Tehrangeles by Porochista Khakpour was a book that caught my attention because of its cover. I mean, who can resist a blinged out feline? Unfortunately, what was beyond the cover wasn't exactly my cup of tea. From the beginning I could tell that things were going to get complicated but I had no idea was in store.

The book follows a wealthy Iranian-American family during the COVID pandemic. Prior to the shutdown, there was a plan for the family to have their own reality show, and you can feel this type of a vibe throughout. Some of what occurs is just so way over the top! It was like driving by a car accident and being unable to stop staring out the window.

I think one of the problems within this is the fact that there are SO many narrators. Each chapter has a different narrator with their view points and challenges. I'm not sure if having one narrator, like the character Roxi for example, would help or not. Roxi has a tendency to embellish things. Her sisters and parents have their own personality traits but none of them really stick out. Maybe everything should have been narrated by the cat?

I got the fact that this family was very wealthy from the first few pages but in case I hadn't the name dropping would have clued me in. So much name dropping! I think it might have been an attempt at satire but, it just didn't work. Between this and the multiple hard hitting subjects (racism, homophobia, pandemic, far right views, immigration) nothing meshed well together. There is also no real character growth.

Some readers may fall head over heels for Tehrangeles. Especially if they enjoy over the top drama and inner family connections. I did like the way Porochista Khakpour described the experience of being Iranian America. This was one thing that I didn't think was over dramatized and actually felt realistic. Otherwise, everything else was incredibly draining for me as a reader.

The Milanis, who began a microwave dinner empire, had four beautiful and spoiled daughters and built a mansion in Los Angeles. As it does, scandal happened and the daughters each went through public reckonings at an over-the-top party during the Covid pandemic. Khakpour's novel deftly satirizes the excesses of the ultra-wealthy and scrutinizes the authenticity of the American Dream. The family's interactions with media and their own curated personas underscore the precarious nature of public image in the digital age. The book's humor and sharp social commentary make it a compelling read for fans of authors like Kevin Kwan and Jesse Q. Sutanto, who similarly explore themes of wealth, culture, and identity with wit and insight.

I think I picked this up at the wrong time. The cover is stunning and the characters were so interesting, but with the plethora of other summer reads, I feel this one got lost. I’m going to try again this spring!

I almost DNFed this book. I probably should have. I just could not get behind any of these characters. Maybe that’s the point - that there are no likable characters. But this was grating and extremely annoying most of the time. Felt very out of touch, which again, may have been the entire point. But it was a miss for me. I really love the cover though!

I thought this would be a fun romp a la the Kardashians told through the lens of a family of Tehran-Americans. I found it unreadable. I could not distinguish between one character from another and I didn't see any type of plot coming. I did not finish..

Dealing with themes of identity, where and what we call home, the tightening and loosening of family bonds and the natural chaos and over-escalated drama of non-scripted TV, TENRANGELES is a contemporary novel that feels vapid on the surface but has more warmth and bite once you settle in.

After finishing 2024 with some great but more complex books, I wanted a bit of a palate cleanser to start the new year. After 50 pages, I was worried it might be a DNF. An easy initial reaction is that it’s dumb and vacant. But my initial thoughts were wrong. While it is “dumb,” it’s all on purpose and poking fun of the Milani family members and us. Reading Khakpour’s acknowledgments helped everything click (don’t skip those).

This is a novel embodying a too-sweet, something’s-off-here treat that you can’t stop consuming. It’s also Khakpour’s ‘Love Song’ or at least that’s how it started. With an intended style-over-substance approach, Khakpour take this parody and reimagines it through the lens of the Milani family and their varied, complex relationships with being both Persian and American.

I really wanted to get into this one, but every time i picked it up i couldn't get started.

Hope this book hit correctly with the right audience--thanks for hte copy!

I felt like this was a never-ending rant/stream of thoughts that was difficult to follow. I had high hopes but didn't live up to them.

This book had potential, but it was really disjointed and written like a stream of thoughts that never went anywhere.

Tehrangeles is a story about an Iranian-American family that's essentially the Kardashians meets Crazy Rich Asians. Super rich and locked up during the pandemic, the family ends up in preposterous situations.

I loved this novel by Khakpour—hilarious, heartfelt, and definitely true to what Angelenos have seen and experienced! A riot and a joy!

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Tehrangeles by Porochista Khakpour!

This was infuriating & incredibly frustrating - but wildly entertaining? I’m so torn on how to review this one because on one hand I wanted to throw the book across the room and on the other hand I couldn’t put it down! Very reminiscent of reality tv 📺!

Please check TW before reading. Heavy themes of Covid lockdown, racism, classism, ableism, bulimia, drug use & SA.

Thank you Pantheon for sending a copy my way!

A hilarious Crazy Rich Asian style domestic drama about an Iranian-American family of wealthy LA self-made millionaires and their influencer daughters and the over the secrets each member has that a potential reality tv show deal threatens to expose. Good on audio with a PERFECTLY ridiculous cover. I enjoyed this debut way more than I expected to. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review! I look forward to reading more by this author in the future.

Loved this book. The characters were amusing and multilayered. Showed family drama and acknowledged how the pandemic affected people. Appreciated the gay representation as well.

Thank you to NetGalley for a digital copy of this book.

I hate giving out one-star ratings, but I can’t bring myself to round this up to two stars. This had elements that typically form winning books for me: sisterly bonds, satire, and social commentary, but this simply was not for me. I couldn’t get into this, and it truly drained me.

I’m not the biggest fan of reality TV and I don’t like the Kardashians at all, but I was really enjoying getting to know the Milanis in this book. I was entertained by their antics, and was rooting for them to find a sense of peace with each other. But I felt like Tehrangeles lost its steam for me when it turned into COVID fiction. I just don’t know if we need stories about the lock down. Not yet, at least. I thought this would have been a better story without COVID as the plot device, and the book could have explored the same themes,

Tehrangeles was an aboutly elite social and cultural commentary told through satire, humor and heart. I felt so pulled to this book and enjoyed every minute of it. I've been recommending to everyone! I loved the family dynamic and the insights into Iranian-American culture. It was poignant, witty and intelligent.

"Tehrangeles" is a wild and satirical ride through the lives of the Milani family, who are trying to make it big on reality TV while juggling their Persian snack empire during the pandemic. The four sisters each have their own drama, and there are some funny moments about fame and identity. I really liked the idea of the snack empire and the reality TV angle, but the book felt a bit all over the place with its multiple perspectives and over-the-top characters. It was entertaining in parts, but I felt like it didn’t quite deliver on its potential. Overall, it’s a fun read but might leave you wanting a bit more.

Tehrangeles was a fun read!! I love the cover and the inside didn't disappoint either. I loved the exploration of identity and belonging.