People Change

by Sara Jafari

When Shirin bumps into Kian at a house party in Brixton, she is taken aback by the feelings that resurface.

They last saw one another ten years ago as sixteen-year-olds at school in Hull. And the weight of everything left unsaid since then still hangs between them.

But now they're back in each other's lives, it's harder to run from the past.

There's nothing worse than losing the person you trust with your deepest secrets.

Can it be different second time around?

People Change is a moving and thought-provoking exploration of two people overcoming the past, re-finding each other and discovering their place in the world.
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Praise for People

'People Change is simply brilliant - unflinching, and completely captivating' Beth Reekles

'This book expresses so many different types of love, and the affirmation we find in the deep truths of ourselves. It's so beautiful' Tice Cin

'Two brilliant characters navigating their twenties... Deftly touches on race and mental health' Taylor Dior Rumble

'This powerful book evokes perfectly the agony of young love while also exploring darker themes' People's Friend

'A wonderful, moving read - Sara Jafari has such a perceptive eye and the most brilliant way of rendering the unspoken things between two people' Emma Hughes

'A gorgeous novel that explores the complexities of the life. Deft, funny, and thoughtful on friendship, family, work, race, and dating' Kirsty Capes

'People Change is a brilliant book that will leave you with a longing for seizing the day and shrugging off the cobwebs of stagnancy. . .' Bad Form

'Funny and well observed' Country and Townhouse

'A thoughtful, moving tale' Woman's Own

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Contemporary, Iran

352 pages, ebook

First published February 2, 2023

About the author

Sara Jafari is a British-Iranian author and editor. She is the author of The Mismatch and People Change (Penguin Random House, 2021 and 2023).

People Change will be published as Things Left Unsaid by St. Martin’s Press in Spring 2025.

Longlisted for Spread the Word's Life Writing Prize, her writing has also been published in gal-dem and The Good Journal, among other publications. She is also a contributor of the essay collection "I Will Not Be Erased": Our stories about growing up as people of colour (Walker Books, 2019), and Who’s Loving You (Trapeze, 2021).

Reviews

[Ritu Bhathal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've not read Sara Jafari before, but she has been on my radar for a while, so it was great to get a chance to read one of her books.
Shirin is a British-born Iranian woman living in London, supposedly living her dream. She is working in publishing, which she always wanted to do, with plenty of friends and a potentially busy social life.
A blast from her past is at one of the parties she attends.
Kian is a guy she last saw ten years ago when they were both teenagers and at school in Hull.
Is it good to meet someone from a time when your life was not so great?
There are many loaded issues within the story, as Shirin and Kian get to know each other once again and open up about things they never had the chance to as youngsters.
The side story about racism and prejudices in workplaces adds extra spice to the story.
An interesting read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Isobel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book I've read from Sara Jafari and safe to say she's quickly become one of my favourite authors. This book follows two people Shirin and Kian who bump into a house party in Brixton after not seeing each other for 10 years since leaving school. Jafari writes about her characters and their relationships with so much depth and honesty. This book explores topics such as race, depression, friendship and navigating life through your 20s plus so much more. I would highly recommend any Sara Jafari book to anyone. Thank you to Netgalley for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Kristina (Kiki) · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had to put this book down after 100 pages or so. I couldn't get used to the writing style and the synopsis was misleading. The plot felt quite empty and while the book deals with important topics, I felt that the writing style took away from the impact of the message. I couldn't engage with the characters and the plot felt very matter of fact in the sense of "This happens, then this happens next. The character looks and sees him standing there and this makes her feel." It lacked depth for me.

[melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

not even sure it is a romance book, but if it was, it’s my favorite kind

the characters and the settings felt so real, I loved reading about shirin’s life and how she felt at this stage when it came to work, friends, love, family, her past etc. I loved the back and forth between shirin and kian’s povs and the past and present. this book really cemented my love for second chance romance bc shirin and kian absolutely deserve to end up together

[Jennifer Li · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an intimate read that explores second chances - at love, acceptance of the past, making a difference.

Shirin, an assistant editor at a publishing house, bumps into an old friend Kian, an artist, at a house party in Brixton, which brings up buried feelings of shame, confusion, trauma and pain that they both encountered when they were at college. With Kian back in her life, Shirin can’t run away from her past and as they spend time together, romantic feelings resurface. Can they make it work second time around?

