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, Roisin 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; Roisin is atheist - and by the harsh realities of everyday life. Just as they're pushed to their breaking point, Roisin realises she is pregnant.

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

About the Author
James Roseman is an American author born in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and raised outside of Boston. He's lived in Dublin, Ireland, since 2019. He received his MFA in Creative Writing and Literature from the Bennington Writing Seminars at Bennington College, Vermont. PLACEHOLDERS is his debut novel. His short story, "The Intermediary of Abraham", was short-listed for the Bridport Prize 2023. He's now working on his second book, a dual-perspective account of two brothers struggling with grief and alcoholism.

Reviews
For anyone who's ever experienced homesickness, loss or that type of love that you can't bear to be without, this is the novel for you. Tender, bittersweet and beautifully written * Belfast Telegraph *
This bittersweet debut explores liminal times, places and relationships... It's a subtle depiction of the blurring of lines between religion and community, between love and obligation, rich with the sort of present-moment nostalgia that there's almost certainly a German word for * GQ (Best Books of 2024) *
A slender novel with a lot of emotional heft. James Roseman's debut is written with the simplicity of impeccable tailoring * Irish Independent *
Placeholders is an incredibly assured debut novel - humane, heartfelt and beautifully observed. Roseman raises huge questions about identity, belonging and family, excelling in his depiction of the small, everyday exchanges which make or break a relationship. A quietly, powerful novel, from a writer I'm keen to keep my eye on -- Jan Carson, author of Quickly, While They Still Have Horses
There's no way around it: James Roseman writes beautifully. Confident, complex, moving, funny, Placeholders is a novel that makes a beeline to the heart. Time and again, I didn't want it to end -- Declan Toohey, author of Perpetual Comedown



Book Information
ISBN 9780857308573
Author James Roseman
Format Paperback
Page Count 256
Imprint Verve Books
Publisher Verve Books