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* portrays a rich, multi-generational story highlighting female friendship, resilience, and complex relationships...
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.”
https://cerebralspice.wordpress.com/2025/05/03/book-list-the-lion-women-of-tehran-by-marjan-kamali
A beautiful story, beautifully written. Please read it!
A beautiful story, beautifully written. Please read it!
This story begins when one woman in NY receives a letter from an old friend in Tehran...it is a story that spans several decades and begins with the unlikely friendship between two girls. It is early 1950's Tehran, Ellie has a comfortable lifestyle when her father suddenly dies, and she and her mother are forced to live downtown ("slums"). Ellie is lonely and dreams of finding a friend. On the 1st day of school, Ellie meets Homa, a spunky, kind and compassionate girl who is also fearless. They are the kind of best friends who dream of their future together. However, that is interrupted when Ellie and her mom are afforded an opportunity to return to their bougie life.
Several years later, Homa suddenly reappears in Ellie's privileged life and the two young women come of age in a time during Iran's unstable history. They pursue their own goals during the political turmoil. Their actions will have unspeakable consequences.
This is so beautifully written. I loved both Ellie and Homa, but Homa is my favorite. She is a strong, fierce woman. There was some foreshadowing to what was going to happen, but it actually was different than what I thought. I love when there is still a surprise. This is a story about family, sacrifice, betrayal and the unbreakable bond of true friends.
Several years later, Homa suddenly reappears in Ellie's privileged life and the two young women come of age in a time during Iran's unstable history. They pursue their own goals during the political turmoil. Their actions will have unspeakable consequences.
This is so beautifully written. I loved both Ellie and Homa, but Homa is my favorite. She is a strong, fierce woman. There was some foreshadowing to what was going to happen, but it actually was different than what I thought. I love when there is still a surprise. This is a story about family, sacrifice, betrayal and the unbreakable bond of true friends.
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