Only This Beautiful Moment

 Tell me a story... about understanding our family

Only This Beautiful Moment by Abdi Nazemian

Publication date: May 9, 2023

Date read: July 25, 2023

2019. Moud is an out gay teen living in Los Angeles with his distant father, Saeed. When Moud gets the news that his grandfather in Iran is dying, he accompanies his dad to Tehran, where the revelation of family secrets will force Moud into a new understanding of his history, his culture, and himself. 1978. Saeed is an engineering student with a promising future ahead of him in Tehran. But when his parents discover his involvement in the country’s burgeoning revolution, they send him to safety in America, a country Saeed despises. And even worse—he’s forced to live with the American grandmother he never knew existed. 1939. Bobby, the son of a calculating Hollywood stage mother, lands a coveted MGM studio contract. But the fairy-tale world of glamour he’s thrust into has a dark side. Set against the backdrop of Tehran and Los Angeles, this tale of intergenerational trauma and love is an ode to the fragile bonds of family, the hidden secrets of history, and all the beautiful moments that make us who we are today. 

I will preface this review with two things:

1) I read this book two years ago and am just now putting the review in my blog. (I'm trying to get caught up on a few older reviews). So this review will not be as detailed as some newer reads will be.

2) I listened to an audiobook that was a synthesized audio narration. It was my first time trying this format - not my favorite. I obviously much prefer actual voice actors reading a book. The inflections are often wrong with a synthesized voice, which took me out of the story a little bit. But I'm sure the current narration of the audiobook is wonderful. 

I had previously read Like a Love Story by this same author and really liked that book, so I was excited to try this one - I was not disappointed. Nazemian has a way with taking a tough topic and writing about it in a way that is teen-appropriate without dumbing anything down or sugar-coating the hard parts. Where Like a Love Story tackled AIDS in the late-80s, early 90s, Only This Beautiful Moment addresses revolution and being openly gay in a country where safety is an issue. 

This story is told from the point of view of three different characters in three different timelines, and while I was sometimes anxious to get back to a specific plot point, there weren't any stories that I didn't like listening to. All of the characters were well-written and complex, not always likable, but they always felt like they were reacting in ways that were real. 

I really liked this book and thought that it was a wonderful addition to diverse reads in young adult fiction. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes generational stories or who wants to learn a little more about Iran and its past. 

Rating: 4/5 stars

Content warning: homophobia, hangings (mentioned), violence against the gay community (mentioned), emotional manipulation of child by their parents, police violence against peaceful protestors, racism, deportation

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.