3.5 Stars. I am not quite sure how I feel about this book. I kind of couldn't put it down, but also wasn't sure that I loved it as I was reading it. It always really hard for me to read books where kids grow up in an abusive home and when women and their interests and growth are stunted due to cultural obligations. Both Soraya and her mother Neda definitely had some tough upbringings and struggles within their families. This book felt very intense at times, but it was also very thought provoking with hopeful moments scattered throughout. Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC.

Happy Friday y'all! I keep meaning to write up a June/July wrap up and August TBR but work and workout classes (and cooking!) are making my life so busy that I have no time to write any of my blogs- I barely have time to read these days too, but I'm making time for that. I did finally finish a book last night though, and I have all the thoughts- thank you so much to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine/Dell and Netgalley for letting me read an eARC of The Mismatch (which is out now, so if y'all are interested in it, you can definitely go grab it).
The Mismatch 3.5/5 Stars
Summary from Goodreads: For a young woman who just wants to get her first kiss out of the way, a rugby player seems like the perfect mismatch. But a kiss is never just a kiss. . . .

Now that Soraya Nazari has graduated from university, she thinks it's time she get some of the life experience that she feels she's still lacking, partly due to her upbringing--and Magnus Evans seems like the perfect way to get it.

Whereas she's the somewhat timid, artistic daughter of Iranian immigrants, Magnus is the quintessential British lad. Because they have so little in common, Soraya knows there's no way she could ever fall for him, so what's the harm in having a little fun as she navigates her postgrad life? Besides, the more she discovers about her mother's past and the strain between her parents, the less appealing marriage becomes.

Before long, Soraya begins to realize that there's much more to Magnus than meets the eye. But could she really have a relationship with him? Is she more like her mother than she ever would have thought?

With unforgettable characters at its heart, The Mismatch is a gorgeously written coming-of-age story that shows that love can be found in even the most unexpected places. 
So, let me just start off by saying that the summary is barely like the book- like sure, you see those things in the book, but it's so much more. Like, based on the summary, I would have assumed it was going to be a cute romance (which, I mean I totally did), but OMG no, this book was anything but. It was so heavy and dealt with so much grief and family pain and abuse and addiction and what it means to be the child of an immigrant growing up somewhere where you're so different and your parents' religious beliefs are so woven into your culture, that you can't really separate the two so even if you aren't the same level of religious, you kind of are (if it wasn't obvious, I very much identify with the whole child of immigrants thing). In general, I really liked The Mismatch and everything it explored, but what I didn't like was the mismatch (lol) with the summary given to me and what actually happened in the book, which is why I gave it a 3.5. In terms of the book itself, I really liked how Soraya was questioning why certain things had to happen certain ways and how she decided to go after Magnus because she wanted the experience- what a great romance novel trope! I also really liked how we got a look into what Hossain and Neda's life was like when they were younger, before he became an addict- it showed a really good glimpse into why their family life was the way it was and why Soraya felt the way she did about somethings and her coping mechanisms vs Parvins. I also liked how the book began with this big moment between Neda and Laleh and then you spend so much of the rest of the book trying to figure out exactly what happened, until everything ends up boiling over and coming to head. Specific things that still really irk me about the book are that Soraya completely glossed over the fact that Magnus called her exotic- and I know she said that she didn't make a big deal about it because he was attractive but ew. As someone who has been called exotic on dates/dating apps before, that's so gross, especially since her and Magnus stay together for a while after that. Amir's obliviousness to the double standards between him and his sisters plus to how gross and terrible his father was still annoys me- it's like open your eyes! You still live there! You should be able to see that your sisters can't have boyfriends or even be seen with men but you can have ridiculously loud sex in the house at any point in time and nothing happens. Again, overall, this book was super interesting and I'm really glad I read it, but 100% do not go into it thinking you're getting a lighthearted, cute romance (or even any sort of romance at all really).

