The Persians is a compelling exploration of identity, generational conflict, and the weight of the past.

The story follows the Valiat family—once prominent in Iran, now grappling with their place in America. At the centre is Elizabeth, the ageing matriarch who stayed in Tehran during the revolution, and her daughters Shirin and Seema, who left for the US in 1979. Elizabeth lives in a rundown apartment, while Shirin and Seema struggle with their sense of self in a foreign land.

The complex relationships between Elizabeth and her granddaughters, Niaz and Bita, unfold as the family’s fragile equilibrium is disrupted. When Shirin is arrested during a family trip, Bita bails her out, forcing each member to confront their fractured identity.

Shirin embarks on a misguided mission to restore the family’s name, but in a country where the Valiats have faded into obscurity, is that even possible?

The author’s exceptional writing and tight pacing keep the reader engaged. The characters’ psychology is intricately depicted, rooted in Iranian and Iranian-American cultures. Scenes that initially seem baffling are revealed to be authentic to the characters’ experiences, making this a poignant, thought-provoking read that stays with you long after the final page.

Read the full review on my website - The Secret Book Review.

When the women of the Valiat family make the move from Iran to America, everything changes. This is a generational family saga played out across continents and conflict. The revolution in Iran is handled fairly obliquely and with a light touch, in favour of looking at the whole lives of the women involved. This is narrated by all the key characters and moves back and forth in time from the present day to the rise of the family through the ranks of Persian society in the 1900's. I enjoyed the fact that although there are men in this story, their stories are told by women and their voices are translated by women. It's a compelling read.

Thank you to 4th Estate and NetGalley for the opportunity to read The Persians before it’s published.

I was expecting a family saga spanning across USA and Iran but instead it followed three generations of hard to relate to characters. I struggled at first to get into the book, too many names were thrown around and I ended up putting down and picking it back up several times before I eventually got into it. I enjoyed reading each POV but found Elizabeth the easiest to read, and rolled my eyes every time it changed to Shirin. It wasn’t until the 65% mark that I found myself actually enjoying the story overall.

The ending felt a little disjointed and unresolved given how much time was given to other aspects of the story. I would have liked to seen a bit more resolution between the characters and possibly even a look to the future but alas.

The one thing that stuck with me was that how real these characters came across, I watched and loved the Shahs of Sunset and could absolutely see the characters interacting in similar ways to the stars of the show. I think The Persians would translate incredibly well into a miniseries for TV the plot might just need to beef up to be a little more engaging. The visual differences between Iran and USA would bring a whole other element to the story that for those of us too young to have lived through 70s/80s are missing out on.

While I didn’t enjoy the book the entire time there were glimmers of enjoyment throughout, I can see this won’t be for everyone - but these days which books are? I think this might be easier to read as a audiobook, especially if they cast it authentically Persian. Thank you again to 4th Estate + NetGalley for the chance to read this before it’s published on 30th January 2025! Kudos on ✨THAT✨ cover, it’s gorgeous!!!!!

Have I found my favourite book of 2025 before 2025 has even arrived?

The Persians is follows five woman from a wealthy Iranian family across three generations; grandmother Elizabeth, who’s still suffering the effects of a love affair with her family chauffeur’s son; older daughter Seema, watching her family’s new lives in America from the afterlife; flamboyant and outrageous younger daughter Shirin; Seema’s daughter Bita, a lawyer-in-training unsure of her future, and finally Shirin’s daughter Niaz, who is still in Iran trying to forge a life for herself in the aftermath of the Islamic Revolution. When Shirin ends up in jail accused of prostitution during an eventful holiday, this formerly powerful family must face their decline in fortunes in America, their own troubled pasts, and how to finally all say what they really feel.

There’s a lot going on with so many characters and timelines, but the complexity was well worth it; I had such a great time with this. Mahloudji’s writing is witty and dry and so unique, and though I didn’t always agree with the decisions each woman made, I loved following their lives (especially Shirin, excellently described by @canreadwillread as ‘such a little sh1t’).

Though Mahloudji’s writing is ultimately a good time, she handles complex themes so deftly too; the shift in socio-economic experiences from homeland to diaspora, how we cope (or fail to cope) with loss, and whether to stay or remain in the turbulent environment of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, and why people make the choices they do. Travelling back and forward between Iran and America, we’re given insights into Persian culture and heritage, along with sensitive portrayals of intergenerational trauma, the pull of family, and how sometimes we just can’t help falling into cycles without realising it.

Thank you so much for my review copy 4th Estate, I hope everyone loves this as much as I did!

