Positively delightful! One of the best YA books I have read this year! The characters are kind of a mess, but their imperfections are what make them endearing and relatable, enjoyed this far more than I thought I would.
Thank you NetGalley for the e-arc which I voluntarily reviewed.

It's probably just me, but I could not get into the setting of this book. It didn't really feel like the 1970s to me; Jasmine had essentially the same voice that I'd expect a modern teenager to have. Altogether, not bad, just not for me.

Jasmine Zumideh is one of the most unlikable characters I've ever read. She was a terrible friend, a terrible sister, a terrible niece... There was SO MUCH ROOM for character growth - lots of baby steps along the way. Instead, we got to see her get worse and worse until the very end when she did a complete 180. Too little, far too late, Jasmine. And everyone just *magically* forgave her with zero tough conversations.

I was really fascinated by the political situation that laid a background for the book (the Iranian Hostage Crisis), and I wish we'd been able to see Jasmine grapple more with her feelings about being Iranian American. Instead we got to see her abandon her identity, both in public and in her own mind, and read endless whining about how unlucky she was that this happened right as she decided to campaign for student body president. 🙄

As a former SoCal resident I understand the need for escape and to go chase one’s dreams in college.

The writing in this was very realistic. You could see these characters being real people because they acted in line with how you would expect teenagers to. However there just wasn’t the character and plot development I would have liked. The book was slow at times and wasn’t quite resolved enough by the end of the story. Jasmine learned some lessons but really didn’t improve that much by the end.

All in all cute book, very important and educational idea, but fell short for me

“Imagine starting the new decade with a new mascot and free Coke every Friday.”

In 1979, at a school obsessed with John F Kennedy and Richard Nixon’s involvement in Watergate and impeachment, Jasmine Zumideh is a senior in high school who dreams of attending NYU and becoming a journalist for “Creem” or another music magazine.

When Jasmine Zumideh applies for early decision to her first choice college, Jasmine realizes she’s missing a something extra to set her early admissions application apart.

“Nothing, except the something extra for my application just went up in smoke. I can practically smell it burning.”

Assuming she won’t be accepted to NYU, she panics and exaggerates on her application. 🫣 Jasmine claims to be the senior class president at school, and she’s not. Whoops 😅

“What was I thinking? I can’t lie on my application. If I get caught, I could go to prison for fraud, I think.”

“That envelope absolutely, positively must get there overnight, and now I absolutely, positively must win this election.”

“I’m not going to fail. I’m going to be the first college reporter to interview Chrissie Hynde.”

As the story unfolds, her small lie continues to grow. She tries not to let it mentally eat away at her. However, there’s a hostage situation in the Iran. Jasmine finds herself having to choosing between the senior class presidency or owning her Iranian-American heritage.

“We slept through the seventies. It’s time to wake up.”

I love Jasmine’s determination and passion to be admitted into her first choice journalism school. I instantly loved and admired Jasmine for her passion of journalism and her love of music. Jasmine is truly a good person and handles and immense amount of pressure well.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! With fully fleshed out characters, Jasmine Zumideh Needs a Wins is a fast, fun read and a undeniably quirky plot that’s well structured. I found this book difficult to put down.

Title: Jasmine Zumideh Needs A Win
Author: Susan Azim Boyer
Release Date: November 1st, 2022
Page Count: 336
Start Date: October 20th, 2022
Finish Date: November 1st, 2022

Review:
Story: I liked this book. It was very quirky. It reminded me of a few popular young adult movies and books. I won’t list them because I don’t want to take away from this book. I’m not going to lie. I can’t say I was absolutely in love with this book. I definitely won’t ever be reading it again. If there is a sequel, I might consider reading it. It would depend on my reading schedule.
Characters: I didn’t care for the main character at all. She was just really self-absorbed. I get that she really wanted to get into her dream college, but still. Even Paris realized that stepping over everybody was detrimental to her goals. That’s a reference to Gilmore Girls. In my opinion, she was like Paris from Gilmore girls and Cady from Mean Girls. The rest of the characters had their ups and down.
Critiques: Nothing.
Final Thoughts: I really think that this book will be a hit for a younger audience. It’s funny. It’s quirky. It does have some underlying messages that are rather hidden in a way. While I’ll never read it again, I really did enjoy the read. I recommend it fully

4.25 stars!

Jasmine Zumideh Needs a Win by Susan Azim Boyer may be about a high school teen campaigning for senior class president in 1979, but I found this witty debut wonderfully relevant and honest. Jasmine caught my attention from the start. Likable and passionate, she’s determined to make her dream of attending NYU and becoming a music journalist a reality. When a little white lie snowballs, she finds herself at the center of a high school and an American controversy. Her desperation to win the election forces her to make some difficult choices, leaving her torn between her Iranian and American identities.

