I read this courtesy NetGalley and St. Martin’s Books. Racism is alive and well, unfortunately, and this book looks at how it affects young adults of color in contemporary England, and how they must come to terms with it. This story had me flinching, because so much hits right on the feels. There’s Shirin, the young woman determined to get out of the difficult circumstances she grew up in, only to find that the same racism she wanted to leave behind is facing her once again, and Kian, the young man who was forced to move out of a comfortable area into those same circumstances and how they bonded…until they didn’t. There’s the entitled white boy with nothing to say but vulgar racist things who is lauded, from boyhood to adulthood, and how his horribleness continues. Will Shirin and Kian bond again after having drifted apart? This book is worth the read, thoughtful and heartfelt.
#ThingsLeftUnsaid #NetGalley

This is a powerful, moving read that I can't recommend enough. From the first chapter, I knew it would break my heart. The writing is raw and visceral, making Shirin's emotions feel like mine. Her struggles with depression and anxiety are portrayed with such honesty, and you can feel the weight of everything she chooses not to express to the people around her. The way the story shifts between the heaviness of Shirin's experiences and moments of lightness is so effective, making the moments of joy even more meaningful. I was completely immersed. I laughed, cried, got angry, and felt deeply connected to these flawed, lovable characters. After The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali, this is the second book about Iranian women that has left a profound impact on me this year, and I can't help but wish I had encountered more stories like this growing up. It also reminded me of Small Worlds by Caleb Azumah Nelson, focusing on a Londoner navigating cultural expectations, family, work, and community. As we look ahead to an uncertain 2025, this novel feels like a comforting and authentic companion. I’m excited to see what Sara Jafari will write next. I am begging you to read this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the chance to read this extraordinary book. I can’t wait to buy a finished copy.

I really enjoyed this storyline. Shirin was a fabulously flawed character that drew me in early. The dialogue timelines worked perfectly and kept my interest in the saga between her and Kirin. Excellent read that reminded me of Sally Rooney but with a bit more depth.

DNF - Althought I was eager to read this book, it didn't end up working for me in the end. I'm sure there is an audience out there who will appreciate the story for all that it holds.

Jafari weaves a novel full of longing. Shirin and Kian both feel like very lived in characters whom I want to spend time with. They are flawed, but in a very real way and it never felt frustrated. When a book relies on miscommunication to advance its plot, its hard to root for the characters. But Jafari doesn’t end up in many of the pitfalls other authors do when navigating this.

As with her other novel the mismatch, the side characters and secondary storylines of friendship, racism, and family are just as important and flushed out. Her ability to do this is what really works because the characters truly are more than just each other. Overall another great read from Jafari and I can’t wait to read more from her!

Disclosure: Thank you to St Martin's Press for providing this book for early consideration via NetGalley; opinions are my own. This book is for anyone who's been left behind by a best friend, a person who played such an essential role in your life, their absence leaves the world a strange, unfamiliar wasteland. But limiting the book to a reunion love story, or a story of reunited friendship, would drastically undermine the work's cultural significance. We live in a tumultuous society with ample progress achieved, but still, prejudice and hypocrisy wait around the corner for anyone whose identity falls out of the mainstream. Jafari has used personal experience, and people she knows, to influence this story and correctly portray the struggle of racism, classism, and sexism Iranian Americans, and many other minority groups, face. The true strength of this book is its ability to make the reader analyze definitions; for example, "minority" itself may be a limiting term, and this book raises that question. There are a couple of content warnings, ie. sexual assault and disturbing racial slurs, but as a whole, the book focuses on difficult topics which do not require content warnings; then. Overall, I enjoyed this book for its raw portrayal of loss, the way the longing leapt from the pages into my heart, and for Jafari's ability to coax a white American woman into the shoes of an Iranian-American woman through shared experience and the wonderful, terrible joys and sorrows of being human.

** A copy of Things Left Unsaid was provided by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review **

Things Left Unsaid is the story of Shirin and Kian - their hopes, their dreams, their trauma, their identities, their baggage and their what-ifs. It’s beautifully written and easy to read. Perfect for fans of Sally Rooney, Jessica Andrews and Coco Mellors.

Shirin and Kian are reunited at a house party in London, prompting strong feelings from their relationship beginning in high school. Kian supported her when she was bullied by those who were prejudiced against her. Shirin is a publicist and when her company publishes a book by one of the authors that harassed her, she decides to do something about the situation. I loved the relationship between Shirin and Kian as they struggled to do what was best for the other person. This is about what happens when you hold back feelings from your friends, family, lovers, but especially yourself. Powerful book about taking charge of your life and making necessary changes that involve communication.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this arc!!

What a good book! I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. I loved the main characters! They had great chemistry and worked so well together. I loved how the book just flowed. My first by this author but will not be my last!!!

This was such a good and heartfelt story! I loved reading every moment of it and found myself adoring the protagonists! I’m so happy that they finally got outside of their own heads for the marvelous ending. I loved how it was written with a core of friendship. It really resonated with me and I can’t wait for more from this author!

