So much gratitude to @prhaudio for the complimentary audiobook of arguably my most anticipated reads of 2023! I immediately became obsessed with this book after seeing the gorgeous cover and the #ownvoices Armenian-American queer romance debut did not disappoint!

I learned so much about Armenian food, culture and traditions and really enjoyed seeing Nar learn to embrace that side of herself and bravely come out to her mother as bisexual. Highly recommended especially for fans of authors like Sonya Lalli or Jane Igharo! I also received an early digital copy thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Romance in exchange for my honest review.

What I expected to be a lighthearted romcom was a surprisingly complex, layered (and deeply relatable) emotional journey as Nareh struggles to reconcile and embrace all the different pieces of her self, sexual identity, heritage, and life. This was such a pleasure to read and the glimpse into Armenian American culture was so interesting and compelling…and the food…ahhhh yummmmm, I need to do some exploration of Armenian cooking now because all the food descriptions were mouthwatering!

Nareh and Erebuni were such a sweet couple, I loved how they interacted with and complimented each other. I loved that Nar found not only a partner who made her come alive but a whole new, really lovely (and supportive) friend group. And I really appreciated that when she stood up for herself at work and when she chose to come out she really did process through it and do it for herself…not just to try and fix things with Erebuni but because it was what was right for her, whether they got back together or not.

The ending made me so happy and felt just right for the story. Some books you read, enjoy, and mostly forget immediately after but this is one that will definitely stick with me. I can’t wait for Taleen’s next book, she is a must-read author for me now!

Came for the Armenian rep, stayed for Nar and Erebuni's developing relationship. Sorry Bro is an excellent exploration of the culture we're tied to, of Armenian-American joy and cute queer love.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
Sorry, Bro is a delightful debut romcom with a lot of heart and humor. While it does wade into complex and emotional territory, related to the identities it depicts, the main theme of the story is finding community and one’s journey of self-discovery, which are depicted in very affirming ways.
One aspect I loved was the tribute to Armenian culture. I knew next to nothing about it going in, but Taleen Voskuni strikes a great balance of writing a book that welcomes in outsiders without overexplaining or watering things down, thus making it clear her primary goal is to write for other Armenian-Americans like herself. And while exploring the community and its history does involve touching on tough topics, such as the Armenian genocide and its impact, I never felt like discussing this event brought down the overall tone of the book; Voskuni maintains both the light touch and sensitive approach throughout.
While I don’t share Voskuni or Nar’s ethnic background, I could relate to the circumstances Nar finds herself in. I’ve only begun to embrace the fact that I’m not 100% cishet relatively recently, and articulating that to my family has been something I’ve been struggling with. I also have only begun to really appreciate my own culture recently, although my path was somewhat different from hers. On both counts, I found her journey beautiful and affirming.
Her romance with Erebuni is super cute too, and I loved it both for its own sake, and how it aided in Nar’s growth.
The conflict is a bit of a mess, pacing wise, especially at the breakup point, with a lot of it hinging on them being caught (multiple times!), and Nar denying her relationship to her mom. And then there’s the fact she was technically still with Trevor. I feel like if the sequence of events had been a little less convoluted, perhaps I would find it a little more believable, especially with the quick turnaround toward reconciliation.
Despite any minor issues, I enjoyed this book overall and can’t wait to see what Taleen Voskuni writes next! If you’re looking for a sapphic multicultural romcom, I recommend this one!

One of the best debuts I've read in recent years — Voskuni has written something truly special, not just a romance but an exploration of culture that feels like a genuine breath of fresh air for the genre. I'm such a big fan of her narrative voice, and it was really great to read something unlike anything I've ever come across in romance before. It's slightly heavier, slightly angstier, but vibrantly humorous and heartwarming, with romantic leads and family you'll adore.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

As an Armenian-American, I both feel super qualified and yet totally unprepared to review Taleen Voskuni’s debut novel Sorry, Bro. I’m coming from a place where I unabashedly loved this book before I even read it, and I don’t know that I am the most fair and unbiased reader. Armenian-Americans have very little representation in the general media, much less in the romance genre, and Sorry, Bro is like a piece of my heart made into book form, something I didn’t know I wanted but have been longing for my whole life.

First, a bit of a warning. Sorry, Bro took me a long time to read. I wish I could say I devoured this book the minute I started it, but this book covered a lot of heavy topics that sometimes necessitated me setting it down and coming back to it. I do not feel like this book is a rom-com and I think it is doing this book a disservice to market it as such.

This book is a journey of a bisexual Armenian-American woman to both get back to her roots and live her authentic life in the face of a culture that doesn’t support her. A lot of the conflict is internal as Nar comes to terms with having to come out as a bisexual to her family and community if she wants to be with Erebuni long term. This is not just a story of any person coming out as bisexual into the general American culture that we live in today but of specifically coming out into a subculture that isn’t really ready for this kind of situation. As a Midwestern Armenian-American, I can say that in my experience growing up, I had less of an opportunity to interact with Armenians than people on either coasts, (where there tend to be larger populations of diasporan Armenians) but I don’t think I’ve ever met a queer Armenian or Armenian-American in person (other than myself, I suppose). And I don’t think that’s because they don’t exist. I think this is important context for those reading Sorry, Bro who might view the conflict as manufactured or blown out of proportion. I think Voskuni did try to explain the intensity of the mindsets through the various characters, but I’m not sure all readers will understand the depths of the issue if it is not their culture.