I found Jasmine compelling. She’s portrayed realistically, as a struggling teen, whose world has become hyper-focused. Her parents are a mess, currently separated. Her father is away on business and her mother has retreated to Kansas to be with Jasmine’s grandmother. Jasmine’s Iranian aunt has come to stay with them, intent on keeping their Iranian heritage at the forefront of Jasmine and her brother’s life.

Boyer has created a cast of characters that are captivating, making even the unlikeable characters human. From Jasmine’s best friends, to her close-minded running mate, to her radical brother, I wanted to know more about each one.

And even though watching Jasmine make desperately terrible decisions over and over is hard, there’s humor and joy as she finds the right path.

I was so impressed with the author’s creativity in using a high school election and an international incident to highlight our political climate and illustrate how elections can turn all of us into people we don’t recognize.

And I had so much fun visiting 1979!

Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for an advanced reader’s copy.

Check out my reviews and playlists at A Book Wanderer

This book was the perfect balance of hilarious and being in your feels. The first time I saw this cover I knew this book would be a wild ride. An Iranian-American, mixed race, teenager in the 1980s trying to win a school election with political and social drama abound? Yeah, that sounds like it'd keep me hooked the entire time.

Two qualities of this book I really enjoyed was not only how funny it was but also the way Boyer didn't flinch away from speaking the hard truths about how young ethnic people have to navigate difficult political climates that they're not the on the frontlines of but they are the face of it in the West.

There are moments where some characters are flinging out some really painful (micro)aggressions and I felt every single one somewhere in my soul. That anger of wanting to speak up and bring these people down but also feeling like you should keep your mouth shut.

I think seeing Jasmine struggle to just be a teenager trying to get into university and make all the wrong choices was so interesting. Never throughout my read did I forget that she's just an 18 year old girl trying to figure things out. Cause it never really is as easy as 'take down the bad guys' especially when they're your peers and they've been fed incorrect political drivel their entire lives.

The supporting cast of characters like Ali (Jasmine's brother), Mike (her love interest), Bridget (her best friend), and her Amme (aunt) made this story all the more compelling. Every single person is effected by Jasmine but they also all play significant roles in her life as a narrative foil, voice of reason, and guilt. For me, the network of secondary characters really stole the entire show!

I loved seeing how the author wove together so many different plot points into a fun and wonderfully packaged read that teaches us a lot about the struggles of remaining true to yourself and your heritage in the face of a majority populace.

Thanks so much to St. Martin's Press, Netgalley and TBR Beyond Tours for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book!

Just to be frank that the topics are quite heavy for me, I found some points that are tough to get into while I'm reading but eventually, I started to get along with this book and solve what it contained when I was 26% reading it.

Jasmine as the main character in this book is an Iranian American girl who lived in the United States during the big conflicts between both countries USA and Iran, being in her role can be hard enough, as an half and half when her both countries hate each other, as she went through so many disputes and problems that she got from her sibling, friends in High school, and political issues which also complicated and unfolding, as well as some choices she made. This is the part that I admire about Jasmine who is regardless of these problems, as well as the way how she solved and fixed all these dilemmas, eventually.

This book is a win, Jasmine is a wonderfully strong female character and I loved the chance to better understand how it would have felt in 1979, and would still feel today, to be Iranian American. I loved that this book showcased her typical adolescent identity and senior year in high school tropes but added in the important layer of ethnicity and culture (and gender!) within the context of the election and political unrest. There is so much value in a young adult book that offers this voice and character.

I loved some of the other themes here, the focus on music, the normalcy of adolescent life but also the intensity of how that time feels, the flaws in Jasmine's behavior (because adolescents are and should be messy!). This is a great book with character growth and empowering themes on integrity and movement into adulthood.

I appreciate the gifted ebook from St Martin's and the chance to celebrate Susan Asim Boyer's writing and her characters.

A spectacular debut novel that's a 4-star for me and I definitely loved this book and want to see more from this author. Wonderful MC and I liked the plot.

DNF. I really liked the premise but the writing did not work for me at all. It wouldn't be fair to the book if I finished reading and gave it a low rating.

Jasmine Zumideh Needs a Win was a mesmerizing read in every way I imagined it to be, and more! It's been a while since I last read a YA story that could engulf my attention like JZNAW did. I loved how the book had a modern touch, even though it was set in 1979!

