The author might have used Andersen's fable as a jumping point, but all similarities with the fish out of water classic end even before our handsome, arrogant and narcissistic prince parts ways with his tail. Right off the bat, Naru flat out refuses to just give up his voice and this devilishly wicked take on the Sea Witch is forced to negotiate their deal to accommodate for Naru's demands, finally settling for taking away "some" of his beauty. This grants Naru not only a human body but a whole year for getting intimate with the object of his affection. On the downside, if he fails to form a bond with the human or his secret it's revealed, he will turn to foam.
The fun starts after Naru gets his wish and immediately discovers that there's a lot more to this human girl that the giggling scholar he fell for from afar. Such is the nature of love at first sight or, more accurately, a "crush". Now he's stuck in an impossible situation where his life literally depends on convincing a reluctant Nami of loving when he himself does not even like her... most of the time. But he still finds all this human stuff fascinating and gets all giddy at things like a hot bath and food (as long as it's not seafood...); watching him react to the most mundane stuff like an overstimulated five years old is super fun and something I have always wished The Little Mermaid spent a little more time on.
Rounding the main cast, you have Nami's friend (in place of the human princess from the tale) -
who takes credit for saving her to Naru's chagrin and is obviously in love with her - and Nami's perpetually cheerful live in helper at the inn her father left her, both interesting enough, with ample room for development.
The art is nice enough, but it's obvious the author enjoys much more drawing males: all the girls look frustratingly similar and there's nothing distinctive enough about Nami to differentiate her from her peers.
That said, I can hardly wait for the next chapter!