This review originally posted at More Than Just Magic 
 Seventeen-year-old Sahar has been in love with her best friend, Nasrin, since they were six. But this is no standard love story. They live in Iran where homosexuality is strictly forbidden. I think there is an opportunity for this book to be a huge eye opener. We hear about the gay rights movement all the time in North America and I stand proudly behind it. But when you read about people who are actually risking their lives to be together and who have such little freedom when it comes to marriage/relationships, it really puts things in perspective. 
 If You Could Be Mine has an important message of finding yourself and not completely losing yourself in another person. When Nasrin announces she's engaged (to a man) Sahar makes the radical decision to undergo sex reassignment surgery so that she will legally be able to be with her. Talk about making a decision for all the wrong reasons. If You Could Be Mine does an excellent job examining the lives of transsexual/transgendered peopled in Iran. In fact there was more on sex reassignment than there was on homosexuality, which I wasn't expecting. I think Sara Farizan does an excellent job showcasing the process and challenges of sex reassignment surgery - the therapy, the hormones, the doctors appointments. She also shows that it is not a simple or an easy choice, it's not a switch you can flip on and off and most importantly it's not a mental illness. I feel like I'm rambling a bit but honestly this book does an excellent job being honest and respectful about a procedure that isn't talked about all that often. 
 My one complaint is that this book feels a bit short. Everything happens very quickly. There isn't a lot of time spent on the setting, so even though it is Iran and there are cultural distinctions, I never felt completely immersed. I also think more time could have been spent on character development. I really didn't like Nasrin for most of the novel, yet she was so special to Sahar. I think more time could have been spent on the nuances of their relationship for us to really feel Sahar's heart-break. That all being said, this is a debut novel. It's still very strongly written and Farizan is clearly very talented. I expect that her books will continue to get better and better the more she writes! 
 Recommendation: If You Could Be Mine is one of those unique, diverse books which the market so desperately needs. It's a touching and heart wrenching story of love and self discovery which will leave breathless.