I really loved the commentary on friendship, mental health, and discovering your own indenity. The writing was stunning! Characters were complex and honest, great story, I think this book is overall stunning.

I always appreciate and look forward to learning about different cultures when I read books. Sara Jafari is a British-Iranian author, and she infused so many of her lived experiences into these characters.

We get to follow Shirin and Kian in two timelines: then, at school as teenagers and now, as adults ten years later. Despite the change in decade, their treatment as part of a marginalized community unfortunately hasn’t changed all that much. In school, they faced racial slurs, bullying and an overwhelming sense of otherness that led them to find comfort and friendship in one another. As adults, Shirin in particular continues to deal with racism in the workplace and in social settings that has significantly impacted her mental health.

She's feeling lost, unhappy and hopeless until she runs into Kian again at a housewarming party. As events unfolded, I loved seeing Shirin find her spark again and stand up and speak out against the discrimination she faced. She really makes changes in her life to keep the things and people that serve her and let go of the ones that don’t. It was a touching journey to read about.

My only complaint, and this tends to be a trend for me with more character-driven stories, is that I got bored. The lead-up to the “big reveal” about what happened in Kian and Shirin’s past that led them not to speak for ten years was underwhelming to me with how much it was alluded to. I also found the middle to be more repetitive in nature despite Jafari’s lovely, detailed descriptions and writing.

If you read Jaded by Ela Lee, this one has different content but similar themes, particularly when it comes to micro-aggressions and DEI initiatives in the workplace that leave so much to be desired. Overall, I’m very glad I gave this book a read and got a lot out of it! 3.5 stars

This was a powerful story about race, cancel culture, love, and finding the courage to follow your dreams. The story follows Shirin in the publishing industry, and Kian in the art world and their connections in the past and the present. I enjoyed going back and forth between the two timelines to see how what happened between them in the past influenced how they acted in the present. I appreciated how openly the book explored what it is like to be a minority and how that affects how you are perceived and the opportunities you get in this world. It was very well written, and had a beautiful second chance romance storyline. I received an ARC, and this is my honest review.

4.5
Well written and thoughtful, Sara Jafari's novel explores the effects of unresolved trauma in life. The plot looks at damaged relationships, anxiety and depression and tenuous family bonds that affect both of the main characters. The racism both past and present is another recurring theme. Jafari handles difficult subject matter with care and creates a sympathetic young woman in Shirin. I found this engaging and the audiobook is also very well done.

Shirin reconnects with Kian who she hasn’t since they were close friends in school. Painful events tore them apart and left many things unsaid. Now they they have reconnected, can they overcome?

While a quiet novel, there was a lot of history and emotion. It took some time for the past to reveal and show the impact it had on the present. This was an important story as it showed micro aggressions in the workplace and what it feels like to be a minority in the publishing industry. I loved how the future tied to the past and became metaphorically closed a door. The relationship between Shirin and Kian was part of the story but did not overwhelm the plot on his and her personal development.

“Every element of her life is like a domino, and one by one they are falling down around her, leaving nothing upright.”

Things Left Unsaid comes out 4/15.

I really enjoyed this and thought it was an important commentary on racism, especially in the publishing industry. I thought the audiobook was fabulous. Great if you like character-driven and thought-provoking literary fiction picks. The character development was everything! I was cheering for Shirin along the way and loved her as our main character. You also get some peeks into past events from Kian’s perspective (our MMC), which added context and gave the reader a deeper understanding of how complex our main characters’ relationship was/is. This would be great to discuss for a book club! Take care because there is racism, microaggressions, abuse, and death of a loved one in this book.

Sara Jafari's "Things Left Unsaid" is a deeply emotional and thought-provoking exploration of love, loss, and the unspoken thoughts that linger between people. At its heart, the novel tells the story of Shirin and Kian, childhood friends who, after years of separation, find their paths crossing again. Their reunion is not simply a chance for rekindled affection, but a reckoning with the weight of their shared past—a past laden with nostalgia, regret, and the emotional baggage they each carry.

