I enjoyed Lauren Parvizi's La Vie According to Rose and this is another brilliant exploration of complicated sibling and family dynamics. Zahra and Aurora are great characters and I loved how each of their stories and relationships unfolded, set against a read trip to see their dying father. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review - I hope this one flies!

Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC.

This story about the Starling sisters was a true delight. I loved the road trip aspect, the dynamic between the sisters, and the food writing. Oh my god, the food writing was exquisite!

Both sisters felt like fully rounded characters who I rooted for the whole way through. And while not everything was tied in a neat bow, by the end I felt satisfied, like after a delicious meal.

A thoroughly enjoyable read!

Sometimes the right book finds you at the exact right time in your life. As the Starling sisters learn of their dad’s illness, I too was walking through the same experience. Even though the subject hit a little close to home, the way Lauren masterfully weaves together heartbreak and humor is exceptional. Through witty dialogue and tender moments, the book carefully examines the resilience of the human spirit, leaving the reader both teary-eyed and uplifted. This is absolutely a must read and, of course, you have to trust me on this.

A story of two half sisters, Zahra and Aurora, whose father is dying slowly has reached out to them to ask them to be by his side before it is too late. They have been told that he doesn’t have too much time left, so they drive up from LA to Seattle.

There’s a lot of miles to drive, and Aurora, an actress, is supposed to be attending an event, which might or might not happen if they don’t get to see their father in time.

There are a few places which they stop along the way, for food, etc., although they try to remain as ‘invisible’ to others as possible, but in the meantime, Aurora is frequently receiving texts warning her to make sure she shows up to the event she is supposed to attend.

This was such a different - in the best kind of way - story that I’ve read in a while, with the perfect ending.


Pub Date: 08 Apr 2025

Many thanks for the ARC provided by Lake Union Publishing

I gave Trust Me on This four ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Thank you Lauren Parvizi, Lake Union Publishing and Net Galley for the ARC. These are my honest opinions.

What great character development! Zahra and Aurora were so opposite each other and, while they both could get annoying very quickly, they didn’t because Lauren did such an incredible job of helping the reader understand, and sympathize, with why they were the way they were. The journey they each took to get where they were (and how they were), along with the believable path to resolution was top notch.

The only reason I didn’t give this five stars was because I felt the ending was a little rushed. I would have liked just a little more where Elian, Lucy and college were concerned.

You won’t regret reading this!

I was a big fan of Lauren Parvizi's debut, La Vie, According to Rose, so I've been eagerly awaiting her second book--and Trust Me On This did not disappoint. What Parvizi does so well is take serious themes like grief, finding yourself, and forgiveness and wrap them up in readable stories you don't want to put down. (I also always adore her love interest characters and lush food descriptions!)

This road trip story about two half-sisters dealing with their own issues as they try to get to their ill father was such a fun, thought-provoking journey to go on. I really felt for both sisters, though Zahra's story is the one that made me cry. Parvizi is an incredibly talented writer and an auto-buy for me!

I had mixed feelings about this book. I did ultimately enjoy the book, but it was a roller coaster of ups and downs for me. The story was relatable and engaging. My issue was with Zahra, one of the main characters. I found her to be very unlikeable and found it hard to be empathetic, even though I learned more and more about the reasons and events that contributed to her attitude and frame of mind. The last quarter of the book helped my opinion evolved, as she allowed her hard shell to shatter and she became less one dimensional.

I was so excited to read the NetGalley Arc of “Trust Me on This”! The authors writing is very visually descriptive and I always love a good duo POV. I quickly found a soft spot for both sisters and felt that the relationships were all so relatable and complicated. Overall, I found it to be such a good read and would definitely recommend to someone looking for a touching story!

Well written. Emotional. Couldn't stop turning the page. Appreciate the drama but also honesty.
Didn't always connect with the characters, but the plot and storyline kept me going.

“Trust Me on This” by Lauren Parvizi is hands down one of the best books I have read in a long time. We have estranged sisters/fathers-daughters, dysfunction abound, a hunky love interest, delicious food, a road trip and a cat. What more could a reader ask for?
Zahra is the more reserved sister. She lost a baby and her husband to her best friend and since then, she’s kept to herself. She is passionate about cooking, a tradition instilled into her from her grandmother, but instead of following her dreams, she plays it safe. Half-sister Aurora has just been nominated for an Emmy award for her role on a hit TV show, but she’s hiding her own secret—her romance with her co-stars husband. Both Zahra and Aurora get the same message from their dad—he’s dying and wants to see them. Zahra and Aurora don’t have much to do with one another—specifically, Zahra resents her father leaving her mother for Aurora’s mom (and Aurora). What follows is a road trip from Los Angeles to Seattle with plenty of surprises and self-discovery.

