Reviews tagging 'Homophobia'

If You Could Be Mine by Sara Farizan

24 reviews

lyd41's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark informative reflective sad fast-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

Very glad I found this book to show me a unique queer experience. Provokes a lot of thought. Definitely read content warnings. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

yayokay's review

Go to review page

emotional funny inspiring reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

i don't think this book provided enough explanation/closure. plot wise, it was okay. as the back of the book claims, sahar is considering undergoing transgender surgery to freely be with her lover. which she did consider, but only past the 60% mark. this made the plot seemed dragged out. (although the author did write a lot about her considering it) 

as for the characters, they were comforting and wit-full. i especially loved being introduced to queer iranians' lives and experiences. sahar was a relatable, likable main character. nasrin however, was not. they didn't seem in love; but simply a couple that grew to love each other because of their circumstances. their relationship felt almost rehearsed, like they were so used to being together they didn't know what else to do. 

don't get me wrong, you all know i am a sucker for oblivious west asian girls indulging in worlds completely different from theirs. which introduces questions of self integrity. 

i will say i liked the banter, the character development (kinda) and the truth of it all. the book could've been great if the rising action wasn't so dragged out, and the climax wasn't so rushed. i liked the notion that you will always love your first love. i would not label this as a romance book but as a likely story of two iranian girls.


ok i hate this review goodnigjt 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

silverrose187's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

2.0

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

lupitabaeyongo's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

anthea_june's review

Go to review page

challenging emotional reflective sad tense 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

4.0

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

iremtkm's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

hazel_georgene's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective sad tense 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

4.0

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

tahsintries's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

lixard's review

Go to review page

challenging emotional sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

  •  First moment to make me cry and it's the father daughter conversation!!! How typical of me
  • Guess it's par for course on how desperate the girls are to keep their relationship,  even in its dregs and crumbles, because it feels like it could be the end of the world (their youth, childhood) if it ends 
  • Mr. Ali, King of the gays?? Alright legend 
  • Daughter đź’” someone get her into uni for literature right this instant or I'll riot



  • it was heartbreaking, all aspects and characters involved had something tragic happen and it was just sad but truthful to read
  • i appreciate that they showed not just one perspective of queer issues in Iran, but a lot of different sides, each with their own flaws, especially that hormone exchange in the restaurant really broke my heart
    • many many layers of discrimination and stigma - which is a good reflection of what i can only presume is the issue in iran, and throughout the world
  • sahar's desperation in finding a way to stay with nasrin, or else she wouldn't be able to move on seems dramatic but fitting for a young adult to feel, especially with all the other things in her life changing as well - in another situation/book with a heterosexual couple that would've probably found a solution, there would've been a similar level of desperation, just maybe without the same stakes 
  • i also like the shame explored by sahar after she realized someone was trans and then trying to find the "thing" that made them identifiable,, it kind of spoke to the tiniest ways you can be transphobic without really meaning to, but should definitely reflect on

I don't always like my body or that I have love handles. I don't always like that as a woman, I have fewer opetions than men, even men that aren't as smart as I am. 
But I never feel like my body is a trap. 
If anything, I feel like my love is a trap. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

onlyongracexm's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

To be honest, I think Sahar and Nasrin’s relationship is kind of unhealthy.

I felt so uncomfortable watching how far Sahar was willing to go for this girl. I was rooting for her once she realized that she couldn’t go through with what she really didn’t want.

Even so, that’s the story. It’s about these girls hiding in fear. The first chapter was an absolute drudge full of info dumps. However, I absolutely loved the ending. It mixed so many emotions into the writing that I loved it even when I came out of it feeling sad.

Highly recommend because people like Sahar and Nasrin do exist and we need to remember that there are still places in real life where you could die for loving someone.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings