i absolutely adore this book. the writing, characters, plot and humor come together to make a delightful reading experience. it's messy, full of teenage angst, hilarious, cringey, romantic and fun. i would watch this as a disney channel original movie in a heartbeat.

I knew I would like this, because Adib Khorram has this way of writing characters and situations that really grab you, and I enjoyed it so much!

Jackson doesn't trust easily and he has a lot of frustration that he doesn't deal with in the healthiest way. And of course that comes back to bite him.

The way his deafness is written is really cool. It's always there as something making it just that little bit more difficult for him, and it's never forgotten in the story. The fact that Liam learns to sign for him is adorable. Liam in general is kind of adorable.

It's a book about high school kids so naturally there are misunderstandings and miscommunication and pettiness and drama. It has a definite 90s teen movie vibe which I love.

It's also a queer theatre book which is a lot of fun and makes it even better. There were so many things that reminded me of my own high school days.

The audiobook was performed well and I really liked the characters' voices and the way the narrator captured the humor and frustration in the text.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Dial Books for providing an early copy for review.

"The Breakup List" by Adib Khorram is a whirlwind of teenage drama and heartfelt storytelling that transported me back to the angst and ecstasy of being 16. The protagonist's journey through love and heartbreak resonated deeply with me, reminding me of those turbulent years when every emotion felt magnified and every crush felt like the end of the world.

Khorram skillfully captures the essence of teenage emotions, blending them with a storyline that evokes the nostalgia of classic DCOMs and teen rom-coms. As I delved into the pages of this book, I found myself yelling, screaming, and swooning alongside the characters, completely immersed in their world.

What truly struck me was the authenticity of the protagonist's experience as a gay teenager navigating love and relationships. The struggles, the hopes, and the longing are portrayed with such sincerity that it's impossible not to empathize with him.

In the end, "The Breakup List" left me feeling like a feral alley cat—wildly alive and craving more. It's a rollercoaster of emotions that I wouldn't hesitate to ride again and again. If you're looking for a book that will tug at your heartstrings and make you feel like you're reliving your teenage years, then look no further. This is a must-read for anyone who has ever loved, lost, and dared to love again.

4.5 stars

Was this book cheesy and predictable and kind of basic? Yes. Did I still really love it? Yes. This reminded me why I love YA romances because while they do get cheesy and not really realistic but they can be so entertaining. I loved Jackson in this book! He is a character I could relate to and I feel like he was honestly complex and realistic. His best friend Bowie had my heart, they were so iconic and they were a great duo. I absolutely adored Liam, he was the sweetest guy ever and honestly would be the best boyfriend ever. I loved getting to see them become friends and fall in love. Their relationship didn't progress in the way I was expecting, but I still enjoyed reading about it. I felt like the dynamics in this book when it came to friendship, siblings, and relationships in high school felt on point. I will say, I absolutely hated Jackson's sister, Jasmine. She was so horrible and does not deserve any redemption at all. Everything was made all about her and yet she would always deny it. She was a horrible sister to Jackson and I don't want him around her because he deserves better. Other than that, I really did love this book and now I need to check out other books by this author because I loved his writing and the way he portrayed his characters.

Thank you to Penguin Teen for sending me this ARC! Everyone should go check it out right now.

The Breakup Lists is a sweet and well-crafted teen romance. You'll wonder how Jackson can possibly be so oblivious, but even if the tropes feel familiar, Khorram writes characters that you will care about and want to spend time with. The theatre drama (drama drama?) is fun and relatable for other current or former theatre kids, and the Deaf representation feels thoughtful and authentic. Jackson's (how to say this in the most normal way possible...) developing libido (perfect) also felt so realistic and rarely portrayed in YA.

I absolutely love Adib Khorram books. I absolutely love all teh representation in these books and can't wait to get the next one whenever it comes out. Like Alexis Hall, Adib Khorram can do no wrong when it comes to writing in my eyes.

This was a lot of fun! I always love Adib's books and this was no different. I loved the hard of hearing rep and the way Jackson grew throughout the book. This was SLOWWWW BURNNN and I didn't realize that. I was WAITING for that first kiss!!!

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 of what's terrible about their exes. One of his terrible exes is a lead actor in their rendition of Jesus Christ Superstar, and Jackson is crushing on the seemingly straight senior swim captain to snagged the role of Jesus in the production. Oh, and his sister also seems to be into him....

This of course gives the dramatics you might expect from hormonal teenagers in love, but it's also really sweet and heartfelt with strong elements of friendship and found family. I also loved how Jackson's disability is integral to the way he experiences life, but isn't what the story is about. I don't know if I've read a book like this with a deaf main character and it was cool. If this sounds up your alley I would definitely recommend it! I received an advance copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

“Even though I’m the Theatre Kid, my sister is the dramatic one.”

Jackson is proud to be a “techie”—he’s the stage manager for his high school’s theater department. He doesn’t mind being behind the scenes instead, because he knows he’s the glue keeping the shows running, keeping his teacher on track, and helping wherever he can.

