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A Whole Song and Dance
Nasrin Mahdavi is an Iranian-American college freshman who's a triple threat on Broadway—but she's living a double life.
It’s her first semester majoring in musical theater at NYU’s prestigious Tisch School of the Arts, and Nasrin spends her days prepping for auditions, sweating through dance classes, and belting her heart out for the viral streaming show she’s been cast in. But on calls with her maman and baba, she’s the golden child who put her theater dreams aside to follow in their entrepreneurial footsteps as a business major.
At least her whole life isn’t a lie—she is taking a single business course. Except she’s kind of failing it. Nasrin needs to bring her grade up fast if she’s going to keep her parents in the dark, so she grudgingly signs up for tutoring with the infuriatingly smug and annoyingly attractive Max. And yet . . . as the semester rushes by, the sparks of anger that first flew between them start to turn into a very different kind of spark. The kind she definitely does not have time for.
Except when Nasrin’s charmingly devious cousin takes an interest in Max too, Nasrin has to figure out exactly what has been an act, and what’s for real. Can Nasrin decide what—and who—is truly worth fighting for, and find a way to step into the spotlight as her full self?
It’s her first semester majoring in musical theater at NYU’s prestigious Tisch School of the Arts, and Nasrin spends her days prepping for auditions, sweating through dance classes, and belting her heart out for the viral streaming show she’s been cast in. But on calls with her maman and baba, she’s the golden child who put her theater dreams aside to follow in their entrepreneurial footsteps as a business major.
At least her whole life isn’t a lie—she is taking a single business course. Except she’s kind of failing it. Nasrin needs to bring her grade up fast if she’s going to keep her parents in the dark, so she grudgingly signs up for tutoring with the infuriatingly smug and annoyingly attractive Max. And yet . . . as the semester rushes by, the sparks of anger that first flew between them start to turn into a very different kind of spark. The kind she definitely does not have time for.
Except when Nasrin’s charmingly devious cousin takes an interest in Max too, Nasrin has to figure out exactly what has been an act, and what’s for real. Can Nasrin decide what—and who—is truly worth fighting for, and find a way to step into the spotlight as her full self?
320 pages, Paperback
First published April 4, 2023
10 people are currently reading
3851 people want to read
About the author
Sarvenaz Tash
11 books368 followersSarvenaz Tash is the author of of nine novels (and counting) for kids, young adults, and adults including The Geek's Guide to Unrequited Love, A Whole Song and Dance, and The Queen of Ocean Parkway. Her books have won awards and recognition from the Junior Library Guild, the American Library Association, Amazon, Kirkus Reviews and Publishers Weekly to name a few. She was born in Tehran, Iran and grew up on Long Island, NY. She received her BFA in Film and Television from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, which means she got to spend most of college running around and making movies (it was a lot of fun). Sarvenaz currently lives in Brooklyn, NY with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
September 4, 2023
You know what!? I was pleasantly surprised by this one. The cover is gorgeous and I thought the synopsis sounded fun, but this was one that I kept thinking about while I wasn't reading it. It wasn't perfect, but I had a good time. CW: underage drinking, microaggressions experienced by main character
A Whole Song and Dance is a YA contemporary/realistic fiction book that follows main character Nasrin who has just been accepted into NYU's Tisch School of Arts. While this is exciting considering their acceptance rate, Nasrin is unable to tell her parents who expect her to get a degree in business. What ensues is a chaotic and fun narrative detailing Nasin's double life. Not only does she have to find the courage to tell her parents about her passion, but she also has to figure out how to live life while being true to herself.
What Worked: Nasrin is a hilarious and realistic narrator. It's clear that she is passionate about musical theater and wants to share that passion with her parents. There were moments when she literally made me laugh out loud in reaction to the absurd and chaotic things that were happening with her family. I also appreciated that Tash made Nasrin an imperfect character that needed to do a lot of self-reflection and growth. Of course there are issues because Nasrin is lying to her parents, but she also struggles with how to balance relationships with friends at school. She's created this endless cycle of lying and, in some ways, becomes extremely self-centered. I loved that she was held accountable for her actions by both her best friend and her love interest. She also had to realize that all roles aren't good roles. Opportunities present themselves, but they cause her to not only experience some microaggressions, but also cause an imbalance in her professional and personal life. I also loved the relationship that Nasrin has with her parents. Granted there was an inevitable fallout due to her lying, but Tash forces them to eventually communicate and admit where they all made mistakes along the way. Nasrin also experiences the making of a cute relationship. They're cute because it's clear that they enjoy each other, but due to their rocky and often hostile initial interactions, they're confused on how to move forward with their relationship. It was a nice addition to the overall story and doesn't overtake/shadow over the issues in the rest of the story.
What Didn't Work: Nasrin has a cousin that comes to live in New York that is from Iran. When she arrives she creates conflict for Nasrin and has little regard for how Nasrin lives her life. Her preference is to party and skip class. Granted, I think that Tash does a good job explaining why Nasrin is trying to just "live life" while in New York instead of going to school, but I couldn't get past all the negative things she does to Tish. From blackmailing her, to forcing her to sit in on her classes, to intentionally going out on a date with someone Nasrin was clearly interested in, there wasn't enough explanation for me at the end. I know why she enjoyed partying, but the explanation for her behavior toward Nasrin didn't work for me.
A Whole Song and Dance is a YA contemporary/realistic fiction book that follows main character Nasrin who has just been accepted into NYU's Tisch School of Arts. While this is exciting considering their acceptance rate, Nasrin is unable to tell her parents who expect her to get a degree in business. What ensues is a chaotic and fun narrative detailing Nasin's double life. Not only does she have to find the courage to tell her parents about her passion, but she also has to figure out how to live life while being true to herself.
