The Oyster Thief: A Novel by Sonia Faruqi
It is young adult I think and will probably end with romance, in the course of grand adventures and great bravery.
I got it because one of the reviews said the author had done a great job creating a merpeople world. What they call their food and do for jobs and names for their tools and toys..
In a way it reminds me of learning about Harry Potter's world. It is outside my experience but the alternate reality makes me think. And I found myself looking at seaweed recipes a few days ago.
I just finished Stephen King's Outsider on CD