Jafari’s writing excels in capturing the raw, often delicate nuances of their relationship. She paints a portrait of two people navigating the complexity of their past while seeking understanding in the present, and the tension between them is palpable, with every word and glance laden with unspoken emotions. More than just a romance, it’s a meditation on how the people we once were continue to shape who we are, and how the echoes of past connections can challenge us and force us to confront unfinished business in our hearts.

The narrative effortlessly weaves between the past and the present, offering a rich emotional landscape where the characters’ internal struggles mirror the complexity of the world around them. Shirin and Kian are not just engaging figures in a love story, but representations of the ways in which identities are shaped and reshaped by those who come and go in our lives. Jafari has the ability to make readers ponder their own relationships and the healing that might come from finally confronting them.

"Things Left Unsaid" is a compelling and reflective read, perfect for readers who enjoy stories that delve into themes of identity and self-discovery.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the #gifted ARC! Things Left Unsaid by Sara Jafari publishes on April 15, and I cannot recommend it enough.

As an Iranian-American, so much of this novel rang true for me—it felt like stepping back into my family home in Iran, filled with emotions, unspoken words, and cultural nuances that were beautifully captured. Sara Jafari’s storytelling is stunning, weaving a heartfelt, deeply relatable narrative about love, identity, and finding where you truly belong.

Shirin and Kian’s story is one of long-lost friendship, missed chances, and reconnection, and their emotional journey is both tender and gut-wrenching. I loved how Jafari explored the weight of things left unsaid, the complexities of navigating family and career expectations, privilege, racism, and the messy, beautiful nature of relationships.

This one is deep, thought-provoking, and unforgettably heartfelt—a true five-star read.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Sifrin and Kian meet in high school and share a traumatic experience. Reconnecting years later brings back both positive and negative memories.

Beautifully written, incredibly relevant, very relatable for twenty-somethings trying to find their place in the world!

Shirin is a twenty six year old Iranian woman supposedly living the life of her dreams in London. She achieved her goals of escaping her suburban hometown, where she grew up with a bunch of racist bullies, and getting a job in a major publishing house as an assistant editor. Except many of her problems have followed her into adulthood -- her workplace is filled with microaggressions from her colleagues and one of the biggest culprits of her high school torment has somehow landed himself a book deal, despite being no less of a racist pig as an adult.

One silver lining of her life is London is that her path once again crosses with her high school best friend, Kian. The two had a falling out over an incident at school but both regret falling out of touch and hope to use this second chance as a way to move on.

I do love the small snippets we got from Kian's POV (although I was at first confused because the first one hit so late in the book) but overall a very enjoyable read!

Things Left Unsaid is an exploration of identity, friendship, and second chances. It covers themes of personal growth and cultural identity. I thought the comparison to Maame was appropriate - I read and enjoyed that one, which is what led me to pick up this book. Although the pacing occasionally lags, this isn't uncommon for character-driven books. Gorgeous prose. Thank you SMP and Netgalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

Sharin is a young woman who has depression and is struggling daily in her life. She runs into her old best friend and the story unfolds from there. I thought the writing style was really beautiful. The novel was vey thought provoking snd as someone who knows people with depression I was really captivated by this book.

Overall this was such an interesting book, once that I thought about long after I finished it. While a little slow at first, once I got into it I really dove into the story. I really appreciated the perspective in this once.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy of this ARC!

As soon as I read the synopsis, I knew I would love this book. Things Left Unsaid follows Shirin, a 26-year-old British-Iranian woman navigating work, love, and life. The book reveals how Shirin and her best friend Kian shared experiences of bullying, abuse, and blatant racism in high school, which profoundly affected their friendship at the time and continues to affect her adult life. Shirin and Kian shared these painful experiences, including family dysfunction, which helped them form a strong bond. After ten years of no contact, they reconnect at a house party and resume their friendship. As an adult, Shirin grapples with burnout, depression, microaggressions, and the difficulties of working in a white-dominated environment.

I thought Things Left Unsaid was very relatable, as I also work in publishing, am in my twenties, deal with microaggressions, and have worked and continue to work in white-dominated spaces. It is challenging. Unless someone is a minority, they may genuinely not understand how mentally and emotionally draining this is for us.

