The Persians

'This polyphonic novel is brimming with larger-than-life characters ... funny, gutsy and confidently written ... outstanding' Diana Evans, 2025 Women's Prize JudgeFun

'Magnificent ... I lapped up its wonderful characterisations, profound insights and vivacious prose' Bernardine Evaristo, author of Girl, Woman, Other

'A richly textured, sometimes tragic novel that's enormously entertaining' The Times

'The word-of-mouth breakout ... will have you hooked from the first action-filled chapter' Stylist

'Full of outrageous laughter, retaining its fire even in tender moments, and relishing the challenge of locating beauty and complexity within outright gaudiness' Observer

'Larger-than-life characters ... leap off the page in a novel bursting with grudges, gossip and complex personal dynamics' Mail on Sunday

'Mahloudji writes with a wisdom and confidence rarely seen in a debut' Guardian

'Mahloudji's moving, madcap saga of women in exile [is] a relentlessly entertaining exploration of Iranian-American immigrant life' Financial Times

'A darkly funny read about mothers and daughters, love and loss and being true to yourself' RED

'Exuberant, whip-smart, infused with melancholy, tragicomic, huge-hearted and sharp-toothed ... A joy of a debut novel by the real deal' David Mitchell, author of Cloud Atlas

'A wonderful multi-generational family drama with characters you really care about ... I enjoyed it enormously' Marian Keyes, author of My Favourite Mistake

'Mesmerising ... Gorgeously written, with a flair for the comic and characters that dance off the page and into your heart' Monica Ali, author of Love Marriage

'An ambitious, glorious feat ... darkly funny, richly satisfying' Sarah Winman, author of Still Life

'At once funny and profound, sprawling and personal' Tash Aw, author of We, The Survivors