Abdi Nazemian’s "Only This Beautiful Moment" is a moving and beautifully written novel that delves into themes of identity, love, and self-acceptance. The story revolves around a young Iranian-American man navigating his path in a world of conflicting expectations and personal desires. Nazemian’s prose is both lyrical and evocative, capturing the complexity of the protagonist's journey with emotional depth and grace. The characters are vividly portrayed, and their struggles and triumphs resonate with authenticity. "Only This Beautiful Moment" is a powerful exploration of personal growth and cultural identity, offering readers a poignant and inspiring narrative that lingers long after the final page.

Ich weiß ehrlich gesagt nicht, wie ich dieses Buch bewerten soll, da ich es aufgrund relativ kurzer Ausleihdauer (ohne Verlängerung) nicht lesen konnte.

This was a very emotional story, and I loved how each of the three stories felt just as important as the next; I never wanted to leave any of them. This is a story of generational trauma and of queer trauma, and the author handled each time period and storyline beautifully. Each character of Moud, Saeed and Bobby are fully fleshed out, loveable individuals, and getting to see the story of the generation before each of them added to the emotion of seeing how these characters grow up. It shows just how acutely history affects present day, from within the family to the world at large. Such a beautiful, important story.

I really really liked this book. It's a story looking at three generations of men in the one family: Moud in 2018 living in the US, his father Saeed living in Iran during the revolution in the 1970s, and his father Baba in the 1930s in Hollywood. It's a book about secrets, shame, family and how the great events of history can make and break people. Ultimately it's about love, in all its guises, and how precious that is to protect and honour.

This is a beautiful and moving coming of age story, told by three voices in different generations of one family. I loved this.

This was an incredible read with an in depth and perfect look at what it is and means to be gay today and years before, all bundled under a coming of age blanket

Set across three distinct timelines, this narrative weaves a tapestry of interconnected lives:

In 2019, Moud, an openly gay teenager in Los Angeles, learns of his grandfather's imminent death in Iran. The journey to Tehran with his distant father, Saeed, unravels family secrets that reshape Moud's understanding of his history, culture, and identity.

In 1978, Saeed, an aspiring engineering student in Tehran, faces exile to America as his involvement in the country's revolution is discovered. Forced to live with an American grandmother he never knew, Saeed grapples with his disdain for the land he's been sent to.

In 1939, Bobby, the son of a Hollywood stage mother, secured a coveted MGM studio contract. However, the glamorous world he enters hides a darker reality.

Set against the backdrops of Tehran and Los Angeles, this tale explores intergenerational trauma, love, and the delicate bonds that define family. It unfolds as an ode to the hidden secrets of history, the fragility of familial connections, and the beautiful moments that collectively shape who we are today.

The E-Book could be improved and more user-friendly, such as links to the chapters, no significant gaps between words and a cover for the book would be better. It is very document-like instead of a book. A star has been deducted because of this.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

Get this as soon as possible, a great read. Made me quite emotional as i fot attached to the characters. Get ready to be swoon away by this one

This book is genuinely beautiful. It follows three generations of boys from the same Iranian family. Their stories are self-contained (given they take place in 3 different years) and together tell a tale of generational trauma and healing from that trauma.

I have to be honest and say that I didn't read the blurb properly before I started this book, so I knew it was about 3 Iranian teens in 3 different times but I didn't know they were all related. When I did eventually realise (took way longer than I care to admit) my mind was kind of blown by how the stories complimented and enriched reach other.

I felt for Moud and his internal struggle with reconciling his ethnicity and culture with his sexuality. Queer spaces are often white dominated, and it can be difficult for QPOC to feel like we fit in. This dichotomy was dealt with expertly imo especially in regards to Moud's relationship with Shane.

I loved the Saeed chapters. Getting to know Moud's dad outside of the lens that he sees him with was really interesting and definitely fleshed out his character. It took me the longest to get into Bobby's chapters but by the end I loved all the storylines. Similarly, the structure of the book threw me off at first because it felt like just as I was getting invested in a character's story I was swept away to a different character in a different time. I grew to love this structure though - like I said above, the storylines really enrich each other and that impact is only possible because we're reading them concurrently.

All in all I loved this book with my whole heart and recommend everyone pick it up, I'll definitely be buying a physical copy.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers and of course the author for gifting me this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was so grateful for an early copy of this book as it was one of my highly anticipated reads - and it was a definite 5 star from me.

I was on a rollercoaster of emotions reading this book as I delved into the lives of Moud, Saeed and Bobby and become immersed in theri story and character development. Each boy, all entering adulthood at various different years in time (1939, 1978, 2019) all have their own link to each other and are inextricably linked by love. The descriptions of Iran was mesmerizing and I feel like I have already travelled there through the pages of this book, and I read this book at superspeed as I lost myself within the story.

I would have loved it to be longer but the story felt complete at the end. I would love to read more books by this author.

This was an emotional queer impactful book. This was my first book I’ve ever read by Abdi Nazemian. Like a Love Story was on my tbr for a long time and seeing this on request I had to read it and it delivered.

'Only This Beautiful Moment' is a gripping and moving YA novel about secrets and forbidden love across three generations of an Iranian-American family. We meet three young men who are all grappling with love and sexuality at different points in history: firstly Moud in 2019, who travels from Los Angeles to Tehran with his father to visit their elderly grandfather; then Saeed in 1978 who finds love amidst the protests of the Iranian revolution; and lastly Bobby in 1939, whose ambitious mother dreams of Hollywood stardom for her son.

Abdi Nazemian skilfully balances and interweaves these three narrative strands. presenting complex relationships between fathers and sons which develop over the course of the novel as sons discover more about their parents' past and rebuild and repair previously estranged relationships.

