2.5/5 Stars

14-year-old Parvin Mohammadi is half Iranian-American and just beginning high school. She's just been dumped by her first-ever boyfriend and hatches a plan to make sophomore Matty ask her to homecoming. She will become one of the demure, perfect girls from the rom-coms she watches. The only place she can still be herself is Farsi school, where she becomes friends with a boy who likes her for who she is.

This was cute for what it was, but Parvin annoyed me more times than not. She didn't listen to anyone who told her that her plan was silly and she should just be herself. I did really like Parvin's two bestfriends Ruth and Fabian. They were both good friends to Parvin, even when she was being shitty to them. I also really liked the underlying message of self-love and acceptance and think that it is an important message that younger audiences should read about.

I've handed this book (virtually) to many junior high and high school students since Spring and everyone comes back loving it. The common refrain: this should be a Netflix movie!

Cute teen angst book in an updated vein of “Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging.” It did feel a bit heavy handed with the social justice points sprinkled in - not that the issues were bad - all of the issues didn’t seem organic to the plot. Some of them seemed positioned just so they could be discussed in the book.

Actual Stars 3.5⁣
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“𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡..𝐎𝐊? 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐞. 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟. 𝐈 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐛𝐮𝐭, 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬.”⁣⁣
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Parvin Mohammadi is a young 1/2 Iranian American teenage girl trying to fit in with both her Iranian and American culture. After being dumped by her first ever boyfriend at the start of high school for being too “loud” and just too much, Parvin sets out to win the perfect Homecoming date. But in order to score her perfect date she decides to do a total personality makeover. Turning into the demure women of RomComs who don’t speak up, who don’t pull pranks, and they don’t cackle when they laugh. All this on top of her beauty regimen of plucking her “hairy” brows, shaving every ounce of body hair and taming her unruly frizzy hair. The only place she gets to be herself is in Farsi school, where she becomes friends with a boy who actually likes her for who she is and not who she wants to be. Parvin starts to realize that in her quest to be the “perfect” girl she lost pieces of herself along the way as well as jeopardized the friendships she holds closet to her heart. ⁣⁣
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This was a bit young minded for me, so for me specifically at times it was a bit slow. But not everyone, especially a younger audience may feel that way. And there are some important topics brought up that I did appreciate. Like the political undertones the author brought up such as the Muslim Ban during Trumps administration. I was also left contemplating on the fact that women need to not let others “shame” them for unconventional looks or not looking like the average (American or otherwise) woman. We are one of the most materialistic countries when it comes to judging people on appearances, success and just overall fitting in. Perfectly Parvin teaches the younger generation (really it’s a life lesson we all should follow) it’s ok to be true to yourself and not try and be something that you’re not just to fit into a mold you think is “acceptable”. ⁣⁣
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I think this would be perfect for those who enjoy a “younger” YA and are interested in reading a cute contemporary romance with a diverse cast of characters. ⁣⁣
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𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐏𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲.

I absolutely loved this book! It was fun, flirty, and had a great balance between the material and serious issues it discussed.

I am officially a stan of Parvin. She was absolutely hilarious throughout the whole book. Parvin is on a mission to land the perfect prom date, but knows she's going to have to change who she is to ever get him to notice her. Her attempts at winning him over are just the best. Abtahi absolutely knew what she was doing when she wrote Parvin's story.

What I loved (perhaps the most) about this story is how well Abtahi works in serious issues to a light-hearted and fun book. There is talk of racism, Islam-phobia, and other similar issues throughout the book, but the overall mood doesn't feel overwhelming or depressing. The author writes it all in such a way that the reader is learning about these real issues and some ways that things can change, while also keeping the mood light. And it's not that the other makes light of these issues; it's just that Parvin is telling them in her Parvin sort of way so it feels like talking to a friend.

I wish I could accurately describe my love for this book, but for now, you'll just have to take my word. It's 100% worth the read and I can't recommend it enough. Abtahi is a new insta-buy author for me.

Parvin has just had the best summer ever hanging out with the cutest boy, Wesley. Just as she’d hoped, she’s starting high school with a new boyfriend who couldn’t be more perfect. But after the first day of school assembly, he pretends that he doesn’t know her and breaks up with her because she’s just too much for him. Heartbroken, she comes up with a plan to reinvent herself as a new, better, quieter Parvin and get herself a date before the homecoming dance, so she can show Wesley just what he’s missing.

