Thursday, October 11, 2018

ARC Review: What If It's Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera

Image result for what if its us
Summary: Arthur is only in New York for the summer, but if Broadway has taught him anything, it's that the universe can deliver a showstopping romance when you least expect it. 

Ben thinks the universe needs to mind its business. If the universe had his back, he wouldn’t be on his way to the post office carrying a box of his ex-boyfriend’s things.

But when Arthur and Ben meet-cute at the post office, what exactly does the universe have in store for them?

Maybe nothing. After all, they get separated.

Maybe everything. After all, they get reunited.

But what if they can’t quite nail a first date . . . or a second first date . . . or a third?

What if Arthur tries too hard to make it work . . . and Ben doesn’t try hard enough?

What if life really isn’t like a Broadway play?

But what if it is? (Via Goodreads.com).


Pages: 433

Release Date: October 9th, 2018

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Review

What If It's Us was one of my most highly anticipated reads of 2018. I was fortunate enough to read an advanced copy before its publication and I absolutely adored it. Adam Silvera is one of my absolute favorite authors having published two of my favorite novels, History is All You Left Me and They Both Die at the End. I have previously read and enjoyed Becky Albertalli's Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, the novel based on the movie Love, Simon. While I was excited to read the novel, I was the most curious on how the novel would end because Adam Silvera writes notoriously sad novels while Becky Albertalli writes notoriously happy and uplifting novels. What If It's Us was absolutely fantastic, it perfectly melded their two writing styles and characters into a cohesive and amazing novel.

The novel follows Arthur and Ben, two boys that differ in their perspective on fate and the universe. Arthur is an optimistic in terms of fate while Ben is a pessimist. After they meet in  a New York City post office they both start searching for each other and eventually reconnect. While their meeting seemed to be straight from a romance novel, the rest of their story does not and they have to reconsider if the universe really meant for them to be together. Their relationship was adorable and they were definitely opposites attract. Arthur is much more outgoing and bubbly while Ben is more reserved and quiet. They make an amazing duo.

The novel is constructed of chapters alternating in Arthur and Ben's perspective. Becky authored Arthur's chapters while Adam wrote Ben's. While I enjoyed both characters, I preferred Ben's character. I did, however, relate to both of the characters. They were two distinct and lovable characters that I would love to read about again or see a cameo appearance in one of their upcoming novels. I hope they plan to write more novels together in the future, their writing styles perfectly pair with one another. I do hope for more standalone novels as well, but I hope they continue coauthoring together. Some authors are better coauthoring or only writing by themselves; however, Adam and Becky succeed at both.

While the romance was sweet, I also loved the friendships and side characters of the novel. Arthur, who is only in New York City for the summer, left his two best friends, Jessie and Ethan, in Georgia and is in constant contact with them. Ben, a Brooklyn native, is always with his best friend, Dylan, who has a revolving door of girlfriends. In addition, Ben's ex-boyfriend, Hudson, and Dylan's ex-girlfriend/Hudson's best friend, Harriett, are in the mix. While you want to dislike Hudson and Harriett at first, they are both highly developed and lovable characters. Even Arthur's coworkers were incredibly fun and involved. Of all the side characters, Dylan was my absolute favorite. He was hysterical, extremely supportive, a coffee snob/addict, and falls in and out of love a little too quickly. They all made a great squad that I would loved to have been a part of. 

Another great component of the novel was the family dynamics. Both Arthur and Ben's parents were extremely supportive of them and were the typical embarrassing parents when it comes to dating. They were constant throughout the novel and one of the highlights.

An interesting dynamic within the novel was Ben being in summer school. That is one thing not typically shown in Young Adult novels. Summer school in my opinion has a bad reputation. In media, students who are not too bright or do not care about school are typically depicted as summer school student; however, many people there simply struggle with school and the material they were learning. While Ben does admit that he and Hudson were more caught up in their relationship than school, Ben struggles with learning. Ben is not necessarily there because he does not care about school, he just struggles with it. 

What If It's Us is one of the best books I have read this year. The characters, plot, and writing were fantastic. While Adam and Becky are amazing authors by themselves, both of them together added another dimension to their writing abilities. Their styles melded perfectly and the end was the perfect middle ground for both of their styles. I hope to see more novels co-written by the duo, but I am also looking forward to their own standalone novels. I highly recommend What If It's Us if you are looking for a cute romance. 




