This book was adorable, hard hitting and a rollercoaster all in one. When I picked this up I was in the mood for a cute, fast paced romance. What I got was so much more. Yes, there was romance however the hard issues that this book deals with is absolutely phenomenal.

Magnus and Soraya couldn't be more different however there are more similarities than you'd expect. I loved how this book is split into parts as things progress in the book and I love that its split between 2 time lines and 2 POV's. I loved seeing how not only Magnus and Soraya's relationship progressed but also Neda's.

I love how the book didn't just focus on her romantic relationship but also Soraya's relationship with her mum, dad and bestfriend Oliver. Soraya's growth throughout this book is huge to say that she starts off in the book as wanting to use someone she couldn't possibly fall in love with to have her first kiss with.

This book is not only entertaining but immense. I loved every second and devoured the whole book in a day.

An original and thought provoking read from Sara Jafari. Two generations of women living according to their cultural, religion and family beliefs. Two different times and places. Hard decisions to be made and how they ripple across the outer family circle. Well worth a read ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really enjoyed reading this tale told from dual perspectives; one from Neda and one from Soraya, Mother and youngest daughter. The differences between the two women being vast. Neda born and raised in Tehran, moving to the UK as a married woman. Educated and strong, head of the family in many respects. Soraya, youngest of four born and raised in the UK in a strict Muslim family. Torn between what is expected of her by her family and the pull and desire to fit in with her peers.

We follow the differences of courtship between Neda in Iran/UK and Soraya in UK. At 21 Soraya had never even had a first kiss, petrified of breaking rules and dishonouring her family. It was extremely isolating for Soraya to be raised somewhere where everyone acted completely different to how she was expected to be and I really did feel sorry for her. Then she meets Magnus, Magnus is a player, he has been round the block and has a reputation. Instagram profile full of larking about and is by no means Soraya’s type. Until she overhears he has similar family struggles to her and see’s a very different side to him, one he hides from everyone else. Who was the real Magnus? The clown or the intelligent, sensitive boy she saw a glimpse of.

It was a sad but informative tale, covering rape, addiction, religion, prejudice and racism. There was a strong message of hope and to show that people can change, we can break free from the constraints and we all have the right to be happy and loved, no matter who or where we are.

I did enjoy this book and think this is one of those books everyone should read. No one really knows what goes on behind closed doors. Beautifully written book.

Wow, what a beautiful story!! I love a romance book so was super excited to read this anyway, but it was SO much more than a romance!!

The book follows Soraya, a university student struggling to find herself because of her traditional Muslim upbringing, battling against her desire to fit in. She meets Magnus, a popular and confident guy who she decides is completely mismatched to her.

When Magnus shows interest in her, Soraya decides he might be the perfect person to have her first kiss with, and to ‘practice’ for when she found her perfect match. The last thing she imagines she’ll find is first love, but sometimes the person you least expect might turn out to be the perfect fit…

The timeline flips between Soraya’s life in 2014, and her mother Neda’s life in Iran in the 70s.

The insight into a traditional Muslim family, and how women in particular are treated within their families was so interesting, yet heartbreaking too. Seeing the more traditional values and experiences within a Muslim family in the 70s, and how those values have adapted but not really changed into the 2010s, was a real cultural education for me.

There are also other important topics discussed, like addiction, sexual consent, and domestic abuse. The addiction side of things was quite an emotional read for me, as I have had close family members suffer with opioid and methadone addiction in the past. I thought these issues were dealt with really sensitively and accurately though, and it was just a really beautiful read.

There were also some amazing secondary characters, including Oliver and Parvin!

I have nothing bad to say about this book, and I highly recommend you all to read it!

Synopsis: Soraya, recently graduated from Goldsmiths with no graduate job and having never been kissed, starts to date Magnus just for a bit of fun and practice - they’re so different that she’ll never fall for him (ha). Forbidden from dating by her parents, she has to keep the relationship a secret from her British-Iranian family, straining their bonds and making Soraya question the things her parents might be hiding from her.
•••
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
This had major Normal People vibes, and I don’t mean that as a simple comparison based on the fact that it’s an early-twenties love story. Jafari’s writing style felt very similar to Rooney’s - third person, kind of detached, but also really poignant and observant. I didn’t feel close to the main characters, but they did feel realistic.

This book went seriously further than I expected - the blurb (and the name) sells it as a romance novel, but I honestly think the Soraya/Magnus relationship feels like a side plot, or just one part of the much bigger story that explores religion and shame with sex and relationships, addiction, family secrets, immigration, class and racism. It’s a dual timeline - a significant amount of the book follows Soraya’s mother Neda as she and her husband meet and move to the UK from Iran. This centred the family drama for me and made their story and Soraya’s relationship with her mum so much richer and it’s a shame the way the book is marketed doesn’t focus more on the inter-generational aspect.

