| Author/Contributor(s): | Sayed, Bobuq |
| Publisher: | Harper Perennial |
| Date: | 5/25/2027 |
| Binding: | Paperback |
| Condition: | NEW |
A Most Anticipated Read: Autostraddle, Goodreads, Southern Review of Books, The Millions, them, SheReads, Daily Kos, Debutiful, Mizna, and LGBTQ Reads
A Publishers Weekly Writer to Watch
“Stunning.”—The Atlantic
“A new kind of novel, with vast geographies of nation and heart.”—Sarah Schulman
“An exhilarating debut from a writer whose work I’ll always want to read.” —R. O. Kwon
In this wry, provocative debut, two gay Afghan men cast out of their respective countries of birth by circumstances beyond their control collide in Istanbul, a city that will test their willingness to sacrifice everything for the ones they love.
When Delbar—a hapless twentysomething with dreams of becoming a drag queen—is spectacularly outed, he flees the insular immigrant-dense suburbs of Washington, DC, to seek refuge with his sympathetic aunt in Istanbul. There he discovers a vibrant community of dissidents, sex workers, activists, poets, and heretics. Among them are Leif and his boyfriend, Mansur, with whom Delbar quickly develops a blazing fascination.
But Mansur also nurses a wounded heart, having left his own family, and his first love, behind in Iran. This time, Mansur has learned not to dream bigger than his own survival. He’ll keep a low profile, work hard to send money to his family, and remain faithful to Leif—at least until his refugee status is granted.
When riot police descend on the annual Istanbul pride march, Mansur and Delbar are thrust into dangerous proximity. With the country surging into authoritarianism, the two men—alongside their friends and lovers—must ask themselves: What constitutes a life well lived, and how high is the price of freedom?