Thursday, September 27, 2018

ARC Review: A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi

Summary: It’s 2002, a year after 9/11. It’s an extremely turbulent time politically, but especially so for someone like Shirin, a sixteen-year-old Muslim girl who’s tired of being stereotyped.

Shirin is never surprised by how horrible people can be. She’s tired of the rude stares, the degrading comments—even the physical violence—she endures as a result of her race, her religion, and the hijab she wears every day. So she’s built up protective walls and refuses to let anyone close enough to hurt her. Instead, she drowns her frustrations in music and spends her afternoons break-dancing with her brother.

But then she meets Ocean James. He’s the first person in forever who really seems to want to get to know Shirin. It terrifies her—they seem to come from two irreconcilable worlds—and Shirin has had her guard up for so long that she’s not sure she’ll ever be able to let it down (via Goodreads.com).



Pages: 310

Release Date: October 16th, 2018

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Review
Tahereh Mafi is one of my absolute favorite authors and I was fortunate enough to read an advance copy of her latest novel, A Very Large Expanse of Sea. I have loved her dystopian series, Shatter Me, for over five years and I was thrilled when she announced the publication of A Very Large Expanse of Sea. This is her first contemporary novel and it is rather personal. It follows Shirin, a Muslim American teenager, trying to navigate a post-9/11 world. Tahereh Mafi was a freshman in high school at the time of 9/11 and while the novel is a work of fiction, she noted that some of the novel was inspired by personal experiences. A Very Large Expanse of Sea is an extremely powerful novel that I highly recommend.

After reading A Very Large Expanse of Sea I am absolutely disgusted by humanity. I absolutely loved Shirin's character, she is a strong, courageous, capable, and intelligent young woman, but the intolerance she faces is despicable. I hate that she and other individuals encounter discrimination because of their religion, race, sexual orientation, etc. I am extremely privileged that I do not face situations where I am discriminated against because of my religion, race, or sexual orientation. Shirin, however, has dealt with discrimination throughout her entire life. Managing high school is difficult enough without other complications. She should be enjoying her teenage years and not waiting for the other shoe to drop. 

While there were heavy topics depicted throughout the novel, breakdancing was also explored. I had no prior knowledge of breakdancing, so learning about it was extremely fascinating. I loved that Shirin had a unique hobby because many Young Adult novels portray many of the same hobbies. While many teens do read, write, or draw, there are teens that also have different hobbies not commonly portrayed in novels or the mass media. I really enjoyed the inclusion of breakdancing within the novel. I know that I definitely do not have what it takes to be a breakdancer, but I loved seeing Shirin's journey with it.

An interesting component of the novel that I did not consider until starting it was the technology and modes of communication portrayed within it. Obviously the novel is based in the early 2000's and should reflect the advancements of the time, but it was interesting seeing the use of AIM messaging and the popularity of flip phones. As an individual born in 2000 and with the novel being aimed toward an audience slightly younger than me, it was interesting to see the programs used by teens when I was a baby.

Although I loved the novel, I did not necessarily love the cover. While it does have pretty writing and it is not the worst cover that has ever existed, I feel as though the cover designer/publishing company could have gone in a different direction with the cover design. I do not feel as though the cover accurately reflects the novel or the power within it. I would have loved to have an image of a breakdancing hijab wearing teen or another image that closer reflects the novel.  

I absolutely loved A Very Large Expanse of Sea. It was a different avenue of Tahereh Mafi's writing, but it was an amazing novel and I highly recommend preordering or purchasing a copy on October 16th. It was one of my most highly anticipated novels of 2018 and it did not disappoint. I am interested to see if Tahereh will write more contemporary novels alongside her Shatter Me series. Nevertheless, I am excited to read whatever she writes next. 





Thursday, September 20, 2018

ARC Review: Darius the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram

SummaryDarius doesn't think he'll ever be enough, in America or in Iran. Hilarious and heartbreaking, this unforgettable debut introduces a brilliant new voice in contemporary YA.

Darius Kellner speaks better Klingon than Farsi, and he knows more about Hobbit social cues than Persian ones. He's about to take his first-ever trip to Iran, and it's pretty overwhelming--especially when he's also dealing with clinical depression, a disapproving dad, and a chronically anemic social life. In Iran, he gets to know his ailing but still formidable grandfather, his loving grandmother, and the rest of his mom's family for the first time. And he meets Sohrab, the boy next door who changes everything.

