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False Prophet
The cult drama of The Girls meets Yellowface’s searing exploration of lies, immigration, and identity in this propulsive literary thriller debut.
A grieving actor-turned-memoirist reimagines his mother’s encounter with Jonestown’s Jim Jones—except it’s mostly all lies . . .
A propulsive debut that follows a grieving actor reimagining his mother’s run-in with Jim Jones, the deadliest cult leader of all time–the only problem is, it’s mostly all lies...
Actor Jal Persad is enjoying moderate “where do I know you from?” success when the death of his mother, Rita, sends him into a tailspin he hadn’t seen coming—after all, how could he grieve a woman he barely knew? Rita had grown up in Guyana during the rise and fall of the Jonestown cult, but never spoke of her home to Jal, always keeping him at a distance.
After months of avoiding work, a misunderstanding at lunch with his manager leads Jal into a web of lies. He soon finds himself writing a memoir of his mother’s adolescence, one that places her in direct contact with Jim Jones himself. There’s just one issue–Rita never met the man, and Jal knows that. Suddenly, the book goes viral, and Jal must face the looming threat of exposure, and his own guilt.
Alternating between Jal’s rapid rise and Rita’s distorted story, False Prophet confronts the intergenerational legacy of colonialism, the allure of power, and the age-old question–how much of yourself are you willing to lose to succeed?
A grieving actor-turned-memoirist reimagines his mother’s encounter with Jonestown’s Jim Jones—except it’s mostly all lies . . .
A propulsive debut that follows a grieving actor reimagining his mother’s run-in with Jim Jones, the deadliest cult leader of all time–the only problem is, it’s mostly all lies...
Actor Jal Persad is enjoying moderate “where do I know you from?” success when the death of his mother, Rita, sends him into a tailspin he hadn’t seen coming—after all, how could he grieve a woman he barely knew? Rita had grown up in Guyana during the rise and fall of the Jonestown cult, but never spoke of her home to Jal, always keeping him at a distance.
After months of avoiding work, a misunderstanding at lunch with his manager leads Jal into a web of lies. He soon finds himself writing a memoir of his mother’s adolescence, one that places her in direct contact with Jim Jones himself. There’s just one issue–Rita never met the man, and Jal knows that. Suddenly, the book goes viral, and Jal must face the looming threat of exposure, and his own guilt.
Alternating between Jal’s rapid rise and Rita’s distorted story, False Prophet confronts the intergenerational legacy of colonialism, the allure of power, and the age-old question–how much of yourself are you willing to lose to succeed?
- GenresFiction
288 pages, Paperback
Published July 7, 2026
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March 13, 2026I'm intrigued by this premise but simultaneously apprehensive...
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August 2, 2026
a really intriguing exploration of the lies we tell ourselves, the lies we tell others, and how all that plays out—especially when you are in a position of power. does the positivity of the lie outweigh its falsehood? can you really create a new, sustainable sense of self, when the foundation its built on is fake? I really enjoyed this one
February 21, 2026
I went into this one completely blind. I’d seen it floating around on NetGalley and thought why not haha. The cover with the little Chihuahua face hooked me immediately. It looked quirky and maybe a little weird in a fun way. This is definitely not my usual type of read, but I’m really glad I gave it a chance.This book follows Jal Persad an actor who is grieving the death of his distant mother Rita. After her passing he spirals and ends up fabricating a memoir about her adolescence placing her in direct contact with Jim Jones during the rise and fall of the Jonestown cult in Guyana. The only problem is None of it is true. (Coming from a religious school background where in my Bible four class we did a whole thing around cults with this cult in particular. I’m really glad I picked this book up) What starts as a misunderstanding snowballs into a full blown literary lie and when the book takes off Jal is forced to confront guilt, exposure, and the consequences of building success on something false. The story alternates between Jal’s present day unraveling and the distorted version of his mother’s past with digging into themes of immigration, identity, colonialism, power, and the cost of ambition.It’s very intense in a quiet psychological way. I wouldn’t call it fast paced action but it’s definitely propulsive in how it keeps tightening the web around Jal. Watching him justify his choices and dig himself deeper was both fascinating and uncomfortable. There’s a heavy focus on identity who gets to tell certain stories what we inherit from our parents and how much of ourselves we’re willing to sacrifice for validation or success.Even though this isn’t my typical genre I appreciated the message. It made me think more than I expected it to. It’s not exactly a light read, but it’s unsettling in a way that stays with you once you finish it. Definitely a surprising read for me and proof that sometimes picking up a book just because the cover is interesting can lead you somewhere totally unexpected.
July 25, 2026
I was soooo excited to read this book after seeing the cover and reading the blurb! Cults in general are so interesting to read about - even in a fiction book with minimal cult contact.
Unfortunately, I didn't get what I was hoping for from this book. It was way too short to pull off what it was trying to achieve. I feel like there were zero stakes built up in this plot, as any time there was a blockage to Jal's plans, he seemed to sidestep them immediately in a way that just felt like the story needed to continue and the author didn't actually care about the obstacles Jal was allegedly facing.
I'm not sure if Farhadi intended for Jal to be quite a dismissive character due to his status as a public figure, but again it felt like there were no stakes here and I didn't care whether Jal was the most famous man in the world or just a random guy, because nothing seemed important to him or us as readers. There were just no consequences for anything that happened.
A few of the 'minor' plot points were very stilted and seemed really random to me... They just felt like they were included for the sake of beefing up the word count. The random scenes that should have been heartfelt/romantic/exciting were just a bunch of nothing to me.
Although this book took me more time than expected to read, it did pass by quickly when I was reading it, and there were moments I enjoyed. I did like hearing about Rita’s store (whether or not they were true), but that was mostly it…
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Melville House for the ARC!
Unfortunately, I didn't get what I was hoping for from this book. It was way too short to pull off what it was trying to achieve. I feel like there were zero stakes built up in this plot, as any time there was a blockage to Jal's plans, he seemed to sidestep them immediately in a way that just felt like the story needed to continue and the author didn't actually care about the obstacles Jal was allegedly facing.
I'm not sure if Farhadi intended for Jal to be quite a dismissive character due to his status as a public figure, but again it felt like there were no stakes here and I didn't care whether Jal was the most famous man in the world or just a random guy, because nothing seemed important to him or us as readers. There were just no consequences for anything that happened.
A few of the 'minor' plot points were very stilted and seemed really random to me... They just felt like they were included for the sake of beefing up the word count. The random scenes that should have been heartfelt/romantic/exciting were just a bunch of nothing to me.
