Mermaids and Meringue

The mix of fantasy elements with a cozy small-town setting feels so unique. I'm curious whether this was inspired by personal interest in mermaid stories or a desire to refresh the genre.

The world-building is adorable, but some of the magical rules seemed a little flexible. Did others feel like the consistency added to or detracted from the story?

The baking scenes added such a cozy touch, but I wonder if the author has a background in pastry or just wanted to deepen the small-town charm.