What Worked: Nasrin is a hilarious and realistic narrator. It's clear that she is passionate about musical theater and wants to share that passion with her parents. There were moments when she literally made me laugh out loud in reaction to the absurd and chaotic things that were happening with her family. I also appreciated that Tash made Nasrin an imperfect character that needed to do a lot of self-reflection and growth. Of course there are issues because Nasrin is lying to her parents, but she also struggles with how to balance relationships with friends at school. She's created this endless cycle of lying and, in some ways, becomes extremely self-centered. I loved that she was held accountable for her actions by both her best friend and her love interest. She also had to realize that all roles aren't good roles. Opportunities present themselves, but they cause her to not only experience some microaggressions, but also cause an imbalance in her professional and personal life. I also loved the relationship that Nasrin has with her parents. Granted there was an inevitable fallout due to her lying, but Tash forces them to eventually communicate and admit where they all made mistakes along the way. Nasrin also experiences the making of a cute relationship. They're cute because it's clear that they enjoy each other, but due to their rocky and often hostile initial interactions, they're confused on how to move forward with their relationship. It was a nice addition to the overall story and doesn't overtake/shadow over the issues in the rest of the story.
What Didn't Work: Nasrin has a cousin that comes to live in New York that is from Iran. When she arrives she creates conflict for Nasrin and has little regard for how Nasrin lives her life. Her preference is to party and skip class. Granted, I think that Tash does a good job explaining why Nasrin is trying to just "live life" while in New York instead of going to school, but I couldn't get past all the negative things she does to Tish. From blackmailing her, to forcing her to sit in on her classes, to intentionally going out on a date with someone Nasrin was clearly interested in, there wasn't enough explanation for me at the end. I know why she enjoyed partying, but the explanation for her behavior toward Nasrin didn't work for me.
December 24, 2023
mind u when i started this book i was ready to give it 4 stars. it was going so well and the romance had me hooked—i love the tutoring trope.
halfway through, the characters go to an isra*li cafe (and ordered falafel of all things IM CRYINGGG). shit had my blood boiling. i never returned a book on libby so fast.
sarvanez tash u will start coughing in 4 days
halfway through, the characters go to an isra*li cafe (and ordered falafel of all things IM CRYINGGG). shit had my blood boiling. i never returned a book on libby so fast.
sarvanez tash u will start coughing in 4 days
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May 19, 2022I've always had all of the passion--and none of the talent--for musical theater, and this book was my chance to live vicariously through a real triple threat! I had so much fun writing Nasrin as she navigates her freshman year of drama school and drama life, but always secretly believing that a choreographed group number was just one well-timed piano ping away. Me too, Nasrin. Me too.
I hope this book makes you break out into song as much as I did while writing it!
I hope this book makes you break out into song as much as I did while writing it!
September 7, 2022
You’re gonna wanna put “A Whole Song and Dance” by Sarvenaz Tash on your must-read list. This book is witty, genuine, insightful, and most definitely every theater lover’s dream! Expect lots of twists and turns, a charming romance, and musical theater references galore! Finished reading it in a day, but kinda wish I hadn’t so I could relish in it a little longer. Got me screaming ENCORE at the top of my lungs. The characters in this book are so strong and their relationships to Nasrin are so compelling. Nasrin's character arc is so beautiful and well crafted. Especially love that this kind of a story is centered around a Persian heroine. Thank you Sarvenaz Tash for amplifying Iranian-American voices and giving me “A Whole Song and Dance” that I’ve got stuck in my head. Don’t walk, run to the bookstore for this gem!
April 14, 2023
1.5✨
i hate to hate this book but i can't help it. everything felt flat. the main character was annoying. imo, there was no chemistry between these characters, they literally had 4 real conversations throughout the whole book. i only really liked beckett, he's the reason i gave this a half star. such a disappointment.
i hate to hate this book but i can't help it. everything felt flat. the main character was annoying. imo, there was no chemistry between these characters, they literally had 4 real conversations throughout the whole book. i only really liked beckett, he's the reason i gave this a half star. such a disappointment.
April 4, 2023
I could hardly put this down. This book is about Nasrin who gets into NYU for drama but her parents think she got in for business, and she keeps chickening out of telling them, even in her first year there.
Not only was there so much to the story that was very Iranian, like going to a Persian restaurant and seeing the dishes on the menu that you know the names of being referred to as descriptors like “green herb stew”, but there are also a lot of good lessons. Sure, the main theme of the story is that Nasrin feels awful lying to her parents about her pursuing drama and trying so hard to figure out how to tell them, but a significant event of the story as well revolves around her being cast in a web series that has a good chance of getting big, but once that becomes real, she isn’t sure if she would really rather be doing that than going to school, even though professional acting is what she wants.
The characters are really good, and the vast majority of them are people of color, and the plot never lets up, it keeps throwing curveball after curveball in Nasrin’s direction, and I had so much fun reading this.
I received a digital arc from Netgalley as part of a blog tour, for an honest review.
Not only was there so much to the story that was very Iranian, like going to a Persian restaurant and seeing the dishes on the menu that you know the names of being referred to as descriptors like “green herb stew”, but there are also a lot of good lessons. Sure, the main theme of the story is that Nasrin feels awful lying to her parents about her pursuing drama and trying so hard to figure out how to tell them, but a significant event of the story as well revolves around her being cast in a web series that has a good chance of getting big, but once that becomes real, she isn’t sure if she would really rather be doing that than going to school, even though professional acting is what she wants.
The characters are really good, and the vast majority of them are people of color, and the plot never lets up, it keeps throwing curveball after curveball in Nasrin’s direction, and I had so much fun reading this.
I received a digital arc from Netgalley as part of a blog tour, for an honest review.
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April 13, 2023Whether you're an actor, a fan of musical theatre, or understand all too well the tightrope balancing routine of deciding between following your own dreams or those of your parents, A WHOLE SONG AND DANCE by Sarvenaz Tash should definitely be your next relatable read!
March 23, 2023
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
I picked up a physical ARC from the publisher's booth at the North Texas Teen Book Festival in March 2023.
Well, this was certainly a fun and entertaining read. If you're a theater/musical nerd, I think you'll definitely enjoy it and be able to spot all the Easter eggs more than I did. I thought it was really brave of Nasrin to continue on the way that she did, though I definitely thought that school was kind of on the back-burner for her due to what she had happening outside of it. I'm glad she was able to catch her "big break" but also glad to see her character develop as the story continued and for her to realize it isn't all it's cracked up to be.