I love when books actually feature characters in their early twenties, and this one was also really readable, with great rep of Iranian/Muslim families and really fleshed out characters.
•••
#TheMismatch
Free advance digital copy from #NetGalley and @arrowpublishing

*tw alcohol abuse, drug addiction, domestic abuse

Although this book is described as a romance I feel the romantic element is the least important part of the story. Set in the present from Soraya point of view and experience of life as she finishes university and navigates the post graduation time, and the past from her mum Nedas point of view of her experiences at the same age, it looks at so many things that are often not discussed or written about. I learnt a lot about a culture I, shamefully, knew very little about. I also loved the exploration of mother/daughter relationships and the change in Soraya as she learns more about herself and her family.

Now this book wasn’t what I was expecting at all, it was so much more and I devoured it. It was so good.

Told from 2 perspectives, 2014 we follow Soroya as she graduates from university and try’s to figure out who she is and what she wants to do with her life and we follow her mum Neda back in the 70’s as she begins married life and moves from Iran to England. Both stories are intriguing, eye opening and unique.

The characters and settings come to life in The Mismatch and I couldn’t set it down. I got so wrapped up in the characters my emotions were all over the place, I felt their anger, hurt, disappointment, joy and happiness as if it were happening to me.

I went into this story expecting a light hearted read, what i got was a well crafted story about culture, identity, family and love. It was just fantastic and I highly recommend you pick it up.

From reading the synopsis you may think that this book is a sweet and light romance. It’s not.

It is a dual timeline and we jump between Soraya in the UK from 2014 and her mother, Neda in Tehran and Liverpool from 1973 onwards.

This book tackles some deep, thought-provoking topics - the dynamics of this Muslim family, immigration, sex (different treatment of men and women, and the act itself), abuse and addictions to name a few.

It has quite a slow start but the chapters are short so you get through it quickly. If you like reading about family dynamics and struggles, or relationships between two cultural backgrounds, this book could be right up your street!

“But Neda thought the whole point of freedom was to have choice. What was the point of freedom if it meant you were uncomfortable and not allowed to be quite yourself? How was that freedom?” Sara Jafari
🔸
I picked up The Mismatch thinking it would be a light romantic comedy. I'm sceptical of romcoms because I don't like anything too cheesy or cliché, so I'm pleased to report that The Mismatch was neither of these things- and was also so much more than a boy meets girl story.
🔸
The Mismatch centers around the life of a young British-Iranian woman Soraya Nazari, and her mother Neda, an Iranian 🇮🇷 immigrant and professor of biochemistry. The story switches between Iran and the UK, and I appreciated the cultural and historical lessons woven into the story. Soraya is struggling with her identity and the conflict between wanting to be a 'good Muslim' and trying to figure out where her Iranian identity lies in relation to her British identity- especially once she starts dating Magnus who is a quintissentially British lad. Other themes in this book include addiction, domestic and emotional abuse and family dysfunction.
🔸
Overall, I enjoyed this unconventional story and its approach to the sensitive topics that have been covered- I found it thought provoking and emotional. 4/5 ⭐️
🔸
Many thanks to @netgalley and @penguinrandomhouse for my copy of this book 💫

Soraya's & Neda's stories were enough to get me out of the reading slump I've found myself in lately...

Whilst aspects of this book were predictable, others were gently educational and offered an insight into the dilemmas faced by this Iranian family growing up in the UK, primarily the struggles that are faced where the two cultures cross.

This book is wonderful. It's got all the cosy feelgood-ness of a romance with plenty of family drama, a bit of coming of age and some serious issues being discussed (including racism, Islamophobia and addiction). Plus it's told by multiple people across multiple time periods - always a win for me!

Soraya is 21, full of Muslim guilt and never been kissed. After her graduation she decides to pick one of the most popular men from her course to use as her first kiss. He seems interested in her, she's not sure why, so what could go wrong? That is until she starts falling for him and things get messy. She's got a family to hide him from, friends that don't like him and all whilst she's trying to find a post-uni job in London!

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys contemporary fiction and romance.

A lovely book written quite well by the author. I laughed, I cried, I thoroughly enjoyed it! I felt that some storylines in the second half were a little rushed, so I hope to see a sequel or a companion book (can we get a book for Oliver??) in the future. While the book didn’t end the way I wanted, I genuinely believe the author made the best choice for the ending, as it would not have been as realistic.

Everyone needs to read this book! I got through it in a day, it was so gripping, I have to know how it would pan out for Soraya and Magnus.
The story is told through the POV of both mother and daughter and their experiences of navigating life and love in the UK, it really helps the reader to understand the cultural differences in a relatable way. Both characters are easy to identify with, one as a struggling working mother and one as a graduate seeking employment, both are raw and strong despite facing racism, alcoholism, physical abuse and loneliness.
A truly heartfelt story. I will definitely look out for more by this author.

