Member Reviews
Another great book from Lauren Parvizi. This was well written, and I really liked the individual journeys of the main characters.
I had so much fun with this book I truly think it’s a 4.5 ⭐️
I really enjoyed the road trip format of the book and the sister aspect of it. Zahra was fr an op in the beginning I was annoyed I’m not gonna lie but also my gosh Aurora 😭 girl STAND UP.
All of that to say, their road trip stops and encounters were a real slice of life letting us explore their lives and characters a little more. Zahra’s back story and inner thoughts really did allow me to empathize more with her. I loved seeing the relationship between sisters grow as well as the personal developments in the end. However, like another reviewer, I felt the final reveal from the dad was a bit … okay? I said jokingly earlier on while reading “what if he isn’t even their dad” so it was a tiny bit predictable? Idk, just my thoughts.
Also hellloooo breakfast at Tiffany’s reference with the cat with no name.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!
In this captivating road-trip story of two sisters struggling to find their way, Parvizi writes characters you can't help but fall in love with. On the surface, reserved and responsible Zahra couldn't be more different from perky, carefree Aurora, and their relationship has been strained since childhood. But when their father's illness forces them to drive together from Los Angeles to Seattle, they discover they need each other more than they ever thought.
I'm a sucker for sister stories (probably because I have two brothers but always longed for a sister), and I loved this book! It's the kind of novel that grabs your emotions and won't let go, and then you force yourself to read more slowly at the end because you don't want it to be over. This is a dual point-of-view novel, and Parvizi does a fabulous job writing from the sisters' opposite perspectives. Initially, I found myself relating more to Zahra (and even feeling a little annoyed at bubbly, devil-may-care Aurora), but once I read a few of Aurora's chapters, I totally understood where she was coming from and appreciated the glimpse inside an extrovert's mind. I also love Parvizi's writing style—fast-paced and utterly readable, but also unexpectedly descriptive with an emotional punch.
Highly recommend this book to anyone, but especially readers who like sister stories, road trip books, and poignant family drama!
Trust Me On This by new to me author L. Parvizi, published by Lake Union Publishing is the story of a beautiful journey. A journey of love, growth, finding themselves and much more.
I loved the book from strt till the last page, 4.5 stars.
Blurb: Two half sisters on a road trip to see their dying father end up miles from where they expected in an emotional novel about secrets, forgiveness, and what it means to be family by the author of La Vie, According to Rose.
Zahra Starling and her younger half sister, Aurora, have nothing in common. Not their childhoods or their personalities. And certainly not their outlooks. After a terrible loss, Zahra prefers the solitude of her LA kitchen to people, especially family. Bubbly Aurora, a rising Hollywood starlet, has everything she’s ever dreamed of, except a relationship with her sister.
Then comes a plea from their dying father, who wants both daughters by his side. He has a secret to share that’s been a long time coming.
It’s Zahra’s last chance to bring closure to the past, even if traumatic memories mean there’s no way she’s stepping foot on a plane. For Aurora, road-tripping to Seattle is the perfect escape and the chance to win over prickly Zahra.
What starts as a rough ride reopening old wounds evolves into something neither expects. When they finally reach their destination—and the truth that awaits them—the sisters will need each other like never before.
Lauren Parvizi’s Trust Me On This is a witty and heartfelt tale that seamlessly blends humor, romance, and a touch of intrigue. With its relatable characters and captivating premise, the book is a delightful read that keeps you engaged from the first page to the last.
The story follows a protagonist who finds themselves navigating unexpected situations with charm and resilience. Parvizi excels at creating characters that feel real—flawed yet endearing, making it easy to root for their journey. The dialogue is sharp and often laugh-out-loud funny, balanced by moments of genuine emotion that give the story depth.
The romantic elements are handled beautifully, with a slow-burn progression that feels natural and satisfying. The backdrop of the story adds a unique flavor, and the twists and turns keep readers guessing, making it more than just a straightforward romance.
While some plot points might feel slightly predictable, the engaging prose and vibrant characters more than make up for it. Parvizi’s writing shines with wit and warmth, making this book a joy to read.
Lauren Parvizi does a great job in writing this type of book, I enjoyed the overall concept and getting to go on this journey with the sisters to their father. It was a realistic concept and worked with what I was looking for.
I Really liked this book. It was slow going at first but then it picked up and became very interesting.
I wanted to find out if Zahra and Aurora would learn to get along on their quest.
It's about love, learning to forgive and to to find ones self.
I felt myself getting angry with Aurora's selfish mother. All she thinks about is herself and live her dreams through her daughter. Very selfish in my opinion.
I feel that both sisters truly got the dirty end of the deal by their parents. I didn't think it fair. But of course who said life was fair.
I was saddened at times by this story. That's why I said forgiveness was definitely needed here
I also found myself grinning from time to time at the sisters on their journey to Seattle.
I enjoyed the trip to Seattle. It's a place I've never been and thanks to this book I have now. Makes me want to go in person.
I loved Aurora's outgoing personality. She knows just how to handle certain things. That's what made giggle at times.
Zahra is like me in many ways but yet I still admired her too. I felt like these two sisters eventually became my friends as I enjoyed in getting to know them.
I hated to see their story end but maybe there'll be more written about them. I'd like to see what happens after their journey.
5 stars for a very entertaining book. I highly recommend it.
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions are mine.
