This was a wonderful story of healing and growing into oneself. I really enjoyed Shirin's perspective. Sara Jafari did a wonderful job of building a layered and relatable character. I found her struggles with healing with past trauma and coming to terms with the reality of career and adult life to be completely enthralling. Though her experiences are so different than my own life, Jafari wrote in such a clear, incisive way that I was able to connect completely with Shirin. The relationship between her and Kian was also completely engaging. I loved watching the way their friendship and romance developed in tandem with their own personal growth. I strongly recommend this to anyone who enjoys personal awakening stories. I find the comparison to Maame to be very apt. I also enjoyed the audiobook narrators, they both effectively brought Shirin and Kian to life.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for providing and eALC in return for my honest thoughts.

Thanks to @netgalley @stmartinspress and @macmillanaudio for my ALC of this book. This was a really hard book to read due to all the things going on in the world right now. It made me really angry at some parts because I know some people are judged based on their appearance/race and it is happening more and more recently. I did love the growth of Shirin throughout the book and the ending was great! This book makes you think a lot and I loved the way she put her views at the end. Confrontation is like eating kale. You may not like it at first, but you know it’s good for you in the long run. Would definitely recommend!

Beautifully Introspective and Deeply Moving**
Sara Jafari’s *Things Left Unsaid* is a heartfelt and emotionally layered journey through family, identity, and the power of truth. The narration was absolutely captivating—delivered with the perfect balance of vulnerability and strength that brought the characters to life. Every word felt intentional, every silence heavy with meaning. Jafari masterfully explores how the things we don’t say can shape us just as much as the things we do. Thought-provoking, touching, and incredibly well-written, this audiobook had me completely hooked from start to finish. Highly recommend for anyone who enjoys character-driven stories that linger long after they end.

Things Left Unsaid was a Macmillan Audio pick and definitely one of my favorite books of the year so far. This book is an exploration of relationships between people, the past, and how to move into the future. It tackles things like first-generation immigrant experiences, bullying and abuse in high school, racism, lost and rediscovered friendship and love, identity, and coming into one’s power as an adult.

While the plot is relatively low stakes in that there isn’t a wild ride of action, the events of the book are poignant and emotionally weighted. Shirin grapples with the events of her past in parallel editing between the present at 26 and high school at 16. In his POVs, Kian shows his growth between a guilt-ridden teen and his adult life with a new relationship with his former friend, Shirin.

I loved following these characters through their pain and growth into empowered adults with so much love for each other. Shirin’s journey also navigates through her relationships with female friends, realizing that proximity and time known do not necessarily equal good friendships, and sometimes telling a friend the relationship isn’t working is necessary to either cut and run or strengthen the bond. She also learns that making friends as an adult can be as fulfilling, if not more, as those made during more formative years.

This book displayed racism in so many forms as well, from blatant bigotry to subliminal messages from those who’d claim allyship without actually putting in any work. I really appreciated the raw look at and subsequent fight against it!

I highly recommend this book to any contemporary fiction readers, and honestly think it’s a must read regardless of genre preference. The much-deserved HEA is so sweet and actually beautifully understated. I loved this book, five stars! And the narrators were excellent, it looks like this may be both of their first audiobook!

I had high hopes for this one – rekindled friendship and perhaps more after life changing events make them grow apart – but this fell flat for me. The story was interesting enough and there is plenty of description (maybe too much) so you feel what they’re feeling but the delivery in the audio was very monotonous and made it difficult to get into the story, not that there was much exciting going on. I just couldn’t get into it and at 40%, when I realized I was listening but not engrossed, I gave up.

If you loved Normal People, Things Left Unsaid will feel like a welcome companion—quiet, thoughtful, and emotionally resonant. Sara Jafari crafts a deeply introspective story that unfolds through layered character studies and delicate observations about race, gender, friendship, and the messy process of growing up.

It’s a novel that simmers rather than boils, inviting readers to sit with the unsaid moments, the things left hanging between characters, and the emotional weight of identity and belonging. The audiobook features dual narrators with delightful accents that are very fun to have in your head, adding extra texture to an already thoughtful story.