I liked her relationship with her parents, too, though I was kind of tired of the whole "I'm lying to my parents" being mentioned in practically every chapter. Yes, Nasrin, we know. From this, though, you could tell that she really did care for her parents and I feel like all parents, they very much wanted the best for their (only) child and I could tell that Nasrin was just slightly intimidated by them due to their "American dream" story. I also found her friendship with Beckett and even her cousin, Minu, as realistic as they come. The conversations they had regarding the privilege of higher education and romance were really on point. I'm glad all three of them were able to overcome the hurdle of a lot of life happening at once. In turn, the budding romance with Max was very cute. I found their romance easy and immediately likable and even Max's discussion with Nasrin regarding his privilege as a white male and his parents were spot-on.
Overall this was a great read. There were moments when I thought things seemed to happen too fast but they mellowed out in the end. I'm confident that once Nasrin graduates from Tisch she'll have the world at her feet and all the support behind her.
I picked up a physical ARC from the publisher's booth at the North Texas Teen Book Festival in March 2023.
Well, this was certainly a fun and entertaining read. If you're a theater/musical nerd, I think you'll definitely enjoy it and be able to spot all the Easter eggs more than I did. I thought it was really brave of Nasrin to continue on the way that she did, though I definitely thought that school was kind of on the back-burner for her due to what she had happening outside of it. I'm glad she was able to catch her "big break" but also glad to see her character develop as the story continued and for her to realize it isn't all it's cracked up to be.
I liked her relationship with her parents, too, though I was kind of tired of the whole "I'm lying to my parents" being mentioned in practically every chapter. Yes, Nasrin, we know. From this, though, you could tell that she really did care for her parents and I feel like all parents, they very much wanted the best for their (only) child and I could tell that Nasrin was just slightly intimidated by them due to their "American dream" story. I also found her friendship with Beckett and even her cousin, Minu, as realistic as they come. The conversations they had regarding the privilege of higher education and romance were really on point. I'm glad all three of them were able to overcome the hurdle of a lot of life happening at once. In turn, the budding romance with Max was very cute. I found their romance easy and immediately likable and even Max's discussion with Nasrin regarding his privilege as a white male and his parents were spot-on.
Overall this was a great read. There were moments when I thought things seemed to happen too fast but they mellowed out in the end. I'm confident that once Nasrin graduates from Tisch she'll have the world at her feet and all the support behind her.
April 13, 2023
love the writing of the author. She really pulls her reader into the book as you are reading. I love that that this story is about a girl from a different culture and her name is so unique, Nasrin. Nasrin wants to attend a prestigious Drama school and not NYU for business, that her parents want her to go to. That is a wonderful part of the story as it does happens that some parents want their kids to be what they want them to be and not what the kid wants to be. I also LOVE Beckett, he is a perfect friend and assistant to get Nasrin on that Broadway stage! He is such a great best friend with
I love that this story is about such a down to earth girl going for parts in New York and how that can be so cutthroat. It is such a great read for any kids who are looking to get into acting and specifically broadway or plays. I loved Nasrin's relationship with Max too in the book and I love the ending it was perfect;) I loved how it all worked out for Nasrin, Max, and her parents too. Great book overall and a positive message!
I love that this story is about such a down to earth girl going for parts in New York and how that can be so cutthroat. It is such a great read for any kids who are looking to get into acting and specifically broadway or plays. I loved Nasrin's relationship with Max too in the book and I love the ending it was perfect;) I loved how it all worked out for Nasrin, Max, and her parents too. Great book overall and a positive message!
July 3, 2024
3.5 stars. I thought this was sweet, and as a theatre kid myself I enjoyed it.
April 24, 2023
Another great read from Sarvenaz Tash! Highly recommended. Doubly highly recommended if you ever attended or had aspirations of attending NYU's Tisch School of the Arts.
January 22, 2023
I truly enjoyed this book. From the very beginning, the story was interesting and immersive. Although, if I could, I would give this book a 4.5 - 4.6 star rating. Here's why. I loved the story, but a few parts felt very cliché. A couple of plot points that I could see from a mile away ruined a multiple of the dramatic scenes and left more to be desired. Though, the characters were their own, and everyone was different. This book is the perfect length for what it is, and I ended it satisfied with how it started, how it finished, and everything in between. I loved how each character had a role, and was surprised when everything pulled together so beautifully. Overall, this was an amazing book, and after reading the first couple chapters, I ended up staying up until midnight finishing it. I highly recommend.
May 2, 2023
This was an entertaining #ownvoices YA novel about Nasrin Mahdavi, an Iranian-American college freshman who is struggling to pursue her acting dreams, double major in theatre and business to please her parents and also keep her true love for drama hidden from them.
Feeling pulled in too many directions, Nasrin is increasingly feeling exhausted acting the token person of color part on a new show, seemingly competing with her cousin for the affections of her new boyfriend and trying to find a way to get her parent's acceptance.
Good on audio and recommended for fans of books like Emma Lord's When you get the chance or Sajni Patel's My sister's big fat Indian wedding. This was a bit dramatic for me at times but I still enjoyed it a lot. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review.
Feeling pulled in too many directions, Nasrin is increasingly feeling exhausted acting the token person of color part on a new show, seemingly competing with her cousin for the affections of her new boyfriend and trying to find a way to get her parent's acceptance.
Good on audio and recommended for fans of books like Emma Lord's When you get the chance or Sajni Patel's My sister's big fat Indian wedding. This was a bit dramatic for me at times but I still enjoyed it a lot. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review.
August 5, 2022
SO HAPPY to have a new book from Sarvenaz Tash-and an AWESOME one at that!
November 12, 2023
Plowed through this in two hours under the influence of scallion pancakes and no wifi. Why can’t this be my life. I feel like there should be more musicals with gay storylines because 80% of performers are very very queer. Uh, yeah, this was adorable and will give me unrealistic expectations for my career as a theater kid! The chapter titles were so pretty with the fancy script and the musical song name <3 Also, whoever thought of the acronym STD for their show needs to be fucking fired. Petie, I’m looking at you. I love learning about aspects of Persian culture through Tash’s writing, and the food descriptions made my mouth water. I now have the urge to tell my parents that I’ll become a professional movie director instead of a lawyer, so wish me luck!
April 17, 2023
If you’re looking for a cute YA story then do this give a book a chance….it’s fun and easy to read.I flew through this book.Nasrin represented passion and Max was sweet.
Grateful to the author and coloured pages for providing an eARC of this book.
Grateful to the author and coloured pages for providing an eARC of this book.