Sohrab makes sure people speak English so Darius can understand what's going on. He gets Darius an Iranian National Football Team jersey that makes him feel like a True Persian for the first time. And he understand that sometimes, best friends don't have to talk. Darius has never had a true friend before, but now he's spending his days with Sohrab playing soccer, eating rosewater ice cream, and sitting together for hours in their special place, a rooftop overlooking the Yazdi skyline.

Sohrab calls him Darioush--the original Persian version of his name--and Darius has never felt more like himself than he does now that he's Darioush to Sohrab. When it's time to go home to America, he'll have to find a way to be Darioush on his own (via Goodreads.com)


Pages: 312

Release Date: August 28th, 2018


Rating: 5/5 Stars


Review:


I was fortunate enough to read an advanced copy of Darius the Great is Not Okay, which I absolutely loved. Daruis the Great is Not Okay follows an Iranian-American teen struggling with his cultural identity and clinical depression. As a biracial teen he finds himself in situations where he is too Persian to fit in with white kids, but also where he is too white to fit in with Persians. To me, Darius the Great is Not Okay truly encases what it is like to be a teenager. While I cannot relate to being biracial, high school is a difficult period for some and I deeply related to Darius. 

Darius the Great is Not Okay also featured an amazing friendship and family dynamic. Many Young Adult novels choose to focus on romantic relationships instead of friendships and family relationships. While I have no problems with romantic relationships being featured in Young Adult books, it is also important to showcase friendships and family relationships. 

Darius and Sohrab's friendship was adorable. They had their occasional problems, like any friendship, but they were both extremely supportive of one another. I loved reading the developments of their friendship and also the progression of their character developments. They were both fantastic characters and I am disappointed that this is a standalone novel. I wish I would be able to read more about them. 

Another crucial part of the story was Darius' family. On his trip to Iran, he meets his mother's family for the first time. While he has talked to them over Skype previously, he has yet to meet them in person. Although he fears that they will be disappointed in him, he finds his place among them and discovers what a supportive and loving family he has. Throughout the novel, Darius' strained relationship with his father is also explored. Both he and his father suffer from depression and are only able to bond over their mutual love of Star Trek. Darius believes his father is disappointed in him while his father fully embraces his younger sister, Laleh. Although he feels a strain with his father, he does love his sister dearly and is a fantastic older brother. He would do anything for Laleh and it was enjoyable seeing their banter. It was also nice seeing the progression of Darius and his father's relationship. While their relationship was strained at times, the problems of their relationship were explored and truly developed.

Darius' mental illness also plays a large role in the story. While he is properly medicated, his symptoms are still present to the reader. His depression feeds into his self-doubt and insecurities. It was also interesting how mental illness was expanded through a cultural lens. While Americans are relatively tolerant to mental illness, Persians are not. In Iran, Darius' family and Sohrab act as though depression is something he can shake off. I knew that other countries were not as accepting of mental illnesses as the United States, but it was still shocking to read about. 

I may have described Darius as a rather depressed and insecure character, but I need you to realize that he has his uplifting moments. While he suffers from depression, he is also a teenage boy who is conscious of his acne and is rather awkward. He is such a lovable character that always uses Star Trek references and could talk to you about tea for hours. I would love to have the opportunity to get tea with him one day. He is quite the expert and I know he would never leave me astray. I absolutely adore his character and I wish I had more than one book with him.

While I have never visited Iran, I truly felt like I was there. In order to show Darius and Laleh their heritage, Darius and his family travel throughout Iran to places such as Persepolis and the Towers of Silence in Yazd. It was interesting learning about Persian culture and the Zoroastrian faith. Current events in Iran are not always positive in the news; however, it was refreshing to hear about Iran in a loving and immersive environment. Iran might not be perfect, but Persians are extremely proud of their culture and heritage.

Darius the Great is Not Okay is one of my absolute favorite books of 2018. I laughed, cried, and everything in between. I wish I had more time with Darius, Sohrab, and his family. It was a beautiful story about family, friendship, and cultural identity. I highly recommend Darius the Great is Not Okay. The book is much more than okay. Adib Khorram did an amazing job on his debut, I fell in love with his characters and storytelling, I cannot wait to see what he writes next. 