So there is a love story in this book but I would say it’s not the central focus of the book that other typical romance novels tend to be. Instead the narrative delves into important and serious topics on racism, and how both Shirin and Kian were treated as other at school, with both getting caught up in an unpleasant incident that changes their lives and their relationship.

The narrative floats back and forth between the Now and the Then which pieces together the reasons why Shirin and Kian stopped talking and also why they are still drawn to each other now. The author writes their complex relationship in a moving and realistic way which really draws out their undeniable connection but also tension between them.

The way in which racism is explored is impactful, especially in the Now narrative where Shirin struggles to find her voice in publishing and highlights the lack of diversity and inclusion in this industry (which is a highly relevant subject). There are elements of a coming-of-age story where Shirin confronts her past and decides how she will move forward and forgive herself.

I really enjoyed the writing style (and I loved the author’s first book The Mismatch which is why I was keen to pick up this next read) but I did find some of the narrative a bit cliched; a lot of breath holding which I felt was unnecessary 🙈 and perhaps more showing rather than telling of the racism displayed through micro-aggressions and unconscious bias may have made the narrative flow a bit more.

Overall, I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a love story with more layers and substance.

[Kristin Gleeson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley for the review copy of this novel. A complex thoughtful novel by a talented author. Shirin, a British born Iranian woman, has achieved all that she set out for by escaping Hull to London and working in publishing as an assistant editor. Everyone tells her how lucky she is, even her best friend, who still hasn’t decided what she wants to do. Except for Shirin, it doesn’t quite seem what it should be. She’s in a flatshare with people with which she has no connection, the promotion she was promised was given to someone else and her relationships with her family and friends still leave her feeling isolated and more prone to the depression she’s struggled with for years. When she attends a party and runs into Kian, someone she hasn’t seen in ten years, the past that she fought so hard to forget rises to the surface, along with all the mixed emotions that attend it. More events conspire to challenge first Shirin and then Kian so it becomes less about what they hoped to forget than what they haven’t faced.

The author weaves themes of racism, depression and navigating broken relationships with great skill and depth to create a very poignant and often moving novel that lingers on well after the book has ended.

[Lydia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the second half of this book much more than the first half which was rather miserable. Noting that this book was written during 2020-21, I can't help but think it was heavily influenced by The Other Black Girl and Normal People, as well as Don't you Forget about Me by Mhairi Mcfarlane, which has a very similar plot about a toxic comedian and a boy at school who abused the main character.
That said, the story definitely has its own unique setting and characters and I enjoyed the British Iranian perspective. I was glad parts were set in Hull so that it wasn't too twenty-something London-centric, although these observations were well done.
I think I enjoyed the parts where Shirin was interacting with her family and friends most, the relationships were amusing and well drawn. The story about publishing in racism was good but not very subtle.
The romance itself fell slightly flat as there was no tension in it (and no build up, they meet in the first chapter!) and the writing was a bit cliched. Perhaps we could have had more from Kian's perspective in the present day as he came across as a bit weak. The whole issue with him going abroad for a year and splitting them up made him look like a bit of an arse. We knew all along that they were both obsessed with each other, so why didn't they just say that? I was glad Shirin ended the book in a happier place though.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.8 - I really loved hearing about this perspective. It feels like every year when you hear about schoolhood racism and Islamophobia you have the urge to say ‘it feels more prominent now than ever’ but if we’re honest it’s always been an issue that plagues the make up of British schools. Hearing Shirin’s perspective of dealing with these things as a child and how it bleeds into adulthood is very relatable and offers new perspective of how school shapes your adult self so prominently. Whether it’s to prove those people wrong, prove yourself right, to get away or to make something/anything of yourself, I think anyone who grew up in similar circumstances can relate. Again, a book seemingly about the beauty and pain of the everyday has captured my heart and I’m very happy I saw this book and checked it out of the library!

[Ellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book follows Shirin and Kian who bump into each other at a party in London after they haven’t saw each other for 10 years since they were friends at secondary school in Hull. As they navigate being back into each other’s lives, Shirin is battling with her mental health as well as problems in her workplace. Romantic feelings start to surface and there is potential for a second chance of romance for them, but with what they went through in school, is the past going to stand in their way?

