Waseem: A Novel

by Lilas Taha, Ibrahim El Helw (Narrator)

The unforgettable, heartbreaking story of a doomed love and a young man’s education in hope. In the crowded streets of a Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon, Waseem has learned to navigate life with quiet resilience. Born with a disability that leaves him largely unable to speak or walk, Waseem’s world is shaped by the small, intimate details of camp life.

For years, Waseem has shared a deep, unspoken bond with Ameena, his best friend and the girl he has silently loved from afar. Ameena, a fierce and compassionate spirit, has always been there for Waseem, supporting him through every challenge. The friendship is both fueled and challenged by their secret ambition–to travel to Palestine, their beloved but unreachable ancestral home.

Waseem is in turn a tear-wrenching and hilarious journey of friendship, love, and exile. It explores the intersections of physical and emotional healing, and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. Waseem's story is one of determination and transformation—a testament to the power of love and the unbreakable connection to one's roots, no matter how distant they may seem.

Audible Audio

Published January 20, 2026

About the author

Lilas Taha is a writer at heart, an electrical engineer by training, and a domestic abuse victim’s advocate by choice. She was born in Kuwait to a Syrian mother and a Palestinian father, and immigrated to the U.S. as a result of the Gulf war in 1990. She earned a master’s degree in Human Factors Engineering from the University of Wisconsin- Madison.
Pursuing her true passion for creative writing, Lilas brings her professional interest and her Middle Eastern background together in her novels.