In 1996's San Fernando Valley, Rana Joon breaks away from the stereotype of the perfect Iranian girl. Despite society's expectations of academic excellence, politeness, and marrying a respectable Iranian boy, Rana is imperfect—she smokes weed, loves Tupac, and is secretly attracted to girls. But, the bigger problem is that her best friend Louie is dead. Louie, who knew her secret and encouraged her to embrace life. Rana struggles to cope with her grief as she prepares to honor Louie by entering a rap battle he had dreamed of competing in. Meanwhile, her family is falling apart, and she finds herself possibly falling in love amidst the chaos. To keep her promise to Louie and make it to the stage before her senior year ends, Rana must confront her fears, speak her truth, and embrace the present moment.

I feel very conflicted on my rating of this book because I truly believe one of the biggest issues is that it’s marketed as a young adult book when it isn’t. While the themes of grief, dysfunctional families, and coming to terms with sexuality are all appropriate for young adult readers there is one glaring oversight that stuck out like a sore thumb throughout the reading experience. This was extremely sexually explicit; to the point that it was more explicit than an actual steamy adult romance that I was reading at the same time as this. Of course, this is not to say that this is not a reality for teenagers. Yet, there’s something unsettling about reading sexually explicit content in the same chapter as the main character attending her high school Spanish class. I guess I don’t fully understand why this book had to be young adult considering how sexually explicit it was in contrast with the lack of depth in approaching some of the heavier topics. For example, there are lots of discussions in this book around eating disorders and fatphobia. However, the main character’s internalized fatphobia is never actually dissected and the eating disorder mentioned is only slightly touched on through another character sharing their experience. It was this weird murky territory where it’s heavily implied our main character suffers from these things but there’s never that full self-actualization with how it is wrapped up. Additionally, there is a very short discussion about mental illness that truly felt out of left-field as it hadn’t been mentioned before except to again neatly wrap up a storyline. In YA novels, it’s expected that some things are glossed over but these felt like major threads of the story that are not fully explored.

Another issue I had with this novel is that there are some inconsistencies that I noticed. For example, the Spanish teacher is first described as being female and only allows students to talk in Spanish in the class. Later, the Spanish teacher is male and talks in English to the students. Also, a side character discusses her frequent visits to Mexico - specifically Mexico City - which she describes as being just over the border. The San Fernando Valley is not that close to Mexico City. The most confusing one was when Tupac’s death is addressed in the story it felt forced into the story with no real consideration for the timeline of events. Tupac died in mid-September of 1996, but in the novel it would seem he died in possibly late June or July? The timeline the reader is given is that it has been about a month since the main character’s high school graduation and a few weeks before another character goes away to college. Yet, even this timeline is confusing because at one point towards the end of the book the main character says something to the effect of it’s crazy how much has happened in two weeks. This doesn’t add up with details in the beginning of the story about April turning into May, the main character’s father visiting, and then the graduation happening as well during this time. The timeline in general was confusing and Tupac’s death made this stick out even more because it's a fixed time in history. Honestly, it didn’t need to be a part of the story as it felt out of place in the grand scheme of the novel. I understand the main character was a dedicated fan of Tupac, however, what was the actual value to the storyline to add this plot point in?

Although my grievances with this novel outweigh my satisfaction with it, there were still things I liked. The 90s atmosphere of the story was great and it felt in some instances like one of those classic 90s coming-of-age romcoms. There are some conversations between characters about life and the future that really bring about that nostalgia. Furthermore, I found the discussions around poetry and rap music interesting, and there is clearly an appreciation for the history and origins of rap culture. However, for a large chunk of the story the rap battle is moved to the back-burner and events are happening off-the-page. This was a bit of a disappointment when it was initially introduced as one of the guiding plot lines of the novel. One thing I greatly enjoyed is the characters. I felt that both the main and side characters were well-developed and multi-dimensional. I also really liked the romantic relationship that develops, although it felt like it had been happening for much longer than the supposed less than two weeks timeline. In fact, finding out it had been such a brief amount of time kind of took away from the authenticity of this blooming romance for me. Regardless, I enjoyed Rana as a main character and while she could be frustrating at times it’s easy to understand that her reactions are a part of simultaneous grief and trauma and her character arc through this story was great. However, much like with the relationship aspect, I feel like the authenticity of this is undermined by it only taking place over two weeks.

