Porochista Khakpour

MEET THE MILANIS. FAST-FOOD HEIRESSES, L.A. ROYALTY, AND YOUR NEWEST REALITY TV OBSESSION Iranian-American multimillionaires Ali and Homa Milani have it all—a McMansion in the hills of Los Angeles, a microwaveable snack empire, and four spirited daughters. There’s Violet, the big-hearted aspiring model; Roxanna, the chaotic influencer; Mina, the chronically-online overachiever; and the impressionable health fanatic Haylee. On the verge of landing their own reality TV show, the Milanis realize their deepest secrets are about to be dragged out into the open before the cameras even roll. Each of the Milanis—even their aloof Persian cat Pari—has something to hide, but the looming scrutiny of fame also threatens to bring the family closer than ever. Dramatic, biting yet full of heart, Tehrangeles is a tragicomic saga about high-functioning family dysfunction and the ever-present struggle to accept one’s true self.

A Novel

Tehrangeles

I listened to this in audiobook format, which I think made it a little more digestible. At first it was really entertaining, but it quickly went off kilter. The storyline follows an out-of-touch, wealthy, Iranian-American family living in what’s dubbed the city of “Tehrangles”, and their upcoming reality TV show. This style is what I consider a sour take on satire, very uncomfortable and not even in a particularly useful way. I wanted there to be more of a dive into the idea of belonging and cultural assimilation as it was gently grazed in the chapters involving the parents, but instead most of the book centered around a ridiculous super-spreader party in the middle of a pandemic. I could see this being potentially interesting as a TV show, it was definitely entertaining but I’m not sure it served the purpose I was expecting. 

Rana Sulieman

I listened to this in audiobook format, which I think made it a little more digestible. At first it was really entertaining, but it quickly went off kilter. The storyline follows an out-of-touch, wealthy, Iranian-American family living in what’s dubbed the city of “Tehrangles”, and their upcoming reality TV show. This style is what I consider a sour take on satire, very uncomfortable and not even in a particularly useful way. I wanted there to be more of a dive into the idea of belonging and cultural assimilation as it was gently grazed in the chapters involving the parents, but instead most of the book centered around a ridiculous super-spreader party in the middle of a pandemic. I could see this being potentially interesting as a TV show, it was definitely entertaining but I’m not sure it served the purpose I was expecting. 

* I also have to give a TW because there is a very descriptive scene of an ED. 

Tehrangeles A Novel

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