The Stationary Shop by Marjan Kamali

Book Review

My last read of September!
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⁣This book reminded me of a cross between Next Year in Havana, The Art of Hearing Heartbeats and The Notebook. The book is beautifully written and I felt genuinely connected to each of the characters (even if I did find the love story a bit far fetched… what can I say, I’m kind of a grinch when it comes to long drawn-out love stories 🤷🏼‍♀️😖). This is the first book I’ve read set in Iran and I thoroughly enjoyed learning about Tehran and the history of the country.
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⁣The story takes place between two time-periods, 2013 and 1953 (and slightly beyond). In 1953, amid the political uprising in Tehran, we see Roya, a sweet 17-year old girl, meet and fall in love with Bahman, a handsome political activist. The two become engaged, much to the dismay of Bahman’s mother, and plan to marry at the end of summer. However, Bahman goes missing shortly after their engagement party and abruptly breaks up with Roya in a letter. In 2013, we see Roya as an old woman living in New England with her American husband. One day, she stumbles upon a stationary shop, much like the one in Tehran where she met and fell in love with Bahman. This chance encounter leads her to discover the truth behind Bahman’s disappearance and the love that defined her life.
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⁣If you enjoy romantic historical fiction (or just love a pretty book cover), this book is definitely for you.
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⁣⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5 stars