Reasons We Break -- Jesmeen Kaur Deo, Hardcover

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.

Author: Jesmeen Kaur Deo
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Published: 11/04/2025
Pages: 416
Binding Type: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781368113748
Age Range: 14-UP

About the Author
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.