Ahmadi, Arvin - How It All Blew Up

• Title: How It All Blew Up
• Author: Arvin Ahmadi
• Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, LGBTQ+
• Publisher: Hot Key Books
• Release Date: September 2020
• ISBN: 9781471409929

Description

• Synopsis: A heartwarming and humorous coming-of-age story about a closeted Iranian-American teenager who falls for his best friend, exploring themes of identity, friendship, and first love.
• Blurb: When Sam's best friend, Ben, starts dating a girl, Sam realizes he has feelings for him. As he grapples with his sexuality and the fear of losing their friendship, Sam must navigate the complexities of high school life, family expectations, and his own internal struggles.

Relevant Tags

young adult, contemporary, romance, lgbtq+, coming of age, friendship, identity, family

Themes

• LGBTQ+ Identity: The novel explores the challenges and triumphs of coming out and accepting one's sexual orientation.
• Friendship and Loyalty: The importance of friendship and the complexities of navigating romantic feelings within a close friendship.
• Family and Expectations: The pressures of living up to family expectations and the challenges of coming out to loved ones.
• Self-Discovery and Acceptance: The journey of self-discovery and learning to embrace one's true self.

This book is explicitly focused on LGBTQ+ themes, providing a relatable and heartwarming coming-of-age story for young readers.