If You Could Be Mine

Sahar, a seventeen-year-old girl in Tehran, Iran, has been secretly in love with her best friend Nasrin since childhood. Their hidden relationship becomes complicated when Nasrin's parents arrange her marriage to a man, forcing both girls to confront the reality of being gay in a country where homosexuality is illegal. Through her cousin Ali, Sahar learns about Iran's policies regarding gender transition and discovers that sex reassignment surgery is legal and even supported by the government. She begins exploring this option as a potential way to stay with Nasrin, meeting members of Tehran's underground LGBTQ community in the process. The story takes place against the backdrop of modern Tehran, depicting both the public and private spaces where young people navigate strict social rules, family expectations, and personal desires. Through Sahar's journey, readers witness the complexities of life in contemporary Iran, from arranged marriages to class differences between families. The novel examines themes of identity, sacrifice, and the lengths people will go to for love, while offering insight into how religious law and cultural traditions shape individual choices in Iranian society.

Readers connect with the authentic portrayal of LGBTQ+ life in Iran and the main character's internal struggles. Many note the book provides insight into Iranian culture and the realities faced by gay people in countries where homosexuality is illegal. Liked: - Educational perspective on Iranian society - Raw emotional depth of relationships - Clear, straightforward writing style - Fast-paced narrative - Complex family dynamics Disliked: - Some found the protagonist's decisions frustrating - Romance felt underdeveloped - Secondary characters needed more depth - Ending felt rushed - Writing style occasionally oversimplified Ratings: Goodreads: 3.6/5 (6,900+ ratings) Amazon: 4/5 (80+ reviews) Book Browse: 4/5 (32 reviews) "The cultural details make this book stand out" - Goodreads reviewer "Important story but needed more character development" - Amazon reviewer "Opened my eyes to LGBTQ struggles in Iran" - Book Browse reviewer

Tell Me Again How a Crush Should Feel by Sara Farizan An Iranian American teenager navigates her sexuality and cultural identity while falling for a new classmate at her private school.

We Are Okay by Nina LaCour A college freshman confronts her grief, relationships, and first love with another girl during a winter break in her empty dorm.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid A Hollywood legend reveals her life story, including her hidden relationship with another actress during the Golden Age of cinema.

The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigirdar Two girls from different cultural backgrounds compete in a school business competition while developing feelings for each other.

Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo A Chinese American teenager discovers her identity and first love in 1950s San Francisco's Chinatown during the Red Scare.

🌟 Iran is one of only seven countries that fully subsidizes gender confirmation surgery, while paradoxically criminalizing homosexuality 📚 Author Sara Farizan wrote this debut novel while studying at Lesley University's MFA program, drawing from her own Iranian-American background 🌍 The book won multiple awards including the Lambda Literary Award and was named to the American Library Association's Rainbow List of recommended LGBTQ+ literature 🎭 The practice of gender reassignment surgery in Iran dates back to a 1987 fatwa by Ayatollah Khomeini, making it both legally and religiously sanctioned 📖 The story's Tehran setting was meticulously researched through family accounts and interviews, as Farizan herself couldn't safely visit Iran while writing about LGBTQ+ themes