I was really excited about this book because my best friend is Persian, and I don't come across books with Persian main characters as often as I would like to. I also really liked the idea of a snack empire and thought the reality TV show premise was a funny touch. I did like those elements in the actual book and found the family's story to be interesting, especially that of the parents. However, I did find that the constant shifts of perspectives and voice made this book feel a bit disjointed, and even taking in mind the satirical tone, things spiraled out of control to an almost unbelievable level. I would definitely check out other books by this author though!

This is a hard book to rate since on one hand it's supposed to be satire, but on the other hand, the characters are hard to tolerate. Each of the four daughters has their own defining quality and the issues that come along with that, but they're so isolated in their house during quarantine that it amplifies and makes them spiral a bit. Then their dad is deep into his wealth and privileges, while their mom is just trying to save face. Overall, elements of making fun of the absurdities of the rich, but really just reads like an unpleasant group of people.

I had super high hopes for this book and unfortunately it was a perfect storm of not so great things. The concept was something that really intrigued me, but the execution was completely different. I found the characters to be extremely vain and the plot was lacking. Although I understood the author’s intentions, but as an Iranian-American myself, I didn’t appreciate the purposeful downplaying of Iranian culture and what it means to be an Iranian in America. The narration of the audiobook was difficult to enjoy as well.

This book follows the Milani family, Iranian multimillionaires thanks to dad Ali’s microwaveable pizza snack invention. It starts at the beginning of the pandemic with the family in the talks of starting their own reality TV show. The show is on pause while the pandemic grows and grows. We mostly follow the 4 daughters: Violet, a model with a sweet tooth; Roxanna, an influencer with lots of secrets; Mina, the K-Pop fan trying to find out who she is; Haylee, the highly impressionable health nut. There are also parts of the book from the parents’ perspectives. The back and forth from POVs is handled so well and does not disrupt the flow at all.

The writing was engaging, the characters were real and frustrating. I am still not completely ready for books set during the pandemic, but I did find myself wanting to pick this up every day and find out what happens next.

Though overall good read, the book felt a little unfinished and left me wanting just a little more from it.

Kardashians, but make it Persian! Milani family lives in Tehrangeles. They have a junk food empire. They have 4 daughters with all different personalities. And they are ready to take over your TV screens. I could totally see this happening, but thank God it's fiction.

It's all fun and power when you end up getting a TV deal, but are you ready to have all your secrets out there? Are you ready to be cancelled? Are you ready to be judged by your weight? Are you ready to deal with a white supremacists? Are you ready to question your sexual identity in front of everyone? Milanis, get ready to do it all!

Porochista Khakpour delivered a good satire. She gave us a magnifying glass to look into what we watch when we want to pass time mindlessly. It was a good laugh, but thank you we don't need more of these families.

I was happy when we got the specific Little Women call out near the end of this book about four very different sisters. Instead of the American Civil War, it’s Covid, and the genteel poverty is replaced by extravagant wealth. Rich people doing rich people stuff is always a fun genre.

I listened to the audiobook version of this book and I LOVED IT! I am rounding up to 4 1/2 stars! If you are a fan of reality tv that is similar to The Kardashians or maybe the Real Housewives, you will love this book. It looks at a wealthy Iranian family who is on the cusp of having their own reality tv show. And then the pandemic happens. I love all of the sisters in the book and their various personalities. They are written so well and will make you laugh. It is entertaining and a good look at how we present ourselves to the world based on insecurities and through social media.

Thank you to Pantheon books and Net Galley for an e-copy!

This book was a wild ride. I was so excited about it, but the ending kicked my ass! It’s a drug-addled rant to end 300 pages of an ironic look of our fame obsessed American culture. It had so much promise. I feel that a rewrite of the ending could make this book something special. When I read the dedication that the book started as a joke, I felt punked because it actually ended as one. I don’t share negative reviews on my social platforms because I respect the process too much.

A lot is going on at the Milani Mansion in Tehrangeles. The ultra rich Iranian American family is about to get their very own reality show where they'll show who they are, until Covid happens and lockdown is set. This story is narrated by the four daughters Violet, Roxanna, Mina and Haylee, and briefly by their parents Al and Homa. I especially enjoyed the last two and their origin stories of how they immigrated from Iran and built a fast food empire. This book is ridiculosly funny and cringey because of the accurate description of the insane people used to do and say during the early stages of the pandemic. I loved getting to know each of the sisters with their own struggles and stories of coming of age. I had a great time reading this book.

A quirky read about 4 sisters who have it all, at least from the outside.
Then their family decided to film a reality show and everyone, even the cat, is under scrutiny.
It’s Little Women meets Iran. The author discusses her abhorrence for the novel but follows the 4 sister framework, however the sisters are not typecast after the 4 March sisters.
It was an interesting novel.

I was excited to read this book as it pokes at reality television, and for the first few chapters I was enjoying it. Once I was further along, I began noticing some plot gaps and was left wondering if I'd missed something, so had to go back and reread. I usually enjoy books that are told in multiple voices, but the author had multiple voices for each character and it got a bit draining (e.g. - Roxi's last chapter). I so wanted it to pick up, but alas it did not.

Thank you for the ARC!

This book was sort of tough to get into and while were some funny parts, and I thought it was decent, but not entirely for me.

All set up and no delivery is my view of this immensely long satire. The span and savvy suggest the author has a sharp wit and capable style. But having chosen to devote herself to this Little Women modernization, she fritters it all away in an endless send up of entitlement, consumption, solipsism and social commentary. The tropes go round and round - Italian or Iranian, LGBTQ or straight, model skinny or chubby, etc. The four sisters are clearly defined but that’s about it. Each wears a groove. The pandemic is endured. The reality show doesn’t happen. Is this enough?
Instead, the space is filled with a vast assessment of indulgence in every form. Again, it’s done capably, probably cleverly if anyone cared. I didn’t.

I devoured this book it was so much fun a family straight out of the world of reality tv.The characters were over the top bigger then life so rich.Perfect summer vacation reading.#netgalley #knopf

I couldn't finish this book. It never sucked me in. I may go back and read it another time, but it didn't capture me.

Thank you Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor and NetGalley for the ARC!

I devoured this delicious book like candy! I am a huge reality tv fan so this one was perfect for me! I loved the different stories about each daughter and how it all concluded. I can't wait to read more from this author!

Thank you again for the ARC!

Okay let’s be honest - that cover totally drew me in! I also thought the premise sounded great. Unfortunately the execution didn’t work for me and I decided to DNF. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the free ebook to review.

Unfortunately this was a DNF. I was ablbe to read the first seven chapters which was an introduction to every faamily member. I thought that every character was unlikable. Because of this I did not want to continue. Which wasa a letdown becaause the reality TV aspect was extremely interesting.

Thank you Pantheon & Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for a review.

I was intrigued by the cover and premise of the story! A rich Iranian family starring in their own reality show. However I was disappointed when half the book focused on going through COVID. Sorry still don’t care to read about it in books, living it in real time was enough. It wasn’t listed in the synopsis so imagine my surprise and groan.

Secondly the plot( was there a true plot?) was all over the place. I truly did not get the point and found the entire family so draining and vain except for the mom. The girls were ungrateful and their “secrets”… I will leave it there.

I understand the overall gist the author was going for but the execution wasn’t great.

Trigger warnings for graphic ED discussion, internalized racism, COVID, and substance abuse.

I loved this book! It's like the author woke up one day in the pandemic and thought "What if the Kardashians threw a giant party during this weird-ass time but I made the Persian instead?" Unlikeable female characters galore (my fave) + complicated families + the uber wealthy = a win in my book. But beware, this won't be for everyone.