He’s also a cynic when it comes to romance, having had his heart broken once and watching his parents get divorced. But his sister Jasmine is constantly crushing on someone, dating them, and then the relationship ends. So Jackson helps Jasmine by creating “breakup lists” for each of her exes, which list all of their faults, both serious and superficial.

When Liam, a handsome swimmer, decides to audition for the musical, he and Jackson become very good friends. Jackson definitely is attracted to Liam, and sometimes he thinks Liam is flirting with him, but Liam is straight, right? So when Jasmine starts crushing on Liam, he encourages Liam to start dating Jasmine. Which, of course, fills him with jealousy.

This is a sweet story of friendship, love, family drama, and fighting to be seen and heard and valued. It’s predictable, sure, but Adib Khorram gives the story extra depth because it also deals with disability, specifically hearing impairment and deafness, and the struggles—and beautiful moments—that people living with those disabilities face.

I’ve loved everything Khorram has written, and this was no exception.

Thanks to NetGalley and The Dial Press for the advance copy!!

5⭐️

I thought I had outgrown YA novels and was mostly reading them for my students, but I was so wrong. This wonderful romcom was so addictive. I had to read every spare minute. I think my family thought I had a code brown myself. Every parent knows that the toilet is the most quiet place in the house and I gratefully took advantage of that.
The story of Liam and Jackson is so pure and beautifully described. The longing for each other, the knees touching, not daring to say what you actually feel and therefore making stupid choices.
The story was predictable, but at no point was it disturbing. The writing style prevents it from becoming cliché and it gives you a wonderful insight into the minds of two teenagers who want nothing more than each other, but are also looking for themselves.
I will definitely recommend this book to my students. I'm sure they will enjoy it too.

Thank you netgalley and penguinTeen for providing the arc. This is my honest review.

3.5 stars rounded up.

I am not sure how i feel about this book in the end. I liked the plot well enough! But there was a stylistic choice of crossing some things out and i didn't totally understand the meaning of it? It felt overly specific in a way that just didn't work for me. My expectations were high because i like Adib Khorram but ultimately this book was just pretty good.

I do think it is very appropriate to be in high school libraries and that there are kids who will connect well with it!

NetGalley ARC.

A cute YA rom-com with a diverse set of characters!!
Super easy to read with great themes for all ages.

The book is told from Jackson's pov, an Iranian American deaf/hoh theatre kid, who is falling in love for the first time and it's just so sweet and tender. It's classic YA with a lot of diversity which we LOVE <333
I thoroughly enjoyed this story except I could not STAND Jackson's sister and what she did to him.

The adorable tension between Jackson and Liam was making me just kick my feet!!! I loved it so much.
Thank you so much Dial books & Penguin Teen for the ARC of this sweet book!

In “The Breakup Lists by Adib Khorram, the author has created a multilayered and complex story, one in which the characters are three dimensional and the romance is realistic and authentic. From the very start, I liked the depth of the story, with Jackson differently abled and the conflict set up between him and his sister. I like that the author doesn’t shy away from depicting Jackson’s deafness and does so with sensitivity and understanding.
Part of what makes the story so endearing is seeing how Jackson struggles with his feelings. He clearly hasn’t resolved issues from his parent’s divorce nor should he have. This creates a complex dynamic but I love how the friendship between him and Liam grows. I especially like how it forces Jackson to deal with some of his issues and stand up for himself with others. Liam is also treated with empathy and his feelings are as important to the story as Jackson.
If you like emotional stories full of drama, multilayered and complex narratives and characters, this story is for you. If you liked Heartstopper you will likely enjoy this novel as well. It has the same depth, a similar authenticity and characters you can empathize with, especially Jackson. I loved the honesty and the drama.

This is the first book I've read by this author and is a little different than the typical books I read. It was really enjoyable and I hope to read more by this author.

Jackson is most comfortable when he is working as the stage manager for one of his school's theater productions. Unlike many of classmates, including his older sister, he largely avoids romance since he broke up with Cameron, a frequent star of the school's shows. Instead, he writes breakup lists for his sister after her frequent relationships come to an end, helping her identify every flaw with her latest ex-boyfriend as a way to help her get over them. So when Liam, a star athlete, gets one of the starring roles in the latest musical, Jackson is shocked to find that he may have a crush on him. Jackson soon discovers that he may want more from his high school experience than he had let himself imagine ... and that getting it may be harder than he ever expected as he navigates the complicated dynamics of relationships, family, and theater.

This was a perceptive and often funny novel. Well-written with strong characters, it offers an engaging and creative story.

Highly recommended!

A little fun fact about me is that I was a theater kid in high school and today is the release day of The Breakup Lists by Adib Khorram. So naturally, I had to search for my old script of Twelfth Night because I did the same show in high school like the characters in this book! Okay enough about me, let’s get to the book review!

Despite being out of the target demographic for some of these YA books, I still find comfort in the cliches and predictability of a YA romcom. And Khorram’s newest book delivers that in full!

