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

5.0

I never wanted to read this. I saw it as a @bookofthemonth option in 2024 and didn't pick it up. I only did when it was the one BOTM book of the year finalist that I had not already read. For whatever reason, I chose to read it now and couldn't be happier that I did. 

In 1950s Iran, seven year old Ellie has lost her father and she and her mother are forced to move to what her mother views as the slums of Tehran. But it's there that Ellie meets her soulmate, best friend Homa. She discovers what family looks like, happiness and spirit. Homa is bound and determined to make a difference in the world, while Ellie is mostly just content to exist. As the years go by and the world changes, they remain true to themselves. 

I don't know that any synopsis is going to do this story justice. I loved Homa. Her spirit and drive to make the world a better place for women. Specifically Iran. This was powerful and at times heartbreaking. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