How It All Blew Up

At turns uplifting and devastating, this coming-of-age novel gives an incisive look at identity and what it means to find yourself by running away.

“Arvin Ahmadi has written a novel that is authentic, hilarious, and heart-wrenching all at once.”—Angie Thomas, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Hate U Give

Eighteen-year-old Amir Azadi always knew coming out to his Muslim family would be messy—he just didn’t think it would end in an airport interrogation room. But when faced with a failed relationship, bullies, and blackmail, running away to Rome is his only option. Right?

Soon, late nights with new friends and dates in the Sistine Chapel start to feel like second nature . . . until his old life comes knocking on his door. Now, Amir has to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth to a US Customs officer, or risk losing his hard-won freedom.