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Perfectly Parvin #1
Perfectly Parvin
Fourteen-year-old Iranian-American Parvin Mohammadi sets out to win the ultimate date to homecoming.
Parvin has just had her heart broken when she meets the cutest boy at her new high school, Matty Fumero--with an emphasis on fumero, because he might be the smoking hot cure to all of her boy troubles. If Parvin can get Matty to ask her to homecoming, she's positive it will erase all the awful and embarrassing feelings He Who Will Not Be Named left her with after the summer. The only problem is Matty is definitely too cool for bassoon-playing, frizzy-haired, Cheeto-eating Parvin. Since being herself has not worked for her in the past (see aforementioned relationship), she decides that to be the girl who finally gets the guy, she should start acting like the women in her favorite rom-coms. Those girls aren't loud, they certainly don't cackle when they laugh, and they smile much more than they talk. Easy enough, right?
But as Parvin struggles through her parent-mandated Farsi lessons on the weekends, a budding friendship with a boy she can't help but be her unfiltered self with, and dealing with the ramifications of the Muslim Ban on her family in Iran, she realizes that being herself might just be the perfect thing after all.
Parvin has just had her heart broken when she meets the cutest boy at her new high school, Matty Fumero--with an emphasis on fumero, because he might be the smoking hot cure to all of her boy troubles. If Parvin can get Matty to ask her to homecoming, she's positive it will erase all the awful and embarrassing feelings He Who Will Not Be Named left her with after the summer. The only problem is Matty is definitely too cool for bassoon-playing, frizzy-haired, Cheeto-eating Parvin. Since being herself has not worked for her in the past (see aforementioned relationship), she decides that to be the girl who finally gets the guy, she should start acting like the women in her favorite rom-coms. Those girls aren't loud, they certainly don't cackle when they laugh, and they smile much more than they talk. Easy enough, right?
But as Parvin struggles through her parent-mandated Farsi lessons on the weekends, a budding friendship with a boy she can't help but be her unfiltered self with, and dealing with the ramifications of the Muslim Ban on her family in Iran, she realizes that being herself might just be the perfect thing after all.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published May 18, 2021
34 people are currently reading
3984 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 254 reviews
June 9, 2021
Wow this book was so fun and kept surprising me. Netflix NEEDS to make this into a TV movie, or possibly an ongoing TV show, right now. Seriously. Parvin is one of my fav characters I've come across in ages: she's an obnoxious prankster who hangs out with the queer artsy kids at school. (And her friends Ruth and Fabián are also great characters!). No spoilers, but what I loved about Perfectly Parvin is how it takes all the romcom tropes and uses them sneakily to talk about intense serious issues like Islamophobia, internalized racism, feeling caught between two different cultures, and way more. Abtahi deftly manages to bring up a lot of really important issues, without ever losing the fun, breezy tone of this book — thanks in large part to the hilarious, chatty narrative tone. I laughed a lot, but then when I got to the last page I got all choked up. One warning, though: Abtahi writes about food so vividly, you WILL be hungry when you get done reading. I need to track down a place that makes Abgoosht right now!!!
December 22, 2021
Actual Stars 3.5
“𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡..𝐎𝐊? 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐞. 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟. 𝐈 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐛𝐮𝐭, 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬.”
Parvin Mohammadi is a young 1/2 Iranian American teenage girl trying to fit in with both her Iranian and American culture. After being dumped by her first ever boyfriend at the start of high school for being too “loud” and just too much, Parvin sets out to win the perfect Homecoming date. But in order to score her perfect date she decides to do a total personality makeover. Turning into the demure women of RomComs who don’t speak up, who don’t pull pranks, and they don’t cackle when they laugh. All this on top of her beauty regimen of plucking her “hairy” brows, shaving every ounce of body hair and taming her unruly frizzy hair. The only place she gets to be herself is in Farsi school, where she becomes friends with a boy who actually likes her for who she is and not who she wants to be. Parvin starts to realize that in her quest to be the “perfect” girl she lost pieces of herself along the way as well as jeopardized the friendships she holds closet to her heart.
This was a bit young minded for me, so for me specifically at times it was a bit slow. But not everyone, especially a younger audience may feel that way. And there are some important topics brought up that I did appreciate. Like the political undertones the author brought up such as the Muslim Ban during Trumps administration. I was also left contemplating on the fact that women need to not let others “shame” them for unconventional looks or not looking like the average (American or otherwise) woman. We are one of the most materialistic countries when it comes to judging people on appearances, success and just overall fitting in. Perfectly Parvin teaches the younger generation (really it’s a life lesson we all should follow) it’s ok to be true to yourself and not try and be something that you’re not just to fit into a mold you think is “acceptable”.
I think this would be perfect for those who enjoy a “younger” YA and are interested in reading a cute contemporary romance with a diverse cast of characters.
𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐏𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲.
“𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡..𝐎𝐊? 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐞. 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟. 𝐈 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐛𝐮𝐭, 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬.”
Parvin Mohammadi is a young 1/2 Iranian American teenage girl trying to fit in with both her Iranian and American culture. After being dumped by her first ever boyfriend at the start of high school for being too “loud” and just too much, Parvin sets out to win the perfect Homecoming date. But in order to score her perfect date she decides to do a total personality makeover. Turning into the demure women of RomComs who don’t speak up, who don’t pull pranks, and they don’t cackle when they laugh. All this on top of her beauty regimen of plucking her “hairy” brows, shaving every ounce of body hair and taming her unruly frizzy hair. The only place she gets to be herself is in Farsi school, where she becomes friends with a boy who actually likes her for who she is and not who she wants to be. Parvin starts to realize that in her quest to be the “perfect” girl she lost pieces of herself along the way as well as jeopardized the friendships she holds closet to her heart.
This was a bit young minded for me, so for me specifically at times it was a bit slow. But not everyone, especially a younger audience may feel that way. And there are some important topics brought up that I did appreciate. Like the political undertones the author brought up such as the Muslim Ban during Trumps administration. I was also left contemplating on the fact that women need to not let others “shame” them for unconventional looks or not looking like the average (American or otherwise) woman. We are one of the most materialistic countries when it comes to judging people on appearances, success and just overall fitting in. Perfectly Parvin teaches the younger generation (really it’s a life lesson we all should follow) it’s ok to be true to yourself and not try and be something that you’re not just to fit into a mold you think is “acceptable”.
I think this would be perfect for those who enjoy a “younger” YA and are interested in reading a cute contemporary romance with a diverse cast of characters.
𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐏𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲.
May 23, 2021
Teenage Daria would have absolutely adored this novel and I desperately wish I could go back in time and hand it to her!!
