Aria Aber’s debut novel Good Girl follows 19-year-old Berlin-born Nila Haddadi, the daughter of Afghan immigrants, who navigates the collision of heritage and freedom in an electrifying artistic subculture. As Nila chases photographic dreams and battles grief, she dives into a world of underground clubs, drugs, and a fraught romance with older American writer Marlowe. Through her voice, Berlin pulses, not just as a backdrop, but as a living, breathing character. Critics praise Aber’s writing as “poet’s novel, replete with sparkling prose”.
What stands out is the emotional authenticity: Nila’s internal monologues invite you in, raw and impulsive, yet never distant. Though the pacing slows at moments, the vivid texture of place and identity more than compensate. As Kirkus notes, “Art is a fragile magic, just like love” — kirkusreviews.com.
A bold, lyrical debut — powerful in emotion and atmosphere, if not breakneck in pace.
Why you’ll love it:
Good Girl offers a poignant journey through the life of Nila, a 19-year-old Afghan-German artist navigating Berlin’s underground art scene. It’s a coming-of-age tale that subtly wrestles with heritage, autonomy, and the creative process.
Book reviewed:
Good Girl: A Novel
By Aria Aber
A story of love and family, raves and Kafka, staying up all night and surviving the mistakes of youth, Good...