Well written. Emotional. Couldn't stop turning the page. Appreciate the drama but also honesty.
Didn't always connect with the characters, but the plot and storyline kept me going.

“Trust Me on This” by Lauren Parvizi is hands down one of the best books I have read in a long time. We have estranged sisters/fathers-daughters, dysfunction abound, a hunky love interest, delicious food, a road trip and a cat. What more could a reader ask for?
Zahra is the more reserved sister. She lost a baby and her husband to her best friend and since then, she’s kept to herself. She is passionate about cooking, a tradition instilled into her from her grandmother, but instead of following her dreams, she plays it safe. Half-sister Aurora has just been nominated for an Emmy award for her role on a hit TV show, but she’s hiding her own secret—her romance with her co-stars husband. Both Zahra and Aurora get the same message from their dad—he’s dying and wants to see them. Zahra and Aurora don’t have much to do with one another—specifically, Zahra resents her father leaving her mother for Aurora’s mom (and Aurora). What follows is a road trip from Los Angeles to Seattle with plenty of surprises and self-discovery.

Not only were Zahra and Aurora so well-developed, the writing itself was almost poetic. Several times, I’d stop writing to admire a particular description or passage. But the beautiful prose still doesn’t distract you from this mesmerizing tale. I didn’t want this book to end but at the same time, I could not put it down.
Five out of five stars.

Thanks to the author, the publisher and Net Galley for a chance to read this book.

Lauren Parvizi’s Trust Me On This tells the story of two half-sisters who’ve grown up with mostly separate lives, but are summoned by their dying father to share a secret he's been keeping. They set off on a road trip from LA to Seattle to see him. The younger sister Aurora, who was raised by a stage mom, is a bubbly yet unsettled 25-year-old actress in an ill-advised work affair. The older sister is 38-year-old Zahra, a specialty recipe developer raised by her mom and Persian-immigrant grandparents without much contact with her father. She’s been betrayed and let-down, and has a defensive edge. The sisters work through old resentments and have something to learn from each other. I sometimes have trouble connecting with messy-twenty-something protagonists, but Parvizi managed to get me emotionally invested very quickly, especially with the interplay between the two sisters at different stages of life experience. Though it left me hungry for some Persian specialties (labneh cheesecake with roasted strawberries and orange blossom honey, anyone?), this book satisfied with all the feels!

Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy.

I loved the writing style and it flowed really well. This is a story of sisterhood, grief, forgiveness, love, and secrets. The story follows two sisters who go on a road trip to see their dying father.

As a sister myself, I enjoyed the complexities of the different personalities of the sisters. They had growth in their relationship with each other as well as personal growth throughout the book.

I will say the plot is a bit predictable but shouldn’t make you stray away from it! The characters are exciting and complex. I felt many emotions which is exactly what I want in a book.

Trust Me On This by Lauren Parvizi. The Starlight sisters traveled to see their dying father. One of them was his real daughter one was not.

Half sisters on a road trip. Tensions running high. More than just a journey to visit their dying father but a journey that reveals past sufferings and present hang ups, seemingly impossible to resolve. The novel has a lyrical quality that elevates it above other family dramas that I enjoyed all the more by it's steady (but not slow) pace. The sisters are likeable with the right balance of yin and yang that didn't force me to choose between them! I highly recommend getting stuck in!

*Trust Me on This* by Lauren Parvizi is a heartfelt novel about two estranged half-sisters, Zahra and Aurora, who embark on a road trip to visit their dying father. Along the way, they rebuild their bond and find healing in unexpected ways.

I thoroughly enjoyed this poignant story of forgiveness and self-discovery. Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC. Be sure to look out for it when it’s published on April 8th!

This novel is a beautiful exploration of sisterly relationships and the many ways we can disappoint our families. Aurora and Zahra are two fully-fleshed-out characters with deep wounds and misconceptions about one another.

I love a road trip story, and while this is a serious road trip (going together to see their dying father for an important piece of news), there is plenty of humor and heart woven in along the way. The very different experiences each sister had with their shared father while growing up come to play, and both sisters are grappling with their own personal crises.

If you love layered family stories with betrayal, lies, and forgiveness, I highly recommend Trust Me On This. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this novel.

This book is such a joy to read, while also being real and emotional and exploring themes like forgiveness and loss and what it means to be a family. I loved the road trip backdrop and the sister dynamic, and the bonus of a romantic thread (because who doesn't love a good love story tucked into a family story?). You will fly through this while savoring some truly beautiful lines and excellent storytelling by Parvizi, and much like the sisters, be changed by the journey you embark on together. I loved it.

Well written and nicely buit up plot. This is a true five star read! Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for a chance to read this book.

4,5/5
Trust Me On This by Lauren Parvizi tells the story of two half-sisters who go on a road trip to visit their ill father. Along the way, they learn more about each other, their feelings and experience personal growth.
This was my first book by this author and I'm eager to read more of her work. I enjoyed both sisters' characters, though I could relate more to Zahra. I felt that the first half of the book was a lil bit slow-paced, the second halt had a much better flow. The author's writing style is smooth and very easy to read. And of course, the cover is absolutely stunning.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys stories about family relationships and personal growth.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing me with this wonderful book. All opinions are my own.
P.S. The author seems to have a fondness for the phrase "firmly but not unkindly" - I couldn't help but notice it!

