I received and ARC of this novel from Gallery Books through Netgalley in exchange for my review. Wow! This was the best book that I have read in quite awhile and I'm so excited to share my review. This is the story of Roya and Bahman, two teenagers who meet in a bookstore in Tehran in the early 1950's. It is their story of love lost and love found, of politics and political upheaval, a story of moving on when you think all is lost and ultimately finding peace in the most challenging of times. This story was beautifully told and was ultimately hopeful even though there was so much loss in this story. Many other reviews have gone over the plot of this story so I won't break it down here, just go buy this book, settle in and let it take you to another time and place. When you finish it, it won't leave you for days. Loved it!

The Stationery Shop tells the story of a young couple who meets in a book/stationery shop in 1950s Iran. Circumstances lead them apart and the book flashed back to show what happened. I adored seeing Iranian culture and the story was very sweet.

This is a book of change, love, lies, class and revenge. I loved this book. The Stationery Shop starts sou t I. Iran in 1953. Roya and Bauman meet in a stationary shop and fall in love. They plan on. getting married but outside forces comes in between them. I learned a little about the change in Iran but I would like to learn more.

I do not read romance novels. I have little use for romance novels. This is not a romance novel. It is a novel of utmost beauty and despair, dealing with the human condition, which happens to have some romance in it. It has some of the most vivid imagery and if you have a tendency towards wanderlust like I do, either read this immediately or steer clear of it, because you're going to want to pack your bags and head out to the places described. I kind of didn't want this one to end, which is a rare occurrence for me.

What a beautiful book (and I'm not just talking about the cover). This story of two teenagers who fall in love in 1950s Tehran is tender and precious. Amidst the backdrop of the Iranian political chaos in 1953 (the coup against Mosaddegh and the unrest that preceded and followed it), the lives of two teenagers intertwine, which will have consequences for decades afterwards. I found all characters immensely relatable, the 2 main characters' love and life story sophisticated, and the story line overall utterly fascinating. Nothing felt overplayed or dramatic. Understanding the Iranian political context was also interesting and helpful. I will keep these two families in my mind for quite a while!

** spoiler alert ** A true old fashioned, stars not aligned love story. We are transported back to 1950s Tehran. Oh the details! At times I could almost smell the Persian food. The story of a young couple unfolds but others intervene and hearts are broken. They dont find their way back to each other as you would expect but they do and its heartwarming in it the end. This is the first love story I have enjoyed in some time.

The Stationery Shop was such a tragic, yet beautiful telling of young love caught in the hooks of imperfect beings. We get introduced to Roya and Bahman, two young lovers from different social backgrounds living in Iran during a time of uncertainty. With a whirlwind courtship, they decide to get married. But not everyone approved of their future together. On the day they plan to get married, Bahman doesn’t show up as planned. Eventually life moves on, but sometimes love can’t.

There were so many great aspects of The Stationery Shop. Particularly, I loved the setting being in Iran. The love story between Roya and Bahman takes place during 1953. This was a time where there was a major political divide. The country was constantly walking on egg shells with spies, traitors, and attempts of assassination. The play on politics really ramped up the novel giving it more depth. Additionally, I haven’t read too much about the Iranian culture, I believe this was only my second experience. I really enjoyed learning more about their country’s history, traditions, and every day life. Again, I think this novel provides extra layers of deepness taking it to the next level.

There certainly are some schemers in this novel that push true love off course. Kamali offered readers insight into the past for these characters. Giving us the inside scoop to the sequences that lead to their actions. I really loved these intricate details that brought the story full circle. People may behave badly but oftentimes it isn’t because they are bad people. They just had bad experiences and the influence those experiences have can hold a death grip. There are also many good people in this novel specifically I took notice in the men. Most of the men were forward thinking feminist which I really loved. Walter in particular sticks out to me. While his role is fairly small, his actions read so loudly on the page.

The Stationery Shop is a story with much to say. You’ll read about loss, being human, making mistakes, taking a stand, being a good person, and above love. I would highly encourage you to give this one a shot when you want to feel a little something.

Thank you NetGalley and Gallery Books for an advance copy of The Stationery Shop.

I loved this book. I couldn't put it down.

This is a story of love and loss primarily set in the 1950s Tehran. The weaving of the stories unveils little secrets here and there until the final and full story is revealed in the last few pages.

Such a great story. I connected with each of the characters...they felt so real. The setting added to my intrigue. The surprises in the tale are truly enjoyable - I gasped and smiled at how it all played out. Definitely add this one to your summer reading list.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an early release in exchange for an honest and fair review.

This is a beautifully written novel and should be on everyone's 2019 To Read List! This is the story of Roya and Bahman, two teenagers who fall in love in 1953 Tehran, Iran. Their grows while they visit a simple stationary shop owned by Mr. Fakhri. On the day of their wedding, they are to meet in the town square, but Bahman doesn't show up. Violence has erupted around the square as Roya waits for Bahman. It takes 60 years but Roya finally sees Bahman again and learns what happened that fateful day and why they didn't spend their lives together. There were alot of circumstances that fought against their love in the past. It was a joy to read this book. The character development and description of the times, places and culture of Tehran make this a do not miss book!

I enjoyed the writing style, the vivid description of smells, tastes, sights and the political pressure cooker Tehran was in the 1950's. I have one South Asian parent and I speak a little Urdu (a Persianized version of Hindi) so the Farsi words used intermittently in this book were very familiar to me and did not cause any pauses/question marks in my head.

Bravo (or should I say Afareen?!) A solid 5 stars!

This is easily one of my favorite books that I have read so far this year. The Stationary Shop tells the story of two young lovers, Roya and Bahman, developing their relationship in the midst of the political unrest of 1950s Tehran.

