Bookseller Book Review - Like a Love Story by Abdi Nazemian

Review By Fran

Like a Love Story by Abdi Nazemian is a coming-of-age story centred around three fabulous characters: Art, Judy and Reza.  Set in 1980’s New York, these three teenagers try to figure out who they are and who they love - all amidst the AIDS’ crisis, which is killing and terrifying people in equal measure. Faced with intense homophobia from society and family, the three protagonists find loving mentors in the LGBTQ+ community and ACT UP activist group, as well as in old movies and the music of Madonna. Art’s parents want him to conform to their ideals, Reza is an Iranian immigrant trying to please his mother and Judy is Art’s best friend, facing fatphobia at school and wondering if she will ever be loved and accepted as she is. Judy’s Uncle Stephen plays a crucial and loving role in their stories. As an activist and facing the dreadful reality of AIDS, he offers them a safe place full of unconditional love and acceptance. Harrowing, heartbreaking and delightful in equal measure, this book has affected me more than anything else I have read recently, and I haven’t stopped listening to Madonna since I put it down, to stay close to characters who worked their way into my heart and mind. The story gives a much-needed powerful voice and full heart to a period of recent history I knew little about and it does this through the love, nurture and bravery of the characters between its pages. I have since Googled everything Nazemian has ever written so I can devour more of his writing. This is a book that is important to read- for teenagers, young adults and indeed all of us. Friendship and love shine through as the most important things in our lives in the face of great hardship in this beautiful story and I highly recommend this to everyone.

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