Thank you Simon & Schuster Canada, Gallery Books and NetGalley for my Advanced Reader e-Copy of Marjan Kamali’s The Lion Women of Tehran. Pub date: July 2, 2024.

Oh my historical fiction heart! You know that big sigh that you do after you just finished reading a really good book? *BIG SIGH* even after reading the acknowledgments. I was sad this book ended, but happy to have experienced it.

I had some context about the oppression of women post-revolutionary Iran from reading Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis series last year (one of my all-time favourite series). The Lion Women of Tehran weaves a narrative, that feels both intimate and personal, into this history and sadly, current reality. The book is about a female friendship that grows from childhood to adolescence and then into adulthood. It’s about two women, from different socioeconomic classes, navigating the changing political landscape of their motherland. Some elements reminded me of Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner. I shed some tears.

I loved this book for the following reasons:
1. Strong female protagonists
2. Historical fiction
3. The emphasis on women’s rights and the feminist movement in Iran
4. Cultural references that are both honest and masterfully used to move the story along
5. The love interests of both women

Being a full-time working mother is HARD WORK but upon reading this book, I am so much more appreciative of the privileges afforded to me simply for living where I live. I love reading novels like this, they are eye-opening and reflective. This is easily a 5⭐️ read for me. Highly recommend this book to historical ficfion lovers.

To women all over of the world who are tirelessly fighting for equality, your stories are honoured and immortalized. Zan. Zendegi. Azadi. Women, Life, Freedom.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is for you if you like:
- strong female characters
- stories of women navigating oppression and liberation
- stories of friendships and heartbreak
- WOC led perspectives
- Women’s rights

The Lion Women of Tehran is a story about two friends, Ellie and Homa, set in Tehran, Iran, during the mid 1900s. The two friends are alike and different in many ways; one comes from privilege and the other not so much, and we get to see their friendship over the years as they navigate coming of age before, and during the political unrest in Iran.

I learned SO much about Iranian history and politics through these characters and their struggles and wins felt like my own. This is technically a historical fiction, and the timeline skips back and forth just a bit - BUT not in a confusing way.

Marjan Kamali is an incredible story teller. The story was fasted paced yet nuanced, and I didn’t have many dips where I felt bored or impatient. She painted a beautiful story of two friends in the larger social and political context of a country at the brink of change.

This was my first book by the author and I’m definitely picking up the stationary shop next!

Some trigger warnings:
Mentions of death of a loved one, mention of sexual abuse, oppression and political unrest/war

This was an astounding read for me and for me an important book to read in the world’s political climate today. This is my first time reading this author and I absolutely loved the writing style and story it was hard to put down — I devoured it over a couple of days.
A story follows to childhood friends Ellie and Homa through their lives in Iran and abroad during the political upheaval of their country— while showing their unique strengths and resiliences to the atrocities of this world . Starting in the 1950s and traveling through to the early 80s this story captures the challenges faced by Iran and Iranian women as well as many other social issues , culture and cuisine . This historical fiction novel is a great window into a time period that shaped the time period of my life and to know more about it has been enlightening.

The authors note at the end is a great addition to read.

The Lion Women of Tehran follows the friendship between two girls, Ellie and Homa, as they grow up in Iran and spans a number of years from the 1960s up until present day. This book explores a range of topics such as class, women's rights, politics, family, and friendships.

This book kind of disappointed me. I really loved the Stationery Shop by this author so I went into this with high expectations. However, I felt like the first half of this book was kind of boring and didn't find myself really engaged until the halfway point. I did like learning about the political history of Iran though.

Overall I would rate this three stars.

Traditional 📕 (digital) format

The Lion Women of Tehran tells the story of Ellie and Homa and their lives growing up as girls/women in Iran. The book explored their Persian culture, their struggles, their friendship and their rights as women in the political nightmare that was Iran from the 1960s though 80s and all the way to present day.

This was such a wonderfully written book that really educated me on the history of Iran.

I am usually a surface reader but in this book I really picked up on a lot of imagery and symbolism (for example the lion). For this to stand out to me means the writing was incredible.