Parvin Mohammadi is dealing with a lot when we first meet her. She’s starting high school, has just been dumped by her first kiss, Wesley, for being “too loud,” and her family is struggling to get a visa for her aunt, who is currently living in Iran in the era of the Muslim ban. Parvin is thrown by the break up with Wesley and is now scrambling to find a date for homecoming, hoping to make Wesley jealous in the process. One day, while watching a romantic film, she decides that she will act like the heroines in these movies. She will laugh at the boy’s jokes and make none of her own. She will remain quiet and demure no matter the situation. She won’t wear her typical wardrobe of bombastic, patterned clothes and glittery eyeshadow.
I really loved that the author did not shy away from the insecurities Iranian, and Middle Eastern girls, feel in general. Parvin laments about her arm and mustache hair. She hates that, in terms of looks, she took after her Iranian father rather than her white American mother. She takes Farsi classes and feels so out of place only being half-Iranian and not being able to keep up with her peers. I really appreciated this and my teenage self could totally have definitely related. In fact, even 22-year-old me can relate.
There are many storylines that aren’t perfectly resolved, one of which is the story of Parvin’s favorite aunt trying to come to the United States to visit their family. There is so much anticipation for her to come and be with Parvin, however, prejudices and bigoted policies get in the way of her trip. I will be interested to see how the author expands upon this and demonstrates the impact it has on Parvin and her family in the next book.
We happen to get an unexpected romantic interest thrown into the mix and, no spoilers, but I adored him and was yelling at the book and begging for him to be the guy Parvin ends up with in the end. I won’t tell you if I got my wish or not, but let’s just say I was very happy with the result. Above all, I loved that there was the primary focus on self-love and acceptance. This is ultimately a story about Parvin coming to appreciate who she is and not allowing anyone to make her feel less than because of the person she is.
Parvin Mohammadi is dealing with a lot when we first meet her. She’s starting high school, has just been dumped by her first kiss, Wesley, for being “too loud,” and her family is struggling to get a visa for her aunt, who is currently living in Iran in the era of the Muslim ban. Parvin is thrown by the break up with Wesley and is now scrambling to find a date for homecoming, hoping to make Wesley jealous in the process. One day, while watching a romantic film, she decides that she will act like the heroines in these movies. She will laugh at the boy’s jokes and make none of her own. She will remain quiet and demure no matter the situation. She won’t wear her typical wardrobe of bombastic, patterned clothes and glittery eyeshadow.
I really loved that the author did not shy away from the insecurities Iranian, and Middle Eastern girls, feel in general. Parvin laments about her arm and mustache hair. She hates that, in terms of looks, she took after her Iranian father rather than her white American mother. She takes Farsi classes and feels so out of place only being half-Iranian and not being able to keep up with her peers. I really appreciated this and my teenage self could totally have definitely related. In fact, even 22-year-old me can relate.
There are many storylines that aren’t perfectly resolved, one of which is the story of Parvin’s favorite aunt trying to come to the United States to visit their family. There is so much anticipation for her to come and be with Parvin, however, prejudices and bigoted policies get in the way of her trip. I will be interested to see how the author expands upon this and demonstrates the impact it has on Parvin and her family in the next book.
We happen to get an unexpected romantic interest thrown into the mix and, no spoilers, but I adored him and was yelling at the book and begging for him to be the guy Parvin ends up with in the end. I won’t tell you if I got my wish or not, but let’s just say I was very happy with the result. Above all, I loved that there was the primary focus on self-love and acceptance. This is ultimately a story about Parvin coming to appreciate who she is and not allowing anyone to make her feel less than because of the person she is.
February 8, 2022
Read for MLIS elective
Probably one of my favorite books so far, I love the DC setting and that the protagonist was 14 for once! (I started high school at that age too.) And the (casual) diversity was really lovely to see.
I am so hyped for the sequel/companion book!
P.S. Fuck travel bans, ICE, and Tr**p supporters (even fictional ones).
Content warning: Islamophobia, racism, deportation of a loved one
Probably one of my favorite books so far, I love the DC setting and that the protagonist was 14 for once! (I started high school at that age too.) And the (casual) diversity was really lovely to see.
I am so hyped for the sequel/companion book!
P.S. Fuck travel bans, ICE, and Tr**p supporters (even fictional ones).
Content warning: Islamophobia, racism, deportation of a loved one
May 16, 2021
Being an Iranian-American, I hadn’t yet read a book that I felt represented me and people who look like me. This was that book for me!
Parvin is the epitome of the teenage girl just trying to find her place in this world. Although I’m full Iranian and Parvin is only half, the things she goes through in this book still resonated with me. So much so, that I tabbed all the points in the book where I have gone through the same or similar situation. And there were a lot of tabs. 😂
Some of the MANY things I enjoyed about this book were: Parvin’s humor, the references to being Persian and what that means for a teenage girl (too much body hair 😂), the relationship between Parvin and her friends, and the bond she has with her ameh (aunt), to name a few.
The main message of the book really hit home for me because I was that girl who tried to tone down her Persian-ness to fit in. But overtime, just like Parvin, I realized that being unique is a good thing and that I shouldn’t change who I am to fit a specific mold of what society (or high schoolers) think I should be.
Even though Parvin’s experiences are unique to her and relate to her heritage and background as an Iranian, there are still elements of the book that every teenager has gone through in some way. Which is why I think this book is a great read for anyone!
Parvin is the epitome of the teenage girl just trying to find her place in this world. Although I’m full Iranian and Parvin is only half, the things she goes through in this book still resonated with me. So much so, that I tabbed all the points in the book where I have gone through the same or similar situation. And there were a lot of tabs. 😂
Some of the MANY things I enjoyed about this book were: Parvin’s humor, the references to being Persian and what that means for a teenage girl (too much body hair 😂), the relationship between Parvin and her friends, and the bond she has with her ameh (aunt), to name a few.
The main message of the book really hit home for me because I was that girl who tried to tone down her Persian-ness to fit in. But overtime, just like Parvin, I realized that being unique is a good thing and that I shouldn’t change who I am to fit a specific mold of what society (or high schoolers) think I should be.
Even though Parvin’s experiences are unique to her and relate to her heritage and background as an Iranian, there are still elements of the book that every teenager has gone through in some way. Which is why I think this book is a great read for anyone!
January 10, 2023
I REALLY wanted this book to work..... but alas, no. It was more disappointing than an unsalted pretzel.
Three things I can tell about the author after reading this:
1. She's racist
2. She's never talked to a gay person in her life
3. Self-obsessed and snotty
For some reason she thinks just because people are white means it's okay to hate them. Well I've got news for you: being a jerk makes you a jerk, no exceptions.
Example scene: So this super pale girl walks by the lunch table, hair light brown with aggressive highlights. * look at foreign food that is not white colored* "Ew! What IS that SMELL." White button up shirt, goes to church, and is eating a PB & J with the crusts off through a clear ziploc bag.
