The juicy synopsis captured me into picking up Liquid: A Love Story but after reading it I think it was misrepresented. Going in I was expecting a sensual romp through LA, which delivered in the first part of the book, but the story takes a turn in a way that contrasts far from the original idea of going on 100 dates that I almost feel like it was meant to be two different books. The latter part book was more reflective and centered on grief. The writing and the characters navigation of being biracial stepping between cultures were what I enjoyed about the book.

The MC pontificates a lot about heteronormativity and traditional marriage structures and their failures but somehow manages to make fairly heteronormative decisions throughout the book. I enjoyed the premise and the insight into her inner life but found myself frustrated with her lack of direction and motivation at times. The ending felt predictable as well.

There is a lot of niche specific LA geography and locale name dropping which would be incomprehensible to a non native. It felt immersive for me as an LA native but seemed unnecessary to the story. The prose itself was florid and philosophical but once I got into a rhythm reading it, I enjoyed it.

I didn't care for this one as much as I hoped I would, though overall it was an enjoyable book with themes I appreciated - relating to class, race, culture, family and love. I liked that it was a lot more than just a love story and really appreciated the bi/pan representation.

I think for some reason I had a hard time connecting with the protagonist and often found her a little frustrating. while it did feel like there was an arc of personal growth throughout the story, especially in the second half, I wasn't finding myself feeling emotionally moved or connected at the moments that I suspected I should've been - this could've been a me problem, maybe I read the book at the wrong time, on paper it is really so many things that I like in a story, so maybe my expectations were just a little too high!

still a good time, somewhere around 3.5 stars for me, rounded down~

In *Liquid*, Mariam Rahmani’s debut novel, an unnamed young Iranian-Indian American woman grapples with the challenges of adulthood. Having lost her teaching position, this unmarried scholar feels pressure to succeed both in her career and in her romantic life. Her best friend suggests that she marry someone wealthy, leading her to embark on a dating project akin to an academic endeavor. This project explores sexual freedom and challenges heteronormativity.

During the course of her bisexual/pansexual dating experiment, her father falls ill in Tehran. She and her mother travel to Iran to be with him, prompting the protagonist to reconnect with her family, their culture, and relationships.

However, the novel delves deeper than just this rom—com dating plot. Rahmani intricately examines the daughter’s adult perspective on her parents' complicated marriage and provides insight into both American and Iranian cultures. The narrative is neither gimmicky nor simplistic. This novel is beautifully written, witty, and captivating.

I highly recommend it. It feels like a blend of Jane Austen’s wit and social mores commentary, Kaveh Akbar’s *Martyr*, and Jeffrey Eugenides’ *The Marriage Plot*. Thank you to Algonquin and NetGalley for the advanced reader's copy.