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    If You Could Be Mine
    If You Could Be Mine
    If You Could Be Mine
    Audiobook5 hours

    If You Could Be Mine

    Written by Sara Farizan

    Narrated by Negin Farsad

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    Seventeen-year-old Sahar has been in love with her best friend, Nasrin, since they were six. They've shared stolen kisses and romantic promises. But Iran is a dangerous place for two girls in love-Sahar and Nasrin could be beaten, imprisoned, even executed if their relationship came to light.So they carry on in secret-until Nasrin's parents announce that they've arranged for her marriage. Nasrin tries to persuade Sahar that they can go on as they have been, only now with new comforts provided by the decent, well-to-do doctor Nasrin will marry. But Sahar dreams of loving Nasrin exclusively-and openly.Then Sahar discovers what seems like the perfect solution. In Iran, homosexuality may be a crime, but to be a man trapped in a woman's body is seen as nature's mistake, and sex reassignment is legal and accessible. As a man, Sahar could be the one to marry Nasrin. Sahar will never be able to love the one she wants, in the body she wants to be loved in, without risking her life. Is saving her love worth sacrificing her true self?
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHighbridge Company
    Release dateAug 20, 2013
    ISBN9781622312269
    If You Could Be Mine
    Author

    Sara Farizan

    SARA FARIZAN lives near Boston, Massachusetts. She is an MFA graduate of Lesley University and holds a BA in film and media studies from American University. TWITTER: @SaraFarizan

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    Reviews for If You Could Be Mine

