Name: g.'s review of Like a Love Story by Abdi Nazemian
Item: Like a Love Story
Rating: 5
Author: g.

Abdi Nazemian

Stonewall Honor Book! "A love letter to queerness, self-expression, and individuality (also Madonna) that never shies away from the ever-present fear within the queer community of late '80s New York, Like a Love Story made me feel so full--of hope, love, courage, pride, and awe for the many people who fought for love and self-expression in the face of discrimination, cruelty, and death. "A book for warriors, divas, artists, queens, individuals, activists, trend setters, and anyone searching for the courage to be themselves."--Mackenzi Lee, New York Times bestselling author of The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue It's 1989 in New York City, and for three teens, the world is changing. Reza is an Iranian boy who has just moved to the city with his mother to live with his stepfather and stepbrother. He's terrified that someone will guess the truth he can barely acknowledge about himself. Reza knows he's gay, but all he knows of gay life are the media's images of men dying of AIDS. Judy is an aspiring fashion designer who worships her uncle Stephen, a gay man with AIDS who devotes his time to activism as a member of ACT UP. Judy has never imagined finding romance...until she falls for Reza and they start dating. Art is Judy's best friend, their school's only out and proud teen. He'll never be who his conservative parents want him to be, so he rebels by documenting the AIDS crisis through his photographs. As Reza and Art grow closer, Reza struggles to find a way out of his deception that won't break Judy's heart--and destroy the most meaningful friendship he's ever known. This is a bighearted, sprawling epic about friendship and love and the revolutionary act of living life to the fullest in the face of impossible odds.

Like a Love Story

An’ 💙📚🍂☕️🤍🧋

- Est-ce que c'était de l'amour? murmure Reza à Art. Ou est-ce que c'était comme de l'amour?

caro(lee)na

this was so painful and so good and so heartwarming all at once :')

Greg K

“A love letter to queerness, self-expression, and individuality (also Madonna) that never shies away from the ever-present fear within the queer community of late '80s New York, Like a Love Story made me feel so full—of hope, love, courage, pride, and awe for the many people who fought for love and self-expression in the face of discrimination, cruelty, and death. "A book for warriors, divas, artists, queens, individuals, activists, trend setters, and anyone searching for the courage to be themselves.”—Mackenzi Lee, New York Times bestselling author of The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue It’s 1989 in New York City, and for three teens, the world is changing. Reza is an Iranian boy who has just moved to the city with his mother to live with his stepfather and stepbrother. He’s terrified that someone will guess the truth he can barely acknowledge about himself. Reza knows he’s gay, but all he knows of gay life are the media’s images of men dying of AIDS. Judy is an aspiring fashion designer who worships her uncle Stephen, a gay man with AIDS who devotes his time to activism as a member of ACT UP. Judy has never imagined finding romance...until she falls for Reza and they start dating. Art is Judy’s best friend, their school’s only out and proud teen. He’ll never be who his conservative parents want him to be, so he rebels by documenting the AIDS crisis through his photographs. As Reza and Art grow closer, Reza struggles to find a way out of his deception that won’t break Judy’s heart—and destroy the most meaningful friendship he’s ever known. This is a bighearted, sprawling epic about friendship and love and the revolutionary act of living life to the fullest in the face of impossible odds.

Inesa

“The most important four-letter word in our history will always be LOVE. That’s what we are fighting for. That’s who we are. Love is our legacy.”