Sunday, October 8, 2017

Teaser October: YA Fest 2018 Author Announcements

 

Can you figure out who's coming to #YAFest2018? Try to guess starting October 1 at 8:30pm EST on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

ARC Review: Cayleth Warding and the Scarlet One by Jessica Hernandez

SummaryFifty-three families looking for a new beginning board a ship and sail to an uninhabited island. Happily they live for well over two decades. Homes are built and the past is forgotten. Paradise, however, is no more after the adults suddenly vanish one night. For three years, the teens and children rule the island of Oridd. For three years, they survive. When an old woman unexpectedly appears on Oridd, all is cast into disarray as the strange and awful threaten to become commonplace. The old woman wants something, and she won’t leave until she gets it.


Pages: 333

Release Date: Saturday, October 7th

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars


Review
 
I was fortunate enough to receive an advanced copy of Cayleth Warding and the Scarlet One from its author, Jessica Hernandez. While I have read a few random classics for my Advanced Placement Literature and Composition class, I have not read many books for pleasure this last month. I was glad to add some variety and read Cayleth Warding and the Scarlet One. It was a refreshing read that I greatly appreciated. Cayleth Warding and the Scarlet One was a thrilling, suspenseful, and compelling novel that should be on everyone's to-be-read list. 

I never knew where the plot of Cayleth Warding and the Scarlet One was going, every two steps I thought I was ahead was actually five steps in the wrong direction. It was truly a thrilling and suspenseful ride that kept me guessing at every turn. It is the perfect read for the fall and Halloween season. The ending left me with a dozen more questions. I never saw the end coming and I am still coming to terms with it. It was a risky move that proved worthwhile. I am impressed by Jessica Hernandez. I am hooked on this story-line and cannot wait to explore more of the story. I presume there will be a sequel to Cayleth Warding and the Scarlet One, otherwise that would be cruel. After its ending, the reader needs more.

The main complaint and praise I had with Cayleth Warding and the Scarlet One was the writing. While it typically flowed smoothly, a few segments of the writing left me rereading specific sections. The rough patches were descriptions that might have been edited out in the final copy, but it was something I wanted to mention. Although the world was one I had never heard of or explored before, Jessica was able to seamlessly transition me into the world within the first page. I was only caught up on a few descriptions that were focused on the movement and activities of the characters, not the world. Some descriptions were confusing and took away from the story; overall, the story flowed very smoothly and I enjoyed the writing style.

I enjoyed the world of Cayleth Warding and the Scarlet One. It was an interesting concept that Jessica executed well. I hope to be able to explore the world further in its possible sequel(s). The end uncovered more of the world the novel had yet to mention. I am interested to see what Jessica has planned for the continuation of the story. Like I have mentioned numerous times, I am excited for more from this world.

The characters were also enjoyable, but they lacked luster at times. While they were not necessarily characters I will forever remember, their journey and obstacles were compelling and it brought the story to life. I will admit that I was overwhelmed at times by the amount of characters introduced within the span of one page. Many were not crucial to the story, overshadowing the description of characters that would prove valuable to the story. Cayleth was a decent character, but I absolutely loved her relationship with her sister, Lorelle.  At times, the characters lacked something that made them three-dimensional; however, the  relationship between Cayleth and Lorelle always made them jump off the page. Cayleth by herself or with Poins frequently left the story lacking, but Cayleth's relationship with Lorelle brought much needed dimension to the story.

Cayleth Warding and the Scarlet One was a suspenseful read that I highly recommend ordering. It had a compelling plot and world that left me wanting more. I am excited to read Jessica Hernandez's other titles. She has caught my eye. Let me know in the comments below if you have read Cayleth Warding and the Scarlet One or another novel by Jessica Hernandez. If you have read one of her titles, please let me know what you thought.




Monday, October 2, 2017

Blog Tour: Ally (Nemesis #2) by Anna Banks I Review



Summary: Princess Sepora of Serubel and King Tarik of Theoria have formed an uneasy truce between their kingdoms since the deadly plague began to rip through Theoria. Since their feelings for each other are entangled in politics and power, they must use their own trusted resources to find common ground.

