Placeholders by James Roseman

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.