This book title The Lion Women of Tehran
books by Marjan Kamali

A heartfelt novel of friendship, betrayal, and redemption set against three transformative decades in Tehran, Iran.
In 1950s Tehran, seven-year-old Ellie lives in grand comfort until the untimely death of her father, forcing Ellie and her mother to move to a tiny home downtown. Lonely and bearing the brunt of her mother’s endless grievances, Ellie dreams of a friend to alleviate her isolation.
Luckily, on the first day of school, she meets Homa, a kind, passionate girl with a brave and irrepressible spirit. Together, the two girls play games, learn to cook in the stone kitchen of Homa’s warm home, wander through the colorful stalls of the Grand Bazaar, and share their ambitions for becoming “lion women.”
But their happiness is disrupted when Ellie and her mother are afforded the opportunity to return to their previous bourgeois life. Now a popular student at the best girls’ high school in Iran, Ellie’s memories of Homa begin to fade. Years later, however, her sudden reappearance...
The story’s development reflects careful planning, with each event building upon what came before. This sense of progression gives the narrative direction and purpose, ensuring that readers remain invested throughout the book.
The book maintains a steady rhythm that supports immersion without rushing important developments. Readers are given time to absorb key moments, enhancing emotional impact and understanding.
15 Jan 2026
The Lion Women of Tehran