My only criticism of this book is the last few chapters didn’t quite fit and evoke the same feelings as much of the rest of the book. The writing of those chapters just seemed very out of place and a bit awkward to me.

I really enjoyed this book and give it a 4.5/5

Thank you Simon & Schuster Canada | Gallery Books and Net Galley for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The first book I read by this author was The Stationary Shop which teeters a line between historical fiction and a love story with the backdrop of democracy in Iran.
With her 3rd book, the author focuses on decades of life within power struggles and the lives of women, but with the focus on a friendship.

At only 7 yrs old, young Ellie loses her father and the comfort she and her mother were used to. Still supported by her uncle, her mother and her are propped in a small place in the city, with other low income families. It’s here that the friendship begins between Ellie & Toma. One quietly wanting to stay under the radar and the other with big ideas, big hopes and a big life ahead. Toma has dreams and she’s going to bring her new best friend along with her.

What we experience as the reader over the next 300 pages is the history of the ruling power in Iran, but with the heart of the story focused on a friendship that grows and falls apart. There are mistakes and lies, but also heart and family. It’s as if the author is peeling back the layers of family history of women in Tehran.

I mention above that it’s not just a historical fiction, but rather one that becomes contemporary with the rise of politics that find women and young girls being forced back into submission of child brides and head to toe coverings.

No different then any other family fiction novel, Marjan Kamali writes with the heart of women of Iran, giving voice to life with no power and warmth of a friendship that spans decades of years.

Ps. I am so grateful that the author didn’t end the novel the way I thought it was going to… we have an epilogue that ties it up in a way that is fierce and brave…. With the true lion of Tehran still fighting.

“I wish for you the ability to be free”

4.5 stars rolled to 5

Gorgeous, gorgeous read about two best friends growing up in Tehran and the span of their friendship over the years as the go from young children to women. There is just something about female friendships that is so chefs kiss. Like I love all my friends and sometimes its just really nice to read about the growth and experience about finding that special life changing friend and seeing how the friendship changes and evolves over time. I really loved this story between Ellie and Homa, and its hard to read at times seeing how they have to overcome things and the trials their friendship has to go through. All of this set with the background of the growing political turmoil in Iran adds that extra special something to this book. I really liked this and I will be exploring more of Marjan Kamali's work <3

The Lion Women were courageous women who fought for human rights in Iran during a time of political upheaval. This historical fiction is a beautifully told story about their courageous work, lifelong friendship, privilege versus lower class and women’s human rights. It is rich with Iranian culture, food and music. I really enjoyed learning about Iran and the politics that have shaped the country! If you enjoyed The Stationery Shop, you’ll definitely enjoy this one too!

Well done Marjan Kamali! 👏🏻

Thank you to @simonschusterca for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. 🙏🏻🥰

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“You’re not afraid. You’re fierce. You and your friends are shir zan (lion women)!"

4.5/5 stars

Having read and loved "The Stationery Shop" a few years back, I definitely had high expectations coming into this book and Marjan Kamali did not disappoint.

What I loved:
- How the story was centred around the friendship of Ellie & Homa. I loved reading about the two main characters (with their different backgrounds) as they came of age during such a transformative time in Iran's history. I loved that the story of their friendship continued to span across three very turbulent decades.
- Throughout the entire story, Kamali beautifully tackles thought-provoking themes such as, women’s rights, identity, social injustice, class divide, and immigration. I liked how the author juxtaposes women's lives in Iran under two very different regimes (the Shah vs. Khomeini)
- Kamali's love for Iranian cuisine and culture is so evident in the vivd ways she describes all the foods and places. I learned so much about various Iranian dishes! (I even wish there were footnotes for the dishes, because I legit Googled each of the dishes that were new to me, haha)
- Despite the tragedies and hardships throughout the book, there is so much hope that endures. The characters are strong-willed and resilient and I found myself rooting for them till the end.

What I didn't like as much:
- In the later part of the book, I found it difficult to connect emotionally with Ellie because I didn't feel like I was getting as much insight into her deeper thoughts/feelings. I also felt like her character fell a little flat (but maybe that's because we finally get chapters from Homa's perspective and Homa is such a strong character).

