Reviews with content warning for Lesbophobia - If You Could Be Mine

i don't think this book provided enough explanation/closure. plot wise, it was okay. as the back of the book claims, sahar is considering undergoing transgender surgery to freely be with her lover. which she did consider, but only past the 60% mark. this made the plot seemed dragged out. (although the author did write a lot about her considering it)

as for the characters, they were comforting and wit-full. i especially loved being introduced to queer iranians' lives and experiences. sahar was a relatable, likable main character. nasrin however, was not. they didn't seem in love; but simply a couple that grew to love each other because of their circumstances. their relationship felt almost rehearsed, like they were so used to being together they didn't know what else to do.

don't get me wrong, you all know i am a sucker for oblivious west asian girls indulging in worlds completely different from theirs. which introduces questions of self integrity.

i will say i liked the banter, the character development (kinda) and the truth of it all. the book could've been great if the rising action wasn't so dragged out, and the climax wasn't so rushed. i liked the notion that you will always love your first love. i would not label this as a romance book but as a likely story of two iranian girls.

ok i hate this review goodnigjt

Content Warnings

silverrose187's review against another edition

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emotional reflective tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No

2.0

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b_robinson's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

"If You Could Be Mine" explored quite a few things that I previously wasn't very knowledgeable about, so it was nice to read an interesting story and learn stuff from it.

My main subject of learning was the queer community in Iran, but also some perspectives of the main faith tradition there (Islam, I think). It was actually kinda fascinating exploring the perception of trans people - referred to as "transsexuals" in the book - with the comparison of other queer identities. It felt so different from how other societies in the world go about accommodating (or not accommodating) trans people, and so this was an aspect I really enjoyed.

I didn't really like any of the characters that much, but I could definitely appreciate their journeys, and I liked that I couldn't really predict the ending, which gave it some intrigue.

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anthea_june's review

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challenging emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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lixard's review

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challenging emotional sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

First moment to make me cry and it's the father daughter conversation!!! How typical of me
Guess it's par for course on how desperate the girls are to keep their relationship, even in its dregs and crumbles, because it feels like it could be the end of the world (their youth, childhood) if it ends
Mr. Ali, King of the gays?? Alright legend
Daughter 💔 someone get her into uni for literature right this instant or I'll riot

it was heartbreaking, all aspects and characters involved had something tragic happen and it was just sad but truthful to read
i appreciate that they showed not just one perspective of queer issues in Iran, but a lot of different sides, each with their own flaws, especially that hormone exchange in the restaurant really broke my heart
- many many layers of discrimination and stigma - which is a good reflection of what i can only presume is the issue in iran, and throughout the world
sahar's desperation in finding a way to stay with nasrin, or else she wouldn't be able to move on seems dramatic but fitting for a young adult to feel, especially with all the other things in her life changing as well - in another situation/book ~~with a heterosexual couple that would've probably found a solution,~~ there would've been a similar level of desperation, just maybe without the same stakes
i also like the shame explored by sahar after she realized someone was trans and then trying to find the "thing" that made them identifiable,, it kind of spoke to the tiniest ways you can be transphobic without really meaning to, but should definitely reflect on

I don't always like my body or that I have love handles. I don't always like that as a woman, I have fewer opetions than men, even men that aren't as smart as I am.
But I never feel like my body is a trap.
If anything, I feel like my love is a trap.

Content Warnings

olijordan's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

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