Zoraida Córdova delivers a deeply personal love letter to Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” with Kiss the Girl, the third installment in Disney’s ambitious “Meant to Be” series. As an author who considers the original fairy tale part of her “creative DNA,” Córdova brings authentic emotional depth to this contemporary reimagining that transcends typical celebrity romance tropes.
The novel follows Ariel del Mar, the lead singer of global pop sensation Siren Seven, as she stands at the crossroads between her meticulously controlled public life and her yearning for authentic connection. When she meets Eric Reyes, the passionate lead singer of up-and-coming band Star Crossed, during a night of incognito rebellion, both their worlds shift dramatically. What begins as a chance encounter in Brooklyn becomes a summer-long journey of self-discovery that challenges everything Ariel thought she knew about love, identity, and artistic freedom.
The Heart of Modern Fairy Tale Romance
Córdova’s genius lies in her ability to capture the essence of the original Little Mermaid story while crafting something entirely contemporary and relevant. Ariel’s struggle isn’t about trading her voice for legs—it’s about finding her authentic voice in an industry that has packaged her since childhood. The transformation from Ariel del Mar, the glittering pop princess, to Melody Marín, the girl who discovers herself on a cramped tour bus, feels both magical and grounded in real emotion.
The romance between Ariel and Eric unfolds with the perfect blend of instant chemistry and slow-burn development. Their connection transcends physical attraction; they bond over shared playlists, late-night conversations about music, and the vulnerability that comes with artistic expression. Eric’s initial prejudice against pop music and his journey to understanding Ariel’s artistic worth mirrors the broader theme of looking beyond surface appearances.
Character Development and Authentic Voices
Ariel’s Journey of Self-Discovery
Ariel’s character arc represents one of the strongest elements in the novel. Córdova masterfully portrays her evolution from a woman who has never made an independent decision to someone who chooses love and authenticity over security and control. The internal conflict between Ariel del Mar the brand and Melody Marín the person creates compelling tension throughout the narrative. Her relationship with her controlling father, Teodoro del Mar, adds layers of complexity that elevate this beyond simple romance into a story about family dynamics, autonomy, and artistic integrity.
Supporting Characters That Shine
The ensemble cast brings warmth and authenticity to the story. Eric’s bandmates in Star Crossed feel like real people with distinct personalities and backstories, while Ariel’s six sisters each have enough characterization to feel individual despite their limited page time. Odelia, the band’s manager, serves as both mother figure and mentor, providing crucial guidance during Ariel’s transformation.
The Music Industry as Character
Córdova’s portrayal of the music industry feels authentic and nuanced. Rather than painting broad strokes of “industry bad, indie good,” she explores the complexities of artistic creation, commercial success, and personal fulfillment. The tension between Siren Seven’s manufactured pop perfection and Star Crossed’s raw authenticity drives much of the novel’s thematic weight.
The way music functions throughout the story—as shared playlists, live performances, and collaborative creation—demonstrates Córdova’s deep understanding of how artists connect. The scenes involving Ariel and Eric working on music together pulse with creative energy and genuine chemistry.
Writing Style and Emotional Resonance
Córdova’s prose carries a lyrical quality that suits the musical setting perfectly. Her ability to capture both the glittering spectacle of pop stardom and the intimate moments of tour bus life showcases impressive range. The dialogue feels natural and age-appropriate, avoiding the overly polished speech that sometimes plagues celebrity romance novels.
The author’s personal connection to “The Little Mermaid” infuses every page with genuine affection for the source material. Rather than simply transplanting plot points, she understands the emotional core of Ariel’s story and translates it beautifully into contemporary terms.
Critical Analysis and Areas for Growth
While Kiss the Girl succeeds on many levels, certain elements feel underdeveloped. The resolution of Ariel’s relationship with her father comes perhaps too easily, given the years of manipulation and control depicted earlier in the novel. Additionally, some of the industry politics could have been explored more deeply to add another layer of realism to the story.
The pacing occasionally suffers during the middle sections, where the tour life repetition mirrors real-world monotony but sometimes slows narrative momentum. However, these quieter moments also contain some of the novel’s most intimate character development.
Connection to the Meant to Be Series
Kiss the Girl stands proudly alongside its series companions while maintaining its unique voice. Following Julie Murphy’s If the Shoe Fits (a body-positive Cinderella retelling) and Jasmine Guillory’s By the Book (a publishing-world Beauty and the Beast), Córdova’s contribution maintains the series’ high standard for thoughtful adaptation. The upcoming Tangled Up in You by Christina Lauren and Worth Fighting For by Jesse Q. Sutanto continue the series’ commitment to diverse voices and fresh perspectives on beloved stories.
Córdova’s Literary Landscape
Readers familiar with Córdova’s previous work, including the Brooklyn Brujas series and The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina, will recognize her talent for blending contemporary settings with deeper mythological resonance. Her experience writing both young adult and adult fiction serves her well here, creating a romance that feels mature and emotionally honest.
Final Thoughts: A Song Worth Singing
Kiss the Girl succeeds as both a standalone romance and a worthy addition to the Disney fairy tale reimagining trend. Córdova’s deep personal connection to the source material, combined with her skilled character development and authentic portrayal of the music industry, creates a novel that resonates long after the final page.
The story works because it understands that the best adaptations don’t simply retell—they reinterpret the core emotional truths that made the original compelling. Ariel’s journey to find her voice, both literally and figuratively, speaks to anyone who has ever felt trapped by others’ expectations or struggled to maintain authenticity in a world that demands performance.
For romance readers seeking emotional depth alongside their happily-ever-after, Kiss the Girl delivers beautifully. It’s a reminder that sometimes the greatest risk is being authentically yourself—and that love, like the best music, happens when two people create something beautiful together.
Similar Reads to Explore
If you enjoyed Kiss the Girl, consider these similar contemporary romances:
- Beach Read by Emily Henry – Writers discovering love and authentic voice
- The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid – Hollywood glamour meets authentic love story
- Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid – Music industry romance with ensemble cast
- What a Duke Dares by Anna Campbell – Emotional depth and character transformation
- The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren – Enemies-to-lovers with authentic chemistry
The “Meant to Be” series continues to prove that fairy tale retellings work best when they honor the emotional core of the original while fearlessly embracing contemporary relevance. Kiss the Girl stands as a testament to the enduring power of stories about finding your voice, choosing love over security, and discovering that sometimes the greatest adventure begins when you stop performing and start living authentically.