However, I loved seeing the positive pieces of Armenian culture that Voskuni put in Sorry, Bro. I loved Erebuni and her beauty, both inside and out, and her willingness to be herself and how that inspired Nar. I loved Erebuni’s friend group and their acceptance of Nar. The writing in this book is lovely, though sometimes the parentheticals felt more like the author’s notes to herself than Nar’s thoughts, but maybe that’s because it is obvious how much Voskuni poured of herself into this book.

And we have now hit the point where I’m crying writing this review. Sorry, Bro just rang so true to the Armenian-American experience. I know it wasn’t my experience, but it was so relatable as one of the many experiences people go through growing up in a certain culture. The family ties, the necessity of continuing to speak (and speak, and speak) about an atrocity from over 100 years ago, the push and pull of wanting to be an American but still maintain ties to the things that make you Armenian, all of those things felt like they were ripped out of my life and put on the page. (Though sometimes I did think to myself, is that truly how we transliterate that word?)

I also enjoyed the romance, the tentative overtures Nar made to Erebuni and the growth of their friendship and relationship. I felt that some of the conflict was overdone - I don’t know that Nar’s ex-boyfriend even needed to make an appearance as it felt a bit over the top - and then some of the ending and Erebuni’s forgiveness felt a bit rushed. But I do feel this book met the romance genre conventions and though the romance is deeply entwined with Nar’s personal growth and journey, I do not know that it would have been possible to have one without the other.

Overall, of course I recommend Sorry, Bro. As I was reading, I worried that some of the parts about Armenian culture felt a bit like a lecture, but that may be because I knew them already and didn’t need them told to me, and for other readers, it may feel like a discovery. I hope anybody going in who has never heard of Armenians before will take this as an opportunity to learn even a little bit about them while also enjoying a lovely sapphic romance. I would also ask that you do not go into it expecting a rom-com, but a deep story with layers of culture and a bit of trauma. If you go into it with the right mindset, I believe you’ll be rewarded with an overall joyous story with hope and lots of flavor.


Content warnings: Death of a parent, alcoholism, emotional abuse prior to the book’s events of Nar’s mother by her father mentioned in flashbacks, homophobia, discussion of the Armenian Genocide, sexism in the workplace

Gonna start this review by saying prior to reading this book, I knew NOTHING about Armenian culture. When I finished this book, I knew so much more and had a great appreciation for the journey and sacrificed Armenian-Americans made to come to this country. What a wonderful book about family, culture, and finding new love.

After Nareh Bedrossian rejects her boyfriend's proposal, she finally agrees to do what she's always avoided: embrace her Armenian heritage. Or at least that is what she plans to do when she agrees to attend events at Explore Armenia and meet single Armenian men, who've been carefully vetted by her mother. But Nar doesn't want an Armenian man; she doesn't know if she wants a man at all. As Nar explores her heritage, she meets Erebuni. Their undeniable chemistry pushes Nar to truly embrace her identity as an bisexual Armenian-American. A heartfelt queer romance that simultaneously explores a much underrepresented nationality.

There's something incredibly charming about this book, made me yearn for romance (which i never yearn for very much).

We follow Nareh on a manhunt at her mother's insistence (and delight) after a disastrous proposal brings Nareh to reject her boyfriend. They (read: her mother) decide the best place to go a-hunting is Explor Armenia, a yearly celebration of Armenian identity and culture. Her plans go sideways when instead of one of the list of men her mother has excel-sheeted to the T, she falls for the brilliant and downright sexy Erebuni instead. Reader, I screamed. I screamed a scream every time these two women interacted. I am kept alive by sapphic love.

Growing up in LA, recognizing these characters in the classmates and friends, the people you love and loved, had made me terribly homesick, but was also like a comforting salve. I adored the friend group that surrounded Nareh as she began delving into her culture. The romance was exciting, even when I was in CRISIS over the climatic drama (despite knowing love must prevail). The writing was fun and Nareh's habit of speaking too much then immediately feeling the need to fix it and adjust to what others may want was incredibly relatable.

I enjoyed this books immensely. It felt just as sunny as its setting. What a read to have closed 2022 with.

Sorry, Bro by Taleen Voskuni is one of the most charming, purely feel-good romances I've ever read.

While the Armenian sapphic plot is unique in the traditional publishing market, the themes are universal. Family obligations and expectations. Rediscovering your roots. Smarmy coworkers and toxic workplace culture. New friendship. Finding love in the last place you'd ever think to look. Witchy bonfires on the beach. Okay, maybe that last one isn't exactly a universal theme but it's a particular weakness of mine and I'm totally here for it.

