Tell Me Again How a Crush Should Feel

Leila Azadi navigates life as an Iranian-American student at a prestigious New England prep school. While keeping her sexuality hidden from her conservative Persian parents and privileged classmates, she focuses on maintaining good grades and blending in. The arrival of Saskia, a sophisticated new student, disrupts Leila's careful balancing act. As Leila develops feelings for Saskia, she must confront questions about identity, culture, and truth while managing relationships with friends and family. Theater provides an outlet for Leila as she works behind the scenes of the school play, but complications arise when her personal and social worlds begin to intersect. Her growing self-awareness forces her to make choices about who she wants to be and how much of herself to reveal. This coming-of-age novel explores the intersection of sexuality, cultural expectations, and authenticity through the lens of a teen finding her place in multiple communities. The story tackles universal themes of belonging and self-discovery while highlighting specific challenges faced by LGBTQ+ youth in traditional families.

Readers describe this as a light, quick-paced YA novel that balances serious themes with humor. Many note it offers representation of both Iranian-American and LGBTQ+ identities without making those identities the sole focus of the story. Positive reviews highlight: - Authentic portrayal of high school social dynamics - Strong family relationships, especially father-daughter bond - Relatable protagonist voice - Balance of cultural elements without overwhelming the narrative Common criticisms: - Some character development feels rushed - Secondary characters lack depth - Romance moves too quickly - Plot points resolve too neatly Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (6,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (80+ ratings) One reader noted: "The characters felt real and messy in the best way." Another criticized: "The ending wrapped up too perfectly to be believable." Multiple reviewers mentioned appreciating how the book addressed both sexuality and cultural identity without becoming didactic.

If You Could Be Mine by Sara Farizan A young woman in Iran navigates first love and hidden sexuality while considering drastic measures to be with her best friend.

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The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth An orphaned teen in Montana faces conversion therapy after her conservative aunt discovers her relationship with another girl.

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🌟 Author Sara Farizan wrote this novel while studying for her MFA in Creative Writing at Lesley University 📚 The book explores the intersection of LGBTQ+ and Iranian-American identities, drawing from Farizan's own experiences as an Iranian-American lesbian 🎭 The protagonist Leila's involvement in theater productions serves as a metaphor for her journey of self-discovery and coming out 🗣️ The novel was one of the first YA books to feature a queer Persian-American main character when it was published in 2014 🏆 The book received multiple accolades, including being named to the ALA Rainbow List and earning a starred review from Publishers Weekly