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Jasmine Zumideh Needs a Win
Most Anticipated YA by Buzzfeed, BookRiot, Epic Reads, Publishers Weekly, and more!
A fresh spin on the cult-classic Election meets Darius the Great Is Not Okay in Jasmine Zumideh Needs a Win when an international incident crashes into a high school election, and Jasmine is caught between doing the right thing and chasing her dream.
It’s 1979, and Jasmine Zumideh is ready to get the heck out of her stale, Southern California suburb and into her dream school, NYU, where she’ll major in journalism and cover New York City’s exploding music scene.
There’s just one teeny Due to a deadline snafu, she maaaaaaybe said she was Senior Class President-Elect on her application—before the election takes place. But honestly, she’s running against Gerald Thomas, a rigid rule-follower whose platform includes reinstating a dress code—there’s no way she can lose. And she better not, or she’ll never get into NYU.
But then, a real-life international incident turns the election upside down. Iran suddenly dominates the nightly news, and her opponent seizes the opportunity to stir up anti-Iranian hysteria at school and turn the electorate against her. Her brother, Ali, is no help. He’s become an outspoken advocate for Iran just as she’s trying to downplay her heritage.
Now, as the white lie she told snowballs into an avalanche, Jasmine is stuck between claiming her heritage or hiding it, standing by her outspoken brother or turning her back on him, winning the election or abandoning her dreams for good.
Told with biting insight and fierce humor, Susan Azim Boyer's Jasmine Zumideh Needs a Win is a fresh, unforgettable story of one Iranian-American young woman’s experience navigating her identity, friendship, family, her future, and a budding romance, all set against life-changing historical events with present-day relevance.
A fresh spin on the cult-classic Election meets Darius the Great Is Not Okay in Jasmine Zumideh Needs a Win when an international incident crashes into a high school election, and Jasmine is caught between doing the right thing and chasing her dream.
It’s 1979, and Jasmine Zumideh is ready to get the heck out of her stale, Southern California suburb and into her dream school, NYU, where she’ll major in journalism and cover New York City’s exploding music scene.
There’s just one teeny Due to a deadline snafu, she maaaaaaybe said she was Senior Class President-Elect on her application—before the election takes place. But honestly, she’s running against Gerald Thomas, a rigid rule-follower whose platform includes reinstating a dress code—there’s no way she can lose. And she better not, or she’ll never get into NYU.
But then, a real-life international incident turns the election upside down. Iran suddenly dominates the nightly news, and her opponent seizes the opportunity to stir up anti-Iranian hysteria at school and turn the electorate against her. Her brother, Ali, is no help. He’s become an outspoken advocate for Iran just as she’s trying to downplay her heritage.
Now, as the white lie she told snowballs into an avalanche, Jasmine is stuck between claiming her heritage or hiding it, standing by her outspoken brother or turning her back on him, winning the election or abandoning her dreams for good.
Told with biting insight and fierce humor, Susan Azim Boyer's Jasmine Zumideh Needs a Win is a fresh, unforgettable story of one Iranian-American young woman’s experience navigating her identity, friendship, family, her future, and a budding romance, all set against life-changing historical events with present-day relevance.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2022
23 people are currently reading
6156 people want to read
About the author
Susan Azim Boyer
2 books80 followersMy grandmother began my obsession with reading when I was four, and I won an essay contest in second grade that included a trip to Knott's Berry Farm (I got duped--it was only to see the Fake Liberty Bell). I write young adult fiction featuring Iranian American heroines (whom I *never* encountered growing up), who make messy, complicated choices that rapidly snowball into avalanches. My debut novel JASMINE ZUMIDEH NEEDS A WIN is releasing on 11.1.22 from Wednesday Books.
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January 12, 2023
✨ Please add my next book, THE SEARCH FOR US 10.24.23, to TBR here on Goodreads! ✨
ALL the feels! A YA contemporary about a brother and sister who had never met until they begin to search for the father they never knew.
*****
Listen, if I haven't read and can't recommend my own book, what am I even doing as an author? 🙃
I'd like to take this opportunity to tell you a bit about why I wrote this book. Like Jasmine, I grew up in a Southern California suburb with an Iranian immigrant father and an American mother. I had the hardest time reconciling the two. All my friends thought being Iranian was “weird,” and I never saw myself reflected in books, movies, or television. (Don’t get me started on Seventeen magazine.)
Fine. I could handle the mild embarrassment of being half-Iranian with an almost unpronounceable last name (soooo many vowels and consonants) — until Iranian students seized the United States Embassy in Tehran and everything turned upside down. Suddenly, it was not only mildly embarrassing to be Iranian American but also downright dangerous. And mortifying.
Similarly, Jasmine runs for senior class president just as the Iran Hostage Crisis explodes across the nightly news. When her opponent stirs up anti-Iranian hysteria at school, her instinct (sadly) is to turn and run from her heritage. But Jasmine is forced to reckon with her identity in a way she never has before.
I wrote Jasmine Zumideh Needs a Win for readers to identify with her feelings of shame around identity in a funny and lighthearted way. I hope you appreciate Jasmine’s humor and ambition and understand (if not approve of) her ethical lapses. I hope you relate to her friend group drama, fall in love with her well-meaning but meddlesome Auntie Minah, and admire her outspoken brother, Ali, even if Jasmine often wants to murder him.
And, of course, I hope every reader discovers the joy of a fresh pot of Persian tea accompanied by some scrumptious Persian pastries: honey-soaked zoolbia and bamieh. We can save the doogh (yogurt-mint soda) for another time.
I am deeply humbled by your interest in my book and super excited at the thought of you engaging with it. Meanwhile, I look forward to creating a steady stream of Iranian American main characters so that readers like me can see themselves reflected in them.
Appreciatively Yours,
Susan Azim Boyer
ALL the feels! A YA contemporary about a brother and sister who had never met until they begin to search for the father they never knew.
*****
Listen, if I haven't read and can't recommend my own book, what am I even doing as an author? 🙃
I'd like to take this opportunity to tell you a bit about why I wrote this book. Like Jasmine, I grew up in a Southern California suburb with an Iranian immigrant father and an American mother. I had the hardest time reconciling the two. All my friends thought being Iranian was “weird,” and I never saw myself reflected in books, movies, or television. (Don’t get me started on Seventeen magazine.)
