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  • Published: 20 August 2024
  • ISBN: 9780241662847
  • Imprint: Penguin
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 400
  • RRP: $19.99

The Exes





YA Romance Debut about family, fame and first love: For fans of Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry (for the juicy secrets and blackmail), Gossip Girl (for the elite school setting) and My Mechanical Romance (for the opposites attract trope) all with a brilliant South Asian twist by new YA talent Anam Iqbal

Can opposites ever really attract?

When star-crossed lovers Karim and Zara's worlds collide, they have to work out just how far they’re willing to go to give their love a chance.

When Karim and Zara meet, sparks shouldn’t fly.

They’ve got nothing in common: Karim - with his on-and offline clique, The Exes - is a globally renowned influencer. Zara is just a normal teen, trying to get into uni, and not bring shame to the family by getting distracted by silly boys.

Sparks do fly though.

With Zara, Karim can finally let his guard down, while his glamorous world offers Zara an escape from her parent’s control.

But someone has their eye on them – a secret gossip who’s been spilling truths about The Exes for years.

While Karim and Zara’s dates get swoonier, the blogger’s posts get more personal – and more threatening.

Can Karim and Zara unmask their tormentor in time to get their happily ever after? Or does fate have other plans in store for them?

  • Published: 20 August 2024
  • ISBN: 9780241662847
  • Imprint: Penguin
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 400
  • RRP: $19.99

Praise for The Exes

A magnetic opposites-attract romance that's so much more than meets the eye! The Exes is a rich, layered story that doesn't shy away from the difficult topics, deftly exploring sexism, Islamophobia, and much more through characters who are flawed, real, and difficult not to root for.

Author of Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating, Adiba Jaigirdar

A smart, funny, heartwarming novel that perfectly captures the intensity of young love and the heartbreak of complicated family dynamics. I was completely immersed in the glamorous world of The Exes, spent the whole book cheering Zara and Karim on, and adored the rich fullness of all the friends and family who shaped their story. A brilliantly written debut that confidently explores important social issues through a story brimming with warmth and wit that that you’ll be thinking about long after you read the final page.

Author of Let The Games Begin, Rufaro Faith

THE EXES is a brilliant, devastating and dizzying read that you’ll absolutely devour. Packed full of romance, heart, humour and an unflinching look at the impacts of culture and community both on- and offline, make sure you bump this to the top of your TBR!

Author of the bestselling YA series The Kissing Booth, Beth Reekles
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