Although this book took me more time than expected to read, it did pass by quickly when I was reading it, and there were moments I enjoyed. I did like hearing about Rita’s store (whether or not they were true), but that was mostly it…
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Melville House for the ARC!
July 6, 2026
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!
False Prophet had a premise that immediately caught my attention. Jal, grieving the loss of his mother, decides to write a memoir that falsely connects his mother to the Jonestown massacre, and the reader knows from the beginning that he’s fabricating the story. Watching that lie snowball had the potential to be a fascinating exploration of grief, identity, and self-deception.
Unfortunately, the execution didn’t fully land for me. Having recently read 1984, where manipulating the truth serves a clear thematic purpose, I found Jal’s growing fabrication less compelling than I expected. Instead of making me question memory or truth, it mostly left me feeling detached.
I also found Jal and Rita to be fairly flat characters. I wanted to connect with their emotions and motivations, but they never felt fully realized, making it difficult for the story’s biggest moments to land.
Overall, I appreciated the ambition behind the concept, but I came away feeling that the premise was much stronger than its execution.
False Prophet had a premise that immediately caught my attention. Jal, grieving the loss of his mother, decides to write a memoir that falsely connects his mother to the Jonestown massacre, and the reader knows from the beginning that he’s fabricating the story. Watching that lie snowball had the potential to be a fascinating exploration of grief, identity, and self-deception.
Unfortunately, the execution didn’t fully land for me. Having recently read 1984, where manipulating the truth serves a clear thematic purpose, I found Jal’s growing fabrication less compelling than I expected. Instead of making me question memory or truth, it mostly left me feeling detached.
I also found Jal and Rita to be fairly flat characters. I wanted to connect with their emotions and motivations, but they never felt fully realized, making it difficult for the story’s biggest moments to land.
Overall, I appreciated the ambition behind the concept, but I came away feeling that the premise was much stronger than its execution.
July 26, 2026
What makes someone evil? Do they start that way or is it a seed planted early that only grows if watered?
What is truth? Is a helpful lie better than a destructive truth?
Just some thoughts and musings from someone who loves a morally gray zone >:)
What is truth? Is a helpful lie better than a destructive truth?
Just some thoughts and musings from someone who loves a morally gray zone >:)
Read
August 8, 2026Amazing book. Unique premise. Economically told story. Makes you think about which of your personal recollections are really true. And what truth means and whether it matters.
August 4, 2026
False Prophet is a bold, psychologically complex, and brilliantly layered literary thriller that explores the dangerous intersection of grief, ambition, identity, and deception. In this striking debut, Afsheen Farhadi blends the unsettling allure of cult history with an intimate examination of family, memory, and the stories people create to survive—or to succeed. The result is a gripping novel that is as intellectually provocative as it is emotionally compelling.
One of the novel's greatest strengths is its fascinating central premise. Jal Persad's decision to fabricate his mother's connection to Jim Jones transforms what begins as an act of desperation into an escalating web of deception with life-altering consequences. Farhadi skillfully explores how one lie can evolve into an entirely new identity, forcing readers to question where storytelling ends and self-deception begins.
Particularly compelling is the novel's exploration of grief and fractured family relationships. Jal's emotional distance from his mother leaves him searching for answers after her death, but instead of uncovering the truth, he manufactures a version of her life that satisfies both his longing and his ambition. This emotional conflict gives the thriller remarkable psychological depth, illustrating how unresolved grief can blur the boundaries between reality, memory, and imagination.
Another notable strength is the author's examination of identity and belonging. Through Jal's evolving deception and Rita's reimagined past, Farhadi thoughtfully explores the complexities of immigration, cultural inheritance, and the lasting effects of colonial history. The novel raises profound questions about who has the authority to tell a story, how identity is constructed, and what is sacrificed when personal truth is exchanged for public recognition.
The book also excels in its use of the Jonestown tragedy as a thematic backdrop rather than simply a historical setting. By weaving one of history's most infamous cults into a fictional narrative about truth and manipulation, Farhadi explores how charismatic narratives, public perception, and collective belief can shape both individual lives and historical memory. This connection adds layers of tension while enriching the novel's broader examination of power and influence.
Equally impressive is the novel's dual narrative structure. The shifting perspectives between Jal's present-day rise to literary fame and the fictionalized account of Rita's past create a compelling contrast between reality and invention. As these narratives gradually collide, the suspense intensifies, keeping readers invested in both the emotional consequences and the inevitable unraveling of Jal's deception.
Despite tackling sophisticated themes involving history, race, identity, media, and ethics, the writing remains engaging, accessible, and emotionally resonant. Farhadi balances literary ambition with propulsive storytelling, creating a novel that appeals equally to readers who enjoy psychological suspense and those drawn to character-driven literary fiction.
Perhaps the novel's most significant achievement is its exploration of storytelling itself. False Prophet asks difficult questions about authenticity, memory, and the cost of rewriting the past. It challenges readers to consider how personal narratives are shaped, manipulated, and consumed—and how easily truth can become secondary to the stories people most want to believe.
Intelligent, suspenseful, and emotionally rich, False Prophet is an exceptional debut that blends literary fiction with psychological thriller elements to powerful effect. Afsheen Farhadi has crafted a compelling novel that will resonate with readers interested in family dynamics, historical trauma, immigration, identity, media culture, and the enduring consequences of deception.
One of the novel's greatest strengths is its fascinating central premise. Jal Persad's decision to fabricate his mother's connection to Jim Jones transforms what begins as an act of desperation into an escalating web of deception with life-altering consequences. Farhadi skillfully explores how one lie can evolve into an entirely new identity, forcing readers to question where storytelling ends and self-deception begins.
Particularly compelling is the novel's exploration of grief and fractured family relationships. Jal's emotional distance from his mother leaves him searching for answers after her death, but instead of uncovering the truth, he manufactures a version of her life that satisfies both his longing and his ambition. This emotional conflict gives the thriller remarkable psychological depth, illustrating how unresolved grief can blur the boundaries between reality, memory, and imagination.
Another notable strength is the author's examination of identity and belonging. Through Jal's evolving deception and Rita's reimagined past, Farhadi thoughtfully explores the complexities of immigration, cultural inheritance, and the lasting effects of colonial history. The novel raises profound questions about who has the authority to tell a story, how identity is constructed, and what is sacrificed when personal truth is exchanged for public recognition.
