Dua Lipa Picks Kaveh Akbar’s Martyr! as Her September Service95 Book Club Read

August 27, 2026: Dua Lipa is once again inviting her book club followers into a story that goes far beyond a typical celebrity recommendation. For her September 2026 Service95 Book Club pick, the singer has chosen Kaveh Akbar’s Martyr!, a novel that explores grief, identity, addiction, art and the complicated question of what gives a life meaning.

Sharing the news through the Service95 Book Club, Lipa described the novel as “profound, sincere, regularly comedic” and unlike anything she had read before. Her enthusiasm is clear, particularly when she talks about the book’s ability to examine the idea of martyrdom from several unexpected perspectives.

 

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Dua Lipa’s September Book Club Pick Is Martyr!

Dua Lipa’s September recommendation is Martyr!, the debut novel by Iranian American poet Kaveh Akbar. The book was published in 2024 and quickly attracted attention for its ambitious storytelling and emotionally complex central character.

The story centers on Cyrus Shams, a young Iranian American poet who is recovering from addiction while struggling with grief and questions about his own existence.

For Lipa, the novel’s appeal seems to come from the way Akbar balances heavy subject matter with humor and a surprisingly energetic narrative voice.

Rather than offering a straightforward story about grief, Martyr! asks bigger questions about death, sacrifice, identity and the search for meaning.

Who Is Cyrus Shams?

Cyrus Shams is at the heart of the novel.

He is an Iranian American poet living in Indiana and recovering from addiction. His life has been deeply shaped by the death of his mother, Roya, who he believes was killed when Iran Air Flight 655 was shot down in 1988.

That tragedy becomes a central part of Cyrus’s understanding of his own identity and his complicated relationship with ideas surrounding death and martyrdom.

As he tries to make sense of his grief and his sobriety, Cyrus becomes increasingly fascinated by people who have sacrificed their lives for a cause.

The obsession eventually pushes him toward a much deeper search for purpose.

The Story Takes a Different Look at Martyrdom

The concept of martyrdom is obviously central to the novel, but Akbar approaches it in a way that is much more complicated than simply defining someone who dies for a belief.

Cyrus becomes fascinated with hunger strikers, political figures and people willing to sacrifice themselves for their countries or causes.

But the story begins to shift when he learns about Orkideh, a terminally ill Iranian artist who is spending the final part of her life as part of a performance installation at the Brooklyn Museum.

Meeting Orkideh forces Cyrus to think about sacrifice differently.

Instead of focusing only on dying for something, he begins to confront what it might mean to choose how to live.

Grief Is at the Heart of the Novel

Although Martyr! explores several major themes, grief remains one of its emotional foundations.

Cyrus’s mother’s death has shaped his life even though he was only an infant when the tragedy occurred. The uncertainty and enormity surrounding her death becomes something he carries with him as he grows older.

His father’s death also contributes to the sense of loss that follows him.

The result is a character who is constantly searching for connections between his past and the life he is trying to build in the present.

Addiction and Recovery Are Also Important Themes

Cyrus is also navigating sobriety after years of addiction.

His recovery leaves him confronting an uncomfortable question: if substances are no longer filling the emotional space in his life, what will?

That question becomes closely connected to his fascination with martyrdom.

Rather than simply wanting to escape life, Cyrus becomes interested in finding a reason for living that feels meaningful enough to replace the destructive patterns he has left behind.

The novel therefore treats recovery as more than simply giving something up. It becomes part of Cyrus’s larger search for identity and purpose.

Dua Lipa Loves the Book’s Humor

Despite its heavy themes, Martyr! is not presented as an entirely bleak reading experience.

Lipa specifically praised the book’s humor and described its energy as “chaotic,” pointing to some of the novel’s more unusual moments.

One of those moments involves Cyrus working as a medical actor, where he performs symptoms of illness for medical students. The novel also includes surreal and unexpected sequences involving figures such as Lisa Simpson.

Those elements help prevent the story from becoming weighed down by its darker themes.

Instead, Akbar mixes humor, poetry, grief and absurdity to create something that feels unpredictable.

The Brooklyn Museum Becomes a Turning Point

One of the most intriguing parts of the story is Cyrus’s decision to visit Orkideh at the Brooklyn Museum.

Orkideh is participating in an installation called Death-Speak, where she is publicly living through the final period of her life. Her presence gives Cyrus an opportunity to confront his ideas about death in a completely different way.

Their conversations become increasingly important to his understanding of martyrdom and his own desire for meaning.

The museum therefore becomes more than simply a setting. It becomes a place where Cyrus begins to question some of the assumptions that have guided him.

Why Dua Lipa’s Book Club Continues to Attract Attention

Lipa’s Service95 Book Club has become an important part of her wider cultural platform.

The book club, which features monthly selections chosen by Lipa, has included novels, memoirs and other works from writers around the world. The accompanying platform also offers author conversations, podcasts and additional literary content.

The September pick continues that pattern.

Rather than choosing an easy or purely commercial read, Lipa has selected a book that invites readers to think about complicated subjects including immigration, grief, addiction, identity and mortality.

That fits with the broader tone of the Service95 Book Club, which encourages readers to explore books that can change the way they see the world.

What Did Dua Lipa Say About Martyr!?

Lipa’s reaction to the novel is particularly enthusiastic.

She described Martyr! as “profound, sincere, regularly comedic” and said it was unlike anything she had read before.

She also highlighted the novel’s “chaotic energy and a thirst for life,” noting the contrast between Cyrus’s fascination with death and the book’s underlying celebration of living.

That contrast appears to be one of the main reasons the novel resonated with her.

When Can Readers Join the September Book Club?

Readers can follow the September selection through the Service95 Book Club, where Lipa’s monthly read is featured alongside additional content.

The official Service95 Book Club page currently lists Martyr! as the September 2026 Monthly Read.

Lipa also encouraged subscribers to sign up for the Service95 newsletter to get the full “Monthly Read” experience and invited readers to join the conversation through the Book Club podcast.

For fans who enjoy hearing authors discuss their work, the podcast has become an important part of the club’s monthly experience.

Final Thoughts

Dua Lipa’s September book club choice is another reminder that her literary recommendations are about more than simply picking a popular title.

Martyr! gives readers plenty to unpack, from Cyrus Shams’s complicated relationship with grief and addiction to his fascination with sacrifice and his eventual encounters with people who challenge his understanding of death.

It is emotional, strange, funny and deliberately unpredictable—and those qualities appear to be exactly what Lipa connected with.

HOLR has the latest entertainment and culture news, and if you’re looking for a book that will give you plenty to think about after the final page, Martyr! may be worth adding to your September reading list.

FAQs

What book did Dua Lipa choose for her September 2026 book club?
Dua Lipa selected Kaveh Akbar’s Martyr! as the September 2026 pick for the Service95 Book Club.

What is Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar about?
The novel follows Cyrus Shams, an Iranian American poet and recovering addict who is searching for meaning while dealing with grief and the death of his mother.

Why did Dua Lipa choose Martyr!?
Lipa praised the novel for its emotional depth, humor, unusual storytelling and exploration of martyrdom, sacrifice and the meaning of life.

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