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A smart, sexy YA novel about a boy band star, his first breakup, his first rebound, and what it means to be queer in the public eye, from award-winning author Adib Khorram.
Hunter never expected to be a boy band star, but, well, here he is. He and his band Kiss & Tell are on their first major tour of North America, playing arenas all over the United States and Canada (and getting covered by the gossipy press all over North America as well). Hunter is the only gay member of the band, and he just had a very painful breakup with his first boyfriend--leaked sexts, public heartbreak, and all--and now everyone expects him to play the perfect queer role model for teens.
But Hunter isn't really sure what being the perfect queer kid even means. Does it mean dressing up in whatever The Label tells him to wear for photo shoots and pretending never to have sex? (Unfortunately, yes.) Does it mean finding community among the queer kids at the meet-and-greets after K&T's shows? (Fortunately, yes.) Does it include a new relationship with Kaivan, the drummer for the band opening for K&T on tour? (He hopes so.) But when The Label finds out about Hunter and Kaivan, it spells trouble—for their relationship, for the perfect gay boy Hunter plays for the cameras, and, most importantly, for Hunter himself.
"Combining first-person narrative with fictional interviews, think pieces, fan fiction, and more, the author effectively encapsulates the ecosystem of celebrity and fandom—and cultivates a strong, contemporary social message...An absolute bop; Khorram's best yet." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"Khorram deftly makes the story work, calling on readers to empathize with Hunter's pride and embarrassment, questions about how he should look and be, and maybe even his belated realization that the band's other members also receive public scrutiny." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Khorram does a terrific job of taking readers inside the world of pop music, especially showing the stress involved in celebrity…[he] handles these dramatic complexities like a master, and readers will be grateful for his skill." – Booklist (starred review)
"An entertaining read that feels a bit like One Direction fan fiction." - School Library Journal
"Adib has crafted a sparkling, modern fairytale effortlessly woven with yearning, social justice, and sweet but complex friendships bursting with lovely little rays of hope." - David Yoon, New York Times bestselling author of Frankly in Love and Super Fake Love Song
"Adib Khorram's Kiss & Tell is a hyperpop blast of queerness that examines the perils of finding your identity under the spotlight of fame, and celebrates the transformative power of the artistic process. I loved it." - Abdi Nazemian, author of Stonewall Honor book Like a Love Story
"Perfectly nuanced and deeply relevant, Kiss & Tell is a harmonic blend of humor, romance, and unforgettable voice. An anthemic reminder that queer teens are allowed to exist as themselves, on their own terms. This book deserves a standing ovation." - Julian Winters, award-winning author of Running with Lions
This information about Kiss & Tell was first featured
in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.
Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Photo: Afsoneh Khorram
Adib Khorram lives in Kansas City, Missouri. When he isn't writing (or at his day job as a graphic designer), you can probably find him trying to get his hundred-yard freestyle under a minute, learning to a Lutz jump, or steeping a cup of oolong.
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