The book also excels in its use of the Jonestown tragedy as a thematic backdrop rather than simply a historical setting. By weaving one of history's most infamous cults into a fictional narrative about truth and manipulation, Farhadi explores how charismatic narratives, public perception, and collective belief can shape both individual lives and historical memory. This connection adds layers of tension while enriching the novel's broader examination of power and influence.
Equally impressive is the novel's dual narrative structure. The shifting perspectives between Jal's present-day rise to literary fame and the fictionalized account of Rita's past create a compelling contrast between reality and invention. As these narratives gradually collide, the suspense intensifies, keeping readers invested in both the emotional consequences and the inevitable unraveling of Jal's deception.
Despite tackling sophisticated themes involving history, race, identity, media, and ethics, the writing remains engaging, accessible, and emotionally resonant. Farhadi balances literary ambition with propulsive storytelling, creating a novel that appeals equally to readers who enjoy psychological suspense and those drawn to character-driven literary fiction.
Perhaps the novel's most significant achievement is its exploration of storytelling itself. False Prophet asks difficult questions about authenticity, memory, and the cost of rewriting the past. It challenges readers to consider how personal narratives are shaped, manipulated, and consumed—and how easily truth can become secondary to the stories people most want to believe.
Intelligent, suspenseful, and emotionally rich, False Prophet is an exceptional debut that blends literary fiction with psychological thriller elements to powerful effect. Afsheen Farhadi has crafted a compelling novel that will resonate with readers interested in family dynamics, historical trauma, immigration, identity, media culture, and the enduring consequences of deception.
July 15, 2026
False Prophet is a gripping, emotionally complex, and deeply thought provoking literary thriller that explores the dangerous intersection of ambition, identity, truth, and the stories we create about ourselves. Afsheen Farhadi delivers a powerful debut that combines psychological tension with sharp cultural commentary, creating a novel that is both intensely compelling and profoundly reflective. Through a fascinating exploration of memory, deception, and legacy, this book examines the lengths people will go to in order to understand where they come from and who they want to become.
One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its unforgettable protagonist, Jal Persad. His emotional journey is layered with contradiction, vulnerability, and moral complexity. His struggle to process the loss of a mother he never truly knew creates an immediate emotional foundation for the story, while his decision to construct a false narrative about her past raises fascinating questions about grief, identity, and the human desire to find meaning. Jal is not simply a character seeking success he is someone searching for connection, belonging, and a sense of self.
The novel’s exploration of storytelling and truth is exceptionally compelling. Jal’s creation of a memoir based on a fabricated connection between his mother and Jim Jones becomes a fascinating examination of how personal narratives can be shaped, manipulated, and consumed by the public. As the false story gains attention, the tension builds around the consequences of living inside a carefully constructed illusion. The novel brilliantly captures the power of storytelling while questioning the responsibility that comes with shaping someone else’s history.
Another standout feature is the book’s examination of family, immigration, and generational experiences. Through the alternating perspectives of Jal’s rise and Rita’s complicated history, False Prophet explores how the experiences of one generation can influence another. The novel thoughtfully addresses themes of colonialism, cultural identity, displacement, and the emotional weight of inherited histories, giving the story a depth that extends far beyond its thriller elements.
Afsheen Farhadi’s writing is intelligent, engaging, and remarkably nuanced. The pacing creates a strong sense of momentum while allowing space for meaningful reflection on the larger questions at the heart of the story. The tension between truth and invention keeps readers invested, while the emotional complexity of the characters makes the novel feel deeply human.
Beyond its thrilling premise, False Prophet is a powerful meditation on ambition, authenticity, and the consequences of chasing recognition at the expense of personal integrity. It challenges readers to consider how much of ourselves we reveal, how much we reshape, and what happens when the stories we tell become larger than the truth itself. These themes make the novel both timely and unforgettable.
Overall, False Prophet is an exceptional literary thriller that combines emotional depth, cultural insight, psychological suspense, and brilliant storytelling. Afsheen Farhadi has created a remarkable debut that explores the complicated ways people search for identity, connection, and success. I highly recommend this compelling novel to readers who enjoy literary fiction, psychological thrillers, stories about family legacies, and books that leave a lasting impact long after the final page.
One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its unforgettable protagonist, Jal Persad. His emotional journey is layered with contradiction, vulnerability, and moral complexity. His struggle to process the loss of a mother he never truly knew creates an immediate emotional foundation for the story, while his decision to construct a false narrative about her past raises fascinating questions about grief, identity, and the human desire to find meaning. Jal is not simply a character seeking success he is someone searching for connection, belonging, and a sense of self.
The novel’s exploration of storytelling and truth is exceptionally compelling. Jal’s creation of a memoir based on a fabricated connection between his mother and Jim Jones becomes a fascinating examination of how personal narratives can be shaped, manipulated, and consumed by the public. As the false story gains attention, the tension builds around the consequences of living inside a carefully constructed illusion. The novel brilliantly captures the power of storytelling while questioning the responsibility that comes with shaping someone else’s history.
Another standout feature is the book’s examination of family, immigration, and generational experiences. Through the alternating perspectives of Jal’s rise and Rita’s complicated history, False Prophet explores how the experiences of one generation can influence another. The novel thoughtfully addresses themes of colonialism, cultural identity, displacement, and the emotional weight of inherited histories, giving the story a depth that extends far beyond its thriller elements.
Afsheen Farhadi’s writing is intelligent, engaging, and remarkably nuanced. The pacing creates a strong sense of momentum while allowing space for meaningful reflection on the larger questions at the heart of the story. The tension between truth and invention keeps readers invested, while the emotional complexity of the characters makes the novel feel deeply human.
Beyond its thrilling premise, False Prophet is a powerful meditation on ambition, authenticity, and the consequences of chasing recognition at the expense of personal integrity. It challenges readers to consider how much of ourselves we reveal, how much we reshape, and what happens when the stories we tell become larger than the truth itself. These themes make the novel both timely and unforgettable.
Overall, False Prophet is an exceptional literary thriller that combines emotional depth, cultural insight, psychological suspense, and brilliant storytelling. Afsheen Farhadi has created a remarkable debut that explores the complicated ways people search for identity, connection, and success. I highly recommend this compelling novel to readers who enjoy literary fiction, psychological thrillers, stories about family legacies, and books that leave a lasting impact long after the final page.
July 17, 2026
Waffling between three and four stars the more I sit on this.
