Aram Mrjoian, in this moving debut, has captured a family in the throes of sorrow and confusion. Not only are they struggling with the pain and grief from the unexpected loss of a family member, but with unanswered questions and their own identities. The alternating timeline also allows us to observe the effects of trauma that ripple throughout the generations. The tragedy, the trauma, and the historical horrors of the Armenian genocide in 1915 make this a heavy read, but it is powerful and grips your heart.

Thank you @harperaudio for the gifted audiobook via #NetGalley. Narrated by Vikas Adam, the narration enhanced the prose beautifully.

✨ Review ✨ Waterline by Aram Mrjoian; Narrated by Vikas Adam

Thanks to HarperVia, Harper Audio, and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!

One of my favorite books of the year so far!

This frames the book with the stories of Gregor, family patriarch, and his experience defending Musa Dagh and living through the Armenian genocide, anchoring the book in resistance and resilience.

The rest of the story moves between POVs of Gregor’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren, set in recent times in Grosse Ile, Michigan. The family discovers Mari, one of the great-grandchildren drowned in Lake Michigan, and her parents, aunt & uncle, and cousins must grapple with her death, their generational trauma, and what's happening in the world around them. I love these kind of overlapping, intersecting, fragmented stories told through multiple POVs.

This is filled with family drama, great writing, & themes of nature/water as the characters work through issues of grief and identity. I loved this book, and I thought it was so fantastically crafted. Even down to the symbolism of the cover, this was excellent all around!

🎧 I loved the narration of this book - I listened to the whole thing, and could barely put it down. I cruised through this in a day easily because the storytelling was so compelling.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: literary fiction,
Setting: former Ottoman Empire, contemporary Grosse Ile, Michigan + Chicago, Milwaukee, Yellowstone, etc.
Length: 8 hours 18 minutes
Reminds me of: Middlesex
Pub Date: Jun 03 2025

Read this if you like:
⭕️ literary fiction
⭕️ books reflection on generational trauma
⭕️ Two Hearted beer
⭕️ stories of resistance and resilience

WATERLINE is a novel that explores the aftershocks when a young Armenian American woman, Mari, drowns in Lake Michigan. Her parents—as well as her uncle’s family, who live right next door to them on the island of Grosse Ile—have to contend with this devastating loss of their beloved daughter/niece/cousin, especially as media attention focuses on the scandalous circumstances of her death.

WATERLINE just didn’t hit me at the right time. I’d recently read Yiyun Li’s THINGS IN NATURE MERELY GROW, which is such a piercing, illuminating work of a mother mourning a child’s suicide that the ways the extended family members cope in WATERLINE felt surface-level and under-explored. Perhaps that’s truer to reality; few of us have Li’s courage or honesty as we introspect. But I suppose I didn’t really understand the point of the book, then. I wish it had amplified and better integrated the historical storyline of Gregor, the patriarch of the family, who survived the Armenian Genocide and passed on the tales of his exploits to his children. I’ve read a lot of books about generational trauma, and it seems like Mrjoian is reaching to make that connection, but it didn’t work for me. I never expect authors to write about the trauma in their own heritage (let’s not pigeonhole authors in that way!) but if you’re going to go there, then go all the way there. And the contemporary storyline on its own was not compelling enough for me.

That said, I think readers interested in contemporary family dramas, including Midwestern high schooler/new adult misadventures, parents who are just as messy as their children, and how we hold together after loss, will appreciate this debut novel. Especially if you have a tight-knit extended family, you may appreciate this depiction of the Kurkjians and how they survive. Frankly, I could not resist that cover!

4.5


This was so good. I really don’t know much about the Armenian genocide, but this made me want to read more about it (do I pick up the Forty Days of Musa Dagh??). I love a family epic and this was so good, multiple generations and different perspectives. Really demonstrates the wide reaching effect of generational trauma. I loved that each character had such a distinct voice and felt engaged in each and every perspective. The narration was excellent, I found myself wanting to keep listening. I think the author does such a good job of expressing the pain of your family lineage coming from horrible and unspeakable violence and then having to continue to witness horrible and unspeakable violence in your own lifetime. I liked the ambiguity of the ending and how it shows that grief shatters family systems. Really loved this one, would definitely recommend the audiobook.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Audio for an advanced listener copy in exchange for an honest review

Waterline by Aram Mrjoian
Published on June 3rd, 2025
Thank you, Harper Audio, for the advanced audiobook via Netgalley.


