I love a friendship story and this one did not disappoint! It is so well written and I fell in love with the characters and learned so much about Iran and its history!

I received a free copy of The Lion Women of Tehran in exchange for an honest review

4.5 stars!

This book is an important read, although be warned, it is an emotionally difficult read. The saga of two teen girls growing up in mid twentieth century Iran is beautifully written and weaves in ton of Iranian history. Although some plot points seem to serve as devastating means to move plot, overall the novel was expertly crafted.

I absolutely loved this book! The story, the characters and the setting fairly jumped off the page and into my heart.

Childhood friends Elaheh 'Ellie' Soltani and Homa Roozbeh meet in Tehran's ghettos after Ellie's father dies, becoming soul sisters as Ellie learns more about life from Homa and her mother than she ever did at home. When Ellie's mother finally agrees to marry her late husband's brother, Ellie is swept into a rich new life and is forced to leave Homa behind.

The story follows the trajectory of their lives until one day Homa arrives as a scholarship student at Ellie's elite high school. Homa is full of life and ambition, determined to change the role of women in Iran by becoming a lawyer. Ellie says they can be lions - Lion Women. But fate intervenes and the years of turmoil under the Shah and then the revolutionary Ayatollah change both their lives forever.

Kamali's prose is descriptive and lyrical, painting a tumultuous time in three decades of history for Iran. As with the Stationery Shop, the food descriptions are mouthwatering, and her focus on fashion and culture are equally breathtaking. But the relationship between the two friends is poignant and so thoughtful. You will not forget these Lion Women for a long, long time.

I loved the theme of friendship in this book -- the things that happen in a friendship in childhood and as adults. That tends to be one of my favorite themes in books. I also enjoyed the backdrop of Iran. There were aspects of the writing, like the lush descriptions of food, that I enjoyed. However, some of the writing missed the mark for me, and the book was slow to pick up till the 2nd half. Overall, I recommend this to fans of The Stationery Shop. However, it wasn't a favorite of mine this year so far.

Marjan Kamali's "The Stationery Shop" was recommended to me by one of my now adult library volunteers and she was absolutely right about this author: she is well researched, her books are very well written, books contain emotionally deep characters and storylines, and covers multiple book themes and genres. Although I have done my own informational searches on Iranian history, I love that her books also provide a lot of historical information and facts about Iran. The same is true for "The Lion Women of Tehran" and I cried, smiled, and again, hoped for all the best things for each character. I CANNOT wait to read more by this author and appreciate the beauty of her books and book covers too! This author's books are repeat buys for myself and the library.

Quite a story of Iran through the recent decades of religious and political strife. The novel is highly readable, based on the story of two girls who meet as 6-year-olds and form a fast friendship that lasts a lifetime. As expected, it also covers the deplorable period of the rights of women being stripped away and the fight of the populace for democracy. Along the way, the author treats the reader to Iranian food specialties, what it means to live with guilt, and the gift of unconditional friendship.

Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Press for the ARC to read and review.

This book was beautifully written. It follows women’s rights in Iran over the span of years dating back from the 50’s, 80’s, and then in 2022. It was moving and heartbreaking, but a must read. I loved it. I gave this 5/5 stars

Poignant story of childhood friends whose lives take different roads. The Iranian culture has not been kind to women. This novel is a reflection of how the political unrest from the 1950's to 1980's affected the lives of the rich and poor. The descriptive writing of the author shows us about Iranian everyday life and i found the plot line believable..

CW: multiple miscarriages mentioned.

I wanted to give Marjan Kamali another chance, after disliking The Stationery Shop for a number of reasons. The Lion Women of Tehran was different (and the same) but the heart of the book was really Homa's character. She drove the story far more than the main narrator, Ellie, and I enjoyed getting Homa's perspective later in the book. That being said, the first half of the book really dragged on for me -- I didn't start to enjoy it until about 51% of the way in and even then it was *because* of Homa, not Ellie (who seemed like a foil to her friend anyway). The book's main theme of strong women took many forms for each of the female characters, some "stronger" than others, but it was an interesting read and I love learning about different cultures especially since Iranian culture is so misunderstood in the States. I'm not sure I'd seek out any more of her books due to the recurrent themes of miscarriage and child loss.

