Finished Reading

Pre-Read notes

This one is remarkable right out of the gate. Wonderful irony and farce.

Final Review

“We should be able to separate the author from the writing.” Shirin... is stone-faced, though breaking inside, thinking: No, it’s a fucking memoir, you idiots. p144

Review summary and recommendations

Honestly, I think my reading notes carry this review, so check them out. I really loved this one, and it kind of snuck up on me! Not because I didn't realize from the first page that this was a brilliant book, but because the fmc was completely accessible and I was sort of lulled into this soft familiarity. But the story turns often, sometimes in subtle ways. It's a really good story. Recommended to fans of clever literary fiction, smart meta, and dark humor.

"...This isn’t up for debate. My experiences aren’t up for debate, and never will be.” It is that easy. p271

Reading Notes

Six things I loved:

1. Every so often, to alleviate her guilt, she will go to the shops and restaurants that have been there long before the gentrification began, and she will buy something she might not even want. It never quite clears her conscience though. p4 This is great character development, and this is the first page. Expectations raised.

2. But it is okay for him, she thinks , he has had something to drink, whereas she is sober. And she talks about her race enough at work; she is part of too many initatives trying to address the lack of diversity in publishing—labeled “POC” or “underrepresented,” everything other than Iranian— and she doesn’t want to go into it now, not even with Kian. Especially not with Kian. She also doesn’t want to leave. She wants to stay right here next to him. p19 What a brilliant use of meta.

3. Time slips further away. She is enveloped in various conversations, her glass topped up without prompt, and her face hurts from fake smiling. She is pretending to laugh constantly, so much so that she no longer thinks she can call what she is doing laughing but rather making a strange sound at everything the people around her are saying. p63 Jafari's treatment of emotions is so nuanced and accessible, with its little streak of dark humor.

4. [His mother] ran her fingers through his hair and he moved away from her, muttering, “Stop it.” p115 Jafari is a master of character development. This tiny bit of prose reveals so much about both these characters. The mother still needs her adult child to need her, and he will resort to at least rudeness to assert his independence.

5. It was a sad realization. Of course, she would realize she found him attractive just as her close friend asked her to be her wing woman. And it’s not like she stood a chance, anyway, if it was between her and Carmen. Everyone fancied Carmen; few liked Shirin in that way. p138 An excellent depiction of the main character's depression.

6. I really love the fmc Shirin's personal politics.

One quibble:

(This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.)

1. I'm not a fan of the narrator's voice here. It's not that she's depressed. For me these are some of the more accessible moments. She felt so painfully like she wasn’t worth anything, unlike her friends, unlike Phoebe, whom everyone liked and who didn’t have hairy fingers that people laughed at. p134 The voice is preoccupied with a whole collection of subjects, so it affects the plot, which is about writing and publishing. Oh yeah, I usually don't like that either because the meta often gets too heavy-handed and disrupts the flow of the narration.

Rating: 📄📄📄📄.5 /5 unpublished proofs
Recommend? yes!
Finished: Mar 27 '25
Format: accessible digital arc, NetGalley
Read this book if you like:
🪶 literary fiction
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 family drama
👤 character driven stories
🙃 irony and satire

Thank you to the author Sara Jafari, publishers St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an accessible advance digital copy and audiobook copy of THINGS LEFT UNSAID. All views are mine.
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This novel pulled me in quickly. I really enjoyed the narrators performances. The story follows Shirin who, in her 20s, is living the life she thought she wanted but nothing is going smoothly for her. She runs into Kian, a close friend from school that she hasn't spoken to in 10 years. She is drawn to him, but isn't sure how to handle that, given their shared past. This novel deals with many serious themes and yet it didn't feel dark. While this story is slower than the books I usually read, it didn't feel too slow. Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy in return for my honest opinions.

this book was too negative and too dei focused for me. I just did not enjoy the story line or characters.

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.

The narrator is excellent. The main character is likeable and I think that her serious manner is intriguing. The story is very well written and it’ shows that the author is very talented. The tone is hard to describe, it’s serious, and feels a little drama without really being drama. Hard to word! I enjoyed this.

Special thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy in exchange for review.

A perfect read for fans of Mafi's An Emotion of Great Delight. Shirin Bayat is a tired 26 year old. She feels disconnected from friends, her job, and herself. One day she runs into her former best friend Kian at a party and their relationship slowly rekindles, but neither one wants to acknowledge their painful past. The novel slowly reveals the past through the lens of Kian and Shirin. Will a second chance at love help Kian and Shirin heal?

Audiobook narration is well done.
Honor Gilles' narration brings depth to Shirin's emotional highs and lows. Her voice enhances the rawness of Shirin's experiences, making the listener feel more connected to her struggles and triumphs. Majid Mehdizadeh-Valoujerdy (Kian) soothing and deep tone provides a comforting contrast to Kian’s internal struggles, making his moments of uncertainty feel even more touching.

Well done! This was great. Thought provoking look at life and how we react to injustice and full circle moments.

An old friend comes back into Shirins world and she has to confront the past while dealing with her grown up problems. It has romance but definitely dealt more with life than romance as the focus.
The discourse around racism and sexism was chefs kiss.
Definitely recommend.

Thanks to netgalley and Macmillan audio for an alc

I had to DNF this one. I wanted to like it but the narrator's voice didn't work for me. Will seek out a print edition

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Reading Things Left Unsaid felt like catching your breath after holding it for way too long—a soft, aching exhale that stays with you. If you loved Maame or Honey Girl, this one will slide right into your heart like it always belonged there.