I was looking forward to reading this book as I like books showing different cultures but unfortunately this did not work for me. I started the book, left it for a while and then returned to it determined to finish it as I appreciate how much work must go into writing a story. I carried on but in the end did not finish it. I could not take to the five female characters and thought the majority of them came over as spoilt rich people who really demanded to be heard. I do appreciate that they had a terrible time having to flee Iran but I felt the book could have been more inspiring and letting the reader know more about the difficult times rather than the way the family were portrayed. I do appreciate that this is my own view and because I could not get into the story I did read other reviews and I am not in the minority. It is a shame that the story basically continued on the riches of the family rather than the integration which must have been hard – settling into another country is not easy. On saying all this I would try another book by this author and I will try the book again in a couple of months and see how I get on

The story of an aristrocratic Iranian family, who, having come to the USA after the Islamin revolution, are struggling with their identity. At the centre of the story are three generations of women - Elizabeth, the aging matriarch, who stayed in Iran and is harbouring secrets that affect her family; Shirin and Seema, Elizabeth's daughters, who left for the US and have struggled with happiness and meaning ever since; and, finally, Niaz and Bita, Elizabeth's granddaughters, who lead vastly different lives, one in Iran, and the other in a prestigious lawschool in the US. A few deaths in the family and the community begin unravelling long hidden secrets, and breaking down barriers between the various family members.

The book is incredibly well written - the author is an exceptionally talented storyteller. I was hooked on her style from the first few pages, and found it difficult to put the book down. The energy and pacing were among the best I've seen in a long time.

I also liked the complex depiction of the psychology of the different characters. While reminiscent of The Joy Luck Club, in some ways, the book is firmly grounded in Iranian and Iranian-American cultures, making it distinct and interesting, including the impact those cultures have had on said psychology. As an example, I started the book on the wrong foot, finding the opening scene revolting and annoying, but, as the book progresses, I understood the complex psychological underpinnings that led to it, and how, despite the preposterous nature, within the context of the character's psyche the events were absolutely normal.

I struggle to find anything major to fault this book with. If I were really critical I'd've said that what's missing is a further layer of depiction of the characters' motivations. There is fertile ground there to explore more, and, in some ways, the book came across as overly rushed.

Highly recommended to anyone interested by the immigrant experience in general, and that of Iranians, in particular. It's also a great book to explore generational differences through.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an early copy of this book in return for an honest review.

The Persians is a fascinating intergenerational family saga about five women from a prominent Iranian family, spanning decades and set across Iran and the United States. The women are perhaps, not always likable - they are complex and interesting.

At times, the story can be confusing - there’s a fair few characters and timelines, but overall it’s a thoughtful and enjoyable read, one that explores themes of family, identity, and culture. Quite different from other family sagas I’ve read.

We follow the lives of five women of an Iranian family across decades and locations.
Mahloudji’s writing is vivid and witty - 5 stars!
The characters are not always likeable or relatable, but overall, complex or interesting, and I found this to be fresh.
I liked the setting and the themes too.
As for the plot and the multiple narratives, I sometimes had a hard time remembering whose chapter I was reading.
4 stars overall.

I look forward to reading more by this author,

I really enjoyed The Persians, a story of three generations of wealthy Iranians. Split between Iran and the USA, the contrast in their lives, the freedom and lack of it is fascinating as are the dynamics of these women as they come to terms with their history, their present and their future.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read The Persians.

I really struggled with this book.i recognise the timeline and events that happened. But the context does not resonate with me at all.
I feel that I must not be the target audience and aimed at someone younger than myself.

Sanam Mahloudi's "The Persians" was a nice surprise. t was so refreshing to see a novel about Persian women. So often, we do not get their perspectives or if we do, it's doom and gloom. This novel is a fun but well-rounded look at generations of Iranian women. There's a lightness to the narrative that makes this the perfect beach or next-to-the-fireplace read. Even when Mahloudji relates moments of racism and sexism the women face, Mahloudji's prose makes us care even more because we have grown to care about all of the women. Recommended.

This follows the odyssey of five women from three generations of Iranian Family. The book is touching, poignant and compelling. As I read their stories/ things from their perspectives, I could see through their emotions, struggles, dark moments, unsettling memories, culture and so much more. There were dark moments as well. This is such a though provoking book which makes one think about not just life of those Iranian women but politics, oppression and trauma.


Thanks to the Publisher.

A wonderful saga a book of Persian women through generations.I loved following these women hated putting it down so well written so involving.#netgalley #4thestate.

3-3.5 stars. With thanks to NetGalley and 4th Estate for the arc.