The author did a great job delving into race, identity, friendship, adversity, and coming of age. If you liked Normal People, you'll enjoy this too. I noticed some similarities to Normal People, mainly in Shirin and Kian's relationship, their families, and their friend group dynamics.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Sara Jafari for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I found I was more drawn to this book for the themes it explored versus than the mystery of the past that has haunted Shirin and essentially left her stuck in life. The reveal was anti-climactic for me, but relevant to the story as a whole. The portrayal of depression and anxiety was spot on (including how people can be dismissed by doctors who would rather throw another 3 months of an SSRI versus encouraging one to explore the root cause). Overt racism was also very prevalent both in the past and present day. Once it was revealed what had happened in the past to Shirin and how the adults in her life failed her with their response (and non-solution), it was easy to see why she was so stuck in the past and was having trouble moving forward and standing up for herself and what she wants (relationships and careers).

I liked Kian's character and was rooting for them. The will they/won't they/what happened in high school all dragged on for me, but it was necessary to have the past told to show how much both Shirin and Kian grew over the course of the story. I also enjoyed that Shirin was Iranian, as I picked up this book not long after reading The Lion Women of Tehran. The deeper themes of Things Left Unsaid will sit with me and I found the timing of this book release particularly relevant to the current climate. This book was a raw and very realistic account of Iranian women and I appreciated that Shirin unleashed her inner strength to free herself from the chains that were holding her back from living her life in a more fulfilling way.

Thank you to Sara Jafari, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really, really enjoyed this book. Even the terrible microaggression/white woman tears parts. They were almost harder to read than the actual aggression parts because they’re so rarely acknowledged IRL. The growing pains of late-20s life was very relatable, and I loved the tension trying to get to what *actually* happened to ruin Shirin and Kian’s friendship in the past. Lots of feels. More books like this, please.

I really appreciated the perspective in this book on growing up a minority in a small town in England and working as one in the publishing industry and all the trauma the main character had to overcome as a result. I also loved the romance between Shirin and Kian and was really rooting for them to get together. It was definitely a relatable story of what it's like to be in your mid-twenties and figuring yourself out and feeling really alone, and I enjoyed watching Shirin come into her own and find her voice and learn how to make her life what she wanted. I thought it was well-written, if a bit depressing in parts. In the end, it was uplifting and poignant.

Shirin has graduated from college, moved away from her small town, and achieved her dream job in a London publishing house. She SHOULD be happy but she feels depressed and adrift in her life. The indifference of her parents stings, her friendships feel strained, and racist microagressions make work a hostile environment. Her insurance doesn't cover therapy and she desperately needs someone that she can really talk to, someone that will really listen.

Enter Kian. Shirin sees Kian unexpectedly at a friend's housewarming party. However he's not a new friend. They went to school together years ago and were best friends. A horrible incident abruptly ended their friendship and they haven't spoken in ten years.

Seeing each other again is a chance for Shirin to make things right. And Kian just may give her the courage to confront the past that haunts her and face the future with confidence.

This is a novel that addresses the rocky terrain of your 20's and the challenges of trying to thrive as a person of color in white spaces. It's a thoughtful, insightful read with well-drawn characters and an all too realistic plot line. I loved the dual timelines between the past of Shirin and Kian and the present day reality. It's a realistic view of the journey towards adulthood and one that definitely resonated personally.

Things Left Unsaid by Sara Jafari is such a unique book with an interesting plot and diverse, well written characters! If you're looking for something different to read, this is it!

I really enjoyed Sara Jafari’s writing! Shirin felt like an extension of some of her own experiences in the literary/publishing world which, as a book lover, is always something I enjoy. She really brought to light how much work is still needed in order to make spaces that don’t marginalize certain communities. I loved the little snippets of Iranian culture that were sprinkled throughout the book. I love when authors do this because it always sends me down a research spiral into learning more about different cultural traditions. The book was building up to us learning what happened between Shirin and Kian, though when we finally got there, it felt a little rushed through? I think I just expected the two of them to have a more blown out conflict between themselves rather than the horrible outside event that caused them to stop being friends. But that’s really my only complaint with the book!

Overall, 4 stars: beautiful writing and relatable issues, tad bit of an unsatisfying climax.