I loved this book! I thought that the relationship between Shirin and Kian was really sweet and not too soppy. I am not a romance reader so I can be quite picky with the romances I pick up but this book felt authentic and relatable. I liked how Shirin was still unsure of who she was or wanted to be in her mid 20’s which made her much more likeable and real.

I think the real highlight of this book was the themes of racism and workplace bias. Sara really explored this topic in an impactful way while flowing it in really well with the relationship story line.

I liked the then and now style of the book and how easy the book was to read and follow along. I especially enjoyed Shirin’s relationship with her grandma.

Overall I gave this book a 4/5 stars and I cant wait to read more from Sara ⭐️☺️📚

[Jai · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book surprised me. What seemed like a second chance romance on the surface actually touched upon racism, depression and self-worth. Written beautifully too.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Feel like a lost millenial? Want an easy yet poignant read about race and politics? A perfect find

[Simrun · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed every word of this, related to it on another level, and couldn't put it down. It was a satisfying read because everything happened realistically too.

[Tahmina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this!! If you like Sally Rooney, you’ll adore this. I love the way it’s written and the storytelling brought me so much ease Mashallah

[Daisy Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book exceeded my expectations in so many ways. I was expecting a light, fluffy second chance romance trope.. But it was not that at all. It was a deep exploration of complex issues such as racial abuse, mental illness, freedom of speech and grief.

Shirin is a 26 year old woman, suffering in silence with depression and anxiety and a sense of hopelessness. When she bumps into Kian, a friend from school who she was close to but hasn't spoken to for ten years, she is reminded of the past trauma she has tried to suppress.

At first I didn't particularly like Shirin. I found her a bit pathetic and overly sensitive. But as this talented writer developed her character I got a deeper insight into why Shirin finds life so difficult and why she prefers to remain invisible. I began to relate to her in so many ways. The feelings of inferiority and frustration at herself and others for belittling her experiences were an insight into her daily life that made me grow to like and empathise with her.

There is also a love story as her and Kian reconnect. But it's not a cheesy love story. It's messy and painful and real.

The real joy comes in seeing Shirin bravely start to show vulnerability and live a more authentic life. Her courage is rewarded in so many ways and this was inspiring and wonderfully uplifting.

A beautiful slow burner, I became so invested in Shirin's story and loved how she became the hero of her own life.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book. I cared about the characters. But I have to be honest and say it was a bit of a plod.
I don't mind a book being light on plot but this was 'helium balloon' light.

The two main characters spent most of their time pretending they weren't really obsessed with each other, a little bit of time getting it on, and then a bit more missing each other. Thrown into the mix were a couple of historic traumas that they carried with them.

There are a ton of day-to-day microagressions that make Shirin realise that she has her job because the publishers need a brown face to represent them on diversity and inclusion committees but they have no intention of actually being more inclusive or giving her credit for her work. I found that entirely believable, and the event near the end that leads her to realise things have to change had me cheering out loud.

Tokenism, racism, bullying and belittling all have their place in this book. I just wish they pace had picked up a bit in the first half as it became much better in the second.

[els · Rating 5 out of 5]

i loved this just as much as ‘the mismatch’! i’m in love with sara’s writing style - it’s so unique and refreshing. the observations made about life and people and racism are so interesting and thought provoking, but as well as these there are brilliant plot lines about family and relationships. the love story here was so slow burn but it was so worth the wait - it reminded me of normal people in a sense?! i even enjoyed a bowl of shirin’s favourite dinner - beany pasta - whilst i read this and i am now a converted beany pasta fan!! i think i might’ve loved ‘the mismatch’ a little more, but the story for this one was unforgettable!!

[Sophie Flynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this book. Shirin was incredibly frustrating and yet completely lovable and I was rooting for her so much (even doing a little squeal when she finally stood up for herself). The love story element with Kian is so beautifully done yet completely realistic. Just a really lovely, clever and inspiring book that tackles difficult issues in a very relatable way.