I really wanted to love this but unfortunately the pacing was just off for me. We spend quite a bit of this book with our two heroines separated from each other. While it was important for Nar to have this time to grow as a character, it's just not what I wanted in my romance. Ultimately, it felt like a fiction story about a woman learning who she is more than a romance. With all that being said, I think this book is so important! Especially for people whose cultures don't accept members of the LGBTQ+ community. A lot of this book is Nar working up the courage to come out to her family because bisexual people aren't accepted in the Armenian culture. I can see this being such great representation to see for those who are in similar situations. I wish we had gotten more of the relationship between Nar and Erebuni because by the time they get back together, there's one short chapter of their date and an epilogue so this book wasn't for me but it's definitely going to be great for others who haven't been represented in this way in traditionally published romance.

It's also fade to black which has nothing to do with my rating but I was a little bummed.

Incredible debut! I loved being immersed in the Armenian community Nareh belongs to (with all the pluses, minuses, happiness, and heartaches it brings her). Nareh and erebuni’s relationship is lovely. I wanted them to be together so much and was so happy when Nareh was able to confront her fears for herself and become the person she needed to be for it to work with Erebuni.
Just swoony and delightful

Over all really enjoyed this! Loved the Armenian rep, the struggle within her community to come out and the pressures there, in her family, and at her job. A truly lovely debut.

An Armenian American woman agrees to go "man hunting" at a series of local cultural events but ends up falling in love with another woman instead.

This is one of the most unique romances I have read in that it tackles serious subjects (the legacy of the Armenian genocide, sexism and racism in the workplace, homophobia in families), yet it still maintains a humorous tone and focus on romcom trappings. The protagonist Nareh is funny and relatable despite the many setbacks she encounters. This reminds me a lot of YA/coming of age novels as the main character has to tackle a lot of stagnant elements of her life and grow as a person to get her happy ending, which makes inevitable more satisfying. It also feels like there are real stakes with having to come out and risk getting shunned or disowned by her family and the larger Armenian community she connects with. Good for readers wanting a little more substance beyond just a romance, and reminiscent of Bridget Jones Diary in how it takes heavy issues with a flawed but likeable protagonist.

Thanks to the publisher for the eARC. I loved this book SO much. I learned a lot about the Armenian genocide as well as Armenian culture, and the romance was so sweet and flowed very naturally. I'll be waiting patiently for my preorder to arrive and can't wait to recommend it to customers!

Lovely. I learned a ton about a culture I was not familiar with, and the relationship between Narah and Erebuni was sweet and sexy and fun to see play out. The focus on Narah's family, culture, and work issues made it feel a little bit more women's fiction than romance. I would have loved a dual POV with more Erebuni. Everything should have more Erebuni. But I still loved this and would recommend it to anyone looking for sapphic romance.

So, overall, I’d say about half of the book worked for me. This a story about Nareh, a closeted Armenian bisexual woman, who falls in love with another woman named Erubini, while also rediscovering her identity and culture. I really enjoyed the discussion about Armenian culture, because I didn’t know a ton about it. Though discussing genocide and diaspora are heavy for this genre, they did not feel out of place, especially because they are so intrinsically linked to Nareh and to Erubini’s relationship with Armenia. Nareh discovers why these things are important to discuss while Erubini is an activist.

The plot was very interesting and I was team Nareh as soon as met Trevor, who is the worst. Also her news boss, is also the worst. There are some great antagonists in the story that I would’ve actually liked to be added in more. I felt like there was room for more conflict that didn’t actually come to fruition. Also, the pacing of the plot could’ve been a bit better. The big “fight” that occurs later is sort of too easy and based on a series of miscommunications and eavesdropping. I really think that both the characters had more in them and they probably would’ve had a bigger actual conflict than what was represented.

Also, this book is closed door. Fine. It kind of makes sense for the tone. However, we didn’t even get super long descriptions of their kissing and after the door is opened again, Nareh brags about their perfect first time. It’s hard to believe that though because we don’t get a very good idea of how the characters connect physically. It’s fine to be closed door but we need more from the other physical interactions then.

Anyways, overall, I think this is a really solid debut but could’ve been edited slightly differently. I’m still looking forward to what the author writes next!

A loving and fun romcom that dealt with some serious topics, and I loved it so much. I loved how authentically flawed the main characters were, along with that I really liked the pacing and romance; had me finish this one in a some single sitting. So definitely full 5 stars read for me

I was lucky enough to win a digital ARC of SORRY, BRO by Taleen Voskuni in a Shelf Awareness giveaway. Thanks for the early looks, and have a spooky but safe Halloween!

There were several elements of this book that were great: interesting premise, bisexual representation, lots of teachings about Armenian history and culture, some great funny moments. I found that sometimes the MC's internal narrative went on too long or was repetitive - great for readers who want internal dialogue over plot-driven stories. This was the first queer romance novel I've read that centralized Armenian identity, so I definitely appreciated this add to the genre.