Wow.
Several comments were given throughout the book making fun of their whiteness.
1. Just because you're white doesn't make you a Mormon who has a white colored fetish
2. Even if this WAS the case, who are you to make fun of it? But I'm "racist" if I make fun of your Iranian quirks?
She thinks she's going to win fans by treating people like trash? I guess you don't actually believe a person is a person and that's what gives them value despite their skin color. What happened to your "accept everyone" stance? And then she proceeds to hate on America and talk bad about America and how evil Americans are but then when someone asks where she's from she goes "I'm American, shithead, you're so racist for assuming otherwise 🤡"
The mom of the main character is white, and the mother is just like "Uhh duhh I can't do anything! I know nothing about your culture! I can't help you do your hair because I'm white and stupid! I can't even help you pick out clothes to your skin tone because I'm whiter than sour cream! I'm practically albino!"
I'm not even going to get started on the KOREAN PERSON SHE ADDED IN HERE. Now this one's actually PERSONAL. Uhm I hate to break this to you but not EVERY Asian parent is obsessive and religious and forces their kids to study for their SATS at 14- I just can't get over how many stereotypes she put in here. So rude.
The plot was good. The story was set up well. Yet it was ruined by HER agenda. Get a life lady.
Okay last rant.
The gay people in here.
So.
Unrealistic.
It's like she's never talked to a gay person in her LIFE. At one point this boy exclaims that he has to marry this other boy so they can have babies that is their ethnicity mixed.
Uhm. Who's going to be doing the childbearing, shawty?
So. 1 Star. Try again Olivia, and this time try to be less of a witch.
Three things I can tell about the author after reading this:
1. She's racist
2. She's never talked to a gay person in her life
3. Self-obsessed and snotty
For some reason she thinks just because people are white means it's okay to hate them. Well I've got news for you: being a jerk makes you a jerk, no exceptions.
Example scene: So this super pale girl walks by the lunch table, hair light brown with aggressive highlights. * look at foreign food that is not white colored* "Ew! What IS that SMELL." White button up shirt, goes to church, and is eating a PB & J with the crusts off through a clear ziploc bag.
Wow.
Several comments were given throughout the book making fun of their whiteness.
1. Just because you're white doesn't make you a Mormon who has a white colored fetish
2. Even if this WAS the case, who are you to make fun of it? But I'm "racist" if I make fun of your Iranian quirks?
She thinks she's going to win fans by treating people like trash? I guess you don't actually believe a person is a person and that's what gives them value despite their skin color. What happened to your "accept everyone" stance? And then she proceeds to hate on America and talk bad about America and how evil Americans are but then when someone asks where she's from she goes "I'm American, shithead, you're so racist for assuming otherwise 🤡"
The mom of the main character is white, and the mother is just like "Uhh duhh I can't do anything! I know nothing about your culture! I can't help you do your hair because I'm white and stupid! I can't even help you pick out clothes to your skin tone because I'm whiter than sour cream! I'm practically albino!"
I'm not even going to get started on the KOREAN PERSON SHE ADDED IN HERE. Now this one's actually PERSONAL. Uhm I hate to break this to you but not EVERY Asian parent is obsessive and religious and forces their kids to study for their SATS at 14- I just can't get over how many stereotypes she put in here. So rude.
The plot was good. The story was set up well. Yet it was ruined by HER agenda. Get a life lady.
Okay last rant.
The gay people in here.
So.
Unrealistic.
It's like she's never talked to a gay person in her LIFE. At one point this boy exclaims that he has to marry this other boy so they can have babies that is their ethnicity mixed.
Uhm. Who's going to be doing the childbearing, shawty?
So. 1 Star. Try again Olivia, and this time try to be less of a witch.
February 2, 2022
An instant classic. This book filled a Meg Cabot shaped hole in my heart. It made me laugh - out loud. so many times - and cry. I love Parvin with all my heart, and I truly want to see more coming of age stories like these for girls of colour.
April 29, 2021
♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎/♡︎♡︎♡︎♡︎♡︎
𝕀𝕟 𝕒 𝕟𝕦𝕥𝕤𝕙𝕖𝕝𝕝: A girl must decide if she wants to be what society wants to form her into, or be herself
ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨: Parvin (Par-veen) is a fourteen-year-old Iranian-American who is just starting High School and learning all of its woes. She has a plan: get revenge on her ex, attract the attention of the hot sophomore Matty, get him to ask her to homecoming- thus making her ex super jealous.
But Matty is definitely too cool for the Parvin she is now, so after bingeing a bunch of American romance movies- she knows just how to change into the version he would want.
But as she tries too hard to be someone she is not, she realizes that her old self- the one that’s loud, proud, and failing at Farsi- may just be the perfect version of her after all.
There is literally nothing that I saw wrong with this book. I cannot put into words how much I loved it, and how much I hope that this is one of those books that become our ‘modern-day classics’ that schools will later teach on. It’s impactful, educational, fun, relatable, and so much more- the PERFECT book for middle school students struggling to decide who they want to be.
As someone in her 20s, I was almost scared this book would be too young for me. as it is geared toward those in the middle school level- but I was so wrong. This book is perfect for ANY age group. It deals with relationships, friendships, the chaos of school and realizing that sometimes you’re not always the best at things. It handles important social injustices and modern issues in our world. It highlights the lack of BIPOC characters portrayed in media, and how younger BIPOC children don’t see themselves accurately portrayed in their favorite things. How all the ‘whiteness’ of the world can be damaging to those that don’t fit the ‘ideal standards.’ Along with that, it touches on the difficulties of being BIPOC in a nation so filled with racism, that even your loved ones are trapped in another country because of the way that they look/practice religion.
This book has educated me on so many levels, and it has opened my eyes to the troubles that many face in today’s world- all because someone doesn’t agree with basic human rights.
Parvin is such an inspiration. She is kind and considerate, and always willing to learn new things. She’s straight, but she’s a proud ally for her friends. Encouraging them to be themselves and love whom they’re meant to love. She listens to the troubles they face as part of the LGBTQIA+ community, and she advises them in the best way that she can- ultimately letting them know that she is there to help them in every way.
She’s also the perfect embodiment of a 14 year-old. Still in that joking phase, but slowly learning about older things that plague the worries of High School Students. She is on the difficulty journey of discovering herself, and deciding on if the ‘her’ that society may want to see, is also the ‘her’ that she wants to be. Throughout the book she grows and learns, discovering new ways to take care of her body and her outlook on life.
ℂ𝕠𝕟𝕔𝕝𝕦𝕤𝕚𝕠𝕟: There are not enough things I can say that would summarize the utter amount of love I have for this book. It’s perfect in so many ways, and I cannot wait to see it on the shelves and buy it for every single person I know that is struggling with self-image.
