I enjoyed parts of The Persians, there's some lovely writing and interesting insights - such as the young love of Elizabeth, the grandmother and her chauffeur's son - and the reaction of both families. However, other parts were disappointing - Seema's frustrated housewife lament felt too familiar and predictable and Niaz's dissident parties were described in global terms rather than as an involving story.

There were also some big family rifts and secrets that were set up to drive the narrative but then were resolved too quickly and easily. It would also have benefited from being around 20% shorter. I initially found it engaging but ended up resenting it.

It feels first novel-y in the sense that Mahloudji has so much to say and wants to cram it all in. I did like the characterisation and the relationships, though, so am interested to see what she does next.
*
Copy from NetGalley

Following 3 generations of the Valiat women, this book is set between the US and Iran and explores their history and personal conflicts. It's told with a level of humour that made it stand out from other family sagas I've read recently but it's not short of tender and moving moments. I really enjoyed reading about the stark contrasts in culture, opportunity and freedom experienced by these women and found the parts set in Iran especially interesting. I'm also a sucker for a complex family dynamic so it was an all round winner for me.

The Persians is a phenomenal debut novel following multiple generations of Iranian women and their lives throughout decades and revolutions. I really enjoyed how complex the characters and their personal stories. This book is perfect for fans of 'Like Mother Like Mother' and 'Good Girl.'

Thank you to the publisher for the e-copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Valiat Family were one of the most powerful and influential families in Iran, due to their legendary Ancestor "The Great Warrior" Babak Ali Khan Valiat.

However in 1979, Elizabeth the matriarch has chosen to stay in Iran while her two daughters, Seema and Shirin brave the new world of America. Where they have to come to terms that they are essentially nobodies in this new land.

Ironically, Shirin's daughter Niaz decides to stay with her grandmother, while Seema's daughter Bita is brought up in America. Thus the two granddaughters live exceedingly different lives. The one who is living under a more constrained and anti-feminine Iran seeks to express herself, especially sexually putting herself and grandmother in danger. Whilst the other granddaughter is so used to a life of luxury, she is ashamed of her family money and seeks to give away her wealth.

When an incident occurs in Aspen, where Shirin is jailed, her niece Bita must help her aunty in her legal battles. This triggers a motion of events that lead, the women to discover family secrets and pasts that have long been kept hidden.

The narrative follows all five women, across three generations, spanning 80 years. While reading through each character chapter, it is hard to sometimes gage where we are and you can lose track. The pace is also on the slow side and it did take over half the book before I started engaging properly.

At its core, this story is about women, and the complexity of female relationships. It's also about wealth and pomp, it's about revolution, it's about losing your identity, or even hiding behind it. It's about expressing yourself and the freedom to do that.

The characters are not always likeable and you end up questioning them at points, but shows the ambiguity of humanity. There is also a lot of emphasis on money which didn't always feel right in the story. The entitlement of the women was interesting to see, as they can be seen as selfish. So it was interesting to see that view of a woman.

While there is some Iranian culture included, I feel it could have been fleshed out even more, with more cultural references, but most of those seemed money related. While the premise was interesting, the execution could have been polished more.

Overall, an interesting read. Recommend to readers who like morally ambiguous protagonists and a predominantly female perspectives.

Thank you to netgalley , 4th estate and wmcollinsbooks for granting me access this arc.

Favourite quote:
“Young Americans smoked marijuana without fear of death, snuck out bedroom windows, pierced tongues, refused meat, slept with their teachers. Then they entered the world renown of Harvard University and acted like oversexed compassless children. They knew so little. Still, entire departments of the world - purveyors of film, music, politics, money - were dedicated to wooing just them, privileged American teens. And the rest of the world followed like trained idiots. It made me angry that people who needed nothing were given more. But that is the world".

Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

I just finished reading "The Persians," and it's absolutely enthralling. This exceptional debut masterfully combines biting wit and absurd scenarios with profound depth and history, exploring the lives of three generations of Iranian women. Set between 1940s Iran during the Revolution and the fractured 2000s, the story follows the Valiat women as they navigate personal and political challenges, balancing heartbreak and humor throughout.

The characters are unforgettable. At the heart of it all is Elizabeth, the formidable matriarch with her famous nose and an unshakable presence. Then there’s her daughters—Shirin, the dazzling Houston socialite, and Seema, the idealist-turned-housewife in LA—each wrestling with the weight of their past and the choices they’ve made. And of course, the granddaughters, Niaz and Bita, who find themselves torn between tradition and their own uncertain futures.

What struck me most is how the novel centers firmly around these women and their stories, challenging Western stereotypes from the very first page. It wears Iranian stereotypes lightly and with humor, offering a refreshing and authentic perspective. Each character’s journey reveals the tension between the weight of the past and the promise of the future, exploring what it means to carry an entire culture within oneself.