THE LION WOMEN OF TEHRAN begins in 1950s Tehran, Iran. We follow two Iranian girls, Ellie and Homa, who become fast friends when Ellie and her mother move to the “slums” after her father’s death. Despite their different backgrounds and personalities, they forge a strong bond. We see their friendship strained by distance and class, yet growing stronger despite their differences—until Ellie’s betrayal irreversibly changes Homa’s life and their friendship.

WHAT I LOVED:
•Kamali’s Writing: There’s so much movement in her book. Very little telling (and even then, it’s done through dialogue but never felt like info-dumping) and all showing. I felt like a third character, walking through the streets of Tehran and the Bazaar with the girls.

•Theme of friendship. The term “friends” has been on my mind often. I enjoyed reading about the ebbs and flows of friendships—how quickly we forge them, and how easily circumstances can change them.

•Historical Backdrop - The tumultuous political years in Iran from the 50s to the 80s are never the main focus but always in the backdrop, adding urgency and influencing some of the bigger events and the betrayal. I love historical fiction for this reason, seeing how significant events affect ordinary people, which unfortunately impacted Homa and Ellie too.

•And the delightful cameo mentioning Mr. Fakhri’s stationery shop from the author’s previous book, THE STATIONERY SHOP, which I love so so much, was touching.

NOT SO MUCH:
The pacing is a bit uneven, especially in the last third, and the ending feels too neatly tied up. My biggest complaint is that the book might have benefited from more of Homa’s perspective. Ellie wasn’t the most likable character, and the title ”Lion Women“ refers to Homa. I wish we got more of her story instead of the privileged Ellie.

One word I had in mind while reading was “fleeting.” Friendships, life, memories—everything is fleeting and passes so quickly. This beautiful, bittersweet novel made me reflect on friendships, life, and gratitude for those who tirelessly fight for a better and more just world.

Overall, Kamali could write anything, and I would read it. I loved this book despite some complaints, especially for its insights into Iran’s history and the fragility of life.

Thank you Gallery Books for allowing me to read and review The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali on NetGalley.

Published: 07/02/24

Stars: 4.5

I enjoyed Kamali's storytelling. This checks all the emotional boxes: I laughed, cried, cringed, held my breath, shook my head and sighed; a rollercoaster of emotions.

The story spans the lifetimes of two women who became friends as young children. They were born into the Iranian culture. And this is where Kamali shined. She added enough Iranian traditions and political views to keep the story authentic: a book on friendship and differences. I wasn't overwhelmed with political nuances. The basics of head coverings, women voicing their opinions, educational opportunities are touched on. I found the balance of power in income and familial differences to be represented equally.

The story is beautifully done. I would recommend and gift this.

"Shir zan. Lionesses. Us. Can't you see it, Ellie? Someday, you and me--we'll do great things. We'll live life for ourselves. And we will help others. We are cubs now, maybe. But we will grow to be lionesses. Strong women who make things happen."⁣
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I loved The Stationery Shop and I loved The Lion Women of Tehran. Marjan Kamali is an amazing writer, one I'm in awe of. I am registered for an event she speak at in August and I cannot wait.⁣
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I think the thing I loved most about this book was seeing the friendship between Ellie and Homa develop and change. Two people in the #readwithtoni chat found this book to be comparable to My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante and I definitely have to agree. ⁣
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For fans of historical fiction YOU HAVE TO READ THIS BOOK. As a big fan, this book had the perfect balance of naturally woven in history and well-developed characters 👌🏼 ⁣
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Thank you so much to the #readwithtoni friends who read this book with me, the chats were insightful and lively and very much appreciated 💜

4.5 This book is a richly written account of the lives of these two Iranian women through a tumultuous time in history that stretches into today. Its strengths are the small details about their daily lives and dreams: how they acted in class, their habits at home, the things they squealed over, the things they feared. These are the small truths that make the story so realistic and relatable.
The plot is fine; it followed a predictable trajectory. This is a book about setting and character. Elaheh and Homa's character development is its crown jewel.

I did enjoy this one however, it was boring and I had high expectations because I loved the authors previous novel “The stationary shop” . If I would’ve gotten a little more I would’ve loved it.