Things Left Unsaid by Sara Jafari was another audiobook that I thoroughly enjoyed. Narrated by Honor Gilles and Majid Mehdizadeh-Valoujerdy, their voices perfectly complemented the novel’s themes.
Like Normal People, Things Left Unsaid delves into the intricate nuances of class and race, as well as the complexities of family and friendship. However, these similarities are superficial. The novel is a painful and beautiful exploration of love and life’s journey. It has left a lasting impression on me, prompting me to contemplate the challenges and joys that lie ahead in our beautiful lives.
Thank you, Macmillan Audio via NetGalley, for providing me with this audiobook.

This is an important book with an important story. We meet Shirin and Kian in present day, and travel back and forth between then and high school, where many difficult experiences occurred, and continue to occur. The characters were written with raw and deep emotion, which translated beautifully in the audiobook. I found the story to be real, tragic, and so engaging. 4.5/5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley for the audio ARC. These are my honest opinions.

Things Left Unsaid
A Novel by Sara Jafari
Narrated by Honor Gilles and Majid Mehdizadeh-Valoujerdy
Audiobook publishing day 4/15/2025

This audiobook is my first exposure to Sara Jafari. I was interested in reviewing this book because it made comparison to Maame, which I loved.
The book centers two characters with Middle Eastern background living in UK. As the title suggests, they knew each other when they are younger (about 15 year old), and ran into each other as adults at age 26. Shirin works for a publishing company, hiding her trauma from her childhood. She bumps into her childhood friend, Kian, in a house party, she starts to long for the connection they have once shared.

I felt the book is well written and interesting. It gave me a point of view which I wouldn't have an access to otherwise. This I always appreciate. There is an overtone of racial suffering throughout the book, which I am sure deserved but personally felt very heavy-handed at times. Still I hoped good outcome for Kian and Shirin. As to comparison to Maame, I felt they are two completely separate books - Maame is more hopeful. This book is more serious and deals with racial issues in England as well as in publishing industry, which seems like mishmash of other popular books at this moment.

Audiobook is well narrated by two individuals (male and female) who do a good job. Somehow, the female voice felt too matter-of-fact and flat to me personally which prevented me to feel close to the character.

An advanced copy of this audiobook was provided courtesy of NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for review purposes. My opinion stated herein is my own. Thank you.

Sadly this book missed the mark for me. However, I discovered after I selected this audiobook that it was recommended for readers who enjoyed Maame, which was also a big letdown IMO. Had I known that the two were similar, I would have passed on Things Left Unsaid.

The plot focuses on FMC Shirin and MMC Kian, who were close as teens, but naturally lost touch after high school. Ten years later, they reconnect after a chance encounter. While this sounded intriguing, unfortunately the plot was boring, as the characters just did a lot of "navel gazing" and nothing much happened. Additionally, the narrators of the audiobook were monotone, which likely contributed to my lackluster reaction to this novel.

That being said, if you enjoy coming-of-age character studies like Maame, then definitely give this one a chance!

Thanks you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Things Left Unsaid: A Novel by Sara Jafari is the story of Shirin trying to navigate through her 20’s while working in a publishing house in London. Viewing her life and relationships in dual timeline, we are taken on a journey of growth as Shirin tries to find her place while juggling family, culture and racism; ultimately finding her own voice and attaining her own agency.

I had the great fortune of having access to the book and the audiobook. I was able to seamlessly switch between the two. The narration by Honor Gilles and Majid Mehdizadeh-Valoujerdy was well done, and the writing was great. If you are a Sally Rooney fan, you will love this book.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to listen to this ALC and read the eARC. All opinions are my own.

Book Rating: 4 Stars
Audiobook Rating: 4 Stars
Pub Date: Apr 15 2025
Audio Release Date: Apr 15 2025

Tags:
#MacmillanAudio
#StMartinsPress
#ThingsLeftUnsaid
# SaraJafai
# HonorGilles
# MajidMehdizadehValoujerdy
#YarisBookNook
#netgalley

Things Left Unsaid by Sara Jafari felt like reading someone else’s thoughts and then slowly realizing they mirror your own in ways you didn’t expect. As a 25-year old trying to make sense of who I am and where I come from, this book really resonated. It's not loud or overly dramatic, but it’s deeply reflective and emotional in this quiet, aching way that lingers.

The story follows two very different people, but the way their lives slowly intertwine felt so authentic. It reminded me how much grief, family pressure, and cultural expectations we carry with us and how often we stay silent about the things that shape us most. There were moments I wanted to shake the characters, tell them to just say what they’re feeling, but I also deeply understood why they couldn’t.