Not only were Zahra and Aurora so well-developed, the writing itself was almost poetic. Several times, I’d stop writing to admire a particular description or passage. But the beautiful prose still doesn’t distract you from this mesmerizing tale. I didn’t want this book to end but at the same time, I could not put it down.
Five out of five stars.

Thanks to the author, the publisher and Net Galley for a chance to read this book.

Lauren Parvizi’s Trust Me On This tells the story of two half-sisters who’ve grown up with mostly separate lives, but are summoned by their dying father to share a secret he's been keeping. They set off on a road trip from LA to Seattle to see him. The younger sister Aurora, who was raised by a stage mom, is a bubbly yet unsettled 25-year-old actress in an ill-advised work affair. The older sister is 38-year-old Zahra, a specialty recipe developer raised by her mom and Persian-immigrant grandparents without much contact with her father. She’s been betrayed and let-down, and has a defensive edge. The sisters work through old resentments and have something to learn from each other. I sometimes have trouble connecting with messy-twenty-something protagonists, but Parvizi managed to get me emotionally invested very quickly, especially with the interplay between the two sisters at different stages of life experience. Though it left me hungry for some Persian specialties (labneh cheesecake with roasted strawberries and orange blossom honey, anyone?), this book satisfied with all the feels!

Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy.

I loved the writing style and it flowed really well. This is a story of sisterhood, grief, forgiveness, love, and secrets. The story follows two sisters who go on a road trip to see their dying father.

As a sister myself, I enjoyed the complexities of the different personalities of the sisters. They had growth in their relationship with each other as well as personal growth throughout the book.

I will say the plot is a bit predictable but shouldn’t make you stray away from it! The characters are exciting and complex. I felt many emotions which is exactly what I want in a book.

Trust Me On This by Lauren Parvizi. The Starlight sisters traveled to see their dying father. One of them was his real daughter one was not.

Half sisters on a road trip. Tensions running high. More than just a journey to visit their dying father but a journey that reveals past sufferings and present hang ups, seemingly impossible to resolve. The novel has a lyrical quality that elevates it above other family dramas that I enjoyed all the more by it's steady (but not slow) pace. The sisters are likeable with the right balance of yin and yang that didn't force me to choose between them! I highly recommend getting stuck in!

*Trust Me on This* by Lauren Parvizi is a heartfelt novel about two estranged half-sisters, Zahra and Aurora, who embark on a road trip to visit their dying father. Along the way, they rebuild their bond and find healing in unexpected ways.

I thoroughly enjoyed this poignant story of forgiveness and self-discovery. Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC. Be sure to look out for it when it’s published on April 8th!

This novel is a beautiful exploration of sisterly relationships and the many ways we can disappoint our families. Aurora and Zahra are two fully-fleshed-out characters with deep wounds and misconceptions about one another.

I love a road trip story, and while this is a serious road trip (going together to see their dying father for an important piece of news), there is plenty of humor and heart woven in along the way. The very different experiences each sister had with their shared father while growing up come to play, and both sisters are grappling with their own personal crises.

If you love layered family stories with betrayal, lies, and forgiveness, I highly recommend Trust Me On This. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this novel.

This book is such a joy to read, while also being real and emotional and exploring themes like forgiveness and loss and what it means to be a family. I loved the road trip backdrop and the sister dynamic, and the bonus of a romantic thread (because who doesn't love a good love story tucked into a family story?). You will fly through this while savoring some truly beautiful lines and excellent storytelling by Parvizi, and much like the sisters, be changed by the journey you embark on together. I loved it.

Well written and nicely buit up plot. This is a true five star read! Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for a chance to read this book.

4,5/5
Trust Me On This by Lauren Parvizi tells the story of two half-sisters who go on a road trip to visit their ill father. Along the way, they learn more about each other, their feelings and experience personal growth.
This was my first book by this author and I'm eager to read more of her work. I enjoyed both sisters' characters, though I could relate more to Zahra. I felt that the first half of the book was a lil bit slow-paced, the second halt had a much better flow. The author's writing style is smooth and very easy to read. And of course, the cover is absolutely stunning.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys stories about family relationships and personal growth.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing me with this wonderful book. All opinions are my own.
P.S. The author seems to have a fondness for the phrase "firmly but not unkindly" - I couldn't help but notice it!