How It All Blew Up
Arvin Ahmadi
Sep 2020 · Penguin Random House Audio · Narrated by Vikas Adam, Ali Afkhami, Nikki Massoud, and Nazanin Nour
star
1 review
headphones
Audiobook
6 hr 3 min
Unabridged
family_home
Eligible
info
Want a free 10 min sample? Listen anytime, even offline.
Add
About this audiobook
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.
“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.
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...
Discover more
Ratings and reviews
1 review
Megan Moore
- Flag inappropriate
September 16, 2020
This was a great story. It was a cute and romantic read with a serious message and a heartwarming ending. I found Amir really endearing, and I loved the realistic relationship between him and his sister Soraya. It was nice to read a story about coming out without the pivotal scene of the novel being the coming out scene between the main character and their family. I liked how Ahmadi didn't even explicitly write the scenes where Amir was outed or spoke with his family about being gay, because those scenes often turn cheesy and unrealistic very quickly. There was one part of the novel I wasn't a huge fan of, and that was the hookup scene between Giovanni and Amir. It felt forced, and I'm not a fan of large age gaps, even if it technically is legal in this case (unlike another famous coming of age novel that takes place in Italy). Overall, I did enjoy this novel, and I plan to read more from Ahmadi.
Rate this audiobook
Tell us what you think.
Listening information
Smartphones and tablets
Install the Google Play Books app for Android and iPad/iPhone. It syncs automatically with your account and allows you to read online or offline wherever you are.
Laptops and computers
You can read books purchased on Google Play using your computer's web browser.