As a woman with mixed heritage, I really appreciated the exploration of cultural identity, especially the Iranian representation. It’s rare to see that kind of layered, nuanced portrayal, and Jafari wrote it with so much care. It reminded me that figuring out who you are doesn’t always mean having a perfect answer and that it’s okay to exist in the grey areas.

I took my time with this one because it felt like the kind of book you don’t rush through. While I wished the pacing had picked up at times, and I was left wanting a bit more closure, I still closed the last page feeling like something in me had shifted.

If you like character-driven novels that explore identity, belonging, and the things we never quite manage to say out loud—this one’s for you.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of this novel by Sara Jafari, with the audiobook perfectly narrated by Honor Gilles and Majid Mehdizadeh-Valoujerdy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

It’s been years since Shirin has seen Kian, her best friend, after an incident at their school tore them apart. Since then, Shirin has lived with the weight of things left unsaid between them. She’s struggling at work, burned out with the cultural atmosphere at the publishing house. Shirin and Kian are desperate to make up for lost time, but can they, or will life repeat itself?

This is a book that will definitely make you think about racism and having the courage and strength to stand up for what is right. I loved how Shirin and Kian were the best people they each needed at pivotal times in their lives. May we all have such friends. This also shows how our childhood shapes us and follows us. The writing is beautiful and allows you to emotionally connect with these characters. I also liked the peek into the publishing world. The narration was perfect and I loved having both forms to continue reading. This is a new author to me, and I’ll be looking for more from her!

This was a quiet book but richly layered.

I loved the slow unraveling of what happened in the past to kind of bring to light a lot of what is happening in the present. It’s clever and really nuanced and touches on a great deal of themes mostly micro aggressions and racism in the publishing industry and the ripple effects of this on our two characters.

Jafari has a knack for writing interpersonal relationships and I was drawn completely in.

I’m not wanting to explore this authors back list.

What a privilege to read this book and lovely example of literary fiction situated in very real circumstances, but in a way that also feels so fresh.

This almost takes a coming of age novel and puts it in reverse. Achieving career dreams and finding her way in the world, this book is told across different times and points of view of the two central characters. Sometimes we're watching their experiences as children, another we're watching them meet again in adulthood. The switches in timeline are done so effortlessly that there is an ease of rhythm as you get small puzzle pieces from their lives, filling in small details that show the depth of their relationships and aspirations.

It's also a truly driving critique of large scale publishing and the inherent racial biases designed to flourish in these spaces.

It's beautiful and sad and brave and lovely. If you enjoyed Maame by Jessica George, Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar, the writing of Coco Mellors, I think you're in for a treat with Things Left Unsaid.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I did not enjoy this book at all. It felt whiney and I did not enjoy the narrators. The storyline did not draw me in and I DNF at about 50%. I listened to the audiobook and could not concentrate therefore, I got lost with what was going on. Sometimes character driven stories don't have enough plot to keep me interested. Sometimes books just are not for me. This was one of them.

Things Left Unsaid is a hauntingly melancholic exploration of relationships, mental illness, and the complexities of human emotion. the book dives into introspective, quiet moments that reveal the raw undercurrents of depression and personal turmoil. Both Shirin & Kian are intricately drawn, and their emotional struggles are portrayed with an authenticity that feels both heavy and cathartic.

The author’s exploration of mental illness is nuanced and sensitive, providing a window into the experience. It’s a deeply reflective book, one that allows readers to connect with the inner battles of its characters in a way that feels both intimate and confronting. The complex relationships portrayed in the story are riddled with unspoken words and tensions, making it a powerful meditation on how we communicate (or fail to communicate) with each other.
the relationship between them felt so raw and real and because of that, it seemed so real and i was rooting so hard for them to be together.

I’m sorry to say this is a DNF for me @40%.

I’m SURE I’m in the minority here, so please read others opinions/reviews to get clarity for yourself!

Although the outline sounded intriguing, the story fell flat for me, AND… I really didn’t care for the narrators. Not sure if it was the material, or just their voices, but it felt MONOTONE throughout and I just can’t listen to anymore…

Shirin and Kian were very close about ten years ago…but circumstances pulled them apart and they haven’t seen each other in years. After re-connecting they are kind of drawn to each other and start talking again.

