a fast paced story about self-acceptance and identity

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What struck me from the very beginning about How It All Blew Up was how relatable Amir is. Don't we all know that feeling when our mistakes catch up to us? When little lies, small mistakes, end up snowballing and turning into an avalanche? How those things we say end up collecting dust, the feeling of dread and guilt collecting in our guts. Making it more difficult, with each passing moment, to tell the truth. Until it explodes forth in a rush of anger, guilt, betrayal, and resentment.

How It All Blew Up is one of those books which begins at the end, and works our way backwards. We witness the fall out. The aftermath. And reading becomes an experience detailing how it all blew it up. Like looking at a car crash in reverse. Seeing all those details we missed in the moments, the times we should have took an extra moment. Throughout the book, Ahmadi not only tells Amir's story from his perspective as it unfolds, and the airport interrogation room, but also through the voices of his parents and sister.