Trust Me On This by new to me author L. Parvizi, published by Lake Union Publishing is the story of a beautiful journey. A journey of love, growth, finding themselves and much more.
I loved the book from strt till the last page, 4.5 stars.
Blurb: Two half sisters on a road trip to see their dying father end up miles from where they expected in an emotional novel about secrets, forgiveness, and what it means to be family by the author of La Vie, According to Rose.
Zahra Starling and her younger half sister, Aurora, have nothing in common. Not their childhoods or their personalities. And certainly not their outlooks. After a terrible loss, Zahra prefers the solitude of her LA kitchen to people, especially family. Bubbly Aurora, a rising Hollywood starlet, has everything she’s ever dreamed of, except a relationship with her sister.
Then comes a plea from their dying father, who wants both daughters by his side. He has a secret to share that’s been a long time coming.
It’s Zahra’s last chance to bring closure to the past, even if traumatic memories mean there’s no way she’s stepping foot on a plane. For Aurora, road-tripping to Seattle is the perfect escape and the chance to win over prickly Zahra.
What starts as a rough ride reopening old wounds evolves into something neither expects. When they finally reach their destination—and the truth that awaits them—the sisters will need each other like never before.
Women’s fiction readers will enjoy Trust Me on This. What a heartwarming read that has me wanting more.
A must-read! This gut-wrenching story will pull you in with complex characters, nuanced family dynamics, newfound love, heartbreak, delicious food, and an unconventional road trip that will leave you wanting to pack your bags, load up the car, turn up the music, and drive without looking back. These sisters have a messy relationship, and it’s on full display. Yet, you can’t help but root for each of them as they navigate their careers, painful relationships, and early adulthood in completely opposite ways, stemming from their very different childhoods. Keep a box of tissues close by — you’ll need them, because like most families, what’s beneath the undeniably relatable surface of eye rolls and judgment is something so much more meaningful. Trust me on this and grab your copy.
What a great story! While it’s not necessarily my normal genre, the description intrigued me. When Zahra receives a cryptic phone call from her distant father, she’s intrigued. Not only does he want to see her, he also insists that she make the trip with her half sister Aurora. Although both daughters are dealing with their own life issues, they somewhat reluctantly agree to take the trip together. Along the way their relationship grows as each sister wrestles with their feelings about their father. I loved the way the author wove this story together. The characters are immensely likable, and there’s an undercurrent of humor throughout.
deffff would recommend to anyone who likes seeing characters grow, really liked that it was told by each sister. Grew to care about the characters and were all very relatable. also really happy with how the book was wrapped up, always nervous I won't know how the characters continue but this book had a great conclusion.
favorite book i've read! it was so beautiful and so heart wrenching. i don't wanna go into it cause i might spoil the whole thing but pls pls read this art.
This was a really great book!!!!I am glad I was able to read it. I love the theme of sisterhood, family, loss, growth and love that this book covered. It had a lot of touching moments, and it was relatable even though I am not in any type of similar situation to what is going on in this book. I liked the writing style a lot too!!
Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complementary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!
Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC.
I love *love* sister centric stories, so my interest was really up in this one. As an age gap sister myself, I found a lot of the "sibling lore" portions of this book really well done. All of the "Like.. what? Really? You thought that? You did that?! But you were so young!" were very genuine, believable exchanges.
Both Zahra and Aurora were wonderfully flawed and interesting characters. The element of celebrity also added an interesting point to all of the problem solving. It was nice to see them grow together through the book. I enjoyed seeing them encourage one another to protect their own feelings in ways they wouldn't have thought to do so themselves. The buildup of their sisterhood also didn't feel overly sugary.
I found the secret to be somewhat predictable but I didn't mind that so much. The journey of it all was wonderful.
Trust Me on This by Lauren Parvizi tells the story of two half-sisters, Zahra and Aurora, who set out on a road trip to see their dying father. Despite their differences, the journey forces them to confront old wounds and family secrets.
Zahra, a private and introverted woman, is nothing like her younger sister Aurora, an outgoing and ambitious Hollywood starlet. The sisters have grown apart over the years, and this trip is their chance to reconnect. However, while the premise has great potential, the emotional depth I expected didn’t quite materialize. The characters’ interactions felt repetitive, and I didn’t see much growth in their relationship.
The story moved slowly, and the emotional payoff wasn’t as strong as I hoped. The revelation of their father's secret, while significant, didn’t have the impact I anticipated, and the resolution felt predictable. I struggled to relate to the characters, and their journey didn’t leave a lasting impression on me.
While the book explores important themes like forgiveness and family secrets, it lacked the emotional punch that would have made it more engaging. Overall, Trust Me on This didn’t resonate with me, and I felt it missed the opportunity to make a stronger connection with its readers.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The most darling book I have read in a very long time! Just such a sweet story. I cherished the characters and loved the story with this.
Heartfelt and bittersweet, this novel takes readers on an unforgettable journey of family, healing, and self-discovery. Zahra and Aurora’s road trip is as bumpy as their relationship, filled with sharp humor, tender moments, and emotional confrontations that cut to the core. Through unexpected detours and raw honesty, the sisters confront their shared pain and uncover long-buried truths. With beautifully drawn characters and a story brimming with hope, this book captures the messy, complicated beauty of sisterhood and the power of forgiveness. A moving reminder that family isn’t perfect, but it’ could be worth fighting for.