October 24, 2022
Voskuni debuts with a bighearted queer rom-com uniquely inflected with Armenian American culture. People pleaser Nar Bedrossian is in a tepid but happy relationship—until her white boyfriend proposes in a way that makes it clear he doesn’t understand her at all. Nar’s mother, delighted to help Nar find someone who will, builds her a spreadsheet of every eligible Armenian man in San Francisco and sends her off to the city’s Explore Armenia festival. It’s the perfect opportunity to reconnect with her roots, and maybe make a real connection with one of the men on the list. Except that the first person she meets is a fascinating, witchy, and gorgeous woman named Erebuni. Amid cooking classes and traditional dances, Erebuni sweeps Nar off her feet, and suddenly her long-hidden bisexuality can no longer be ignored. She’s finally found someone who loves her for all of herself—but can she find the bravery to disrupt her family’s image of her as the dutiful, “straight” daughter and let them see her true self? It’s entirely believable that Nar falls head over heels for the effortlessly cool Erebuni because readers will, too. The stakes and tension are relatively low, but it’s easy to invest in the characters and the Armenian American cultural details add charm. This is a treat. Agent: Katelyn Detweiler, Jill Grinberg Literary.
November 1, 2022
Voskuni's romantic comedy follows Nareh "Nar" Bedrossian's love life as she navigates her ideologies of romance after rejecting her longtime boyfriend's ill-timed and highly unromantic marriage proposal. With her mom trying to match her with an Armenian man and Nar not out as bisexual to her family, she finds herself guilted into attending a series of Armenian events in San Francisco, where she's supposed to be meeting potential suitors. Instead, she finds a new group of Armenian friends who accept her for who she is. Among the individuals in the group is Erebuni Minassian, a confident and kind woman who piques Nar's interest. Nar's growing desire to get to know Erebuni continues throughout the novel, furthering her journey of self-exploration, redefining her sexuality and love preferences, and ultimately helping her find self-acceptance. VERDICT Featuring a slow-burn, chemistry-driven relationship, the book also beautifully depicts and celebrates Armenian culture and traditions throughout the story.--Michelle Mistalski
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Starred review from January 1, 2023
After five years of dating Trevor Milken, Nareh "Nar" Bedrossian knows it is time to break up when Trevor proposes, and Nar realizes that while he is everything her family could want for her, he doesn't exactly rock her world. Now back to square one when it comes to romance, Nar finally accedes to her mother's ongoing attempts to convince her to date other Armenian Americans. While attending Explore Armenia, Nar discovers a buffet of potential romantic interests, including Raffi Garabedian, the number one Armenian bachelor in the Bay Area. But it's actually the bewitching Erebuni Minassian, one of Explore Armenia's female board members, whom Nar finds the most intriguing. In between expertly enhancing the book's slowly simmering romance between its two captivating protagonists with plenty of quippy banter, Voskuni conjures up a marvelously memorable cast of supporting characters and crafts a fascinating plot enriched with insights into Armenian culture and history. With this radiantly ravishing debut, Voskuni beautifully illustrates the courage it can take to be your own true self and risk everything for love.
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Starred review from February 15, 2023
After rejecting her longtime boyfriend's marriage proposal, an Armenian American woman embarks on a journey to discover herself and what--or whom--she really wants. Nareh Bedrossian has been drifting through her life for a while, but the truth is she's not very happy at all. Professionally, her boss at the local San Francisco news station doesn't respect her, either rejecting her ideas for stories or flat-out assigning them to someone else, and her personal life isn't much better. Her tech-lawyer boyfriend just popped the question, and the utterly disastrous public proposal is the wake-up call she needs about her dead end of a relationship. Enter Nareh's mother, who talks her into attending a series of upcoming events called Explore Armenia, not only to get back in touch with her heritage, but to find a prospective new relationship. Initially, Nareh goes only to pacify her mother, but as she goes to more events, she realizes it's the opportunity she needs to embrace a part of her identity she's been neglecting in recent years. There's also an unexpected development when she collides with a gorgeously witchy woman on her first night, and Nareh is bowled over by the fact that she might be more interested in Erebuni Minassian than any of the potential suitors her mother has preselected for her. As the two women deepen their connection over several Explore Armenia experiences, Nareh comes to the conclusion that she wants Erebuni to be a bigger part of her life. However, choosing Erebuni will also mean coming out as bisexual--to her family, to her Instagram followers, to everyone--and claiming every aspect of herself. Is she ready to take that leap toward true happiness? 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.
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