Sorry, Bro by Taleen Voskuni

Description from NetGalley:

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—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.

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My Review:

I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I admit, that I do not know much about Armenian culture, but I didn't want that to stop me from enjoying this book and it really didn't. This book submerges you into a beautiful culture. I think Taleen did an amazing job weaving it in without overwhelming the reader. I actually researched the culture a bit more after finishing this book because I just loved these characters and wanted to connect with them and the culture more.

I liked Nar a lot even if she could be a bit frustrating at times. She could be very wishy-washy in her thoughts and decisions. While I can understand that thought process with coming out to her family, it's a very hard thing to do especially in a conservative culture, but it really frustrated me how she handled her relationship with Trevor. This should have been nipped in the bud in the first chapter and not be another issue. Otherwise, I thought she was smart and funny and I loved seeing her creative juices flow as she become more in touch with her culture and even made new friends. I absolutely adored Erebuni. I loved how open-minded she was and how understanding she could be. It takes a lot to get there, especially with what she does for her job. I thought she was great for Nar who needed that kind of empathy. I loved their chemistry and honestly could not get enough of them.

I also liked how Taleen brought in the aspect of family and how heavily involved they were in the story. I especially enjoyed the scenes between Nar and her mother. Even the ones that were heartbreaking. I think this was just wonderfully done.

Overall, this is definitely a sapphic read you should add to your shelf if you have not already. I plan on buying my own copy to add to mine because I definitely want this on my bookshelf and not just on my kindle. This book will make you smile, laugh, and maybe a little sad. Definitely, one of my favorite reads of the year.