The Stationery Shop of Tehran

The Stationery Shop of Tehran by Marjan Kamali is a sweeping, emotionally charged novel that begins in 1953 Iran, on the brink of political revolution. Roya, a dreamy teenager, finds solace in Mr. Fakhri’s neighborhood stationery shop, where ink pens and crisp paper promise possibility. There, she meets Bahman, a passionate activist, and their whirlwind romance blossoms over poetry and shared ideals.

But when a coup erupts in Tehran, a tragic misunderstanding tears them apart—leaving Roya with only a pen and an unfulfilled promise. Decades later, as an immigrant in America, Roya discovers a shocking truth that forces her to confront the past and the life she might have had.

Kamali’s exquisite storytelling:

✔ Captures Iran’s lost cosmopolitan era before the Islamic Revolution

✔ Explores love’s resilience across continents and decades

✔ Delivers a twist that redefines everything Roya believed

Perfect for book clubs and readers of Daughter of Persia or Aria, this novel is a tribute to first love, the pain of exile, and the stationery shop that held a nation’s memories.