September 30, 2024
I was prepared to hate on the romance here but Max won my heart in the end. Nasrin had me ripping my hair out over her poor choices, but isn’t that the hallmark of an excellently realistic YA?
August 12, 2023
This is so cute! I loved all the musical theatre references and the depiction of every artist's battle between art and stability.
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July 28, 2023A Whole Song and Dance by Sarvenaz Tash is a book in which I saw myself. Nasrin, fresh out of high school, has received her acceptance into the elite drama school of Tisch. Her parents want her to go to Stern, the business school, and when they assume her acceptance is actually for Stern, Nasrin cannot bring herself to correct them. Hence begins Nasrin’s double life. She takes measures to ensure they do not guess that she is going to Tisch and takes one Stats class to not completely lie to them about what she is studying. Her love and focus though is theatre and she dives into the education needed to be a professional with zeal and excitement.
𝙰 𝚆𝚑𝚘𝚕𝚎 𝚂𝚘𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙳𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎 is a quick read about a young girl choosing to pursue her passions without telling her family exactly what she is doing because she thinks they won’t support her. Caught up in the hard work of becoming a professional, she is living the amazing life of opportunities and understanding herself and her personal values. The story is grounded in culture and presents a nuanced picture of what it means to be a child of immigrants. Family interactions via phone and visits to Nasrin’s parents are an integral part of the story. There were aromatic foods that made me hungry and long for my grandma’s cooking. Also present, an amazing best friend, a playful cousin and an annoyingly hot TA amongst a variety of characters that made this book a great read.
Head to my blog to read my detailed review where I talk about each of the characters I loved, on the parallels I found between Nasrin’s life and what I grew up with in India and what it means to study our passions.
Thank you to Sarvenaz Tash and Disney Books for the review copy of this book. Thank you Colored Pages Tours for having me.
- Kriti, Armed with A Book | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
𝙰 𝚆𝚑𝚘𝚕𝚎 𝚂𝚘𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙳𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎 is a quick read about a young girl choosing to pursue her passions without telling her family exactly what she is doing because she thinks they won’t support her. Caught up in the hard work of becoming a professional, she is living the amazing life of opportunities and understanding herself and her personal values. The story is grounded in culture and presents a nuanced picture of what it means to be a child of immigrants. Family interactions via phone and visits to Nasrin’s parents are an integral part of the story. There were aromatic foods that made me hungry and long for my grandma’s cooking. Also present, an amazing best friend, a playful cousin and an annoyingly hot TA amongst a variety of characters that made this book a great read.
Head to my blog to read my detailed review where I talk about each of the characters I loved, on the parallels I found between Nasrin’s life and what I grew up with in India and what it means to study our passions.
Thank you to Sarvenaz Tash and Disney Books for the review copy of this book. Thank you Colored Pages Tours for having me.
- Kriti, Armed with A Book | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
June 13, 2023
Okay, this is definitely the most mature book I’ve rated. I tend to not read teen books, but I got this one when I signed up for a summer reading challenge at my library. It was fantastic, though! It was all about a girl named Nasrin. She is a total theatre nerd (which means she’s awesome in my book) and wants to be an actress. However, when Nasrin applied to the college of her dreams: Tisch, in New York City, she actually gets in! But her parents thought she was going to the business school Stern! Nasrin’s life turns crazy when she tries to juggle faking going to business school, Tisch classes, having a role in a web series, her irritating tutor, and her crazy cousin Minu. However, soon, all of Nasrin’s lies come back to blow up in her face. Read this to find out what crazy things Nasrin does!
#Teenage* #Theatrenerds,whereyouat? #Realisticfic #Possiblecrushesontutors**
*Contains swear words! Just check with your parents before u read it!
**You didn’t hear it from me ;)
#Teenage* #Theatrenerds,whereyouat? #Realisticfic #Possiblecrushesontutors**
*Contains swear words! Just check with your parents before u read it!
**You didn’t hear it from me ;)
July 3, 2023
This heartwarming, totally relatable, romantic comedy starring Nasrin Mahdavi and a slew of fun-loving supporting cast members showcases a young, driven Iranian-American college freshman who's a triple threat on Broadway—but who's living a double life.
I was smitten with Nasrin’s story in many ways. The title A Whole Song and Dance has a clever double meaning, as it is not just about Nasrin’s acting pursuits but about the perceived carnage along the way – especially the almost year-long “song and dance” she does in keeping her secret from her parents. Not only is the pressure we put on ourselves for our parent’s approval and support totally relatable (certainly was in my case), but so too is the pressure we put on ourselves in navigating this crazy little thing called life – even when it seems as if the world is at our feet.
A Whole Song and Dance is about being brave enough to follow your dreams but perhaps not being quite brave enough to deal with the impacts of that pursuit. Relationships, priorities and what we make excuses for are at the core of this story and are addressed in a refreshing and candid way. Author Sarvenaz Tash’s frank and creative writing is a joy to lose oneself in. Tash creates an inviting and stimulating framework in which she injects characters that battle their own demons and from whom there is a lot to learn.
The characters in A Whole Song and Dance are lovable because they are all flawed and believable. Despite the tale being set amongst the razzle dazzle of the acting and theater world, the character’s struggles are down-to-earth and real. Nasrin struggles with her prior experiences, juggling a hectic schedule, and her inability to tell her parents what she is really up to. Her best friend, Beckett, has trouble communicating with those closest to him – all to his own detriment. Max continues to work through his parents’ disapproval of his own career goals and how it affects him. Readers will be able to relate to at least one, but I suspect more, of these character struggles and hopefully have a lighthearted laugh about it along the way.
The contrast between the acting world and the business world is also addressed in a sincere, authentic way. Nasrin does not shun either career choice, but reflectively and thoughtfully makes light of the pros and cons of both, as well as the fact that the grass can often seem greener on the other side. She learns to have the courage and confidence to make tough choices. As much as she wants to do it all, at some point, something’s got to give, and she comes to terms with this and handles it with admirable grace.
Do yourself a favor and check out A Whole Song and Dance. It might help you navigate your own “song and dance” while giving you courage to face your fears and accept your authentic self.