Let's face it, high school isn't perfect for anyone. And this book expresses that notion perfectly. Seeing Jasmine make some wrong choices (which is perfectly reasonable for that age) made her so damn relatable in my eyes. Reading about Jas' struggles with her identity, culture and heritage being an Iranian-American teen made the book remarkable, in my opinion. I enjoyed getting to know about Iranian culture A LOT. The author's writing style needs to be praised too ~ it was so easy to lose myself in the story because of her talent! Humor was sprinkled all throughout the book even when difficult issues were being talked about - so that's another thing that I liked about the story. How different elements were balanced in the plotline, I mean. All the intensity surrounding the student election added such a thrilling touch to JZNAW too. :')

I can't recommend this book enough! 💜

This is a story about how far you'll go to achieve your dream. Jasmine Zumideh is a high school senior and aspiring rock journalist in 1979.  She is eager to get out of Southern California and become the first student from her school to attend NYU.  She has strong grades and the support of her school's journalism advisor.  But she feels she needs something more, so she writes on her application that she is the senior class president-elect -- even though the election has not yet happened.  

Jasmine is not too worried, though, given her opponent: Gerald, her nemesis from the school newspaper who is running on a platform of reinstating a dress code and otherwise imposing more order, which hardly seems like it will be popular among their fellow seniors.  But then an international incident with personal resonance for Jasmine begins to dominate the news, and Gerald uses this incident to generate support for his candidacy and try to undermine her campaign -- forcing Jasmine, who is navigating her own identity and family issues, to make difficult choices about what she shares about herself, how to handle her brother, and how far she is winning to go to secure victory and her admission to her dream school.

This was an interesting and creative book, melding stories about an election, navigating identity, and handling friendship and family at this crucial stage of life.  The author did an excellent job portraying why Jasmine was so eager to go to NYU and how it drove her to questionable choices all in service, in her mind, of what she needs to do to reach her dream life.  The juxtaposition of Jasmine and her brother, on the one hand, and Jasmine and her potential love interest Mike, on the other, was an effective way to explore how to balance the pressures of fitting in and navigating identities different from the majority of students.  Finally, the book deftly deploys both serious and funny tones at different points of the story, which is not easy to do.

Highly recommended!

This book was an interesting look at historical and pop culture of the 1970s. It takes on xenophobic manipulation, the tension of running a high school election campaign, an identity crisis, and a teenage girl trying to juggle it all through her passion for journalism and classic rock. Jazmine’s struggle with her Iranian-American identity was moving and handled with care as she fought racist comments against her. Her brother Ali was a compelling character as well and I appreciated his exchanges with her! While I wanted and got a happy YA bow tie ending, the conclusion was a bit rushed to me and most of the character growth happens in the end. I enjoyed the story overall and recommend to anyone who enjoys high school elections, self-discovery, and stories of multiple identities.

Thanks to NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this book. The incorporation of real event in Iran during the timeline in the book makes this young adult historical fiction educational in more than one regard.

This was a very interesting book. I loved learning about Iranian culture and the politics of 1979. Jasmine is such a determined (and a tad bit dramatic) teenager trying to find her place in the world and come to terms with being an Iranian-American. I loved her character almost instantly. This book perfectly showcases how sometimes you have to make tough choices to get what you want and how to learn from your mistakes.
Now, the heavy topics in this book were covered exquisitely. Watching Jasmine struggle between defending her culture against racism or just ignoring it really shows how POC have to battle between their beliefs and their safety when it comes to racism. This book really had my blood pressure rising because of how Iranians were being talked about and treated and I was on Ali’s side the entire time. Even though I understand Jasmine just wanting to ignore politics, and win her election, I wanted her to use her platform to defend her culture the entire time. The writing and emotion in this book was so impactful. Boyer wrote a phenomenal coming of age story that gives amazing insight into the Iranian culture and learning how to accept yourself.

Thank you @tbrbeyondandtours and @wednesdaybooks for the chance to review this book!

In this YA debut novel, Jasmine is a senior in high school in a suburban California of 1979. She is an aspiring journalist eager to get into NYU. To meet her early college application deadline, Jasmine states on her application that she is a Senior Class President-Elect. There is a small problem, Jasmine hasn't won the election yet.

This book is so witty and funny, it made me laugh outloud all the way through. Those who grew up in the family with immigrant parents or themselves made this country their home will have a whole new level of appreciation for this book. Jasmine's dad is from Iran and her mother is Irish American, and just as Jasmine is trying her best to run an all-American high school election campaign, an incident between Iran and US makes it impossible for her to keep her ethnic identity out of her campaign. A small lie snowballs into a huge avalanche threatening Jasmine's win.

