I liked learning about Armenian culture, and I saw myself in the main character a little bit, but I didn't fall in love with the characters or their romance, I was left feeling very "eh" about it, which makes me sad because I seem to have no luck with sapphic romances.

It was cute, but overall I didn't feel super invested. Nareh stressed me out sometimes, and Erebuni felt too perfect, and the other suitors and some other secondary characters felt like they were designed to be shitty so Erebuni could look like the perfect woman:

-Trevor: misogynist, subconsciously racist/xenophobic, didn't seem to pay attention to the person Nareh actually was and what she liked.
-Raffi: misogynist, self obssesed.
-Arek: ok, nothing wrong with him. But Nareh didn't feel attracted to him (which is fair)
-The engineer guy: makes a joke about how he feels pain by proxy when cutting up an eggplant bc eggplant emoji.
-Artur: misogynist.
-Sako: nothing wrong with him either, just gay.
-Ara: self-obssesed, interrupting Nareh every time she talks.
-Kevork: pedantic.

-Kiki: sexist, very conservative, rude, she believes she's better than everyone.

Also, the cover says "From wingwoman to the woman of her dreams", and the synopsis says "Suddenly, with Erebuni as her wingwoman, the events feel like far less of a chore, and much more of an adventure." but there wasn't much wingwoman-ing, and I expected more overall. It ended up being a just-ok book for me, which again, sad about that. 

I really, really enjoyed this. the characters felt real, the conflict was resolved in a realistic way, this book was just such a joy to read. the discussions on armenian history and misogyny were provoking and handled in a really good way. this was fully immersive for me, and i'm so excited to see more from this author in the future!! the chemistry between the mc and the romantic lead was OFF THE FUCKING CHARTS. it just hit so well!!!

trigger warnings: alcoholism, car accident, death of parent, grief, sexual content (not explicit), sexual harassment mention, homophobia and biphobia, workplace sexism and misogyny, infidelity

How to succinctly explain my feelings about this without breaking down in public as I type this...maybe I will simply have to accept that I will be that person today.

Taleen Voskuni's debut novel, in my frank opinion, reads like a contemporary classic. Emotive, introspective, something that sticks in your mind for months after finishing, and with just enough kick to spike your curiosity and send you down a research rabbit hole. It's because of this book that I've been actively looking into Armenian culture and the Armenian Genocide. It's a real pitfall of the American Education system and my own resources that topics like this aren't given the light of day or easily searchable without knowing exactly what to look for. Well, I'm here now and I'm doing my due diligence in keeping myself informed.

Pivoting back to the book, as the reader I was sucked in from page one. It's a combination of some spectacularly gripping writing and the ubiquitous nature of overbearing (said with love) ethnic parents that I saw myself in this story immediately. It wasn't the bisexuality or the living at home bit, although those certainly played their part. Reading about a mother who Needs To Know everything and about a tight knit cultural community where you simply Have To Appease the elders is such a relatable aspect of ethnic communities. I was able to feel Nareh's love for her culture, affection and irritation towards her family, and the emotional limbo of being Other in the context of your own culture and in the USA. 

This book felt like me. It felt like home. From the dramatic mom to the hidden queerness. Out to a select group of people who feel like a whole universe apart from the closet that you shove yourself in at home. 

Nareh is perhaps one of my favourite adult closeted queer characters EVER. Her struggle is so relatable. She wants to be the dutiful daughter but doesn't know if coming out will upset her family. She wants to succeed at work but it's a tussle between doing as she's told or reporting on the stories that revive the passion she had for her job. She wants to be happy with Erebuni but the known cultural stigma against queer people is scary. She's used to comfort, familiarity, and routine and breaking the mould in multiple aspects of her life is a gamble between happiness and loss off things she holds dear. Her entire character arc is the foundation of the book and the book unfolds painfully and beautifully around it.

Erebuni is such a compelling love interest. I understand this book toes the line between romance and literary fiction (evidenced by the fade to black smut which...coming back to certain details of the aftermath had me SCREAMING at the loss). So it makes complete sense that she didn't get a POV but my GOD did I want to read her side of things so bad. I think that's a mark of a solid book that you're left yearning for more. Not because it felt like pieces were missing but because you want to dunk yourself in the book like it's a vat of melty chocolate. The book beautifully balanced Nareh's time with Erebuni, her family, her workplace conflict, and cultural immersion. Storylines didn't feel overwhelming. It was just the perfect amount of detail to be satisfied while also leaving enough to the imagination that the story lingers beyond its pages.

Lastly, I wanted to take a moment to talk about books like this that are steeped in culture and history that are not represented everywhere you turn. It's evident that the author put a lot of love and her own painful experiences in relation to the Armenian Genocide into the book. While I cannot review those aspects as a cultural outsider, I can educate myself further. Sorry, Bro isn't and mostly importantly shouldn't be your one and only interaction with the Armenian genocide. As a work of fiction, this book serves to reflect one of many experiences. It's for Armenian people to see themselves and feel understood. It's for non Armenians to enjoy and understand. It is NOT your one stop shop for learning. I think perhaps the most respectful thing to do would be to expand your own knowledge of Armenian history beyond this book. I hope that if you decide to pick up this book, that you do some research as a reader.

TLDR: amazing book, very emo, do research and don't exploit.