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Oct 13, 2019spaaacefaaace rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Man, 2019 has been such a good year for books. I find myself finding a novel and thinking “MAN, this is the best book of the year...”, and then I find ANOTHER one and then I can’t decide on which one’s better. “Like a Love Story” is, without a doubt, one of these. I’ll just say it: this has to be the best historical fiction of 2019. Let’s leave it there. “Like a Love Story” moved me emotionally, like no other historical fiction really has. It managed to depict such a dark time in history in a way that was not only heavy and moving, but beautifully poetic, and almost hopeful, at times. The writing deftly transported me to the streets of New York, circa 1989. To say that Nazemian’s storytelling tugged at my heartstrings would be a disservice; this novel ripped them in half. Often times, the qualities of characters are a make-or-break-it situation for me when it comes to a novel. Most of the time, a character’s flaws take away from my overall experience of the book. But with this novel, I was not only able to see past many of the main character’s negative qualities--I sympathized with them. Art, in particular. His anger and impulsivity almost made me squirm (and he was something of a jerk at times...), but I’d say that I completely understood his motives about 85% of the time. Along with him, I absolutely adored Reza, Judy, Stephen, Jimmy...God, this book will have a special place in my heart long after this year. I doubt I’ll ever forget this novel. This is one of those books that everybody--yes, everybody--should read. Not just because it will open your eyes to the AIDS crisis and the struggles of being an LGBTQ+ teenager in such a time, but because the writing will sweep you off of your feet, and latch onto your heart forever. A+, 100/100, and all of the stars in the Milky Way Galaxy to this gem. Thank you, Mr. Nazemian.