The Mermaid's Tale

Summer, a thirty-something mermaid, is jobless and lives alone. Her only passion is dancing, but she started too late to be competition-worthy. She embarks on a journey of self-discovery and search for the perfect partner under the tutelage of Donny. Summer is forced to confront the dark memories of her past and dreams of the perfect dancing body, but dreads her sexuality. The Mermaid's Tale is a beautiful solo dance of a novel that explores the female body and the madness of the dance world.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 03 August 2023
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Ltd

In her early thirties, Summer finds herself living a solitary and jobless life, with minimal material desires. However, her true passion lies in ballroom dancing, a pursuit that she takes incredibly seriously, despite starting late in life. The ballroom dancing world poses a unique challenge for Summer, as it follows an ironclad rule where men lead and women follow. This poses a significant obstacle to her solitary existence.

Under the guidance of the legendary Donny, Summer embarks on a journey of self-discovery and search for the perfect partner. However, her hopes are repeatedly dashed as she encounters a diverse range of characters in the ballroom. These characters include Youlin, a young dancer from a dancing dynasty with an arrogant demeanor; Grace, a talented dancer who desires an ordinary life; and Meixin, a petite dancer who constantly struggles with her fiance/partner. Additionally, there is Donny, a gay dancer who is fiercely committed to competition and upholds traditional male norms.

As Summer continues her pursuit of Mr. Right, she is forced to confront the dark memories of her past. These memories include slut-shaming from her controlling mother, the attempted suicide of her cousin, and the painful humiliation of sex with a classmate. Despite her dreams of achieving a perfect dancing body, Summer dreads her own sexuality.

The Mermaid's Tale is a captivating solo dance of a novel that explores the female body and the madness of the dance world, reminiscent of works such as The Vegetarian and Black Swan. However, it is told in a lighter, dreamy, whimsical, and scintillating tone. Despite being written during the author's darkest days, it remains a book that captivates readers with its vivid storytelling and profound themes.

Weight: 148g
Dimension: 129 x 198 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781398507623