Scan barcode
karenleagermain's review against another edition
5.0
Kara has just turned thirty and she's living a fabulous life. She had a gorgeous apartment, designer clothes and a car, all courtesy of the Ebadi's. Leila and Hossein Ebadi are the parents of Kara's best friend, Bobby. Bobby is a one-hit wonder screenwriter and party boy, with a serious failure to launch problem. The Ebadi's have fallen in love with Kara and they fund her lifestyle in hopes that she will marry Bobby. They desperately want to see their son settle down, the only problem is Bobby is gay. Gay and very much in the closet when it comes to his family. The arrangement is mutually beneficially and they keep the guise of being in love to keep the financial benefits from his parents. There are two problems, first, the Ebadi's are not the type of parents to stay uninvolved and second, Kara has met a mysterious man whom intrigues her.
Abdi Nazemian's debut novel, The Walk-In Closet, isn't going to be for everyone. The novel, which centers around the lives of friends in their late 20's/early 30's, living in Los Angeles, is filled with frank and often crass dialogue. It's a bit like Sex and the City for a new generation. I found this often salacious story, to be a guilty pleasure read and I enjoyed every minute of it. That said, I would be very careful of which friends I recommend this novel to, just because of the language and subject matters discussed. It presses comfort levels.
Another layer that made the story compelling, was the peek into a different culture. The Ebadi's have made Kara an honorary member of their family and through this, she learns a lot about Persian culture and the thriving Persian immigrant community in Los Angeles. Growing up in Los Angeles, this is not a community in which I know very many people, so I found it fascinating. Overall, this is a very "Los Angeles" story, filled with many references to the city. I'm not sure how much will be lost on someone who is not familiar with the L.A. As a native, all of the references rang true and felt relevant.
If I were to try to describe these characters, they wouldn't come across as very likable people. They would probably seem shallow and vapid. However, I actually cared for all of them. These are people who are raised during a time of mass consumerism and delayed adulthood. They may have the fortune of being wealthy, but I don't think that makes them unique, it just gives them the ability to consume on a grand scale. These characters feel real, because they are echoed in people that I know. They act the way they do, because it is how they were raised and it's hard to overcome it, especially when the parents keep giving them money. Nazemian has written a very timely story.
The Walk-In Closet is highly entertaining, socially relevant and it even has a few good plot twists. I look forward to future novels by Nazemian, he is a strong new voice in the literary world.
Like my review? Check out my blog!
Abdi Nazemian's debut novel, The Walk-In Closet, isn't going to be for everyone. The novel, which centers around the lives of friends in their late 20's/early 30's, living in Los Angeles, is filled with frank and often crass dialogue. It's a bit like Sex and the City for a new generation. I found this often salacious story, to be a guilty pleasure read and I enjoyed every minute of it. That said, I would be very careful of which friends I recommend this novel to, just because of the language and subject matters discussed. It presses comfort levels.
Another layer that made the story compelling, was the peek into a different culture. The Ebadi's have made Kara an honorary member of their family and through this, she learns a lot about Persian culture and the thriving Persian immigrant community in Los Angeles. Growing up in Los Angeles, this is not a community in which I know very many people, so I found it fascinating. Overall, this is a very "Los Angeles" story, filled with many references to the city. I'm not sure how much will be lost on someone who is not familiar with the L.A. As a native, all of the references rang true and felt relevant.
If I were to try to describe these characters, they wouldn't come across as very likable people. They would probably seem shallow and vapid. However, I actually cared for all of them. These are people who are raised during a time of mass consumerism and delayed adulthood. They may have the fortune of being wealthy, but I don't think that makes them unique, it just gives them the ability to consume on a grand scale. These characters feel real, because they are echoed in people that I know. They act the way they do, because it is how they were raised and it's hard to overcome it, especially when the parents keep giving them money. Nazemian has written a very timely story.
The Walk-In Closet is highly entertaining, socially relevant and it even has a few good plot twists. I look forward to future novels by Nazemian, he is a strong new voice in the literary world.
Like my review? Check out my blog!
talypollywaly's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I agree with tora76's review. The first half of the book was so grating and I could not stand the narrator, but I just couldn't put the book down. The second half had me on the edge of my seat, hollering, and eventually in tears.
I've come back 7 months later to add:
Despite the flaws of this book, it had such a unique voice and story that it physically pains me that this author turned to writing YA. He was meant for campy soap operas and best-selling beach reads.
Maybe the fact that another favorite, unique former adult contemporary writer also recently turned to YA after years writing some of the only books in a niche & cherished genre of mine has me feeling some type of way. Yes, I have a problem with YA if it means it is forcing authors who bring a breath of fresh air to adult contemporary books have to resort to writing in a bloated genre in order to make rent. Alright, I'm done, I promise... for now.
I've come back 7 months later to add:
Despite the flaws of this book, it had such a unique voice and story that it physically pains me that this author turned to writing YA. He was meant for campy soap operas and best-selling beach reads.
