CW: racism, assault, homomisia, mention of death

This was a unique yet relatable novel that followed Saaket, or Scott, an Iranian Muslim teen with commitment issues and absolutely no idea what to do post high school. Just months ago, I was in the same boat. Well, almost. I didn’t run away to DC, I just decided to not go to college.

Topics throughout the story include politics, self-doubt, grit, and crossword puzzles. It wasn’t a fascinating story, as it had slow sections and was very much character-driven, but it was good nonetheless. I liked Scott’s voice and the general raw honesty of the narrative.

I also liked Trent – he’s a cool, determined gay and aspiring politician. Underrated character. However, I wasn’t sure what to think of Fiora. I liked her and she was undoubtedly different in a good way, but sometimes she just rubbed me wrong.

Although the story didn’t end how I expected, everything wrapped up nicely. It was a satisfying end to a gritty story, and I think there’s a good chance I’ll pick up Arvin’s future work.