All the Ways We Lied

A Cultural Pocket:All the Ways We Lied follows the story of the Manoukians, a dysfunctional Armenian family living in Queens, New York. Since the early 20th century, many Armenians have settled down in Queens. Today, Queens is home to an estimated 50,000 Armenian-Americans. As an American-Armenian writer from Queens, Aida Zilelian highlights the cultural complexities and experiences of the Armenian community in New York City.
Award-Winning Author: Aida Zilelian is a first generation American-Armenian writer whose fiction explores the depths of love and family relationships. She has been featured on NPR, The Huffington Post, Kirkus Reviews, Poets & Writers, and various reading series throughout Queens and Manhattan. Her short story collection These Hills Were Meant for You was shortlisted for the 2018 Katherine Anne Porter Award. Her short story, The Piano, won first prize in Lighthouse Weekly.
Heart-Wrenchingly Real Characters: As they face the loss of the one person holding their unstable family together, three sisters grapple with one another, their self-destructive pasts, and their indomitable mother. Kohar grapples with fertility issues and, in turn, her own self-worth. Lucine is trapped in a loveless marriage. Azad is burdened by an inescapable cycle of failed relationships. Author Aida Zilelian masterfully weaves together the complications of grief, sisterhood, and daughterhood.