This debut novel follows five women from three generations of a once influential Iranian family some of whom fled Iran during the fall of the Shah and settled in the United States.
I found this a difficult novel to review, and to read. From the premise I was expecting a much more insightful portrayal of intergenerational trauma, diaspora and the search for identity. There is nothing wrong with the writing per se, it just felt too superficial for the way the publishers are promoting this book. More on a par with works such as Crazy Rich Asians, than with say, Martyr by Kaveh Akbar, I was a little disappointed that this novel didn’t delve more deeply into the impact of fleeing to another country on identity, faith and family. Instead we are treated to conspicuous displays of wealth (that don’t sit well in the current economic climate) and multiple povs, locations and timelines that make it even more difficult for the reader to empathise with a group of largely unlikeable main characters.
I think the author has great potential as a writer, but for me that is disappointingly unrealised in this novel.

A glorious depiction of three generations of family in Persia. Well written, jumps effortlessly between characters without losing pace, and entertaining.

Hope there’s a sequel!

A beautifully written novel which spans three generations of a Persian family. As each character tells her story we can’t help but become utterly invested right up until the end when we are left blubbering and desperately wanting more. This is definitely worthy of a sequel.

The novel opens with the wealthy and flamboyant Shirin being charged with attempted prostitution by an undercover Aspen cop. She is immediately placed at center stage as the wayward aunt who relishes being the center of attention. Slowly we are introduced to the rest of the family who have escaped from Iran to America with the exception of Shirin’s parents and young daughter (Niaz).

While Aspen proves not as exciting as previous years: Beta’s mother (Seema), Shirin’s sister has passed. We are still treated to a sense of the glitz and wealth as the family come together in the hotel restaurant.

As we go back and forth there are some truly beautiful moments such as insights into Persian culture and heritage and the strict class system which forbade the relationship between Elizabeth and Ali her chauffeurs son. Despite this it has managed to survive throughout generations. There are equally dark moments created through, lies, corruption and the oppression of the Iranian people, during the revolution.

Beta’s recounting of her story at school is poignant as she describes being forced to re-write her history for a racist teacher whose preconceived ideas only allowed her to see immigrants as penniless and at the mercy of America.

Seema’s perspective pushes this narrative further as she struggles to adopt American values thereby becoming bored and isolated surrounded by her wealth. I found her voice moving and haunting- no pun intended.

As Shirin’s crisis brings them together, they must confront their past, their present and look at how to navigate their future in a society that knows nothing of their birthright or heritage, nor would it care.

I have to say thank you to Hope Butler and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this brilliant debut ahead of publication. Sheer brilliance from start to finis

The Persians by Sanam Mahloudji is unlike anything I’ve ever read. A portrait of a prominent Persian family, most of whom moved to America in 1979. Mahloudji is brave enough to create characters who are sometimes unlikeable yet always compelling. I had my opinions about Iran challenged and felt I entered a world of privilege and also extreme loss, where the significance of class, money and culture shift and are redefined. The decision to leave Iran in the face of the Islamic revolution seems like an obvious one, but The Persians reveal the complexity and contradictions in choosing to stay or go. A really interesting read.

Beautifully written with strong female characters. I enjoyed learning more about a culture I knew little about.


A family confronts a past that is both keeping them together and preventing them from breaking free.

Meet the Valiat family. In Iran they were somebodies. In America they’re nobodies. First there is Elizabeth, the regal matriarch with the famously large nose who stayed in Tehran during the revolution. Her daughters, Shirin and Seema, left for America in 1979. She lives in a shabby apartment, paranoid and alone—except when she is visited by Niaz, her Islamic-law–breaking granddaughter who takes her debauchery with a side of purpose yet somehow manages to survive. The other granddaughter, Bita, is a self-righteous but lost law student spending her days in New York City eating pancakes and quietly giving away her belongings.

When an annual vacation in Aspen goes wildly awry and Shirin ends up being bailed out of jail by Bita, the family’s brittle status quo cracks open. Shirin embarks upon a grand but half-baked quest to restore the family name—but what does that even mean in a country where the Valiats never mattered? Will they ever realize that life is more than just an old story?

Really enjoyable sweeping saga of Iranian people told from a female perspective. The book works with a combination of character driven story and narrative along with a clever plot. There's a lot of humour and this is perfevtly pitched.
I enjoy a book that takes me to places and situations that I'm less familiar with and this did that. Also the cover design is everything. So beautiful.
Great book and I look forward to more from this author.

The blurb for this one sounded quite good but unfortunately is not for me and I DNF. The characters were unliakeble from the very beginning. There were also lots of stuff going on early on that I wasn't comfortable or interested in reading about (such as the use of drugs). The writing style wasn't for me either.