A beautifully accessible story of the credible lives of an Iranian family across 2 generations and 2 continents

Neda and Hossain are Iranian, they marry and move to Liverpool, in the UK, after an offer to study with a scholarship is offered to Neda, an opportunity that cannot be refused. She then goes on to study for her PHD and the trip gets longer. Neda thrives but Hossain slowly deteriorates.

The narrative switches between the life of Neda and Soria, their youngest daughter who is at University and about to graduate when we meet her. This is much the same stage we met Neda. The comparison of different cultures is clear. The values Neda has impressed on Soria of being a Muslim and a woman are key and impact heavily on her decisions. Soria is a child of two worlds trying to find her place, to fit.

Soria is very young for her years and lives in a more open society whereas Neda follows the path of duty staying with her husband, regardless of the situation, in 1970s Britain. She came from a liberal lifestyle before the changes the Shah brought about in Iran. Her sisters/friends wore short skirts and had no blocks on them studying and working, even after marriage, as we often are told in stereotype portrayals of Muslim countries.

The secrets both women keep from all, including family, are part of the Iranian culture and perhaps part of most Muslim women’s/family’s lives still. Education has not changed this ingrained attitude to not ‘airing your dirty linen in public’. It has ended up in loss for Neda and looks like Soria will lose too, despite both being educated. The impact on Soria’s mental health is clear and understandable as she struggles to reconcile her beliefs to her expectations as a young British adult.

Alongside Soria’s struggles we get the story of how, Neda, educated with a doctorate becomes the family breadwinner. She recounts her knowledge of the changes in Iran, the lack of media coverage and sporadic communication that means that they cannot return to live in Iran. Hossain finds this harder to deal with, he has no position or career and does not feel he has purpose. He does not support her or help with raising a family. Through it all she continues to follow cultural and religious traditions, disowning her eldest daughter when she gets pregnant at 17 and sending her away with the comment that her father would kill her. To Neda duty is very clear, she stands by her husband and his addictions, erratic and at times violent behaviour.

The author has ensured that the contrast between Muslim guilt for women and the lack of guilt for Muslim men is clear and well-reasoned. There are undeniable reasons for women to look after themselves that men do not need to consider. However, there is this disconnect where the men are not even explicitly told of this discrimination, so when Soria’s brother Amir learns of her actions and the real reason his eldest sister left, he is left speechless.

This story resonated with me as a second-generation Muslim however I found some of the ‘norms’ difficult to accept as this is a very dysfunctional family on top of everything else. I totally understand trying to find the balance Soria seeks and it being different for us all as a result of our experiences.

I have tried not to give away any spoilers, so if you need to understand the worlds of Neda and Soria you will have to read the novel. I recommend it to all who wish to learn about the trials and wisdom of women and gain a less polarised view of Islam. I look forward to more of this type of story which reflects our society as it is.

I received a free book from netgally.co.uk for my fair and honest review.

At first I thought it was more of a romance novel between Soraya and Magnus - but this is so much more. There are some trigger warnings (which are potential spoilers) that some readers might wish to be aware of - so check at the bottom of my post for those.

I’ll have to say this has been my first novel centring on Iranian-British characters, and learning about the culture and societal norms and standards was an education. I will admit that the first half of this story felt a little drawn out for me and I did struggle with it. The relationship between Soraya and Magnus felt like a distraction and I get why it was important to have him in the story, the time devoted to him just felt superfluous. What really pulled me in were the stories of family from Soraya and Neda’s viewpoints, these were just so engaging. Particularly the familial relationships between the Nazari family members had me gripped. The split timelines and viewpoints also give insight into the circumstances that led them to where they are now - and some of the events are just heartbreaking. You also see the damage these events have done over the many years.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
⚠️ Trigger warning and potential spoilers! ⚠️
Deals heavily with drug and alcohol addiction, drug use, domestic violence, mental health (with mild self harm) and controlling behaviour by parents to maintain honour and reputation.

The Mismatch by Sara Jafari
I’m loving this book it told in past and present term like 2014 London and Brighton and then 1977 between neda and Soraya it’s a very good really enjoying it I loveing Magnus character and his relationship with Saraya is amazing chemistry very good I like it I felt sorry for Soraya it like she was leading a double life she had a secret boyfriend with her parents not knowing and growing up she didn’t have much of a life I’m happy she met Magnus they had. great chemistry between them I loved learning about her family of past and present very good. I felt for her having a first kiss First love it was funny and emotional read.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it caught my interest immediately and maintained it throughout.

I liked the dual timeline which showed the difference between the generations, I really warmed to Soraya and her mum.

The subject matters were portrayed in a sensitive and informative manner.

A fantastic debut , I am looking forward to reading more by the author.