Set in Gross Ile, Michigan, the novel follows the Kurkjian family facing the death of Mari, the eldest of the youngest generation, whose body was found in Lake Michigan.

The novel portrays how family ties can be affected due to secrecy, miscommunication, and the effects of inherited trauma.

Gregor, the eldest of the Kurkjian, survived the Armenian genocide during the Otoman empire. His great-grandchildren didn't know this sad part of the story for a long time. Behind this, there is a lot of trauma, and this affects everyone, and the story repeats.
Aside from the grief theme, it also addresses xenophobia, and water is used as a symbol present in the novel from beginning to end.

I found this debut novel moving and heartwrenching, and it made me think of the need to know own's family history and also the importance of preserving a cultural heritage.
Some facts about the Armenian genocide are mentioned through Gregor's memory. I have read about this before, so even if I didn't learn anything new, it increased my curiosity for reading more about Musa Dagh.
The audiobook is narrated by Vikas Adam, and his voice acting was well performed, making the story enthralling and captivating.

Aram Mrjoian’s Waterline is a poignant, beautifully layered novel that tells the story of the Kurkjian family across four generations—beginning with Gregor, a survivor of the Armenian genocide, and culminating with Talin, the family’s youngest member growing up in contemporary America. As someone of Greek descent, with a family history deeply affected by similar atrocities, I found the novel both resonant and emotionally profound.

This is a multigenerational saga that masterfully explores the Armenian diaspora—from the trauma of escaping Turkey to the complexities of assimilation in places like Michigan. Mrjoian doesn’t shy away from showing how these past wounds shape the present, how tradition both anchors and isolates, and how the so-called American “melting pot” can often dilute vital truths.

One of the things I appreciated most was how real the characters felt. Each member of the Kurkjian family is distinct and believable, grappling with the weight of memory, cultural identity, and unspoken expectations. Their struggles were deeply relatable, especially through the lens of inherited trauma—a theme that rings true far beyond the Armenian experience.

Spoilers ahead:

There’s a quote that struck me to my core and, in many ways, reframed how I viewed the entire novel:

"Nobody talks about their story after they've left the mountain."

The mountain here refers to Musa Dagh, where Gregor was part of a historical rebellion during the genocide. Throughout the novel, there’s a persistent emphasis on the importance of remembering and telling the story of survival. Yet, paradoxically, there's also a profound silence around the family's present-day pain. The past is memorialized, but the now is buried.

This contradiction—the reverence for history alongside a reluctance to confront current suffering—reveals how generational trauma doesn’t fade. It mutates. The Kurkjians’ insistence on storytelling becomes, ironically, a tool of suppression when their own family’s modern struggles go unspoken. Trauma becomes a ripple: when it hits the barrier of silence, it reflects backward.

That’s why, for me, the contrast between Gregor and Mari is so devastating. Gregor used the Mediterranean Sea to escape and survive; Mari, generations later, seeks escape in the same water—but for her, it’s an end, not a beginning.

Waterline is a heartbreaking and powerful reflection on legacy, silence, and survival. Mrjoian has written a novel that feels both intimate and vast, personal yet universally important. Highly recommended for anyone interested in diasporic stories, intergenerational trauma, or simply gorgeously written fiction.

Waterline is an exceptional, sparse multi-generational story about an Armenian family living in Michigan. In present day, one family member has died, leaving those who remain behind to contend with their family's past trauma and how it has played out in their lives. Aram Mrjoian manages to pack quite a lot into a very short number of pages, something that I was so impressed with. The emotional pull of Waterline had me hooked from the outset and I am sure that this title will be on several end-of-year favorite lists.

I don't typically read books that skew more literary on audio but I loved the narration on Waterline. It really made me feel as if I was in the midst of the story and I highly recommend this version.