I was smitten with Nasrin’s story in many ways. The title A Whole Song and Dance has a clever double meaning, as it is not just about Nasrin’s acting pursuits but about the perceived carnage along the way – especially the almost year-long “song and dance” she does in keeping her secret from her parents. Not only is the pressure we put on ourselves for our parent’s approval and support totally relatable (certainly was in my case), but so too is the pressure we put on ourselves in navigating this crazy little thing called life – even when it seems as if the world is at our feet.
A Whole Song and Dance is about being brave enough to follow your dreams but perhaps not being quite brave enough to deal with the impacts of that pursuit. Relationships, priorities and what we make excuses for are at the core of this story and are addressed in a refreshing and candid way. Author Sarvenaz Tash’s frank and creative writing is a joy to lose oneself in. Tash creates an inviting and stimulating framework in which she injects characters that battle their own demons and from whom there is a lot to learn.
The characters in A Whole Song and Dance are lovable because they are all flawed and believable. Despite the tale being set amongst the razzle dazzle of the acting and theater world, the character’s struggles are down-to-earth and real. Nasrin struggles with her prior experiences, juggling a hectic schedule, and her inability to tell her parents what she is really up to. Her best friend, Beckett, has trouble communicating with those closest to him – all to his own detriment. Max continues to work through his parents’ disapproval of his own career goals and how it affects him. Readers will be able to relate to at least one, but I suspect more, of these character struggles and hopefully have a lighthearted laugh about it along the way.
The contrast between the acting world and the business world is also addressed in a sincere, authentic way. Nasrin does not shun either career choice, but reflectively and thoughtfully makes light of the pros and cons of both, as well as the fact that the grass can often seem greener on the other side. She learns to have the courage and confidence to make tough choices. As much as she wants to do it all, at some point, something’s got to give, and she comes to terms with this and handles it with admirable grace.
Do yourself a favor and check out A Whole Song and Dance. It might help you navigate your own “song and dance” while giving you courage to face your fears and accept your authentic self.
May 22, 2023
"𝐒𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞. 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐦𝐲 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬, 𝐛𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐝𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫."
Actual Rating: 1.5 ✨
This book was about as bad as the plays my high school put on...it's a big no from me.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝:
I love books about musical theater / Broadway. I'm not musically talented at all, but I love watching musicals and I love the soundtracks. I've read a couple of other YA theater books, and I've really enjoyed them, so I had high hopes for this one, but unfortunately, it just didn't work for me. At all. What I did like was how each chapter was titled after a Broadway song so like "My Shot" from Hamilton, etc. I also really liked learning more about Persian culture. I also really enjoyed Beckett and Minu's characters.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐃𝐢𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞:
Unfortunately, the good parts of this book are overshadowed by clunky writing and a very unbelievable plot, not even to mention the absolute worst main character I've read this year. The main thing that bothered me about this plot is how unbelievable it is. Nasrin walks into her first two auditions and wins BOTH roles, as a freshman. In NYC. Home to thousands of actresses. Okay? That was one thing but I also just found it so unbelievable that her parents never found out about the lie. I mean the fake website for bills is one thing, but it just seemed so unrealistic that her parents would really not notice that their daughter was lying to them, or that nobody else would find out.
In addition, the writing is just so juvenile. I'm supposed to believe this girl is a high school freshman, but she really acted like a high school freshman. She was so immature. I hated reading from her perspective, she was so whiny and refused to recognize her own privilege. She whined constantly about her parents wanting her to pursue a more responsible career choice, but she never felt bad about taking their money. NYU's Tisch School, which Nasrin attends is almost $20,000 a semester. I just could not handle her horrible behavior when she literally is so blessed to attend one of the best schools in America. And yet she lies, over and over.
Those were my main issues in the book, but the love story was also stupid, and the love interest was about as interesting as a saltine cracker. Honestly, this book was just not for me. For being about theater, it couldn't really put on a show.
Actual Rating: 1.5 ✨
This book was about as bad as the plays my high school put on...it's a big no from me.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝:
I love books about musical theater / Broadway. I'm not musically talented at all, but I love watching musicals and I love the soundtracks. I've read a couple of other YA theater books, and I've really enjoyed them, so I had high hopes for this one, but unfortunately, it just didn't work for me. At all. What I did like was how each chapter was titled after a Broadway song so like "My Shot" from Hamilton, etc. I also really liked learning more about Persian culture. I also really enjoyed Beckett and Minu's characters.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐃𝐢𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞:
Unfortunately, the good parts of this book are overshadowed by clunky writing and a very unbelievable plot, not even to mention the absolute worst main character I've read this year. The main thing that bothered me about this plot is how unbelievable it is. Nasrin walks into her first two auditions and wins BOTH roles, as a freshman. In NYC. Home to thousands of actresses. Okay? That was one thing but I also just found it so unbelievable that her parents never found out about the lie. I mean the fake website for bills is one thing, but it just seemed so unrealistic that her parents would really not notice that their daughter was lying to them, or that nobody else would find out.
In addition, the writing is just so juvenile. I'm supposed to believe this girl is a high school freshman, but she really acted like a high school freshman. She was so immature. I hated reading from her perspective, she was so whiny and refused to recognize her own privilege. She whined constantly about her parents wanting her to pursue a more responsible career choice, but she never felt bad about taking their money. NYU's Tisch School, which Nasrin attends is almost $20,000 a semester. I just could not handle her horrible behavior when she literally is so blessed to attend one of the best schools in America. And yet she lies, over and over.
Those were my main issues in the book, but the love story was also stupid, and the love interest was about as interesting as a saltine cracker. Honestly, this book was just not for me. For being about theater, it couldn't really put on a show.
June 27, 2023
A WHOLE SONG AND DANCE was an enjoyable young adult contemporary about Nasrin Mahdavi who has to juggle multiple lies when she gets into the school of her dreams—the one her parents don’t want her going to. And then her predicament gets more complicated when she lands a role on a brand new series, she starts getting closer to a boy, and her cousin moves in and starts to stir everything up.
I’ll admit, this took me months to read. I’m not joking. I think I got the arc sometime in March and it’s currently the end of June. So… safe to say I don’t remember everything about this book. I did like it, especially Nasrin’s growth and the way she finally owned up to her mistakes by the end. I really enjoyed how her relationship with Minu developed, and how they finally put aside their differences to become friends. Nasrin’s relationship with Beckett was really sweet, and her relationship with Max was even sweeter.
