Heartbreak Boys

by Simon James Green

Overview

"One of the most hilarious, heart-flippingly romantic, charmingly observant writers in the game right now." —Becky Albertalli, author of Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda

A road trip rom-com about heartbreak, social media hijinks, and learning to be happy with who you are, perfect for fans of Heartstopper, Becky Albertalli and Phil Stamper.

When their ex-boyfriends get together and start Instagramming a disgustingly perfect summer of love, Jack and Nate decide to concoct a mutual Insta-worthy summer adventure of their own to prove they’re just fine and everything’s great.

Of course, it’s hard to have an epic summer road trip when they’re stuck in a van with Nate's mid-life crisis-bound parents and his annoying younger sister. And it’s been years since Jack and Nate have said more than a few sentences to each other. But their followers don’t have to know any of that.

How hard could faking the high life be? Posting as @TheHeartBreakBoys, the duo stumbles into one hilarious situation after another—and each discover that maybe the cure for heartbreak has been the boy riding next to him all along. 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780358616351
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	12/20/2022
Sold by:	HARPERCOLLINS
Format:	eBook
Pages:	384
Sales rank:	393,699
File size:	2 MB
Age Range:	13 Years

About the Author

Simon James Green is the Carnegie nominated author of young adult novels You’re the One That I Want, Alex in Wonderland, Noah Can't Even and Noah Could Never. Before becoming an author, Simon worked in theater and film in the UK. He lives in London. simonjamesgreen.com
Twitter: @simonjamesgreen
Instagram: @simonjamesgreen
 

Editorial Reviews

10/24/2022

Two British 16-year-old boys’ plan to incite jealousy in their exes goes awry in this hilarious rom-com from Green (Gay Club!). Drama king Jack and shy Nate had a falling-out in primary school. But after they learn that their ex-boyfriends Dylan and Tariq were cheating on them with each other, the two reconnect. When the duo see Instagram posts of their exes having what looks like a perfect summer romance, Jack, seeking vengeance, persuades Nate into a hair-brained scheme to make Dylan and Tariq jealous by embarking on their own Instagrammable summer vacation. While tagging along on a road trip across Britain with Nate’s parents and younger sister, the boys endure suspect campgrounds and get lost hiking. As their vacation progresses, Jack’s effervescent personality coaxes Nate out of his shell, and the teens slowly confront long-buried feelings regarding their past friendship. Green portrays the boys’ emotional turmoil surrounding their mutual heartbreak and individual insecurities with believable tenderness, making for a by turns raucous and earnest tale. Most characters read as white. Ages 13–up. (Dec.)

Publishers Weekly

"An unexpectedly funny, heartwarming voyage of discovery." — Kirkus Reviews

“One of the most hilarious, romantic writers in the game right now.” — Becky Albertalli, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda 

"A fresh take on beloved tropes. . . . Lighthearted humor saturates this vibrant and colorful trust fall that celebrates a wide spectrum of what it means—often culturally—to be gay."  — Booklist

From the Publisher

One of the most hilarious, heart-flippingly romantic, charmingly observant writers in the game right now.”

author of Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda Becky Albertalli

01/01/2023

Gr 9 Up—English 16-year-olds Jack and Nate, cued as white, are polar opposites. Unapologetically, fabulously gay Jack is positive that he and his popular boyfriend, Dylan, will be crowned king and queen of their prom—that'll show the haters! Meanwhile, closeted, neurotic Nate loves his boyfriend, Tariq, enough to come out at the prom during a speech. Except, that's when everyone finds out Dylan and Tariq are together and planning an Instagrammable summer break. An enraged Jack decides that he and Nate—former best friends—must retaliate by Instagramming their own fantastic summer. Unfortunately, theirs is a mishap-prone road trip with Nate's parents, and extrovert Jack continually drives introvert Nate up a tree. How were they ever even friends? Could they ever get their friendship back? Could it lead to more than that? Told in chapters alternating the boys' points of view, this hilarious rom-com overflows with lively, distinctive characters, and a lot of heart. The road trip is full of hapless episodes that Jake manages to twist into Instagram photos to rival Dylan and Tariq's, in the process exposing how unreliable a story social media can tell. The romance develops slowly and believably, with requisite misunderstandings, as the former best friends get reacquainted and remember all the fun they had as kids. Cursing and sexual references are teen-relevant. VERDICT A delightful, opposites-attract rom-com.—Rebecca Moore

School Library Journal

2022-09-28
Can a road trip of petty vengeance help two gay British teens recover from a dream prom–turned-nightmare?

Jack—out, flamboyant, and a drama queen—knows that prom with his hot, popular boyfriend, Dylan, is going to be sublime. He and Dylan will surely be prom king and queen. Nate—closeted, shy, and totally in love with his out boyfriend, Tariq—is going to bite the bullet and come out tonight during his senior prefect speech. But everything goes wrong for these two White boys almost immediately when Jack notices Tariq and Dylan exchange a significant glance and he just…knows. The ensuing brouhaha leaves Nate heartbroken and furious, while Jack is humiliated and friendless. Yet somehow they end up together on Nate’s family’s road trip, with Jack prepared to Insta their way to revenge. He freely admits to Nate that social media is fabricated even while preparing to document a fabulous influencer journey of two gay 16-year-olds illustrated via selfie. A shy boy and an attention hog, already angry at each other, are a recipe for tension. But as Nate sulks and Jack avoids getting shot by the army, accidentally lights a hotel on fire, and meets a famous influencer, the truth about their long-broken best friendship slowly comes out. New friendships, supportive family, and old revelations balance out this compelling journey.

An unexpectedly funny, heartwarming voyage of discovery. (Fiction. 13-17)

Kirkus Reviews