Waterline is a multi-generational family story filled with grief and secrets. It’s a quiet novel beautifully written and amazingly narrated. It asks that the reader to consider if we can ever truly escape the trauma of our history.

This story unfolds slowly as a tight knit family learns of an unfathomable death. It quickly takes off following members within three generations of an Armenian family living in a small island suburb on Lake Michigan. Each family member has a host of personal problems exacerbated by grief. They had individual and devastating means of coping alone.

The writing held the line between concise and elaborate almost perfectly. I loved knowing small details about their clothes or hair in quick spurts that painted a picture without belaboring the story. I loved that this is as much a story about their lives as Armenian-Americans as it was about being Michiganders with relevant and well-placed references to things specific to the state.

The symbolism of water and the mountains was well-executed and thoroughly explored how each person managed or mismanaged their grief and despair.

The narrator was superb. He did a great job of creating distinction between the characters, maintaining a great pace and adding emphasis where needed. The dad sounded a bit like Bob from Bob’s Burgers which was funny. I was engaged the entire time by the combination of a great story and wonderful narration.

I wish we had heard more from the great grand parents and their experiences in Armenia and after arriving in the US. We get just enough details to fill in necessary information in the story (and to be heartbroken!) but I would have loved more to deepen the historical fiction aspect. I can appreciate the intentionality of the reader only knowing as much as the characters know.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book and I would definitely recommend it to others.

(3.5) This is a book dripping with the drama of a family being eaten from the inside. Waterline dives deep into grief, family trauma, and the damage that comes from stories we bury too deep. It follows the ripple effects of one woman’s death as her Armenian American family struggles to stay afloat. Woven throughout are flashbacks of the great-grandfather’s journey to the U.S. after surviving the Armenian genocide, which is a legacy that looms over the present day story.

The prose is strong, the themes are heavy, and the emotional resonance is there, especially in the quieter moments of memory and mourning. But as someone from Michigan, I have to say… some of the Michigan references felt like they were ripped straight from a "Midwest starter pack" There was a whole scene involving Faygo and Vernors that had me raising an eyebrow like, okay, we get it.

What didn’t land for me was the thread between past and present. The connection between the grandfather’s refugee trauma and the family’s current unraveling felt implied but underdeveloped. I wanted to feel the weight of generational inheritance, but it never quite stitched itself into the emotional spine of the book.

Still, Waterline is a thoughtful meditation on loss and the quiet disintegration of a family, and there’s a lot to admire in its ambition. If you're drawn to literary fiction with layered grief and cultural memory, this one might be worth checking out. Just don’t expect it to crack open every thread it weaves.

Thanks to the author, HarperAudio, and NetGalley for early access to the audiobook, which is publishing June 3, 2025!

What an emotional journey. The way this family is portrayed as they endure loss, while weaving in an exploration of generational trauma and cultural identity is masterful, especially for a debut. And it’s told in such stunning prose. Incredible.

Told through the perspectives of various family members, this book looks at the fallout from a current tragedy, the suicide of a beloved daughter, niece, and cousin, as well as the family's identity and fall out as descendants of Armenian refugees who survived a civil war. The family members live in a remote island in Michigan, and the two brothers are actually neighbors. Growing up, the children were close, and now that Mari has died, her death affects the teens and young adults in different ways.

I felt this was really well written and evocative, as I noticed how clearly the author wrote about the environment that shaped the characters and their heritage. I could tell he was writing from experience. My family still has connections to our immigrant past, and cousins are as close as siblings in many ways.

I think this was an interesting epic look at a family trying to survive. I loved the cover, and learning more about the characters, but ultimately this book was not for me.

A slow, sad novel about an Armenian family- the grandfather’s watery escape from massacre to the watery death of one of his granddaughters. Secrets and topics “not discussed” fester. Nice enough writing but mostly about fights, drinking, and U Michigan vs Michigan State. The audiobook is well narrated. There are other more impactful books about the genocide of Armenians. Perhaps the most important thing here is what retelling the story means to Armenian-Americans with no knowledge of history. 3.4 rounded down.
My thanks to the author, publisher, @HarperAudio, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook of #Waterline for review purposes. Publication date: 3 June 2025.

