A review by booklifeisthelife
The Breakup Lists by Adib Khorram

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Funny and cute queer romance. However I hate the "big lie" and/or lack of communication trope which this book had which significantly dropped my rating. Despite not being a theater person myself I really enjoyed the theater aspect of this. It was really fun. I also really liked that the main character's disability (hard of hearing) wasn't the point of the book or even revolved around it? Like, it just existed. It affected Jackson (the main character) and those around him but only in a normal, real way. It helped shape who he was in a realisti manner. It was pure, good representation. It wasn't there just to be there nor did it overshadow everything else. I liked Jackson and Bowie's best friendship. Bowie was always there to support Jackson and to help him. There was a bump in their friendship but they get through it. Most friendships have bumps here and there. Bowie was one of the two nonbinary people in this book. I liked how it was casually represented. There is a lot of queer normalcy in this which I really appreciated. Jackson is a mostly alone person. He has few friends. He isn't involved deeply in the queer community nor the deaf community. Towards the end that changes. It made me so happy. The relationship between Jackson and Liam was cute. They were adorable. There was a few aspects I didn't enjoy though such as

Jackson pushing Liam onto his sister, Jasmine just because he was unsure and insecure about Liam liking him or not. I also really hated how Jackson kept giving into Jasmine's guilt tripping and manipulation. He never should have wrote that list about Liam, especially listing what he knows is one of Liam's biggest insecurities. It was horrible. I almost dnfed right there and then. Then he even lied to Liam about how he hadn't made one. And even when Jackson told Liam he loved him, he hadn't told him about the list yet. He should have done that before professing his love. I am glad they got back together after Liam found out though. I appreciated how Jackson gave Liam space and didn't cling onto him.

The worst thing about this book to me was Jackson's sister, Jasmine. She was awful, selfish, vindictive, immature and manipulative. The fact that

this wasnt even addressed bothered me so so much. Yes, after she carried out her vindictive plan to humiliate Jackson, she gets a week detention. Whoopy do. She apologizes to Jackson and he forgives her, gosh knows why. But there is no talk about how selfish and immature she was throughout the whole book nor how she continually guilt tripped and manipulated Jackson.

There was a few things I feel didn't get addressed properly or plot line finished such as

Liam's sexuality. It wasn't even confirmed what he considers himself as. Then the whole plot line with Cam. Cam was such a jackass. I felt like there was a conclusion or something that could have happened there.

All in all, this was a cute, funny queer romance but with a big layer of YA and immaturity. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying

Moderate: Ableism, Abandonment

Minor: Infidelity