Than you to @instabooktours for inviting me to be a part of the tour and @netgalley for the #gifted copy

#TheMismatch
By Sara Jafari

‘The Mismatch’ is an incredible debut novel by British-Iranian writer and Faber Academy graduate, Sara Jafari.

“Twenty one year old Soraya Nazari has never been kissed. If she can tick that off the list, surely everything else will fall into place and she’ll find it easier to blend in and belong. A chance encounter with ‘player’ and atheist Magnus Evans could help her confront her past and understand where she is going next. Her mother, Neda, is also striving to belong. Arriving in England from Iran with her husband Hossein many years ago, the aftershocks of their move are still being felt by their children”.

I truly adored this story and the characters. I immediately connected with Soraya and felt for her, enduring the issues she was having at home and in her education. Caught between two cultures and wanting to respect both and also finding first love was paramount to her in becoming emotionally settled. You couldn’t get two people further apart in every way but when Soraya met Magnus I was rooting for them and didn’t know how the relationship would turn out, due to their differences. Interesting and realistic, this made for a riveting but emotional read.
As a mother and wife, albeit not Muslim, Neda’s life resonated with me and the two timelines focusing on Neda’s pre England life and Soraya’s full English life kept the story flowing perfectly. This allowed the reader to understand how Neda and Hossein’s marriage affected their children’s lives.
I would like to commend the author for her sympathetic honesty on how women are treated by Muslim men both before and after marriage. Life is exceedingly difficult for young Muslim women living in the west and wanting to live a life that covers both cultures without offending their devout families.
Ideal for teen readers as a coming of age story but also for women of an older age who can relate to being a mother and wife. I learnt a lot myself about the Muslim religion regarding women and marriage and I’d like to see a follow up of life in the Nazari household.
An excellent and well written, timely and modern debut novel. Well done Sara!

5 stars

Full review on my blog: https://theverybookish.com/2021/06/29/blog-tour-the-mismatch-sara-jafari/

I'm coming towards the end of my time at university and so there were parts of this book where I could really resonate with how Soraya was feeling - will I ever get a job?! I'm about to enter the period of the unknown: job hunting and wondering how I will fund my life, and something I liked about this book was that it was really able to broaden my horizons on things I can do post-completion of my degree to make some money and not go insane. Obviously, not everyone will read this book and think that, however I'm at the exact same stage in life as Soraya, so I really appreciated that.

Please don't think I'm extremely narrow-minded when I say this, but I don't think I've ever read a book with a Muslim main character. I found it really interesting to learn a little bit more about Islam and the way in which Muslims live and how that differs from my life as someone who is atheist. Going off what I've just said, it's really clear to see that Muslim main characters (or characters in general) in contemporary fiction are really under-represented. I also enjoyed the dual-timeline within the book. Some chapters were focusing on Soraya in 2014/5, whereas there were also chapters focusing on her mum, Neda back in the 1970s when she was a student herself in Iran and then followed her journey to England. Inter-racial relationships such as that between Soraya and Magnus are also a subject I've never really seen in books before - WE. NEED. MORE. OF. THIS!!!

I think that the characters in this book are really thoroughly developed - especially Soraya, Neda and Hussein (Soraya's dad / Neda's husband). Hussein is definitely a problematic character and the potential trigger warning situations that occur in the book are all revolving around him. Another topic that I feel is under-represented in today's books (or maybe I just haven't found them yet) are dysfunctional families. The Nazari family is extremely dysfunctional. However, I like the way that's represented as I feel a lot of books try to play 'happy families' which quite frankly isn't the case in a lot of households.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would love a sequel which continued to follow Soraya and her family as Soraya enters adulthood. The reason I gave this book 4 stars as opposed to 5 is because I did feel the first 1/3 of the book did really drag and wasn't always particularly interesting, however it really picked up in the final two thirds of the book.

❌Trigger: Physical Abuse, Drug & Alcohol Addiction, Sexism ❌

I approached this book thinking it was going to be a romantic comedy. It's written in 2 points of view, Neda and her daughter Soraya; they talk about the men in their lives and how religion has affected their lives. They disucess the hardship of being Muslim Women living in England.

This was such an engaging read and really got hooked, it was completely different to what it's marketed at.  Even though it discusses men/boys romance is definitely in the backseat with this story. Nadas story is based in 1970s, she is very religious and follows the Islamic ways surround dating, sex and marriage. Whereas her daughters story is based in 2014, she is the opposite. Soraya during her time at university has broken away from the Islamic ways and wants to kiss and date as she feels she is missing out due to what her friends have done. It also looks at Sorayas complicated relationship with her siblings, her parents and their complicated relationship with the Islamic and Iranian ways.

Great characters, I loved exploring the development of them throughout. Such an emotional read about culture, feminism, religion, abuse and more. Highly recommend.