PLEASE do yourself a huge favor and buy this book- let it impact you the way it has so many others
𝕀𝕟 𝕒 𝕟𝕦𝕥𝕤𝕙𝕖𝕝𝕝: A girl must decide if she wants to be what society wants to form her into, or be herself
ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨: Parvin (Par-veen) is a fourteen-year-old Iranian-American who is just starting High School and learning all of its woes. She has a plan: get revenge on her ex, attract the attention of the hot sophomore Matty, get him to ask her to homecoming- thus making her ex super jealous.
But Matty is definitely too cool for the Parvin she is now, so after bingeing a bunch of American romance movies- she knows just how to change into the version he would want.
But as she tries too hard to be someone she is not, she realizes that her old self- the one that’s loud, proud, and failing at Farsi- may just be the perfect version of her after all.
There is literally nothing that I saw wrong with this book. I cannot put into words how much I loved it, and how much I hope that this is one of those books that become our ‘modern-day classics’ that schools will later teach on. It’s impactful, educational, fun, relatable, and so much more- the PERFECT book for middle school students struggling to decide who they want to be.
As someone in her 20s, I was almost scared this book would be too young for me. as it is geared toward those in the middle school level- but I was so wrong. This book is perfect for ANY age group. It deals with relationships, friendships, the chaos of school and realizing that sometimes you’re not always the best at things. It handles important social injustices and modern issues in our world. It highlights the lack of BIPOC characters portrayed in media, and how younger BIPOC children don’t see themselves accurately portrayed in their favorite things. How all the ‘whiteness’ of the world can be damaging to those that don’t fit the ‘ideal standards.’ Along with that, it touches on the difficulties of being BIPOC in a nation so filled with racism, that even your loved ones are trapped in another country because of the way that they look/practice religion.
This book has educated me on so many levels, and it has opened my eyes to the troubles that many face in today’s world- all because someone doesn’t agree with basic human rights.
Parvin is such an inspiration. She is kind and considerate, and always willing to learn new things. She’s straight, but she’s a proud ally for her friends. Encouraging them to be themselves and love whom they’re meant to love. She listens to the troubles they face as part of the LGBTQIA+ community, and she advises them in the best way that she can- ultimately letting them know that she is there to help them in every way.
She’s also the perfect embodiment of a 14 year-old. Still in that joking phase, but slowly learning about older things that plague the worries of High School Students. She is on the difficulty journey of discovering herself, and deciding on if the ‘her’ that society may want to see, is also the ‘her’ that she wants to be. Throughout the book she grows and learns, discovering new ways to take care of her body and her outlook on life.
ℂ𝕠𝕟𝕔𝕝𝕦𝕤𝕚𝕠𝕟: There are not enough things I can say that would summarize the utter amount of love I have for this book. It’s perfect in so many ways, and I cannot wait to see it on the shelves and buy it for every single person I know that is struggling with self-image.
PLEASE do yourself a huge favor and buy this book- let it impact you the way it has so many others
January 30, 2021
This book is such a fun story, a quick read, and an emotional rollercoaster!
I was mostly reading this book for the Iranian representation, because I love all Iranian stories regardless of genre or plot. There are always funny things that make it very Iranian. But I didn’t expect to be this blown away by the captivating story.
We follow Parvin as the boy she’s been hanging out with all summer asks her out only to change his tune the moment school starts & break up with her. Words hurt, and Parvin takes what he said to her too seriously and tries to reinvent herself, which everyone but her knows isn’t the answer.
This book is full of gut wrenching friendship complications and other conflicts the main character gets into while trying to figure out who she is. But not only that. The story is full of powerful messages about people of color just seeing white women in movies and ads and thinking that’s what beauty is when that’s not true, as well as prejudice.
Most of all, I really enjoyed reading an entire book filled with Farsi dialogue, Iranian food, and all of the topics of conversation that come up that are very Iranian.
I was mostly reading this book for the Iranian representation, because I love all Iranian stories regardless of genre or plot. There are always funny things that make it very Iranian. But I didn’t expect to be this blown away by the captivating story.
We follow Parvin as the boy she’s been hanging out with all summer asks her out only to change his tune the moment school starts & break up with her. Words hurt, and Parvin takes what he said to her too seriously and tries to reinvent herself, which everyone but her knows isn’t the answer.
This book is full of gut wrenching friendship complications and other conflicts the main character gets into while trying to figure out who she is. But not only that. The story is full of powerful messages about people of color just seeing white women in movies and ads and thinking that’s what beauty is when that’s not true, as well as prejudice.
Most of all, I really enjoyed reading an entire book filled with Farsi dialogue, Iranian food, and all of the topics of conversation that come up that are very Iranian.
June 20, 2021
Can I just say that it’s so nice to read another contemporary book with Iranian characters that ISN’T based around 9/11.
Let me tell you a few of the times I cried during this: the dedication, the poem in Farsi at the end, the author’s note, and the acknowledgements for starters. Not to mention some of Parvin’s talks with her parents.
Parvin is probably my twin for when I was 14. The amount of times I’ve been called “too loud” or “too much” by non-Iranian people….And I know it’s been said before but I really do wish I had a book like this when I was going into high school. I think that whole Iranian culture is pretty prevalent in this book and in Parvin’s identity, she’s still a character than can be relevant to any teenager trying to balance life changes!!
Also the mention of Farsi school gave me flashbacks to when I had to go every Friday night for 3 hours basically from age 6 to 14. TORTURE at the time but I’m so happy for it because I can read and write Farsi in addition to speaking it fluently!
THANK YOU Olivia for writing this fun and amazing book that I’m definitely going to come back to!!
Let me tell you a few of the times I cried during this: the dedication, the poem in Farsi at the end, the author’s note, and the acknowledgements for starters. Not to mention some of Parvin’s talks with her parents.
Parvin is probably my twin for when I was 14. The amount of times I’ve been called “too loud” or “too much” by non-Iranian people….And I know it’s been said before but I really do wish I had a book like this when I was going into high school. I think that whole Iranian culture is pretty prevalent in this book and in Parvin’s identity, she’s still a character than can be relevant to any teenager trying to balance life changes!!
Also the mention of Farsi school gave me flashbacks to when I had to go every Friday night for 3 hours basically from age 6 to 14. TORTURE at the time but I’m so happy for it because I can read and write Farsi in addition to speaking it fluently!
THANK YOU Olivia for writing this fun and amazing book that I’m definitely going to come back to!!
November 7, 2021
I really loved this. Although it wasn’t the most original YA contemporary it had a lot of heart. I liked the message of being your true self while also trying to be a better person along the way. I’m still learning this lesson and I’m 31.