True rating: 4.5

The Kurkjians have always been close. Their affection binds them as much as ancestry. The current two generations find their lives disrupted when the eldest of the brothers' children takes their life. Always vibrant and go-getting, a big sister to her cousins, the loss comes with no warning signs. This familial quake tips the unsteady balance each character had already been holding onto in their own personal lives. “Waterline” follows each family member on a new phase of self discovery as individuals, as a family, and for finding their place within their shared immigrant history.

It isn't often when I read a book that I am gripped by a writing style. To be certain there are many books, usually of other genres, that have very luscious and flowery descriptions that can draw me in. There are turns of phrases that will snatch my attention. This was a different experience. “Waterline” is written in a very succinct manner that also flows, drawing the reader on, while selecting very poignant moments to hit. I was so caught up in the rhythm that it took half the novel to realize it was actually rather reflective and slow. I didn't experience a drain or the sensation of slogging through. The pacing added to the weight of the characters' concerns while reflecting how intense moments can feel intense and rushed while also unending. It made me aware that this might be a book for those who do not enjoy more causal, less action based, stories.

Luckily for me, I frequently at least respect those quieter works. This I was actively enjoying. I felt deeply for each character. I felt sympathy for even those caught in anger, aggression, or committing an act of wrong doing. The gate into each mind and heart imprints on you.

The path that this book leads to could have completely missed the mark. "Waterline" hit a bullseye for this reader. It examines not only grief but that life itself is constantly editing, changing, adding. One is never really 'done' growing until the very end. To see where each character was at the story's end, even if there were still much they had to settle internally, felt completely appropriate. It wedged itself into that space that is somewhere between heartwarming and wrenching.

I will say that I expected the Armenian history to be more of a subject rather than a connecting thread. What and how we see elements of history and culture work wonderfully. It had inferred something different from the summary. As someone who is horribly negligent to that era and place I really appreciated the glimpse my education glazed over at best.

It would be criminal not to give a slow clap to Vikas Adam, the narrator, who was superb in his inflections with each character, attitude, and moment. My savoring of the words could very well been accredited to his performance as it was to the text.

From start to finish I found this to be a stunning work. To think that it is a debut is mind blowing. Aram Mrjoian could very well be a voice many will soon know and remember.

I enjoyed listening to this audiobook. The narrator did a great job and I was able to listen on 1.5 speed. I didn't encounter any audio or production issues.

When I saw that “Waterline” was being released as an audiobook narrated by Vikas Adams, I was eager to listen. "Waterline," written by Aram Mrjoian, is an emotional novel that explores the lives of families descended from Gregor, a survivor of the Armenian genocide. Set in near-present-day Michigan on a small island near Detroit, the story focuses on his great-grandsons, the Kurkjian brothers, who live next to each other. Their close-knit lives are turned upside down when they learn that one of their daughters, Mari, has drowned.

The novel delves into various themes, including isolation, trauma, mourning, grief, and loneliness. It examines concepts such as biodegradability—what returns to the earth—and the lingering effects of toxicity. Additionally, it highlights the paradox of finding comfort in strangers rather than in one’s loved ones.

The term "waterline" refers to a measure of stability that helps people understand pressure and assess risk. Mari’s family, living on an island, experiences mourning in a way that reflects the isolation of their surroundings. The Great Lakes surround them, and they are haunted by both the water and their past, which inevitably impacts the stability of their present and future.

Vikas Adams’ narration is clear, and he possesses a good emotional range, effectively portraying multiple characters and drawing listeners into the story. Overall, I recommend this book, whether in audio format or as a read.

Fans of "Crying in H Mart" by Michelle Zauner, "Slow Noodles" by Chantha Nguon, "Homeseeking" by Karissa Chen, "Fire Exit" by Morgan Talty, "Middlesex" by Jeffrey Eugenides, "Martyr" by Kaveh Akbar, and "My Friends" by Hisham Matar are likely to appreciate this novel. I highly recommend it, and I want to thank HarperVia and NetGalley for the ARC.

P.S. In a sort of reverse content warning, I want to reassure readers that while the book does mention genocide, rape, murder, and suicide, the details are not explicit. Instead, this book focuses on the emotional fallout and how it affects a family.