    4/5

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    • 5/5
      It boggles my mind that a country could accept (and even pay for) sex change operations yet consider homosexuality a sin. Apparently there is nothing in the Bible that says a person can’t change the gender of his/her physical body, but there is something that says having sexual relations with a person of the same sex is a mortal sin.Sara Farizan in her debut novel, If You Could Be Mine makes this abundantly clear as seventeen year old Iranians Sahar and Nasrin are in love but must keep their feelings secret. It comes as quite a shock, especially to Sahar, when it is announced that Nasrin’s parents have promised her hand in marriage to a doctor, Reza. The wedding is in three months. Sahar cannot think of living life without Nasrin and while Nasrin says they can still see each other after the wedding, Sahar knows it can never be.Sahar contemplates all options to cancel the wedding and claim Nasrin as her own, including undergoing the long and painful sex changes operations. She is introduced to transgenders through her cousin, Ali, who is gay. None of these people say life is easy after the changes, but at least they are in the body they should have been born into.Sahar wonders whether her father, who has been in a depression for the several years since Sahar’s mother died, would even notice if one day she came home sporting a beard. Or would he disown her?This is certainly a new and relevant twist on teenage sexuality. Sahar and Nasrin are two distinct personalities, one serious and determined, the other flighty and always in need of attention. So, it comes as no surprise, although in my mind it was a bit far-fetched, that Sahar should consider drastic measures to keep Nasrin. Farizan also brings up the question: would someone who loves you romantically as a woman, feel the same way if you were a man? Good question!While, if you read this blog regularly, you know my absolute favorite books on this subject, If You Could Be Mine by Sara Farizan is certainly up there on the list. It is an absorbing read.
    • 4/5
      Farizan’s debut is thought-provoking, poignant and a wonderful addition to the GLBTQ genre. Seventeen year-old Sahar has a lot to worry about – managing her household as her grief-stricken father has not recovered from her mother’s death, studying for her university entrance exams, and her forbidden dangerous love for her best friend Nasrin. Living in contemporary Iran, both Sahar and Nasrin understand that homosexuality is illegal and carries severe penalties. Now, Nasrin has announced that she is getting married, and while Nasrin believes that she and Sahar can continue their covert relationship, Sahar wants to be the only person to love Nasrin. To the rescue is Ali, Sahar’s flamboyant gay cousin to rescue her from the doldrums and expose her to a wider GLBTQ community. Learning sexual reassignment is legal, the now desperate Sahar sees the operation as a viable to solution to stop Nasrin’s marriage – ignoring her inner intuition that being a man is not who she want to be. Faced with the most difficult sacrifice of her life – love or her true self – Sahar is on a journey only she can provide the answers to.While there are many interesting characters, the focus is on Sahar’s unfolding awareness and gradual piecing together of who she is and what is most important to her. Sahar’s voice is convincingly real and elegantly captures all that is awkward, confusing and uncomfortable in being a gay teenage. I was rooting for Sahar to see Nasrin for who she was. I applaud the author for her handling of the complex issue of gender identity and being gay and the concerns for the coming-out process in this touching plot.What a great start for Algonquin Young Reader’s imprint!
    • 5/5
      Simply beautiful and heartbreaking...Sahar is smart, conservative, driven and broken after the death of her mother when she was younger. Nasrin is beautiful, talkative, flashy and suppressed by her culture. Both are different, but compliment each other beautifully and share a strong bond....love. In Iran, to be the same sex and in love is deadly. Nasrin and Sahar are so madly in love, that even after Nasrin becomes engaged to be married, Sahar is desperate to find a way for them to be together. Any way possible.The love of these two characters was so sweet and believable. I was intrigued by the culture and laws of Iran the entire way through the novel. It is so sad to read about a whole group of people who have to hide who they are or possibly die. I felt the way the two girls handled their situation was extremely true to life. One second they are passionately kissing, the next they are crying and the next they are angry. When you are in love and desperate, changing emotions like this is just uncontrollable. Sahar turns out to be so brave and strong and I truly admire her. I'm not going to give away the ending, but I think it ended the only way it could.
    • 4/5
      Sahar and Nasrin have been best friends, and possibly in love with one another, since they were little girls. Unfortunately they live in Iran where punishment would be very severe--even unto death--if they were to be found out. Strangely, though, it is not a violation of the law to be a transexual; in fact, insurance will pay for the necessary surgery and treatment to change one’s gender. When Nasrin becomes engaged to be married, Sahar is about to take the ultimate step.Titles like this help readers understand the ramifications of living in countries other than the United States. Even though Nasrin wants to be with Sahar, in her culture if she marries a wealthy man she will always be protected. If she commits to Sahar, she will never be safe. Most readers probably do not know this about Iran, and this lovely story will certainly raise their awareness.
    • 3/5
      I liked this book, but I didn't love it. I did enjoy the look into another world; I don't know much about Iran, and it was interesting to learn that, while homosexuality is wrong and can be punished by death, it is permissible to be transsexual and to have gender reassignment surgery. And since Sahar loves her best friend, Nasrin, Sahar sees this as the only way that they can continue together, especially since Nasrin is about to be married to the impossibly perfect Reza.But one of my problems with the story is that Sahar approaches the gender reassignment surgery with such a cavalier attitude. She wants to be a surgeon when she goes to university and everyone tells her how smart she is, but she seems to think that the surgery will be some simple little outpatient procedure that will magically fix everything in her life. She completely ignores the warning signs around her: the other transsexuals in the "support group" she attends telling her, blatantly and repeatedly, how difficult their lives are, even to this day (one member of the group mentions how a FtM wanted to propose to a girl and her parents were furious - HELLO huge blinking warning sign!); Nasrin's parents being exceptionally picky over their children's matches (as if they will allow their only daughter to marry FtM!Sahar); and the continuous mentions of how Sahar is "from the wrong side of the tracks," Nasrin's family is very rich, and everyone hammers in the point about how Sahar's mother had "married down" when marrying her father. And I do understand what is like to want something so badly that you'll turn a blind eye to all of the warning signs coming at you, but Sahar was just living in such a strange, deliberately ignorant world of her own creation. And that carried over to her relationship with Nasrin, which was painfully one-sided for most of the book. Nasrin called and Sahar came running. I never felt that their relationship was mutual; Sahar felt like more a diversion to Nasrin than an all-consuming love. Even at the end, when Nasrin kind of loses it upon discovering that she's pregnant, it feels like Nasrin is just spoiled and wants her own way once again. So I spent most of the book cringing and wishing that I could reach in and slap some sense into Sahar, because I have so been there when it comes to the one-sided relationship with a user thing, and even though it was years ago, it was still painful to read today.The writing was okay, but I wasn't swept away into the story, either. It felt more like "tell" instead of "show." I will potentially read more from the author in the future, because I love that she used diverse queer characters in the book. I just hope that they are better written in the future.
    • 4/5