This book is about two people who are back in each other’s lives. They have dealt with racism, friendships, and other things. The book takes place in the past and present. Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for giving me an opportunity to read and do a review.

Things Left Unsaid captures the ache of unspoken words and the intensity of rekindled connections in such a beautiful way. Shirin’s journey of navigating her complex feelings for Kian after all those years feels so genuine and heartfelt. The way their friendship evolves amidst the chaos of life is both tender and electrifying. You can feel the weight of their shared history, the longing, and the fear of losing each other again. It’s a poignant exploration of love, trust, and the messy, beautiful journey of finding your place in the world. This book resonates deeply, pulling at your heartstrings with every page. I absolutely loved reading it.

3.5 stars that I'm rounding up because the writing was very well done. The title fits this story perfectly. I did not find this as sad or heartbreaking as others did. There's a great deal of 'what if' and 'if only' themes throughout with a lot of time spent on building up to the big reveal of what happened to make these two characters go their separate ways. It was slow to get there and when it finally did, it was a bit disappointing. I wanted it to be something more, but that's just me and my angst loving heart. All in all, it's a good story and hits on the themes of racism and cancel culture. I'm glad I read it.

This was a beautifully done and realistic concept that I was looking for from the description. The characters felt like they were supposed to and were realistically done. I thought the way Sara Jafari wrote this worked well together and wanted to read more.

Tender and moving. Shirin lives in London. She has her dream job in publishing. But lately, it doesn’t seem very dreamy with all of the microaggressions and disrespect she experiences in her workplace. Shirin is feeling a little lost. That starts to change when she sees Kian at her friend’s house party one night. A decade ago, Kian was her best friend and they haven’t spoken since…

I enjoyed this very much - it is compelling and even though you wish Shirin made different decisions at times, you understand why she does the things she does. There is a nice balance of romance, workplace woes, and friendship drama. Overall, this was a lovely exploration of self-(re) discovery and friendship and I’m so glad Shirin and Kian found each other again.

Thank you very much to St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

Things Left Unsaid focuses on Shirin and Kian as the story flips back and forth between their high school (or the British equivalent of that, I’m not too sure how the school system works over there actually) experience and then ten years later.

The depictions of racism throughout the book are nuanced and real. The situations Shirin faces at work and school are plainly described, but the actions are so blatantly unfair and infuriating that they stir up quite an emotion. Likewise, I enjoyed the setting of the publishing industry where Jafari highlights the hypocrisy of diversity and inclusion in every corporation, but particularly in publishing where there is a platform to amplify voices and the responsibility that comes with it.

At times, I felt that the writing got a bit lost in handling the relationship between Kian and Shirin. They have this very deep relationship that shines through with their history and their conversations. Still, at times the writing would highlight their physical attraction toward one another with some writing that felt a bit surface-level. It’s not a huge negative against the book but I thought it brought down a bit what was otherwise great writing.

Overall, I think it is an important book to read that highlights systemic issues in a way that is accessible and important in the current climate.

Also, can we appreciate this gorgeous book cover?!?!

Even though I liked the social discussions this story brings and all the conversations this author is trying to achieve, I gotta be honest: I didn't like the main characters. I understand where they come from, but together, as a couple? Didn't like it. Didn't care for it.
The writing didn't engage me, either. But maybe it's a *me* issue only.
Other readers might enjoy this book much more than I did.

Shirin and Kian suffered in high school from overt racist abuse and family dysfunction, and they formed a deep friendship during those years. Then they come apart. Later in life, when they are around thirty, they fall into each other's orbit and the friendship is renewed, but it's a difficult road. Here are the obstacles: Shirin is depressed and anxious, her family is possibly even more dysfunctional, she lives in an apartment that is unpleasant with roommates she doesn't know, and her work is a repeat of high school, only the racism is more subtle. Kian is further along in his coming-of-age journey, with a slightly more gratifying life, but he's still traumatized by an event in his childhood, and of course, ongoing racism. The story is about how Shirin learns to speak up for herself, to begin to find agency and to emerge from her many difficulties to have a better life, including allowing herself to love Kian.

This story relies heavily on the miscommunication trope, which I don't care for -- not the author's fault! -- but it affected my enjoyment. The depiction of racism in modern society is excruciating and resonant. It needs to be said, and it was educational. But overall, Shirin's inability to speak for herself dominated this novel, and it was too much for me.

The writing in Things Left Unsaid is sharp and evocative, effortlessly pulling readers into Shirin’s emotional landscape. The poignant moments of vulnerability and the intensity of their bond are beautifully rendered, making it easy to empathize with their journey. Just when you think they’ve found their way, life throws obstacles in their path, forcing both characters to confront their fears and the ghosts of their past. It is a heartfelt exploration of second chances, underscored by the poignant question of whether love can truly withstand the test of time and circumstances. I was left breathless by the climax and profoundly moved by the ending, which resonates long after the last page.

I enjoyed reading this novel. I love books about relationships and finding one another again. I think Jafari did an excellent job with writing and authentic story about two characters at certain moments in their lives. The pacing and flow made it easy to read and want to continue. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.