Honestly I was drawn in by the cover on this one, and my biggest takeaway from False Prophet is that Afsheen Farhadi really knows what living with a chihuaha is like. It's so true to life in all these little things that I don't think people intimately familiar with chihuahuas would think of easily and I loved that.
Let me give you this spoiler as well - although it looks questionable for a bit, the dog IS fine.
Back to the book - False Prophet is half a young actor grieving a year after the death of his loveless mother, and half a fake semi-biography of her (or, the woman she could have been under different circumstances - those circumstances also being narrowly avoiding being dragged into the Jamestown cult shortly before the end of it). That particular story, short as it is, I felt was a lot more developed than the real world counterpart (the complications of publishing something you AND your management team know are bunk, and getting drawn deeper into the web of it with public support). There's a lot here that almost gets into the heart - Jal's complicated relationship with his single mother who barely seemed to acknowledge the things he worked toward, the fact that he came from just... being a normal guy with no special history but no family around outside his mom either, what it might mean to be a figurehead - that all just kind of didn't go anywhere or didn't quite make it to that heart, at the end. We as readers are supposed to believe that snippets of his "mom's" story (that we also get to read) are so very powerful and inspiring and the internet world is just like, taking OFF at that story of resilience but the story that we as real life people get to read in this book, the actual "excerpts" of the book they're working on... would not inspire an online fandom to go so hard at all. It's just not believable this thing would go viral even in pre-published, pre-edited sections, and inspire a generation. Rita (the fake-story mom) is just a pregnant woman who canvases for money once for Jonestown, visits once and doesn't stay despite being encouraged to, and is otherwise just kind of living her life. That's it!
I think too the stressful things that were magically fine with Teddy near the end were out of nowhere (well, as such things can be, but in context...?) to the point where I wondered if the management team had something to do with it to keep him puppeted, but. Nope!
Overall I did enjoy this book, and I think it just needed more fleshing out and development overall.
Thank you to Melville House Publishing; I'll be interested to see further books from Farhadi in the future. With dogs.
Honestly I was drawn in by the cover on this one, and my biggest takeaway from False Prophet is that Afsheen Farhadi really knows what living with a chihuaha is like. It's so true to life in all these little things that I don't think people intimately familiar with chihuahuas would think of easily and I loved that.
Let me give you this spoiler as well - although it looks questionable for a bit, the dog IS fine.
Back to the book - False Prophet is half a young actor grieving a year after the death of his loveless mother, and half a fake semi-biography of her (or, the woman she could have been under different circumstances - those circumstances also being narrowly avoiding being dragged into the Jamestown cult shortly before the end of it). That particular story, short as it is, I felt was a lot more developed than the real world counterpart (the complications of publishing something you AND your management team know are bunk, and getting drawn deeper into the web of it with public support). There's a lot here that almost gets into the heart - Jal's complicated relationship with his single mother who barely seemed to acknowledge the things he worked toward, the fact that he came from just... being a normal guy with no special history but no family around outside his mom either, what it might mean to be a figurehead - that all just kind of didn't go anywhere or didn't quite make it to that heart, at the end. We as readers are supposed to believe that snippets of his "mom's" story (that we also get to read) are so very powerful and inspiring and the internet world is just like, taking OFF at that story of resilience but the story that we as real life people get to read in this book, the actual "excerpts" of the book they're working on... would not inspire an online fandom to go so hard at all. It's just not believable this thing would go viral even in pre-published, pre-edited sections, and inspire a generation. Rita (the fake-story mom) is just a pregnant woman who canvases for money once for Jonestown, visits once and doesn't stay despite being encouraged to, and is otherwise just kind of living her life. That's it!
I think too the stressful things that were magically fine with Teddy near the end were out of nowhere (well, as such things can be, but in context...?) to the point where I wondered if the management team had something to do with it to keep him puppeted, but. Nope!
Overall I did enjoy this book, and I think it just needed more fleshing out and development overall.
Thank you to Melville House Publishing; I'll be interested to see further books from Farhadi in the future. With dogs.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Appreciate the ARC!!! I read this over the course of a month specifically everytime I went to the beach, so as to spare my library books. i super wanted to love this, given its comparison to Yellowface. However, this fell a bit flat for me. super interesting idea and story but ultimately i didn’t feel like anything war fleshed out enough. the book should have been longer or done less. for me, one of things that made Yellowface a triumph was the fact that it did such a deep dive into cancel culture, authenticity, truth, etc.
Jal is semi making up his family history to sell a book but there’s no climax to that—he feels guilty throughout the story but nothing ever happens. so not only do we not get a climax on the plot of that, we don’t get any discussion of that theme. A couple other examples of my take that the book tried to do too much—the random sexual moment between Kate and Jal. Jal’s meeting family he had never known before. Teddy’s random health scare? A lot just felt thrown in and there wasn’t a sense of it all being woven into one fabric.
i also don’t think the dual narrative of his manuscript worked here. Again, just not enough pages to execute it all. Rita is unfortunately a pretty flat character despite having an interesting life and story. There’s all this buildup around the people’s temple and jim jones but again, no climax. and no exploration of that beyond just saying he was a false prophet.
overall, this did not work for me. it had a lot of interesting threads but nearly nothing was woven together and tied off. I found it hard to imagine Jal and he didn’t feel 3D to me. i also really do not think this can be called a thriller. the most compelling aspect of this story was the Jal dealing with his grief and coming to terms with his loss, and with it, his reflection on his mother and their relationship. these parts felt more natural and worked the best and perhaps this would have been a better thread to explore.
Jal is semi making up his family history to sell a book but there’s no climax to that—he feels guilty throughout the story but nothing ever happens. so not only do we not get a climax on the plot of that, we don’t get any discussion of that theme. A couple other examples of my take that the book tried to do too much—the random sexual moment between Kate and Jal. Jal’s meeting family he had never known before. Teddy’s random health scare? A lot just felt thrown in and there wasn’t a sense of it all being woven into one fabric.
i also don’t think the dual narrative of his manuscript worked here. Again, just not enough pages to execute it all. Rita is unfortunately a pretty flat character despite having an interesting life and story. There’s all this buildup around the people’s temple and jim jones but again, no climax. and no exploration of that beyond just saying he was a false prophet.
overall, this did not work for me. it had a lot of interesting threads but nearly nothing was woven together and tied off. I found it hard to imagine Jal and he didn’t feel 3D to me. i also really do not think this can be called a thriller. the most compelling aspect of this story was the Jal dealing with his grief and coming to terms with his loss, and with it, his reflection on his mother and their relationship. these parts felt more natural and worked the best and perhaps this would have been a better thread to explore.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A debut with a gripping premise that seems to succeed as a literary exploration, and yet fall slightly short as a novel. Farhadi's False Prophet features some beautiful prose and compelling thematic exploration, leading me to wonder whether this work could have benefitted from more time in the oven.
