Reviews with content warning for Sexism - Girls of Riyadh

This was such an enjoyable and easy read. Within the book one character is anonymously writing weekly emails detailing the lives of herself and her three friends over the past six years. It offer a look into the lives of four, upper class Saudi women. I loved how each friend felt so distinct and had such relatable chatter flaws. Super fun and insightful!

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laurenleigh's review

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funny inspiring lighthearted reflective 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

I love how The StoryGraph’s translated fiction challenge expands my horizons! This sweet novel was a fun ride, like a Saudi version of Sex and the City. It also had major Bridgerton vibes with the secret identity storyteller giving us all the hot gossip. I really appreciated how seamlessly the narrator included the footnotes, which helped me better understand elements of the Saudi Arabian culture. I can also tell the writer worked very closely with the translator. I didn’t love how the author’s introduction told me what she wanted me to feel after reading this, but damn it she was totally spot on! (I’m just a stubborn Aries sometimes lol.) I know Saudi culture, especially for women, is externally very different than here in America. But internally, we’re all humans wanting to love and be loved. Despite our differences, these relationships were so relatable at their core. In the early 2000’s, I too could feel that double standard where I was expected to be smart and capable, but not too independent and outspoken, so as to not threaten or intimidate men. I too came up against that bullshit “sexy/slutty” boundary. I have a lot of love for these characters, as they explored these issues in their own lives in a deeply patriarchal society.

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