Fine. I could handle the mild embarrassment of being half-Iranian with an almost unpronounceable last name (soooo many vowels and consonants) — until Iranian students seized the United States Embassy in Tehran and everything turned upside down. Suddenly, it was not only mildly embarrassing to be Iranian American but also downright dangerous. And mortifying.
Similarly, Jasmine runs for senior class president just as the Iran Hostage Crisis explodes across the nightly news. When her opponent stirs up anti-Iranian hysteria at school, her instinct (sadly) is to turn and run from her heritage. But Jasmine is forced to reckon with her identity in a way she never has before.
I wrote Jasmine Zumideh Needs a Win for readers to identify with her feelings of shame around identity in a funny and lighthearted way. I hope you appreciate Jasmine’s humor and ambition and understand (if not approve of) her ethical lapses. I hope you relate to her friend group drama, fall in love with her well-meaning but meddlesome Auntie Minah, and admire her outspoken brother, Ali, even if Jasmine often wants to murder him.
And, of course, I hope every reader discovers the joy of a fresh pot of Persian tea accompanied by some scrumptious Persian pastries: honey-soaked zoolbia and bamieh. We can save the doogh (yogurt-mint soda) for another time.
I am deeply humbled by your interest in my book and super excited at the thought of you engaging with it. Meanwhile, I look forward to creating a steady stream of Iranian American main characters so that readers like me can see themselves reflected in them.
Appreciatively Yours,
Susan Azim Boyer
January 27, 2022
Jasmine Zumideh Needs a Win has the voicey hilarity reminiscent of Maureen Johnson with a dash of Louise Rennison’s chaotic Georgia Nicholson. A modern story set against a vivid early 80s backdrop, I was sucked in from the start by Jasmine’s unforgettable voice, which had me laughing from the jump.
Jasmine is a girl stuck in the middle—of her separating parents, her sniping best friends, and her two cultures. And most importantly, she’s stuck in the middle of doing what’s right and what will get her not just the thing she wants but the thing she’s convinced herself she needs: an acceptance to NYU that will change life as she knows it.
Jasmine is whip smart and determined, even when she has to sacrifice her own integrity time and time again to succeed in her mission to win the senior class presidency. But even as she makes one terrible decision after the next, you won’t stop rooting for her, and better: you’ll always understand why she does the things she does.
And don’t forget about Mike, the darling angel love interest with truly unimpeachable morals, who makes us all want to be a better person.
Susan Azim Boyer has crafted a story that will not only make you laugh out loud at every turn, but will also make you question how far you would go, and if you’d be brave enough to do what’s right, if you were in Jasmine’s shoes.
Jasmine is a girl stuck in the middle—of her separating parents, her sniping best friends, and her two cultures. And most importantly, she’s stuck in the middle of doing what’s right and what will get her not just the thing she wants but the thing she’s convinced herself she needs: an acceptance to NYU that will change life as she knows it.
Jasmine is whip smart and determined, even when she has to sacrifice her own integrity time and time again to succeed in her mission to win the senior class presidency. But even as she makes one terrible decision after the next, you won’t stop rooting for her, and better: you’ll always understand why she does the things she does.
And don’t forget about Mike, the darling angel love interest with truly unimpeachable morals, who makes us all want to be a better person.
Susan Azim Boyer has crafted a story that will not only make you laugh out loud at every turn, but will also make you question how far you would go, and if you’d be brave enough to do what’s right, if you were in Jasmine’s shoes.
December 7, 2022
**Copy of this book provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review**
I love this book and I hate it with the same burning intensity. I wanted to throw it across the room but I wanted to keep reading it at the same time. It was exhausting and discouraging but also quite satisfying.
You see, it starts terribly. There are around 14 different characters introduced to you in the first 20 pages of this book. Then Jasmine, our main heroine, thinks about extracurricular activities she could add to her college application and she dismisses trying volunteering in hospitals because it's just barf and bedpans and I couldn't bring myself to like her for that. Also I dare you to read first chapter and not find it confusing. There are multiple situations in this novel when plot feels very convenient and manages to break an immersion at the same time.
Surprisingly, from a very mediocre beginning sprouts an interesting story about personal integrity. Choices presented to Jasmine are quite complicated and watching her wrestle with them was very intriguing and made me want to keep reading. Build up of anxiety surrounding the election for the senior class president was so well done I've felt it myself. Finally I loved the bits describing Iranian culture and I would love to get more of that.
It would be a solid five star read if only any character outside from Jasmine showed more than 2 dimensions, if there weren't any parts with a very convenient plot solutions or if it wasn't so damn rushed. It would probably also be a 5 star read if I were growing up in US in '70 since I was unable to catch majority of the references.
The weird thing is that I still want to recommend this book. The main story line about being true to yourself will stay with me for a long time.
I love this book and I hate it with the same burning intensity. I wanted to throw it across the room but I wanted to keep reading it at the same time. It was exhausting and discouraging but also quite satisfying.
You see, it starts terribly. There are around 14 different characters introduced to you in the first 20 pages of this book. Then Jasmine, our main heroine, thinks about extracurricular activities she could add to her college application and she dismisses trying volunteering in hospitals because it's just barf and bedpans and I couldn't bring myself to like her for that. Also I dare you to read first chapter and not find it confusing. There are multiple situations in this novel when plot feels very convenient and manages to break an immersion at the same time.
Surprisingly, from a very mediocre beginning sprouts an interesting story about personal integrity. Choices presented to Jasmine are quite complicated and watching her wrestle with them was very intriguing and made me want to keep reading. Build up of anxiety surrounding the election for the senior class president was so well done I've felt it myself. Finally I loved the bits describing Iranian culture and I would love to get more of that.
It would be a solid five star read if only any character outside from Jasmine showed more than 2 dimensions, if there weren't any parts with a very convenient plot solutions or if it wasn't so damn rushed. It would probably also be a 5 star read if I were growing up in US in '70 since I was unable to catch majority of the references.
The weird thing is that I still want to recommend this book. The main story line about being true to yourself will stay with me for a long time.
December 12, 2022
Thank you to Susan Azim Boyer, Macmillan Audio, and Netgalley for this audiobook of JASMINE ZUMIDEH NEEDS A WIN.
Jasmine Zumideh is a 17-year-old senior in 1979 Midwestern US, who wants nothing more than to blend in and get into an Ivy League school where she can study writing and become a journalist and move to L.A. and write about her favorite bands for Cream. Because Rolling Stone *so* doesn't take music seriously. And the only way to get there, of course, is to be voted senior class president.
