A coming of age novel about heart break and starting high school. Realizing that the best you can be, is that true version of yourself.

This one was not for me at the time I tried to read it but that’s because I’m a total mood reader. I will definitely be going back to this at some point though.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for this DRC.
Parvin is relatable and fun character just looking for ways to fit in.
#PerfectlyParvin #NetGalley

This was a very sweet and meaningful read. I really liked Parvin and her friends. It was fun to see Parvin grow and become so confident in herself. This handles sensitive topics such as the Muslim ban and finding how you fit in. I loved the writing.

I loved this story and think it would be great for early teens. I loved Parvin and how they were finding themselves. Amazing story

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

This was a delightful if frustrating book. I loved the mix of cultures shown here, and a really accurate (in my experience) to what it feels like going to high school for the first time. Parvin is a fun character and I like her humor and her friends. The frustrating part comes in with the just terrible choices she makes and I can't blame her because she's 14, fighting societal standards and not having a female adult of her culture to help guide her except across the world. That's not discrediting her parents, though they were very often absent, they just couldn't help. There were just many times when I wanted to yell at her for being a 14 year old making the stupid choices she was making. Which is great, 14 year old me would have really appreciated reading this, so I hope teens enjoy this. It was a cute and happy ending and one I really liked.

RATING: 3/5 STARS

I think I would have liked this one more as a pre-teen. The main character's voice came across as a little young and immature so it drew me out of the book. But I think younger audiences will appreciate this cute story.

Actual Rating: 4.5

I really enjoyed seeing Parvin’s identity journey over the course of the book. She spent so much time trying to change aspects of herself, when it was impossible to change her origins. There were times where she lacked initiative, like packing her own lunches or doing her own laundry, and other times where she was overly ambitious, like with her homecoming plan. It felt very realistic watching her trying to balance it all when everything feels so different as a ninth grader. And as the blunt friend, I really appreciated when her friends gave her a reality check about her behavior. They were one of the best parts about the book. I also really felt for her struggles in Farsi class, because reading the language was the hardest part for me too when I studied it. My favorite part of this book was seeing how the Muslim ban affected families, but also how community could come together in hard times. Overall, I thought this was a heartfelt read with a great message about staying true to yourself, which many poc girls need

Parvin’s story is the perfect tale of finding out being yourself is the best way to be. She goes through so many challenges as she navigates starting high school and dealing with her first heartbreak. Her voice is perfect for young readers who need a character who isn’t always perfect, but still tries to do her best.

This is a great book for librarians to add to their collections development list for middle grades. It has many great SEL themes such as finding yourself, self-confidence, friendship, and being true to yourself. Also, girls will like it for themes like friends before boys and how you view yourself is more important than how others view you. the synopsis is that Parvin, who is Iranian-American thinks she meets the perfect guy on vacation and they become a couple. when school starts, all of a sudden, he starts ghosting her and without warning, he dumps her for being "too loud, too everything." Parvin is heartbroken even though they dated only a short while. she sets out to exact revenge and get the perfect prom date. Sorry, no spoilers here, I guess you will have to read it yourself. This is a great little confidence booster for the upper-middle school age to high school age group.

Eh, this was just an okay read for me. I wanted more but the MC felt too shallow and flat. Almost right from the start I found myself not caring about her or what she was going through. I finished the book but wasn't thrilled with what I read.

Fourteen-year-old Iranian-American Parvin Mohammadi sets out to win the ultimate date to homecoming in this heartfelt and outright hilarious debut.

Parvin Mohammadi has just been dumped--only days after receiving official girlfriend status. Not only is she heartbroken, she's humiliated. Enter high school heartthrob Matty Fumero, who just might be the smoking-hot cure to all her boy problems. If Parvin can get Matty to ask her to Homecoming, she's positive it will prove to herself and her ex that she's girlfriend material after all. There's just one problem: Matty is definitely too cool for bassoon-playing, frizzy-haired, Cheeto-eating Parvin. Since being herself hasn't worked for her in the past (see aforementioned dumping), she decides to start acting like the women in her favorite rom-coms. Those women aren't loud, they certainly don't cackle when they laugh, and they smile much more than they talk.

But Parvin discovers that being a rom-com dream girl is much harder than it looks. Also hard? The parent-mandated Farsi lessons. A confusing friendship with a boy who's definitely not supposed to like her. And hardest of all, the ramifications of the Muslim ban on her family in Iran. Suddenly, being herself has never been more important.