“Shir Zan". This Persian phrase translates to ‘lion women or strong women' and the story is about the friendship between two young girls growing up in Iran over a period of decades, following their triumphs, adversity, and trials over time. The story is set in Tehran during the 1950s and progresses through Ellie and Homa's friendship as young girls, high school and college aged, and beyond. The culture during this time reflected the challenges that women faced while living in Iran, and the story includes the events following the overthrow of the Shah/ Iranian Revolution in the 70s and 80s. The author, Marjan Kamala, does a great interpretation and storytelling of the adversities' women faced in Iran, including themes such as women's rights, identity and class divisions, social injustices, political authoritarianism, and immigration. In Kamala's storytelling, she does a superb job of sharing her love and knowledge of Iranian culture and cuisine, and the reading made you actually feel as if you were in Iran enjoying the cultural significances of the Persian ways. You are drawn into the storyline by the injustices made against women and those marginalized in their society, and you come to quickly understand what it means to be "Shir Zan".

I had access to both the ebook version and audio book, and I will say that the narration of the story with emphasis on descriptive prowess, pronunciations, accents, and hearing the culture through audio was just superb, and I highly recommend it if you are able to get access to audio.

I highly recommend this book to others and I am very grateful to receive the ARC copy of this wonderful novel from NetGalley and Gallery books. All opinions are my own.

3/5 rounded to 4. The Lion Women of Tehran tells the story of two women, Ellie and Homa, who meet as meet as children in Iran. The book follows their relationship and is often told through Ellie's voice, the less interesting of the two. Due to family circumstances they take different paths - one a conventional economic striving and the other of activism for freedom and women's rights. The book shines when the story is told through Homa's, and later her daughter's voice, but Ellie is just too conventional and selfish to have gained my sympathy, despite the hardships she faced at times. Kamali sets her story in the turmoil of the last 70 year's of Iran's history but spares her readers the gruesome details of the deeds perpetrated against those who refused to be silent. For me, there is only one "lion woman" in the novel, which falls short of exploring her character and her circumstances more closely. Nonetheless, this book will appeal to fans of historical fiction and the genre insultingly titled "women's fiction."

I adored Kamali’s The Stationary Shop, so I was thrilled to see she had a new book out. And this glorious one did not disappoint.

Ellie and Homa are two young girls who grow up in 1950s/1960s Tehran. Ellie comes from money yet, after the death of her father, ends up having to live in a less affluent part downtown, where she meets Homa. The two become friends and we follow their lives and friendship through the 1980s.

Unfortunately, as the two grow, so does the political turmoil in Iran. Homa gets involved in first the revolution against the Prime Minister, which eventually turns into a religious fundamentalist society under a shah. As things get worse, she reconnects with Ellie and asks for her help.

The life of each woman is told in vivid, emotional detail. When woven with a narrative of actual historical events, it becomes even more compelling. I especially loved how even “bad” peripheral characters are explained and studied as their full, human selves. The flow of the engaging plot keeps you on edge throughout, but it’s the strong, deep connection between the two women that makes this novel stand out.

If you’re a fan of fiction that touches on true events and the complexities of female friendship, this is a great choice. I’m putting it next to The Stationary Shop on my keeper shelf!

I both listened to the audiobook and read the hardcover. The narration is great!

What a beautifully written book of female friendship, courage, and freedom. Set in the mid 1900s, this follows two Iranian girls into womanhood and everything along the way. Through poverty and the ups & downs of life. What an outstanding story. I had tears falling down my cheeks in the final moments.

Stories like this are why I love historical fiction.

The Lion Women of Tehran is the story of two girls, Homa and Ellie, who come from drastically different families and backgrounds to form a lifelong friendship. Marian Kamali has created a powerful and moving story about female friendship, the Iranian women’s fight for freedom & equality, and what we will do to protect those we love. It started a little slow but I quickly became fully engaged with Homa and Ellie’s stories, shedding a few tears for them throughout the book. Highly recommend.

A book like this is the reason why historical fiction is one of my favorite genres. Set against the backdrop of a changing Iran over a span of about 70 or so years, this is a book that encompasses history, politics, culture, class, relationships, betrayal and forgiveness - everything the world continues to encounter from time immemorial and always will. It’s the story of Ellie and Homa - fast friends since elementary school. Although the two are unlike in every way possible way, Homa and Ellie’s friendship has a special something. But the political winds of change shatter their young lives as innocence and betrayal unwittingly meet, changing their lives forever. I enjoyed the storyline, characters and setting. Relationships are also key in this book and are well portrayed. Besides Ellie and Homa, there are other relationships that the author has painted so well: Ellie and her mother, Ellie and her husband; Homa and her husband; Home and her daughter. Overall, this book was a great read. Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.