Emotional in a good way. The story kept me turning the page, wanting to know what the sisters learned about themselves, their dad, each other, who they were and could be in the world. I love how the description of food is weaved throughout the book. And my gosh, that cover art is so good. Perfectly OK to judge this one by the cover. But don’t forget to open it and devour it’s beautiful writing.

Wow wow wow. Such an amazing book. I think it’s the first book from here that really kept me so entertained, and so connected to the characters. The whole book is written in a passive way, but somehow you’re able to really feel what these characters go through and the complexities of life, feelings, family and relationships. I’ll give a full review on Goodreads but this book, I really enjoyed. I wish this author succes with this book, because it’s really such a nice read. Thank you Netgalley and thanks to the publishing team for gifting me this amazing book.

This is a deeply emotional story about sisters traveling to see their dying father. Along the journey they start to rebuild their friendship and learn about each other.
These are great, eccentric characters who have a lot of depth.
We learn a lot about both of them along their journey and how they continue to move forward in life.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

Another great book from Lauren Parvizi. This was well written, and I really liked the individual journeys of the main characters.

I had so much fun with this book I truly think it’s a 4.5 ⭐️

I really enjoyed the road trip format of the book and the sister aspect of it. Zahra was fr an op in the beginning I was annoyed I’m not gonna lie but also my gosh Aurora 😭 girl STAND UP.

All of that to say, their road trip stops and encounters were a real slice of life letting us explore their lives and characters a little more. Zahra’s back story and inner thoughts really did allow me to empathize more with her. I loved seeing the relationship between sisters grow as well as the personal developments in the end. However, like another reviewer, I felt the final reveal from the dad was a bit … okay? I said jokingly earlier on while reading “what if he isn’t even their dad” so it was a tiny bit predictable? Idk, just my thoughts.

Also hellloooo breakfast at Tiffany’s reference with the cat with no name.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

In this captivating road-trip story of two sisters struggling to find their way, Parvizi writes characters you can't help but fall in love with. On the surface, reserved and responsible Zahra couldn't be more different from perky, carefree Aurora, and their relationship has been strained since childhood. But when their father's illness forces them to drive together from Los Angeles to Seattle, they discover they need each other more than they ever thought.

I'm a sucker for sister stories (probably because I have two brothers but always longed for a sister), and I loved this book! It's the kind of novel that grabs your emotions and won't let go, and then you force yourself to read more slowly at the end because you don't want it to be over. This is a dual point-of-view novel, and Parvizi does a fabulous job writing from the sisters' opposite perspectives. Initially, I found myself relating more to Zahra (and even feeling a little annoyed at bubbly, devil-may-care Aurora), but once I read a few of Aurora's chapters, I totally understood where she was coming from and appreciated the glimpse inside an extrovert's mind. I also love Parvizi's writing style—fast-paced and utterly readable, but also unexpectedly descriptive with an emotional punch.

Highly recommend this book to anyone, but especially readers who like sister stories, road trip books, and poignant family drama!

Trust Me On This by new to me author L. Parvizi, published by Lake Union Publishing is the story of a beautiful journey. A journey of love, growth, finding themselves and much more.
I loved the book from strt till the last page, 4.5 stars.
Blurb: Two half sisters on a road trip to see their dying father end up miles from where they expected in an emotional novel about secrets, forgiveness, and what it means to be family by the author of La Vie, According to Rose.
Zahra Starling and her younger half sister, Aurora, have nothing in common. Not their childhoods or their personalities. And certainly not their outlooks. After a terrible loss, Zahra prefers the solitude of her LA kitchen to people, especially family. Bubbly Aurora, a rising Hollywood starlet, has everything she’s ever dreamed of, except a relationship with her sister.
Then comes a plea from their dying father, who wants both daughters by his side. He has a secret to share that’s been a long time coming.
It’s Zahra’s last chance to bring closure to the past, even if traumatic memories mean there’s no way she’s stepping foot on a plane. For Aurora, road-tripping to Seattle is the perfect escape and the chance to win over prickly Zahra.

What starts as a rough ride reopening old wounds evolves into something neither expects. When they finally reach their destination—and the truth that awaits them—the sisters will need each other like never before.

Lauren Parvizi’s Trust Me On This is a witty and heartfelt tale that seamlessly blends humor, romance, and a touch of intrigue. With its relatable characters and captivating premise, the book is a delightful read that keeps you engaged from the first page to the last.

The story follows a protagonist who finds themselves navigating unexpected situations with charm and resilience. Parvizi excels at creating characters that feel real—flawed yet endearing, making it easy to root for their journey. The dialogue is sharp and often laugh-out-loud funny, balanced by moments of genuine emotion that give the story depth.

The romantic elements are handled beautifully, with a slow-burn progression that feels natural and satisfying. The backdrop of the story adds a unique flavor, and the twists and turns keep readers guessing, making it more than just a straightforward romance.

While some plot points might feel slightly predictable, the engaging prose and vibrant characters more than make up for it. Parvizi’s writing shines with wit and warmth, making this book a joy to read.