The reason this is a three star instead of a four star book simply comes down to the fact that it took me so long to read. Had I read it faster, I may have enjoyed it better, but it just didn’t hook me like I wanted it to, therefore I kept putting it off until I finally rolled it on my tbr wheel (don’t ask) and I managed to finish it in only a couple of hours. I do feel like Nasrin was a little bit immature for someone who was supposed to be a university student, but I did feel like she grew out of that as the book went on, so it didn’t bother me too much. Also, this has more to do with the marketing than the book itself but this is definitely more of a contemporary than a romance. Nasrin’s lies took precedent over her relationship with Max—which I didn’t generally love, but that’s a me fault, not the book’s fault—and so this was definitely not a romance book.
Regardless, this was a fun book that I did genuinely enjoy. It’s just a bit lower down on my enjoyment scale than others, but it is most definitely not a bad book!
Thank you, NetGalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
I’ll admit, this took me months to read. I’m not joking. I think I got the arc sometime in March and it’s currently the end of June. So… safe to say I don’t remember everything about this book. I did like it, especially Nasrin’s growth and the way she finally owned up to her mistakes by the end. I really enjoyed how her relationship with Minu developed, and how they finally put aside their differences to become friends. Nasrin’s relationship with Beckett was really sweet, and her relationship with Max was even sweeter.
The reason this is a three star instead of a four star book simply comes down to the fact that it took me so long to read. Had I read it faster, I may have enjoyed it better, but it just didn’t hook me like I wanted it to, therefore I kept putting it off until I finally rolled it on my tbr wheel (don’t ask) and I managed to finish it in only a couple of hours. I do feel like Nasrin was a little bit immature for someone who was supposed to be a university student, but I did feel like she grew out of that as the book went on, so it didn’t bother me too much. Also, this has more to do with the marketing than the book itself but this is definitely more of a contemporary than a romance. Nasrin’s lies took precedent over her relationship with Max—which I didn’t generally love, but that’s a me fault, not the book’s fault—and so this was definitely not a romance book.
Regardless, this was a fun book that I did genuinely enjoy. It’s just a bit lower down on my enjoyment scale than others, but it is most definitely not a bad book!
Thank you, NetGalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
April 3, 2023
Book Title: A Whole Song and Dance
Author: Sarveraz Tash
Narrator: Emily O’Brien
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Genre: YA/Teen, Young Adult Romance
Pub Date: May 2, 2023
My Rating: 4.04 Stars
Nasrin’s parents came to America in hopes of a better life for their family.
They started their own from the ground floor.
Nasrin loves the theater, and although she knows it is a tough industry, Theater life is her dream.
She is on cloud 9 when she is accepted into NYU’s TISCH School of the Arts. TISCH is one of the most elite theater programs in the world, it is highly competitive acceptance rate is 15%. Nasrin’s parents believe she applied to NYU’s Stern School of Business is which is also an elite program.
Story was fun!
I know I am not the target audience for this story however, as a High School Guidance Counselor I love reading a good YA story. I often recommend books to my students. The only thing with this story is that I was disappointed with some of the nasty language. I know teens talk like this but as an adult I am not comfortable in recommending/suggesting a story with unnecessary as well as unfiltered nasty language. Since I liked this message I will recommend with a disclaimer that I would have preferred a filter with some of the words used.
On another Note: This story reminded of me of actor Kevin Costner who attended a local high school as well as a local college here in Orange County, Ca. His parents were hard working German immigrants. His mother Sharon Rae insisted he major in Business as she was fearful he wouldn’t make is as an actor and needed something he could fall back on. He earned a BA in Marketing & Finance at California State University, Fullerton.
Like Nasrin he was able to please his parents and also to use his Business degree along with his acting talent.
Want to thank NetGalley and Disney Hyperion for granting me the pleasure of reading this early eGalley.
Audiobook Publishing Date scheduled for May 2, 2023
Author: Sarveraz Tash
Narrator: Emily O’Brien
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Genre: YA/Teen, Young Adult Romance
Pub Date: May 2, 2023
My Rating: 4.04 Stars
Nasrin’s parents came to America in hopes of a better life for their family.
They started their own from the ground floor.
Nasrin loves the theater, and although she knows it is a tough industry, Theater life is her dream.
She is on cloud 9 when she is accepted into NYU’s TISCH School of the Arts. TISCH is one of the most elite theater programs in the world, it is highly competitive acceptance rate is 15%. Nasrin’s parents believe she applied to NYU’s Stern School of Business is which is also an elite program.
Story was fun!
I know I am not the target audience for this story however, as a High School Guidance Counselor I love reading a good YA story. I often recommend books to my students. The only thing with this story is that I was disappointed with some of the nasty language. I know teens talk like this but as an adult I am not comfortable in recommending/suggesting a story with unnecessary as well as unfiltered nasty language. Since I liked this message I will recommend with a disclaimer that I would have preferred a filter with some of the words used.
On another Note: This story reminded of me of actor Kevin Costner who attended a local high school as well as a local college here in Orange County, Ca. His parents were hard working German immigrants. His mother Sharon Rae insisted he major in Business as she was fearful he wouldn’t make is as an actor and needed something he could fall back on. He earned a BA in Marketing & Finance at California State University, Fullerton.
Like Nasrin he was able to please his parents and also to use his Business degree along with his acting talent.
Want to thank NetGalley and Disney Hyperion for granting me the pleasure of reading this early eGalley.
Audiobook Publishing Date scheduled for May 2, 2023
January 14, 2024
A Whole Song and Dance by Sarvenaz Tash is a charming and heartfelt young adult novel that follows the story of Nasrin, a freshman in NYU’s prestigious musical theater program who is struggling to balance her passion for theater with her family’s expectations for her to pursue a business degree. When Nasrin starts to fail her business course, she reluctantly enlists the help of Max, a smug and attractive tutor who quickly becomes more than just a study partner.
Tash has created a cast of characters that are both realistic and endearing. Nasrin is a relatable protagonist, grappling with the pressures of being the “golden child” in her family and trying to find her place in the world. Max, too, is a well-rounded character, with his own motivations and struggles that make him more than just a love interest. Nasrin’s cousin, who causes a bit of romantic drama, is a particularly entertaining character who adds a touch of mischief to the story.