But how to do that when the news keeps screaming about Iran and her social rebel brother keeps using the election to rile up the whole school? How else besides changing her name, for starters?
JASMINE ZUMIDEH NEEDS A WIN features an adorable, far-fetched what-can-go-wrong-will sort of plot. Conflict builds (and builds) at a preposterous pace as a result of truly great character development...these kids act believably like kids. That is-- unbelievably. The narrator is the main character, Jasmine, and the voice is wonderfully addictive. As an audiobook, I found this narrative wildly entertaining.
My only quibble is that there are a couple places where Boyer doesn't get the setting quite right. I lost access to the audiobook before I could write this review, so I don't have my notes anymore to point out exact instances. To be honest there aren't many of these errors, but because I was actually alive then, they glare out at me.
Besides that, I loved the humor in this book, which balances the heaviness and importance of the political discussion at hand. Elegant work.
Rating 👩🏻🎓👩🏻🎓👩🏻🎓👩🏻🎓.5 / 5 Graduating Seniors
Finished December 2022
Recommended? Yes, for narrative voice and humor
Read if you like:
🦸🏾♀️Strong female characters
🏫 High school drama
❤️🩹 Love triangles
👨👩👧👦 Family drama
🇺🇲 Politics
Jasmine Zumideh is a 17-year-old senior in 1979 Midwestern US, who wants nothing more than to blend in and get into an Ivy League school where she can study writing and become a journalist and move to L.A. and write about her favorite bands for Cream. Because Rolling Stone *so* doesn't take music seriously. And the only way to get there, of course, is to be voted senior class president.
But how to do that when the news keeps screaming about Iran and her social rebel brother keeps using the election to rile up the whole school? How else besides changing her name, for starters?
JASMINE ZUMIDEH NEEDS A WIN features an adorable, far-fetched what-can-go-wrong-will sort of plot. Conflict builds (and builds) at a preposterous pace as a result of truly great character development...these kids act believably like kids. That is-- unbelievably. The narrator is the main character, Jasmine, and the voice is wonderfully addictive. As an audiobook, I found this narrative wildly entertaining.
My only quibble is that there are a couple places where Boyer doesn't get the setting quite right. I lost access to the audiobook before I could write this review, so I don't have my notes anymore to point out exact instances. To be honest there aren't many of these errors, but because I was actually alive then, they glare out at me.
Besides that, I loved the humor in this book, which balances the heaviness and importance of the political discussion at hand. Elegant work.
Rating 👩🏻🎓👩🏻🎓👩🏻🎓👩🏻🎓.5 / 5 Graduating Seniors
Finished December 2022
Recommended? Yes, for narrative voice and humor
Read if you like:
🦸🏾♀️Strong female characters
🏫 High school drama
❤️🩹 Love triangles
👨👩👧👦 Family drama
🇺🇲 Politics
May 7, 2022
This was such a charming and engaging read. I love imperfect, well-intentioned characters who make bad choices and then have to get themselves out of the mess they create, and Jasmine Zumideh perfectly fit the bill. One small, understandable misstep leads to another and another, while she wrestles with deeply relatable questions about her identity and how to reconcile her heritage with the relentless, often deeply brutal messaging of the world. Azim Boyer balances out the hard politics with lots of humour, and while she uses the student election to parallel a lot of shady US politics of the era, she also gives us a believable and easy-to-root-for heroine who grapples with crushes, strained friendships, college applications, family bickering, part-time jobs, and which shoes to wear to the school dance. I loved the ways the Big Issues were braided with the small stresses, because that's the way life works, and I definitely felt the rising tension as the student election neared and Jasmine dug herself deeper into a hole no one could pull her out of. With a well-rounded supporting cast and a big heart, this one's definitely "a winner."
November 1, 2022
An Iranian-American teen in 1979 who needs to get into her dream school NYU and therefore wants to become Senior Class President. And then Iranian students take Americans hostage in Tehran.
I adored Jasmine’s messiness and her ability to make the wrong decisions. Susan’s writing is incredibly active and captivating and made reading the story very easy. I could see the rice boil in the pan so vividly and felt Jasmine’s frustration in my chest when Ali was mentioned time and again, and she didn’t want others to know that he was her brother. And those pop references! They fitted the story so perfectly! A smile tugged at my lips many times, and sometimes I cringed because of Jasmine’s choices. But you know what, teens need to make mistakes, in 1979 and now, to learn from them and to grow up. And that’s why, even though this story is set in 1979, it didn’t feel that way.
I had a soft spot for Ali, for his fierceness, for not being afraid to express his own opinion and be a proud Iranian, even if it makes him the odd one out.
Read this story if you love a flawed and lovable MC who struggles to acknowledge her identity, has only one goal and might fall in love too.
Thank you so much, Susan, for trusting me to read and review your debut early. I loved Jasmine, Ali, Mike, Bridget, and Patty so much and hope other readers will feel the same way!
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I adored Jasmine’s messiness and her ability to make the wrong decisions. Susan’s writing is incredibly active and captivating and made reading the story very easy. I could see the rice boil in the pan so vividly and felt Jasmine’s frustration in my chest when Ali was mentioned time and again, and she didn’t want others to know that he was her brother. And those pop references! They fitted the story so perfectly! A smile tugged at my lips many times, and sometimes I cringed because of Jasmine’s choices. But you know what, teens need to make mistakes, in 1979 and now, to learn from them and to grow up. And that’s why, even though this story is set in 1979, it didn’t feel that way.
I had a soft spot for Ali, for his fierceness, for not being afraid to express his own opinion and be a proud Iranian, even if it makes him the odd one out.
Read this story if you love a flawed and lovable MC who struggles to acknowledge her identity, has only one goal and might fall in love too.
Thank you so much, Susan, for trusting me to read and review your debut early. I loved Jasmine, Ali, Mike, Bridget, and Patty so much and hope other readers will feel the same way!
Follow me on Instagram
November 6, 2022
Summary: Jasmine Zumideh is determined to win a spot in NYU’s Freshman class and pursue her dream of becoming a journalist within the music industry. In order to gain a leg up in her early application, she writes that she has served as Senior Class President. The only problem is, she hasn’t yet been elected. As the election nears, an international incident causes Anti-Iranian backlash within the school. Determined to beat her running mate, Jasmine decides to downplay her Iranian identity. Soon her small lies become larger ones and she must decide how much she is willing to sacrifice to win the election.
