“Reminiscent of The Kite Runner and My Brilliant Friend, THE LION WOMEN OF TEHRAN is a mesmerizing tale featuring endearing characters who will linger in readers’ hearts.” — BookPage
“An evocative read and a powerful portrait of friendship.” — People
“Elegant . . . A tender, beautifully written examination of two women—and their choices.” — Oprah Daily
“Simultaneously heartbreaking and life affirming, it’s a book that you won’t be able to put down until you’ve read every word.” — Adrienne Brodeur, New York Times bestselling author of Little Monsters
“A beautifully crafted and subtle exploration of love, family, friendship, ambition, betrayal and redemption in a socio-political powder keg.” — Bookreporter
“Marjan Kamali’s latest novel is as fierce and epic as its name suggests . . . A beautifully written story of friendship, feminism and forgiveness.” — Ms. Magazine
“Gorgeous, gripping . . . a layered portrait of female friendship, unexpected cultural shifts, and second chances.” — Shelf Awareness
“From the delicious scent of spices simmering, to the colors of the bazaar, to the snowflakes landing on a certain character’s hair, this story came brilliantly alive to me from the very first page. Courage, friendship, loyalty, hardship, love—this novel has everything.” — Mary Beth Keane, New York Times bestselling author of Ask Again, Yes
“A deeply nuanced story of family, sacrifice, and the unbreakable bond of true friendship. It is as heart wrenching as it is achingly beautiful.” — Sadeqa Johnson, New York Times bestselling author of The House of Eve
“A touching coming-of-age novel about friendship, courage, and the lengths to which we go to preserve both. Through lyrical, illuminating writing, Marjan Kamali brings to life the sights, smells, tastes, and sounds of Tehran . . . an exceptional book.” — Historical Novels Review
“Kamali is a gifted storyteller at the height of her powers, who manages to connect [Iran’s] complicated history with its present and sing the praises of Iranian women who, even today, are fighting for the most basic of freedoms.” — Rachel Beanland, author of Florence Adler Swims Forever and The House is On Fire
“A must-read for every book club. Deeply emotional, insightful, and engrossing. You won’t forget these women for a very long time. I loved it.” — Susan Elizabeth Phillips, New York Times bestselling author
“A moving tale of friendship, betrayal, and forgiveness, unfolding into a deep and powerful exploration of feminist protest in Iran.” — Erica Bauermeister, New York Times bestselling author of No Two Persons
“With this masterful, heart-centered novel, Marjan Kamali has crafted a deeply honest look at the true meaning of friendship . . . This book made me incredibly proud to be an Iranian woman–a Lion Woman too.” — Shideh Etaat, author of Rana Joon and the One and Only Now
“Kamali writes beautifully and passionately about friendship, love, youth, conflict, aging and the challenges of sustaining meaningful relationships amid high-stakes Iranian politics. The novel is full of atmosphere, history, great food and two unforgettable heroines, Ellie and Homa, who . . . will endear and intrigue readers from the opening scenes to the last page – a must-read.” — NPR.org
“A compelling historical read that is at its heart about friendship. Marjan Kamali weaves an emotional tale about the power of friendship and resilience during a time of political unrest and I’m sure it will leave you as mesmerized as it left me.” — Book of the Month, Main Selection
“This beautiful book takes you on an emotional journey, following a profound friendship during the Iranian revolution. The plot is rich and the characters are captivating. Your heart will break in the best way.” — Sarah Dupriest, Rainy Day Books
“My love for historical fiction stems from my ability to learn something new while being taken on a journey through story—and this beautifully told tale checks those boxes for me . . . The many lessons about friendship and the power of time make this an emotional and compelling read.” — Amazon Book Review
“Powerful . . Kamali [overlays] a tale of love, betrayal, and world-altering politics with rich descriptions of mouthwatering Persian foods like refreshing shirazi salad and aromatic ghormeh sabzi. We loved the way the novel explores the lives of women in this world, and how some were able to subtly (or not so subtly) break the mold. This is a highly evocative pageturner.” — Apple Books
“Fierce women fill the pages of Marjan Kamali’s engrossing tale of friendship, class, betrayal, and politics in Iran.” — Christian Science Monitor
“This was unputdownable for me. I absolutely loved it. It’s a beautiful friendship story but it’s also about feminism, political activism, and wealth.” — The Stripe
“A touching portrait of courage and friendship.” — Kirkus Reviews
“A captivating novel that skillfully intertwines history, culture, and personal struggle. . . Read The Lion Women of Tehran to learn more about Iran’s history and, more importantly, experience a story of friendship between two women who saved each other through the uncertainty of life.” — Feminist Book Club
“Kamali places food center stage with vivid descriptions, from the perfect New York pizza slice to traditional savory Iranian dishes, immersing readers in the culinary delights of Iranian cuisine especially—readers will virtually taste the food on the page.” — Booklist
“I loved this rich, thoughtful, fast-moving story, and devoured it in just a couple of days . . . [Like] the very best historical fiction, I felt like I learned a lot almost accidentally, through the story. This felt like a dual coming-of-age story unlike others I’ve read.” — Scary Mommy
“This story made me proud to be a woman. To be amongst the brave, the courageous, the vulnerable, the intelligent, the lions. This book will move you, inspire you, educate you, and is one I highly, highly recommend. It will definitely be a favorite of the year.” — Chick Lit Central
“Marjan Kamali captures an intimate portrait of how our families and circumstances shape our worldview, and what other relationships and outside forces might change your perspective.” — WBUR
“It’s a story about major historical events, yes, but also the everyday strife of girlhood, love, and friendship—each given equal weight by the author. The writing is beautiful and plot suspenseful . . . Today, as the Woman, Life, Freedom movement wages on in Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini, The Lion Women of Tehran feels especially significant.” — Conde Nast Traveler
“If you want a really wonderful friendship novel, this is it.” — Wisconsin Public Radio
“In beautiful prose, Kamali sketches her characters with nuanced strokes even while depicting traumatic topics with sensitivity . . . Readers are also given a glimpse of the region’s rich culture and tapestry of life as it was previously compared to the scenario today. Though this is a story set in Iran, it could also be very well the story of women in different corners of the world.” — The New Arab
“If you loved The Stationery Shop as much as I did, you’re going to devour this one . . . A stunning portrayal of broken countries and friendships brought together by courage and loyalty. Just beautiful.” — Women Writers, Women’s Books
“I had loved The Stationery Shop . . . I am happy to say that this one is equally lovely . . . I just loved this story about friendship, and politics, and what we choose to fight for, and what we choose to forgive.” — Book Talk
“I rooted for Ellie and Homa as individuals, as well as best friends from different backgrounds and with different dreams for their futures. This is an emotional and thought-provoking novel with strong female characters. So glad I picked it up!” — Zip06, Lori, R.J. Julia Booksellers
“Breathtaking, remarkable . . . a beautiful story of mothers and daughters and the unbreakable ties of friendship.” — Montecito Journal
“We both read this book and immediately agreed that it jumped to the top of our list of favorite books of 2024 . . . We loved the beautifully complex friendship between Ellie and Homa, and we’ll be thinking about them for a long time.” — The Book Girls’ Guide
“Insightful . . . Kamali sustains the reader’s interest by exploring the contrasts and sustained connection between the two central characters. This will resonate with fans of women’s fiction.”
— Publishers Weekly
