“Arvin Ahmadi has written a novel that is authentic, hilarious, and heart-wrenching all at once. A unique point of view combined with riveting storytelling, How It All Blew Up will grab you from the first page and won’t let go.” —Angie Thomas, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Hate U Give and On the Come Up

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.

At turns uplifting and devastating, How It All Blew Up is Arvin Ahmadi's most powerful novel yet, a celebration of how life's most painful moments can live alongside the riotous, life-changing joys of discovering who you are.

"Arvin Ahmadi's dazzling and ingenious new novel crackles with the terrifying exhilaration of facing up to who you are--and who you want to be. Amir's journey leads him from the confines of the closet to the bacchanal of Rome, to an airport interrogation room, and, ultimately, to his true self."
—Gayle Forman, #1 New York Times bestselling author of If I Stay

"Arvin Ahmadi's finest hour is here with How It All Blew Up. The compelling cast, heart-in-your-throat tension, eye-opening joy, and epic discoveries count down to a dramatic ticking time-bomb of a finale that will leave readers astonished."—Adam Silvera, New York Times bestselling author of They Both Die at the End

Estimated Ship Date for Winners: September 8, 2020