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booksdogsandcoffee's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Thank you Berkley for an arc in exchange for an honest review
A beautiful story about what it means to accept yourself within your sexuality and community.
Not only we’re tough topics discussed, the love story that was interwoven was brilliant. Nar has to learn to be herself. Her boyfriend of five years, and the man her father would have wanted to marry proposes to her in the worst way possible. Which makes her realize this isn’t what she wants.
Telling him they need to go on a break while he is away for a month, her mom convinces her to participate in a month long celebration called Explore Armenia that only happens every 3 years, to set her up with men from her community. On the first night Nareh meets the enchanting Erebuni. She helps her navigate the men at these events. But what Nar doesn’t expect is to start falling for this bewitching woman who is helping her both accept her sexuality and her Armenian heritage.
Voskuni tackled tough subjects like assimilating into American culture as immigrants, the genocide in Armenia and resulting diaspora, what it means to be a woman in a man dominated work place, and so much more. You see Nar go through being a part of her culture but also feeling so outside of it because her dad wanted more for her. This was done with such care and passion for her culture and tradition.
Cw
Genocide discussed
Outing
Homophobia
Misogyny
Biphobia
Alcohol
Grief
Sexism
Sexual harassment
Mild sexual content
Death of a parent off page
Toxic relationship
A beautiful story about what it means to accept yourself within your sexuality and community.
Not only we’re tough topics discussed, the love story that was interwoven was brilliant. Nar has to learn to be herself. Her boyfriend of five years, and the man her father would have wanted to marry proposes to her in the worst way possible. Which makes her realize this isn’t what she wants.
Telling him they need to go on a break while he is away for a month, her mom convinces her to participate in a month long celebration called Explore Armenia that only happens every 3 years, to set her up with men from her community. On the first night Nareh meets the enchanting Erebuni. She helps her navigate the men at these events. But what Nar doesn’t expect is to start falling for this bewitching woman who is helping her both accept her sexuality and her Armenian heritage.
Voskuni tackled tough subjects like assimilating into American culture as immigrants, the genocide in Armenia and resulting diaspora, what it means to be a woman in a man dominated work place, and so much more. You see Nar go through being a part of her culture but also feeling so outside of it because her dad wanted more for her. This was done with such care and passion for her culture and tradition.
Cw
Genocide discussed
Outing
Homophobia
Misogyny
Biphobia
Alcohol
Grief
Sexism
Sexual harassment
Mild sexual content
Death of a parent off page
Toxic relationship
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia, Outing, Sexism, Homophobia, and Misogyny
Moderate: Genocide, Sexual harassment, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Sexual content
decklededgess's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
trigger warnings: alcoholism, car accident, death of parent, grief, sexual content (not explicit), sexual harassment mention, homophobia and biphobia, workplace sexism and misogyny, infidelity
How to succinctly explain my feelings about this without breaking down in public as I type this...maybe I will simply have to accept that I will be that person today.
Taleen Voskuni's debut novel, in my frank opinion, reads like a contemporary classic. Emotive, introspective, something that sticks in your mind for months after finishing, and with just enough kick to spike your curiosity and send you down a research rabbit hole. It's because of this book that I've been actively looking into Armenian culture and the Armenian Genocide. It's a real pitfall of the American Education system and my own resources that topics like this aren't given the light of day or easily searchable without knowing exactly what to look for. Well, I'm here now and I'm doing my due diligence in keeping myself informed.
Pivoting back to the book, as the reader I was sucked in from page one. It's a combination of some spectacularly gripping writing and the ubiquitous nature of overbearing (said with love) ethnic parents that I saw myself in this story immediately. It wasn't the bisexuality or the living at home bit, although those certainly played their part. Reading about a mother who Needs To Know everything and about a tight knit cultural community where you simply Have To Appease the elders is such a relatable aspect of ethnic communities. I was able to feel Nareh's love for her culture, affection and irritation towards her family, and the emotional limbo of being Other in the context of your own culture and in the USA.
This book felt like me. It felt like home. From the dramatic mom to the hidden queerness. Out to a select group of people who feel like a whole universe apart from the closet that you shove yourself in at home.
Nareh is perhaps one of my favourite adult closeted queer characters EVER. Her struggle is so relatable. She wants to be the dutiful daughter but doesn't know if coming out will upset her family. She wants to succeed at work but it's a tussle between doing as she's told or reporting on the stories that revive the passion she had for her job. She wants to be happy with Erebuni but the known cultural stigma against queer people is scary. She's used to comfort, familiarity, and routine and breaking the mould in multiple aspects of her life is a gamble between happiness and loss off things she holds dear. Her entire character arc is the foundation of the book and the book unfolds painfully and beautifully around it.
