In the Middle Lies the River

 

The Apprentice's Butler

#2 : In the Middle Lies the River

Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Young Adult, New Adult

Themes: green card marriage; Midwest setting; Muslim heritage; identity crisis; diaspora in the U.S.; college life; graduate life; toxic relationships

Availability: On Amazon (paperback and Kindle), and other retailers via D2D (ebook).

Cover art by Ann Sheng 

Leaving Maui for college, Emir Sosenko believes he has finally escaped a painful childhood and severed his ties to the past. Or so he thought. Campus life is complicated, when not overwhelming, pulling him at times into dark places, and at others into confusing delights and discoveries shaped by friendships and romantic relationships. Despite his efforts, the connection with his mother brings pain back in his life at unexpected turns. As Emir moves through academic ambition, immigration realities, and intimacy, his religious identity, ethnicity, and heritage increasingly collide, forcing him to confront whether the future he is building can truly hold together.

CONTENT ADVISORY: This book contains references to potentially triggering subject matter, including domestic violence, self-harm, ethnic and religious persecution, genocide, sexual abuse, unhealthy relationships, and immigration-related trauma. These experiences are portrayed as painful and real aspects of life for multiple households. 

This work does not aim to educate or provide objective guidance on these issues. Rather, the authors hope that acknowledging their impact may foster empathy for survivors and encourage readers to seek further understanding, education, and engagement.