Overall, this book just didn’t logistically work for me. I believe this story would have been a lot more impactful if it had taken place over a longer period of time with possibly slightly older characters or more nuance given to certain elements in the story. Regardless, I don’t feel that this book is appropriate for young adult readers (which are classified as 12-18 years old) considering the sexually explicit nature of the story.

This was really good. I loved the cultural perspective and the poetry. I wish I'd read it last year, but will definitely recommend it!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

Rana Joon and the One and Only Now is a compelling dive into the world of Rana, an Iranian American Muslim lesbian grappling with grief, identity, and the tumultuous rap scene of the '90s.

Shideh Etaat's storytelling skillfully captures the raw and authentic voice of Rana, providing readers with a genuine portrayal of a teenager navigating loss and self-discovery. The narrative's tone, both harsh and mellow, immerses readers into the heart of Rana's grief, creating a resonant and immersive experience.

The novel fearlessly tackles the highs and lows of coming out, presenting an unflinching representation of Rana's journey. The exploration of cultural identity, Persian gender roles, and grief adds depth and richness to the narrative, making it a heartfelt and compelling read.

Incorporating elements of poetry, Etaat weaves wisdom into the story, enhancing the emotional resonance of Rana's journey. The diverse cast of characters, including Rana herself, contributes to the authenticity of the narrative, creating a captivating and thought-provoking read.

Rana Joon and the One and Only Now is a powerful exploration of identity, grief, and self-discovery. Shideh Etaat's authentic character portrayals and compelling storytelling make this novel a standout in its genre. For readers seeking an emotionally resonant and thought-provoking narrative, this book offers a captivating and memorable journey.

This book is proof that YA can deal with complex topics--perhaps even better than a lot of adult books can.

Rana Joon and the One and Only Now is beautifully written--lyrical and full of descriptions that evoke the feeling of the moment, but not in a way that feels pretentious. Rana feels so real you could reach out and touch her, and you feel everything she feels as she processes the loss of her friend and her relationships through her poetry.

A highly touching read!

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing and NetGalley for providing an advanced review copy of this book.

It's been a year since Rana's best friend died, inexplicably going too fast in a car that he typically drove over-cautiously. Louie was smart, sensitive and accepting of Rana's struggles as a closeted Iranian American Muslim lesbian with a difficult home life. Her dad works back in the Middle East while his family stays safely in the San Fernando Valley, coming to visit his wife and kids for only a month out of every year. Her younger brother Babak gets to do whatever he wants while Rana is told what to wear, what to eat and what to do by her immaculately groomed, perpetually neurotic mother.

In her grief, Rana has quit the basketball team and started joylessly hooking up with Louie's twin brother Tony. When she learns that a major rap battle that Louie had dreamed of taking part in is coming back to the area, she decides that she's going to honor his memory by competing. Trouble is, public speaking terrifies her. In fact, the most rapping she's ever done is while listening to Tupac while hanging out with Louie.

Her other best friend Naz encourages her not only to practice, but to use her own poems instead of just channeling the fragments of Louie's writing that are in her possession. Rana's late grandfather had instilled a love of poetry in her, but Rana is too unsure of her own talent to take that step. If she's going to overcome her fear of speaking up tho, why not take the full leap and expose her deepest feelings to the world?

Complicating matters is her growing bond with Yasaman, a half-Persian schoolmate who adores visual art and is eager to share that love with her. Rana is pretty sure that bubbly, red-headed Yasaman is interested in her romantically, but she's too caught up in her own head to know what to do about the possibility of her first relationship with another girl. Will Rana be able to honor both her own feelings and the memory of her late best friend as her turbulent high school days draw to a close?

Set in 1996, this young adult novel is a terrific throwback to the heyday of Tupac and the rise of the Wu Tang Clan. Shideh Etaat clearly knows her stuff as she has her characters wax eloquent about the influence and importance of rap and hip hop. This is actually the first book that's ever gotten me to fully appreciate the amount of work that goes into writing and performing rap (and by extension spoken word poetry) that's meaningfully from the heart and soul.

