The Breakup Lists, Adib Khorram
The Breakup Lists, Adib Khorram
List: $27.50 | Sale: $19.25
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The Breakup Lists

Author: Adib Khorram

Narrator: Amin El Gamal

Unabridged: 8 hr 31 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 04/02/2024


Synopsis

Love is more complicated than “boy meets boy” in bestselling author Adib Khorram’s sharply funny new romantic comedy, set in the sordid world of high school theater

Jackson Ghasnavi is a lot of things—a techie, a smoothie afficionado, a totally not obsessive list-maker—but one thing he’s not is a romantic. And why would he be? He’s already had a front row seat to his parents’ divorce and picked up the pieces of his sister Jasmine’s broken heart one too many times.

No, Jackson is perfectly happy living life behind the scenes—he is a stage manager, after all—and keeping his romantic exploits limited to the breakup lists he makes for Jasmine, which chronicle every flaw (real or imagined) of her various and sundry exes.

Enter Liam: the senior swim captain turned leading man that neither of the Ghasnavi siblings stop thinking about. Not that Jackson has a crush, of course. Jasmine is already setting her sights on him and he’s probably—no, definitely—straight anyway.

So why does the idea of eventually writing a breakup list for him feel so impossible?

About The Author

Adib Khorram lives in Kansas City, Missouri. When he isn't writing, you can probably find him trying to get his hundred-yard freestyle under a minute, learning to do a Lutz jump, or steeping a cup of oolong. His debut novel, Darius the Great Is Not Okay, earned several awards, including the William C. Morris Debut Award, the Asian/Pacific American Award for Young Adult Literature, and a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor. He is also the author of Darius the Great Deserves Better, Kiss and Tell, and the picture book Seven Special Somethings: A Nowruz Story.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Marieke on May 26, 2024

I could say this book is predictable. Just an average romcom. Nothing special. Except for Jackson’s hearing, the story is pretty simple. And still … Why is it so d*mn addictive?   I flew through the pages. My jaw hurt from smiling, and then I knitted my brows together because I wanted to slap some peo......more

Goodreads review by Nathan on April 28, 2024

I have loved every book I’ve read from Adib Khorram and was so excited to get to read through an ARC of this (thanks to NetGalley and Dial Books/Penguin) prior to its release. This cute queer rom-com explores the relationships of high school stage manager Jackson, from his loving, but sometimes inco......more

Goodreads review by Lance on March 30, 2024

E-ARC generously provided by Dial Books/Penguin in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much! 5 stars. Combining the exact kind of dramatics I love from teenagers who have yet to fully develop their frontal lobes and storyline reminiscent of classic DCOMs and teen rom-coms that I ate right up......more

4.5 stars rounded up The Breakup Lists is a queer YA rom-com set in the world of high school theatre, and it's very good. And dramatic, but that comes with the territory! Jackson Ghasnavi is deaf and a techie for the school drama program. He also makes breakup lists for himself and his sister- lists......more

Goodreads review by Anniek on April 04, 2024

Many thanks to PRH International for the digital review copy. I'm a huge fan of Adib Khorram's books, so I already knew I was going to love this, but still I was surprised by how much fun I was having. The writing was just so incredibly fun, and it made me want to continue reading. I would highly rec......more


Quotes

★3 STARRED REVIEWS ★
Kirkus Best Books of the Year
SLJ Best Books of the Year
Chicago Public Library Best of the Best
2025 YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults Pick
ALA 2025 Rainbow Book List Pick


★ "Khorram nails it once again with this page-turning romance about giving oneself a chance to celebrate one’s true identity. In a nod to the theatre kids, especially the techies, this story comes to life...Jackson realistically models a person who’s part of the Deaf and hard of hearing community...Liam’s taking on the learning of ASL will melt hearts, as well as show what true intention looks like in building connections...A heartwarming romance where creating authentic connections takes center stage." — School Library Journal, starred review

★ “An irresistibly readable novel that builds on the tropes of a traditional rom-com. It has a carefully constructed…empathetic and fully realized characters…and sensitive treatment of Jackson’s disability. We're already putting this on the list of the year’s finer novels.” — Booklist, starred review

★ “This sweet, slow-burn sibling love triangle with an added sprinkling of family drama rivals Alice Oseman’s Heartstopper in its cuteness and appeal…Love deserves a standing ovation in this multilayered exploration of what it truly means to feel seen.” — Kirkus, starred review

“In this emotionally complex rom-com, Khorram (Kiss & Tell) winningly captures Jackson’s struggle finding himself amid the chaos of high school theater. Jackson’s first-person POV recounting his growing crush and his frustration with those around him is both sharp and sincere, making this a wholesome and hilarious tale.” — PW