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Good Girl
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Expected 14 Jan 25Win a free print copy of this book!
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5 copies available
U.S. only
An electric debut novel about the daughter of Afghan refugees and her year of nightclubs, bad romance, and self-discovery—a portrait of the artist as a young woman set in a Berlin that can't escape its history
A girl can get in almost anywhere, even if she can’t get out.
“A no-bullsh*t, must-read debut.”—Kaveh Akbar
“Kaleidoscopic . . . full of style and soul.”—Raven Leilani
“Radiant with longing and beauty.”—Sarah Thankham Matthews
In Berlin’s artistic underground, where techno and drugs fill warehouses still pockmarked from the wars of the twentieth century, nineteen-year-old Nila at last finds her tribe. Born in Germany to Afghan parents, raised in public housing graffitied with swastikas, drawn to philosophy, photography, and sex, Nila has spent her adolescence disappointing her family while searching for her voice as a young woman and artist.
Then in the haze of Berlin’s legendary nightlife, Nila meets Marlowe, an American writer whose fading literary celebrity opens her eyes to a life of personal and artistic freedom. But as Nila finds herself pulled further into Marlowe’s controlling orbit, ugly, barely submerged racial tensions begin to roil Germany—and Nila’s family and community. After a year of running from her future, Nila stops to ask herself the most important question: Who does she want to be?
A story of love and family, raves and Kafka, staying up all night and surviving the mistakes of youth, Good Girl is the virtuosic debut novel by a celebrated young poet and, now, a major new voice in fiction.
A girl can get in almost anywhere, even if she can’t get out.
“A no-bullsh*t, must-read debut.”—Kaveh Akbar
“Kaleidoscopic . . . full of style and soul.”—Raven Leilani
“Radiant with longing and beauty.”—Sarah Thankham Matthews
In Berlin’s artistic underground, where techno and drugs fill warehouses still pockmarked from the wars of the twentieth century, nineteen-year-old Nila at last finds her tribe. Born in Germany to Afghan parents, raised in public housing graffitied with swastikas, drawn to philosophy, photography, and sex, Nila has spent her adolescence disappointing her family while searching for her voice as a young woman and artist.
Then in the haze of Berlin’s legendary nightlife, Nila meets Marlowe, an American writer whose fading literary celebrity opens her eyes to a life of personal and artistic freedom. But as Nila finds herself pulled further into Marlowe’s controlling orbit, ugly, barely submerged racial tensions begin to roil Germany—and Nila’s family and community. After a year of running from her future, Nila stops to ask herself the most important question: Who does she want to be?
A story of love and family, raves and Kafka, staying up all night and surviving the mistakes of youth, Good Girl is the virtuosic debut novel by a celebrated young poet and, now, a major new voice in fiction.
368 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication January 14, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
October 15, 2024
"Good Girl" is a crushing and gritty debut by Aria Aber (an author who has previously published award-winning poetry). This is definitely a coming-of-age story but, even more importantly, it is a "coming of" identity journey for the young protagonist, Nilab. Nila is an only child, born in Berlin, Germany to Afghan parents, and is repeatedly "bringing shame" to her parents/family who have been offering her all the opportunities possible to "succeed" and live a better collective life than they have had. Her mother and father were both educated and professionally employed in their home country of Afghanistan when they relocated to Berlin (where both were underemployed and struggled financially). I will not go into the intricacies of the plot but will say it's extremely well written and executed--Nila loses her mother at a young age and is left with a father and a few extended family members who are at a loss for what to "do" with young Nila. She has already been given an opportunity to study at an expensive boarding school but does seem to be using these advantages to better herself.
Nila finds life in the "Bunker" - a techno club that is riddled with drugs and raves and a crowd she falls into effortlessly. There she takes up a relationship with an older, flighty (and a bit washed-up) American writer - Marlowe - who is full of his own issues and frailties. But Nila becomes a person on whom he can both rely (for devotion and admiration) and mold/control. I can't say enough about the gorgeous writing here -- the well-imagined events and situations, the emotional undertones -- Aber is a wonderful writer and I was present in the situations Nila involved herself in as a result. This book feels real and fully lived.