July 29, 2021
Actual rating: 4.5 Stars
August 16, 2022
This could totally be a YA sitcom!!!
July 25, 2021
I absolutely adored this. The voice is spectacular, the humour is divine, and I was so invested in the central characters, even though I'm way beyond their 14 years. This is a book I devoured as an adult, and yet it's so clearly written for its early YA demographic, and brilliantly so. Teen me would've started again on the first page as soon as I finished the last page, anxious to spend more time with Abtahi's voice and characters. This book has been comped to Angus, Thongs, etc., but where that book left me a bit flat with the narcissism and judgmental tone of its protagonist, this one had me rooting non-stop for Parvin to have faith in herself and to shake up her priorities, while understanding that her choices were totally natural for a girl in her shoes at her age. Lord knows I made much worse choices at that age. Abtahi's coming of age story is a joyful, wry look at a time of life when friends and boyfriends and being liked are front and center, while a more complicated world awaits, only a breath away. It's also a sharp depiction of racism and harmful politics, without ever becoming preachy or pedantic. I'll be picking up book 2 as soon as it's available. Highly recommend.
Read
June 13, 2021Perfectly Parvin is an adorable younger YA story that reminds me a bit of Ruby Oliver or Jessica Darling, because it seems like a series where you'll see Parvin grow from being a young teen to an older one and follow her along the way. Obviously, that's just a guess, but I do hope that's where it's going, because I really loved those sorts of a series as a teen, and it's not something you really see anymore. Parvin's voice is strong and believable. She's a bit of a selfish mess at times, which, again, very believable, and she pursues things that are a terrible idea, like changing her entire personality to get a boyfriend, but that's just all part of learning about who you are and the world around you.
The audio narration is delightful, and I definitely would credit it with increasing my enjoyment of the story, which did skew slightly young for me.
The audio narration is delightful, and I definitely would credit it with increasing my enjoyment of the story, which did skew slightly young for me.
to-buy
February 4, 2020Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging is one of my favorite movies! This seems promising.
June 9, 2021
― Rating: 4.5 Stars ★★★★ 1/2
Perfectly Parvin is a marvelous, funny, and all around SPECTACULAR YA debut that deserves much more hype! Following 14-year-old Iranian-American Parvin, she starts high school with a broken heart and decides to reinvent herself in order to get the ultimate homecoming date!
Okay this was such a fantastic book and I'm so surprised it does not have more ratings? Anyways, if you love witty protagonists, plots about friendship, romance (of course), but ultimately a journey about self-acceptance than you must pick this book up.
Parvin Mohammadi thinks everythings going well with her summer boyfriend Wesley, until he breaks up with her for being "too much." Now feeling devastated and hurt, she sets out ask her cute sophomore classmate Matty Fumero to homecoming! But when she decides to use romantic heroines from her favorite movies as the inspiration to accomplish her goal, will she accept her new "quiet" self and sacrifice the true Parvin to find love?
Though she's not alone! She's got her supportive best friends Ruth Song and Fabian Castor by her side at every step of the way. But as Parvin becomes consumed with her plans, she doesn't even realize she's ignoring and leaving her friends to the side.
In addition to her new start at James K. Polk High, she's also attending Farsi classes and confronting her anxieties about not being "Iranian enough." Despite her fears though, her parents and her favorite aunt Sara especially, help her to juggle it all. Being 1/2 white and Iranian, Abtahi explores the deep bond and connection Parvin has with her mom & dad (both equally strong) supporting her when she's uncovering more about what it means to be the "real Parvin." However there's also a sadness that lingers when Parvin's mom (white) understands she can't always help Parvin connect more to her Iranian side, but assures her that her family is always there to assist.
As the fall semester is well underway and gearing up for homecoming, Parvin meets Amir in her Farsi class and slowly begins to realize she's more herself around him. While I won't spoil how the romantic storyline ends, both of the boys are so well developed and I genuinely loved seeing the delightful Parvin navigate them with her oh so brilliant and witty humor (this book is SO funny being told through her POV). Although she is very focused on boys throughout the story, it feels very relatable, real and because Abtahi builds so much depth to Parvin's character its also quite hilarious at moments too.
The setting of Parvin's Northern Virginia town, home, alongside her high school just come to life on the page. No matter what the setting was, Abtahi's great writing built Parvin's world with each and every chapter (though another FUN tidbit here is that the "chapters" are more spilt up by days/time which adds a unique flow to the story).
Also this is such an incredibly inclusive cast feat. main characters include: Parvin whose 1/2 Iranian, Fabian is a gay Mexican-American, and Ruth is a pan Korean-American, Matty her love interest is (Argentinian? will have to double-check), and the novel of course follows an Iranian-American family / culture. The novel also delves into the topic of a Muslim ban that impacts one of her relatives later on.
Luckily this is just the first book of a duology, so there's many more hilarious hijinks with Parvin to come and I could not be more thrilled. The ending, though wraps up a bit too quickly, there's so much love I have for these characters, setting that comes to life through Parvin's eyes, impactful messages and storytelling that Abtahi has crafted in the span of just 300+ pages leaving me eager to know where Parvin's high school adventure is headed next!
Perfectly Parvin is true gem in 2021 YA Contemporary you don't want to miss! Hilarious hijinks, great storytelling, and lots of meaningful messages make this a spectacular debut that promises more romance, friendship, family, and fantastic Parvin adventures to come!
Perfectly Parvin is a marvelous, funny, and all around SPECTACULAR YA debut that deserves much more hype! Following 14-year-old Iranian-American Parvin, she starts high school with a broken heart and decides to reinvent herself in order to get the ultimate homecoming date!
Okay this was such a fantastic book and I'm so surprised it does not have more ratings? Anyways, if you love witty protagonists, plots about friendship, romance (of course), but ultimately a journey about self-acceptance than you must pick this book up.
Parvin Mohammadi thinks everythings going well with her summer boyfriend Wesley, until he breaks up with her for being "too much." Now feeling devastated and hurt, she sets out ask her cute sophomore classmate Matty Fumero to homecoming! But when she decides to use romantic heroines from her favorite movies as the inspiration to accomplish her goal, will she accept her new "quiet" self and sacrifice the true Parvin to find love?
Though she's not alone! She's got her supportive best friends Ruth Song and Fabian Castor by her side at every step of the way. But as Parvin becomes consumed with her plans, she doesn't even realize she's ignoring and leaving her friends to the side.
In addition to her new start at James K. Polk High, she's also attending Farsi classes and confronting her anxieties about not being "Iranian enough." Despite her fears though, her parents and her favorite aunt Sara especially, help her to juggle it all. Being 1/2 white and Iranian, Abtahi explores the deep bond and connection Parvin has with her mom & dad (both equally strong) supporting her when she's uncovering more about what it means to be the "real Parvin." However there's also a sadness that lingers when Parvin's mom (white) understands she can't always help Parvin connect more to her Iranian side, but assures her that her family is always there to assist.
