The audiobook of Only This Beautiful Moment by Abdi Nazemian is a beautifully narrated, multi-generational story that explores identity, family, and cultural heritage. The narration brings depth to the characters, spanning different timelines and locations, from 1970s Iran to present-day America. Nazemian’s storytelling is both intimate and expansive, touching on themes of love, loss, and self-discovery. The audiobook format adds emotional resonance to the characters’ journeys, making it a compelling listen for those who enjoy richly layered, heartfelt stories.

I listened to the audiobook for this novel. Synthetic voice aside, it was a great experience! Being able to listen to and review an audiobook before it's been narrated by a human is pretty special. I've enjoyed books from this author before, so was excited to give this one a shot. Told through multi-generational alternating perspectives connected through ways yet to be revealed. Abdi Nazemian has done it again - truly tackling tough topics beautifully.

2019. Moud is an out gay teen living in Los Angeles with his distant father, Saeed. When Moud gets the news that his grandfather in Iran is dying, he accompanies his dad to Tehran, where the revelation of family secrets will force Moud into a new understanding of his history, his culture, and himself. 1978. Saeed is an engineering student with a promising future ahead of him in Tehran. But when his parents discover his involvement in the country’s burgeoning revolution, they send him to safety in America, a country Saeed despises. And even worse—he’s forced to live with the American grandmother he never knew existed. 1939. Bobby , the son of a calculating Hollywood stage mother, lands a coveted MGM studio contract. But the fairy-tale world of glamour he’s thrust into has a dark side. Set against the backdrop of Tehran and Los Angeles, this tale of intergenerational trauma and love is an ode to the fragile bonds of family, the hidden secrets of history, and all the beautiful moments that make us who we are today.
Abdi Nazemian is an excellent writer. The depth he writes into his books is easily seen in the emotions of his characters, the authenticity of his voice, and the impact of the story. A must read if you want all the feels.

I listened to this book quite a while ago and neglected to post the review until now, and it makes me sad that I did so. This book is such a beautiful blending of present day, past, and family dynamics between a son, father, and grandfather, that I just couldn’t stop listening. From the old Hollywood glamour out grandfather to the queer child whose father doesn’t understand them, the story took twists and turns and took me on a long, often-heartbroken, but still hopeful journey. What an amazing book, an excellent story, and you will be very glad you read it.

My thanks to NetGalley and Balzer + Bray for the advanced readers copy of this book. Please note my review is independent and my opinions are my own.

Only This Beautiful Moment, written by Abdi Nazemian, is a poignant and timely novel that delves into the complexities of identity, family, and the search for belonging. This powerful and beautifully crafted story takes readers on an emotional journey, exploring themes of self-discovery, love, and the courage to embrace one's true self.

At the core of the story are deeply human and relatable characters who grapple with their identities and their place in the world. The protagonist's journey of self-discovery and self-acceptance is beautifully portrayed, resonating with readers who have ever felt like outsiders. The supporting characters, with their own intricate stories and struggles, add depth and authenticity to the narrative, creating a tapestry of interconnected lives.

Only This Beautiful Moment tackles themes of identity, cultural heritage, and the complexities of family dynamics. The novel explores the challenges faced by marginalized individuals, shedding light on the importance of representation and the power of embracing one's true self. Nazemian's nuanced exploration of these themes fosters empathy and understanding, urging readers to question societal norms and to celebrate the beauty of diversity.

I absolutely loved this story! The historical aspects blended with the contemporary storylines were done so well and the unraveling of the family secrets were handled wonderfully. I appreciated learning about the queer history woven throughout the narrative and the bits of intriguing old Hollywood gossip as well. The sense of place and time were a great addition to the plot and beautiful characters. I loved learning about all the characters and seeing the storylines play out in the family. Stunning.

Heartbreaking, touching, and incredibly good book. Its a great story to have out there and will also be a great book to have on our library shelves.

Three generations of young men grow up in a changing world and changing values. The complex structure might confuse less experienced readers but those who can follow it will be richly rewarded

Abdi Nazemian’s best work to date. Five stars, hands down this is required reading.

Following three generations of men in the same Iranian/Iranian-American family, and spanning nearly one-hundred years, Only This Beautiful Moment is brimming with heart, tenderness, and faith in our collective ability to heal, persevere, and forgive.

This book drew me in and I held on to the last word. Telling the stories of three generations spanning 80 years from the United States to Tehran this book was as it's title states beautiful but also gritty. I felt like I was in old Hollywood in the gay circles, I felt like I was in Tehran at secret queer house parties, Abdi Nazemian does a fantastic job driving the plot forward while enveloping you in the environment, culture and food.

This book was beautiful. I often struggle with the synthesized voice. but this book went beyond that the lives of these boys and men are beyond what I could even fathom.