One of the strengths of A Whole Song and Dance is the way that Tash incorporates themes of identity, family, and pursuing one’s dreams into the story without feeling preachy or heavy-handed. Nasrin’s struggles with balancing her passion for theater with her family’s expectations will resonate with many young readers, and the way that she learns to stand up for herself and pursue her dreams is empowering.
The romantic storyline between Nasrin and Max is also well-handled, with their chemistry and banter feeling authentic and sweet. The slow burn of their relationship is satisfying to read, and the obstacles that they face feel organic to the story. Overall, A Whole Song and Dance is a charming and uplifting read that will appeal to fans of both musical theater and romance. Tash’s writing is engaging and witty, and the characters are a delight to spend time with. Highly recommended!
Tash has created a cast of characters that are both realistic and endearing. Nasrin is a relatable protagonist, grappling with the pressures of being the “golden child” in her family and trying to find her place in the world. Max, too, is a well-rounded character, with his own motivations and struggles that make him more than just a love interest. Nasrin’s cousin, who causes a bit of romantic drama, is a particularly entertaining character who adds a touch of mischief to the story.
One of the strengths of A Whole Song and Dance is the way that Tash incorporates themes of identity, family, and pursuing one’s dreams into the story without feeling preachy or heavy-handed. Nasrin’s struggles with balancing her passion for theater with her family’s expectations will resonate with many young readers, and the way that she learns to stand up for herself and pursue her dreams is empowering.
The romantic storyline between Nasrin and Max is also well-handled, with their chemistry and banter feeling authentic and sweet. The slow burn of their relationship is satisfying to read, and the obstacles that they face feel organic to the story. Overall, A Whole Song and Dance is a charming and uplifting read that will appeal to fans of both musical theater and romance. Tash’s writing is engaging and witty, and the characters are a delight to spend time with. Highly recommended!
March 21, 2023
Finding your passion is something we hope for all of our kids, but sometimes we worry if that passion will really support them as they go through life. Nasrin’s parents came to America in hopes of providing a better life for their family. They created a business from the roots up and they know that while Nasrin loves the theater, it can be a tough industry to thrive in. Theater is life though for Nasrin and there is nowhere else she would rather be. So when she is accepted into one of the most elite theater colleges in the world, she knows she has to go, even though her parents were hoping she would be attending the business school. College is filled with ups and downs and trying to figure out how to balance every opportunity that comes her way and uphold a facade that she is in the business school starts to take its toll on Nasrin. Can she figure out how to be true to herself, and make her parents proud, or will the lies keep building until they crash down on her.
I truly enjoyed this book. This is a great example of someone who is going out into the world on their own for the first time and them learning who they are, and also learning that just because an opportunity presents itself doesn’t always mean that it is the right one for you. I know that being who you authentically are and knowing that it might upset your parents can be difficult, yet I am so glad that Nasrin is finally able to talk to her parents and realize that the relationship they had before she left for school can be maintained and grow, but not when it is feed lies.
Thank you so much to Disney Publishing World Wide and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.
I truly enjoyed this book. This is a great example of someone who is going out into the world on their own for the first time and them learning who they are, and also learning that just because an opportunity presents itself doesn’t always mean that it is the right one for you. I know that being who you authentically are and knowing that it might upset your parents can be difficult, yet I am so glad that Nasrin is finally able to talk to her parents and realize that the relationship they had before she left for school can be maintained and grow, but not when it is feed lies.
Thank you so much to Disney Publishing World Wide and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.
April 11, 2023
This was really, really cute! Attending NYU, obsessed with musical theatre… I feel very seen in this book!
The story has been done countless times, but there’s a reason everyone from YA authors to Disney Channel filmmakers keeps revisiting the topic – it’s so satisfying when done well, and doubly satisfying for the people creating art who can identify with the struggle. Nasrin’s strict immigrant parents want her to have a sensible career (business) and believe that acting is a hobby. But she has to follow her passions! She lies to them to hide her acting, is incredibly good at acting, the lies blow up in her face, and everyone learns valuable lessons about accepting differences and following your dreams. Sometimes, a well-done rendition of a classic story is all you need!
I will say, the pacing felt a little off. I think the book could have benefited from being maybe 50 pages longer, allowing the reader to spend some time with Nasrin, her classes, her friends, and so on. It felt very rushed particularly at the beginning. It’s not hard to imagine Nasrin loving her classes or befriending Beckett or struggling with creative decisions in her webseries… but it would have been much better to spend time on those things and see Nasrin experience it firsthand rather than read her quickly summarize it after. (Alternatively, perhaps start the story a month or two into the schoolyear, so it’s not as jarring to skip over the crucial moments of her establishing her college experience.)
But anyone looking for a fluffy quick read will probably enjoy breezing through this book in a day or two, just like I did!
The story has been done countless times, but there’s a reason everyone from YA authors to Disney Channel filmmakers keeps revisiting the topic – it’s so satisfying when done well, and doubly satisfying for the people creating art who can identify with the struggle. Nasrin’s strict immigrant parents want her to have a sensible career (business) and believe that acting is a hobby. But she has to follow her passions! She lies to them to hide her acting, is incredibly good at acting, the lies blow up in her face, and everyone learns valuable lessons about accepting differences and following your dreams. Sometimes, a well-done rendition of a classic story is all you need!
I will say, the pacing felt a little off. I think the book could have benefited from being maybe 50 pages longer, allowing the reader to spend some time with Nasrin, her classes, her friends, and so on. It felt very rushed particularly at the beginning. It’s not hard to imagine Nasrin loving her classes or befriending Beckett or struggling with creative decisions in her webseries… but it would have been much better to spend time on those things and see Nasrin experience it firsthand rather than read her quickly summarize it after. (Alternatively, perhaps start the story a month or two into the schoolyear, so it’s not as jarring to skip over the crucial moments of her establishing her college experience.)
But anyone looking for a fluffy quick read will probably enjoy breezing through this book in a day or two, just like I did!
May 7, 2023
💕REVIEW💕
✨A Whole Song and Dance✨
by Sarvenaz Tash
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
🌸Synopsis:
I hate this class, I think as I try to mentally bore a hole through the side of Max Fletcher’s ear with the strength of my death stare. I don’t need Statistics for my major. I should’ve dropped it while I had the chance.
