The Deeper the Water the Uglier the Fish by Katya Apekina
Mental illness and the breakdown of relationships lie at the heart of this debut novel. In the wake of their mother’s attempted suicide and subsequent commitment, teenagers Edith and Mae are sent to New York to live with their estranged father, a once-successful writer on the downswing of his career. While practical, loyal Edith blames her father for her mother’s condition, the enigmatic and empathetic Mae is drawn to him, craving his attention. This could prove disastrous when their father begins mining their experiences for his work.