Maybe the fact that another favorite, unique former adult contemporary writer also recently turned to YA after years writing some of the only books in a niche & cherished genre of mine has me feeling some type of way. Yes, I have a problem with YA if it means it is forcing authors who bring a breath of fresh air to adult contemporary books have to resort to writing in a bloated genre in order to make rent. Alright, I'm done, I promise... for now.
bookcaptivated's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction and Sexual content
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Child death
anatomydetective's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
moneyispizza's review against another edition
emotional
funny
fast-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? No
4.25
colleenoakes's review against another edition
4.0
Sharply written by an author with a definite eye for delicious detail, The Walk-In Closet was my beach read of the summer. I loved diving headfirst into this pool of Persian wealth, excess and designer clothing. While I agree with the reviewers that said they would have loved the book to have a section of Bobby's narration, I found that Kara's voice was honest in its simple humility, especially from the perspective of a shallow but beautiful girl who takes her everyday beauty for granted. Nazemian's voice is unique and cuts it own path in women's fiction, and possibly gay fiction, I imagine.
All said and done, this was the equivalent of a lavish cocktail that goes down with a strong bite.
All said and done, this was the equivalent of a lavish cocktail that goes down with a strong bite.
tora76's review
3.0
So, this is why I don't give up on books. Honestly, for the first half of this book or so I hated it. But I also hate not finishing things, so I kept reading. And the second half was great! I really, really loved the second half and I loved the ending. But the first half is such a slog of intensely boring Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous type stuff that I don't know that I would actually recommend it.
abookishaffair's review
4.0
In "The Walk In Closet," Kara has been intrigued by the Ebadi family for a long time. She loves them and wants nothing more than to please them that she is willing to pretend that she is the serious girlfriend of their son, who is gay. When Kara accidentally discovers that there may be more family secrets there, she is torn between protecting the family she loves and making sure that the secret stays hidden.
This book has a little bit of everything for a lot of kinds of readers. There is an interesting storyline, spurts of comedy, and a fascinating setting (Los Angeles in the Persian community also known as Tehrangeles). Though for me, the most interesting aspect of this book was really the characters. The author writes them in such a way that they stay really interesting as they change throughout the book. This book is filled with flawed characters who have some pretty heavy schedules. Everyone seems to be hiding something and living in a way that isn't true to what they really want in life.
This book started out very differently than it ended. At first the book focuses on Kara and Babak (nicknamed Bobby) trying to hide the true nature of their relationship from his conservative parents. The book turns into something wholly different as Kara discovers even more secrets and there is where it gets really interesting but I don't want to give anything away. Just know if you're looking for a good page turner with secrets in spades, this is a great pick!
This book has a little bit of everything for a lot of kinds of readers. There is an interesting storyline, spurts of comedy, and a fascinating setting (Los Angeles in the Persian community also known as Tehrangeles). Though for me, the most interesting aspect of this book was really the characters. The author writes them in such a way that they stay really interesting as they change throughout the book. This book is filled with flawed characters who have some pretty heavy schedules. Everyone seems to be hiding something and living in a way that isn't true to what they really want in life.
This book started out very differently than it ended. At first the book focuses on Kara and Babak (nicknamed Bobby) trying to hide the true nature of their relationship from his conservative parents. The book turns into something wholly different as Kara discovers even more secrets and there is where it gets really interesting but I don't want to give anything away. Just know if you're looking for a good page turner with secrets in spades, this is a great pick!
leahmichelle_13's review
4.0
I’ve never read a novel about a Persian family before, and I can’t say it’s something I would ever aspire to read about, because it simply would never occur to me to read about a Persian family. So when I saw that The Walk-In Closet was one of the picks for the Summer Reading Challenge that Book Sparks are hosting, and I’m taking part in, I wasn’t entirely sure this novel would be up my alley. Of all the books in the challenge, it was the one I was most worried about reading, and enjoying, but I was actually pleasantly surprised, and I’m quite pleased with myself for trying so many new books during 2014 as it has introduced me to some wonderful new authors, and characters, and people I would never normally read about.
In terms of opulence, and the nosiness of neighbours, The Walk-In Closet reminded me a little bit of Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan! The Ebadi family are Richie-Rich-rich, with money being no issue, and Leila Ebadi regularly spring-cleaning her closet and giving all her old clothes to her son’s beard Kara. (Not that Leila knows Kara is a beard.) Money isn’t an issue for the Ebadi’s, but I admired that fact that their money was made by them – it wasn’t family money, it was made thanks to the hard work of Hassein, the head of the household, Leila’s husband. It’s also blatantly obvious from the off that in “Tehrangeles”, as Kara calls it, everyone knows everyone and everyone knows your secrets, so if you’re trying to keep secrets, it’s best to keep them far, far away from the people of Tehrangeles, because otherwise EVERYONE will end up knowing what’s going on in your life. Because of that, I could totally understand why Bobby was loathe to spend time with anyone other than his parents, because that kind of pressure, where any peep is heard by all, makes me feel claustrophobic and I wasn’t even the one being pressurised!