This is such a great book with the moral that the ends don't always justify the means. There are so many things that would help Jasmine win, but how much would she lose in the process? The characters are so well-written! Jasmine is hilarious, her auntie is so sweet and caring, her brother is a typical obnoxious younger sibling, and there are so many more characters in this book that you'd love to get to know. This novel is so lighthearted and carries a great message. It talks about self-acceptance, xenophobia, and staying true to yourself.

If you're looking for a YA book with a great insight and fierce humour, this is a great one.

Looking for a refreshing debut YA novel? I can't wait to recommend this one to my high school students!
Jasmine Zumideh Needs a Win was such a great read! Taking place in 1979 during the Iran Hostage Crisis, the book centers around high school senior Jasmine, the product of an Iranian father and an Irish American mother who are currently separated and discussing divorce. Jasmine is running for spring semester Senior Class President to help strengthen her early admission application to NYU, her dream school, so she can study music journalism and interview some of the rock stars of the time. Her love of music reporting is reminiscent of the young reporter in Almost Famous, and her campaign for class president reminded me of Election. Those are two of my favorite movies, so that’s likely part of the reason I enjoyed it so much!
Set in a new-to-me time period with an MC from a culture that I am still learning about, Jasmine Zumideh Needs a Win was the right mix of seriousness and humor. With themes of identity and acceptance, this coming of age YA novel was fresh and enjoyable.
Thanks to Wednesday Books St Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. I hope others sound interested in reading this book. I really enjoyed it and would love to chat about it if you read it, too! The book will be available tomorrow, 11/1, and I can’t wait to see what will come next from author Susan Azim Boyer!

What's it about (in a nutshell):
Jasmine Zumideh Needs a Win by Susan Azim Boyer is set in 1980 and is the story of a teen who must decide if living her dream is worth the cost of going against everything she believes in. Jasmine is half-Iranian and has to deal with the repercussions of the Iran Hostage Crisis while running for senior-class president of her high school.
Initial Expectations (before beginning the book):
I'm not sure what to expect from this read. The cover is more what you expect from a comedy. Still, the description describes some serious cultural and teen issues in the story. My initial expectation based on this is that the story will be one of those with many different aspects to it.
Actual Reading Experience:
First, I loved the period the story is set in and that the main character is half-Iranian. Hence, the events are so personal at a time when no one in this country would have even thought to look at how Persian people felt about the hostage crisis in Iran. I was very young when that crisis occurred, so I only remember tiny bits of things – like the yellow ribbons around the trees and how everyone worried about a young man from my hometown who was among the hostages. Given that opportunity to see a much fuller picture was very illuminating for me in so many different ways – some intended, I'm sure, but also some uniquely my own. I could get on my soapbox about them, but I won't. Though, I can see this as an excellent read for a book club, especially one full of people who lived through the crisis.
I loved the romantic comedy elements in this story. The cover said "lighthearted" with its design. Even though the story covers some intense topics that make you think (or should), those lighthearted moments bring the story to life like no other aspect could or did. The romance is very innocent and genuine and definitely had me cheering for Jasmine and Mike.
Lastly, even though this is considered a YA book, there is so much that adults can and should get out of it that I can easily recommend it to the adult reader.
Characters:
All the characters are so lovable and totally endearing, from Jasmine's friends and brother to the adults in her life - especially her Iranian Aunt that takes care of Jasmine and Ali, her brother, while her mother is away visiting her own mother. Life is breathed into these characters by the very layers that make them feel authentic and genuine to the point where they entered my life and have yet to leave.
Jasmine is a teen during the late seventies/early eighties. She knows what she wants and will do anything to achieve it. She is independent, determined, and entirely, lovably headstrong – so I knew life lessons would not come easy. But boy, did I love seeing her grow because of having to take on those challenges, mess up, and pick herself back up again.
Narration & Pacing:
Jasmine tells her story in first-person narration, and I couldn't imagine the story told any other way. This personal story is best served to readers in a very unique manner. I loved Jasmine's voice which is so authentically a teen on the cusp of maturing into adulthood. One who sometimes makes decisions for purely selfish reasons and then at other times sees the broader picture clearly and responds with more empathy and maturity than one expects in a teen.
The pacing is overall quite fast. Sometimes it slowed for a time as events seemed to go on way too long, but I mostly sped through her senior year while pondering my thoughts on all that was happening in the story.
Setting:
The setting is a high school in Southern California between 1979 and 1980. I loved the setting because it made the story much more impactful, looking at it from the eyes of a teenager who just wanted to live her dream. Something about the innocence of the characters and the authenticity of their reactions hit home with me.
Read if you like:
• Fast-paced stories
• Coming of age stories
• Exploring cultural diversity in US history