Reasons We Break by Jesmeen Kaur Deo

Reasons We Break

Jesmeen Kaur Deo

Disney Publishing Group · Hardcover · November 4, 2025

In this contemporary romantic drama for young adults, the high-stakes gang politics of Breaking Bad meets the star-crossed romance of Romeo & Juliet.

Buy on Amazon

We earn from qualifying purchases.

Who it’s for
A forbidden romance meets gang conflict, with tenderness and danger pulling in opposite directions.
Themes
Forbidden romance, Gang violence, Pressure to be perfect
Pacing
Fast

About this book

In this contemporary romantic drama for young adults, the high-stakes gang politics of Breaking Bad meets the star-crossed romance of Romeo & Juliet. To keep Rajan out of prison, Simran agrees to handle his former gang's books—but when a gang war erupts, they must decide how much they'll sacrifice for each other.

Continue reading

"A genre-defying masterpiece!” —Chloe Gong, #1 New York Times best-selling author of These Violent Delights As long as Simran has known Rajan, her immigrant community has warned her away. She knows what they call him, especially since he got out of juvie: an addict. A gangster. A killer. But Simran can’t believe Rajan is beyond hope. She’s seen his thoughtfulness firsthand: He’s the only one who’s noticed the pressure she’s under to be perfect—and how close she is to breaking. So when Rajan’s old gang tries to force him back in, Simran makes a desperate bargain: She’ll become their bookkeeper to clear his debts and keep him out of prison. But Rajan won’t leave her side while she works, and their forbidden attraction is becoming harder to ignore. Worse, there’s a gang war brewing—and neither of them is likely to get through it unscathed . . . if they get through it at all. This high-stakes forbidden romance is perfect for fans of star-crossed love and the rich themes and singing prose of Sabaa Tahir and Angie Thomas.

Love Under Pressure

A forbidden romance meets gang conflict, with tenderness and danger pulling in opposite directions.

Come here for

  • Star-crossed attraction tangled in high-stakes gang politics
  • A young woman who sees past the warnings about someone she cares for

Expect

  • Romantic tension sharpened by looming danger
  • Emotional stakes around pressure, loyalty, and sacrifice

Where it sits

YA Crime Thrillers84%
Contemporary YA Romance70%
Asian American YA40%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • Contemporary YA Romance
  • Prejudice & Racism for Teens
  • YA Crime Thrillers
Authors
Jesmeen Kaur Deo
Publisher
Disney Publishing Group
Published
November 4, 2025
Format
Hardcover
Theme
Forbidden romance · Gang violence · Pressure to be perfect
Reading lane
Contemporary YA Romance