Obviously I wasn’t sure The Walk-In Closet would be my kind of read but it was very appealing and the narrative skips along very well, helped by the fact that Kara is our narrator; I very much enjoyed getting to know her and I loved how deep her friendship with Bobby was, and how welcoming the Ebadi’s were about her being a part of their family. I thought the cast of characters were bonkers, but adorable. I adored the Ebadi’s, they’re the type of family you’d love to have around you, even if they were blinded by Bobby’s (very obvious to anyone else) secret. I loved how open and honest they were, except when it came to their sons, ironically enough, and despite their flaws, which I suspect is part to do with their being Persian (not to cast aspersions on Persian people), I liked them and thought they were lovely. I liked Kara, too. She’s flawed, which I liked, and the only aspect of her I didn’t really like were the way she acted with her friends Fiona and Joanne. She was kinda awful to the two people she says is meant to be her best friends, and it made me cringe to see her putting them down.
The Walk-In Closet is a tad cruder than I normally read, which was surprising but only because it’s rarity I come across it when reading, which is entirely coincidental. I’m not averse to bad language, it was just a bit coarse at times, Kara and Bobby were obviously totally honest with each other about literally everything, and it was just surprising to see the way they talked to each other sometimes. The addition of Kyle was perhaps my favourite addition to the novel, I wished we had seen more of him than his hotel room, mind, because I rather liked his mysterious ways and he and Kara seemed to click immediately, easily riffing off each other, as Kara tried to learn more about him. It led to a very interesting reveal. The only disappointment with the book is I would have liked to have seen more of Kara’s job. She works for a lady whose name I have forgotten, but eventually stands up on her own two feet and decides to go it alone, and I’d have liked to have seen how that panned out, because why make her go it alone if we aren’t going to be shown how it pans out?! It just petered out, so they may as well have just left her working where she was before ya know? But otherwise it was a very entertaining read, and I loved learning more about Persian people, they certainly lead interesting lives, and I rather yearned to become one of the Ebadi’s myself…
In terms of opulence, and the nosiness of neighbours, The Walk-In Closet reminded me a little bit of Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan! The Ebadi family are Richie-Rich-rich, with money being no issue, and Leila Ebadi regularly spring-cleaning her closet and giving all her old clothes to her son’s beard Kara. (Not that Leila knows Kara is a beard.) Money isn’t an issue for the Ebadi’s, but I admired that fact that their money was made by them – it wasn’t family money, it was made thanks to the hard work of Hassein, the head of the household, Leila’s husband. It’s also blatantly obvious from the off that in “Tehrangeles”, as Kara calls it, everyone knows everyone and everyone knows your secrets, so if you’re trying to keep secrets, it’s best to keep them far, far away from the people of Tehrangeles, because otherwise EVERYONE will end up knowing what’s going on in your life. Because of that, I could totally understand why Bobby was loathe to spend time with anyone other than his parents, because that kind of pressure, where any peep is heard by all, makes me feel claustrophobic and I wasn’t even the one being pressurised!
Obviously I wasn’t sure The Walk-In Closet would be my kind of read but it was very appealing and the narrative skips along very well, helped by the fact that Kara is our narrator; I very much enjoyed getting to know her and I loved how deep her friendship with Bobby was, and how welcoming the Ebadi’s were about her being a part of their family. I thought the cast of characters were bonkers, but adorable. I adored the Ebadi’s, they’re the type of family you’d love to have around you, even if they were blinded by Bobby’s (very obvious to anyone else) secret. I loved how open and honest they were, except when it came to their sons, ironically enough, and despite their flaws, which I suspect is part to do with their being Persian (not to cast aspersions on Persian people), I liked them and thought they were lovely. I liked Kara, too. She’s flawed, which I liked, and the only aspect of her I didn’t really like were the way she acted with her friends Fiona and Joanne. She was kinda awful to the two people she says is meant to be her best friends, and it made me cringe to see her putting them down.
The Walk-In Closet is a tad cruder than I normally read, which was surprising but only because it’s rarity I come across it when reading, which is entirely coincidental. I’m not averse to bad language, it was just a bit coarse at times, Kara and Bobby were obviously totally honest with each other about literally everything, and it was just surprising to see the way they talked to each other sometimes. The addition of Kyle was perhaps my favourite addition to the novel, I wished we had seen more of him than his hotel room, mind, because I rather liked his mysterious ways and he and Kara seemed to click immediately, easily riffing off each other, as Kara tried to learn more about him. It led to a very interesting reveal. The only disappointment with the book is I would have liked to have seen more of Kara’s job. She works for a lady whose name I have forgotten, but eventually stands up on her own two feet and decides to go it alone, and I’d have liked to have seen how that panned out, because why make her go it alone if we aren’t going to be shown how it pans out?! It just petered out, so they may as well have just left her working where she was before ya know? But otherwise it was a very entertaining read, and I loved learning more about Persian people, they certainly lead interesting lives, and I rather yearned to become one of the Ebadi’s myself…
More...