This story was quick to read and light-hearted. Parvin is perfectly flawed in a way I think will be relatable to many teenagers. I loved that she was brutally honest about everything from feeling self conscious about laughing too loud to tackling overgrown body hair. She has two great best friends who support her, even when she has tunnel vision for her own problems. I loved that there were food references (which will definitely make your stomach grumble) and dorky parents sprinkled throughout. I would recommend this to readers of Jenny Han or Sandhya Menon. It’s a cute, romantic read with a lot of heart and self discovery.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I'm so glad I had the opportunity to read this book.

One thing that transcends culture, race, where you live, etc. is that awkward stage of puberty. Trying to figure out who you are and gain some self-esteem and confidence. Learning about relationships and who your true friends are, plus how to be a true friend in return. Not letting others dictate your worth.

I think this book could be geared more toward middle school age readers as opposed to high school. I loved the diverse cast and the education I gained while reading about Parvin's culture. I also really appreciated being taught the pronounciation of things, such as Parvin's name. I was able to listen to portions of this on audio book as well and that only enhanced my understanding of the pronunciation.

Parvin is an young girl who learns throughout the novel that not only is it okay to be yourself, it's preferred. She learns to embrace herself and find beauty that may be different that what she sees blasted across media. Just because it's a different example of beauty, doesn't mean it's less.

3.5 stars
This was a really sweet, heartwarming book about Parvin truly coming to accept herself for who she is, quirks and loudness and all. It's definitely on the younger side of YA, if not middle grade, so keep that in mind when going into it. The characters are brand new freshmen in high school and they act like it, which I really appreciated. They were dramatic and sarcastic and everything that fits with this awkward stage in one's life. Parvin was an endearing--although occasionally frustrating--main character who is going through a difficult point in her life with boys and beginnings and starting over. There is a case of insta-love--while it's not explicitly stated as being love, Parvin does fall fast and hard and this situation spurs a lot of the book--that I didn't love, especially for a character this young. It does spur her journey for finding herself but I wish it hadn't been quite as sudden.
As far as representation goes, Parvin is half Iranian and a constant theme throughout the book is her feeling like an outsider, not quite fitting the mold of what a typical American teenager is, and this discussion is an important one. I am not Own Voices for the subject but the content nonetheless is so important to see represented, especially with younger readers. The topics of racism and immigration are also fairly frequently mentioned. In addition, Parvin has a pansexual best friend and a gay best friend so this book is full of representation of all sorts. I would definitely recommend this for readers of all ages but specifically those on the younger side of YA for a book about being confident in yourself, no matter what others tell you.

WHY DID I LISTEN TO PERFECTLY PARVIN BY OLIVIA ABTAHI?
Perfectly Parvin by Olivia Abtahi was an excellent choice via audiobook. I decided to give it a shot as it had popped up on the Volumes app reviewer section. You see, I love reading diverse young adult contemporary books. Perfectly Parvin was the first book I’ve read starring a main character who is half Iranian. Friends, I loved this book SO much. I am so glad that this book exists and is such a delight to listen to.

WHAT’S THE STORY HERE?
Olivia Abtahi’s Perfectly Parvin opens up on summer beach vacation where Parvin clearly had herself a blast. She’s so excited because she’s just obtained her first boyfriend, Wesley, and cannot wait to get back to school to start her freshman year with a boyfriend. You see, Parvin and Wesley both live in DC and will be attending the same high school. Only, when school starts Parvin is dumped by Wesley. She has a plan though to get another boyfriend, a sophomore named Matty. You see, Parvin has been told that she’s too much. So, she tones it down and becomes demure and not her loud, vivacious, wonderful self. The plan is working, but she’s also finding she really likes this guy from her Farsi class, Amir. Also, Parvin is looking forward to her aunt visiting from Iran. She’s in college and can help Parvin with makeup, etc unlike Parvin’s white mom.

HOW DID I LIKE PERFECTLY PARVIN?
I loved Perfectly Parvin. Parvin is such an endearing, wonderful main character. This whole book made me feel like it is the Georgia Nicholson for this generation — with a main character of color, side characters who are LGBTQ, and Parvin’s experience of adolescence and romance. Parvin makes various missteps throughout the way and it just feels so refreshingly normal and relatable. You’ll find yourself rooting for her to find her voice the entire time and be proud of who she is. I really genuinely believe this is such a wonderful book for teens looking for younger YA to read.

HOW’S THE NARRATION?
If audiobooks are your jam, I think you will enjoy listening to Perfectly Parvin. It is wonderfully narrated by Mitra Jouhari who infuses the narration with so much personality and character. Further, listening to this meant I can now perfectly pronounce Parvin without sounding ignorant. The audiobook is 6 hours and 57 minutes long, easy to understand while sped up and an absolute must listen.

Wow this book took me by surprise! I've been relating to YA books less and less but this one really hit every soft spot I have without fail. Parvin's identity and struggle with being Iranian American was incredibly close to what my personal experience with being Indian American is. I loved how the author was not shy about discussing insecurities in an open and raw way instead of doubling down on a toxic positive mentality. The romance and surprise love triangle were also super fun and engaging to read about so I was incredibly happy with this book!

Teenage Daria would have absolutely adored this novel and I desperately wish I could go back in time and hand it to her!!

Parvin Mohammadi is dealing with a lot when we first meet her. She’s starting high school, has just been dumped by her first kiss, Wesley, for being “too loud,” and her family is struggling to get a visa for her aunt, who is currently living in Iran in the era of the Muslim ban. Parvin is thrown by the break-up with Wesley and is now scrambling to find a date for homecoming, hoping to make Wesley jealous in the process. One day, while watching a romantic film, she decides that she will act like the heroines in these movies. She will laugh at the boy’s jokes and make none of her own. She will remain quiet and demure no matter the situation. She won’t wear her typical wardrobe of bombastic, patterned clothes and glittery eyeshadow.

I really loved that the author did not shy away from the insecurities Iranian, and Middle Eastern girls, feel in general. Parvin laments about her arm and mustache hair. She hates that, in terms of looks, she took after her Iranian father rather than her white American mother. She takes Farsi classes and feels so out of place only being half-Iranian and not being able to keep up with her peers. I really appreciated this and my teenage self could totally have definitely related. In fact, even 22-year-old me can relate.

There are many storylines that aren’t perfectly resolved, one of which is the story of Parvin’s favorite aunt trying to come to the United States to visit their family. There is so much anticipation for her to come and be with Parvin, however, prejudices and bigoted policies get in the way of her trip. I will be interested to see how the author expands upon this and demonstrates the impact it has on Parvin and her family in the next book.

We happen to get an unexpected romantic interest thrown in to the mix and, no spoilers, but I adored him and was yelling at the book and begging for him to be the guy Parvin ends up with in the end. I won’t tell you if I got my wish or not, but let’s just say I was very happy with the result. Above all, I loved that there was a primary focus on self-love and acceptance. This is ultimately a story about Parvin coming to appreciate who she is and not allowing anyone to make her feel less than because of the person she is.

I love the feeling I get when I finish a book and wish I had read it when I was younger, one that would make me feel included and that I belonged. Perfectly Parvin gave me this feeling, and I hope that many young readers get their hands on this amazing title so they know, they are not alone. Such a relatable main character, and so many relatable moments.

This book is inspirational, inclusive, and filled with encouragement.. the best form of friendship for sure. I really enjoyed getting lost in this book, and it reminded me of high school, and how stressful it can be to fit in, and learning all about yourself, and loving yourself.

I am still learning to love myself today, and I’m happy that after reading this book, I love myself a little more!

You’ll want to read this one with your besties! You’ll LOVE it!

Ok I originally said I was t going to give feedback for this book. Thought it would be “too young” for me and I wouldn’t enjoy it. I was so wrong. I randomly decided to give it a chance and I will forever not judge by the premise again. I loved this book. The issues tackled, the growth of this 14 year old, how supportive this kid was to her friends - all kinds of wonderful things! Read this book!

Starting freshman year with heartbreak is not what she had planned, but Parvin Mohammadi can’t be kept down for long. With her sights set on a new boy, Parvin knows that living the life of a rom-com star is sure to get her an elusive homecoming date. Unfortunately, her plan is easier said than done, especially with a variety of concerns competing for her attention: friend troubles, Farsi lessons, a visit from her beloved aunt, a new instrument, and more. As Parvin confronts what it means to be herself, she finds out just what makes her Perfectly Parvin.

Perfectly Parvin had me grinning with every turn of the page. Parvin, our main character, has a ridiculous sense of humor and several hilarious turns of phrases (My favorite? “To sleep, perchance, to scream. Or however it went.”). There is an earnestness to her that feels true to the character and helps make her feel like an actual high school character. The new friendships she makes throughout the story feel natural, and the conversations she shares with her aunt are so sweet. I loved the discussions Parvin has with herself and others in sorting out who exactly she is, and, by extension, how to value herself and what makes her unique. Her journey and character growth along the way are absolutely delightful. I will definitely be buying a copy of this book for my classroom shelves. I can see it being a popular pick for its humor, its relatability, and its heartwarming ending and would recommend this for readers who enjoy realistic fiction, coming of age stories, and stories about family of all kinds.

I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review

I LOVED this book! What a fun and fast paced read. I think that's very lighthearted and cute, definitely not an older YA but more for 13-15 year olds. I wish I read/ had this book while I was younger. There were some really important conversations about body hair and beauty standards that were done so gracefully and respectfully. I also really liked the exploration of Parvin's Iranian identity. This was such a great book and I definitely recommend it!!

♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎/♡︎♡︎♡︎♡︎♡︎
𝕀𝕟 𝕒 𝕟𝕦𝕥𝕤𝕙𝕖𝕝𝕝: A girl must decide if she wants to be what society wants to form her into, or be herself

ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨: Parvin (Par-veen) is a fourteen-year-old Iranian-American who is just starting High School and learning all of its woes. She has a plan: get revenge on her ex, attract the attention of the hot sophomore Matty, get him to ask her to homecoming- thus making her ex super jealous.
But Matty is definitely too cool for the Parvin she is now, so after bingeing a bunch of American romance movies- she knows just how to change into the version he would want.
But as she tries too hard to be someone she is not, she realizes that her old self- the one that’s loud, proud, and failing at Farsi- may just be the perfect version of her after all.

There is literally nothing that I saw wrong with this book. I cannot put into words how much I loved it, and how much I hope that this is one of those books that become our ‘modern-day classics’ that schools will later teach on. It’s impactful, educational, fun, relatable, and so much more- the PERFECT book for middle school students struggling to decide who they want to be.
As someone in her 20s, I was almost scared this book would be too young for me. as it is geared toward those in the middle school level- but I was so wrong. This book is perfect for ANY age group. It deals with relationships, friendships, the chaos of school and realizing that sometimes you’re not always the best at things. It handles important social injustices and modern issues in our world. It highlights the lack of BIPOC characters portrayed in media, and how younger BIPOC children don’t see themselves accurately portrayed in their favorite things. How all the ‘whiteness’ of the world can be damaging to those that don’t fit the ‘ideal standards.’ Along with that, it touches on the difficulties of being BIPOC in a nation so filled with racism, that even your loved ones are trapped in another country because of the way that they look/practice religion.
This book has educated me on so many levels, and it has opened my eyes to the troubles that many face in today’s world- all because someone doesn’t agree with basic human rights.

Parvin is such an inspiration. She is kind and considerate, and always willing to learn new things. She’s straight, but she’s a proud ally for her friends. Encouraging them to be themselves and love whom they’re meant to love. She listens to the troubles they face as part of the LGBTQIA+ community, and she advises them in the best way that she can- ultimately letting them know that she is there to help them in every way.
She’s also the perfect embodiment of a 14 year-old. Still in that joking phase, but slowly learning about older things that plague the worries of High School Students. She is on the difficulty journey of discovering herself, and deciding on if the ‘her’ that society may want to see, is also the ‘her’ that she wants to be. Throughout the book she grows and learns, discovering new ways to take care of her body and her outlook on life.

ℂ𝕠𝕟𝕔𝕝𝕦𝕤𝕚𝕠𝕟: There are not enough things I can say that would summarize the utter amount of love I have for this book. It’s perfect in so many ways, and I cannot wait to see it on the shelves and buy it for every single person I know that is struggling with self-image.
PLEASE do yourself a huge favor and buy this book- let it impact you the way it has so many others

Parvin begins her freshman year of high school by being broke up with her brand new boyfriend two days after he asks her to be his girlfriend. Boys, amiright? When her ex moves on all-too-quickly, Parvin lies and says she already has a date to homecoming, too. But she doesn't. At least, not yet...

This is a great coming of age story perfect for those looking to diversify their bookshelf. I hadn't realized before I started how young the characters were (just starting freshman year), so as an adult, it made it a little tough to relate, even as someone used to reading YA. The whole book just felt very young, especially given the heroine's penchant for pranks, which I loathe. However, the story does a great job of teaching some awesome life lessons like not changing yourself for a boy, being who you are, it's okay to be single, be there for your friends... the list goes on. There's also a rather serious plotline regarding immigration and Iran, that honestly opened my eyes a lot. Assuming its reflective of real life, I had no idea incidents like this were going on, and it made me a little more aware of my bubble. With characters of all different races, sexualities, religions, cultures, and backgrounds, this is a great book for a young adult. Unfortunately, as an adult, the teachable moments didn't outweigh the somewhat boring plot for me, and I was not the right target audience.

Thank you to Penguin Teen and NetGalley for my eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

CW/TW: Islamophobia, racism

4 stars - 6/10

The format of this book on my phone was hard to read, but I did enjoy it! I found Parvin very relatable and funny and I liked learning more about Iranian cultures through reading this book.

Thanks, NetGalley for this ARC!

This is an absolutely phenomenal younger YA that captures the essence of classic, early 2000s YA with contemporary 2020s twists. Parvin is wonderfully weird, with her loud laughter, mischievous pranking, and quirky behavior shaping her to be a realistic and loveable main character. Her journey with recognizing her traits as gifts rather than flaws is sure to connect with young readers and empower them in their own lives. Seeing her endure the effects of internalized misogyny in the form of silencing herself to get boys to like her and internalized racism in the form of shame over her body hair, appearance compared to Eurocentric standards, and attraction to a fellow Iranian American was heartbreaking but deeply real. Parvin's friends felt fleshed out as well, with their familial conflicts, hobbies, and love lives keeping them from falling into any cliché roles as sidekicks. Even the various love interests Parvin encounters craft a tangible contemporary world around her, from bad boys and nerds she's uninterested in to dream boys and new friends she's got butterflies over. Contemporaries rely on well-written, engaging characters to keep the plot moving and readers interested and this book entirely delivered in that regard. I can't wait for this book to reach young readers and show them they're perfect just the way they are. (I received a physical ARC after requesting this title digitally.)

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this fun, heartwarming YA novel!

Perfectly Parvin is the story of a 14-year-old Iranian-American girl named Parvin whose summer boyfriend breaks up with her at the beginning of the school year because she is "too loud" and "too much." Parvin decides that she needs to change herself into one of the demure women that she sees in rom-coms in order to get a date to homecoming, but, after fights with her friends, meaningful conversations with her family, and a budding relationship with a boy who likes her the way she is, of course she discovers that being herself is the best way to be after all. The plot honestly sounds like such a cliche, and I didn't have any particular expectations for this book. I ended up being very pleasantly surprised by how well the author took an overdone plotline and made it fresh and interesting.

The main thing that makes this book great is that all the characters are interesting and complex. Parvin herself is a fun protagonist, and I was really drawn to her warm personality and her love of practical jokes. She is an extremely realistic young teen, trying to find the balance between being a kid and being a young adult. Her personality is definitely loud, and I really identified with that, as I would also describe myself as a "loud" woman who doesn't see myself portrayed in romantic leads very often. I think Parvin's character will especially appeal to younger teen readers, though as an adult I also enjoyed her quite a bit. Her two friends, Fabian and Ruth, are also extremely interesting and the reader gets to know them quite well in the book too. The book is full of LGBT+ rep and multicultural rep, and I think it all works very well and doesn't just feel like it is thrown in for the sake of trying to be inclusive. I also especially loved the secondary plotline of Parvin's aunt Sara trying to come to the US from Iran and dealing with the Muslim travel ban, since I felt that added a timely dimension to the story that is important for younger readers to be aware of.

Overall, this is a lovely, fun book that also deals with some heavier themes in a serious but age-appropriate way. Highly recommend to anyone who loves contemporary YA, loud women, or just a fun story!