In an effective and compelling structure, alternating chapters between the main character's true story and the one he's fabricating, we're taken on a journey of grief, truth and reality. The way themes of immigration, colonization, grief, family relationships, power and fame come together is artfully done and deserving of praise. The questions it poses – about who gets to tell a story, own a story, decide the truth and whether truth matters over the meaning we create together – are profound and compelling, and presenting them through this premise and series of events is a bit of genius that casts a depth that can't be minimized.
My love for its thematic work is why it saddens me to say the quality fluctuates throughout the book, delivering stunning passages at times, then choppy summations of events at others. When reading criticism of how the main premise resolves itself, I wonder whether people have somehow missed everything the book is telling them, and that pains me. But then I cannot deny how its weak stretches might be to blame for its failure to be heard, causing readers to reduce it to a thrilling plot that fizzles out rather than being taken in the way I was.
How long I took to find the words for this review, and how I find myself still itching to discuss its themes and ideas with other readers, makes its success undeniable to me despite it all. I look forward to seeing more from Farhadi in the future.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
In an effective and compelling structure, alternating chapters between the main character's true story and the one he's fabricating, we're taken on a journey of grief, truth and reality. The way themes of immigration, colonization, grief, family relationships, power and fame come together is artfully done and deserving of praise. The questions it poses – about who gets to tell a story, own a story, decide the truth and whether truth matters over the meaning we create together – are profound and compelling, and presenting them through this premise and series of events is a bit of genius that casts a depth that can't be minimized.
My love for its thematic work is why it saddens me to say the quality fluctuates throughout the book, delivering stunning passages at times, then choppy summations of events at others. When reading criticism of how the main premise resolves itself, I wonder whether people have somehow missed everything the book is telling them, and that pains me. But then I cannot deny how its weak stretches might be to blame for its failure to be heard, causing readers to reduce it to a thrilling plot that fizzles out rather than being taken in the way I was.
How long I took to find the words for this review, and how I find myself still itching to discuss its themes and ideas with other readers, makes its success undeniable to me despite it all. I look forward to seeing more from Farhadi in the future.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
July 13, 2026
SPOILERS AHEAD:
Writing style & plot:
The writing style drifted between feeling conversational, reflective, emotional, and mimicking the main characters stream of consciousness. The pacing felt addicting at times, and kept me intrigued, but I felt that I kept waiting for a breaking point/climax to the story that never came. From the synopsis of this book, I assumed there would be a point in the story where our main character got called out on his lies, with which his entire narrative fell apart, but that never happened. The story continued with no real consequences coming to the main character, and he felt invincible or like he had plot armour at times. While I understand that this was to make Jal's character mirror the same kind of false prophet that Jim Jones was, the story was described as a literary thriller, so I expected the grasp Jal had on his lies to start spiraling out of control. Because of this, the ending read like there was an aspect missing, with there being no real resolution reached. The last couple paragraphs also read in a very dramatic and unnecessarily theatrical tone, which was a complete opposite reading experience from the rest of the book.
Overall thoughts:
While I did find this book to read in a fast pace and continuous storytelling style without much filler or breaks in plot, I was left feeling like a climax to the story was missing. This story to me is purely literary fiction, rather than being a literary thriller. The main character's experiences and lies felt inconsequential to the story without him being called out or having any major negative public perception. A huge thank you to Melville House Publishing and Netgalley for this ARC!
Writing style & plot:
The writing style drifted between feeling conversational, reflective, emotional, and mimicking the main characters stream of consciousness. The pacing felt addicting at times, and kept me intrigued, but I felt that I kept waiting for a breaking point/climax to the story that never came. From the synopsis of this book, I assumed there would be a point in the story where our main character got called out on his lies, with which his entire narrative fell apart, but that never happened. The story continued with no real consequences coming to the main character, and he felt invincible or like he had plot armour at times. While I understand that this was to make Jal's character mirror the same kind of false prophet that Jim Jones was, the story was described as a literary thriller, so I expected the grasp Jal had on his lies to start spiraling out of control. Because of this, the ending read like there was an aspect missing, with there being no real resolution reached. The last couple paragraphs also read in a very dramatic and unnecessarily theatrical tone, which was a complete opposite reading experience from the rest of the book.
Overall thoughts:
While I did find this book to read in a fast pace and continuous storytelling style without much filler or breaks in plot, I was left feeling like a climax to the story was missing. This story to me is purely literary fiction, rather than being a literary thriller. The main character's experiences and lies felt inconsequential to the story without him being called out or having any major negative public perception. A huge thank you to Melville House Publishing and Netgalley for this ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Jal Persad is a moderately successful actor struggling with the death of his distant mother, Rita. In the midst of his grief, he ends up fabricating a memoir about her life in Guyana during the rise and fall of the Jonestown cult, despite knowing that much of what he's writing never actually happened.
What I found most interesting was how the novel parallels Jal's deception with the manipulation used by cult leaders themselves. As his memoir gains popularity, he becomes increasingly trapped by the story he's created, constantly trying to justify his choices while sinking deeper into the consequences. It made for an uncomfortable but compelling reading experience.
The alternating chapters between Jal's present-day life and the fictionalized version of Rita's past worked really well. Even though Rita is at the center of everything, there's an intentional distance to her character that highlights one of the book's biggest themes: how little we sometimes know about the people closest to us.
This isn't a fast-paced book, but it's incredibly thought-provoking. It explores grief, identity, immigration, colonialism, ambition, and the stories we tell ourselves to make sense of our lives. I didn't always like Jal, and I don't think you're supposed to, but watching his unravelling was fascinating.
I appreciated how much it made me think about truth, belief, and how easily people can be drawn to a compelling narrative.
Thank you so much Melville House & Afsheen Farhadi for the #gifted copy!
All opinions are my own 🖤
What I found most interesting was how the novel parallels Jal's deception with the manipulation used by cult leaders themselves. As his memoir gains popularity, he becomes increasingly trapped by the story he's created, constantly trying to justify his choices while sinking deeper into the consequences. It made for an uncomfortable but compelling reading experience.
