Join a book club that is reading The Lion Women of Tehran!

Portland ME Book Club

We are a local Portland, ME bookclub that is free to join! We meet the last Wednesday of each month at a local Portland bar, brewery, etc.

Splendid Sun Book Club

Rockport Texas reading group with in-person meetings coordinated through the Splendid Sun book store

Around the World

A book club exploring fiction from around the world with discussions over global cuisine.

North Park & Hillcrest area

We'll meet monthly at breweries, bars, and restaurants in North Park and Hillcrest. We'll explore a range of genres. Age 25+.

BOOK OF THE MONTH

The Lion Women of Tehran

From the nationally bestselling author of the "powerful, heartbreaking" (Shelf Awareness) The Stationery Shop, a heartfelt, epic new novel of friendship, betrayal, and redemption set against three transformative decades in Tehran, Iran.

BUY THE BOOK

Published Jul 2, 2024

336 pages

Average rating: 8.43

1,022 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

Janet H
May 15, 2025
7/10 stars
The oppression of woman in Iran comes to life in this story about two woman who are besties from their first day at school. Reads a bit YA in the first half but develops into an engaging story with an interesting historical and political perspective.
goldingev
May 07, 2025
10/10 stars
One of the most incredible books I’ve ever read. A must read!!
hershyv
Apr 22, 2025
9/10 stars
The Lion Women of Tehran is such a beautiful read! It tells the touching story of two girls, Elaheh "Ellie" and Homa, whose lives cross paths from the 1950s to the 2020s. They first meet in Tehran as seven-year-olds and quickly become best friends. But as life goes on, they find themselves drifting apart—an experience that happens time and again as their journeys bring them back together. Set against the backdrop of the Iranian Revolution and the changing world that follows, every character, even the less prominent ones, feels so real and relatable, thanks to Marjan Kamali's outstanding writing. The book dives into important themes like social class, feminism, women's rights, political activism, and the immigrant experience, giving a warm insight into Iranian life and culture. Overall, I found this story engaging and thought-provoking. It explores friendship, courage, healing, empathy, acceptance, forgiveness, and redemption. The characters' experiences have stuck with me, and I'm sure that they will remain as pictures of the fight for freedom and empathy of brave women for a long, long, long time.
HW
Mar 01, 2025
9/10 stars
great read!
Kathy Browning
Feb 26, 2025
Story of friendship, feminism and activism over three decades in Tehran, Iran.

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