Thoughts: A YA book with lots of heart, Jasmine Zumideh needs a win addresses a lot of the issues young adults, from middle school through college, grapple with during the adolescent years. In additon to the average struggles, Boyer addresses what diverse students face, most notably students of middle eastern descent and particulary during times of war, when xenophobia is at an all time high.
At the heart of this story, Jasmine is struggling to find her indentity. In school, she struggles to find her academic self; in her social circle, she struggles to find her cultural identity. Like most teenagers her age, as they try to form a world for themselves beyond high school, she is faced with navigating these complexities. I think so many young adults will connect with Jasmie as she grapples with that transition between high school and college, while also being true to her cultural identity.
A phenomenal debut novel, I cannot wait to see what Boyer writes next. Highly recommend this book regardless of age.
4.5★ rounded up.
Read if you like:
•Iranian-American rep
•high school setting
•relatable MC
•coming of age stories
Thank you to Wednesday Books, MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for the gifted finished copy and ALC in exchange for my honest review.
Thoughts: A YA book with lots of heart, Jasmine Zumideh needs a win addresses a lot of the issues young adults, from middle school through college, grapple with during the adolescent years. In additon to the average struggles, Boyer addresses what diverse students face, most notably students of middle eastern descent and particulary during times of war, when xenophobia is at an all time high.
At the heart of this story, Jasmine is struggling to find her indentity. In school, she struggles to find her academic self; in her social circle, she struggles to find her cultural identity. Like most teenagers her age, as they try to form a world for themselves beyond high school, she is faced with navigating these complexities. I think so many young adults will connect with Jasmie as she grapples with that transition between high school and college, while also being true to her cultural identity.
A phenomenal debut novel, I cannot wait to see what Boyer writes next. Highly recommend this book regardless of age.
4.5★ rounded up.
Read if you like:
•Iranian-American rep
•high school setting
•relatable MC
•coming of age stories
Thank you to Wednesday Books, MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for the gifted finished copy and ALC in exchange for my honest review.
May 5, 2022
As a mixed girl who has eaten frosting right from the container as a result of an emotional spiral many times, I fell in love with Jasmine Zumideh. I flew through this book in one day. It was fast-paced, and driven by such a clear voice. Jasmine is the picture of every messy young girl trying to balance belonging and self-truth. I loved her genuine connection with her friends, and Mike is the best high school love interest one could imagine for themselves. Reading this book, I was overjoyed that there was, as she calls it, “half’n’half” representation. I had never read a YA book before this that allowed such exploration of the complicated contradictions that lie in mixed heritage. Though the story takes place in the 70s, the sentiments about identity rang true for me in 2022.
Deeply reminiscent of the enormity of everything at 18, Jasmine leads you through this story with an earnest mindset, and room to grow. She is complex, caring, and sometimes self-indulgent, and you root for her the entire time. She is the heroine a young Emma would’ve really loved and seen herself in. Reading this now at 21, this book inspired me to give myself and others a little bit more grace. Susan Azim Boyer’s writing was sincere and beautiful. I hope to read more from her in the future, and hope to meet more characters as bold and brave as Jasmine Zumideh.
Deeply reminiscent of the enormity of everything at 18, Jasmine leads you through this story with an earnest mindset, and room to grow. She is complex, caring, and sometimes self-indulgent, and you root for her the entire time. She is the heroine a young Emma would’ve really loved and seen herself in. Reading this now at 21, this book inspired me to give myself and others a little bit more grace. Susan Azim Boyer’s writing was sincere and beautiful. I hope to read more from her in the future, and hope to meet more characters as bold and brave as Jasmine Zumideh.
April 16, 2022
Jasmine Zumideh Needs a Win is funny, charming voice-driven YA that is so compulsively readable, I honestly couldn’t put it down.
This story is about Jasmine Zumideh who has Ambition with a capital A. She is determined to be a writer for a rock magazine (and let me tell you, her love of and skill when it comes to opinions about music gave me the ALMOST FAMOUS & EMPIRE RECORDS vibes that I know we all crave). To achieve this dream, Jasmine knows she has to get out of her suburban Southern California town and attend NYU’s journalism school. But when there’s a hiccup with her application materials, Jasmine is left with only one surefire way to impress the NYC admissions committee: she needs to win the election for Senior Class president.
But just as Jasmine’s election is ramping up, Iranian students seize the United States Embassy in Tehran (the Iran Hostage Crisis of 1979). The guy running against Jasmine for class president uses the international crisis to stir up anti-Iranian hysteria in the school, and Jasmine, who learned early from her peers that she should downplay her Iranian background, now must grapple with her heritage in a way she never has before.
Jasmine is a determined, good-hearted, but also flawed character who doesn't always make the right decisions (she reminds me a lot of Devi in the Netflix show NEVER HAVE I EVER). But despite her missteps, I’m rooting for her the whole time.
I loved the way Susan Azim Boyer (whose has written about how she drew on her own life experience for this book) crafts a story that is both light-hearted and laugh-out-loud funny and that is also a deeply thoughtful exploration of identity, self-acceptance, and xenophobia.
The book is brimming with charming characters who jump off the page. I particularly loved Auntie Minah, her Iranian aunt who shows her love through delicious food (warning: reading this book WILL make you hungry), her younger brother who challenges her in the frustrating way only siblings can, and of course I LOVED Mike, an absolutely winning love interest who serves a vital role in the story.
Definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a charming, heartfelt read that also has amazing 80s references (Tower Records! Hot Dog on a Stick! Feathered hair!), relatable family and friendship dynamics, messy characters trying their best, and a perspective on a historical event that you may not have read before.
This story is about Jasmine Zumideh who has Ambition with a capital A. She is determined to be a writer for a rock magazine (and let me tell you, her love of and skill when it comes to opinions about music gave me the ALMOST FAMOUS & EMPIRE RECORDS vibes that I know we all crave). To achieve this dream, Jasmine knows she has to get out of her suburban Southern California town and attend NYU’s journalism school. But when there’s a hiccup with her application materials, Jasmine is left with only one surefire way to impress the NYC admissions committee: she needs to win the election for Senior Class president.
