
If You Could Be Mine
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Narrated by:
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Negin Farsad
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By:
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Sara Farizan
17-year-old Sahar has been in love with her best friend, Nasrin, since they were six. They've shared stolen kisses and romantic promises. But Iran is a dangerous place for two girls in love - Sahar and Nasrin could be beaten, imprisoned, even executed if their relationship came to light.
So they carry on in secret - until Nasrin's parents announce that they've arranged for her marriage. Nasrin tries to persuade Sahar that they can go on as they have been, only now with new comforts provided by the decent, well-to-do doctor Nasrin will marry. But Sahar dreams of loving Nasrin exclusively - and openly.
Then Sahar discovers what seems like the perfect solution. In Iran, homosexuality may be a crime, but to be a man trapped in a woman's body is seen as nature's mistake, and sex reassignment is legal and accessible. As a man, Sahar could be the one to marry Nasrin. Sahar will never be able to love the one she wants, in the body she wants to be loved in, without risking her life. Is saving her love worth sacrificing her true self?
©2013 Sara Farizan. Published by arrangement with Algonquin Young Readers, an imprint of Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, a division of Workman Publishing Company, Inc. (P)2013 HighBridge CompanyListeners also enjoyed...




















Critic reviews
"Refreshingly and believably diverse.... Each character and relationship is kindly and carefully drawn.... A moving and elegant story of first love and family." (Kirkus Reviews)
"A heartbreakingly beautiful story of first love.... The reader becomes part of Sahar and Nasrin's journey. We move through it with them with our heart in our hands." (Jacqueline Woodson, author of Beneath a Meth Moon)
"A book full to bursting with aching, haunting, beautiful questions." (Chris Lynch, author of Inexcusable)
Not a standout
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loved it
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Negin Farsad's narration makes the story more emotionally resonant than I think it would be otherwise. Sahar spends a lot of time being angry about her situation (understandable), and defensive of her decision to pursue a sex change so she might marry Nasrin instead of her fiance. Farsad easily finds the essential nuances within that anger, creating strong, unwavering characters.
As the story is in first person singular, we don't see any of Nasrin's real feelings on the subject of her impending marriage beyond her outside behavior, and what she says to Sahar. I would have liked to know the complicated feelings going on in Nasrin's head as well; it surely could not have been easy to choose duty and a life of ease, or the love of your life.
Overall, I found If You Could Be Mine thoughtful and well-written, with fully developed characters and socially relevant storylines. I liked the insight into underground queer culture in Iran. I would have rather seen a sweet ending, or a bitter ending, rather than a bittersweet one, but I'm glad Sahar was able to make the choices she did.
Revelant and Realistic Queer YA
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Sahar found herself willing to do almost anything to be with her best friend while Sahar's best friend Nasrin is comfortable in "playing nice" for her family and friends and only loving Sahar when they are alone. This story can be understood by anyone who's ever loved someone that they couldn't ever be with. Great story overall and I look forward to reading more from this author.
A great first novel
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I was not expecting that.
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An Angsty YA Read That's Unexpectedly Hilarious
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Anyhow the story is good (though I wish it was better) and has a good ending, and holds a pretty good educational value.
Cute
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Really a good book, a lot of twists and turns. Keeps you wondering what happens next.
A must read
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surprisingly good.
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the other character was so selfish that I found it hard to even like her through the eyes of the character. Pretty, vain and selfish to go with homely, smart and devoted. Typical dull mix.
I found the characters so unbelievable that I had a hard time with trusting the setting and culture.
If I could have related to even one of the main characters I could have said I liked it. If you want to have a story with truly unlikable MAIN characters, this is it.
the only likable character was P----- she was fine. she was actually the only character with a story. (compared to other novels, she would be a thin character, however).
The fatal flaw is the lack of building the characters and showing likable traits in them.
the narrator also was interesting......
Main characters are awful people
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