But when traitors with powerful allies arise from unexpected places, Tarik and Sepora face challenges that will change both of their kingdoms forever. Will they learn whom to trust—including each other—in time to save their kingdoms, their relationship and even their lives?

Pages: 320

PublisherFeiwel & Friends

Release Date: October 3, 2017







Rating: 4/5 Stars


Ally is the second book in Anna Banks' Nemesis duology. I received an advanced copy of  the first book in the duology, Nemesis, last year at San Diego Comic-Con and I thoroughly enjoyed it, you can read my review of Nemesis here. Ally was the perfect conclusion to Tarik and Sepora's story; however, I would love to see Anna Banks pursue more stories in this world. I understand if she does not want to create any spin-off series; however, I would love  to read novellas following other characters in the series. I am particularly adamant to read  novellas following Sethos and Tulle, they both stole my heart in Ally. I would also love to see a novella following Cy. Although he is a crucial member of the story, not much is known about him. His relative youth also allows for the potential of a spin-off series...

Nemesis' ending left the main characters in an interesting predicament that made Ally one of my highly anticipated releases of 2017. Although Tarik and Sepora's romance swept me off my feet in Nemesis, I was slightly annoyed with them throughout Ally. Their tendencies to be stubborn, forced them to constantly face opposition from the other. While I understand their stubbornness, their lack of willingness to communicate left their relationship in tatters. It was rather annoying to always have them unwilling to communicate. I knew they could not instantly forgive each other, but they both were unwilling to speak or listen to the other. It forced my love for the two of them to dwindle; however, that void was easily filled with my love for Sethos. I could read an infinite amount of stories featuring him. 

The characters of Nemesis and Ally are a crucial component of the story. The interactions between the characters makes the story come to life. Nemesis and Ally are both quick and easy reads because the characters are a joy to read about. I am disappointed that this is the end of their story. I really would love to see Anna Banks reconvene with these characters sometime in the future. They have a special place in my heart and I would love to revisit them in new content sometime in the future.

Another crucial part of the story is the world Anna Banks created. The world is unlike any other fantasy novel I have read. It is detailed and truly fascinating while also being easy to submerse oneself in the world. I was unable to reread Nemesis before starting Ally; however, it was easy to reenter the world and the story. The only complaint I have about the world and its characters is that many characters went on different missions throughout Ally; however, the reader was unable to follow the journey of these character because we are restrained to the perspective of the two main characters. I would have liked if the novel's perspective would have been extended to allow us to view the extended world and the journey each of these characters took. We were only able to see a small portion of the repercussion these journeys resulted in. I really would have liked to see the perspective of the novel extended or add novellas to fill these gaps. I do understand that adding all of these journeys would have doubled the novel in size; however, I am very fond of these characters and I would have liked to spend more time with them.

I love the cover change that was made for both Nemesis and Ally. While the original cover for Nemesis was not terrible, it did not accurately represent the world or story told by Nemesis. On the other hand, the new covers perfectly represent the world of Nemesis and the epic story within. Unfortunately, it is an underrated duology that deserves more attention; hopefully, the new covers will allow it to gain a larger audience.

I have enjoyed my time with the characters and the world of the Nemesis duology. I am disappointed to let these characters go; however, I am excited to read future works of Anna Banks. I have yet to read any of her other works so I am excited to see what her other novels have to offer. The Nemesis duology is an exhilarating fantasy duology full of political intrigue, secrecy, adventure, and romance. I highly recommend starting the duology if you have yet to do so. 


*  *  *


I am excited to unveil one of the exclusive pieces of art Anna Banks had created for the series by David North. Each host of the tour is unveiling a piece or two!







12 winners will receive a complete set of the exclusive pieces of art created for the series by David North (the images revealed during each tour stop), US Only.


a Rafflecopter giveaway



NYT Bestselling YA author of The Syrena Legacy series: OF POSEIDON (2012), OF TRITON (2013), OF NEPTUNE (2014). Repped by rockstar Lucy Carson of the Friedrich Agency.

I live with my husband and daughter in the Florida Panhandle. I have a southern accent compared to New Yorkers, and I enjoy food cooked with real fat. I can’t walk in high heels, but I’m very good at holding still in them. If you put chocolate in front of me, you must not have wanted it in the first place.
Favorite Books:
Shatter Me, Cinder, Linger, Shiver, Forever, Pushing the Limits, Unravel Me, Shadow and Bone, Enclave, Divergent, Candor, Graceling, Fire, The Hunger Games Trilogy, The Host, Most of James Patterson, and Janet Evanovich makes me laugh through my nose in an unfeminine sort of way.

