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Vendor
Mohrbooks Literary Agency
Sebastian Ritscher
Original language
English

SORRY, BRO

Taleen Voskuni

A deeply relatable story about family, love, the power of female relationships, and the process of self-discovery. Perfect for fans of Ayesha at Last and My Big Fat Greek Wedding.
When Nar's odar (non-Armenian) boyfriend gets down on one knee and proposes to her in front of a room full of drunk San Francisco tech boys, she realizes it's time to find someone who shares her idea of romance.

Enter Mom. Armed with plenty of mom guilt and an actual spreadsheet of Facebook-stalked Armenian men (complete with their height and weight), Mom convinces Nar to attend Explore Armenia, a month-long series of events in the city - line dancing (okay), cooking class (better), brandy tasting (better yet).

But it's not the mom-approved playboy doctor or bro-slinging engineer that catches her eye at the very first gathering - it's Erebuni, a woman as equally immersed in the witchy arts as she is in preserving Armenian identity. Suddenly, with Erebuni as her winggirl, the events feel like far less of a chore and much more of an adventure. Who knew cooking up kuftes together could be so... sexy?

Erebuni helps Nar see the beauty of their shared culture, and makes her feel understood in a way she never has before. But there's one teeny problem: Nar's not exactly out as bisexual. Her mom doesn't even want her wearing flats; how would she feel about Nar bringing home a woman? Nar is finally embracing the identities she's stifled for years, but coming out could land her right in the center of the Armenian gossip mill, bringing lifelong shame to her mother.

The clock is ticking on Nar's double life, though - the closing Explore Armenia banquet is coming up, and her entire extended family will be there, along with Erebuni. Her world colliding. But when Nar is determined to be brave, determined to claim her happiness: proudly Armenian, proudly bisexual, and proudly herself for the first time in her life.

SORRY, BRO is smart and swoony, fresh and fierce and laugh-out-loud funny. It's a heartfelt, deeply relatable story about family and love and the power of female relationships, and the process of self-discovery that continues well into adulthood as identities evolve and expand. Taleen gives readers a vibrant view of Armenian culture, the family dynamics and community expectations, the heartaches of the past that continue to shape the present - and the celebration of what it means to be Armenian today, the joys and the magic of honoring a rich shared history. The music, the food, the drinks, all of the many traditions that keep that history alive. SORRY, BRO is one of the first Armenian romance novels written by an Armenian writer, and the queer representation is especially groundbreaking; Taleen has the pitch-perfect voice to bring this valuable, necessary perspective to readers.

Taleen Voskuni is an Armenian-American writer who grew up in the Bay Area diaspora surrounded by a rich Armenian community and her ebullient, loving family. Her work has appeared in Cleaver Magazine, The Bold Italic, Mic, and Cal Literature & Arts Magazine. She graduated from UC Berkeley with a BA in English and lives in San Francisco, running a research company by day, parenting a spirited toddler by night, and writing when she can.
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Book

Published 2023-01-31 by Berkley Books

Book

Published 2023-01-31 by Berkley Books

Comments

UK: Pan Macmillan

The most heartwarming tale of family, heritage, loving bravely, and loving yourself, with a humor that adds a light touch to the poignant themes and a vivid San Francisco setting that brings the whole story to life. Sorry, Bro made me laugh and touched me deeply in equal measures.

An Armenian-American woman rediscovers her roots and embraces who she really is in this vibrant and heartfelt queer rom-com by debut author Taleen Voskuni. Read more...

Taleen Voskuni's Sorry, Bro is one of my new favorite romances! Sharp, funny, and full of heart, it's a love letter to Armenian culture and a thoughtful exploration of the ways our roots define us, all wrapped up in the most delightful romance. I couldn't put it down!

An important story of love between two women and the journey to rediscovering Armenian culture and heritage.

Featuring a slow-burn, chemistry-driven relationship, the book also beautifully depicts and celebrates Armenian culture and traditions throughout the story.

Taleen Voskuni expertly braids romance with jaw-dropping atmosphere and swift hits of knowledge and strength. She pours her heart onto the page with power and beauty in a way that makes readers feel seen and cared for. A new auto-buy author for all.

Voskuni debuts with a bighearted queer rom-com uniquely inflected with Armenian American culture... This is a treat. Read more...

Voskuni fills the book with details about [Armenian] food, history, dances, songs, etiquette, stereotypes, politics and even artistic motifs... The overall effect is celebratory and defiant, and it pairs beautifully with Nar's journey to fully accept who she is.

Sorry, Bro is a beautiful love letter to Armenian culture wrapped up in a warm and witty romance that absolutely sizzles with chemistry. Like heroine Nareh, Voskuni is forging a remarkable path, and I will gladly follow wherever it leads!

"Voskuni's debut is equal parts comic, heartfelt, and profoundly rooted in Armenian culture, with a lead you'll want to befriend and a romance you'll want to cheer on in equal measure. A sparkling story about love, family, and identity."

With this radiantly ravishing debut, Voskuni beautifully illustrates the courage it can take to be your own true self and risk everything for love.

...The more time the two spend together, the more Nar feels connected to her roots, and the closer she gets to becoming ready to come out to her family and be an out-and-proud bisexual and authentically herself for the first time in her life. Read more...