The alternating chapters between Jal's present-day life and the fictionalized version of Rita's past worked really well. Even though Rita is at the center of everything, there's an intentional distance to her character that highlights one of the book's biggest themes: how little we sometimes know about the people closest to us.
This isn't a fast-paced book, but it's incredibly thought-provoking. It explores grief, identity, immigration, colonialism, ambition, and the stories we tell ourselves to make sense of our lives. I didn't always like Jal, and I don't think you're supposed to, but watching his unravelling was fascinating.
I appreciated how much it made me think about truth, belief, and how easily people can be drawn to a compelling narrative.
Thank you so much Melville House & Afsheen Farhadi for the #gifted copy!
All opinions are my own 🖤
July 7, 2026
Thank you to Melville house for the advance copy!
I have mixed feelings about this book. On one hang there was some sort of compelling plot line for me to want to keep reading it, I think because Jim Jones is such a big name and potentially discovering if Jals mom really did have anything to do with the cult or not. Hal is clearly depressed and doesn’t like his life and has severe mommy issues and feelings of being alienated from family. He doesn’t appear to have any friends either, no solid foundation which he could lean on and you can tell and it’s definitely sad. I think sharing this story for him gave him a sense of purpose and ironically at the end of the book all the things he supposedly represented against, he kind of became. We also get this side story that is being written the “memoir” of his mom Rita and none of its real which trips me up because it got me wondering how she DID get to the US, what her family was REALLY like ( we meet one person once but it’s not enough to know how their life was). This was an interesting book to think about as an immigrant who moved to America at a very early age and grew up in America, without any real idea of my family or our history. I also find myself speculating on what life must have been like because I’ll never know the truth. Overall I wish there has been some more substance maybe a way to have known Rita’s real life adventure (but that might have been the point).
I have mixed feelings about this book. On one hang there was some sort of compelling plot line for me to want to keep reading it, I think because Jim Jones is such a big name and potentially discovering if Jals mom really did have anything to do with the cult or not. Hal is clearly depressed and doesn’t like his life and has severe mommy issues and feelings of being alienated from family. He doesn’t appear to have any friends either, no solid foundation which he could lean on and you can tell and it’s definitely sad. I think sharing this story for him gave him a sense of purpose and ironically at the end of the book all the things he supposedly represented against, he kind of became. We also get this side story that is being written the “memoir” of his mom Rita and none of its real which trips me up because it got me wondering how she DID get to the US, what her family was REALLY like ( we meet one person once but it’s not enough to know how their life was). This was an interesting book to think about as an immigrant who moved to America at a very early age and grew up in America, without any real idea of my family or our history. I also find myself speculating on what life must have been like because I’ll never know the truth. Overall I wish there has been some more substance maybe a way to have known Rita’s real life adventure (but that might have been the point).
July 11, 2026
“The Girls” meets “Yellowface”? Yes, please. In this tale, Afsheen Farhadi brings us into the world of actor Jal Persad, who is struggling to find his place in the world and his next steps after his mother, Rita's, recent death.
Rita fled to the United States, pregnant with Jal, from Guyana around the time of the Jonestown massacre. Like many Guyanese, Rita is of Indian descent and is not an American-born follower of Jim Jones. But when Jal's idea for a writing project is taken as a memoir, things quickly get out of hand.
"False Prophet" alternates between modern-day Jal's story and the one he is crafting. This shifting narrative structure keeps the story engaging and suspenseful. While the premise sounds sensational, there is a lot of heart. Unlike the "Girls" and "Yellowface," our protagonist is less chaotically evil and manipulative — making you want to root for him (and Rita... and Teddy). It captures how quickly things can get out of hand, go viral, and put things in the spotlight. In a time when accountability is desired, Jal's work fits that niche and may also be a target.
I really enjoyed this book. It was engaging and thought-provoking. It made me think about who we consider false prophets. Jim Jones? Jal? Our parents? Hollywood and the media? And what are we trying to accomplish? What void are we trying to fill? And why dogs are the best :) Thank you to Melville House and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Rita fled to the United States, pregnant with Jal, from Guyana around the time of the Jonestown massacre. Like many Guyanese, Rita is of Indian descent and is not an American-born follower of Jim Jones. But when Jal's idea for a writing project is taken as a memoir, things quickly get out of hand.
"False Prophet" alternates between modern-day Jal's story and the one he is crafting. This shifting narrative structure keeps the story engaging and suspenseful. While the premise sounds sensational, there is a lot of heart. Unlike the "Girls" and "Yellowface," our protagonist is less chaotically evil and manipulative — making you want to root for him (and Rita... and Teddy). It captures how quickly things can get out of hand, go viral, and put things in the spotlight. In a time when accountability is desired, Jal's work fits that niche and may also be a target.
I really enjoyed this book. It was engaging and thought-provoking. It made me think about who we consider false prophets. Jim Jones? Jal? Our parents? Hollywood and the media? And what are we trying to accomplish? What void are we trying to fill? And why dogs are the best :) Thank you to Melville House and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy
Jal is an actor on a break after the death of his mother, Rita. The two had a distanced relationship, but he didn't have other family and was very isolated after until he found his dog, Teddy. In a meeting with his agent, he suggests a book about her- a false story about her involvement with the People's Temple in Guyana while she was pregnant with him. His remaining family finds out and threatens to expose the lie.
I really liked the concept of this. His isolation, dependency on Teddy (the dog)- it was an interesting set up for a character. The back and forth between Jal and the story he was writing for Rita was a great way to structure the book and Rita's situation in Guyana and family were set up well.
However, the book lost the magic for me in not carrying special details that convey a setting or make a character distinct. It didn't feel tangible, just like an interesting idea I was a bit distanced from without enough connection. That being said, I think the basic plot and where it went stayed unique and interesting. I haven't read a book quite like this before and really loved the concept.
This book gets released July 7 (tomorrow!) So stay on the lookout! I'd like to thank both Lavender Public Relations and Afsheen Farhadi for my free advanced reader copy. My review is unbiased and opinions my own.
I really liked the concept of this. His isolation, dependency on Teddy (the dog)- it was an interesting set up for a character. The back and forth between Jal and the story he was writing for Rita was a great way to structure the book and Rita's situation in Guyana and family were set up well.
However, the book lost the magic for me in not carrying special details that convey a setting or make a character distinct. It didn't feel tangible, just like an interesting idea I was a bit distanced from without enough connection. That being said, I think the basic plot and where it went stayed unique and interesting. I haven't read a book quite like this before and really loved the concept.