As the fall semester is well underway and gearing up for homecoming, Parvin meets Amir in her Farsi class and slowly begins to realize she's more herself around him. While I won't spoil how the romantic storyline ends, both of the boys are so well developed and I genuinely loved seeing the delightful Parvin navigate them with her oh so brilliant and witty humor (this book is SO funny being told through her POV). Although she is very focused on boys throughout the story, it feels very relatable, real and because Abtahi builds so much depth to Parvin's character its also quite hilarious at moments too.
The setting of Parvin's Northern Virginia town, home, alongside her high school just come to life on the page. No matter what the setting was, Abtahi's great writing built Parvin's world with each and every chapter (though another FUN tidbit here is that the "chapters" are more spilt up by days/time which adds a unique flow to the story).
Also this is such an incredibly inclusive cast feat. main characters include: Parvin whose 1/2 Iranian, Fabian is a gay Mexican-American, and Ruth is a pan Korean-American, Matty her love interest is (Argentinian? will have to double-check), and the novel of course follows an Iranian-American family / culture. The novel also delves into the topic of a Muslim ban that impacts one of her relatives later on.
Luckily this is just the first book of a duology, so there's many more hilarious hijinks with Parvin to come and I could not be more thrilled. The ending, though wraps up a bit too quickly, there's so much love I have for these characters, setting that comes to life through Parvin's eyes, impactful messages and storytelling that Abtahi has crafted in the span of just 300+ pages leaving me eager to know where Parvin's high school adventure is headed next!
Perfectly Parvin is true gem in 2021 YA Contemporary you don't want to miss! Hilarious hijinks, great storytelling, and lots of meaningful messages make this a spectacular debut that promises more romance, friendship, family, and fantastic Parvin adventures to come!
August 3, 2021
Want to see more bookish things from me? Check out my Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfer...
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review*
2.5/5 Stars
14-year-old Parvin Mohammadi is half Iranian-American and just beginning high school. She's just been dumped by her first-ever boyfriend and hatches a plan to make sophomore Matty ask her to homecoming. She will become one of the demure, perfect girls from the rom-coms she watches. The only place she can still be herself is Farsi school, where she becomes friends with a boy who likes her for who she is.
This was cute for what it was, but Parvin annoyed me more times than not. She didn't listen to anyone who told her that her plan was silly and she should just be herself. I did really like Parvin's two bestfriends Ruth and Fabian. They were both good friends to Parvin, even when she was being shitty to them. I also really liked the underlying message of self-love and acceptance and think that it is an important message that younger audiences should read about.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review*
2.5/5 Stars
14-year-old Parvin Mohammadi is half Iranian-American and just beginning high school. She's just been dumped by her first-ever boyfriend and hatches a plan to make sophomore Matty ask her to homecoming. She will become one of the demure, perfect girls from the rom-coms she watches. The only place she can still be herself is Farsi school, where she becomes friends with a boy who likes her for who she is.
This was cute for what it was, but Parvin annoyed me more times than not. She didn't listen to anyone who told her that her plan was silly and she should just be herself. I did really like Parvin's two bestfriends Ruth and Fabian. They were both good friends to Parvin, even when she was being shitty to them. I also really liked the underlying message of self-love and acceptance and think that it is an important message that younger audiences should read about.
September 14, 2021
Perfectly Parvin by @oliviaabtahi : 5⭐️I
“you come from the empire that invented math, astronomy, and poetry while the people who decided that your aunt can’t come to the unites states were still living in caves” (265).
I absolutely loved this 🥺 growing up, I never got to see persian representation. The whole of the Middle East was either not represented/shown as terrorists. We especially didn’t have any YA English books with Persian rep. Books like this are so important, especially when you’re young. Seeing topics of immigration, ICE, Persian food/hair/sayings/general way of life made me so happy, cause so many of us who immigrated share this experience.
If you like YA, I would 100% recommend this. Also, happy birthday once again to the lovely Olivia (her bday was yesterday)💗
“you come from the empire that invented math, astronomy, and poetry while the people who decided that your aunt can’t come to the unites states were still living in caves” (265).
I absolutely loved this 🥺 growing up, I never got to see persian representation. The whole of the Middle East was either not represented/shown as terrorists. We especially didn’t have any YA English books with Persian rep. Books like this are so important, especially when you’re young. Seeing topics of immigration, ICE, Persian food/hair/sayings/general way of life made me so happy, cause so many of us who immigrated share this experience.
If you like YA, I would 100% recommend this. Also, happy birthday once again to the lovely Olivia (her bday was yesterday)💗
dnf
June 9, 2021Very young YA, which I don't tend to read or enjoy.
July 3, 2022
It was an good book. It was a very quick read, and surprisingly I enjoyed it. Parvin is definitely an interesting character to read about. There were times where she felt very childish, but other times where she wasn't. I was definitely entertained by all of her stupid desicisons throughout the entire book, but I was glad to see her "grow-up" by the end of it, and a few parts of the ending kind of shocked me. But overall it was good.
January 28, 2023
dnf @ like page 10.
normalize not using the phrase “unfortunately straight” ‼️
normalize not using the phrase “unfortunately straight” ‼️
November 7, 2024
finishing a book that takes place during Trump's first presidency and his Muslim ban was certainly an experience. 3.75 stars.
February 28, 2022
Very good. I wouldn't say it's my favorite book but I'd re-read it in a couple years
May 20, 2022
This definitely hit the “I don’t look like my mom and being a teenager is hard and confusing” vibes that I still need as a 30-something year old adult 💕
May 9, 2024
[REVIEW]
Not my favorite book in the world, but OH MY GOD, Parvin was such a FUN character! I can’t remember the last time a YA protagonist made me laugh so many times! I wish I’d had her confidence in high school.
I will say that if you try to go into this expecting a romance, don’t. This is more of a story about self-discovery and Parvin trying to navigate high school (WITH a boy subplot, but still, no romance). I recommend this to anyone who loves goofy protagonists, awesome friendships, and stories about finding out who you are.
Not my favorite book in the world, but OH MY GOD, Parvin was such a FUN character! I can’t remember the last time a YA protagonist made me laugh so many times! I wish I’d had her confidence in high school.
I will say that if you try to go into this expecting a romance, don’t. This is more of a story about self-discovery and Parvin trying to navigate high school (WITH a boy subplot, but still, no romance). I recommend this to anyone who loves goofy protagonists, awesome friendships, and stories about finding out who you are.