Not only do we get classic YA tropes and friendship and relationship drama scattered amongst the sweet and funny moments, there is also a lot of diversity in this LGBTQ+ romance. Our main character, Jackson, is not only gay and Iranian-American, but is also hard of hearing and wears cochlear implants. Having him be the center of the story adds an extra layer of depth to his struggles as a teenager trying to navigate high school. Alongside him is a love interest who’s just dreamy and a plethora of side characters that round out this novel to be the fun and binge-able YA novel it is.

Also, as a former high school theatre kid, I appreciated every theatre reference in this book and made me wish I could go back to high school when, even though it didn’t seem like it at the time, things were much simpler. That nostalgia factor will definitely have older readers enjoying this story while younger readers will relate to the struggles these characters are dealing with.

If you’re looking for a book with diverse characters, typical teenage angst and drama, disability rep, and theatre kids galore then this is the book for you.
​
*I received an ARC from Penguin Teen in exchange for my honest opinion.

Adib Khorram creates another delightful YA character in Jackson Ghasnavi, a high school stage manager in Kansas City. Jackson has been openly queer for a while, but hasn’t dated much, aside from one conceited actor who now bullies him. On the other hand, his sister Jasmine has dated a parade of horrible boys, and every time she goes through a breakup, Jackson writes her a “breakup list” of reasons they sucked (I like how Khorram suggested this wasn’t a healthy dating history without shaming Jasmine). Sometimes, Jackson writes breakup lists for other people he’s frustrated with.

When Liam, a swim teammate of Khorram’s best friend Bowie, auditions for the school musical, he and Jackson become friends, and Jackson starts to feel a little more. Liam even learns ASL to communicate better with Jackson, something not even his own family has done (Bowie, the child of Deaf parents, taught Jackson). But he also catches Jasmine’s eye, rendering him off-limits for Jackson. There’s lots of pining and the development of a great friendship and then, well, drama ensues.

I won’t summarize much more to avoid spoilers. I love a good high school play in literature and here, there were two! Jesus Christ Superstar gives way to Twelfth Night (fun fact: my only starring role ever was as Viola in Twelfth Night when I was in fifth grade). Both of them are delightfully queered, and I love that our protagonist is a stage manager, keeping everyone organized but always playing second fiddle to the dramatic actors. I also really liked Bowie, though I felt some of the other supporting characters could have been more fully realized.

The lists are kind of obviously Chekhov’s breakup lists, so of course they cause drama late in the novel. I also really like how that was handled—Jackson gets a lot of flack for what was really a coping mechanism, and a lot of people don’t respond the way they should, but things do work out. I love Khorram’s nuanced emotions and attention to detail. And this isn’t Darius the Great Is Not Okay, but what is?

can’t express how much I love it and definitely will be ordering some copies for the bookstore It make me feel like I have reading a tv show, funny and lovely a book that needed this young generation.

I had a fun time reading this book! It was very over-dramatic teen problems (which is absolutely not a bad thing, and makes sense considering the huge role theater plays in the book). Liam is the perfect romantic lead, and I loved Bowie. My biggest issue with the book is I find it hard to believe that Jackson’s tag is sticking out *that* much. At this point I wonder if it’s a user error or something. Someone please get Jackson some tag-less clothes.

I’m not sure why I don’t read more YA romances because I usually love them when I do. This story hit me on so many levels. I was a theater kid who also did stage crew and that’s actually how my husband and I met. My kids were both swimmers. There were so many things in this story I can say the author got spot-on. It seems weird, but the way the smell of the swimmers was described brought authenticity to this book for me.

One of the things I love about this story is the way Jackson’s family is portrayed. From the outside, they are a loving and supportive bunch. Jackson and his sister get along great, he loves his step-mom, and his dad mostly stays out of the way of his kids as he’s a busy doctor. Yet, as is the case with most families, there are underlying issues that may not be seen from the outside. In truth, I couldn’t stand Jackson’s family. Jackson is deaf and they are all ableists. His sister is selfish and self-centered. It quickly becomes obvious that they get along so well because Jackson doesn’t push back about anything, and he often should.

The romance in this book is so sweet and angsty. There is so much uncertainty in how Jackson and Liam interact and dance around each other, yet it’s obvious from the start that there is a spark there. It’s a wonderful portrayal of what it’s like to be a teenager and fall for someone you don’t know enough about. Add in the fact that one character is openly gay and the other is an unknown and there’s even more confusion. The way things get sorted is a fumbling mess that is plainly going to implode eventually.

As much as I adore Liam and Jackson, the unsung hero of this story is Jackson’s best friend Bowie. Where Jackson’s family is lacking, Bowie and their family pick up the slack. Even when Jackson isn’t such a great friend, Bowie is still there to pick up the pieces and be his sounding board. Their relationship is often one-sided, but Bowie is patient while Jackson sorts himself out.

I’ll definitely be seeking out more from this new-to-me author. I loved this story, his writing, and his characters.