One day Bahman writes to Roya asking her to meet him at a town square, promising that they will walk to the Office and Marriage and Divorce and finally get married. On the day of their planned elopment, Roya waits at the Square, and instead of meeting her lover, she finds herself in the midst of a heated coup that leaves a special friend dead.

And it would be another 60 years until Roya and Bahman saw each other again.

The Stationary Shop, while traversing through tough subjects such as politics, mental illness, immigration, assimilation and death, ultimately speaks to the strength and perseverance of true love and the heartbreak that accompanies it.

It's the summer of 1953 in Iran and political turmoil reaches a boiling point as the Prime Minister Mossadegh faces a coup. Despite police brutality and violent demonstrations, two seventeen year olds, Roya and Bahman, fall in love in a beautiful poetry shop filled with Persian poetry, pens, and paper, with a little help from the shop's owner. Their love faces many challenges, including the unrest in the streets and Bahman's mother's mental illness. When their plan to elope goes awry, Roya moves to California to start over. She marries a calm, respectable New Englander and has a good life until sixty years later she wanders into another stationery shop near Boston and comes face to face with her past.

A sweet love story with a bit of mystery and backstory layered underneath, this is an intriguing look into a time and place that few other historical novels explore. The immense heart break and loss Roya endures are palpable and even though the ending feels rather contrived, the themes of love, friendship, and memory are clear.

What a beautiful story of love, loss, hope, and redemption! The characters are believable.. I could envision myself entering the stationery shop- embracing the scents and exploring the shelves. I cried, but ultimately felt such hope and satisfaction when I finished the book. I will be recommending this title to everyone.

A triumph. Pre-order this book and read as soon as it is released.

Young love torn apart by forces beyond their control in 1953 Tehran. A magically crafted story told mostly through Roya’s perspective as she grows from a school girl in Tehran to an elderly woman in Boston via California. Her losses are, at times, unbearable, and remarkably relevant today: love, family, professional.

The author skillfully gives small glimpses into other characters’ world views at times that intensify the story and give it layers and depth, illuminating human frailty.

Equal parts The Notebook, Love Letters, and Argo, you won’t want to put this down. And, if you’re like me, you’ll spend additional hours researching Persian history, including about the CIA’s operation Ajax.

Thanks to netgalley, the publisher, and author for an opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

What a beautifully written novel. This is the story of Roya and Bahman, two young teenagers who fall in love in 1953 Tehran. Their love blossoms while they visit the stationary shop owned by Mr. Fakhri. On the day of their wedding, they are to meet in the town square, but Bahman doesn't show up. Violence has erupted around the square as Roya waits for Bahman. It takes 60 years but Roya finally sees Bahman again and learns what happened that fateful day and why they didn't spend their lives together. There were alot of circumstances that fought against their love in the past. It was a joy to read this book. The character development and description of the times, places and culture of Tehran made this a book not to miss.
Thank you netgalley for allowing me to read this advanced readers copy for my honest, unbiased opinion.

This is a beautifully written bittersweet love story. From the blurb, you already know that they get separated. That's not the big spoiler of the story here. The real love story is how the characters cope with the fallout, get on with their lives, and react when given a chance to reunite. I also appreciated how Kamali featured a flashback chapter that gives you insight on why at least two of the supporting characters turned out to be the way they are in present time (or at least 1953 when the book starts).

The Stationery Shop is more than a love story. It opened my eyes to the social situation of Iran in the 1950's. Each character seemed believable. It is lovingly written with a balance of tenderness and sharpness. This would be a very good book club option as it has so many aspects that can be discussed.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for honest feedback.

The Stationery Shop...from the moment Roya opened the door, I have been picturing this place in my mind. The author painted such vivid pictures of each time period, of each character and event. I felt like I could smell the food cooking, taste the melon, feel the cold of the ice...Marjan Kamali, you are unbelievably talented. I feel haunted by Roya, Bahman and the rest. Thank you.

This is a love story and a story about loss. It’s also a coming of age saga. The backdrop to the story is the political climate in Iran starting in 1953. It touches on the exile of the Shah in 1979 and the story ends in 2013. Roya and Bahman are seventeen and fall in love amidst the political turmoil and chaos that eventually leads to the 1953 coup that ousts prime minister Mohammad Mossadegh. The young lovers are separated and their lives take unexpected (and not so unexpected) paths.

This turned out to be a really beautiful story. I just love, love, LOVED the Persian culture, it made the story that much more interesting. The food ... oh man, it all sounded so YUMMY ... it made me wish there was a Persian restaurant nearby.

The politics were very well done. I went into this book knowing very little about Iran’s political history and it was all very easy to understand. It was laid out very well, nothing overly complex or confusing about it.

Iran’s struggle for democracy made the perfect backdrop to the Roya/Bahman relationship. Two young people from two different classes, their relationship nurtured and encouraged by a stationer whose first love was thwarted by class disparity and parental/social expectations.

It did take a little bit to get into this story. The first part was rather flowery and saccharine but this was very specific to Roya and Bahman’s relationship. The political backdrop more than made up for this. Plus, once time passed and Roya reminisced about her first love, I have to admit that it all actually worked. So stick with it because it is absolutely worth it!

I highly recommend this novel. ARC was provided by NetGalley and Simon & Schuster. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

This is a love story between two individuals that met in a stationery shop during the political upheaval of 1950s .Tehran. This novel moved me emotionally as these young people encountered some resistance from some family members and due to some interference, the couple's romance was broken. Their encounter 60 years later left me in tears for their loss and their ongoing memories of their love throughout the years and forgiveness after learning the true story behind their breakup. Beautifully written story about love, food, family, and forgiveness.