Again, sorry to say that I did not finish it. It was not holding my attention, so I’m moving on.
Since this is not an optimal review, I will only post here and on NetGalley.

Things Left Unsaid by Sara Jafari.

2 ⭐️⭐️ for me!

Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #MacmillanAudiofor an ARC of the audiobook, in exchange for an honest review.
*** If interested, release date is 4/23/25, so look 👀 for it on shelves then !! ***

You can find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Insta @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine

Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️

3 Stars
I am reviewing the audiobook.

I was excited to listen to the story and I was excited to listen from reading the story blurb. Unfortunately, the audiobook was very difficult to get through, as I found the narrator almost monotone and boring. The story seemed interesting but I found myself constantly zoning out because of the narration. It felt like I was dragging my feet through mud to get through it as I found myself incredibly bored and I didn't listen to half of the story because of it. I do not feel like my review is an accurate description of the story itself.

Finished Reading

Pre-Read notes

This one is remarkable right out of the gate. Wonderful irony and farce.

Final Review

“We should be able to separate the author from the writing.” Shirin... is stone-faced, though breaking inside, thinking: No, it’s a fucking memoir, you idiots. p144

Review summary and recommendations

Honestly, I think my reading notes carry this review, so check them out. I really loved this one, and it kind of snuck up on me! Not because I didn't realize from the first page that this was a brilliant book, but because the fmc was completely accessible and I was sort of lulled into this soft familiarity. But the story turns often, sometimes in subtle ways. It's a really good story. Recommended to fans of clever literary fiction, smart meta, and dark humor.

"...This isn’t up for debate. My experiences aren’t up for debate, and never will be.” It is that easy. p271

Reading Notes

Six things I loved:

1. Every so often, to alleviate her guilt, she will go to the shops and restaurants that have been there long before the gentrification began, and she will buy something she might not even want. It never quite clears her conscience though. p4 This is great character development, and this is the first page. Expectations raised.

2. But it is okay for him, she thinks , he has had something to drink, whereas she is sober. And she talks about her race enough at work; she is part of too many initatives trying to address the lack of diversity in publishing—labeled “POC” or “underrepresented,” everything other than Iranian— and she doesn’t want to go into it now, not even with Kian. Especially not with Kian. She also doesn’t want to leave. She wants to stay right here next to him. p19 What a brilliant use of meta.

3. Time slips further away. She is enveloped in various conversations, her glass topped up without prompt, and her face hurts from fake smiling. She is pretending to laugh constantly, so much so that she no longer thinks she can call what she is doing laughing but rather making a strange sound at everything the people around her are saying. p63 Jafari's treatment of emotions is so nuanced and accessible, with its little streak of dark humor.

4. [His mother] ran her fingers through his hair and he moved away from her, muttering, “Stop it.” p115 Jafari is a master of character development. This tiny bit of prose reveals so much about both these characters. The mother still needs her adult child to need her, and he will resort to at least rudeness to assert his independence.

5. It was a sad realization. Of course, she would realize she found him attractive just as her close friend asked her to be her wing woman. And it’s not like she stood a chance, anyway, if it was between her and Carmen. Everyone fancied Carmen; few liked Shirin in that way. p138 An excellent depiction of the main character's depression.

6. I really love the fmc Shirin's personal politics.

One quibble:

(This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.)

1. I'm not a fan of the narrator's voice here. It's not that she's depressed. For me these are some of the more accessible moments. She felt so painfully like she wasn’t worth anything, unlike her friends, unlike Phoebe, whom everyone liked and who didn’t have hairy fingers that people laughed at. p134 The voice is preoccupied with a whole collection of subjects, so it affects the plot, which is about writing and publishing. Oh yeah, I usually don't like that either because the meta often gets too heavy-handed and disrupts the flow of the narration.

Rating: 📄📄📄📄.5 /5 unpublished proofs
Recommend? yes!
Finished: Mar 27 '25
Format: accessible digital arc, NetGalley
Read this book if you like:
🪶 literary fiction
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 family drama
👤 character driven stories
🙃 irony and satire

Thank you to the author Sara Jafari, publishers St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an accessible advance digital copy and audiobook copy of THINGS LEFT UNSAID. All views are mine.
---------------