Visit Anna’s website, like her on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter.



Tour Schedule:

Week One:
9/25/2017- a GREAT readReview
9/26/2017- PaperTrailYAInterview
9/27/2017- Owl Always Be ReadingExcerpt
9/28/2017- Reese's ReviewsReview
9/29/2017- Two Chicks on Books- Interview

Week Two:
10/2/2017- Little Red's ReviewsReview
10/3/2017- Lisa Loves LiteratureGuest Post
10/4/2017- Take Me Away To A Great ReadReview
10/5/2017- YA Books CentralInterview
10/6/2017- Seeing Double In NeverlandReview







Wednesday, September 6, 2017

The Authentics by Abdi Nazemian

SummaryThe Authentics is a fresh, funny, and insightful novel about culture, love, and family—the kind we are born into and the ones we create.


Daria Esfandyar is Iranian-American and proud of her heritage, unlike some of the “Nose Jobs” in the clique led by her former best friend, Heidi Javadi. Daria and her friends call themselves the Authentics, because they pride themselves on always keeping it real.

But in the course of researching a school project, Daria learns something shocking about her past, which launches her on a journey of self-discovery. It seems everyone is keeping secrets. And it’s getting harder to know who she even is any longer.

With infighting among the Authentics, her mother planning an over-the-top sweet sixteen party, and a romance that should be totally off limits, Daria doesn’t have time for this identity crisis. As everything in her life is spinning out of control—can she figure out how to stay true to herself? (Via Goodreads.com)

Pages: 279

Release Date: August 8th, 2017

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

Review:

The Authentics was a 2017 release that I was oblivious about until the week of its release. I stumbled upon a blurb from Adi Alsaid about The Authentics on Twitter and it intrigued me enough to request a copy from my local library. The Authentics follows an Iranian-American teen, Daria, who begins to struggle with her identity after she discovers some unexpected news about her heritage. The novel was absolutely mesmerizing, I highly recommend reading The Authentics whenever you have the ability to do so. 

After finishing The Authentics, I felt that I learned a lot from it. I had never read a book about an Iranian-American before, so it was interesting to learn about their culture and the pride they take in their identity. I have never identified strongly with any particular culture or country, so it was refreshing to read about an individual that does. It was amazing to see the pride that Daria takes in her heritage and how impactful it was to learn that her heritage was not what she had always assumed it was. 

Whenever I started The Authentics, I was nervous that I was not going to enjoy the novel because I did not initially like the writing style of Abdi and his characterization of Daria. It appeared that the writing style was going to make Daria the cliche annoying teenager. However, I was pleasantly surprised that after the first few chapters the writing style was able to seamlessly capture the challenges of being a teenager and Daria's identity crisis without anyone or anything being annoying. Since I am a teenager, I was able to identify with some of the challenges that Daria faced and the writing style actually represented them in a positive and relatable way. Many Young Adult novels tend to degrade the significance of particular teenage problems, but I am glad that Adbi was able to frame them in a positive light, unlike other YA authors. Some challenges seem to be the end of the world to us and authors should respect that, especially when they are supposedly writing for us.

I also enjoyed the relationships in The Authentics. Daria is a part of a group of friends who refer to themselves as The Authentics and they are a great support system for her and each other. While they are hesitant to reveal everything to each other, they are always there for each other and they genuinely care for one another. I also loved Daria's relationship with her family. While some of those relationships are strained, it a realistic portrayal and caused an interesting dynamic. I also enjoyed her venture into romance, it was an interesting relationship to say the least, but I am glad where they ended things. 

The Authentics was a refreshing novel that dealt with ethnicity, identity, and family. I absolutely loved The Authentics and I am excited to read Adbi's past and upcoming works. I also plan to read other books featuring Iranian-Americans in the future. I highly recommend reading The Authentics, it was a fantastic novel that I hope to see more love for, I have barely seen anything posted about it on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook. If you have read The Authentics, please let me know in the comments below what you thought of it and also let me know in the comments if you plan to add it to your TBR.