Overview

In this contemporary romantic drama for young adults, the high-stakes gang politics of Breaking Bad meets the star-crossed romance of Romeo & Juliet. To keep Rajan out of prison, Simran agrees to handle his former gang's books—but when a gang war erupts, they must decide how much they'll sacrifice for each other. ""A genre-defying masterpiece!” —Chloe Gong, #1 New York Times best-selling author of These Violent Delights As long as Simran has known Rajan, her immigrant community has warned her away. She knows what they call him, especially since he got out of juvie: an addict. A gangster. A killer. But Simran can’t believe Rajan is beyond hope. She’s seen his thoughtfulness firsthand: He’s the only one who’s noticed the pressure she’s under to be perfect—and how close she is to breaking. So when Rajan’s old gang tries to force him back in, Simran makes a desperate bargain: She’ll become their bookkeeper to clear his debts and keep him out of prison. But Rajan won’t leave her side while she works, and their forbidden attraction is becoming harder to ignore. Worse, there’s a gang war brewing—and neither of them is likely to get through it unscathed . . . if they get through it at all. This high-stakes forbidden romance is perfect for fans of star-crossed love and the rich themes and singing prose of Sabaa Tahir and Angie Thomas.

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9781368113748

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Reviews

“A genre-defying masterpiece. Reasons We Break sets new standards in contemporary fiction, imbuing a riveting coming-of-age narrative with beautifully perilous romance and vicious, thrilling gang politics. This is storytelling in a class of its own.” —Chloe Gong, #1 New York Times best-selling author of These Violent Delights “I dub Jesmeen Kaur Deo the new queen of bad boys! Reasons We Break meshes culture, intrigue, suspense, and a hot romance all in one brilliant novel.” —Simone Elkeles, New York Times best-selling author of the Perfect Chemistry series “If you only read one book this year, let it be this one. This expertly written novel is gritty and brutal, yet so hopeful and full of heart. Deo effortlessly weaves together complex, layered characters; a thrilling, fast-paced plot; and a heart-warming romance. Gripping and original, this is the type of book that reminds me why I love reading—an absolute knock-out!” —Aamna Qureshi, author of If I Loved You Less “Propulsive, riveting, and romantic—an absolute must-read.” —Adiba Jaigirdar, award-winning author of The Henna Wars ★ “Dazzling . . . Deo weaves a multi-faceted, richly textured, high-stakes plot that explores Indo-Canadian gang culture and the pressures felt by children of immigrants. Rajan and Simran’s alternating perspectives—rendered using close-third-person present-tense narration that counsels empathy—foster tension and urgency. The keenly wrought cast is intersectionally diverse.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review) ★ “Hard-hitting . . . immersive read. Many will particularly enjoy the high stakes of Simran and Rajan’s forbidden romance.” —Booklist (starred review) “Deo skillfully blends an exploration of gang culture in migrant communities with a swoony, slow-burn romance . . . The characters are well developed and believable, and Rajan’s redemptive arc is especially satisfying. Engrossing and insightful.” —Kirkus Reviews “Contemporary Punjabi-Canadian Kaz/Inej . . . A YA romance with a lot of fun banter and so!!! much!!! pining!!!!!! Get your star-crossed friends to lovers hurt/comfort here.” —Goodreads reviewer “Six whole stars. This is my new personality.” —Goodreads reviewer “How am I supposed to return to good society and live life as a normal human being after that masterpiece? Like, please, this book has ruined me for all other books.” —Goodreads reviewer “As a desi girl, this story hit home like a tsunami. I felt like watching an old Kollywood movie from my childhood. Complex side characters, hilarious dialogues, a fast-paced action-filled story and, above all, a male lead that makes you blush and scream and kick your feet in your blanket. We do love it when they have the sass to answer but also the devotion to kneel (or maybe that's just a personal preference). There's a certain magic in this book, a little something that gets you hooked, but be careful not to get addicted.” —Goodreads reviewer “this is for everyone who loves ✦ desi romeo juliet ✦ kanej vibes ✦ romantic thriller 26/10 i think everyone needs to add this to their tbr NOW.” —Goodreads reviewer “PHENOMENAL.” —Goodreads reviewer

Author Information

Jesmeen Kaur Deo grew up in northern British Columbia, where she spent most of her childhood daydreaming. She loves books that can make her laugh and tug at her heartstrings in the same paragraph. When not wrapped up in stories, she can be found biking, playing the harmonium, or struggling to open jars. Her debut YA novel, TJ Powar Has Something to Prove, garnered international recognition; it was shortlisted for the German Youth Literature Prize as well as for the Amy Mathers Teen Book Award in Canada, and was a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection and Indie Next Pick among other honors. Reasons We Break is her second published novel. Jesmeen currently resides in Ontario, where she is always working on another book.

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