About the Book
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 Nareh Bedrossian’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 the wealthy engineer who catch Nar’s eye—it’s Erebuni, a woman as 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 her double life—the Explore Armenia closing 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 and to claim her happiness: proudly Armenian, proudly bisexual, and proudly herself for the first time in her life.
My Review
A gorgeous novel that explores when it means to love yourself, love bravely, and love where you come from. Sorry Bro is a queer rom-com that dedicates its pages to the Armenian culture and history, and what it looks like to be American-Armenian, bisexual but not out, and the angst and backlash that come with both of those. We follow Nareh, who puts a hold on her relationship with a man when his proposal doesn’t feel as overwhelmingly thoughtful as she would have hoped. Her mother is thrilled with the news, and determined to find Nar a good Armenian man to be with instead. Nareh throws a wrench in that plan when she does feel sparks with a fellow Armenian – but a woman. Erebuni ticks all the boxes for her – but no one in Nar’s family knows she is bisexual, and she understands how hard it will be for them to accept it. While her relationship with Erebuni continues to grow more serious, Nareh worries what will happen when her double life is uncovered.
I always enjoy learning about a culture different from my own, so to read so much about the Armenian history was quite fascinating to me. Nareh was a delightful character to follow – someone who is steadfast in their beliefs and loves her family, but also feels hesitant to share herself fully in fear of disappointing them. I thought a great lesson in here was what happens when you assume people will think the worst of you because you make different choices than them – and how you should let people themselves show their true colors instead of making assumptions on their behalf. There are plenty of humorous moments, sweet scenes sprinkled amongst the serious topics, and plenty personal growth lessons to understand between the pages. A terrific choice for your 2023 reading list.
4 stars
