons—of both the mermaid and non-mermaid variety—is no easy task . . .

Selected Praise for The Mermaid of Brooklyn:

 

"Amy Shearn has written a fierce and vivacious book about motherhood, astounding in its honesty, fearless in its humor and exploding with love. THE MERMAID OF BROOKLYN is a joyful and exhilarating read." ​
- Maria Semple​, author of WHERE'D YOU GO, BERNADETTE and THIS ONE IS MINE​

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“I absolutely loved this inventive, smartly written tale of a struggling single mother who  finds herself seeing her life through new eyes--those of a lusty, fearless and frequently

wise mermaid eager to take on all the world has to offer. Insightful and engaging.”
 - Jill Smolinski,  author of OBJECTS OF MY AFFECTION and THE NEXT THING ON MY LIST



 

"A blend of Park Slope parenting and magic."

 - New York Times Motherlode 

 

"[A] whimsical modern-day fable . . . There’s no doubt that Shearn is gifted, crafting quirky and charming prose."

 - Publishers Weekly​

 

"Shearn’s narrative is delightfully manic and extremely witty.…"

- Kirkus Reviews​

 

"Funny, fearless, and unexpectedly moving, this modern fairy tale is, in a word, enchanting."

​- The Boston Globe​​



 

"...sly and wise...Shearn captures both the beauty and the banality of parenthood."

 - Oprah.com​

 

"A heartfelt and authentic tribute to motherhood that will resonate with contemporary moms."

 - Booklist

 

 

 

"A total treat that will . . . make you realize motherhood is overwhelming, funny and fantastic--in fiction, too!"

 - WorkingMother.com 

 

"There are many laughs to be found, but most come from the dark recesses of the heart, where laughter barely conquers tears. . . . Fans of acerbic humor should enjoy The Mermaid of Brooklyn."

  - New York Journal of Books

 

“Pick it up if you need a wise, funny story of hope when you felt all was lost.”

 - Parents Magazine

“Wry, witty and slightly nutty novels about mums on the edge are all over fiction at the moment …I enjoyed this funny, clever, much-praised account of life as a stressed-out Brooklyn mother of toddlers and the unexpectedly surreal resolution of her problems. It’s really superbly written; there’s no disputing Shearn’s talent…”

 -Daily Mail

 

"Shearn is an enchanting writer. She doesn’t miss a beat. All comes together as it should in The Mermaid of Brooklyn. She deserves your love, attention, and affection.”
-Ralph Magazine 

 

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