      If You Could Be Mine falls into two much-needed categories of YA: GLBT and non-white. As such, I really wanted to read it, and I'm glad I did. Farizan's debut has a fresh narrative voice, one that has a very non-western feel, while still being open and clear. Set in Iran, Farizan tackles first love, being different, friendship, and homosexuality with honesty and heart.The plot of If You Could Be Mine, while not melodramatic or action-packed, is enthralling. I, for one, love being able to take a journey to another culture in my reading, something that I don't get to do enough. In my experience, a lot of the non-western novels I've read (generally aimed at adults) tend to be unremittingly depressing, but Farizan retains lighter moments and keeps the tone fairly bright while still capturing the restraints that Iranian society puts onto Sahar and Nasrin.Sahar has loved Nasrin for over ten years, and wanted to marry her. Soon Sahar will be heading off to university, assuming she passes her exams, and Nasrin, who Sahar always hoped would wait for her, is marrying a young doctor. Feeling both betrayed and determined, Sahar would do anything to keep Nasrin with her, beautiful Nasrin who makes Sahar feel more special and confident just by returning her affection. Being homosexual is in Iran a serious crime, one punishable by death, but, for Nasrin, Sahar would risk anything; Nasrin is more practical and more used to a comfortable life.Since Nasrin cannot be convinced to call the wedding off just for love of Sahar, other plans have to be made. Through her gay cousin Ali, Sahar meets a bunch of gay and transgender people living in Iran. Now, oddly, Iran embraces transgender people and even helps finance the gender reassignment surgeries. In this, Sahar sees hope. By changing who she is can she have everything that she wants? The fact that Sahar would alter herself this way when she has always felt like a woman, all of that for a girl, is startling and terrifying. The harsh laws of society make gender reassignment seem like the only solution to be able to remain with the person Sahar loves.Farizan does all of this very well, because she keeps the book non-preachy. There's not really a sense of judgment. At most, there's disappointment in those who do not try for what they want, but that feeling of disappointment is aimed more at the unforgiving society than the people themselves. While everyone doesn't come out in a good light, perhaps none really do, no one is demonized either.I think what held me back from loving and really connecting with If You Could Be Mine was Sahar. I sympathize with Sahar and her narrative voice fits her, but she's a bit...empty. Sahar's young and hasn't really developed to much of a self yet, having always been all about keeping Nasrin happy. She doesn't have an incredibly strong personality, and her desperate need to be with Nasrin, despite the fact that Nasrin had gotten engaged without telling her, was something which I really could not relate to in the least.An impressive debut, If You Could Be Mine tackles tough and unique subject matter with openness and a lack of judgment. Those looking for more YA set in other cultures and/or glbt YA must get their hands on this one.
    • 4/5
      A library patron recommended this YA novel about romantic love between two Iranian teen-age girls. It is narrated by Sahar, deeply in love with the somewhat flighty Nasrin. Sahar is devastated when Nasrin's parents annouce their daughter's arranged marriage, and considers a drastic solution for her heartbreak. Sahar was an appealing character, and the portrait of contemporary Iran was intriguing. I take points away for the very simple prose, which I suppose is a hallmark of YA literature.
    • 5/5
      Sahar and Nasrin are 17 and in love. They are not allowed to be in love since they live in Iran and homosexuality is punishable by death. So they need to find a way to be together. Nasrin is being set up for an arranged marriage with Reza, a handsome young man that is an intern preparing to be a doctor. They need to come up with a plan and fast. Sahar comes into contact with a group of people through her cousin Ali and learns that gender reassignment surgery is allowed in Iran. So she is prepared to be a man in order to be able to spend the rest of her life with the woman she loves. It's risky because she could be disowned by her father and the surgery is extremely painful. Will the plan work and save their relationship? A very interesting and realistic novel. Good read!
    • 5/5
      There is nothing more epic than forbidden love. But Sara Farizan's debut, IF YOU COULD BE MINE, takes the forbidden love trope to a new level -- with a dose of reality.Sahar and Nasrin have been in love since they were children. The two girls have been sneaking around for years, stealing kisses behind closed doors. If they lived somewhere else, maybe being gay wouldn't be such a big deal. But in Iran, it's not only taboo, but it's a crime. Sahar dreams of having a life with Nasrin, but when Nasrin's parents arrange for her to be married, these dreams fall apart. If only Sahar were a man, they could be in love in the open. She could be Nasrin's betrothed. And here's the twist: in Iran, being a man stuck in a woman's body is considered a medical problem, treatable with surgery and hormones. Sahar thinks that maybe if she can convince herself -- and doctors -- that she is a transgendered person, there might be hope for her and Nasrin. Faced with some of the hardest choices of her life, Sahar has to ask herself: what is the limit of what she'll do for love?Set in modern day Iran, IF YOU COULD BE MINE paints a portrait of young women in a country that most Western readers know little about. And, yet, this is a book that is first and foremost a love story, a story of angst and perseverance in the face of impending tragedy. It is not only a book about gay teens, but a coming of age story. This is a book that will surely be collecting awards in the near future. And it will deserve every one.
    • 5/5
      If You Could Be Mine. By Sara Farizan. Algonquin Young Readers. 2013. 256 pages. $16.95 hbk. 978-1616202514. Grades 8-12.Sahar’s forbidden relationship with her best friend Nasrin comes to an abrupt halt at the announcement of Nasrin’s impending marriage: living in modern-day Iran, there is little Sahar can do to put a stop to the wedding. She takes stock of her options: unlike homosexuality, sexual reassignment surgery is not illegal in Iran… Through Sahar’s first-person perspective, Farizan creates a moving portrait of a young girl discovering not only her sexuality, but also her sense of self and her place in the world around her. Her choice of setting offers an innovative and sobering point of view for an American YA audience: Farizan depicts some of the harsh realities for LGBTQ individuals living in Iran. Sahar’s emotions throughout the story feel raw and realistic, and they make for an incredibly moving story when coupled with the novel’s relatable prose and well-rounded characters. Even as you root for Sahar, you are able to appreciate the perspectives of those around her – from her achingly lonely father to the tragically spoiled Nasrin. Teen readers should take note of this powerful rendition of the age-old story of adolescent self-discovery.
    • 3/5
      Definitely a groundbreaking book in LGBT literature for teens. It brings up a lot of uncomfortable but necessary questions and fears that LGBT teens have to face everyday, except as is the case in this book, sometimes it is waay harder then we could ever imagine. This story takes place in Iran, were homosexuality is punished with death. Sahar and her best friend Nasrin have been in love with each other for years. Their romance has blossomed but they are both very careful to keep it under wraps so they don't get themselves killed. When Sahar finds out that the love of her life has been betrothed to a doctor her pretty naive little world starts to come apart. She can't imagine life without Nasrin but she can't think of any way that the two of them can be together, that is until her gay cousin introduces her to his transexual friend Parveen. Is she changing genders the only way she can stay with the love of her life. Will her family forgive her? Will Nasrin still love her if she is a man?Definitely a book that causes you to think. It also raises good conversation on how homosexuality and sex reassignment are perceived in other countries and cultures.
    • 2/5
      A book like If You Could Be Mine is hard to review because as a fictional exploration of a very real, very pressing social issue, I think it does it’s job. While reading, I felt I got quite a bit of insight into the Iranian culture and really came to understand where Sahar is coming from. As a book, it didn’t quite do it for me, and while there are multiple reasons for that, there’s one in particular that stands out: I didn’t want Sahar to succeed in being with Nasrin because Nasrin, while a product of her environment, is quite simply a jerk.