Erebuni is such a compelling love interest. I understand this book toes the line between romance and literary fiction (evidenced by the fade to black smut which...coming back to certain details of the aftermath had me SCREAMING at the loss). So it makes complete sense that she didn't get a POV but my GOD did I want to read her side of things so bad. I think that's a mark of a solid book that you're left yearning for more. Not because it felt like pieces were missing but because you want to dunk yourself in the book like it's a vat of melty chocolate. The book beautifully balanced Nareh's time with Erebuni, her family, her workplace conflict, and cultural immersion. Storylines didn't feel overwhelming. It was just the perfect amount of detail to be satisfied while also leaving enough to the imagination that the story lingers beyond its pages.
Lastly, I wanted to take a moment to talk about books like this that are steeped in culture and history that are not represented everywhere you turn. It's evident that the author put a lot of love and her own painful experiences in relation to the Armenian Genocide into the book. While I cannot review those aspects as a cultural outsider, I can educate myself further. Sorry, Bro isn't and mostly importantly shouldn't be your one and only interaction with the Armenian genocide. As a work of fiction, this book serves to reflect one of many experiences. It's for Armenian people to see themselves and feel understood. It's for non Armenians to enjoy and understand. It is NOT your one stop shop for learning. I think perhaps the most respectful thing to do would be to expand your own knowledge of Armenian history beyond this book. I hope that if you decide to pick up this book, that you do some research as a reader.
TLDR: amazing book, very emo, do research and don't exploit.
How to succinctly explain my feelings about this without breaking down in public as I type this...maybe I will simply have to accept that I will be that person today.
Taleen Voskuni's debut novel, in my frank opinion, reads like a contemporary classic. Emotive, introspective, something that sticks in your mind for months after finishing, and with just enough kick to spike your curiosity and send you down a research rabbit hole. It's because of this book that I've been actively looking into Armenian culture and the Armenian Genocide. It's a real pitfall of the American Education system and my own resources that topics like this aren't given the light of day or easily searchable without knowing exactly what to look for. Well, I'm here now and I'm doing my due diligence in keeping myself informed.
Pivoting back to the book, as the reader I was sucked in from page one. It's a combination of some spectacularly gripping writing and the ubiquitous nature of overbearing (said with love) ethnic parents that I saw myself in this story immediately. It wasn't the bisexuality or the living at home bit, although those certainly played their part. Reading about a mother who Needs To Know everything and about a tight knit cultural community where you simply Have To Appease the elders is such a relatable aspect of ethnic communities. I was able to feel Nareh's love for her culture, affection and irritation towards her family, and the emotional limbo of being Other in the context of your own culture and in the USA.
This book felt like me. It felt like home. From the dramatic mom to the hidden queerness. Out to a select group of people who feel like a whole universe apart from the closet that you shove yourself in at home.
Nareh is perhaps one of my favourite adult closeted queer characters EVER. Her struggle is so relatable. She wants to be the dutiful daughter but doesn't know if coming out will upset her family. She wants to succeed at work but it's a tussle between doing as she's told or reporting on the stories that revive the passion she had for her job. She wants to be happy with Erebuni but the known cultural stigma against queer people is scary. She's used to comfort, familiarity, and routine and breaking the mould in multiple aspects of her life is a gamble between happiness and loss off things she holds dear. Her entire character arc is the foundation of the book and the book unfolds painfully and beautifully around it.
Erebuni is such a compelling love interest. I understand this book toes the line between romance and literary fiction (evidenced by the fade to black smut which...coming back to certain details of the aftermath had me SCREAMING at the loss). So it makes complete sense that she didn't get a POV but my GOD did I want to read her side of things so bad. I think that's a mark of a solid book that you're left yearning for more. Not because it felt like pieces were missing but because you want to dunk yourself in the book like it's a vat of melty chocolate. The book beautifully balanced Nareh's time with Erebuni, her family, her workplace conflict, and cultural immersion. Storylines didn't feel overwhelming. It was just the perfect amount of detail to be satisfied while also leaving enough to the imagination that the story lingers beyond its pages.
Lastly, I wanted to take a moment to talk about books like this that are steeped in culture and history that are not represented everywhere you turn. It's evident that the author put a lot of love and her own painful experiences in relation to the Armenian Genocide into the book. While I cannot review those aspects as a cultural outsider, I can educate myself further. Sorry, Bro isn't and mostly importantly shouldn't be your one and only interaction with the Armenian genocide. As a work of fiction, this book serves to reflect one of many experiences. It's for Armenian people to see themselves and feel understood. It's for non Armenians to enjoy and understand. It is NOT your one stop shop for learning. I think perhaps the most respectful thing to do would be to expand your own knowledge of Armenian history beyond this book. I hope that if you decide to pick up this book, that you do some research as a reader.
TLDR: amazing book, very emo, do research and don't exploit.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Outing
Moderate: Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Misogyny, Car accident, Alcohol, Racism, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Biphobia, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Grief, Hate crime, and Infidelity
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