Tehrangeles by Porochista Khakpour
Just before the COVID-19 pandemic, the Milanis are about to start filming their new reality TV show. The Iranian-American multimillionaires who made their money in the fast food business will become the Kardashians of Tehran. The four sisters – Violet, Roxanna, Mina and Haylee – each have their own opinion on the show. Some, like Roxanna and Haylee, believe the show will help their personal brands, but Violet and Mina aren’t so sure.
But when the pandemic hits, their show is put on hold and the family is forced to spend all their time with each other – and their servants. It’s not long before they start getting on each other’s nerves, leading to endless interpersonal conflict.
If I met you in a bookstore and recommended this to you, I’d have to say it’s a mix of Crazy Rich Asians and Little Women. There are over-the-top moments, like Roxanna trying to officially change her birth date so she can be a Scorpio instead of a Gemini. (She is SUCH a Gemini though.) I haven’t laughed this hard at a book in a LONG time. The dialogue is snappy. The situations are wild. And I couldn’t get enough of these sisters.
Of course, you could say this book is about rich people behaving badly. But it’s so much more than that. Behind all the gold and glitter, the Milani sisters and their parents are figuring out their identity as an immigrant family in the United States. Each family member has a different perspective on what it means to be Iranian-American. (One sister—yes, you guessed it, Roxanna—has even been telling her friends she’s Italian for years.) This subject is handled so skillfully and is such a meaningful read. I especially enjoyed the emotional moments, like when the sisters’ mother, Homa, chats with her daughters about life lessons.
So if you want to have fun and explore the situation of young women – including ridiculous situations and laugh-out-loud moments –Tehran is for you.
