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.
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Community Reviews
What Bookclubbers are saying about this book
✨ Summarized by Bookclubs AI
Readers say *The Lion Women of Tehran* is a beautifully written, multi-generational novel blending personal and political struggles across Tehran and ...
This is a great book! I enjoyed learning about the characters past and how they got to the books beginning. It was a great representation of friendship, sisterhood, the trials of long term relationships, and redemption.
thenextgoodbook.com
What’s it about?
Ellie is seven years old when she meets Homa on her first day in a new school. Ellie’s father has just died and she and her mother have been forced to move to a small apartment due to their reduced circumstances. In the 1950s, Tehran had a strict social structure and Ellie and her mother must make some accommodations in this new life. Spanning from 1950 to the present day we see Tehran through the eyes of Ellie and Homa.
What did it make me think about?
Iran- I knew so little about the country.
Should I read it?
This was a really good work of historical fiction. I learned a lot about Iran over the last 70 years. This story reminded me how blessed I am to have been born here in America. With all our problems we still have freedoms that many can only dream about. This novel also reminded me of what is so important about literature- the ability to stand in someone else’s shoes for a moment and learn about other lives. If you enjoy historical fiction or are looking for a book about the complexities and rewards of a long friendship, then you will enjoy The Lion Women of Tehran.
Quote-
“I took Homa to the East Room. She stood still, taking in all the books, the gold-leaf decorated ceiling, and the Persian rugs.
Once we were outside, she turned to me and said, no longer in a whisper, ‘Isn’t it funny, Ellie? No matter where you go or how far you travel, when you are in a place of substance, the floor is covered with the rugs of our country. The artwork of our land. Which means really, in all these places, you are with the labor of Iranian women.”
What’s it about?
Ellie is seven years old when she meets Homa on her first day in a new school. Ellie’s father has just died and she and her mother have been forced to move to a small apartment due to their reduced circumstances. In the 1950s, Tehran had a strict social structure and Ellie and her mother must make some accommodations in this new life. Spanning from 1950 to the present day we see Tehran through the eyes of Ellie and Homa.
What did it make me think about?
Iran- I knew so little about the country.
Should I read it?
This was a really good work of historical fiction. I learned a lot about Iran over the last 70 years. This story reminded me how blessed I am to have been born here in America. With all our problems we still have freedoms that many can only dream about. This novel also reminded me of what is so important about literature- the ability to stand in someone else’s shoes for a moment and learn about other lives. If you enjoy historical fiction or are looking for a book about the complexities and rewards of a long friendship, then you will enjoy The Lion Women of Tehran.
Quote-
“I took Homa to the East Room. She stood still, taking in all the books, the gold-leaf decorated ceiling, and the Persian rugs.
Once we were outside, she turned to me and said, no longer in a whisper, ‘Isn’t it funny, Ellie? No matter where you go or how far you travel, when you are in a place of substance, the floor is covered with the rugs of our country. The artwork of our land. Which means really, in all these places, you are with the labor of Iranian women.”
This was absolutely a 5 star read for me in 2026 it blends history with fiction and highlights women’s relationships. I wish I could read this book for the first time again.
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