Sensorially lavish, scintillating, and mouthwatering

Nazeli Gregorian, Ellie to everyone at her tech marketing job, is pulled in all sorts of directions in this heartwarming rom-com about an Armenian American woman who does her best not to disappoint those around her. However, no matter how hard she tries, she puts her foot in it and infuriates everyone instead, especially the badass from another Armenian family food brand company, Vanya Simonian.

The backdrop of a four-day packaged food industry convention in Chicago sets the stage for a gripping tale of feuding families. The Gregorians and the Simonians, like modern-day Capulets and Montagues, enter a contest to win a slot for their brand in a Super Bowl ad. Amidst this tension, Nazeli and Vanya are drawn to each other despite their parents’ disapproval.

The romance develops quickly; not twenty-four hours before the convention, Nazeli’s douchebag ex-boyfriend and coworker dumps her minutes before an important business presentation. But with so much commonality—the same culture, parents own Armenian packaged food brands, and neither is quite passionate about their careers—their chemistry flies off the page. 

What captivated me the most about this novel was Voskuni’s ability to balance a light-hearted romance with the weight of cultural heritage. The short yet compelling chapters are infused with Armenian traditions, language, and a strong sense of family duty. Also important is the visibility of diverse LGBTQIAA+ characters. The main character identifies as bisexual from the start; her counterpart is pansexual. I was so engrossed in the story that I immediately ordered Voskuni’s debut novel, Sorry Bro, from my local Books & Books.