I was rooting for Nila throughout the book, knowing that she is a very talented and savvy young woman who is filled with shame (about her cultural identity, her gender, the expectations thrust upon her, and her low sense of self-worth). She has an eye and passion for photography and we see that it is very much a way for her to "control" her life and make sense of the things around her. I think this book is coming out (mid-Jan 2024) at a fraught and unsettled time in our world -- in every way -- and the racism and ugliness depicted in this story are reflective of the world at large: in America and Europe and around the planet. I hope EVERYONE preorders and reads this gorgeous and heartbreaking novel and I felt lifted at the conclusion. I love this writer and cannot wait to read more from her. THANK YOU to #NetGalley and #Hogarth for the opportunity to read and review Good Girl. I'm looking forward to quoting some lines and passages on social media after the pub date on 1/14/2025.
Nila finds life in the "Bunker" - a techno club that is riddled with drugs and raves and a crowd she falls into effortlessly. There she takes up a relationship with an older, flighty (and a bit washed-up) American writer - Marlowe - who is full of his own issues and frailties. But Nila becomes a person on whom he can both rely (for devotion and admiration) and mold/control. I can't say enough about the gorgeous writing here -- the well-imagined events and situations, the emotional undertones -- Aber is a wonderful writer and I was present in the situations Nila involved herself in as a result. This book feels real and fully lived.
I was rooting for Nila throughout the book, knowing that she is a very talented and savvy young woman who is filled with shame (about her cultural identity, her gender, the expectations thrust upon her, and her low sense of self-worth). She has an eye and passion for photography and we see that it is very much a way for her to "control" her life and make sense of the things around her. I think this book is coming out (mid-Jan 2024) at a fraught and unsettled time in our world -- in every way -- and the racism and ugliness depicted in this story are reflective of the world at large: in America and Europe and around the planet. I hope EVERYONE preorders and reads this gorgeous and heartbreaking novel and I felt lifted at the conclusion. I love this writer and cannot wait to read more from her. THANK YOU to #NetGalley and #Hogarth for the opportunity to read and review Good Girl. I'm looking forward to quoting some lines and passages on social media after the pub date on 1/14/2025.
October 2, 2024
It was an incredibly intimate and emotional story, the way this author makes you feel everything Nila feels is incredible, I was so invested and immersed in her life, it’s the type of coming of age book that you can’t put down, the characters are complex and with so much energy they feel real, I was very pleased by the ending and felt a true connection to the main character
thank you net galley and the publisher for the arc
thank you net galley and the publisher for the arc
Read
November 1, 2024I was ravaged by the hunger to ruin my life
And she truly was.
And she truly was.
October 4, 2024
super jako perspektywa córki imigrantów, ciekawy obraz współczesnych Niemiec but oh boy to nie jest dobra powieść
November 1, 2024
4.5 rounded up to 5, this novel is devastating, beautiful, and a journey you should not miss out on. I am blown away by the experiences of lead character Nila. I was brought into her life and wrapped into each experience completely. I found something small and hard to describe missing in the first third that made it a bit tougher to connect with Nila, but as I went on, I was swept away.
Aber has prose that haunts you, essence echoing days later as you move through your life. I think this is a must read for everyone. It teaches about a life much different than mine, while showing key connection points that make us human.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Aber has prose that haunts you, essence echoing days later as you move through your life. I think this is a must read for everyone. It teaches about a life much different than mine, while showing key connection points that make us human.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 14, 2024
Captivating and moody. Nila is nineteen and caught up in Berlin’s party scene and with a sort of washed up American writer. She has been lying about her family’s origins to everyone she knows. After years of pretending to be someone else, she might just be ready to become herself.
The writing is sharp and assured, and the story is simple yet enthralling. The author effectively pulls you into Nila’s world and the result is a slightly disorienting read about identity and desire.