‘Like a Love Story’ is a truly special piece of art. It tells the story of three friends, who are very different, but so similar at the same time, as well as their struggle with identity and first love. It also tells the story of AIDS outbreak in the 80s and how it affected queer youth. And then there’s Madonna. Lots and lots of Madonna.
I think, that the author did a great job creating the main characters, because it was very easy to imagine them roaming the streets of New York, trying to navigate their lives and understand who they are and where they are meant to be. They were colorful as the rainbow if I may say so. Reza, Judy and Art made an incredible trio and while reading this, you might feel like you’re part of their little group. I certainly did. There’s also Judy’s uncle Stephen, who despite the fact, that he’s very sick, is still a dreamer and an optimist. Honestly, he’s the heart and the soul of this book. Also an inspiration – all of us should aspire to be just like him. For me, these characters make this book so special. It’s moving and heart-breaking, but it’s also joyful and exhilarating. Their stories make you think and feel things and that’s why it is necessary to read this.
I didn’t have many expectations for ‘Like a Love Story’ and I wasn’t sure if I’ll like it. But I think this book broke me. I cried multiple times while listening to this audiobook and I completely bawled my eyes out at the end. It’s so so beautiful, but incredibly sad at the same time, because even though it’s fiction, these kind of things actually happened and that’s what makes me emotional. I didn’t live in late 80s in United Stated of America, so I can only imagine what gay people had to experience during this time, when they had to watch their loved ones perish in front of their eyes and how much hurt that caused them. It hurts even thinking about it, but I’m really glad, that these stories are told. And even though the times have changed and it’s a bit better now, but there’s still a long way to go.


  “Not just me,” Stephen says, looking to Jimmy. “Us. All of us. What we did. What we fought for. Our history. Who we are. They won’t teach it in schools. They don’t want us to have a history. They don’t see us. They don’t know we are another country, with invisible borders, that we are a people. You have to make them see.” Stephen takes a strained breath. “You have to remember it. And to share it. Please. Time passes, and people forget. Don’t let them.”

Steph L 

A heavy but great novel

This novel is about the AIDS Crisis so you know from the summary that it’s not a lighthearted story. I loved the characters they were so well crafted. I loved the story, yes it was heavy, but it is an emotional story, and there are fun moments. The writing in this book is fantastic. I loved the romance and the New York Setting. This is not a fun story, but I enjoyed my time reading it.

Eliana Mor

** spoiler alert **
           I'm not going to put in the effort to write an actual review and this is just me ranting about all the things I hated.

First, Judy. I was so excited to read about a fat, lower class main character and she just sucked. I hated that she got mad a Reza for being gay and having a crush on Art, and went on to try to alienate them from their queer community. I hated all her comments about gay people, like when she said she wished all men acted gay but liked women, how she wished her children would be gay, etc. It gave very much "straight girl fetishizing gay men" but how much could I really expect for a man writing a woman. I also HATED when Art and her went on a walk after the protest and Art was talking about how it's hard to have crushes and relationships when you're gay and she just said "Sorry for my heterosexuality." There was also her misogyny like when she said that she always hated girls and that pretty girls couldn't be funny. And for all she talked about allyship, she went on to kiss a known homophobe and be best friends with the ex of another know homophobe.

She was the character that I really hated but not to worry I also hated Art. He was so extremely privileged like he thought that he was the most oppressed person in the world. I also just didn't enjoy how much of this book was serving white cis queers and barely anything else.

mia ¿

** spoiler alert **
           just some (pointless) thoughts

i don't have much to say about this book because it was really good...
i was just really impressed how the author managed to tell the book in not just two but three unique perspectives. and they all sounded different!? so i was impressed.

and just the history aspect of the book was so cool and interesting to read about... i love like contemporary historical fiction or whatever so obviously i loved this... and the late 80s are just such a fun setting, and not but that just shows how far we've come.

nothing else to say but the characters were great, the setting was great, the plot was great. very good.

Lindsay

Autumn Edwards

I loved this a lot more than i thought i would and i desperately need more tissues.

Bruno Darío

This book is absolutely incredible and should be read by every teenager. So much rage and hope at the same time. Also, if there's a sequel, it should totally be called Seven Days of Art (if you know you know 😂).

Wendy M Holt

Lacey

This book.... this book....

I finished this book this afternoon and I’m sobbing. Like all out ugly crying because this is more than a book. It’s a testament of hope and love and that family isn’t necessarily blood related. This is a love story and needs to be made into a movie. These characters..... these characters have captured my whole heart and through my tears, I’m filled with love.

TW for homophobia, fat shaming.

Chelsea Breher

This story melted my heart, it was a super adorable and moving beginning to pride month. It hit me right in the feels so many times!!

Geneviève Rouleau

This book is so important, but it took me such a long time to get into it and I didn't particularly like the main characters. But. Stephen. 😭💛

caro(lee)na &
Like a Love Story by Abdi Nazemian

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Like a Love Story by Abdi Nazemian