Review: Like a Love Story by Abdi Nazemian

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. ~ Goodreads

Source: Library – audiobook

Like a Love Story = Heartbreaking. An issue book. Angsty. Bittersweet.

These are all things I HATE in my reading life. Without a doubt this book broke me & made me cry. Twice. And I hated the feeling. I like to escape and be happy when I read. Solid HEA’s only please. But I loved this book so, so, so much anyway.

Set in the late 80’s against the backdrop of the AIDS epidemic with the music of Madonna as a catalyst, Like a Love Story is the stunning coming of age story of three teens caught in a complicated relationship dynamic.

Art, an out and proud gay boy, and his best friend Judy, an aspiring fashion designer with an uncle dying from AIDS, meet Reza – the new Iranian boy. Reza is terrified of his feelings for Art (& of AIDS) and ends up dating Judy.

I know! I know! You’re all like - a love triangle!! I hate teen angst! But this book is not that. Well, okay it is, but it has so many layers – and layers within the layers.

I remember 1989 and the AIDS crisis vividly;  ACT UP, the die-ins, the AIDS memorial quilt being unfurled on the National Mall, Ryan White. This book perfectly captures the fear and desperation as the LGBQT community, literally, fought for their own lives. But also offers levity and hope with the pop culture references as well as a timeless coming of age tale & enduring friendships.

Nazemian so brilliantly captures the era, the activism, the fear, the death, the LOVE, the intimacy, the pop culture all at once without ever skipping a beat. It’s all done so seamlessly. Family, by birth and found, also feature prominently.

The characters are flawed, and disappointing at times, but totally true to who they are and when the author ties it all back together with a bittersweet ending – it’s not with a tidy bow - but with something better. Something real. Something lasting. Something hopeful even in it’s sadness. All three protagonist's have such distinctive voices and play effortlessly off each other even if it’s painful at times. This is a messy, messy story but felt so realistic.

I know this review doesn’t make a whole lot of sense – because I never do well with reviews for my 5 star books but I highly recommend this book if you love flawed, but realistic characters, want to learn more about queer history, love pop culture (specifically queer pop culture), and love strong friendships that stand the test of time.

I listened to this one on audio and the three narrators were FANTASTIC (Lauren Ambrose – Judy), Vikas Adam – Reza (& Uncle Stephen in short passages about LGBQT+ history/figures), Michael Crouch – Art.

*For a more coherent review – this one I found on Goodreads is excellent.

*And if you loved this book - please give the TV series Pose a try. Set in the same era against the back drop of ball culture, it follows a lot of the same themes.