One of my favorite moments? The family’s Aspen vacation disaster—equal parts hilarious and painfully revealing. Shirin’s desperate attempt to salvage their name is both tragic and absurd, making you question what truly defines legacy and belonging.

"The Persians" is more than a family saga; it's an irresistible portrait of a unique family in crisis. It explores timeless questions of love, money, art, and fulfillment. The narrative spans from the 1940s into the splintered 2000s, painting a vivid picture of their past, present, and potential future.

The author's ability to blend humor with heartbreak is masterful. I found myself laughing out loud at the absurdities and quirks of the characters, then moments later reflecting deeply on their struggles and triumphs. The themes of identity, heritage, and the immigrant experience are woven throughout the story, resonating on a universal level.

If you love multi-generational sagas with complex, fierce women at the center, this book is a must-read. The Persians isn’t just a family drama—it’s a deeply moving reflection on heritage, survival, and the impossible task of holding onto the past while reaching for the future.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

#ThePersians #Netgalley

On the face of it, The Persians is filled with vacuous, materialistic women, but as I read further, these women had been either torn from their homes in order to escape the new religious government in Iran, or were having to live there, having remained. Trauma has a large part to play in the make up of these women.

Both the women in Iran and those in the US are non-conformists, rule breakers - and some more than others. There’s the obvious Shirin, who’s arrested on prostitution charges at the beginning of the book, and Bita, who decides to break away from her family history and wealth, and make her own way. Then there’s the matriarch, Elizabeth, who remains in Iran and uses her age and family name to get away with not following the rules of Islamic law (to some degree), and her granddaughter Niaz, who is arrested and put in a Tehran jail.

A lot of secrets are revealed (there are some big secrets to be revealed!), and when mothers and daughters are honest and truthful with one another, relationships can be repaired. But will they?

A very enjoyable, somewhat escapist read - I mean, the wealth of these people is startling!

Opening with one of the middle generation of the five female narrators of this book being arrested for prostitution in Aspen, we follow this Persian family back and forth through history and family secrets in a gossipy, surprising and lively novel which is entirely female-centric, men only serving as providers and objects.

In a refreshing change from common narratives of struggle, the immigrants to America are more like the characters in Jenny Jackson's "Pineapple Street" (in fact, like one of her characters, one of these resolves to give away her inherited wealth), well-off, privileged and entitled. And those left at home in Iran, matriarch Elizabeth and her granddaughter Niaz, have a different life from what one might imagine, Elizabeth seemingly inventing aerobics as only one of her creative solutions, and Niaz running bohemian parties in various parts of Tehran.

Shirin, Niaz's mother, is the centre of the narrative, bossy, flamboyant and controlling, her sister narrates from beyond the grave and niece Bita is trying to find her own way, with help from a friend.

Set in Los Angeles, Aspen, Houston, New York and Tehran, there's much to enjoy here, even though none of the characters are particularly attractive, and it's a polished effort, with sophisticated plotting and doubling (buying bras, bags of jewels, bare feet ...) showing the author's technical skills. An author who I will continue to look out for.

Blog review published 30 Jan https://librofulltime.wordpress.com/2025/01/30/book-review-sanam-mahloudji-the-persians/

Sanam Mahloudji's "The Persians" was a nice surprise. t was so refreshing to see a novel about Persian women. So often, we do not get their perspectives or if we do, it's doom and gloom. This novel is a fun but well-rounded look at generations of Iranian women. There's a lightness to the narrative that makes this the perfect beach or next-to-the-fireplace read. Even when Mahloudji relates moments of racism and sexism the women face, Mahloudji's prose makes us care even more because we have grown to care about all of the women. Recommended.

I'm sorry to say this disappointed me. The premise of following the women of a multigenerational Iranian family is enticing as they leave Iran in the wake of the Shah in 1979 and emigrate to America. But this feels essentially frivolous where I wanted something that deals more seriously with the big topics being teased.

The book this reminds me of most is [book:Crazy Rich Asians|19047093] but where Kwan is self-conscious about the satire, throwing us all in to the ridiculous label-and-luxury lifestyle with full throttle irony and offsetting all the snobbery, greed, money and class friction with a cute true-love romance - in The Persians the lines aren't drawn in that way.

I can see that perhaps one of the things this book would like to do is challenges the stereotypes of, especially, Iranian women and to broaden the prevailing western view of the country with its long history of culture and knowledge. But these stories of women obsessed by their looks (Elizabeth's nose...) fall into other pigeonholes and are typecast in different but equally sterile ways.

This feels like a debut novel: the revolving narrators (five, I think?) all sound the same; the prose is chatty and sweary as if that makes it cool; there are family secrets to be uncovered for anyone who cares - frankly, I'd lost interest fairly soon.

