In 1950s Tehran, Ellie’s life is flipped upside down when her father dies unexpectedly. To make matters worse, Ellie and her mother are forced to leave their luxurious lifestyle and settle in a tiny home downtown. Yet, when Ellie starts at her new school she becomes friend with Homa, a vibrant, outspoken girl. As the girls grow up and Iran becomes an epicenter of change and revolution, their friendship is put to the test in ways they couldn’t imagine.

This historical fiction has been on my radar for sometime now. Since it’s release, The Lion Women of Tehran has received some excellent reviews so I added it to the twelve books I wanted to read in 2026. to my satisfaction, this book did deliver on all the hype it had received.

The story is beautifully written and the relationship between Ellie and Homa is both comforting and heartbreaking at the same time. The way that one bad choice could lead to a domino effect of events that changes everything for the women was expertly crafted and very believable. The book also read quite fast and it is easily a story you can digest in one sitting.

Of course, there are several heartbreaking scenes (particularly around Homa, if you know you know). Despite this, the women’s resilience remains and the way the author was able to connect their stories to that of what women in modern day Iran are experiencing made it all the more impactful.

There is no negative to this story and I would highly recommend it. I expect that you will hear more about this great book at the end of the year when I do my ten best books of the year.

5 out of 5 stars