An Armenian-American woman rediscovers her roots and embraces who she really is in this vibrant and heartfelt queer rom-com by debut author Taleen Voskuni.
When Nar’s non-Armenian boyfriend gets down on one knee and proposes to her in front of a room full of drunk San Francisco tech boys, she realizes it’s time to find someone who shares her idea of romance.
Enter her mother: armed with plenty of mom-guilt and a spreadsheet of Facebook-stalked Armenian men, she convinces Nar to attend Explore Armenia, a month-long series of events in the city. But it’s not the mom-approved playboy doctor or wealthy engineer who catches her eye—it’s Erebuni, a woman as equally immersed in the witchy arts as she is in preserving Armenian identity. Suddenly, with Erebuni as her wingwoman, the events feel like far less of a chore, and much more of an adventure. Who knew cooking up kuftes together could be so . . . sexy?
Erebuni helps Nar see the beauty of their shared culture and makes her feel understood in a way she never has before. But there’s one teeny problem: Nar’s not exactly out as bisexual. The clock is ticking on Nar’s double life, though—the closing event banquet is coming up, and her entire extended family will be there, along with Erebuni. Her worlds will inevitably collide, but Nar is determined to be brave, determined to claim her happiness: proudly Armenian, proudly bisexual, and proudly herself for the first time in her life.
My thoughts
Sorry, Bro is funny in the way that dealing with family drama is at its finest. The highs and lows of looking through a window of someone else’s life and relating to so many moments and nodding your head. The embarrassment that family causes and the frustration at the same time of having opposing ideas for your future. Taleen Voskuni showcases these dynamics brilliantly through both main characters and I love it.
One of the other highlights of this story is the tour we get to take of Armenian culture and history. I think I enjoyed this just as much as I enjoyed the romance. I learned so much and it was fun. I made notes of things I want to try and learn more about. Voskuni made this journey entertaining.
Then we have the romance and the author gives us a really sweet, cute, and funny romance. I fell in love with both women. I have to be honest, I loved everything about this tale. I just want more and more.
I got this book from my library. I love my local library and you should check out yours too. Request LGBTQ+ books and they will stock them! #freethebooks
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Meet the Author
Taleen Voskuni is an Armenian-American writer who grew up in the Bay Area diaspora surrounded by a rich Armenian community and her ebullient family. She graduated from UC Berkeley with a BA in English and currently lives in San Francisco, working in tech. Her work has appeared in Cleaver Magazine, The Bold Italic, and Cal Literature & Arts Magazine. Other than a newfound obsession with writing romcoms, she spends her free time cultivating her kids, her garden, and her dark chocolate addiction. Sorry, Bro is her first published novel.4
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Further Details:
Published by: Berkley – Penguin Random House, January 31, 2023
Cover Design by: Liza Rusalskaya and Art Director Katie Anderson
Narrated by: Christine Mirzayan
Series: N/A; Settings: San Francisco, CA, U.S.
Pages/Length: 354/10h19m
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