[EbsO · Rating 5 out of 5]

if you like enjoyment and good writing, you will like this book

Also the audiobook is really good for this one

[tahlia · Rating 4 out of 5]

What seemed like a 'second chance romance', People Change was a great reflection on racism, depression and self-worth. I didn't even feel myself waiting for more 'romance' moments, because the connection between Shirin and Kian didn't need to be explained through typical meet-cutes, and the traditional stuff like dates and first kisses. Ultimately, this story is much richer than that.

I particularly loved Shirin's journey with her mental health (I hate the way I said 'journey' too). The burn out that she experiences even when she's supposedly achieving everything she had hoped for, played out very well. Her inner dialogue was incredibly personal and her voice as a character was well-rounded. The personal nature of the book was also clear in the sex scenes and the conversations that Shirin and Kian have. The book can't be summarised to a 'miscommunication trope' - we learnt so much about the characters in their upbringing which explains a lot of a problems they face. But despite that, the pair have some fantastic communication and healthy conversations about mental health, navigating your 20s and career letdowns.

Also, it's worth mentioning that People Change is a book about books! Shirin works at Hoffman books in the publishing sector. I liked the storyline that accompanied her work, including the walk-out, Florence being so insufferable and being denied that promotion. So in that sense, the fact that it was 'a book about books' enriched the story. On the other hand, Shirin says offhandedly that she loves books and entered the industry to publish books that young Iranian girls and people of colour would like to read....but we never see Shirin actually read? She just binges Netflix a lot. I know that's probably a reflection of the burn out she's experiencing.......but like come on!!! I needed at least once scene of her reading.

The book follows a Then and Now narrative structure which kept a fast-pace. I wanted more of Shirin and Kian while they were at school together, but that's probably only because I'm so familiar with that stage of life. I think that the structure of the book meant that readers are waiting too long for the crux of the novel to be explained. For instance, you learn that Kian's brother is in prison but it's not until much later that we find out why - too much later. This is the same for the argument that they had.

I also wanted more of Kian's perspective in the present, not just in the flashbacks. Overall, I really enjoyed the book but it didn't have that 'wow factor' that would push it to a 5/5.

[Sara Machado · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Random House UK, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The story follows Shirin and Kian, who bump with each other in a party in London, after 10 years without any contact.
Shirin and Kian are both Iranians and were close friends in their last year of school, until something happened that caused their separation. Both characters have complex stories and struggled not only with mental health, as well as with their integration is society, being worth to mention that this haven’t affected their ability to work and reach their professional and personal growth.

What I liked about the book:
- Extensive examples of racism in our society
- Diversity representation
- Mental health representation
- Beautiful second chance love story between two strong characters who not only complement each other but bring out the best of themselves.

What I think it could have been done better:
- Mental health is a serious topic that should be threaded carefully. Some people might need to be on medication, and this is ok and should be normalized. However, the decision to stop the medication should be discussed with the doctors and not made in an impulse “if I hit the basket, I stop taking my meds”. This is a dangerous behaviour that should not be incentivized.
- I was not fan of the writing style as everything was portrayed and excessively explained by the narrator to the point it made me feel I wasn’t allowed to use my brain to interpret character actions by myself. The story imposes Shirin’s opinions and I’ve felt that, if I eventually disagreed with them, I was just being racist.
- The book is called “People Change” but Shirin doesn’t appear to believe anyone can change, any bad thing they’ve done in the past will be stuck with them forever. I’m not saying she wasn’t an abuse victim of racists kids, but my understanding was that they bullied other people as well… We know that one of them went to prison and other was a well-known racist, but Shirin exploded with Tom, with absolutely no knowledge of the person he was at the time. He might still be a racist, but he might as well have been a civilized adult who have grown from being a stupid kid.

Overall, this was a very nice story including a lot of serious and important issues in our society.

3.5 stars rounded up.

[Lauren Heaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

People Change
by Sara Jafari
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

This story by Sara Jafari is an exploration of what happens when we spend our lives too scared to speak out for what we want and need, but also delves very deeply into what it means to be a Black or Brown person growing up and existing in the systems built and still very much controlled by White people.

Our FMC Shirin has spent her life trying to nod and be agreeable in the hopes of being able to be left alone. She’s been through racially motivated bullying and abuse through her school years, followed by micro aggressions in her adult working life that keep her stuck in what feels like constant discontent.