Thank you very much to Random House and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy..
The writing is sharp and assured, and the story is simple yet enthralling. The author effectively pulls you into Nila’s world and the result is a slightly disorienting read about identity and desire.
Thank you very much to Random House and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy..
October 27, 2024
It was a captivating and seemingly realistic portrayal of the daughter of Afghani immigrants making her way through the trials and tribulations of being a young adult in Berlin. The author did a great job of describing how the protagonist navigates a lot of difficult situations.
November 14, 2024
Thank you to Random House and Netgalley for the Advanced Reader's Copy.
Available January 2025.
Compulsively readable, Aria Aber's debut novel is like a retelling of Bluebeard set in contemporary Germany and imbued with a heap of drugs and indie cinema aesthetics. While I generally enjoyed the writing style, I found myself getting annoyed with some of the vapid comments of the narrator and her own self sabatoge. As a Muslim immigrant myself, it felt like the narrator despised her own skin and cultural heritage and upheld values of white supremacy. I had trouble with this aspect of the book and it soured the reading experience some.
Available January 2025.
Compulsively readable, Aria Aber's debut novel is like a retelling of Bluebeard set in contemporary Germany and imbued with a heap of drugs and indie cinema aesthetics. While I generally enjoyed the writing style, I found myself getting annoyed with some of the vapid comments of the narrator and her own self sabatoge. As a Muslim immigrant myself, it felt like the narrator despised her own skin and cultural heritage and upheld values of white supremacy. I had trouble with this aspect of the book and it soured the reading experience some.
November 13, 2024
This book is so raw and so wonderful. Thank you so much to the publisher for a galley.
October 19, 2024
This is a tough book to read with some pretty dark themes, but it is a very engaging story. The perspective of this book is from Nila, a young woman whose parents emigrated from Afghanistan to Germany. It is such an important and underrepresented perspective, especially with the current far right political climate. It is further complicated by German history and 9/11, both of which are components of the story.
Nila struggles with her identification as she grows up and tries to fit in with her classmates. The dynamics of her family, and extended family, play a big part of her life, driving old (and religious) expectations vs current reality. The story of her parents background compared to their current lives is tragic. It feels like a lot of that tragedy trickles down to the next generation. Nila tries to deal with it with drugs, alcohol, and bad men. This is the story of her growing up and learning who she is through all of it.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
Nila struggles with her identification as she grows up and tries to fit in with her classmates. The dynamics of her family, and extended family, play a big part of her life, driving old (and religious) expectations vs current reality. The story of her parents background compared to their current lives is tragic. It feels like a lot of that tragedy trickles down to the next generation. Nila tries to deal with it with drugs, alcohol, and bad men. This is the story of her growing up and learning who she is through all of it.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
October 20, 2024
A deeply unsetting coming of age novel, centered around an artistic Afghani German young woman. Nila wants to be part of the artistic world but is also deeply ashamed/afraid to own her ethnic background. She falls in with a party crowd, including an older lover who is also a writer and her life becomes a whirlwind of drugs and alcohol. But, one can never flee one's origins or generational trauma and how Nila comes to terms as to who she is, is worth the journey.
I received an arc from the publisher but all opinions are my own.
I received an arc from the publisher but all opinions are my own.
July 4, 2024
Good Girl by Aria Aber
Rating: 4/5
Release Date: 14 January 2025
In the pulsing heart of Berlin's techno scene, 19-year-old Nila seeks refuge from her troubled past. The daughter of Afghan immigrants, she navigates a city still haunted by its violent history, finding solace in the underground club culture that seems worlds away from her refugee-filled housing block.
Nila's journey of self-discovery is overshadowed by the ghosts of her family's past: her late mother, once a fierce feminist activist; her withdrawn father; and the ever-present uncles who seem to watch her every move. In her quest for belonging, she conceals her Afghan heritage, claiming Greek roots instead.