A poignant story of love and loss, blood ties and found family. In this multi-generational tale taking place in Los Angeles, California and Tehran, Iran spanning 80 years of family history, we follow three young men as they come of age in their respective times, falling in and out of love and dealing with personal and cultural conflict.
The story begins in 2019 with Moud and Saeed, an out gay teen and his aloof, unsupportive father. They leave LA in the states to visit Moud’s ailing grandfather Bobby in Tehran. There, Moud learns more about where he comes from, the political struggles plaguing his family’s native country and some secrets about his family that change his current view of his own relationships.
We move to a time in the not so distant past, 1978 Tehran, with Saeed as a young man and strong-willed activist seeking to change the failings of his country’s government. He’s not looking for love but finds it, and falls hard, only to have it ripped away. His political involvement has put his family and himself in danger and he must flee to America to live with his estranged grandmother he knows nothing about. He discovers information about his family and past that he never would have guessed, profoundly changing the trajectory of his life.
Then we travel back to 1939 Los Angeles, and the golden age of Hollywood. We are introduced to a very young and naive Bobby, and his ruthless stage mom. While Bobby strives to pursue a career in the limelight and keep his homosexuality a secret, he combats feelings of love, betrayal, loneliness and pride as he learns self acceptance with the help of mentors and community.
In addition to the narrative, the author shows us some true history regarding the political situation in Iran, which was very interesting to me. I fully admit I was unaware of the civil unrest there, as well as the treatment of the LGBTQ+ community. This of course, parallels with the gay underground movement the author depicts in the 1939 LA sections of the book. It’s telling to see the similarities between these different times and cultures, and how they relate to our current political landscape in America. As we all know, if we obfuscate or deny our past mistakes, we are doomed to repeat history, as we are seeing now.
Overall, the author brilliantly transitions from each time period and point of view. Sometimes these multi POV stories get confusing or feel like someone is lacking, but not so here. I felt deeply for each character, their pain and longing evident throughout. The story has sad moments, but I wouldn’t give it a snot-bomb warning. The characters are endearing and you want to root for them.
I highly recommend this book and you should read it if the story is appealing to you. I think this is one people will be looking at and you will hear about again.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. I listened to a system generated audio recording (not a human performance). My review is based on the book contents, not the narration.

Weaving together three stories happening across three generations, reading this book was like becoming part of the family. There were some nice twists and turns, but the beating heart of love and family were what made this a must read.

As a gay woman who came from a very cultural background, this whole story spoke to my heart. This story is so impactful as a YA novel for young kids that may be struggling with their sexuality or coming out. I had to pay close attention to the story because of the timeline switches but it was handled well. (It's just more difficult on audiobook because I tend to multitask while listening.) This book showcased the true experiences many queer kids and adults go through. Overall a great story.

This book was AMAZING! The plot and characters were brilliant. It was high interest from the beginning. Each character added something significant to the story. It was evident that it was a story close to the author's heart. The three generations of characters allowed it to be both historical fiction and modern. Show three generations of men who are exploring who they are and how they fit into their world and family. It is such an IMPORTANT story for right now. It shows how important we don't go backwards in our treatment of LGBTQ+ people in our community. The historical moments feel like they could be happening in some places in the united states today. This is a book everyone needs to read. I give this book all the stars!

Three generations of men, all feeling like they failed the other two. A reckoning, a reveal, and a revelation. This book is as much Iranian history as it is American history as it is queer history and it’s beautiful. It’s simply beautiful. There are two quotes on the same page that speak to the essence of this book:

“They’re trying to make us invisible.” “But we’re not. We exist. We always did. We always will.”

“When you become a man, be a teacher, a guide. Help young people who are made to feel invisible feel the opposite. Make them feel seen. Without guides and mentors, our community would be lost.”

I feel like by journeying through time with this family, you get to see how views and opinions have changed over time and how, in many ways, they haven’t. But this peek into Iranian history is also fascinating and eye-opening. Makes me want to re-read Persepolis. See if I can see Saeed out of the corner of my eye. :)

But more importantly, this book is about love. Paternal love, first love, instant infatuation love, all kinds of love. Even love that is viewed as less. But no love is less.

I have always been and always will be a fervent ally to the queer community. I do see you. I do hear you. I do fight alongside you. And I do love you. Always and without hesitation. You matter.

This was the computerized version of the audiobook - I"m sure the real narrator will do a much better job. Beautiful story about two teenage boys of Iranian descent. I loved the teenage romance themes, and discovering things from their parents' past. I will likely buy the print version.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Audio, and Balzer + Bray for the synthesized advance audio recording of this book in exchange for an honest review.

First a word about the copy I received. I did not know what a synthesized narration would sound like. It took a bit of getting used to—imagine listening to an entire book ready by Siri’s mail counterpart. But—I did get used to, and this book was good enough that the lack of human narrator almost didn’t matter. It was just a little bit harder to keep track of which character was speaking at the time.

The story is told in three voices, the voices of three teenaged boys in different times and places.

Moud is an out gay teen living in LA with his father in 2019. They travel to Iran to visit his grandfather, who is dying. He has mixed feelings about going, but he learns far more than he could ever have imagined.

In 1978, Saeed is an engineering student living in Tehran. His involvement in political protests puts his life in danger, and he is sent to America to live with a grandmother he never knew about.

Bobby’s story takes place in 1939. His stage mother manages to get him a contract with MGM, but his secrets put his career in jeopardy.

Are their stories connected? I didn’t read enough about the book before listening to find out, but as I listened, I wondered.

This was a really cool and educational book. It brought to life a bit of queer history, what gay life has been like in both the US and Iran, over the past century. It provided some political background for Iran. And, of course, it told some really fascinating stories about family relationships, and what parent-child relationships can look like when one of them is queer.

Highly recommend!

This is just a voicegalley and i began it, then quit because it was painful and read the eARC instead.

I would love to review this in detail through my tears from how moved i am by it, but HarperCollins needs to negotiate with their workers' union first.

This was SO good & important. I loved the multi-generational aspect and the themes of being true to yourself/authentic within your family and culture. This addresses queer identity and safety within non-tolerant countries, but in a very relatable way. I wish it hadn’t crossed the line with sexual content, but it may not have been as authentic without those aspects. My “4” rating was due to the sexual content crossing the YA line & questions left unanswered within each generational story.