This book gets released July 7 (tomorrow!) So stay on the lookout! I'd like to thank both Lavender Public Relations and Afsheen Farhadi for my free advanced reader copy. My review is unbiased and opinions my own.
July 10, 2026
Jal has found success as a Hollywood actor, but can’t seem to get out of his head after his mother’s passing. Despite his attempts to avoid work, a misunderstanding with his manager leads Jal to read a memoir about his mother’s life, placing her in direct contact with Jonestown’s infamous cult leader, Jim Jones. However, the memoir is mostly fiction and Jal knows that, but continues to promote the story as it continues to go viral.
The premise behind this book was really compelling to me, particularly its parallels between the Jim Jones’ role as a false prophet to his cult, and Jal’s false tales of his mother’s background. Unfortunately, I found there to be too many different plot points in a relatively short story that didn’t get wrapped up. There are scenes that feel completely random that aren’t addressed and also continuous build-up surrounding Jim Jones with no real climax. In some ways, I think this is fitting because Jal is also weaving a story that’s not based in reality, so inevitably going to be missing large pieces of the story, but there were too many mismatched pieces for me to really get into it.
Thank you NetGalley and Melville House Publishing for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
The premise behind this book was really compelling to me, particularly its parallels between the Jim Jones’ role as a false prophet to his cult, and Jal’s false tales of his mother’s background. Unfortunately, I found there to be too many different plot points in a relatively short story that didn’t get wrapped up. There are scenes that feel completely random that aren’t addressed and also continuous build-up surrounding Jim Jones with no real climax. In some ways, I think this is fitting because Jal is also weaving a story that’s not based in reality, so inevitably going to be missing large pieces of the story, but there were too many mismatched pieces for me to really get into it.
Thank you NetGalley and Melville House Publishing for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
July 6, 2026
Okay I really wanted to like this and there are some good things about it but ultimately it didn’t land for me. I liked the alternating viewpoints between the book being written about Rita and what was happening with Jal as he dealt with the story unfolding. I like Teddy’s part in anchoring Jal’s character and being a source of emotional release towards the end. And I liked the premise a lot. Unfortunately it didn’t work because we never really got the truth of who Rita actually was beyond that she wasn’t like book Rita and she was kind of cold. The whole flying all the way to London to see her brother fell flat because he didn’t really provide the insight into her character that I was missing and craved. And it was unfortunate bc I LOVED the set up to meeting the Uncle and how his character felt like royalty. And I don’t love that Jal just double downed in the end on his false story. What’s the lesson there? That we can alter our memories and pretend people were different than they were? I know people do that but I don’t think it should be encouraged. Because then we miss out on the healing that can come from accepting the truth and finding our peace with it. But great cover!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Jal Parsad is an actor who is well known enough for the average person on the street to experience familiarity when they encounter him, but he is currently in search of a project to keep that momentum going in his life. When he decides to avoid the topic of moving on and seeking work altogether, a weird communication breakup with his editor, Kate, occurs, and she begins to ghost write a project with his mother at the focus of it as an autobiography. Said autobiography discusses Parsad's mothers ties with Jim Jones and Guyanese roots- unfortunately, all of the contents are lies. While the premise does sound dodgy at best when put this way, I found reading from Jal's POV and exploring his rollercoaster of emotions, including guilt and dejectedness from his mother, was the highlight of this book. When viewed from this perspective, I think the reader will find the ending in particular shocking. As a character exploration, progression is constant, in the most interesting of ways. Thank you to Melville House for the requested copy. All opinions are entirely my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A literary thriller pulsing with suspense, tension and fine storytelling exploring, lies, identity and immigration.
Jal Persad is enjoying some success as an actor when his mother dies causing him to crash emotionally. But why? He hardly knew his mother, Rita, who grew up in Guyana during the time of Jim Jones. When a misunderstanding with his manager leads to Jal spewing a pack of lies, he pursues writing a book about her - that is, her life with Jim Jones, a man she never met. When the book goes viral, Jal is faced with the dilemma of exposure and its guilt. How much is he willing to do in order to succeed.
The book alternates between Jal’s story of the book and Rita’s “distorted story. What emerges is a story about the intergenerational effects of colonialism and the effects of power. I really liked the book’s setting and premise. Very clever.
My thanks to NetGalley and Melville House Publishing for allowing me access to this ARC.
Jal Persad is enjoying some success as an actor when his mother dies causing him to crash emotionally. But why? He hardly knew his mother, Rita, who grew up in Guyana during the time of Jim Jones. When a misunderstanding with his manager leads to Jal spewing a pack of lies, he pursues writing a book about her - that is, her life with Jim Jones, a man she never met. When the book goes viral, Jal is faced with the dilemma of exposure and its guilt. How much is he willing to do in order to succeed.
The book alternates between Jal’s story of the book and Rita’s “distorted story. What emerges is a story about the intergenerational effects of colonialism and the effects of power. I really liked the book’s setting and premise. Very clever.
My thanks to NetGalley and Melville House Publishing for allowing me access to this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
3.5 I was especially interested in this because of the cult ties and the apparent lies. Jal invents a warm and passionate backstory for his cold and distant pregnant mother involving Jim Jones and Jonestown. Hollywood actor turned writer, Jal presents this as a factual memoir from his fetal stage of life.
But just how Jim Jones spun the truth to gain followers, Jal is no different. I don’t feel sympathetic towards him or relieved if his foes (ones seeking the truth) back down. And just like Jal, we never get to know his mother either. The memoir is just a story, and no one knows the real Rita.
I guess what I got from this is that there are a bunch of liars and false prophets, and many people are willing to blindly offer their faith.
Thanks so much to Melville House for the ARC! I did enjoy reading this. Pub date July 7!
But just how Jim Jones spun the truth to gain followers, Jal is no different. I don’t feel sympathetic towards him or relieved if his foes (ones seeking the truth) back down. And just like Jal, we never get to know his mother either. The memoir is just a story, and no one knows the real Rita.
I guess what I got from this is that there are a bunch of liars and false prophets, and many people are willing to blindly offer their faith.
Thanks so much to Melville House for the ARC! I did enjoy reading this. Pub date July 7!
July 8, 2026
This usually isn’t my type of book but I saw it on NetGalley and it referencing Yellowface caught my eye so I thought why not! Best decision ever, this was such a good book.