This isn't your typical love story. It's not just about a girl meeting a guy. It's about two generations of women having the strength to go after what they want even when it doesn't necessarily match with what their family, culture, and surroundings dictate. It's about having the will to stand up for yourself and to accept that things can't be changed but still putting in the work to try to make things better. It's also about family and how your family shapes you and guides you through life.
There is so much to enjoy and think about within the pages of this book. And major props to Jafari for writing a novel that fully immerses the reader in the culture and feelings of the protagonists. Even as someone with minimal knowledge about the rules of the Muslim religion and the history of Iran, I could understand the things Neda and Soraya were going through and how hard they had to fight for the things they wanted in life.
In the end, while this book does include a very well-done romance, I would recommend it more for the story about two women and the family they're a part of. As presumptuous as I feel just writing this, this is a thinking person's romance.

Happy thanks to NetGalley and Dell for the great read!

Thought-provoking, stunning, intense! Based on the cover, I expected your average rom-com story - guy meets girl, and they fall in love. BUT BOY, WAS I WRONG. This story is much much more about family drama than romance. It reminded me how we don't know who our parents were before they were parents. I definitely believe this story is more of a misunderstood mother trying to protect her daughter.

This story is sweet and yet heartbreaking at the same time if you're a fan of force proximity or family relationship drama. Within these pages is a story about family and how other’s actions can deeply affect and shape how others see and experience the world around them. We explore how family, good or bad, can shape your ideas about what a relationship is.

This book is hard to review because it was a lot heavier than I expected by reading the synopsis and looking at the cover. I had different expectations going in and I think that influenced how I felt while reading. This book was reminiscent of "A Woman is No Man" but with a romance subplot. I think that because the book had a lot of heavy topics covered and that the romance subplot was sitting outside of that plot that the book felt disconnected and honestly that part could have been cut. I also didn't really feel the "love" between the two characters and their relationship was sort of skipped over. There were also several really unlikeable characters in the family. I just felt like this book couldn't decide between family saga and romance and therefore didn't do either genres much justice.

Most certainly was not a bad or mediocre book in the slightest, just not my favorite thing in the world. I don’t really have strong feelings regarding this book.

3/5 Stars

** I received this as an E-ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review, Thank you!**

This was not the book for me. Most of my lack of enjoyment is because of the writing. For some reason, I did not enjoy the writing style. It felt disjointed and confusing. I would forget whose perspective I was reading because the felt the same to me. While I didn't mind that this book went into important topics, I do think it was a bit much for a rom-com. I will admit that is also on me for going in with different expectations of this book. Overall the book was very middle of the road for me, which comes down from personal preferences. I would say if you are at all interested in the synopsis, give it a go.

Cute, easy read. The British-Iranian character was a great portrayal--and I'm loving all the different cultures shining through recent authors work. I read this book a few weeks back and its stuck with me, which is rare. The author's debut is a hit.

DNF at 25%. Writing style just wasn't for me. If you're going to use that much exposition, at least put it in first person.

The cover and blurb make this book seem like it will be a rom com featuring a recent college grad trying to find her way in work and love.

This book is really a complex family drama focusing on Soraya, the recent grad, and her mother, Neda, a bioscientist. It is beautifully written. Seeing inside both Soraya and Neda's heads and hearts gave understanding and empathy to both their stories. It compares and contrasts similar struggles they faced as Muslim women trying to fit in both the Muslim and non-Muslim worlds.

I really appreciated Neda's back story from the late 1970s in Tehran and how and why she made the choices she did. How she navigated school and career with a traditional family life, how she took a chance and moved to the UK to continue her schooling while dealing with a husband and small children. While Soraya is making her first tentative steps into the "real world" as an adult, her mother faces some monumental life altering steps at the same time. Maybe it's because I'm way past recent grad age but Neda's story was the more compelling one to me.

The romance between Soraya and Magnus was almost superfluous. It was a way to see to the internal debate Soraya is having between being a good Muslim young woman or having a relationship and still seeing herself a good person. Magnus represents all the things that Soraya interacts with that are separate from her Muslim family and culture. However, Soraya never makes an effort to tell Magnus why she feels conflicted in their relationship. If she opened up a little more about the expectations of a Muslim woman, perhaps Magnus would have understood it wasn't about him specifically but the entire situation.

