In Over Her Head

A New Jersey marina owner finds adventure and romance while conquering her fear of the sea in this playful but uninspired debut. When Erica Peck is forced overboard into shark territory by an ex-boyfriend who wants her to recover his lost diamonds, Reel Tritone, the “spare” second son of an undersea king, swims up to save her. Reel gives Erica the ability to breathe water and introduces her to talking fish, sea monsters and strange landscapes. Reel’s growing interest in Erica’s “shell-fillers” and hers in his “gono” lead to a night of island lust (conveniently, Reel has legs rather than a tail). Fennell’s sincere wit is overshadowed by stilted writing full of fishy wordplay, and Erica’s self-consciousness turns her visit to an exotic undersea fantasy world into pretty window dressing on a thoroughly traditional romance story. (June)