Bound in Shallows explores love, loyalty, and shifting priorities in a world shaped by a climate catastrophe.
For twenty years, Pearl, her husband Flannery, and their girlfriend Joni, have found their polyamorous relationship provides welcome stability in a world which has been catastrophically flooded. When Joni’s brother Scott arrives to share their cramped boat and Joni reveals a pregnancy that breaks their pact, this stability begins to fracture. As Joni’s pregnancy forces the family to travel inland to find medical attention, the pressures between them grow as betrayals are exposed.
Navigating the ethics of procreation during ecological disasters, and the jealousies which creep into even the most stable relationships during points of change, Bound in Shallows is a story of unity threatened from within, as Pearl is forced to redefine her views on love, choice, and uncertain futures.
What’s happening now?
I’m one year into my PhD, and reading for my critical has taken me down many rabbit holes. Currently, those include ethics of caring and concepts of ‘choice’ around abortion and reproduction. I’m also deep in the weeds of reading any and all climate change novels I can, particularly those that centre around floods or involve choices to do with reproduction (which is fewer than you might think!).
Accolades
Bound in Shallows was shortlisted for the Bridport Novel prize in 2024, and made the top 100 for the Bath Novel awards in 2025.
Alison Theresa 