But it is a required course for the business major my parents think I’m pursuing.
Uh, yeah, sidebar: They still think I got into Stern.
I’m going to come clean soon, though, I swear. I even have a bullet-pointed Note on my phone with carefully crafted arguments and reasons why I need to be at Tisch. I open it now to quickly add a new one: I HATE STATS.
It’s at that exact moment, of course, that Max Fletcher deigns to look my way again. He rolls his eyes and shakes his head.
This should be my angry-song moment, I think. My “Just You Wait, ‘enry ‘iggins” or my “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair.”
Of course, the problem with those songs is that the heroine eventually fell in love with the man she’s singing about.
And no way on God’s Great White Way is that ever happening.
🌸My thoughts: If you are looking for a fun and quick YA then this is for you. I enjoyed the fast pace of the book but do wish the ending wasn’t quite so rushed. I would have loved another 20 or so pages to dig into. The relationships between the characters were well thought out and oh the lies upon lies upon lies! That was quite the spider web!
🌸”What’s the point of pursuing your passions if they aren’t going to make you happy? You might as well be a business major, then, right?”
✨A Whole Song and Dance✨
by Sarvenaz Tash
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
🌸Synopsis:
I hate this class, I think as I try to mentally bore a hole through the side of Max Fletcher’s ear with the strength of my death stare. I don’t need Statistics for my major. I should’ve dropped it while I had the chance.
But it is a required course for the business major my parents think I’m pursuing.
Uh, yeah, sidebar: They still think I got into Stern.
I’m going to come clean soon, though, I swear. I even have a bullet-pointed Note on my phone with carefully crafted arguments and reasons why I need to be at Tisch. I open it now to quickly add a new one: I HATE STATS.
It’s at that exact moment, of course, that Max Fletcher deigns to look my way again. He rolls his eyes and shakes his head.
This should be my angry-song moment, I think. My “Just You Wait, ‘enry ‘iggins” or my “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair.”
Of course, the problem with those songs is that the heroine eventually fell in love with the man she’s singing about.
And no way on God’s Great White Way is that ever happening.
🌸My thoughts: If you are looking for a fun and quick YA then this is for you. I enjoyed the fast pace of the book but do wish the ending wasn’t quite so rushed. I would have loved another 20 or so pages to dig into. The relationships between the characters were well thought out and oh the lies upon lies upon lies! That was quite the spider web!
🌸”What’s the point of pursuing your passions if they aren’t going to make you happy? You might as well be a business major, then, right?”
April 3, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel. 3.5/5 stars.
I really wanted to like this more than I did, but I found myself reading it simply to finish it. Nasrin's a triple threat, but even with getting into NYU and having her college paid for...she has to lie to her parents (who are paying for college) because they think she got into business school rather than Tisch at NYU. As a daughter of immigrants, Nasrin's passion is pushed to the side by her parents even though she doesn't want to go into business like them. So, she lies. That's the gist of the plot is keeping this double life away from her parents while Nasrin gets more and more opportunities, including starring on an increasingly popular -- yet problematic -- web show. She also has a relationship with her stats TA, and she has best friend drama with a fellow drama peer.
I'm not sure what exactly I didn't like about this, but I just struggled to read it. Every chapter reiterates the fact that Nasrin is lying to her parents. The weird romance with her stats TA. The problematic webshow which is acknowledged to have issues but no one ever does anything about it or says anything about it.
I did like the musical/broadway references. And Nasrin's passion and desire to do what she wants makes this a decent read...
I really wanted to like this more than I did, but I found myself reading it simply to finish it. Nasrin's a triple threat, but even with getting into NYU and having her college paid for...she has to lie to her parents (who are paying for college) because they think she got into business school rather than Tisch at NYU. As a daughter of immigrants, Nasrin's passion is pushed to the side by her parents even though she doesn't want to go into business like them. So, she lies. That's the gist of the plot is keeping this double life away from her parents while Nasrin gets more and more opportunities, including starring on an increasingly popular -- yet problematic -- web show. She also has a relationship with her stats TA, and she has best friend drama with a fellow drama peer.
I'm not sure what exactly I didn't like about this, but I just struggled to read it. Every chapter reiterates the fact that Nasrin is lying to her parents. The weird romance with her stats TA. The problematic webshow which is acknowledged to have issues but no one ever does anything about it or says anything about it.
I did like the musical/broadway references. And Nasrin's passion and desire to do what she wants makes this a decent read...
June 10, 2023
After listening to this audiobook, I will be doing a blog post about a handful of books that center around a family/personal scam around attending college as I've read a few recently and remember several others from recent past.
So this one features Nasrin who wants to continue to pursue her singing/acting into college but her family would like her to take business/economics instead, keeping that to a minimal hobby. She's living the good life trying to balance some basic courses, but not where she says she's supposed to be while now working on this big gig that seems to be getting bigger. Now she's in a pickle with her family that becomes a bigger pickle when she plays host to her cousin from abroad (who'd rather live the party-girl American in the movies college lifestyle) and surprise! her parents are moving from Ohio to be with her in the city and pursue their other goals/interests. How long will it take before the worlds collide/collapse and she has to fess up to the mirage she's been portraying.
It moves swiftly and fluidly without too much actual unnecessary drama making it a delightful audiobook/book about choices, dreams, and truth telling.
Acting plays a part, as does her Persian heritage, and a little romance. It's well-rounded in that respect with Nasrin's character shining.
So this one features Nasrin who wants to continue to pursue her singing/acting into college but her family would like her to take business/economics instead, keeping that to a minimal hobby. She's living the good life trying to balance some basic courses, but not where she says she's supposed to be while now working on this big gig that seems to be getting bigger. Now she's in a pickle with her family that becomes a bigger pickle when she plays host to her cousin from abroad (who'd rather live the party-girl American in the movies college lifestyle) and surprise! her parents are moving from Ohio to be with her in the city and pursue their other goals/interests. How long will it take before the worlds collide/collapse and she has to fess up to the mirage she's been portraying.
It moves swiftly and fluidly without too much actual unnecessary drama making it a delightful audiobook/book about choices, dreams, and truth telling.
Acting plays a part, as does her Persian heritage, and a little romance. It's well-rounded in that respect with Nasrin's character shining.
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