A chance encounter with Marlowe Woods, a fading American literary star, opens doors to a glittering world of artistic possibility. But as Nila is drawn deeper into this new realm, she finds that beneath Berlin's cosmopolitan surface, ugly tensions simmer. Her dreams, identity, and beliefs are all put to the test in this crucible of art and reality.
Aria Aber's "Good Girl" is a stunning debut that pulses with the raw energy of youth and the complexities of identity in a multicultural world. Aber crafts a narrative that is both intimate and expansive, exploring the intricate web of personal history, cultural heritage, and artistic ambition.
The novel's greatest strength lies in its vivid portrayal of Berlin's underground scene, which becomes a character in its own right. Aber's prose is electric, capturing the frenetic energy of techno clubs and the stark realities of immigrant life with equal vividness.
Nila is a compelling protagonist, her struggles with identity and belonging resonating deeply in our current global climate. The author deftly explores themes of cultural assimilation, the weight of family expectations, and the universal desire to find one's place in the world.
The introduction of Marlowe Woods adds an intriguing dimension to the story, serving as both a catalyst for Nila's growth and a mirror reflecting the often harsh realities of the artistic world. Through this relationship, Aber examines power dynamics, cultural appropriation, and the sometimes murky ethics of the literary world.
"Good Girl" is not just a coming-of-age story, but a powerful exploration of what it means to be an artist, an immigrant, and a young woman in today's world. Aber's unflinching look at issues of race, class, and gender adds depth and relevance to the narrative.
While the novel tackles heavy themes, it never loses its sense of vitality. The author's ability to balance moments of ecstatic joy with periods of introspection and darkness showcases her remarkable talent.
In conclusion, "Good Girl" announces Aria Aber as a formidable new voice in contemporary fiction. Her debut is a tour de force that combines lyrical prose, complex characters, and timely themes into a truly unforgettable reading experience. This novel will undoubtedly resonate with readers long after the final page is turned.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (UK & ANZ) | Bloomsbury Circus, and the author, Aria Aber, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.
Rating: 4/5
Release Date: 14 January 2025
In the pulsing heart of Berlin's techno scene, 19-year-old Nila seeks refuge from her troubled past. The daughter of Afghan immigrants, she navigates a city still haunted by its violent history, finding solace in the underground club culture that seems worlds away from her refugee-filled housing block.
Nila's journey of self-discovery is overshadowed by the ghosts of her family's past: her late mother, once a fierce feminist activist; her withdrawn father; and the ever-present uncles who seem to watch her every move. In her quest for belonging, she conceals her Afghan heritage, claiming Greek roots instead.
A chance encounter with Marlowe Woods, a fading American literary star, opens doors to a glittering world of artistic possibility. But as Nila is drawn deeper into this new realm, she finds that beneath Berlin's cosmopolitan surface, ugly tensions simmer. Her dreams, identity, and beliefs are all put to the test in this crucible of art and reality.
Aria Aber's "Good Girl" is a stunning debut that pulses with the raw energy of youth and the complexities of identity in a multicultural world. Aber crafts a narrative that is both intimate and expansive, exploring the intricate web of personal history, cultural heritage, and artistic ambition.
The novel's greatest strength lies in its vivid portrayal of Berlin's underground scene, which becomes a character in its own right. Aber's prose is electric, capturing the frenetic energy of techno clubs and the stark realities of immigrant life with equal vividness.
Nila is a compelling protagonist, her struggles with identity and belonging resonating deeply in our current global climate. The author deftly explores themes of cultural assimilation, the weight of family expectations, and the universal desire to find one's place in the world.
The introduction of Marlowe Woods adds an intriguing dimension to the story, serving as both a catalyst for Nila's growth and a mirror reflecting the often harsh realities of the artistic world. Through this relationship, Aber examines power dynamics, cultural appropriation, and the sometimes murky ethics of the literary world.
"Good Girl" is not just a coming-of-age story, but a powerful exploration of what it means to be an artist, an immigrant, and a young woman in today's world. Aber's unflinching look at issues of race, class, and gender adds depth and relevance to the narrative.
