The Breakup Lists

*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

Praise for Kiss & Tell

Booklist Editors' Choice 2022
2023 Texas TAYSHAS Reading List Selection

* “Khorram does a terrific job of taking readers inside the world of pop music, especially showing the stress involved in celebrity…[he] handles these dramatic complexities like a master, and readers will be grateful for his skill.” –Booklist, starred review

* “This is a love letter to boy bands…[Adib Khorram] effectively encapsulates the ecosystem of celebrity and fandom—and cultivates a strong, contemporary social message…An absolute bop; Khorram’s best yet.” –Kirkus, starred review 

* “Khorram deftly makes the story work, calling on readers to empathize with Hunter’s pride and embarrassment, questions about how he should look and be, and maybe even his belated realization that the band’s other members also receive public scrutiny” – Publishers Weekly, starred review

* “Readers looking to celebrate their boy-band fandom or add to their boy-meets-boy reading list will revel in everything this novel has to offer… this is a thought-provoking pleasure read that hits all the right notes.” –BCCB, starred review


Awards and Praise for Darius the Great Is Not Okay

William C. Morris Debut Award
Asian/Pacific American Award for Young Adult Literature
Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Honor

"Khorram writes tenderly and humorously about his protagonist's journey of self-acceptance, making it hard not to want to reach through the pages, squeeze his hand and reassure Darius that he is, in fact, going to be O.K." —The New York Times

* "Khorram's debut novel is filled with insight into the lives of teens, weaving together the reality of living with mental illness while also dealing with identity and immigration politics. This tear-jerker will leave readers wanting to follow the next chapter in Darius's life." —Kirkus, starred review

Praise for Darius the Great Deserves Better

* "This coming-of-age masterpiece packs a multitude of truth and heart. . . . A sequel that gets better and better the longer it steeps." —Kirkus, starred review

* “Khorram again presents an artful tapestry of sci-fi fandom, Persian culture, soccer, racism, sexuality, depression, family crises, a love triangle, and endless amounts of global teas in Darius’s compelling story. . . . This is a seamless and profound YA novel with a memorable and endearing main character.” —School Library Journal, starred review

* “Delightful.” —Booklist