It is a lovely book and I'm so happy it wasn't the fun British romcom I was expecting.

*I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and I am required to disclose that in my review in compliance with federal law.*

This was an emotional journey of strength, perseverance, and self-exploration that brought me to tears.

With the story alternating between Neda's past and the beginnings of her marriage to the present with Soraya's navigation of post-graduate adulthood, the stories parallel and clash between mother and daughter.

There were so many hard-hitting layers surrounding domestic violence, child abuse, toxic family dynamics, the impact of addiction on a family, navigating predominantly white spaces as a non-white woman, and clumsily trying to take control of one's life as a means of trying to force growth. The story is fast-paced and jumps between two main points in time with short chapters functioning as glimpses into the lives of these women as the overall story progresses.

There was heavy focus on honoring and breaking tradition and religious values and seeing these themes explored from two very different but related perspectives was fascinating to see.

The Mismatch by Sara Jafari was extremely thought-provoking and taught me a lot about other cultures and family dynamics. This is a beautiful story of self-discovery for anyone in need of a coming-of-age novel. I was expecting Teen Drama, and instead I got so much more. It was a little long for my taste, which is why I didn't give it 5 stars, but overall a truly beautiful novel. Sara Jafari knocked it out of the park.

The Mismatch is a case of don't judge the book by it's cover. From looking at the illustrated cover, The Mismatch comes across as strictly romance...but it's definitely more multidimensional than a girl meets boy story.

This novel follows both Soraya (daughter) and Neda (mother) in different timelines and the experiences that have shaped their identities and beliefs. Neda's perspective shares her story from the past about leaving Iran, dealing with relationship and family issues, and gives the reader historical context on how the Nazari family developed some of the issues they face.

In modern day, Soraya is graduating from university and trying to figure out who she wants to be. Throughout the novel, she struggles with identity vs. expectations, guilt, and family trauma. Each of these elements impacts how she approaches relationships, particularly with an emerging relationship with Magnus. From the surface, he seems shallow and like a fling, but his depth of character and past are intriguing to Soraya.

The Mismatch offers multiple perspectives and timelines that provide the reader with a well-rounded picture of the Nazari's story of being Muslim immigrants in the Western World and conflicts that arise as they struggle with keeping tradition vs. adapting in relation to the religion and familial expectations.

Please consider the following trigger warning prior to reading The Mismatch: drug addiction, domestic violence, emotional and physical abuse

I recommend The Mismatch for anyone looking for an in-depth look into complicated family dynamics and how those impact self-discovery!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine for an ARC of The Mismatch for an honest review.

This was a great coming of age story with lots of diversity in the characters. It talks about some of the struggles that Soraya and her mom endure. This novel includes flashbacks of the mom's memories of living in Iran and the difficulties of her current marriage.

Soraya Nazari has never been kissed. After graduating from a university, She's ready to experience more things that she missed out on because of her upbringing. Soraya meets Magnus, a British rugby player, and he seems like a great choice to experiment with.
Magnus has the reputation to be a player...but of course there is more there than his reputation. As Soraya begins to see Magnus as more than a player, she realizes a choice will need to be made; if she chooses Magnus, will she lose her family or vice versa.

This was a great debut by an up and coming British-Iranian writer, Sara Jafari! Thank you to Dell publishing for gifting me the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Raised in a conservative Iranian immigrant family now living in the UK, 21-year-old Soraya is more than ready to get her first kiss out of the way. She chooses college classmate Magnus to help her out. It's just meant to be one kiss. But is there more to the handsome rugby player—emphasis on "player"—than meets the eye?

This multi-generational novel is part romance, part women's fiction. It's a quiet, somewhat dark book that's deeply informed by the characters' ethnic heritage.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Unfortunately I stopped reading the book at 20%. I felt mislead by the synopsis of the book, and I wasn't interesting in reading what The Mismatch turned out to be.

With that said, I do believe it was well written and that many will find it enjoyable.

Part of the reason that I read such a wide variety of authors and stories is for entertainment, and then additionally to learn from different perspectives, perhaps even learning more about the people in the world around me and see how they overcome (or approach) challenges. Not having seen many fiction titles from the perspective that Jafari brings was a bonus. As was this story that handled the challenges, the guilt, the history and expectations from family with a flair that left me understanding (a bit better) all the struggles and challenges.