But just as Jasmine’s election is ramping up, Iranian students seize the United States Embassy in Tehran (the Iran Hostage Crisis of 1979). The guy running against Jasmine for class president uses the international crisis to stir up anti-Iranian hysteria in the school, and Jasmine, who learned early from her peers that she should downplay her Iranian background, now must grapple with her heritage in a way she never has before.
Jasmine is a determined, good-hearted, but also flawed character who doesn't always make the right decisions (she reminds me a lot of Devi in the Netflix show NEVER HAVE I EVER). But despite her missteps, I’m rooting for her the whole time.
I loved the way Susan Azim Boyer (whose has written about how she drew on her own life experience for this book) crafts a story that is both light-hearted and laugh-out-loud funny and that is also a deeply thoughtful exploration of identity, self-acceptance, and xenophobia.
The book is brimming with charming characters who jump off the page. I particularly loved Auntie Minah, her Iranian aunt who shows her love through delicious food (warning: reading this book WILL make you hungry), her younger brother who challenges her in the frustrating way only siblings can, and of course I LOVED Mike, an absolutely winning love interest who serves a vital role in the story.
Definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a charming, heartfelt read that also has amazing 80s references (Tower Records! Hot Dog on a Stick! Feathered hair!), relatable family and friendship dynamics, messy characters trying their best, and a perspective on a historical event that you may not have read before.
November 17, 2021
JASMINE ZUMIDEH NEEDS A WIN grabs you from the first page for a journey back to the 1970s to follow Jasmine, an Iranian-American high school senior who aspires for acceptance into NYU, in hopes of eventually writing for the rock magazine, Creem.
Azim Boyer artfully transports the reader to a time of spinning records, first gen cordless phones, and the Iran Hostage Crisis. The beauty of the book is that it never feels dated, rather, fresh, relevant and difficult to put down.
Beautifully layered are the politics of the time, a new crush, evolving friendships, rich and colorful Iranian traditions, and the heartbreaking realities of prejudices.
Through it all, Jasmine is a character we instantly love, and though she makes some questionable choices, the reader can’t help but root for her—a very, Never Have I Ever (Netflix) vibe.
Skillfully humorous at times, and heartbreaking the next, JASMINE ZUMIDEH NEEDS A WIN at its heart, is a poignant story about a girl caught between two cultures, finding your voice, and discovering a strength from within.
Azim Boyer artfully transports the reader to a time of spinning records, first gen cordless phones, and the Iran Hostage Crisis. The beauty of the book is that it never feels dated, rather, fresh, relevant and difficult to put down.
Beautifully layered are the politics of the time, a new crush, evolving friendships, rich and colorful Iranian traditions, and the heartbreaking realities of prejudices.
Through it all, Jasmine is a character we instantly love, and though she makes some questionable choices, the reader can’t help but root for her—a very, Never Have I Ever (Netflix) vibe.
Skillfully humorous at times, and heartbreaking the next, JASMINE ZUMIDEH NEEDS A WIN at its heart, is a poignant story about a girl caught between two cultures, finding your voice, and discovering a strength from within.
November 5, 2021
Jazmine Zumideh Needs A Win is one of those very special books that teaches just as much as it entertains. I was immediately thrown into all the very-real dynamics of high school, the overpowering urge to fit in, and that all-consuming longing for a future in the big wide world.
This is a story that’s set in 1979 during the Iran Hostage Crisis but its themes are so relevant for today. Jasmine is an Iranian American student with big dreams at a time when owning all of herself feels like self-sabotage. She is so relatable in her quest to reach her ambitions without losing herself, and so wonderfully embodies so many of our fears about being Othered.
This book tackles intersectionality in such a poignantly authentic way, while remaining so uniquely enjoyable and readable. It grants a valuable awareness of an important time in history, without ever skewing didactic or slowing down. These characters are so charming because they are so real, because they embody some of the best and worst parts of all of us, and Jasmine’s broader journey is one that you can’t help but root for.
But, most importantly, I had FUN reading this book. It is so special to be able to read a book that tackles such sensitive topics like self-acceptance and xenophobia, and can do so in a way that makes you laugh along the way and leaves you feeling warm and realized in the end.
I am so excited and honored to have gotten an early read of such a special story, and can’t wait for others to meet Jasmine and love her as much as I do.
This is a story that’s set in 1979 during the Iran Hostage Crisis but its themes are so relevant for today. Jasmine is an Iranian American student with big dreams at a time when owning all of herself feels like self-sabotage. She is so relatable in her quest to reach her ambitions without losing herself, and so wonderfully embodies so many of our fears about being Othered.
This book tackles intersectionality in such a poignantly authentic way, while remaining so uniquely enjoyable and readable. It grants a valuable awareness of an important time in history, without ever skewing didactic or slowing down. These characters are so charming because they are so real, because they embody some of the best and worst parts of all of us, and Jasmine’s broader journey is one that you can’t help but root for.
But, most importantly, I had FUN reading this book. It is so special to be able to read a book that tackles such sensitive topics like self-acceptance and xenophobia, and can do so in a way that makes you laugh along the way and leaves you feeling warm and realized in the end.
I am so excited and honored to have gotten an early read of such a special story, and can’t wait for others to meet Jasmine and love her as much as I do.
May 5, 2022
eARC provided by NetGalley
After lying (or, "accelerating the truth") about being senior class president on her NYU application, Jasmine Zumideh is more than determined to win the election IRL. She thinks it will be a breeze... but then, the Iran Hostage Crisis throws a wrench in all her plans. Suddenly, Jasmine is seen as the "I-rain-ian" candidate, particularly when her younger brother starts speaking out against US foreign policy. Jasmine finds herself embroiled in a toxic race against Gerald, her hyper-patriotic, xenophobic classmate who uses Jasmine's "foreign"-ness to campaign against her at every turn.
Jasmine is a sharp-witted protagonist who makes some excruciatingly poor decisions over the course of this novel. Basically, she's a realistic and engaging teenage character. Her struggles, big and small, will resonate with teen readers everywhere, and I found her feelings of "embarrassment" to be particularly poignant and timely. Racialized kids in America have, time and time again, been held collectively responsible for "their" (note the aggressively passive-aggressive quotation marks) countries' actions, and it's a really difficult thing to navigate at any age. JASMINE ZUMIDEH NEEDS A WIN portrays that experience in an honest, heartbreaking, and often funny (yes, laugh-out-loud funny) way. I highly recommend picking up a copy.