April 30, 2021
PERFECTLY PARVIN is a laugh-out-loud, charming YA contemporary fiction read. Parvin is about to begin her freshman year of high school and excited about having her first boyfriend. Over summer, she met Wesley, who helped her with her pranks and kissed her. At freshman orientation, she is excited to see him again- only to be broken up with very publicly and told that it was because she was too loud and too much.
Parvin begins to reevaluate who she is and what she knows about romance from rom-coms. When Wesley soon has another girlfriend that he is taking to the Homecoming dance, Parvin decides that she will get a new boyfriend to take to Homecoming to make Wesley jealous. She will use the example of rom-coms to snag this new guy with a plan to be quieter, not talk much, and remove as much hair from her body as possible - even if her BFFs, Ruth and Fabian question the value of these examples.
As she works toward her goal, she also deals with the difficulties of high school, including picking up a new instrument (bassoon), making videos for class, and learning Farsi in the advanced class on Sundays. As a half-Iranian, her parents think it's important that she learns, and luckily, the class gives her a tutor, a sophomore named Amir. As Parvin spends time with him and works on her plans to snag a guy (hopefully the cute Matty) for the dance, she must evaluate what is important to her and what she is willing to lose in her rom-com goals.
What I loved: Parvin is heartfelt, delightful, and trying to find her way in the world. She is such a compelling character and so easy to instantly fall in love with. Her story really shines through the book, and I loved reading it. Other characters were equally as compelling, including her Ameh Sara whom she frequently turns to for advice over Skype, her BFFs who each have their own charming personalities, and her father, who is loving and thoughtfully answers her questions about life. This book actually had me laughing out loud in several places, and Parvin's story is told with a hefty and delightful dose of humor throughout.
There is also some power in having a YA book with a young high schooler leading the way - this is a group that does not get much attention, and the book would definitely appeal to older middle grade readers as well as YA readers for this reason.
The themes throughout were really strong as well. There is great LGBT inclusion and racial/ethnic diversity. From this, there are important themes about inclusion and microaggressions, including comments about people's food and questions about where they are "really from." Although they are background themes, their inclusion can be thought-provoking and definitely increases awareness. Adding to that, Parvin is half-Iranian, and this comes with its own challenges as she struggles to feel fully accepted by those who are full Iranian and by white people. There are also challenges in terms of appearance that her white mother cannot always anticipate, and her parents do a great job of finding other ways to support her (such as with her Ameh Sara).
Immigration is another theme, and the book shows some of the impact of the Muslim ban and the way that people who come from Muslim countries have been treated. The challenges around immigration, visas, and ICE, which can be unnecessarily cruel. Romance is another theme (lightly) with the pressures on young girls to look like the magazines and act a certain way, and I loved that the book ultimately has a message of being true to yourself and the importance of surrounding yourself with people who love you for who you are. The way this all came together was really excellent.
Final verdict: With compelling characters, delightful comedy, and thought-provoking themes, PERFECTLY PARVIN is a charming YA contemporary read that I highly recommend picking up. This book would be perfect for people who enjoyed WHEN DIMPLE MET RISHI, TO ALL THE BOYS I'VE LOVED BEFORE, and MORE THAN JUST A PRETTY FACE.
Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
Parvin begins to reevaluate who she is and what she knows about romance from rom-coms. When Wesley soon has another girlfriend that he is taking to the Homecoming dance, Parvin decides that she will get a new boyfriend to take to Homecoming to make Wesley jealous. She will use the example of rom-coms to snag this new guy with a plan to be quieter, not talk much, and remove as much hair from her body as possible - even if her BFFs, Ruth and Fabian question the value of these examples.
As she works toward her goal, she also deals with the difficulties of high school, including picking up a new instrument (bassoon), making videos for class, and learning Farsi in the advanced class on Sundays. As a half-Iranian, her parents think it's important that she learns, and luckily, the class gives her a tutor, a sophomore named Amir. As Parvin spends time with him and works on her plans to snag a guy (hopefully the cute Matty) for the dance, she must evaluate what is important to her and what she is willing to lose in her rom-com goals.
What I loved: Parvin is heartfelt, delightful, and trying to find her way in the world. She is such a compelling character and so easy to instantly fall in love with. Her story really shines through the book, and I loved reading it. Other characters were equally as compelling, including her Ameh Sara whom she frequently turns to for advice over Skype, her BFFs who each have their own charming personalities, and her father, who is loving and thoughtfully answers her questions about life. This book actually had me laughing out loud in several places, and Parvin's story is told with a hefty and delightful dose of humor throughout.
There is also some power in having a YA book with a young high schooler leading the way - this is a group that does not get much attention, and the book would definitely appeal to older middle grade readers as well as YA readers for this reason.
The themes throughout were really strong as well. There is great LGBT inclusion and racial/ethnic diversity. From this, there are important themes about inclusion and microaggressions, including comments about people's food and questions about where they are "really from." Although they are background themes, their inclusion can be thought-provoking and definitely increases awareness. Adding to that, Parvin is half-Iranian, and this comes with its own challenges as she struggles to feel fully accepted by those who are full Iranian and by white people. There are also challenges in terms of appearance that her white mother cannot always anticipate, and her parents do a great job of finding other ways to support her (such as with her Ameh Sara).
Immigration is another theme, and the book shows some of the impact of the Muslim ban and the way that people who come from Muslim countries have been treated. The challenges around immigration, visas, and ICE, which can be unnecessarily cruel. Romance is another theme (lightly) with the pressures on young girls to look like the magazines and act a certain way, and I loved that the book ultimately has a message of being true to yourself and the importance of surrounding yourself with people who love you for who you are. The way this all came together was really excellent.
Final verdict: With compelling characters, delightful comedy, and thought-provoking themes, PERFECTLY PARVIN is a charming YA contemporary read that I highly recommend picking up. This book would be perfect for people who enjoyed WHEN DIMPLE MET RISHI, TO ALL THE BOYS I'VE LOVED BEFORE, and MORE THAN JUST A PRETTY FACE.
Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
July 10, 2021
This book is just what a teenage Jasmine would of needed! The issues that Parvin deals with are the same pressures and anxieties I also felt being a half Iranian American girl struggling to find her place in a world where you don’t feel like you belong.
February 3, 2021
ARC provided by publisher through Edelweiss in exchange for honest review.
5/5 stars
@ Everyone who's always complaining that there's not enough younger-teen YA-- meet Parvin.
This book was, in the best way possible, way more than I thought it would be. Parvin is our protagonist, a 14 year old, messy, loud, boy-crazy, hairy, mischievous Iranian-American girl who stole my heart. She's an entertaining narrator, gets obnoxious with her friends, plays pranks, and often wonders why funny girls never get the guy in TV. GOD. Parvin reminded me so much of me at that age. Heck, she reminds me of me NOW.