Soraya is just out of university having taken a few steps to ‘live like the other students’ that she knew, despite her rather strict Iranian upbringing, her parents' omnipresent voices ringing in her ears. She’s never been kissed and decides that the rugby-playing ladies' man Magnus seems to be the perfect option. Not interested in a relationship – and knowing that choosing a boy that is both British and non-Muslim will set off a series of conflicts that may leave her out of the family much like her elder sister, she’s determined to ‘experience’ this moment without all the life-changing relationship issues that could come. And, having only her mother’s experiences and as an example – marriage isn’t something she’s anxious to wade into.

Alternately, we have Soraya’s mother’s perspective as she shares bits about her life in Iran, her marriage, the limited choices and struggles with the familial expectations, the guilt and the obligations of a daughter – all providing us with an insight that both conflicts with and explains the relationship between Soraya and her mother Neda. Of course, there is conflict and a feeling of injustice from Soraya as her brother is granted many freedoms that are denied her – and she chafes at the unfairness of it all. Perhaps she is, despite it all, more like her mother? But with information and chats with her sister, who is finding her own moments of dissatisfaction with a life free from the family expectations and a better understanding of who Magnus really is beneath the exterior and reputation – Soraya is facing all the issues, including finding her own way through the puzzle called life, in ways that are unexpected and (for a non-Iranian, non-Muslim reader) well laid out and explained, and allows for empathy with the struggle.

Sara Jafari has done an amazing job bringing us into the family dynamic and Soraya’s struggles with her own guilt, desires and choices. Those with more familiarity to the dynamics at play here will spot moments that I didn’t - but the underlying theme and take-away here is that every generation has moments that they have to step out and away from the expectations of tradition, family and community before they are truly able to make their own choices for their lives. Soraya manages the tightropes of expectations, dreams, wishes, and obligation, with flair and examples that allow everyone to learn from (and enjoy) the moment.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=” https://wp.me/p3OmRo-aX0 /” ><a> I am, Indeed </a>

I couldn’t get into this one, and deceptive branding was definitely to blame. It looks like a cute romcom, and while there are hints of heavier topics in the blurb, they don’t indicate the severity. I’m not opposed to a multigenerational saga type book, but it should have been branded as such, not have a couple on the cover just because one arc has a romance in it. I also struggled to become invested in either character’s arc.

Words cannot describe my adoration towards this book.

As a WOC, reading Soraya's struggle between pleasing her far-from-perfect family, realizing her goals, and becoming the person she wants to be was like looking at my reflection. Regardless for cultural background, most will be compelled - and relate - to Soraya's story.

As cliche as it sounds, this book is about love (motherly, sisterly, romantic.) It's about learning to let walls crumble down, and make loved ones understand, accept the unlikable parts of one's self.

The Mismatch is beautifully written and irresistibly sweet.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

CW: parental addiction, parental depression/suicidal ideation, cheating, parental physical and emotional abuse, religious guilt, purity culture, attempted kidnapping, attempted rape, attempted date rape, racism

This book is a fiction read that I don't think is very well represented by the blurb. This is both Soraya's story as well as her mother's, dual POV for both. Their stories of falling in love for the first time, and dealing with family expectations. This is a heavy read that can be triggering for a lot of reasons. While there is romance it is nowhere near the main focus and neither LI is a 'hero'.

Soraya's father is the villain for the majority of the story, and the book deals very heavily about what its like to have a family member a parent heavily addicted, what that looks like, the impact of that on their life.

This is written in 3rd POV and with the two contrasting story lines its hard to invest in either, but this book covers very heavy, very important topics of culture, addiction, family, and independence. While I would want people to check out the CWs and I can't speak to the accuracy of the Iranian/Muslim representation, it was good to see a different perspective represented just unfortunate it was not accurately blurbed for readers to know what to expect.

Rating: 3
Steam: 2 (a lot of discussions of sex/purity culture and some sexual situations but ultimately closed door)