The Breakup Lists

By: Adib Khorram

Narrated by: Amin El Gamal

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?

Critic reviews

★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

Scratch everything

The narrator makes it unbearable to listen to no matter how many times you speed it. Certain words spoken can really grit your teeth. The story is very juvenile. A lot of talk about kissing. And not much storyline, which is a shame because I love Adib Khorram.

Poorly written and actually annoying

Narrator was excellent, but he had terrible material to work with. Take a shot every time you hear “scratch that” and you’ll have alcohol poisoning by chapter 3.
This book is the very definition of basic- full of worn out tropes that the author does nothing new or interesting with. Every single thing you think is going to happen unfolds exactly the way you think it will.
Save your credit. Try The Long Run or My Fair Brady instead- two LGBT YA books that involve a lot of the same concepts but do them so much better.