Olivia Abtahi's debut is as hilarious as it is heartfelt--a delightful tale where, amid the turmoil of high school friendships and crushes, being yourself is always the perfect way to be.

I am all for a reinvention and that's exactly what Parvin does and I loved it. Now this book is set when Parvin is 14 and going to high school, I don't usually read books like that I mainly go for an older MC but I was pleased;ty surprised and I enjoyed this book a lot. Some parts had me laughing and some had me a little teary I'd but that's ok it was perfect. I can't wait for book two!

Thank you to Penguin Teen for sending me this ARC much earlier this year. You can get this book now and I think you should because it's amazing!

This book was such an adorable breath of fresh air! Parvin had me laughing out loud with her snarky comments and her love of pranks. Since Parvin is half-Iranian and half-white, this book touched on a lot of issues that resonated with me as a biracial woman. Having a white mom who couldn't provide her with the right beauty and fashion advice, fielding questions about her racial identity, and thinking that she'll never have a romantic relationship unless she looks more Caucasian were all things I dealt with in middle and high school. And I learned a lot from this story, too, from Iranian dishes and traditional forms of hospitality to how Farsi varies from English to the heartbreaking effects of the Muslim ban on visiting family members.

This falls on the younger side of YA, and in my opinion this was a good thing! Even when Parvin was acting in immature ways, I found myself thinking back to late middle school and going "wow, I really would have reacted just like she did here." She grew so much throughout the book and there was a lovely focus on friendships and family in addition to romantic relationships. Put this book on your TBR because I guarantee you'll fall for Parvin as hard as I did!

Such a fun and hilarious debut! Thank you so much for the chance to read it early. I can't wait for Olivia's second book.

This could very easily be the basis for a hit tv show! Between getting dumped unexpectedly by her first boyfriend, a new friendship with the boy from her parent mandated Farsi lessons, and Parvin’s desire to do all she can to persuade cute and popular Matty Fumero to ask her to homecoming, this girl more than has her hands full! Hilarious and genuine, Perfectly Pravin expertly explores what its like for 14 year old Parvin Mohamamadi to navigate the ups and downs of romantic relationships and family dynamics, as well as the very real and serious struggles involved in the trials of immigration into the United States.

This was a really cute book. It sort of reminded me of Netflix’s Never Have I Ever which is a favorite show of mine.
Premise
Fourteen-year-old Iranian-American Parvin Mohammadi sets out to win the ultimate date to homecoming in this heartfelt and outright hilarious debut.

Parvin Mohammadi has just been dumped--only days after receiving official girlfriend status. Not only is she heartbroken, she's humiliated. Enter high school heartthrob Matty Fumero, who just might be the smoking-hot cure to all her boy problems. If Parvin can get Matty to ask her to Homecoming, she's positive it will prove to herself and her ex that she's girlfriend material after all. There's just one problem: Matty is definitely too cool for bassoon-playing, frizzy-haired, Cheeto-eating Parvin. Since being herself hasn't worked for her in the past (see aforementioned dumping), she decides to start acting like the women in her favorite rom-coms. Those women aren't loud, they certainly don't cackle when they laugh, and they smile much more than they talk.

But Parvin discovers that being a rom-com dream girl is much harder than it looks. Also hard? The parent-mandated Farsi lessons. A confusing friendship with a boy who's definitely not supposed to like her. And hardest of all, the ramifications of the Muslim ban on her family in Iran. Suddenly, being herself has never been more important.
It was neat seeing her act out her favorite romcoms to help try to get Mattybto pay attention to her and take her to homecoming. It was also a great book in that it explores cultural issues as well and finding your place in the world and being your authentic self.
I really enjoyed this one a lot and if you love the series ai mentioned and are looking for something similar Perfectly Parvin is the book for you!

A fun, quirky, and heartfelt teen contemporary about a 14-year-old Iranian American girl (Parvin) whose summer romance dumps her at the beginning of freshman year. Apparently, Parvin is “too much” and “too loud.” Words that go on to haunt Parvin, who decides to become a new and ‘improved’ (aka quieter) version of herself, much to the dismay of her friends, who like Parvin just the way she is.

I went into Perfectly Parvin not expecting much (I don’t read many teen contemporaries) and left with a new go-to reading recommendation! A book that has definite YA crossover appeal. Perfectly Parvin is sweet and unique while touching on complex subjects (like Parvin’s struggle to fit in and immigration laws). Cannot recommend this book enough.

Loved loved loved this sweet YA. A friend of mine is Iranian American and I know this story meant so much to her. Her middle name is also Parvin!