Seventeen-year-old Sahar has been in love with her best friend, Nasrin, since they were six. They’ve shared stolen kisses and romantic promises. But Iran is a dangerous place for two girls in love—Sahar and Nasrin could be beaten, imprisoned, even executed if their relationship came to light.
So they carry on in secret—until Nasrin’s parents announce that they’ve arranged for her marriage. Nasrin tries to persuade Sahar that they can go on as they have been, only now with new comforts provided by the decent, well-to-do doctor Nasrin will marry. But Sahar dreams of loving Nasrin exclusively—and openly.
Then Sahar discovers what seems like the perfect solution. In Iran, homosexuality may be a crime, but to be a man trapped in a woman’s body is seen as nature’s mistake, and sex reassignment is legal and accessible. As a man, Sahar could be the one to marry Nasrin. Sahar will never be able to love the one she wants, in the body she wants to be loved in, without risking her life. Is saving her love worth sacrificing her true self?
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“Accomplished and compassionate…A groundbreaking, powerful depiction of gay and transsexual life in Iran…An intimate look at life in modern-day Iran and its surprising Westernization, even though much of this culture is clandestine.”
— Booklist (starred review)
“[A] provocative coming-of-age story.”
— Publishers Weekly“[A] terrific debut novel…Rich with details of life in contemporary Iran, this is a GLBTQ story that we haven’t seen before in YA fiction. Highly recommended.”
— School Library Journal“Refreshingly and believably diverse…A moving and elegant story.”
— Kirkus Reviews“A heartbreakingly beautiful story of first love…The reader becomes part of Sahar and Nasrin’s journey. We move through it with them with our heart in our hands.”
— Jacqueline Woodson, author of Beneath a Meth MoonBe the first to write a review about this audiobook!
Sara Farizan is the author of If You Could Be Mine. She received her MFA from Lesley University and her BA in film and media studies from American University. The daughter of Iranian immigrants, she lives near Boston, Massachusetts.
Negin Farsad is a comedian, actress, writer, and filmmaker. She has directed numerous documentaries, including The Muslims Are Coming, Nerdcore Rising, and A Cricket in the Court of Akbar. She also produced, directed, and performed in the Comedy Central series, The Watch List, the first show in the history of television to feature Middle-Eastern American comedians tackling international political issues. She lives in New York City.