Winner of the Arab American Book Award for Fiction
Bride of the Sea (Tin House)
During a snowy Cleveland February, newlyweds Muneer and Saeedah are starting their lives in America and expecting their first child. Soon, their marriage will end, and Muneer will return to Saudi Arabia, while Saeedah remains in Cleveland with their daughter, Hanadi. Saeedah disappears with the little girl to build a new, secret life, while Muneer is left desperately searching for his daughter in a different country for years.
The repercussions of this abduction ripple outward, not only changing the lives of Hanadi and her parents, but also their interwoven family and friends—those who must choose sides and hide their own deeply guarded secrets.
Praise for Bride of the Sea
“… an important addition to American fiction."
— The Washington Post
“... a deep, immersive dive into the world of women and the choices they make when constrained by family and expectations.”
— Washington City Paper
“... a devastatingly honest novel. ... a clear-eyed debut ...”
— Star Tribune
“Structurally and syntactically, Bride of the Sea is a gem.”
— BookPage, starred review
“Bride of the Sea displays the breadth and scope of grand family epics such as Min Jin Lee’s Pachinko ...”
— Chicago Review of Books
“A rich, finely rendered novel.”