Placeholders by Roseman, James

Description

An unflinching and emotionally insightful debut about cultural identity, homesickness, love and loss.

In the five years following his brother’s death, Aaron has built himself a life of solitary routines. After moving from Dublin to Boston, and illegally overstaying her visa, Róisín has done the same.

When the two meet on a night out, they each find in the other something missing in their lives. A semblance of home.

Their relationship is complicated by their disparate religious backgrounds – Aaron is Jewish; Roísín is atheist – and by the harsh realities of everyday life. Just as they’re pushed to their breaking point, Roísín realises she is pregnant.

Placeholders is a poignant story of loneliness corrected and the transformative power of love.