Following Jal, who writes a memoir about his late, distant mother, fabricating her life connected to the Jonestown cult, it’s such a good story about cult drama and intergenerational trauma, I was so, so hooked from start to finish. Reading him dive deeper and deeper into the lies was such a good way to keep me sat reading… even when I should’ve gone to bed. The Jonestown cult has always fascinated me, and I felt like it was depicted very well- the parts that were true, and the parts that connected to Jal’s mother.
Absolutely a recommendation if you enjoyed Yellowface (also a phenomenal read!) or are interested in cult life.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Following Jal, who writes a memoir about his late, distant mother, fabricating her life connected to the Jonestown cult, it’s such a good story about cult drama and intergenerational trauma, I was so, so hooked from start to finish. Reading him dive deeper and deeper into the lies was such a good way to keep me sat reading… even when I should’ve gone to bed. The Jonestown cult has always fascinated me, and I felt like it was depicted very well- the parts that were true, and the parts that connected to Jal’s mother.
Absolutely a recommendation if you enjoyed Yellowface (also a phenomenal read!) or are interested in cult life.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This one was a bit of a let down for me, after seeing comparisons to R.F. Kuang's Yellowface I think that I had my expectations for a certain type of novel too high. I found that I missed the sharpness of narrative and tension that I was expecting with the Yellowface comp. It started out pretty strong but the pacing and tension really waned in the second half and I found my attention drifting. It also didn't leave me with any strong feelings or impressions about the story or the main character, which is a must for a good read for me. Despite that, I still think that this was a solid read, it is pretty well written and I think that it has an appeal that would work well for other readers, I just wanted more.
April 14, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Melville House Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
I was looking forward to this book, as I enjoy books about immigrant experiences and stories that navigate the fallout from obsession and lies like Yellowface. Unfortunately, “False Prophet” was a disappointing read. The book starts abruptly, with no compelling character development, and the reader is given no clear reasons or deeper reflection on why the main character makes the decisions he makes. Throughout the book, the dialogue is stilted, the narrative is choppy and simplistic, and the main character is completely one dimensional. The best part of the book is the “book within the book,” and yet even this part of the narrative remains paper thin and bogged down by poor writing.
I was looking forward to this book, as I enjoy books about immigrant experiences and stories that navigate the fallout from obsession and lies like Yellowface. Unfortunately, “False Prophet” was a disappointing read. The book starts abruptly, with no compelling character development, and the reader is given no clear reasons or deeper reflection on why the main character makes the decisions he makes. Throughout the book, the dialogue is stilted, the narrative is choppy and simplistic, and the main character is completely one dimensional. The best part of the book is the “book within the book,” and yet even this part of the narrative remains paper thin and bogged down by poor writing.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I wasn't sure what to expect when I cracked this open, but I absolutely devoured this novel. It's fast-paced and fun, even when it's extremely uncomfortable. For a summer thriller that incorporates themes of belonging, the impacts of colonialism, and false histories, it's just fantastic.
As someone who did a deep dive into Jonestown years ago, I appreciated how that was rendered. A lot of pop culture gets the Peoples Temple very wrong, and Farhadi takes great pains to build an accurate picture of what might have been happening there.
Highly recommend this book to folks who enjoy books about cults with a nuanced and smart political lens.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
As someone who did a deep dive into Jonestown years ago, I appreciated how that was rendered. A lot of pop culture gets the Peoples Temple very wrong, and Farhadi takes great pains to build an accurate picture of what might have been happening there.
Highly recommend this book to folks who enjoy books about cults with a nuanced and smart political lens.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I see "Jonestown" and I instantly put that at the top of any reading list. I wanted to love False Prophet, and felt the potential, but sadly, this fell a little flat for me.
Jal, a struggling actor, mentions to his agent that he's writing about his mother's life and her encounter with Jim Jones and the People's Temple. The thing is....there was no enounter. Does he feel guilty about this little white lie? A little, but not enough to stop.
At the same time, we read the story that Jal is crafting with his ghost writer. Rita's life is interesting but it's not breaking news and there's really no....resolution or climax.
I think that the idea is fantastic, but it all just didn't work. This should have been a book about grief but instead kind of was a dud all around.
Jal, a struggling actor, mentions to his agent that he's writing about his mother's life and her encounter with Jim Jones and the People's Temple. The thing is....there was no enounter. Does he feel guilty about this little white lie? A little, but not enough to stop.
At the same time, we read the story that Jal is crafting with his ghost writer. Rita's life is interesting but it's not breaking news and there's really no....resolution or climax.
I think that the idea is fantastic, but it all just didn't work. This should have been a book about grief but instead kind of was a dud all around.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Melville House and NetGalley for the eARC
3.75 stars rounded up.
I found something intoxicating about this story and I didn’t want to stop reading. However I don’t think any of the characters were fully flushed out.
I didn’t understand enough about Rita, the real version or the fictionalized one. I also didn’t fully understand Jal. I understood his pain at losing his mother but so much else about him was left open and unexplained.
For it being a story in a story, I think it needed to be slightly longer to provide better context and motivations. That being said, it was still entertaining and I’d recommend this to some.
3.75 stars rounded up.
I found something intoxicating about this story and I didn’t want to stop reading. However I don’t think any of the characters were fully flushed out.
I didn’t understand enough about Rita, the real version or the fictionalized one. I also didn’t fully understand Jal. I understood his pain at losing his mother but so much else about him was left open and unexplained.
For it being a story in a story, I think it needed to be slightly longer to provide better context and motivations. That being said, it was still entertaining and I’d recommend this to some.
July 10, 2026
The concept of this book was promising, but the execution fell quite flat for me. I loved the parts of the story that were Rita’s—they felt the clearest and most emotional—but overall the entire piece felt barebones, in need of expansion. I also unfortunately found the ending unrealistic and the protagonist unlikable. That’s not to say someone else won’t like this book, but it’s not the one for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Melville House for allowing me to read this work in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Melville House for allowing me to read this work in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley, Afsheen Farhadi, and the publisher for granting me access to this ARC.
I wanted to like this book so much based on the cover and the premise. Unfortunately, this one missed the mark for me. The story felt too abrupt and disjointed the majority of the time, and it left me feeling confused and wanting more more than anything else. Definitely sad about this, and I was very excited for this one.
I wanted to like this book so much based on the cover and the premise. Unfortunately, this one missed the mark for me. The story felt too abrupt and disjointed the majority of the time, and it left me feeling confused and wanting more more than anything else. Definitely sad about this, and I was very excited for this one.
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