After lying (or, "accelerating the truth") about being senior class president on her NYU application, Jasmine Zumideh is more than determined to win the election IRL. She thinks it will be a breeze... but then, the Iran Hostage Crisis throws a wrench in all her plans. Suddenly, Jasmine is seen as the "I-rain-ian" candidate, particularly when her younger brother starts speaking out against US foreign policy. Jasmine finds herself embroiled in a toxic race against Gerald, her hyper-patriotic, xenophobic classmate who uses Jasmine's "foreign"-ness to campaign against her at every turn.
Jasmine is a sharp-witted protagonist who makes some excruciatingly poor decisions over the course of this novel. Basically, she's a realistic and engaging teenage character. Her struggles, big and small, will resonate with teen readers everywhere, and I found her feelings of "embarrassment" to be particularly poignant and timely. Racialized kids in America have, time and time again, been held collectively responsible for "their" (note the aggressively passive-aggressive quotation marks) countries' actions, and it's a really difficult thing to navigate at any age. JASMINE ZUMIDEH NEEDS A WIN portrays that experience in an honest, heartbreaking, and often funny (yes, laugh-out-loud funny) way. I highly recommend picking up a copy.
January 24, 2022
I had so much fun reading this book! It was clever and witty, and I loved the 1979 setting and music references sprinkled throughout. But what really sets this story apart is the cross section of a piece of history that doesn’t often get talked about (the Iran hostage crisis) and Jasmine’s journey as the things she thinks she wants comes in conflict with the world around her.
Jasmine desperately wants to get into NYU to study journalism and write about her rock and roll heroes. To make sure her application rises to the top, she decides to run for Senior class president. But when her rival starts to use the Iran hostage crisis as part of his platform, Jasmine is forced to choose between her dreams of securing her spot at NYU and speaking up for her Iranian family and what she knows is right.
With a voice that is witty and full of heart, I couldn’t help but root for Jasmine. Some of the lines are laugh out loud funny, but at the core of this book is a heartfelt story that will stick with you long after you read the last page.
Jasmine desperately wants to get into NYU to study journalism and write about her rock and roll heroes. To make sure her application rises to the top, she decides to run for Senior class president. But when her rival starts to use the Iran hostage crisis as part of his platform, Jasmine is forced to choose between her dreams of securing her spot at NYU and speaking up for her Iranian family and what she knows is right.
With a voice that is witty and full of heart, I couldn’t help but root for Jasmine. Some of the lines are laugh out loud funny, but at the core of this book is a heartfelt story that will stick with you long after you read the last page.
May 10, 2022
This book was honestly such a great read! It was also relatable. Jasmine Zumideh is a senior in high school trying to get into NYU, in order to do that she had to lie that she was senior class president. She was determined to win the election so she wouldn't get caught lying in her application.
Jasmine was trying to fit in, she didn't like telling people she was half Iranian due to racism that she could face. She also was very determined to achieve her goals, to study in NYU. it has realistic characters especially Jasmine, she isn't the perfect main character that you always see, she makes bad choices in life like a normal teenager.
Jasmine was trying to fit in, she didn't like telling people she was half Iranian due to racism that she could face. She also was very determined to achieve her goals, to study in NYU. it has realistic characters especially Jasmine, she isn't the perfect main character that you always see, she makes bad choices in life like a normal teenager.
March 2, 2022
As someone who made a high school career of losing student council elections, I was excited when I received the chance to read an early copy of Susan Boyer’s debut JASMINE ZUMIDEH NEEDS A WIN.
Boyer’s novel is a light-hearted YA political romp following the title character, an Iranian-Irish American senior at a Southern California high school, who’s desperate to be elected class president to secure her admission to NYU and future career as an entertainment journalist. The novel follows Jasmine as she makes a series of increasingly questionable choices in her bid for victory, which snowball with disastrous effects on her relationships—with her friends, family, crush, and herself.
As Jasmine says, “This is how it happens. A little white lie here, a major compromise there, and before you know it, you’re basically Judas. But there’s no sympathy for the devil. God, I hate that song.”
Boyer’s debut started life as a TV pilot, and her screenwriting background is evident throughout her book. In place of lengthy exposition or inner monologue, the story is delivered in the form of short scenes driven by dialogue, keeping the plot moving at lightning speed. The storytelling feels dynamic and alive, and Jasmine’s first-person narration almost gives the impression of a TV voiceover. In true screenplay style, Boyer even names some minor characters by type (e.g. Mohawk Punk and Junior G.I. Joe).
Admittedly, I don’t read a lot of YA, but this book is more than just a fun story about teenage dreams, drama, and crushes. My favorite parts of the novel are the scenes with Auntie Minah, where we learn more about the Iranian culture Jasmine tries to distance herself from (including some delicious-sounding food and drinks I now want to try). I also enjoyed how it cleverly intertwines Jasmine’s election ambitions with the political backdrop against which the book is set, the Iranian Hostage Crisis of 1979. The political tensions and casual racism Jasmine experiences daily—from the demonization of Iranians by her opponent, to her brother Ali’s vocal (and inconveniently timed) advocacy, and even the insidious way so many white adults don’t even try to pronounce her name correctly—feel all too relevant to our current moment. Highly recommended for YA readers seeking Persian rep, fast-paced storytelling, and a blast from the past that still feels modern and relevant.
Boyer’s novel is a light-hearted YA political romp following the title character, an Iranian-Irish American senior at a Southern California high school, who’s desperate to be elected class president to secure her admission to NYU and future career as an entertainment journalist. The novel follows Jasmine as she makes a series of increasingly questionable choices in her bid for victory, which snowball with disastrous effects on her relationships—with her friends, family, crush, and herself.
As Jasmine says, “This is how it happens. A little white lie here, a major compromise there, and before you know it, you’re basically Judas. But there’s no sympathy for the devil. God, I hate that song.”
Boyer’s debut started life as a TV pilot, and her screenwriting background is evident throughout her book. In place of lengthy exposition or inner monologue, the story is delivered in the form of short scenes driven by dialogue, keeping the plot moving at lightning speed. The storytelling feels dynamic and alive, and Jasmine’s first-person narration almost gives the impression of a TV voiceover. In true screenplay style, Boyer even names some minor characters by type (e.g. Mohawk Punk and Junior G.I. Joe).