Her desire to be beautiful, and the discussion about the eurocentricity of beauty, struck a chord with me. This author knew what she was doing, putting a critique of eurocentric standards of beauty and womanhood into Parvin's day to day growing pains. I wish I had a book like this growing up. It would have made a difference. And god I wish I had an aunt like Sara! I related so much to Parvin's struggle of her mother not understanding what she was going through. When Parvin had an ingrown hair in her thigh and her mom was like ????, when her mom dressed her in clothes that were unflattering, when her mom just in general didn't /get it/, I kinda laughed because oh my god does it ever feel GOOD to read something that is actually relatable. It was the same for me, although not quite the exact same circumstance, but still. My mother didn't know how to help me with things I cared about. I was trying to learn how to be a girl myself (it was a disaster. I'm still a disaster. I wish so much I had someone who could help me with those things.).
Parvin's friends-- I LOVED Fabian and Ruth. I don't often fall in love with contemporary side characters -- they don't usually capture me but these two did. They had such amazing personalities and problems of their own and I loved them a lot? The author wrote on Twitter that this book is a surprisingly gay book. I have to cackle because this is 100% true.
The romance is a smaller part of this book, but an important part nonetheless, as Parvin learns what kind of person she wants to be; what kind of love the person she is would attract. Her aunt Sara at one point tells her, when she's complaining that no one likes her, that boys are often intimidated by girls who are funny and loud. Again it struck a chord. Parvin learns a lot about love within these pages.
I also really enjoyed learning about Parvin's culture and her parents and how that all tied together. Near the end especially. Parvin learning from her parents and from her friends to be proud of herself-- who she is, where she came from, what she looks like-- made me more emotional than I can say. I wish I had learned those lessons early; I'm so grateful this book exists for brown girls to read now.
I hope school libraries and booksellers put this one on shelves. I hope it gets talked up and the attention it deserves!! It's everything I could want out of a younger-YA. It's so unique and refreshing; the writing style is consistently entertaining, and under all Parvin's jokes and shenanigans, it is also very thoughtful and smart.
5/5 stars
@ Everyone who's always complaining that there's not enough younger-teen YA-- meet Parvin.
This book was, in the best way possible, way more than I thought it would be. Parvin is our protagonist, a 14 year old, messy, loud, boy-crazy, hairy, mischievous Iranian-American girl who stole my heart. She's an entertaining narrator, gets obnoxious with her friends, plays pranks, and often wonders why funny girls never get the guy in TV. GOD. Parvin reminded me so much of me at that age. Heck, she reminds me of me NOW.
Her desire to be beautiful, and the discussion about the eurocentricity of beauty, struck a chord with me. This author knew what she was doing, putting a critique of eurocentric standards of beauty and womanhood into Parvin's day to day growing pains. I wish I had a book like this growing up. It would have made a difference. And god I wish I had an aunt like Sara! I related so much to Parvin's struggle of her mother not understanding what she was going through. When Parvin had an ingrown hair in her thigh and her mom was like ????, when her mom dressed her in clothes that were unflattering, when her mom just in general didn't /get it/, I kinda laughed because oh my god does it ever feel GOOD to read something that is actually relatable. It was the same for me, although not quite the exact same circumstance, but still. My mother didn't know how to help me with things I cared about. I was trying to learn how to be a girl myself (it was a disaster. I'm still a disaster. I wish so much I had someone who could help me with those things.).
Parvin's friends-- I LOVED Fabian and Ruth. I don't often fall in love with contemporary side characters -- they don't usually capture me but these two did. They had such amazing personalities and problems of their own and I loved them a lot? The author wrote on Twitter that this book is a surprisingly gay book. I have to cackle because this is 100% true.
The romance is a smaller part of this book, but an important part nonetheless, as Parvin learns what kind of person she wants to be; what kind of love the person she is would attract. Her aunt Sara at one point tells her, when she's complaining that no one likes her, that boys are often intimidated by girls who are funny and loud. Again it struck a chord. Parvin learns a lot about love within these pages.
I also really enjoyed learning about Parvin's culture and her parents and how that all tied together. Near the end especially. Parvin learning from her parents and from her friends to be proud of herself-- who she is, where she came from, what she looks like-- made me more emotional than I can say. I wish I had learned those lessons early; I'm so grateful this book exists for brown girls to read now.
I hope school libraries and booksellers put this one on shelves. I hope it gets talked up and the attention it deserves!! It's everything I could want out of a younger-YA. It's so unique and refreshing; the writing style is consistently entertaining, and under all Parvin's jokes and shenanigans, it is also very thoughtful and smart.
June 2, 2021
*4.5 stars
"𝐍𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐦𝐞."
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘗𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘯 𝘛𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸!
Perfectly Parvin is an own-voices YA contemporary novel, that follows the story of Parvin Mohammadi, an Iranian-American teen as she navigates highschool, teen romance, heartbreak, and connecting to her Iranian identity.
This was the book I wish I had when I was starting highschool. Just like Parvin, I struggled with my identity as Iranian, especially due to the fact that most of my peers were white. No one looked like me or understood my struggles. Reading about a girl like Parvin would have really helped me back then. Regardless, this book still touched my heart now.
Not only did this book have a romance plot, but it also touched on many important topics. It looked at racism, the impact of the Muslim ban, identity, and familial relationships. It also was a very diverse book, as it featured an array of POC and LGBTQ characters. Abtahi was able to tell a fun story while also weaving in and discussing the above issues.
If you struggled with your identity growing up, or are a POC who has never really felt represented by your peers I highly recommend this book to you! I cried, I laughed, I smiled, and most of all I have never felt more seen. It felt like someone was speaking to my soul and my struggles. My story deserves to be represented and that is exactly what Perfectly Parvin did!
"𝐍𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐦𝐞."
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘗𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘯 𝘛𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸!
Perfectly Parvin is an own-voices YA contemporary novel, that follows the story of Parvin Mohammadi, an Iranian-American teen as she navigates highschool, teen romance, heartbreak, and connecting to her Iranian identity.
This was the book I wish I had when I was starting highschool. Just like Parvin, I struggled with my identity as Iranian, especially due to the fact that most of my peers were white. No one looked like me or understood my struggles. Reading about a girl like Parvin would have really helped me back then. Regardless, this book still touched my heart now.
Not only did this book have a romance plot, but it also touched on many important topics. It looked at racism, the impact of the Muslim ban, identity, and familial relationships. It also was a very diverse book, as it featured an array of POC and LGBTQ characters. Abtahi was able to tell a fun story while also weaving in and discussing the above issues.
If you struggled with your identity growing up, or are a POC who has never really felt represented by your peers I highly recommend this book to you! I cried, I laughed, I smiled, and most of all I have never felt more seen. It felt like someone was speaking to my soul and my struggles. My story deserves to be represented and that is exactly what Perfectly Parvin did!
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