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.

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.

Thank you to the author, Sanam Mahloudji, the publisher, Fourth Estate and Net Galley for the digital ARC - this review is not biased and 100% my own.

The first thing that drew me in was this is a book about Iranian women written by an Iranian woman. The only other books I’ve read have been written by men, so it already tickled the sweet spot of more women authors and more genres I don’t usually read.

But it was a treat. I honestly couldn’t put it down and resented being forced to put it down to do things like sleep and travel. I just had to know what was going to happen with Shirin because she is an absolute blast! I love her. I did feel like her story was wrapped up in a way that was a little unsatisfying. I kept turning pages hoping there would be more.

Elizabeth - wow. What a complicated and painful but beautiful life. The image of her turning [########################################################################] - my dear lady. But at 80 years old and getting it - you go girlfriend.

My sweet, Bita. ONE OF US! I knew it. Queen doing queen shit.

Whereas Niaz, I fear anything I say about dear Niaz is a spoiler. Is she just our sacrificial lamb after all this? So close but so far.

I appreciated having Seema’s chapters to round everything out. It made a lot of sense and helped a lot to give depth and emotional oomph to the story. But ouchies. :(

I will definitely be buying my own copy of this one when it comes out to see the differences and also just so I can lend it to people and get everyone to read it.