Bind Me Tighter Still
Bind Me Tighter Still by Lara Ehrlich, published by Red Hen Press on September 9, 2025, is a novel that intertwines elements of fantasy and domestic life. This 216-page book follows the journey of Ceto, a mermaid who trades her tail for legs in search of a new existence. As she navigates the complexities of motherhood and personal reinvention, Ceto’s life takes a turn when she flees with her daughter Naia back to the ocean, where she becomes a star performer in a mermaid burlesque.
Readers will find a rich narrative that delves into themes of empowerment, sacrifice, and the intricate dynamics between mothers and daughters. Set against the backdrop of Sirenland, a vibrant seaside attraction, the story explores the tension between spectacle and exploitation as Ceto’s performances draw attention and acclaim. As Naia matures and begins to question her mother’s choices, the novel raises poignant questions about identity and the costs of ambition. Bind Me Tighter Still presents a lush exploration of female strength and the challenges faced in a world that seeks to define it.
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Featured by CHICAGO REVIEW OF BOOKS, one of “12 MUST-READ BOOKS OF SEPTEMBER 2025”
AUTHOR OF AWARD-WINNING, ANIMAL WIFE
WINNER OF CAI EMMONS FICTION AWARD and ERIC HOFFER AWARD
FOREWORD INDIE AWARD FINALIST
“The poetic prose mixed with the intense subject matter creates an undertow that will pull readers in.”–Booklist
“A modern-day fairy tale that is both ghastly and beautiful.”–Kirkus
Mother and daughter mermaids navigate starting over and finding their place in the world in Lara Ehrlich’s debut novel.
The youngest siren sister, Ceto is weary of an existence driven by hunger, no better than a fish. She trades her tail for legs, marries the first man she meets, and bears a daughter–only to find domesticity as suffocating as the sea. Craving more, Ceto flees with her daughter Naia back to the ocean, where she reinvents herself as the star of a mermaid burlesque, performing in a lavish tank carved into the limestone cliffs above the waves.
At Sirenland, Ceto’s sensual performances and the erotic allure of her trained sirens transform the seaside attraction into a national sensation–a glittering empire where spectacle, desire, and female power reign. But as Naia comes of age and begins to question her mother’s vision, the boundary between empowerment and exploitation grows dangerously thin. When a shocking death rocks Sirenland, Ceto’s rule is threatened, and mother and daughter must reckon with the cost of performance on their already tenuous bond.
Bind Me Tighter Still is a lush, provocative exploration of power, sex, sacrifice, and motherhood–a celebration of female strength in a world determined to tame it.
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