This is a wide-ranging and well-researched novel which explores a wide range of issues relating to American and Iranian politics and LGBTQ+ rights in both countries - from corrupt vice squads entrapping gay men in 1930s Hollywood to the Ayatollah's regime in Iran. Moud's podcasting boyfriend Shane allows for some particularly nuanced exploration of contemporary debates around performative activism and the ethics of visiting countries with poor human rights records.

This will be a great book to share with teenage readers, who may have knowledge of some of the topics presented but will enjoy learning about others, and will be deeply invested in the different characters and relationships. Plenty of adult readers will enjoy and learn from this powerful novel too, as I did, Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC to review.

3.5*. This book was clearly an important and personal story for the author, which I could feel emanating off the pages. I loved the historical aspects of the book and the glimpses into Iranian culture, especially the food. Because we follow three perspectives from different generations, I thought it could have explored each of their stories in more detail - though you could infer what happened from piecing the perspectives together, I just wished the book was longer and more in depth as it felt incomplete. Overall, Only This Beautiful Moment perhaps lacked subtlety but had a beautiful and heartfelt message.

A poignant and well written story about three generations, their personal story and how they were affected by history and the changes in the moral and places.
It's thought provoking, moving and kept me reading.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Only This Beautiful Moment is a beautiful intergenerational tale of love that endures and family bonds that can be pulled taut but never fully broken.

The story follows Moud, his father, Saeed, and his grandfather, Bobby, across Iran and America, spanning decades from the golden age of Hollywood to the present day.
Moud is an out gay teen, struggling to feel close to his widowed father and getting ready to go and visit his dying grandfather in Iran. The story then splits into three strands, Moud's story in the present day, Bobby as a young man with an overbearing mother who's channeling her dreams of stardom through him while he grapples with his sexuality in a very intolerant time, and Saeed's story as he becomes involved in activism in Iran in the 70's, finding and losing a love of his own.

My favourite parts of this story were definitely the complex (and beautifully written) relationships between the three main characters, the descriptions of Iran through the ages, and the portrayals of queer history in different settings and contexts. Bobby's chapters were by far my favourite, the scenes exploring queer life in 1939 were so vivid and both uplifting and heartbreaking all at once, but all of the characters were compelling and I kept on wanting to learn more about each person right until the very end.

I feel like I learnt a lot from reading this book and I loved escaping into each characters head for a while. This is definitely one I'll be picking up for my library as I know my students will really respond to it.

Two countries and three timelines through the eye of three narrators: that’s how intricately clever this novel is. Three generations, each with their fights, their secrets and their dreams – the comings of age are different but the passion is the same.

Moud is a young American who goes to Iran to visit his dying grandfather. His father Saeed left Iran for Los Angeles 40 years ago and never looked back. Babak welcome them both into his home and draws from his own past to help mend the relationship between them.

This novel is about gay rights and political troubles, about love and loss and everything in between. It’s an homage to an ancient culture more alive than ever, and tot he people who make it.

I loved the joy, the food and the poetry that made me travel to Persia.

I honestly don't know what I can say about this novel other than it was just absolutely incredible,
The way the Author told the story was basically perfect

Thank you to NetGalley and Little Tiger Group for the advance reader copy.

This book spans three generations of Iranian American men during their teens and how life choices and lack of communication affects relationships and bonds.

I found the book started a bit slow and I wasn’t sure where it was going but, after a few chapters everything wove itself into a beautiful generational story of hope.

Overall I think most people would enjoy reading this and also being immersed in the story from these different perspectives.

I stayed up late to finish this beautiful novel.

Thank you NetGalley and Little Tiger Group for the advanced copy.

I knew little to nothing about Iran except for the current ongoing protests against the regime and some history with the revolution. Mostly everything else I have only ever heard or seen it through third parties sources and never told from POV of an Iranian or Iranian descendant and I realise as much as I think I know of the world I am still woefully ignorant.

The fact the story alternates between America and Iran perfectly highlights the big culture difference between those countries but also shows the way they have much in common too when it comes down to found family, generational trauma and fighting for your beliefs. 

The novel is told from the POV of 3 generations of men in 3 different time periods.

Firstly we have 2019 told by Moud who is a gay teen living in Los Angeles and dealing with visiting Iran in the wake of his grandads terminal diagnosis.

Secondly we have 1978 told by Saeed who is a young man fighting against the regime and is sent to live in America for his safety.

Finally we have 1939 as told by Bobby in Los Angeles and his journey with love and family and his eventual move back to Iran.

I enjoyed how the narrative hopped between different narrators in different time periods (Like Lucinda Riley). I was invested in each of the timelines even if I knew to some sad extent how it ended for them the journey was still an emotional rollercoaster and important to the future.

Both the father Saeed and the grandfather Bobby have hardships and lost loves but without that they would not have their family. If their stories had not been what they were they would not have the current life they do have. Obviously in an ideal world we'd all be allowed to be with who with love with no issues but we are not there yet.

There is so much injustice in this world that I was aware of to some extent but I will never understand the hurt and discrimination suffered and that continues to be suffered whether if be xenophobia or racism or living in a police state.

Whilst the UK is far from perfect I am not afraid to say I am a Bi woman. There are still so many countries that cannot be done and that makes me sad and angry. This book had me thinking and whilst i wanted more I think where it ended was perfect. With continued hope for the future. 

I cannot recommend this novel enough. I don't think I've even covered all I want to say there was just so much right with this book. I will be thinking about it for some time and cannot wait to add more of Abdi's books to my collection

Abdi Nazemian can do no wrong for me after I fell head over heels for his debut Like A Love Story. In this epic tale, he does it again. An intergenerational story for the ages that is glorious in every way.