The core relationship in the story is between Shirin and Kian, who are both from Iranian families and bond over the fact. They form a strong connection while at school, and a couple of traumatic events happen that mean eventually they lose contact.

When they eventually bump back into each other at a house party as adults, they have to start working through how they feel about each other, and both find themselves questioning things that happened and how they dealt with it.

Whilst fictional, this story is packed with a lot of the systemic and lifelong racism that so many people deal with every day. Also the glossing over and gaslighting of such by white ‘friends’ and colleagues.

An example being when the publishing house that Shirin works for ignore her complaining about an author making racist comments, closely followed by them asking her to join the diversity and inclusion team they’ve set up to help look more inclusive…

I really enjoyed reading the development of Shirin and Kian’s relationship within the story, and how experiences they both had really had a huge knock on effect to their relationship with each other.

It was also nice to watch as Shirin started to step into herself and her confidence towards the end.

[Anandarupa Chakrabarti · Rating 4 out of 5]

People Change by Sara Jafari is a poignant narration about a British-born Iran, independent, and highly ambitious woman Shirin who works as an assistant editor. Shirin bumps into Kian, an old friend,  an artist at a house party. This brings back all the college memories, emotions, and feelings that were buried within her and she didn't know they existed.

As Kian and Shirin spend time with each other, a new romantic feeling resurfaced which none of them can avoid. People Change, not only becomes a voice to the characters' personalities but also some topics of gravity like racism. It shares the pasts of Shirin and Kuan, their backgrounds, and how their lives were in the past. Jafari narrates their relationship with precise description and realism which utterly moving.
With a strong storytelling oscillating between past and present times which is a tough thing to pull off, I feel. The representation and seriousness of topics like mental health and the softness of second chances would surely melt your heart. Loved the delicate details of Shirin and Kian's relationship of what they experience and their actions and reactions.

Though a slow-paced telling but with an expressive and easy writing style, this book surely wins your heart.  Overall a beautiful story that would be right to your time investing in it.

[leylo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve just finished it! I loved it! I’m so relieved they make it out in the end. I see parts of myself in them; growing up and meeting your partner at ages 15/16. It’s kinda crazy seeing how much people change and grow, but it’s also such a Beautiful thing. At first I found the plot to be interesting and I wanted to see more of kian and shirin to begin with. I originally thought it was dragging too much with the other subplots with work and her friends which I wasn’t as interested in. But I find after about 40% the book picked up so fast I was hooked and finished it within a few hours. When I’d been struggling with the first 1/5 of the book for like a month lol. But definitely it got so good afterwards and I’m writing this at 5am. My adhd is showing rn writing this but anyway. Seeing the miscommunication trope was interesting this time around cus in my own relationship I try to stay away from that behaviour. And the tragic parts of this story reminded me of how important each day is, how we never know what tomorrow will be. And to always appreciate those you love. I also loved seeing how shirin’s and kians relationship developed coming from two people that are maybe a bit more shy starting off. Overall I liked this book a lot!

[Jack Bates · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Jafari's first book, The Mismatch, and this is even better.

Shirin has escaped from Hull and is living what should be her best life in London, working for a publisher. She's put the unpleasant events of her teens out of her mind (mostly) and wonders why she's still so anxious and unable to relax or enjoy herself. When she bumps into Kian at a house party, it's the first time she's seen him since school, an unexpected meeting that she's not sure about. The only Iranian-British kids at their school they bonded initially over this, and then over other, less tangible things. The end of their friendship is a shadow over their meeting. Everything's different now but what about the things that are the same?

This book is about people in their mid-twenties, doing mid-twenties things in a pre-Covid way. Jafari has a light touch as she explores anxiety, second-gen immigrant experience, and the horror of Diversity and Inclusion meetings in a company that doesn't truly give a shit about either. Kian and Shirin are beautifully convincing characters who feel very real, Shirin's awkward life in a house share where no one likes their housemates, and her freindships that maybe aren't quite friendships are entirely relatable.

[Ramisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I happened to come across this book at a visit to Bookbar in London and I instantly was drawn when I saw the author’s name. I, too, always look for an Iranian author when I scout new books. I didn’t know what to expect, and was pleasantly surprised to hear that this was a signed copy!

I bought the book in support (barely even reading the blurb other than to see Iranian characters) but what I have experienced reading this book will stay with me forever.

