Rooftops of Tehran by Mahbod Seraji

Description: In a middle-class neighborhood of Iran's sprawling capital city, 17-year-old Pasha Shahed spends the summer of 1973 on his rooftop with his best friend Ahmed, joking around one minute and asking burning questions about life the next. He also hides a secret love for his beautiful neighbor Zari, who has been betrothed since birth to another man. But the bliss of Pasha and Zari's stolen time together is shattered when Pasha unwittingly acts as a beacon for the Shah's secret police. The violent consequences awaken him to the reality of living under a powerful despot, and lead Zari to make a shocking choice.

This book surprised me.  I was expecting something very intense and serious from the description, and it was that but also so much more.  There is a lot of humor in this coming-of-age in 1970's Iran story.  The funny and the sad blended so well.  I loved the friendship between Pasha and Ahmed.  I would definitely suggest this one to others. 4.5/5