Behind You Is the Sea is a compelling debut that fearlessly challenges stereotypes surrounding Palestinian culture.

‘Intergenerational differences … are explored from both sides with keen-eyed humanity and understanding’ Marie Claire

‘Funny and beautifully written’ Stylist Magazine

‘A rich panoply of a community’ Crack Magazine Book of the Month

‘Wonderful … A novel about ordinary people fighting for what they believe to be right’ Irish Independent

‘A poignant reminder of our shared humanity … brimming with hope and empathy’ Irish Times

Funny and touching, Behind You Is the Sea brings us into the homes and lives of three main families – the Baladis, the Salamehs, and the Ammars – Palestinian immigrants who’ve all found a different welcome in America.

Their various fates and struggles cause their community dynamic to sizzle and sometimes explode: the wealthy Ammar family employs young Maysoon Baladi, whose own family struggles financially, to clean up after their spoiled teenagers. Meanwhile, Marcus Salameh confronts his father in an effort to protect his younger sister for ‘dishonouring’ their name. Only a trip to Palestine, where Marcus experiences an unexpected and dramatic transformation, can bridge this seemingly unbridgeable divide between the two generations.

Behind You Is the Sea faces stereotypes about Palestinian culture head-on, shifting perspectives to weave a complex social fabric replete with weddings, funerals, broken hearts, and devastating secrets.