A giveaway for me is an early scene where the Shah is deposed and the family is fleeing to America - what should be a traumatic experience for anyone feels like it's over in a few pages and the biggest concern is not leaving a daughter - conveniently - behind, but to not forget the gold and jewellery. And then we're on the plane, Louis Vuitton suitcases stashed and taking up space on the middle seat because heaven forbid this family shouldn't be allowed to spread out across the aisles.

I think this is a well-intentioned book but I soon found myself bored and skimming - if this weren't an ARC, I'd have DNF within the first 40 pages. Sorry, just not a book for me.

Absolutely loved! From the characters, to the settings, to the dialogue, chefs kiss! If you love female-centric stories about generational trauma and a collision of cultures, this is a must-read.

A great family saga, centered around the women of the once powerful Valiat family, from Iran, and spanning several timelines and points of view. The matriarch, Elizabeth, lives in Tehran with her granddaughter Niaz; her daughters Shirin and Seema left during the revolution of 1979 and settled in the US - Shirin leaving behind six-year-old Niaz. We follow them and Bita, Seema's daughter, as they meet again and as Shirin is going through a trial.

It was interesting to follow these women and the way the ones who left struggled to adapt to a new life in America. In Iran they came from a powerful and wealthy family; in America they are "just" wealthy, their family's links to power unknown and uninteresting to anyone they meet. There was a lot about money and appearances, about looks and clothes, and I enjoyed the different voices of the characters, even if Shirin, spoiled and entitled, was more difficult to get used to. It was well written as well and I found it easy to get into.

Free ARC sent by Netgalley, book due to be published on 30 January 2025.

Wonderful and beautifully written this is a debut that deserves all the praise. The storytelling was by turns moving and funny and I learnt so much about a period in history I’d only ever seen on the news. I became fully invested in all of the women, each with their own strengths, making me wish I had a sister and also at times glad I didn’t. I loved this book and look forward to more from the author.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Even a few days after finishing this book I am not sure how I feel about it - and perhaps that was the author's idea, keeping the reader on their toes and at a distance from the action.
I didn't like any of the characters particularly and found it hard to really care about any of them - their sense of entitlement was astounding,
I'm glad I read the book but it really wasn't for me

The Persians reminded me of a lot of different things. A little bit Gossip Girl, a little bit Cleopatra and Frankenstein, a little bit Persepolis. The character's lives are uber luxurious and yet feel empty - a tension I'm always drawn to in fiction. Yet (sadly!) there was something missing here for me. Moving between Iran and the US, told in multiple POVs from 3 generations, and delving into topics such as displacement, politics, oppression, and trauma, I felt a disconnect from the characters I couldn't quite bridge, which left me a little disinterested in the story.

However, Mahloudji is clearly a very talented writer, and I'd be very interested to see what she does next!

Interesting story of Iranian family and their exploits in USA. Quick read from a new author to me. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to ARC this book.

I find this a difficult book to review.
It's style of jumping between various characters' stories is a little jarring and leaves, this reader, at least, a bit adrift.
Some of the characters appear, at first, extremely unlikeable, and their way of living is, frankly, offputting.
That, of course, is exactly how the author wants us to feel; unsettled and alienated.
Gradually, however, we are drawn behind the facades of "The Persians" and gain some measure of sympathy and understanding of each complicated life. Each woman has such a different pattern to their life and a very different response in how they live out the hand they have been dealt
Would I recommend it to others? I don't think so.
Do I commend the author, whose own situation, having left Tehran during the revolution, gives her an insight into the world of the rich Iranian emigrees, yes I do.
Did I find it difficult to get into the book, yes, did I think it was worth the effort, on balance, yes.
4th Estate and NetGalley provided an earc of this novel in return for an honest review

Fantastic read, following 5 members of a Persian dynasty who are now rich and unknown living in America and Iran following displacement. It’s a funny read full of love and hope, family - mothers and daughters, tinged with loss and identity. A great read

An Iranian family who had clout in their homeland move to America where they struggle to belong. Some interesting insight into Iranian culture and history

This book uses time wonderfully, taking us back and forth to life in the US and previous life in Iran.
Complex female characters and family relationships, I thought this was great.

A sweeping family saga spanning decades told through the viewpoints of the women of the influential Valiat family. The writing is sharp and unflinching. The books doesn't have one cohesive plot to follow but it is a character study of a few rule-breaking Iranian women whose stories are interspersed with the history of Iran.
This narrative can be hard to follow if you are not paying attention but fans of literary fiction and readers used to Latin American family Sagas will be familiar with the style. Whilst none of the women were particularly loveable they each had quirks and are differentiable. I liked Elizabeth's storyline the best.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for my review copy.