A review by cynranne
The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali

emotional inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I tend to be stingy with my stars, but this was truly one of the best-written and most engaging novels I’ve read in years. The story of two friends shaped by different backgrounds, upbringings, and life paths was as inspiring as it was compelling. Through their journey, the novel offers a powerful look at Iran’s transformation (and regression) from the 1950s to 2022, highlighting the challenges faced by these young women and their families. The immersive descriptions transported me so completely into their world that I could almost smell the meals they shared- and I absolutely wished I could have tasted them!
This is the kind of book that I will be thinking of for a long while after reading.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Death, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and War