Admittedly, I don’t read a lot of YA, but this book is more than just a fun story about teenage dreams, drama, and crushes. My favorite parts of the novel are the scenes with Auntie Minah, where we learn more about the Iranian culture Jasmine tries to distance herself from (including some delicious-sounding food and drinks I now want to try). I also enjoyed how it cleverly intertwines Jasmine’s election ambitions with the political backdrop against which the book is set, the Iranian Hostage Crisis of 1979. The political tensions and casual racism Jasmine experiences daily—from the demonization of Iranians by her opponent, to her brother Ali’s vocal (and inconveniently timed) advocacy, and even the insidious way so many white adults don’t even try to pronounce her name correctly—feel all too relevant to our current moment. Highly recommended for YA readers seeking Persian rep, fast-paced storytelling, and a blast from the past that still feels modern and relevant.
October 29, 2021
I was lucky to read an early copy of this compulsively readable book!
Jasmine Zumideh may need a win, but Susan Azim Boyer has found one in this stunning, voice-driven debut. Despite being set in 1979, this novel feels both timeless and timely. This book digs deep with wit and heart as protagonist Jasmine tries to determine what’s right when who she is seemingly irreconcilable with who everyone expects her to be. Full of keen music references and clever quips, this is a book that’s easy to love.
Desperate to get a leg up and a way to her dream of becoming the first college journalist to interview Pretenders front woman Chrissie Hynde, Jasmine decides to run for high school class president. She’s all rock-n-roll—brash attitude, forward thinking, and impulse—pitted against opponent Gerald, who’s easy listening at best—familiar, stiff, and entirely bland. The odds are stacked against her as an Iranian American girl, and she knows it, and she’ll do nearly anything to beat them. Jasmine’s life is complicated already, but the pressure builds as the Iran Hostage Crisis begins and her high school’s population’s prejudice is revealed. It’s fast-paced reckless decisions from then on, as Jasmine figures the ends justify the means as she fibs, denies her heritage, and lets friendships falter. She fights for stability and respect in a world that tilts differently every day, armed with a strong will and a snappy, brazen demeanour.
Jasmine is a true-to-life, endearing protagonist situated within a fully realized and realistic 1970s setting. Her conflicts are painful and real, and the book’s intense yet wry narration push the plot along at a galloping speed. I felt like I was within the whirlwind Jasmine experiences, and I was happy to be along for the ride.
Jasmine Zumideh may need a win, but Susan Azim Boyer has found one in this stunning, voice-driven debut. Despite being set in 1979, this novel feels both timeless and timely. This book digs deep with wit and heart as protagonist Jasmine tries to determine what’s right when who she is seemingly irreconcilable with who everyone expects her to be. Full of keen music references and clever quips, this is a book that’s easy to love.
Desperate to get a leg up and a way to her dream of becoming the first college journalist to interview Pretenders front woman Chrissie Hynde, Jasmine decides to run for high school class president. She’s all rock-n-roll—brash attitude, forward thinking, and impulse—pitted against opponent Gerald, who’s easy listening at best—familiar, stiff, and entirely bland. The odds are stacked against her as an Iranian American girl, and she knows it, and she’ll do nearly anything to beat them. Jasmine’s life is complicated already, but the pressure builds as the Iran Hostage Crisis begins and her high school’s population’s prejudice is revealed. It’s fast-paced reckless decisions from then on, as Jasmine figures the ends justify the means as she fibs, denies her heritage, and lets friendships falter. She fights for stability and respect in a world that tilts differently every day, armed with a strong will and a snappy, brazen demeanour.
Jasmine is a true-to-life, endearing protagonist situated within a fully realized and realistic 1970s setting. Her conflicts are painful and real, and the book’s intense yet wry narration push the plot along at a galloping speed. I felt like I was within the whirlwind Jasmine experiences, and I was happy to be along for the ride.
February 27, 2022
What a blast! Jasmine’s story not only transported me to a fun but testy historical moment, tackling racism, bullying, and young romance. The story is also super timely given all that’s happening in our world and how young people respond to it. And the author achieves all of this while making Jasmine and her friends absolutely hilarious.
I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Jasmine’s run for class president amid a seriously relatable inner struggle between who she is and what others want her to be. All of her friends were so fun to be around, and I really did feel right there in the classroom, the gatherings, and the drama. It’s such a relatable book that hits you in the feels while leaving you completely satisfied in the end.
Totally recommend this novel!!!
I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Jasmine’s run for class president amid a seriously relatable inner struggle between who she is and what others want her to be. All of her friends were so fun to be around, and I really did feel right there in the classroom, the gatherings, and the drama. It’s such a relatable book that hits you in the feels while leaving you completely satisfied in the end.
Totally recommend this novel!!!
October 21, 2022
A beautiful and topical story about our modern political climate incorporated into a fun and relatable high school story. Highly recommend to YA readers look for something a bit more layered.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the eARC!
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the eARC!
May 1, 2025
This was alot of fun and interesting.
Going through a reading mojo slump after being non stop since January so I was glad to finish this one this quickly.
Going through a reading mojo slump after being non stop since January so I was glad to finish this one this quickly.
July 14, 2022
*3.5 stars rounded up*
thank you netgalley for the arc!
rtc.
thank you netgalley for the arc!
rtc.
July 25, 2022
JASMINE ZUMIDEH is a whip-smart and hilarious story of identity and school elections. I was laughing the whole way through, but also wincing as Jasmine gets herself into more and more trouble. A lot of us in diaspora communities struggle with our identities, but that struggle is heightened when something out of our control happens in the world, and suddenly we as a group are regarded with suspicion. It happened with Covid, it happened with 9/11, and in JASMINE ZUMIDEH it happens with the Iran hostage crisis. Jasmine is just trying to win a school election, but suddenly nobody can talk about anything besides the hostages and Iran. She does her best to take the spotlight off her heritage, but in the process she makes a lot of questionable choices that start snowballing. It's savvy storytelling and so very compelling. Highly recommended!!
June 14, 2022
Thank you so much to Wednesday Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
The writing style & dialogue of this book was super funny and I could definitely see this adapted into a fun teen comedy, but there were so many aspects of the book that contradicted the novel’s theme. Specifically, the political tone of the book leans liberal, but then there’s a character arc where a racist, conservative student is given a redemption arc and is and the love interest is half-Israeli??? Idk it just seemed super hypocritical considering the novel’s main message :(
I did really love the Persian rep in this book, though, as well as the 1980’s setting!
