The Persians

By: Sanam Mahloudji

Narrated by: Donia Bijan, Lanna Joffrey, Nikki Massoud, Mozhan Navabi

Shortlisted for The Women’s Prize • Named a Most Anticipated Book by Electric Literature, Publishers Weekly, The BBC, Daily Mail (London), and more

A darkly funny, life-affirming “joy of a debut novel” (David Mitchell) that follows five women from three generations of a once illustrious Iranian family as their lives are turned upside down.

The women of the Valiat family are in crisis. Elizabeth, the regal matriarch, remained in Tehran despite the revolution and only has Niaz, her Islamic law–breaking granddaughter for company. In America, Elizabeth’s daughters, the flamboyantly high-flying Shirin and frustrated housewife Seema, are wondering if their new lives there are what they had hoped for. Lastly, there’s the second granddaughter, Bita, a disillusioned law student trying to find deeper meaning by giving away her worldly belongings.

When an annual vacation in Aspen goes wildly awry and Shirin ends up being bailed out of jail, gossip about the family spreads like wildfire. Soon, Shirin sets out to restore the family name to its former glory. But what does that mean in a country where the Valiats never mattered to anyone?

The Persians is an irresistible portrait of a unique family in turmoil that explores timeless questions of love, money, art and fulfilment. Here is their past, present, and a possible new future for them all.©2025 Sanam Mahloudji (P)2025 Simon & Schuster Audio

Excellent

This is one of the best books I've listened to this year. Well-written and perfectly paced, the book follows the female members of an Iranian family, some of whom emigrated to the US after the revolution. The story takes you into the family's history and into the lives of complicated, imperfect characters. Additionally, I discovered more about Iran's recent history.

Multiple characters narrate the story and the actors do a great job of portraying each's personality. The different points of view work for this book.

Beautifully written. A balance of humor and depth.

I loved this book. It’s one of my favorites this year! The narration was perfect.