Everything Comes Back to You

by Jackie Khalilieh

Lennon has always tried to live up to her Palestinian Canadian father's exacting standards, even if her older sister hasn't, but when a crush on an older white boy develops into something more, she must find the strength to balance her own desires against her father’s expectations.

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter meets The Sun Is Also a Star in this new YA novel.

Lennon is excited and apprehensive about starting high school, where her older sister is going to be a senior. Then her sister drops a bombshell: she is pregnant. Her Palestinian Canadian parents are devastated, and Lennon finds herself under even more pressure to be a "good girl” – a role autistic Lennon has always played well. But after a chance encounter with John, a white boy in the grade above, Lennon finds herself nursing a crush on someone her parents would definitely not approve of—which only seems to intrigue her more.

As Lennon and John are drawn together and pulled apart throughout her four years of high school, Lennon wrestles with feelings of shame and yearning, obedience and rebellion through the lens of her autism, trying to both please her parents and herself. When a relationship with a different boy challenges her notions of family and happiness, her way forward becomes clear, even if it might mean losing everything and everyone she loves.

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Disability, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance

320 pages, ebook

Expected publication August 4, 2026

About the author

JACKIE KHALILIEH is a Palestinian-Canadian writer with a love of nineties pop culture, Dad jokes, and warm and fuzzy romance. Like many autistic females, she received her diagnosis as an adult. She is passionate about positive representation within her writing. She currently resides just outside Toronto, Canada with her husband and two daughters, complaining nightly about having to cook dinner. Something More is her debut YA novel.

Please note: As an author, I use Goodreads mostly to keep track of the books I want to read.

I don't check/accept friend requests from readers/people on Goodreads who I don't know, as I feel that may blur the lines. I hope you understand. Thank-you!

If you do want to interact, I'm active on Instagram and TikTok @jackiekhalilieh

Reviews

[Jackie Khalilieh]

A note from the author with a list of content warnings:

Dear Reader,

As arcs of Everything Comes Back to You prepare to go out in the world, I thought it was time to leave a quick author note here with a list of content warnings.

This story is for people who see themselves in Lennon. And for those who, regardless of age, want a safe space to read about the evergreen issues that can stay with us long after our teen years.

I should know.

While I don't police who can/should read books, I do believe that Everything Comes Back to You is most appropriate for readers ages 14 and up due to some of the more mature subject matter.

This novel contains the following:
Teenage pregnancy.
Discussions of prenatal options.
Alcoholism in an adult.
Mature subject matter.
Recreational teenage drug and substance use.
Emotional abuse.
Disordered eating.
Depression.

Please take care if any of these topics are sensitive to you.

With love,
Jackie

[rachel x]

"A YA romance told in four parts—freshman, sophomore, junior and senior year—following an autistic, Palestinian-Canadian girl intent on being the perfect Arab daughter after news of her older sister’s accidental pregnancy shakes her family’s foundation."

[Sarah Ainslee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jackie has written something truly breathtaking with this book. Unflinchingly honest and painfully awkward in the most relatable ways. The romance(s!) here are tender and vulnerable (Team John all day, every day), but Lennon and her family are what resonate most, especially for those who may have or still be growing up in similar environments. Her journey from a quiet, compliant daughter to a young woman exploring her voice, sexuality, faith, and independence will burrow under your skin and invite healthy dialogue for anyone at any age.

TL;DR? This story just sings—an absolute masterclass in what a coming-of-age story should feel like.

[Meg Eden]

I'm not sure the content warning prepared me for the level of sexual content in the book, just FYI for readers. Mature themes I think is meant to mean explicit interactions, but not sure I realized that.

[B Croz · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5?

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved everything about this book ❤️