Follow me on TikTok | Instagram | Twitter for more book reviews & recommendations!
The writing style & dialogue of this book was super funny and I could definitely see this adapted into a fun teen comedy, but there were so many aspects of the book that contradicted the novel’s theme. Specifically, the political tone of the book leans liberal, but then there’s a character arc where a racist, conservative student is given a redemption arc and is and the love interest is half-Israeli??? Idk it just seemed super hypocritical considering the novel’s main message :(
I did really love the Persian rep in this book, though, as well as the 1980’s setting!
Follow me on TikTok | Instagram | Twitter for more book reviews & recommendations!
October 28, 2022
This is a humor filled page turner of a fabulous book.
I am smitten. There so much to adore about this book: The plot is refreshingly unexpected. The writer’s capacity for astute storytelling makes it a memorable read. The youthful relatability wins me over. Is it possible for a book to be both serious and humorous? This one is complex, layered, moving and funny.
Most of all:
Jasmine is an endearing young person who has stolen a soft spot in my heart.
I’m recommending it to everyone I can convince to request a copy!
*I am so fortunate to have received an advance copy, courtesy of the press & by author’s generosity.
I am smitten. There so much to adore about this book: The plot is refreshingly unexpected. The writer’s capacity for astute storytelling makes it a memorable read. The youthful relatability wins me over. Is it possible for a book to be both serious and humorous? This one is complex, layered, moving and funny.
Most of all:
Jasmine is an endearing young person who has stolen a soft spot in my heart.
I’m recommending it to everyone I can convince to request a copy!
*I am so fortunate to have received an advance copy, courtesy of the press & by author’s generosity.
Want to read
February 2, 202201.02.2022 the author's excitement for that cover in the reveal tweet is making me emotional and i'm pretty sure the creator's heart will reflect in the pages too
October 26, 2022
This was a great #ownvoices YA story set in 1979 California about a Iranian-American teen girl trying to get into college in NYC and pursue her music journalism career. The only problem - she lied on her college application and said she was already class president and now has to make sure she wins at all costs.
Full of witty dialogue, lots of high school drama and important conversations about race, complicated broken families and not judging people before you get to know them. I liked it a lot on audio narrated by Lanna Joffrey. Recommended for fans of The (un)popular vote or Blaine for the win.
Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for early digital copies in exchange for my honest review!
Full of witty dialogue, lots of high school drama and important conversations about race, complicated broken families and not judging people before you get to know them. I liked it a lot on audio narrated by Lanna Joffrey. Recommended for fans of The (un)popular vote or Blaine for the win.
Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for early digital copies in exchange for my honest review!
May 26, 2022
I loved this book. Set in California during the Iran hostage crisis, it’s the story of an aspiring rock and roll journalist trying to win an election for senior class president. But it’s so much more than that. It’s about embracing identity, figuring out who you are, and deciding how far you’re willing to go to chase your dreams.
I adored Jasmine’s voice. It’s sharp, witty, and most importantly, authentic. You’re going to love spending time with her, watching her make some pretty bad decisions, but ultimately following her heart to a great place.
I also loved the thoughtful examination of culture, of what it means to be (or have been) both Persian and American, especially at a time when the country’s relationship with Iran was in every headline, and at the center of the collective consciousness. Plus, there are amazing descriptions of some pretty tasty-sounding Persian treats that I really need to try.
I adored Jasmine’s voice. It’s sharp, witty, and most importantly, authentic. You’re going to love spending time with her, watching her make some pretty bad decisions, but ultimately following her heart to a great place.
I also loved the thoughtful examination of culture, of what it means to be (or have been) both Persian and American, especially at a time when the country’s relationship with Iran was in every headline, and at the center of the collective consciousness. Plus, there are amazing descriptions of some pretty tasty-sounding Persian treats that I really need to try.
June 18, 2022
I don’t normally read YA books, but I won this one on. Goodreads Giveaway which I entered to help stock my Little Free Library. This book was a delight to read, not only for the late 70s culture references, but also to see Jasmine come into her own and embracing her identity during a time of crisis. In 1979, I only saw one side of the hostage situation from both the news and my piano teacher talking about her son-in-law who was one of the hostages. I now hope to find a young person to pass the book along to in hopes that it will open their eyes to look at both sides of world events and how they effect the ordinary people around them.
June 8, 2022
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. First off, let me say thank you for the chance to read the book before it even comes out. Now, on to my review....
I loved the book. The glimpses into the Iranian culture, and the struggles of "non-Americans" took a story that could have been cookie cutter, and gave it a very pleasant twist.
The character development of Jasmine from start to finish was well written. I enjoyed watching her growth, and her ups and downs, as a person.
Overall, I feel this story is a great representation of self discovery. I would love to read more from this author.
I loved the book. The glimpses into the Iranian culture, and the struggles of "non-Americans" took a story that could have been cookie cutter, and gave it a very pleasant twist.
The character development of Jasmine from start to finish was well written. I enjoyed watching her growth, and her ups and downs, as a person.
Overall, I feel this story is a great representation of self discovery. I would love to read more from this author.
June 13, 2022
This was a terrific read!! I really enjoyed the story from beginning to end and it did a really great job of expressing the feelings of a high school student. A must read.
June 16, 2022
What do you do when you have the moral compass of an 18 year old high school senior who needs another extracurricular on your nyu college application? Lie of course, then try to make it truth afterwards.
Jasmine Zumideh Needs a Win is a slam dunk book that blends history, character, and present day headlines into a seamless story about the internal conflicts we all face when living in a powder keg.
Its a well-written, well-paced, contemporary about finding your voice, losing yourself, and accepting responsibility for all that comes after.
There will be times you want to reach through the text and literally shake Jasmine "Katie" until her brains are unscrambled and in the very next paragraph wanna hold her hand and let her be. A completely complex and fleshed out character study for sure
Jasmine Zumideh Needs a Win is a slam dunk book that blends history, character, and present day headlines into a seamless story about the internal conflicts we all face when living in a powder keg.
Its a well-written, well-paced, contemporary about finding your voice, losing yourself, and accepting responsibility for all that comes after.
There will be times you want to reach through the text and literally shake Jasmine "Katie" until her brains are unscrambled and in the very next paragraph wanna hold her hand and let her be. A completely complex and fleshed out character study for sure
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