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Simon & Schuster Canada for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I expected to love this book more because of my love for the author’s previous work and because the subject matter is so interesting and heart wrenching.
The beginning of the book delivered and held my interest. However, as it moved along I really disliked the main character and found it hard to emotionally connect with the story.
There’s still a lot of love about this book, the history, customs and rich descriptions.

Wow, this book was just so good. Beautiful, challenging female friendship in Iran in the 1960s-1970s. I am craving Persian food right now and trying to find a guide so I can legally travel in Iran as a Canadian.

I highly recommend this book, it really moved me and made me laugh and cry and marvel at the strength of women. It also celebrated Iran in such a way that was a nice change to a lot of novels set in the middle east that seem to have a twinge of American looming over it.

Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for the arc. Publication expected July, 2024.
I'm off to checkout her other books from the library bye!!

A couple of years ago I picked up @marjankamali7 book The Stationary Store. I was blown away but the incredible story of two young lovers pulled apart when their country of Iran is torn apart by a coup.
I was thrilled to learn my new favourite author had another book out and was equally entranced by Together Tea.
So to say I was overjoyed to be able to review her newest creation, The Lion Women of Tehran, is putting it mildly.
After the death of her father, seven year old Ellie and her mother are forced to move from their big house to one of the poorer neighbourhoods in Tehran. At her new school Ellie will meet the best friend who will see her through life, Homa. From different backgrounds both girls will try and shape their own future. Homa will seek freedom for all Iranians, even if it means endangering herself. Ellie can’t wait to marry and become a mother. One night, and one misunderstanding will set off a chain of events that will pull them apart and cause a rift they might not be able to cross again.
One of the reasons I love historical fiction so much is when brilliant authors are able to apply a human voice and a human face to events of the past and make them real. This book is a perfect example. I couldn’t put it down, Ellie and Homa’s fates consumed me and I had to know what was going to happen to them.
If you haven’t read either of Marjan Kamali’s other two books I recommend both of them. And if you are excited for her next one it hits shelves July 2 2024, and I also recommend picking it up.
Thank you to @netgalley and @gallerybooks for letting me read #thelionwomenoftehran early in exchange for a review.
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“Even those who love you most can ruin your life, you know, Ellie. Even the ones you trust the most.”

You won’t want to miss this beautiful story that examines how childhood friendships shape us and how love and courage transform us.

It’s set in Tehran, Iran against a backdrop of three transformative decades this country in turmoil endured and features childhood friends Elaheh ‘Ellie; Soltani, and Homa Roozbeh. Readers will feel part of the friendship as they are present when the girls meet for the first time and will share in the joys of a simple childhood, observe the teenage angst and jealousy as it plays out between them, their parents, and their friends, and be present at the parting of ways when they are young women and one of them is betrayed.

I was fortunate enough to have time to read this book in its entirety, coincidently during Nowruz, the first day of Spring. How serendipitous to read about rebirth and renewal and experience it in real-time with blossoms and birds chirping.

“You’re not afraid. You’re fierce. You and your friends are shir zan!”

I read in awe as I followed their childhood quest to become ‘lion women’ and shed tears at the cost of one’s unwavering stance.

You need to put this exceptional book centered around women’s rights in three turbulent decades, on your reading list. We all need reminders that we are more alike than we like to think and unity is necessary going forward.

I was gifted this copy by Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

Set in Iran, Homa and Ellie, both from different backgrounds, forge a strong and very complicated friendship in childhood.

Of the two, Homa is the risk taker, the fighter and the one with the most unbelievable perseverance and resilience. Ellie, is more of a “let things fall as they may”, oblivious, listen to your mother, kind of person. Both suffer as women in a country where women have minimal to no rights.

The narrative also juxtaposes life in Iran under the Shah and life under the Ayatollah and the realities of the two regimes.

Marjan Kamali does an amazing job of detailing the human condition in this very atmospheric, immersive and powerful story. There are themes of friendship, betrayal, social injustice, women’s rights, politics and redemption.

There is so just much packed into this 300 page story, but for me, the most important message is to never give up fighting for what you believe. I learned a lot.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.