I also really appreciated the diversity in this novel and how it emphasizes the fact that Muslim girls aren't uniformly religious or docile. Rana reminds me in so many ways of myself and dozens of other Muslim girls I knew back in the 90s, straight or otherwise. Naz is an absolute delight, a hijab-wearing, mosque-going teenager of Afghani descent, who loves to drink and get down, if not all the way dirty, with hot dudes.

The only thing that gave me pause about this book is how mature it is, both emotionally and sexually. It continues to irritate me how modern marketing insists on categorizing books by the age of their protagonists. Rana might be a teenager, but she's in a lot of R-rated situations that are way more explicit than even some of the grownup romances I've read. This is definitely a book for readers who are comfortable with sex and casual drag use, no matter what age.

Rana Joon And The One And Only Now by Shideh Etaat was published July 25 2023 by Atheneum Books for Young Readers and is available from all good booksellers, including <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/15382/9781665917629">Bookshop!</a>

At first I wasn’t sure when this story was supposed to take place. Some of the words used felt more modern to me– for example, lots of characters say “ya” instead of “yeah,” which I thought didn’t start until later. But Rana does learn about Tupac’s death in one scene, which pretty firmly anchors the story in the past. There are some other clues, too, like her watching the show FRIENDS with her mom.

The writing, especially the poetry Rana and Louie write, is absolutely beautiful. I definitely got swept away by those lines and had to slow down to savor them as I was reading. I love the way Rana’s writing represents her journey through grief and acceptance of her identity.

Through the scenes in the book, Rana navigates changes in her relationships with her parents, both of whom seem distant for different reasons. I love the moment in the garden with her dad, and the scene where she finds her prom dress with her mom.

Rana also grapples with complicated grief as she nears the one-year anniversary of her best friend’s death and begins to realize that there were things she didn’t know about her friend, things he didn’t or couldn’t tell her.

All in all, the emotional arc of the book is so well-crafted. I cried through her moments of loss, but more than that, I felt Rana’s triumph as she discovered her voice and finally spoke up for herself.

I think fans of MUSIC FROM ANOTHER WORLD by Robin Talley or YOU TRULY ASSUMED by Laila Sabreen should check out RANA JOON AND THE ONE AND ONLY NOW.

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions my own.

This was such an emotional coming of age story set in the mid 90's. Rana lost her best friend about a year ago and not only has to grapple with graduating without him, but has been hiding a secret from her family that can cause issues. Rana must decide how to be her authentic self in a world that might not accept her for being her authentic self.

Wow. This story had me in my feels. It reminded me of Let me Hear a Rhyme by Angie Thomas, since some of what the main character does happened in that book as well. I truly felt sorry for Rana for most of the book. And by the time I was finished with the story, I was a bit spent. It had an emotional hold on me in a different way as many of the books I've read this year so far. I am definitely going to be looking for more works from this author in the future.

I received a copy of the book via the Publisher on NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review of my own thoughts and opinions

In the best way possible, this book was a challenge. Rana is raw and real; she's a teenager who lies to her parents, who drinks and smokes and curses, who makes mistakes and bad decisions, just like a real teenager would. Like Rana, this book doesn't hold back on issues like grief and loss, women's rights, and coming out in the 90's. It sets you up to feel uncomfortable, and while some of the issues aren't fully resolved, they do make you consider your place in the world and if you work to uphold those institutions or break them down.

This book contains grief, marijuana usage, body image issues, and homophobia, so take care of yourself when reading.

This book has a lot going on but some of it isn't up front and in your face.
Rana is in the process of coming out but isn't sure who to tell as not everyone is accepting of it. Even her mom doesn't seem keen on it, but she does have her brother's support.
It's set in the 90s so there is a lot of worry about caloric intake going on. Which can be triggering for some.
Rana has a quiet voice and it takes her a bit to find her voice and let the world see who she really is.

