Welcome to Litsy!

I found this book through a random pinterest post. I must say I had really high expectations from it but those didn't come out to be true at all. A decent read for absolute beginners. I loved a few scenes here and there. But, absolutely adored a couple of side characters.
3/5🌟

This book made me SO ANXIOUS. Sahar is in love with her best friend, Nasrin. Nasrin is getting married. Sahar decides she should stop the wedding by becoming a man so she can marry Nasrin, because in Iran, homosexuality is legal but transsexuality is supported by the government. Sahar is not trans and Nasrin is SO not worth it. Gah. All the secondary characters are wonderful, especially Parveen. The writing style didn‘t really connect with me.

Angsty and heartbreaking and very well written. Farizan's lush language brings emotions and setting to life. Some stuff with trans narrative that to me felt like it might have lacked some nuance but I'm not the best judge of that so don't take my word for it. Overall good read. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Trying to squeeze in this last one for #sapphicseptember. Backlist title. Very much liking it so far. #amreadingromance

Interesting! May have to look into this one!

I own a pile of #lgbtq books — this being one of them. I was looking for a different title and chose this when the other proved MIA.

I‘ve been reading all LGBTQ titles this month. When I pulled this one of the shelf I realized how white my reading has been.

In addition to the story of “first love”, I very much enjoyed learning more about the culture of Iran. I did some research.

Great addition to LGBTQ; diversity

#yalgbtq2018

Following two girls in love, one is set up for marriage by her parents. The other seeks a way for them to remain together, jumping at sexual reassignment surgery which is legal where queer sexuality is not.
The book actually handles trans characters well, something I dreaded before reading it. It does set the protagonist up as incredibly naive, as she never really thinks about the transition properly until faced with the surgical reality of it.

It was enlightening to get an inside look at Iran's culture and the dangers of being gay there. I was surprised to learn about the trans community there and that the government pays for transitions. Does anyone know if that's true?

This is a quick read, and definitely more reality than happily ever after romance. Sahar and Nasarin were immature, impulsive, and annoying at times, but I still enjoyed the story.

Started this YA today! I absolutely love this cover and the small, gifty trim. #WeNeedDiverseBooks

Day 22 What's a girl with jet lag to do?!? Post her #JuneTunz of course! Today's song choice #IKissedAGirl is courtesy of @Mimi28 🤘🏼👩‍❤️‍👩I haven't read Sara Farizan's novel, but I've seen my reading friend @EllieDottie post about it and I'm pretty sure I heard about it from @bookriot 💋💋Two best friends growing up in Iran & they secretly love each other...sounds intriguing! [And check out KP, rockin the romper]

#junebookbugs Day 2 These are on my shelves to read sooner rather than later. #lgbtqauthors

This is the last YA I finished and I really enjoyed it! It is two girls in Iran who have been in love since they were children, and the changes their lives make as they grow up! #yayay1

This was a good read and told an excellent story. The only thing is I didn't feel the love Nasrin and Sahar had for each other until the last chapter. For the most part it felt like they were friends going through the motion until the last chapter. Not sure if was because of Iranian culture or the lack of description

Dang. I wanted to like this book better, and I did like just about everything going on in the background and the ending, but uggghhh Nasrin. Everyone (including Sahar) called Nasrin a spoiled brat, and she totally was. No redeemable qualities. Was it just physical lust? The deeper connection seemed really thin. I'll chalk it up to this being Farizan's first book--I'd like to give her another shot. Check her out on See Something Say Something 👇

I feel like I've used this book for a ton of posts the last 2 weeks that I've been reading this but I think it works perfectly for#diverselovestories #feistyfeb

And I'm already 100% into this story.

I'm picking up Sara Farizan's book for an #ownvoices pick for #diversathon. I always thought I hated olives, but I realized I actually loved them on a trip to West Asia, so I thought some cheese and olives would be perfect for #bookandyourfavesnack paired with a book set in West Asia! #readjanuary

A bittersweet and surprising take on an LGBT couple inside Iran.

I started reading this for the 2016 #readharder challenge but it'll work for the 2017 list too. Forbidden love and what one party does to try to save it. #2016ReadHarderChallenge #2017ReadHarderChallenge

With Negin Farsad narrating! so good #LitsyAtoZ #LitsyRC18 #LitsyChallenge2017

I really wanted to like this book, but Sahar's plan to transition from female to male just to "get the girl" seemed ridiculous. I get that teenage girls are dramatic and selfish, but Sahar took it to an extreme level. I did appreciate the insight into what it's like to be gay while growing up in the Middle East, and Parveen & Ali were great characters with a lot of depth. I think I just wanted more from this story than some whiny teenage girls.

Jumping right into my next read.

#seasonsreadings2016 #weneeddiversebooks @RealLifeReading

This was a wonderful, touching story of two queer girls growing up in Iran. It kept me company during the plane ride home from #BookRiotLive I'm sure the guy in the next seat was wondering why I would suddenly break out crying. Parts of it are not exactly subtle, but it's a lovely story overall.

I stayed away from this book for a while because it isn't what I'm used to. I realized that's a sorry reason. I heard Sara speak at Book Riot Live and she was so thoughtful, funny, and inspiring. The book was not what I expected. Almost a coming of age because you see the lead figuring herself off in just a couple hungry pages. Really amazing. Really recommend it.

Our flight is crazy delayed. Good thing there are 15 new books in my bag. Book Riot Live was such a fun time. Can't wait for next year.

Between Word, McNally Jackson, The Strand, and BRL freebies, my wallet is much lighter, but my TBR pile is groaning under the weight of the new additions. #BookRiotLive

Litsy and all of you have been a great influence and expanded my book selection. These are just a few that are on my radar. I'm currently reading several not pictured from my October TBR, tagged in the comments. #diversebooks #booktober

This book hits two of my #readharder criteria: LGBTQ and Setting outside North America

Quick and interesting read. Oh, to be 17 again. I don't wish for it. Especially in this book when it seems like they have to grow up faster than normal. The main character feels everything deeply, dramatically and slightly irrationally.

Just started this on my commute. It hits the ground running in terms of prose and plot and I am here for it!! #BookRiotLive #LGBT #YA

The book kept me up all night reading. I thought the characters were a bit more well developed in her second novel, but the plot in this one was more gripping.

WOW. This book is powerful. It sucks you right into the characters' world. I had trouble putting it down to come to work!

Oh my God. I should've read this earlier. Wonderfully queer YA with lovable characters. A quick read and hard to put down. I'm a big, big Farizan fan!

Written by a classmate of mine at Lesley University's MFA in Creative Writing program. I loved it then and can't wait to finish reading it in its entirety now.

I enjoyed this glimpse into queer and trans culture in Iran, but the main character of this novel ended up frustrating me more often than not. I'm glad I read it, but it went very slowly for me, despite the short length.

Loved the premise, couldn't get past the annoying characters.

Thought the plot of this novel sounded fascinating. However, I am just annoyed with the two main characters. One is flighty and superficial. The other is obsessive and delusional.

New YA for me today!