For the first time in my life I am reading a fictional story with Iranian characters whose stories are not dominated by the ever-lasting struggle of being an immigrant/refugee. That isn’t to say I don’t enjoy reading those books too, because that’s reflection of who I am as well but People Change was so refreshing because that struggle was not the focal point. It was a story about self-growth in a hostile environment (racist work, unkind friendships, self-deprecation, immature parents etc) and I fell in love with the way the author went through this journey.

It has definitely inspired me to keep writing and I will always remember People Change.

[sameera · Rating 3 out of 5]

people change is a heartwarming story of friendship, love, reconciliation and staying true to oneself. i think sara jafari has lots of promise as a writer and i’ll continue to look forward to what she writes next, but i must admit that i preferred her first novel, the mismatch, which was so refreshing and original, a lot more than this second novel. i appreciated jafari’s portrayal of shirin and kian’s upbringing as british-iranians in predominantly white areas in northern england, and the racism that marred their teenage years and forever shaped their relationship. this was a fairly quick read for me and i think i most enjoyed the chapters on shirin’s role working in the publishing industry and the prejudice and stress that she experienced with it. but i think the crux of the story— the budding reconciliation between the two characters— mostly fizzled out in the middle of the novel for me, and i wish the plot points and structure of this novel were a lot sharper and more convincingly drawn. 3✨

[Mollie Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

After a pretty intense past couple of reads, I came across this novel and thought it would be the perfect easy read. It did live up to this expectation, but sadly, I was underwhelmed by this book on the whole.

I found the protagonist really frustrating, especially in the way she spoke about her friendships, particularly at the beginning of the book. I also thought the major reveal that drove the love interests away from each other was not as huge as it was made out to be.

However, the book definitely got better and was more interesting when it came to the micro-aggressions the protagonist was facing at work. This was super revealing and left me egging her on to succeed in the end! I thought this whole plot point was the best part of the novel.

If you’re looking for something easy, whilst still thought provoking, to read, I would recommend this book. Having said that, it definitely was not one of my favourites.

[Sennen Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Demolished this over the course of a Monday morning. I’ve been SO excited about this book, and though it was different from what I expected, it was still completely wonderful. So many reviews of The Mismatch (which I loooooved) are like I was LIED TO I thought this was a ROMCOM to which I say: grow up lol. Anyway those same people will be annoyed about this one which is, like our good friend Mhairi McFarlane, women’s fiction (maybe even literary? Sara writes like Sally Rooney) with a delicious romance as a garnish. Kian is hot, I hope him and Shirin have a baby one day. I HOPE THEY HAVE A BABY NOW, ACTUALLY, THEY GOT BACK TOGETHER DURING THE PANDEMIC!!! LOCKDOWN BABY, BABY!!! I recognised all these people, and all these situations, and I loved it. SARA JAFARI I WOULD READ YOUR SHOPPING LISTS.

[Rebecca Jamison · Rating 4 out of 5]

People Change follows Shirin, an assistant editor in publishing and Kian, an artist. The two went to secondary school together but haven't seen each other in ten years. They reconnect at a party through mutual friends and begin to start up a friendship again.

The two clearly have a past but this past isn't smooth. Both went through troubling times and as we read, we discover what exactly happened between them and if they can forget about the past for their future.

It is very focused on race, both characters being British-Iranian. From bullying and prejudice they experience at school which even continues through into the workplace in present times. It also centres around finding yourself, being vulnerable and I have to add a trigger warning for depression and suicidal thoughts too.

It is a beautiful and moving story.

[Hilde Roi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn't just a love story, you will also come across grief, belonging, (workplace) racism, friendship, and the general disappointment of growing up and life not being as wonderful as you had hoped/expected.

We meet Shirin in the present day, doing a job she wanted but isn't quite what she had expected, when she bumps into Kian, someone she last saw when she was sixteen and who knows things about her that nobody else does. Although it seems they didn't part on the best of terms, why are the feelings she had for him back then resurfacing. Can they clear the air and will this second chance be different.

This story is so realistic and therefore relatable, nobody is perfect and the way Sara has chosen to approach some of the challenges in this book is really refreshing. Definitely a book to pick up if you want love but not looking for solely a love story.