This is one for older teens.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

Thoughts

This book was hard to read. It's harsh. It's uncomfortable. It's confrontational. And it's also really excellent. While it is definitely meant for the older end of the YA audience, it's unflinching and uncompromising nature is magnificent. It's been a long time since I've snagged a quote from a book, and I found myself wanting to treasure up snippets of this one again and again.

Pros
Voicey: The character voice here is incredibly strong. As soon as I opened this book, I was immediately in the headspace of Rana, and I love that. She's got a harsh voice, one that demands attention but is, at the same time, rather mellow. Her story, her words, her narrative set readers in a time and a place and a person, a person who is experiencing immense grief. That Shideh Ettat managed to conjure all this so quickly and so completely is astounding. I fell in love!

Not All Roses: Rana's story is a quiet story, but her voice isn't quiet. Her experience isn't meek or mild. There's an unfortunate predilection to make all BIPOC stories "good" rep instead of real rep, featuring real people, people who are messy and hurting and harsh. Rana is not sanded edges, soft features. She's rough around the edges, caught in the throes of grief. She's growing up and experimenting, struggling with who she is and what she wants to be. And that not-quite-rosy complexion is the best rep of all. She feels real, and that makes all the difference.

Highs and Lows: This book does what few others do: it captures the highs and lows of coming out. Because coming out is a process. It takes time, and it never really ends. It's coming out to family, friends, new acquaintances, and each of those chances prove a chance for rejection and hurt. Or a chance for acceptance and love. Rana really struggles with who to tell and how (and why). She wrestles with what to tell her parents -- and if she even should. There's a terrible moment early on with her mom, a not-so-subtle hint that home might not be a safe place. But coming out to her brother goes so smoothly. Her best friend doesn't even need to hear the words to see the truth. She struggles with her love interest, with what they can be and what she wants them to be, because she isn't really out. And these various, multifaceted actions and reactions made the uncomfortable and important landscape of coming out. This representation -- of how well things can go and how oh-so-poorly, too -- of the struggles of queer youth is so very important and so well done here.


Cons
"Adult Themes": I'm gushing about this book, and I'll continue to gush about this book. It is important. It is an excellent read. So why such a (relatively) low rating, overall? Well, it really comes down to this. Sure, this book is coming-of-age, which makes it feel ripe for the YA audience. But it really isn't for a YA audience. This book is too adult for that. There's on-the-page sex and drug usage. There are incredibly heavy themes in other regards as well, and while nothing is gratuitous or, necessarily, "glorifying" in this regard, it is definitely worth mentioning. It is once again the case of great book, wrong market -- something that seems to be particularly common among BIPOC stories. It's too big a risk, perhaps, to publish a queer, BIPOC coming-of-age in an adult space, right?

Food Obsession: This is more of a content warning than anything else -- a content warning, that is, on top of the previous one! Rana herself might not be particularly concerned with her caloric intake, but those around her are. It is the '90s, after all. This book is steeped in calorie counting, diet dissection, body type commentary, and just overall body negativity. Though it isn't Rana's doing, it is still a negative pressure within this book that bears being forewarned.

Stilted Dialogue: Most of the time, the dialogue was a-okay, but every once in a while, it felt like being hit over the head. It felt like it was trying too far. This was most especially true when Rana's old coach was talking. I get it's the nineties. I get coach is part of the rap scene. I get all that, but he's also an adult. He's an adult in a position of power. He's an adult who works at a school. So the fact that his dialogue was so slang-y felt wrong. Slang is, after all, a young person's game.


Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
6/10

Fans of Rainbow Rowell's Eleanor & Park will like this new, messy historical fiction. Those who loved Sheba Karim's The Marvelous Mirza Girls will appreciate this new Muslim rep.

This book!! I hope everyone reads this book - Rana Joon has my heart. There is so much here, but done so well and organically. Through Rana’s eyes we explore grief and loss, secrets and guilt, the joys of delicious food, and the power of poetry, self-acceptance, and finding your voice. The characters, even the side ones, are so vivid and fully whole. So many YA books come off angsty—this one is just real and true. It’s rooted in very real and relevant issues and tensions, more than ever now with the recent experiences of girls and women in Iran. It’s both specific and relatable, for readers of any age. I just loved it.