      Since the whole book centers around Sahar trying to find a way to be with Nasrin–even going as far as to consider sexual reassignment surgery– this was a major point where the book went downhill for me. No matter what Sahar did, I was hoping she would fail, which is not something I want to be thinking about a main character. Sahar herself was a sympathetic character, but Nasrin seemed to regard Sahar as merely a passing moment, while for Sahar, Nasrin was her life. In this mindset, it was hard to root for the main characters.

      Here’s the thing: I didn’t want Sahar to succeed because I found Nasrin to be utterly unsympathetic. At no point did I ever BEGIN to even entertain the idea that Nasrin really loved Sahar. At all. And so of course I was rooting for Sahar to fail in her mission because even though she wasn’t the best character either, she deserved better. None of the characters felt like real people–they all seemed to exist for the sake of the story, instead of the story coming naturally from the characters and their development.

      The writing also felt a bit sloppy and rushed. After talking about it with other readers on Twitter, I’ve seen multiple people say, and I agree, that this felt like a first draft. If it had gone back and forth between the editor and author a few more times, if it had been polished a bit more and some of the pacing tightened up, I think I could have enjoyed it. Ultimately, though, it just wasn’t an enjoyable or that enlightening of a reading experience.

      As I stated in the first paragraph, the book’s exploration of the Iranian culture and attitude did a good job of educating me, and it was these parts of the book I enjoyed the most. I also enjoyed the exploration of Sahar’s relationship with her father, which was tense due to her mother’s death which happens before the book begins. Moments like this– where Sahar and her father finally talk a little about their grief– are the brief shining moments of this book, which is unfortunate, since it’s not the focus.

      Ultimately, there’s not a whole left to say about the book. It left me with a “meh” feeling, though the ending did perk up my opinion slightly, though it felt a bit rushed. I really enjoyed the character of Sahar, but I couldn’t root for her when her purpose was to be with Nasrin, since Nasrin never treated her right. The bit of positivity I have about this book comes more for what this book could mean for future works in the YA category that explore issues of sexuality, gender, and culture, rather than the actual work itself.

      Final Impression: If You Could Be Mine does a good job of introducing readers to the culture and attitudes in Iran, but unfortunately focuses two girls who I couldn’t root for as a reader because their relationship seemed so uneven and I found Nasrinto be quite a jerk to Sahar. It made it impossible for me to really root for Sahar, so while I was sympathetic towards her, I was rather “meh” towards the rest of the book. Some good aspects, but overall was lackluster for me. That being said, I do think this book is important as a conversation starter and shows a great need for books like this in literature.
    • 4/5
      An impressive YA debut novel. See also Deborah Ellis's Moon at Nine.
    • 5/5
      To be queer is tough enough; to be queer in Iran is unimaginable. Sahar and Nasrin have been in love for years. Then it is announced that Nasrin is engaged to be married. Sahar contemplates everything that she can to stop the wedding. The language is quite nice and not everything gets wrapped up in a cute little bow by the end which is how life is.