The story follows Shirin Bayat, a 26-year-old living in London and just trying to stay afloat in a world that feels increasingly uncertain. Burned out from her job in publishing (been there), stuck in shallow friendships, and feeling more lost than found—Shirin is just trying. Then one night at a party, she bumps into Kian. Cue: heart flip.

Kian isn’t just a random blast from the past—he was the one, her closest friend from school before a painful rift broke them apart a decade ago. All the old feelings and things left unsaid bubble up fast, and suddenly, Shirin has to face what it really means to reconnect, to trust again, and to maybe—just maybe—love again.

Their chemistry? Electric. The emotional tension? Deliciously unbearable in the best way. But life has a funny way of testing people, and just when you think it’s all going to work out, the book reminds you that healing isn’t linear, and timing is everything.

Sometimes you're just meant to be. When Shirin meets Kian again after so many years, all the old feelings come back instantly. Can the two try again and make things work?

This was a great audiobook. I liked our two main characters though I did struggle to feel much of their connection at times. The writing style was fantastic and I'm pleased to see that the author has other books which I will definitely be on the lookout for now as I'm keen to read more by her.

really enjoyed this book of second chance friendship and potentially love, but also the reality of living in institutions and society that are at best ambivalent to us and at worst hostile and violent to us.

Things Left Unsaid publishes on April 15, and I cannot recommend it enough—especially the audiobook, which adds another layer of depth and emotion to this stunning novel.

As an Iranian-American, so much of this book rang true for me—it felt like stepping back into my family home in Iran, filled with emotions, unspoken words, and beautifully captured cultural nuances. Sara Jafari’s storytelling is breathtaking, 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. The audiobook narration brings their dynamic to life so well, enhancing the tension, nostalgia, and raw emotion between them. I loved how Jafari explored the weight of things left unsaid, the complexities of 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. If you can, I highly recommend listening to the audiobook for an even richer experience!

This book was fantastic and when I read the blurb I knew I would love it. So happy to say I do and this ALC was amazing.

Following Shirin and Kians journey from high school to 10 years later was difficult, very honest, and we had some sweet moments as well.

I was so angry for Shirin in so many instances in this book. From the blatant racism she and Kian deal with not only in HS, but in their careers as well. The publishing industry needs to be called out like it was in this book. I appreciated the authors honesty in micro aggressions, topics of diverse reading in book spaces, how systematic racism plays a massive role in what is published and pushed out.

Their love reminded me in some instances of the love we find in Normal People. The yearning, the things they want to say but don’t know how/aren’t ready to share.

It was beautiful.

Thank you NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for this ALC!

Two friends who share a past that has kept them apart for 10 years reconnect through mutual friends in London. Even though much has changed about their lives, what they both experienced still affects them to this day. Of the course of this book, our main character characters learned how to stand up for not only what they believe in, but also themselves.

I appreciate how honest this book is about how hard it is to broach difficult conversations. Our main characters struggled to process, let alone talk through things they experienced as teens and things they were still experiencing as adults.

I greatly enjoyed the many layers involved/discussed in this book. There were poignant storylines related to the main characters’ intermingled histories that I found interesting and relatable on an emotional level. There were also very important discussions about the importance of recognizing white privilege, white tears, and practicing what we preach when it comes to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace, school, and our communities. As an American reader, the DEI discussions really came at an important and ironic time. Thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me the privilege of experiencing this book. I will be recommending it to all my reader friends.

Not my cup of tea. I found it hard to connect to the characters and the story. I’m sure this will connect with readers who Fong mind anti semitic authors who write like Sally Rooney

This was an extremely well-written book with a powerful message about the impact of microaggressions and injustices. Shirin is struggling with depression, anxiety, and a workplace that doesn’t respect her contributions. She is struggling to feel grounded in adulthood and navigating her relationships with friends. I thought the way depression was talked about was delicately and accurately done. Shirin’s journey to empowerment was one I was always interested to read and will recommend to others. Her relationship with Kian felt real, and I liked that his presence changed her but also she stood up for herself without needing him. Her friendship with Hannah made me feel uncomfortable because it was so real, but I was so happy they had come back together.

Ending in February 2020 was a choice.

The audiobook narrator was brilliant!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ARC.

Things Left Unsaid was a powerful read. Shirin, the FMC is relatable and her journey through childhood trauma, which impacts her adult life, is portrayed so authentically. I loved seeing her take control after enduring so much.

The slow rekindling of her friendship with Kian was beautifully done, and their relationship felt natural. The writing is descriptive, making the characters' emotions and growth feel real.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the chance to listen to this book in exchange for my honest review.

Both narrators were amazing!

Things Left Unsaid is a well written and empowering story that will tug at your heart strings. The reader is taken on an emotional journey exploring numerous deeply personal subjects including anxiety, depression, racism and so much more,

Through rich character development, the reader comes to know 26-year-old Shirin. Shirin is someone so many of us can relate to on one level or another. When someone dear to her from her past reappears in her life ten years later, she is forced to face the memories of the events that tore their relationship apart.

Kian was the person that Shirin confided in and trusted most in life. When they meet again, everything comes rushing back. Depressed and burned out, Shirin finds comfort in her old friend. While their lives have gone in different directions over the years, when they came face to face again, the connection between them was instant.

This book is about acceptance and learning from your past, while embracing the future. It is a story about love and second chances told through two very relatable characters that are easy for the reader to connect with.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ARC of the audio version of this book. It was a touching and through provoking story.

I’m saying RIGHT NOW that this book is going to be huge. It’s Sally Rooney meets Zadie Smith. The characters are lovely and full, the story is compelling, and the style is so fluid. I LOVED this book.