While the novel tackles heavy themes, it never loses its sense of vitality. The author's ability to balance moments of ecstatic joy with periods of introspection and darkness showcases her remarkable talent.
In conclusion, "Good Girl" announces Aria Aber as a formidable new voice in contemporary fiction. Her debut is a tour de force that combines lyrical prose, complex characters, and timely themes into a truly unforgettable reading experience. This novel will undoubtedly resonate with readers long after the final page is turned.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (UK & ANZ) | Bloomsbury Circus, and the author, Aria Aber, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.
September 26, 2024
The techno, druggie underbelly of Berlin is where a young Afghan girl finds an older inappropriate lover, loses herself, finds her art and possibly the way to her real self. The writing is sublime but the novel is too long and rather repetitive.
October 8, 2024
I wrote this, so... duh.
November 8, 2024
4.5 stars
October 3, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley for providing an ARC of this book.
I really don’t want hating “All This Could Be Different” by Sarah Thankam Mathews to be a core part of my identity here, but I simply could not help but notice the many clichéd parallels between that book and this one (Mathews even blurbs this book, go figure): a sullen narrator whose big secret is that she’s hiding a core aspect of her identity from her friends (in this case, her Afghani background*), parents whose entire narrative revolves around their diasporic despair after leaving their home country, a shitty white addict partner with whom she engages in degrading sex and later, light DV, vague mumblings about Marxist philosophy, flat depictions of people of color who exist as window dressings to the narrator, and annoying white friends who are placed on a pedestal and simultaneously treated as complex and nuanced while being impossible to tell apart.
There are so many other narrative cliches that exist in this book - the use of photography and musings about the creative process to lend color to an otherwise unpleasant narrator, getting found out by a family member about her dalliances with a white guy in a supremely far-fetched manner, falling in love with another girl as a teenager, the Dead Parent of it all, flattened toxic family members whose conservative attitudes exist in opposition to the narrator’s unruliness, ending the book with the narrator getting into college and leaving her city and therefore opting out of a satisfying conclusion, a fucking hate crime at the climax that fizzles out to nothing. Please, I’m so tired!
Two stars for some inspired turns of phrases.
*side note: the narrator kept mentioning over and over again how she’d tell people she’s Israeli when they would ask where she’s from. I get this is to show her shame over being perceived as an other, but this goes mostly unquestioned and just feels gross to read when Israel is committing a genocide in front of our eyes.
I really don’t want hating “All This Could Be Different” by Sarah Thankam Mathews to be a core part of my identity here, but I simply could not help but notice the many clichéd parallels between that book and this one (Mathews even blurbs this book, go figure): a sullen narrator whose big secret is that she’s hiding a core aspect of her identity from her friends (in this case, her Afghani background*), parents whose entire narrative revolves around their diasporic despair after leaving their home country, a shitty white addict partner with whom she engages in degrading sex and later, light DV, vague mumblings about Marxist philosophy, flat depictions of people of color who exist as window dressings to the narrator, and annoying white friends who are placed on a pedestal and simultaneously treated as complex and nuanced while being impossible to tell apart.
There are so many other narrative cliches that exist in this book - the use of photography and musings about the creative process to lend color to an otherwise unpleasant narrator, getting found out by a family member about her dalliances with a white guy in a supremely far-fetched manner, falling in love with another girl as a teenager, the Dead Parent of it all, flattened toxic family members whose conservative attitudes exist in opposition to the narrator’s unruliness, ending the book with the narrator getting into college and leaving her city and therefore opting out of a satisfying conclusion, a fucking hate crime at the climax that fizzles out to nothing. Please, I’m so tired!
Two stars for some inspired turns of phrases.
*side note: the narrator kept mentioning over and over again how she’d tell people she’s Israeli when they would ask where she’s from. I get this is to show her shame over being perceived as an other, but this goes mostly unquestioned and just feels gross to read when Israel is committing a genocide in front of our eyes.
November 7, 2024
Desire can’t be girdled, especially not the lavish life altering catastrophic kind that girls feel
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews