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Reasons We Break
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.
“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.
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.
“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.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published November 4, 2025
30 people are currently reading
8557 people want to read
About the author
Jesmeen Kaur Deo
3 books148 followersJesmeen Kaur Deo grew up in northern British Columbia, Canada, where she spent most of her childhood daydreaming. She loves books that can make her laugh and tug at her heartstrings in the same paragraph. When not wrapped up in stories, she can be found biking, playing the harmonium, or struggling to open jars.
Her debut YA novel, TJ Powar Has Something to Prove, garnered international recognition; it was shortlisted for the German Youth Literature Prize as well as for the Amy Mathers Teen Book Award in Canada, and was a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection and Indie Next Pick among other honours. Her second YA novel, Reasons We Break, was named a Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2025. Jesmeen currently resides in Ontario, where she is always working on another book.
Her debut YA novel, TJ Powar Has Something to Prove, garnered international recognition; it was shortlisted for the German Youth Literature Prize as well as for the Amy Mathers Teen Book Award in Canada, and was a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection and Indie Next Pick among other honours. Her second YA novel, Reasons We Break, was named a Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2025. Jesmeen currently resides in Ontario, where she is always working on another book.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
October 9, 2025
Actual rating 4.5 stars.
Angry. Lonely. Lost. But so much more, too.
This line sums up Rajan perfectly. Sometimes we forget that people, teens, even kids, who do something bad or messed up are still people. Human beings who need love and to be cared for. After reading this powerful story about a gang war, I fell in love with Rajan.
”What’s sad is only experiencing happiness in hindsight.”
Simran is a people-pleaser who wants to be in control. Not just of her own life, but also of the lives of those around her. At times, her character hit almost too close to home.
Reasons We Break is a powerful, gritty story, and I urge you to read it if you love books about flawed teens and raw emotions. It’s not a kind story, even though Rajan is such a sweet guy and Simran is a rule-follower. My heart broke several times, and got pieced back together through the way Simran saw Rajan and Rajan’s care for his younger brother.
I read this breathlessly, always on the edge of my seat. The only reason I’m not giving it five stars is because it felt a bit too telling at times. But the story itself, and the emotions it stirred, easily deserve a million stars.
Thank you, Disney Publishing Worldwide and NetGalley, for this gorgeous and important ARC!
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Angry. Lonely. Lost. But so much more, too.
This line sums up Rajan perfectly. Sometimes we forget that people, teens, even kids, who do something bad or messed up are still people. Human beings who need love and to be cared for. After reading this powerful story about a gang war, I fell in love with Rajan.
”What’s sad is only experiencing happiness in hindsight.”
Simran is a people-pleaser who wants to be in control. Not just of her own life, but also of the lives of those around her. At times, her character hit almost too close to home.
Reasons We Break is a powerful, gritty story, and I urge you to read it if you love books about flawed teens and raw emotions. It’s not a kind story, even though Rajan is such a sweet guy and Simran is a rule-follower. My heart broke several times, and got pieced back together through the way Simran saw Rajan and Rajan’s care for his younger brother.
I read this breathlessly, always on the edge of my seat. The only reason I’m not giving it five stars is because it felt a bit too telling at times. But the story itself, and the emotions it stirred, easily deserve a million stars.
Thank you, Disney Publishing Worldwide and NetGalley, for this gorgeous and important ARC!
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September 12, 2025
This isn’t Breaking Bad, Romeo and Juliet, or The Hate U Give.
This is contemporary Punjabi-Canadian Kaz/Inej, and I love it.
What more can I say? The parental death and parent (surviving) cancer were shockingly easy for me to read, as someone who recently lost a parent to cancer and can’t handle cancer stories. There’s a LOT of violence, but the only sexual violence is implied and in the past. The parental alcoholism and emotional abuse/neglect landed the hardest for me, but your mileage may vary. For all its dark topics, this is very much a YA romance with a lot of fun banter and so!!! much!!! pining!!!!!!
Get your star-crossed friends to lovers hurt/comfort here.
I received a free eARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Happy ending? Yes!!!!
This is contemporary Punjabi-Canadian Kaz/Inej, and I love it.
What more can I say? The parental death and parent (surviving) cancer were shockingly easy for me to read, as someone who recently lost a parent to cancer and can’t handle cancer stories. There’s a LOT of violence, but the only sexual violence is implied and in the past. The parental alcoholism and emotional abuse/neglect landed the hardest for me, but your mileage may vary. For all its dark topics, this is very much a YA romance with a lot of fun banter and so!!! much!!! pining!!!!!!
Get your star-crossed friends to lovers hurt/comfort here.
I received a free eARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Happy ending? Yes!!!!
January 3, 2025
She's outdone herself folks
October 27, 2025
What a great coming-of-age novel for older YA (and those transitioning to more adult novels).
I loved the South Asian cast of characters, including how the author chose to focus on two working class teens who chose distinctly different paths in life, with Simran choosing the safer route with university and Rajan falling into the life of a low-level gang member, and especially how their lives intertwined, for better or worse.
While it was a tad bit too melodramatic for me, this was still very well-written and a great addition to contemporary YA fiction. Simran and Rajan felt like they were real young adults trying to make their way through life with the (little) knowledge and skills they have. It was very relatable to me, being brown and working class, and knowing real people like the MCs.
If you're a young adult in your late teens or early twenties, or if you're older and you can remember that period in your life, then you can definitely understand how it's a difficult and confusing time. You're expected to make adult decisions but being young, you don't have the knowledge or foresight to know whether you're making the right decision for yourself, or how that decision will affect others in your life.
As I grow older, I start to understand that no one really knows what they're doing in life. So, it's easier for me to give grace to young adults like Simran and Rajan (whether real or fictional), and books like these remind me that the turmoil of young adulthood is a universal experience.
Thank you to Disney Hyperion and NetGalley for this arc.
I loved the South Asian cast of characters, including how the author chose to focus on two working class teens who chose distinctly different paths in life, with Simran choosing the safer route with university and Rajan falling into the life of a low-level gang member, and especially how their lives intertwined, for better or worse.
While it was a tad bit too melodramatic for me, this was still very well-written and a great addition to contemporary YA fiction. Simran and Rajan felt like they were real young adults trying to make their way through life with the (little) knowledge and skills they have. It was very relatable to me, being brown and working class, and knowing real people like the MCs.
If you're a young adult in your late teens or early twenties, or if you're older and you can remember that period in your life, then you can definitely understand how it's a difficult and confusing time. You're expected to make adult decisions but being young, you don't have the knowledge or foresight to know whether you're making the right decision for yourself, or how that decision will affect others in your life.
As I grow older, I start to understand that no one really knows what they're doing in life. So, it's easier for me to give grace to young adults like Simran and Rajan (whether real or fictional), and books like these remind me that the turmoil of young adulthood is a universal experience.
Thank you to Disney Hyperion and NetGalley for this arc.
December 21, 2025
It’s giving Peaky Blinders, callbacks to Bollywood films (the good ones not the new stuff), and mafia movies. This is my vibe, but I wish this book was aged it up! Sometimes the material needs full exploration, and in the case of YA it felt a bit limited and stifled. There’s a well of inspiration to pull from and that’s what instantly drew me to this book. It’s fascinating. There's a dichotomy that Jesmeen quietly probes. How first generation young adults from diaspora communities acclimate in North America while still retaining cultural preservation in a generation divide. Throw in criminal enterprise and you have alluring characters and stories that are ripe with exploration. If Jesmeen wanted to write a full out series focusing on different characters established in this novel (or even some we haven't met yet) I would one hundred percent be on board.
Books like ‘Reasons We Break’ make me hopeful for young readers, and have my rapt attention.
Thank you Disney Hyperion for the digital arc!
Books like ‘Reasons We Break’ make me hopeful for young readers, and have my rapt attention.
Thank you Disney Hyperion for the digital arc!
November 16, 2025
for a book named reasons we break, this sure healed a part of me it didn’t break ☹️ (not me crying on the plane over this book lol) ((also i support all of simran’s rights AND wrongs!!!)
October 6, 2025
JESMEEN YOUR MIND >>>> Need a limited series adaptation of this book immediately thank you!
I knew I was going to be obsessed with this book considering TJ Powar Has Something to Prove is one of my all-time favorite South Asian books. Hearing that Jesmeen Kaur Deo would be pivoting to a darker book with Reasons We Break following two side characters from TJ Powar Has Something to Prove had me SO intrigued—not to mention how interesting the premise of this book sounds compared to Jesmeen’s debut romcom. Two Punjabi teens, Simran, and Rajan, get unwillingly tangled in a local gang when Simran agrees to handle the gang’s books to keep Rajan out of prison.
This plot is such a roller coaster and I felt myself gripping the edges of the book while watching Simran and Rajan fight to make it out of the Lions safely. I felt my stomach drop so many times. Of course, the push and pull between Simran and Rajan also had me screaming internally—if you remember some of the unhinged moments and dialogue between TJ and Charlie in TJ Powar Has Something to Prove, you understand me when I say there are some equally unhinged lines in this book too. And don’t get me started on the subplots of Simran and Rajan’s moms, as well as Rajan’s brothers. I can’t even count the number of times I cried reading their scenes together. 😭
I’m so appreciative of Jesmeen Kaur Deo for writing such refreshing stories about the South Asian diaspora (specifically Punjabi Canadian). Simran, Rajan, TJ, Kiran, Chandani, Zohra, etc.—they’re all such complex characters with so many interesting layers and it makes me so happy to read about desi kids who aren’t stereotypes. Reasons We Break truly celebrates the Sikh community and highlights the strides second-generation South Asian immigrants are making with their parents and elders. I love that this book comments on all corners of the South Asian immigrant community—the good, the bad, and everything in between. The emphasis on community care and social work in this book made me so happy see, and I think it’s something everyone could benefit from reading about.
If you are a fan of contemporary YA dramas like All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir, high-stakes gang politics from shows like Breaking Bad, and star-crossed romances, definitely pick up Reasons We Break!
Follow me on TikTok | Instagram | Twitter for more book reviews & recommendations!
I knew I was going to be obsessed with this book considering TJ Powar Has Something to Prove is one of my all-time favorite South Asian books. Hearing that Jesmeen Kaur Deo would be pivoting to a darker book with Reasons We Break following two side characters from TJ Powar Has Something to Prove had me SO intrigued—not to mention how interesting the premise of this book sounds compared to Jesmeen’s debut romcom. Two Punjabi teens, Simran, and Rajan, get unwillingly tangled in a local gang when Simran agrees to handle the gang’s books to keep Rajan out of prison.
This plot is such a roller coaster and I felt myself gripping the edges of the book while watching Simran and Rajan fight to make it out of the Lions safely. I felt my stomach drop so many times. Of course, the push and pull between Simran and Rajan also had me screaming internally—if you remember some of the unhinged moments and dialogue between TJ and Charlie in TJ Powar Has Something to Prove, you understand me when I say there are some equally unhinged lines in this book too. And don’t get me started on the subplots of Simran and Rajan’s moms, as well as Rajan’s brothers. I can’t even count the number of times I cried reading their scenes together. 😭
I’m so appreciative of Jesmeen Kaur Deo for writing such refreshing stories about the South Asian diaspora (specifically Punjabi Canadian). Simran, Rajan, TJ, Kiran, Chandani, Zohra, etc.—they’re all such complex characters with so many interesting layers and it makes me so happy to read about desi kids who aren’t stereotypes. Reasons We Break truly celebrates the Sikh community and highlights the strides second-generation South Asian immigrants are making with their parents and elders. I love that this book comments on all corners of the South Asian immigrant community—the good, the bad, and everything in between. The emphasis on community care and social work in this book made me so happy see, and I think it’s something everyone could benefit from reading about.
If you are a fan of contemporary YA dramas like All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir, high-stakes gang politics from shows like Breaking Bad, and star-crossed romances, definitely pick up Reasons We Break!
Follow me on TikTok | Instagram | Twitter for more book reviews & recommendations!
September 29, 2025
⋆˙⟡ — incoherent review: ˙⊹
six whole stars. this is my new personality. simran and rajan are my babies and no one will ever say anything bad about them. everyone go pre-order this book now!! its everything you have ever wanted from a romeo and juliet retelling. and the vibes? reasons we break is bollywood meets youth cdrama in the backdrop of small town canada. also miss jesmeen?? you had no right to break me like this. and that scene?!? oh yeah u fixed smthg u didn't break, so thank you <3 BUT ALSO I NEED OFFICIAL ART AND FANART OF THEM NOW!! someone who has the art skills pls pls pls full rtc
six whole stars. this is my new personality. simran and rajan are my babies and no one will ever say anything bad about them. everyone go pre-order this book now!! its everything you have ever wanted from a romeo and juliet retelling. and the vibes? reasons we break is bollywood meets youth cdrama in the backdrop of small town canada. also miss jesmeen?? you had no right to break me like this. and that scene?!? oh yeah u fixed smthg u didn't break, so thank you <3 BUT ALSO I NEED OFFICIAL ART AND FANART OF THEM NOW!! someone who has the art skills pls pls pls full rtc
December 7, 2025
Sooo gooood
Read
January 12, 2026This book was absolutely motherfucking incredible no words I’m speechless full review soon I’m shook Jesmeen Kaur Deo is now one of my new favourite authors EVER the chemistry between Rajan x Simran was off the charts and I’m so glad this was my last read of 2025 because wow, WOW, what a way to end the year. Onto TJ Powar next because I’m having withdrawal now.
April 28, 2025
ONE MILLION STARS!!! finally some good fcking food!!!! read this on a plane and my heart was palpitating the way it has never palpitated before I read through this all in one sitting but had to keep taking breaks to catch my breath and hyperventilate a little. RAJAN AND SIMRAN MY BABIES!!! also TJ Charlie cameos my lomls. anyways my official blurb is more coherent:
“If you only read one book this year, let it be this book. Deo’s literary skills were apparent in her debut, but she takes craft to the next level with REASONS WE BREAK. This expertly written novel is gritty and brutal yet so hopeful and full of heart. It’s the type of book that reminds me why I love reading. Deo effortlessly weaves together complex, layered characters; a thrilling, fast paced plot; and a heart-warming romance in an utterly original and gripping way that will tug at your heartstrings and stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page. An absolute knock-out!”
“If you only read one book this year, let it be this book. Deo’s literary skills were apparent in her debut, but she takes craft to the next level with REASONS WE BREAK. This expertly written novel is gritty and brutal yet so hopeful and full of heart. It’s the type of book that reminds me why I love reading. Deo effortlessly weaves together complex, layered characters; a thrilling, fast paced plot; and a heart-warming romance in an utterly original and gripping way that will tug at your heartstrings and stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page. An absolute knock-out!”
August 19, 2025
Billed in the publisher’s synopsis as a modern day Romeo and Juliet type story, Reasons We Break is thankfully much more than that.
The two protagonists Rajan and Simran are young, they do have feelings for each other, and Simran’s family doesn’t approve of Rajan, but this is because of the things he’s done, not because there’s any bad blood between families.
They’re not wrong. Rajan has done bad things, though not as bad as everyone has been led to believe. Fresh out of juvie, he’s coerced back into the gang that got him into trouble in the first place when he was coping with his mother’s critical illness and death.
Simran, his math tutor in high school and now his mentor during his probation, has lived her own life with high expectations and trying to please her parents is now spiraling out of control with her own mother’s cancer diagnosis and desire to keep it a secret.
In convincing herself that she’s helping Rajan out, she gets sucked into the gang as their bookkeeper, because it’s one of the few things that she feels she can make better. But doing such a good job draws the attention of the wrong people in an igniting gang war and puts both her and Rajan in a perilous position.
I will confess that at times this seems to get bogged down. But it does a great job of addressing the dangers and risks of being involved in a gang, and does so from the unique perspective of a pair of Sikh teenagers in Canada. It also never makes a helpless female out of Simran, a nerdy girl according to her friends and classmates. I think just about anyone in her circumstances would be spiraling under that much pressure at her age. And yet she’s the one that may just find a way for her and Rajan to break free of the Lions for good.
This book does deal with issues that could have trigger warnings, mostly with critical illness in a parent. Despite the storyline centered around gangs the actual violence in the story is pretty minimal and shouldn’t keep readers away.
Don’t forget to read the author’s note at the end of the book!
A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The two protagonists Rajan and Simran are young, they do have feelings for each other, and Simran’s family doesn’t approve of Rajan, but this is because of the things he’s done, not because there’s any bad blood between families.
They’re not wrong. Rajan has done bad things, though not as bad as everyone has been led to believe. Fresh out of juvie, he’s coerced back into the gang that got him into trouble in the first place when he was coping with his mother’s critical illness and death.
Simran, his math tutor in high school and now his mentor during his probation, has lived her own life with high expectations and trying to please her parents is now spiraling out of control with her own mother’s cancer diagnosis and desire to keep it a secret.
In convincing herself that she’s helping Rajan out, she gets sucked into the gang as their bookkeeper, because it’s one of the few things that she feels she can make better. But doing such a good job draws the attention of the wrong people in an igniting gang war and puts both her and Rajan in a perilous position.
I will confess that at times this seems to get bogged down. But it does a great job of addressing the dangers and risks of being involved in a gang, and does so from the unique perspective of a pair of Sikh teenagers in Canada. It also never makes a helpless female out of Simran, a nerdy girl according to her friends and classmates. I think just about anyone in her circumstances would be spiraling under that much pressure at her age. And yet she’s the one that may just find a way for her and Rajan to break free of the Lions for good.
This book does deal with issues that could have trigger warnings, mostly with critical illness in a parent. Despite the storyline centered around gangs the actual violence in the story is pretty minimal and shouldn’t keep readers away.
Don’t forget to read the author’s note at the end of the book!
A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 28, 2025
Again- thanks for my wife- I got my hands on an advanced reader copy.
I liked the story- the concept was clever- kept me invested, and kept me reading to where I was disappointed where I actually was disappointed when I wasn't able to read and move through the story. I don't like romance much- and I didn't mind the relationship developed between the two main character. It was a solid story.
You lost me with the probation officer character.
I'm a probation officer.
You lost me on that character. It was not realistic. I agree with the PO wanting to help their clients to the best of their ability, and trying to instill faith in their client. This PO would be in serious trouble for ignoring certain things that their client did. Not only that, but the issues ignored- are harmful for the client. Not only that- but boundaries are blurred, which make it concerning as well. While the character is a fairly small character- the misrepresentation of how that character should behalf- would have some serious ramifications in the book (and I don't mean dragging their client back in front of a Judge).
Otherwise- it was a good story.
I liked the story- the concept was clever- kept me invested, and kept me reading to where I was disappointed where I actually was disappointed when I wasn't able to read and move through the story. I don't like romance much- and I didn't mind the relationship developed between the two main character. It was a solid story.
You lost me with the probation officer character.
I'm a probation officer.
You lost me on that character. It was not realistic. I agree with the PO wanting to help their clients to the best of their ability, and trying to instill faith in their client. This PO would be in serious trouble for ignoring certain things that their client did. Not only that, but the issues ignored- are harmful for the client. Not only that- but boundaries are blurred, which make it concerning as well. While the character is a fairly small character- the misrepresentation of how that character should behalf- would have some serious ramifications in the book (and I don't mean dragging their client back in front of a Judge).
Otherwise- it was a good story.
November 5, 2025
okay ?!?!?!?? this was nothing i imagined, a full package of romance, thrill and impeccable desi representation !
trigger warnings : death, violence, drug abuse, mention of illness, parental death
i have read and lovved the author's debut t j powar has something to prove but nothing could've prepared me for this an epic romeo-juliet-esque romance set in modern world where rajan the troubled kid freshly out of juvi gets roped in his old life again and so does simran, the people pleaser, the genius girl.
”What’s sad is only experiencing happiness in hindsight.”
the book had my heart beating so far at each twist, i was so scared in throughout the middle of the book but oh god the end, i don't think there could've been a better ending to the book !! The romance is so well written that you feel their tension and chemistry right from the prologue.
and rajan calling simran "sahiba" each time AAAAAAAAAAA
this is for everyone who loves
✦ desi romeo juliet
✦ kanej vibes
✦ romantic thriller
26/10
i think everyone needs to add this to their tbr NOW
trigger warnings : death, violence, drug abuse, mention of illness, parental death
i have read and lovved the author's debut t j powar has something to prove but nothing could've prepared me for this an epic romeo-juliet-esque romance set in modern world where rajan the troubled kid freshly out of juvi gets roped in his old life again and so does simran, the people pleaser, the genius girl.
”What’s sad is only experiencing happiness in hindsight.”
the book had my heart beating so far at each twist, i was so scared in throughout the middle of the book but oh god the end, i don't think there could've been a better ending to the book !! The romance is so well written that you feel their tension and chemistry right from the prologue.
and rajan calling simran "sahiba" each time AAAAAAAAAAA
this is for everyone who loves
✦ desi romeo juliet
✦ kanej vibes
✦ romantic thriller
26/10
i think everyone needs to add this to their tbr NOW
August 23, 2025
Will read (and love) anything this woman writes
January 25, 2026
i haven’t liked a book like i have for this one for ages!!!! not a conventional YA book and i clearly couldn’t put it down. loved it😋
December 8, 2025
So much fun to read. thanks Rachna
November 3, 2025
Thank you Net Galley and the Author for giving me the opportunity to read this before its release. My rating for this is 4.25. I adored the overall development for each character. Both the MMC and the FMC were deeply flawed and had a lot of insecurities they had to work through. I loved how they worked on it together and separately. I also adored their relationship and seeing the lengths they would go to protect one another. Also the plot of the story and side characters *chef kiss*. I definitely would recommend this and for people to give this a shot,
December 17, 2025
oh miss jesmeen kaur deo you have done it again. this is so good what the fuck!!!
November 10, 2025
3.5? 4? 4.5?
FOR NOW IDC ITS 6 54 MORNING AND I READ THIS BOOK IN 5HR 54M BECAUSE I WAS WAITING FOR IT BADLY
(review later? maybe idk im off to sleep for now)
FOR NOW IDC ITS 6 54 MORNING AND I READ THIS BOOK IN 5HR 54M BECAUSE I WAS WAITING FOR IT BADLY
(review later? maybe idk im off to sleep for now)
January 27, 2026
╚»★«╝ 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 of 'Reasons We Break' ╚»★«╝
➴ 4.8 stars
sometimes it's good we judge books from their covers because i wouldn't have stumbled upon this one... Jasmeen Kaur Deo, you have me officialy hooked with your writing.
[Spoilers ahead]
⁀જ➣ 𝒑𝒍𝒐𝒕 & 𝒘𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒕𝒚𝒍𝒆
two teenagers. south asian origin; a straight-A, golden girl and a troubled, gang-involved boy. this is starting to look interesting, right?? there's probation and bad grades, family drama and drug addiction and endless struggles... but also, an undeniable connection between the two characters, a forbidden love.
this book was my first contact with Jesmeen Kaur Deo's writing style and i liked it a lot. she doesn't write complicated yet her language is rich. I loved the punjabi words that add that cultural depth in the book. She also describes the characters so lively, i felt like i met them.
⁀જ➣ 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔
• ℛ𝒂𝒋𝒂𝒏 •
Rajan had the personality that puzzled me the most. Mainly because it changed depending on the circumstances.
He finds himself in the chaos of self-doubt, chased by past mistakes and guilt. I really undestood why he found an escpae on the LS gang. His teenage years were rough but the LS offered him 'stability' and attention.
Jesmeen Kaur Deo perfectly pictures his relapse and agony.
He finds himself in a need to protect his brothers, showing to the readers that human side he hides. i fell in a love with that Rajan. The one who cares, who shows his sweet side, who is hopeful and believes in a second chance.
In a way it looks like he has two personalities; the reckless, uncaring one he unleashes in the gang and the soft, thoughful side he shows with Simran.
• 𝑺𝒊𝒎𝒓𝒂𝒏 •
Simran's character is the typical one all top students have.
Her story really highlights the importance of balance in life. her, entering the gang allowed her to feel free and escape from people's expectations, something she hadn't done before.
her real self is amazing though, as she's loyal, she loves unconditionally and values friendships. Simran was really my fav of the book :)
• 𝑺𝒊𝒎𝒓𝒂𝒏'𝒔 𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 •
probably the most annoying character of the book. i really really really tried to justify her behaviour but couldn't. i understand that she's been through a lot. she gave up her future to move to Canada and raise her children with all the things she didn't have, but she used that against Simran and Kiran. Personally, i think she guilt-tripped the girls, made them feel like they owed her a great and succesful future. in a way, i think she tried to 'use' them into achieving all the things she didn't have the chance to. additionally, the way she handled her cancer, hiding it from everyone really shows how she doesn't want to 'stain' her family's name. she doesn't want to be seen vulnerable and i get it, but her actions affected the enitre family...
she doesn't want her kids to make mistakes so she implicitly controls their decisions. (not the best parenting here...)
undoubtedly, she loves her daughters but the way she does is a little... messed up (to me)
• ℛ𝒂𝒋𝒂𝒏'𝒔 𝒃𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒔 •
yeah yeah i get it we barely had a chance to see them in the book but its clear that both Sukha and Yash love Rajan. Sukha and Yash are kids who didn't grow up having a normal childhood. they endured their mother's sickness and had to see their brother become a drug addict, but they didn't lose their ties.
Jesmeen Kaur Deo perfectly pictures how childhood trauma has a long-lasting impact on kids lives and how it shapes them later as adults.
⁀જ➣ 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑
Jesmeen Kaur Deo makes their relationship so human, so realistic, so down-to-earth. their romance builds slowly out of a shared sence of danger and struggles. it's not perfect at any means. It also challenges the idea that a "perfect on paper" match (Jassa and Simran) isn't always 'perfect'.
i think the author wants to highlight the struggles of many young adults from minorities who are forced to date and marry inside this circle, following the rules of their culture.
⁀જ➣ 𝑰𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒆 & 𝑺𝒕𝒊𝒈𝒎𝒂
The book vividly portrays the suffocating pressure of community gossip as well as stigma not as a loud shout, but as a heavy, quiet weight. Simran's mother keeps her cancer as a secret to prevent ruining her image. Simran herself must keep her relationship with Rajan a secret too because 'what will people think when they see the golden girl with the troubled boy???' her actions and choices immediately affect her parents' standing in the Punjabi community.
information travels thorugh an "Auntie Network", the characters feel watched all the times. in a small community like this there's no room for lies and hidden mistakes.
⁀જ➣ 𝑮𝒂𝒏𝒈 & 𝑫𝒓𝒖𝒈𝒔
i liked how Jesmeen Kaur Deo doesn't romanticize the criminal underworld. her book is a reminder that gangs are not just some organizations for illegal activities but a whole system of ruthless and relentless people who use vulnerable children. she handles the topic gently, never once leaving the YA concept.
same goes for the use of drugs.
Rajan gets clean but relapses again. he knows he should stop yet he can't. the struggle for sobriety and the threat of relapse have such a strong impact on him. the book doesn't shy away from the fact that drug trafficking is the financial engine for the gangs Rajan is trying to escape, making his exit both a moral and a physical challenge.
⁀જ➣ 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 & 𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔
this line really 'broke' me.
this book is a rare one. the plot keeps you glued, the characters are perfect with all their imperfections and it covers so many current problems that many many teenagers find themselves tangled in. this is isn't just drama or romance or mafia. this is a pure story about navigating the modern world, surviving trauma and finding hope again.
to Jesmeen Kaur Deo, thank you! this book is incredible in so many ways.
to the readers, go read it now. NOW!
-------------------------------
if you made it this far, thanks! xoxo
➴ 4.8 stars
sometimes it's good we judge books from their covers because i wouldn't have stumbled upon this one... Jasmeen Kaur Deo, you have me officialy hooked with your writing.
[Spoilers ahead]
⁀જ➣ 𝒑𝒍𝒐𝒕 & 𝒘𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒕𝒚𝒍𝒆
two teenagers. south asian origin; a straight-A, golden girl and a troubled, gang-involved boy. this is starting to look interesting, right?? there's probation and bad grades, family drama and drug addiction and endless struggles... but also, an undeniable connection between the two characters, a forbidden love.
this book was my first contact with Jesmeen Kaur Deo's writing style and i liked it a lot. she doesn't write complicated yet her language is rich. I loved the punjabi words that add that cultural depth in the book. She also describes the characters so lively, i felt like i met them.
⁀જ➣ 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔
• ℛ𝒂𝒋𝒂𝒏 •
Rajan had the personality that puzzled me the most. Mainly because it changed depending on the circumstances.
He’s never thought of himself as the lucky one, not until right now. But maybe in some ways he was. He, unlike his brothers, got a taste of normal childhood.
He finds himself in the chaos of self-doubt, chased by past mistakes and guilt. I really undestood why he found an escpae on the LS gang. His teenage years were rough but the LS offered him 'stability' and attention.
Jesmeen Kaur Deo perfectly pictures his relapse and agony.
Trying to set a good example for Sukha? That’s already failed. So who the hell is he suffering for?
He finds himself in a need to protect his brothers, showing to the readers that human side he hides. i fell in a love with that Rajan. The one who cares, who shows his sweet side, who is hopeful and believes in a second chance.
In a way it looks like he has two personalities; the reckless, uncaring one he unleashes in the gang and the soft, thoughful side he shows with Simran.
• 𝑺𝒊𝒎𝒓𝒂𝒏 •
Simran's character is the typical one all top students have.
You need to find the point where doing what other people want makes you more sad for yourself than happy for them.
So you go looking for something else you can solve. And if you can solve it, you can’t leave it alone. You need everyone to know you can do it.” He laughs again, softly. “It’s about your pride. Maybe you really are one of us, after all.
Her story really highlights the importance of balance in life. her, entering the gang allowed her to feel free and escape from people's expectations, something she hadn't done before.
her real self is amazing though, as she's loyal, she loves unconditionally and values friendships. Simran was really my fav of the book :)
• 𝑺𝒊𝒎𝒓𝒂𝒏'𝒔 𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 •
probably the most annoying character of the book. i really really really tried to justify her behaviour but couldn't. i understand that she's been through a lot. she gave up her future to move to Canada and raise her children with all the things she didn't have, but she used that against Simran and Kiran. Personally, i think she guilt-tripped the girls, made them feel like they owed her a great and succesful future. in a way, i think she tried to 'use' them into achieving all the things she didn't have the chance to. additionally, the way she handled her cancer, hiding it from everyone really shows how she doesn't want to 'stain' her family's name. she doesn't want to be seen vulnerable and i get it, but her actions affected the enitre family...
When she starts for the door again, her mother adds, “But I won’t speak to you anymore.”
she doesn't want her kids to make mistakes so she implicitly controls their decisions. (not the best parenting here...)
A misguided love, maybe. An overwhelming love that she lacks the words to explain in all its complexity. But love. Simran’s never doubted that.
undoubtedly, she loves her daughters but the way she does is a little... messed up (to me)
• ℛ𝒂𝒋𝒂𝒏'𝒔 𝒃𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒔 •
yeah yeah i get it we barely had a chance to see them in the book but its clear that both Sukha and Yash love Rajan. Sukha and Yash are kids who didn't grow up having a normal childhood. they endured their mother's sickness and had to see their brother become a drug addict, but they didn't lose their ties.
Jesmeen Kaur Deo perfectly pictures how childhood trauma has a long-lasting impact on kids lives and how it shapes them later as adults.
⁀જ➣ 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑
Sahiba, there is nobody on earth who could replace you.
Jesmeen Kaur Deo makes their relationship so human, so realistic, so down-to-earth. their romance builds slowly out of a shared sence of danger and struggles. it's not perfect at any means. It also challenges the idea that a "perfect on paper" match (Jassa and Simran) isn't always 'perfect'.
She feels like he cares not only about her body, or her brain, but about her soul.
i think the author wants to highlight the struggles of many young adults from minorities who are forced to date and marry inside this circle, following the rules of their culture.
⁀જ➣ 𝑰𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒆 & 𝑺𝒕𝒊𝒈𝒎𝒂
The book vividly portrays the suffocating pressure of community gossip as well as stigma not as a loud shout, but as a heavy, quiet weight. Simran's mother keeps her cancer as a secret to prevent ruining her image. Simran herself must keep her relationship with Rajan a secret too because 'what will people think when they see the golden girl with the troubled boy???' her actions and choices immediately affect her parents' standing in the Punjabi community.
she deserves someone at her level. Someone with her intelligence, a promising future, not a criminal with no career aspirations and a drug problem
information travels thorugh an "Auntie Network", the characters feel watched all the times. in a small community like this there's no room for lies and hidden mistakes.
Rajan went to juvie, got all sorts of labels that will stick to him for life, for something he didn’t do. What if they’d tried him as an adult?
⁀જ➣ 𝑮𝒂𝒏𝒈 & 𝑫𝒓𝒖𝒈𝒔
i liked how Jesmeen Kaur Deo doesn't romanticize the criminal underworld. her book is a reminder that gangs are not just some organizations for illegal activities but a whole system of ruthless and relentless people who use vulnerable children. she handles the topic gently, never once leaving the YA concept.
same goes for the use of drugs.
That’s what addiction does to you, dude,” he says blandly. “It derails your life. You do things that don’t make sense.
Rajan gets clean but relapses again. he knows he should stop yet he can't. the struggle for sobriety and the threat of relapse have such a strong impact on him. the book doesn't shy away from the fact that drug trafficking is the financial engine for the gangs Rajan is trying to escape, making his exit both a moral and a physical challenge.
⁀જ➣ 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 & 𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔
Call me an addict. I am one, okay? I am one.
this line really 'broke' me.
this book is a rare one. the plot keeps you glued, the characters are perfect with all their imperfections and it covers so many current problems that many many teenagers find themselves tangled in. this is isn't just drama or romance or mafia. this is a pure story about navigating the modern world, surviving trauma and finding hope again.
to Jesmeen Kaur Deo, thank you! this book is incredible in so many ways.
to the readers, go read it now. NOW!
-------------------------------
if you made it this far, thanks! xoxo
January 7, 2026
Y'all, how am I supposed to return to good society and live life as a normal human being after that masterpiece? Like, please, this book has ruined me for all other books. HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO FUNCTION????
Rajan Randhawa has a stellar track-record—of getting in trouble: shoplifting, drugs, assault, and murder, he knows he's not exactly what the aunties in his community would call a good Indian boy. After his release from juvie, he's required to participate in community service under a mentor as a condition of his probation. Enter his only successful high school math tutor: Simran Aujla. Simran is intelligent, gentle, and responsible—the perfect Indian girl. At least, on the surface. Inside, she's crumbling from the weight of the expectations heaped upon her and trying to hold her struggling family together. However, when she meets Rajan again, something of their familiar spark reignites. Despite what everyone in her community says, she wants him. But so do the Lions, his old gang. Desperate to keep Rajan from slipping back into his former lifestyle, Simran agrees to balance the Lions' books in exchange for Rajan's freedom. Soon, Rajan and Simran find themselves spiraling dangerously fast, lost in the sea of lies they've constructed to protect those they love. But all it takes is one match to burn it all down.
I think we've seen the market saturated with so many dark romance novels involving the mafia and the mob as of late, that the criminal underworld has become romanticized. The environment JKD has created is a sobering reminder that these are not cutesy little gangs, but ruthless organizations that designate the bulk of their work to young, vulnerable children. They prey on their insecurities and offer a place of belonging to those lacking attention in their own homes. I really appreciate the author's depiction of the dangers of the criminal underworld in the end because it's just so important at a time like right now.
I think Simran and Rajan's humanity in this book was truly beautiful. I loved how Simran never judged Rajan, even when everyone else had already made their assumptions about him, and how Rajan looked out for Kat, even at detriment to himself. Their ability to express empathy for others even at their lowest moments, shone through, and it felt like JKD was tearing out fragments of my heart and stitching them onto the page to drown in her characters' grief.
This book wasn't just reasons Rajan and Simran broke, but reasons I broke, man. Tell me why I was thinking to myself " we must be at the climax of the story because it can't possibly get any worse than this and I glanced at the little percentage meter at the bottom and I was at 33 PERCENT." Like these poor kids, they're just kids and they're killing themselves to protect each other.
On a less depressing note (there are some goofy moments in there, believe it or not), let's talk about Rajan's game :0 bc my guy had it going for him. Every time he said the words Simran Sahiba, an angel gained its wings, and I lost my damn mind. So did Simran, I think, although she's more loath to admit it than I. The little endearment of Simran Auntie was so cute as well
Thank you to Jesmeen Kaur Deo and Disney-Hyperion for an advanced reader copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
One million stars <3
Rajan Randhawa has a stellar track-record—of getting in trouble: shoplifting, drugs, assault, and murder, he knows he's not exactly what the aunties in his community would call a good Indian boy. After his release from juvie, he's required to participate in community service under a mentor as a condition of his probation. Enter his only successful high school math tutor: Simran Aujla. Simran is intelligent, gentle, and responsible—the perfect Indian girl. At least, on the surface. Inside, she's crumbling from the weight of the expectations heaped upon her and trying to hold her struggling family together. However, when she meets Rajan again, something of their familiar spark reignites. Despite what everyone in her community says, she wants him. But so do the Lions, his old gang. Desperate to keep Rajan from slipping back into his former lifestyle, Simran agrees to balance the Lions' books in exchange for Rajan's freedom. Soon, Rajan and Simran find themselves spiraling dangerously fast, lost in the sea of lies they've constructed to protect those they love. But all it takes is one match to burn it all down.
I think we've seen the market saturated with so many dark romance novels involving the mafia and the mob as of late, that the criminal underworld has become romanticized. The environment JKD has created is a sobering reminder that these are not cutesy little gangs, but ruthless organizations that designate the bulk of their work to young, vulnerable children. They prey on their insecurities and offer a place of belonging to those lacking attention in their own homes. I really appreciate the author's depiction of the dangers of the criminal underworld in the end because it's just so important at a time like right now.
I think Simran and Rajan's humanity in this book was truly beautiful. I loved how Simran never judged Rajan, even when everyone else had already made their assumptions about him, and how Rajan looked out for Kat, even at detriment to himself. Their ability to express empathy for others even at their lowest moments, shone through, and it felt like JKD was tearing out fragments of my heart and stitching them onto the page to drown in her characters' grief.
This book wasn't just reasons Rajan and Simran broke, but reasons I broke, man. Tell me why I was thinking to myself " we must be at the climax of the story because it can't possibly get any worse than this and I glanced at the little percentage meter at the bottom and I was at 33 PERCENT." Like these poor kids, they're just kids and they're killing themselves to protect each other.
On a less depressing note (there are some goofy moments in there, believe it or not), let's talk about Rajan's game :0 bc my guy had it going for him. Every time he said the words Simran Sahiba, an angel gained its wings, and I lost my damn mind. So did Simran, I think, although she's more loath to admit it than I. The little endearment of Simran Auntie was so cute as well
Thank you to Jesmeen Kaur Deo and Disney-Hyperion for an advanced reader copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
One million stars <3
November 23, 2025
I would just like to say this before I get into the review, nothing makes me more happier than South Asian representation and this one is incredibly close to me. Thank you Jesmeen for giving me the representation I never had before. Reading punjabi words in books still feels surreal.
Reasons We Break follows Rajan, fresh out of Juvie , and Simran, the exceptional student who is crumbling under the pressure to be perfect. Rajan and Simran have known each other since high school, Simran is sure that Rajan is not beyond hope. So when Rajan’s old gang members try to force him back in, Simran makes a desperate bargain with the gang to help Rajan clear his debts and keep him out of prison.
Reasons We Break is unlike anything I’ve read. The plot kept me glued to the book. I felt quite tensed while reading this book , so much so I wanted to put the book down but I couldn’t do that because I needed to know what happened next.
Simran and Rajan are written incredibly well, you can clearly see the effort put into creating these three dimensional characters. The romance was also brilliant and it added a lot to the plot. The novel is a Romeo and Juliet retelling , so I was praying that they somehow stay safe and nothing bad happens to them while reading every single page.
If you like Romeo and Juliet, Twelve Letters (cdrama) and Bollywood, I think you will love Reasons We Break.
Reasons We Break follows Rajan, fresh out of Juvie , and Simran, the exceptional student who is crumbling under the pressure to be perfect. Rajan and Simran have known each other since high school, Simran is sure that Rajan is not beyond hope. So when Rajan’s old gang members try to force him back in, Simran makes a desperate bargain with the gang to help Rajan clear his debts and keep him out of prison.
Reasons We Break is unlike anything I’ve read. The plot kept me glued to the book. I felt quite tensed while reading this book , so much so I wanted to put the book down but I couldn’t do that because I needed to know what happened next.
Simran and Rajan are written incredibly well, you can clearly see the effort put into creating these three dimensional characters. The romance was also brilliant and it added a lot to the plot. The novel is a Romeo and Juliet retelling , so I was praying that they somehow stay safe and nothing bad happens to them while reading every single page.
If you like Romeo and Juliet, Twelve Letters (cdrama) and Bollywood, I think you will love Reasons We Break.
December 9, 2025
Solid 4.5 stars rounded down. Meant for the young adult but covers more adult themes than you’d expect. The two main characters have strong voices. It’s billed as a “Romeo and Juliet star-crossed lovers” book but I wouldn’t have thought to describe it as that. This book deals with coming-of-age identity issues, parental cancer and loss, incarceration, gang activity, a little romance, and code breaking!
October 2, 2025
Initial Thoughts
A bad boy who only has eyes for you? Deo knows exactly how to capture that allure. Simran is a highly relatable character—someone you could easily imagine knowing in real life—which makes it all the more difficult to watch her drift into the wrong crowd for the sake of a boy she seemed too good for. Yet, as the story progresses, Simran herself begins to unravel, taking risks that rival Rajan’s recklessness. Rajan, like many troubled young men drawn into gangs after high school, is given a tragic backstory that elicits sympathy even as his poor choices continually endanger Simran. Deo resists giving Simran the total breakdown her circumstances might warrant; instead, she unravels only partially, maintaining a surprising degree of composure. Cultural identity is woven deeply into the narrative as well—Simran constantly balances her personal desires against her family’s expectations. As the daughter of immigrants, she carries the weight of their sacrifices and her responsibility to succeed. Ultimately, this is a powerful story about the realities of gang life, the cost of personal sacrifice, and the lengths people will go for love.
Plot and Writing
The plot drives the novel far more than the romance does. While I wanted Simran and Rajan to end up together, I was even more invested in whether Simran would escape—or fall deeper into—the Lions’ world. Deo offers a refreshingly unique take by setting the story in Kelowna, BC rather than Vancouver, and by centering the perspective of a Punjabi-Canadian protagonist. This allows for both a fresh sense of place and a nuanced look at cultural identity alongside the darker themes of gang violence. Despite the heaviness of the subject matter, the narrative maintains a lightness, as both Simran and Rajan cling to optimism even as their lives veer into frightening territory. Deo’s fast-paced writing ensures that Simran is constantly confronted with new challenges—family conflict, overcommitment, gang involvement—all of which slowly chip away at her control. While I occasionally wished for a deeper psychological spiral, I appreciated how Deo resolved both Simran and Rajan’s arcs, giving closure to their journeys while framing this as a defining chapter of their lives.
Characters
Rajan is introduced with sharp criticism—his family’s disappointment, his descent into drugs and gangs, and his addictive tendencies all position him as both flawed and vulnerable. Even he reflects on his past with regret and self-loathing, which adds depth to his character. Less obvious but equally important is Simran’s own addictive nature—not to substances, but to perfection and control. Her need to fix problems and prove herself draws her into dangerous choices, even dealing drugs, which she rationalizes as simply “solving the puzzle.” Despite Rajan’s pleas, her obsession with achievement—for her parents, her community, and eventually for the Lions—keeps her tethered to this world. Simran’s choices feel self-driven rather than manipulated, suggesting that in another version of this story, she could have risen to power in the criminal world simply because she thrived on the challenge. Deo initially presents Simran and Rajan as opposites, but by the end, it is clear they are mirrors of one another—two flawed, restless characters drawn together almost inevitably. The supporting cast is equally vivid: Simran’s family—her parents, sister, and cousin—shapes many of her decisions, even when she conceals the truth from them. Rajan’s family plays a smaller but still meaningful role, while his parole officer, though intriguing, felt less convincing as her actions frequently stretched believability.
Conclusion
This contemporary novel follows a “good girl” pulled into the dangerous world of gangs, all for the boy she loves. Deo infuses the narrative with energy and personality, making it easy to stay invested in the characters and their complex relationships. Simran’s loyalty—to her family, to Rajan, and ultimately to her own sense of identity—drives the story forward, even when it puts her in harm’s way. The romance, though compelling, feels secondary to the broader themes of loyalty, sacrifice, and survival. Still, it underscores a timeless truth: sometimes, good girls really do fall for bad boys.
A bad boy who only has eyes for you? Deo knows exactly how to capture that allure. Simran is a highly relatable character—someone you could easily imagine knowing in real life—which makes it all the more difficult to watch her drift into the wrong crowd for the sake of a boy she seemed too good for. Yet, as the story progresses, Simran herself begins to unravel, taking risks that rival Rajan’s recklessness. Rajan, like many troubled young men drawn into gangs after high school, is given a tragic backstory that elicits sympathy even as his poor choices continually endanger Simran. Deo resists giving Simran the total breakdown her circumstances might warrant; instead, she unravels only partially, maintaining a surprising degree of composure. Cultural identity is woven deeply into the narrative as well—Simran constantly balances her personal desires against her family’s expectations. As the daughter of immigrants, she carries the weight of their sacrifices and her responsibility to succeed. Ultimately, this is a powerful story about the realities of gang life, the cost of personal sacrifice, and the lengths people will go for love.
Plot and Writing
The plot drives the novel far more than the romance does. While I wanted Simran and Rajan to end up together, I was even more invested in whether Simran would escape—or fall deeper into—the Lions’ world. Deo offers a refreshingly unique take by setting the story in Kelowna, BC rather than Vancouver, and by centering the perspective of a Punjabi-Canadian protagonist. This allows for both a fresh sense of place and a nuanced look at cultural identity alongside the darker themes of gang violence. Despite the heaviness of the subject matter, the narrative maintains a lightness, as both Simran and Rajan cling to optimism even as their lives veer into frightening territory. Deo’s fast-paced writing ensures that Simran is constantly confronted with new challenges—family conflict, overcommitment, gang involvement—all of which slowly chip away at her control. While I occasionally wished for a deeper psychological spiral, I appreciated how Deo resolved both Simran and Rajan’s arcs, giving closure to their journeys while framing this as a defining chapter of their lives.
Characters
Rajan is introduced with sharp criticism—his family’s disappointment, his descent into drugs and gangs, and his addictive tendencies all position him as both flawed and vulnerable. Even he reflects on his past with regret and self-loathing, which adds depth to his character. Less obvious but equally important is Simran’s own addictive nature—not to substances, but to perfection and control. Her need to fix problems and prove herself draws her into dangerous choices, even dealing drugs, which she rationalizes as simply “solving the puzzle.” Despite Rajan’s pleas, her obsession with achievement—for her parents, her community, and eventually for the Lions—keeps her tethered to this world. Simran’s choices feel self-driven rather than manipulated, suggesting that in another version of this story, she could have risen to power in the criminal world simply because she thrived on the challenge. Deo initially presents Simran and Rajan as opposites, but by the end, it is clear they are mirrors of one another—two flawed, restless characters drawn together almost inevitably. The supporting cast is equally vivid: Simran’s family—her parents, sister, and cousin—shapes many of her decisions, even when she conceals the truth from them. Rajan’s family plays a smaller but still meaningful role, while his parole officer, though intriguing, felt less convincing as her actions frequently stretched believability.
Conclusion
This contemporary novel follows a “good girl” pulled into the dangerous world of gangs, all for the boy she loves. Deo infuses the narrative with energy and personality, making it easy to stay invested in the characters and their complex relationships. Simran’s loyalty—to her family, to Rajan, and ultimately to her own sense of identity—drives the story forward, even when it puts her in harm’s way. The romance, though compelling, feels secondary to the broader themes of loyalty, sacrifice, and survival. Still, it underscores a timeless truth: sometimes, good girls really do fall for bad boys.
November 15, 2025
📚Reasons We Break
✍🏻Jesmeen Kaur Deo
Blurb:
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.
“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.
My Thoughts:
Reasons We Break is YA books that feel mature and speak about serious topics in a way that’s not dumbed down for children. Simran and Rajan are both incredibly complex characters with full and complete arcs that feel satisfying by the end, but are so infuriating as the story goes. The plot was a little predictable. Rajan, a resourceful boy who is trying to cut ties with the local gang he used to be involved with and control his drug addiction, and Simran, a straight-laced honor student who is trying to carry the weight of her family’s expectations on her shoulders.
But Rajan’s old gang, the Lions, aren’t done with him yet. When they seek to use Rajan again, Simran agrees to be the Lions’ bookkeeper and code-cracker, helping them in their turf war with a rival gang. However, Simran has her own reasons for seeking distraction and the challenge of cracking ciphers becomes her personal addiction. With gang tensions rising, Rajan and Simran must find a way out before they lose their lives. I enjoyed "Reasons We Break" I would recommend to those that enjoy reading inspiring, fast paced,, dark, and emotional add this to your TBR list.
Thanks NetGalley, Disney Hyperion Publishing and Author Jesmeen Kaur Deo for the advanced copy of "Reasons We Break" I am leaving my voluntary review in appreciation.
#NetGalley
#DisneyHyperionPublishing
#JesmeenKaurDeo
#ReasonsWeBreak
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
✍🏻Jesmeen Kaur Deo
Blurb:
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.
“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.
My Thoughts:
Reasons We Break is YA books that feel mature and speak about serious topics in a way that’s not dumbed down for children. Simran and Rajan are both incredibly complex characters with full and complete arcs that feel satisfying by the end, but are so infuriating as the story goes. The plot was a little predictable. Rajan, a resourceful boy who is trying to cut ties with the local gang he used to be involved with and control his drug addiction, and Simran, a straight-laced honor student who is trying to carry the weight of her family’s expectations on her shoulders.
But Rajan’s old gang, the Lions, aren’t done with him yet. When they seek to use Rajan again, Simran agrees to be the Lions’ bookkeeper and code-cracker, helping them in their turf war with a rival gang. However, Simran has her own reasons for seeking distraction and the challenge of cracking ciphers becomes her personal addiction. With gang tensions rising, Rajan and Simran must find a way out before they lose their lives. I enjoyed "Reasons We Break" I would recommend to those that enjoy reading inspiring, fast paced,, dark, and emotional add this to your TBR list.
Thanks NetGalley, Disney Hyperion Publishing and Author Jesmeen Kaur Deo for the advanced copy of "Reasons We Break" I am leaving my voluntary review in appreciation.
#NetGalley
#DisneyHyperionPublishing
#JesmeenKaurDeo
#ReasonsWeBreak
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
September 3, 2025
Trigger warnings: drug use, cancer treatments, forced drug use, loss of a parent,
First, I appreciate that Simran’s faith is so vital to the character, to how and why she acts, to what brings her comfort and peace, and she holds it to her with grace, never pushing her faith onto anyone else, never using it as either a flail or a carrot for Rajan. The only time the two of them talk about it is when he mentions her singing, and she first sings for him, and then gently mentions that he can always come to service to hear her sing. That’s it. It’s nice to see Sikhism in a book, just as I enjoyed the occasional word or phrase that wasn’t translated into English, but instead simply there for me to pick up based on context. Or google, I suppose.
Watching Simran go through her mother’s cancer diagnosis, all that fear and helplessness, her need to do something, to be the good daughter, to want it all to work out even as her mother is falling apart — and then having to be strong for her parents even when she needs someone to lean on — is heartbreaking, but it makes that moment when she is finally able to let go and be held, to finally reach for and receive help and love from her family all the more powerful.
Rajan and his own family — estranged due to his drug use, gang membership and prison time — is more delicate. His relationship with his father is already over, but Rajan tries so hard with his younger brothers, wanting to be a part of their lives, to make certain they don’t make the mistakes he made is heartbreaking. But he doesn’t give up, and in the end, that effort he made, to do better, to be better for their sakes, to stay above the addiction is rewarded.
The romance between the pair is slow and gradual, built up out of a shared sense of humor, of two people being in a dangerous place and having no one to protect them, no one to see how scared they are, how vulnerable, how much they wish they’d made other choices. It’s so well written, organic and natural and feels exactly right for this story, this setting.
The side characters — Nick, Kiran, Zohra — all felt like real people, both good and bad. The villains, especially the leader of the Lions, was a very effective villain in his ruthlessness and charm, and neither overused nor cartoonish. Honestly, so much of this book was so well done that I regret I didn’t like it more.
This is nothing to do with the book; maybe it’s just my mood, or the fact that I'm not the biggest fan of contemporaries, but while I think it’s a good book, it’s not my book. So it’s a four star rating from me. If you give it a try, I hope you like it! Thank you so much to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC.
December 6, 2025
Simran is a golden child - the daughter of immigrants, Punjabi Sikhs who moved to Canada, who has done everything right, to make her parents happy. Intelligent, kind, compassionate, accomplished in academics and the community, Simran is the child every parent wants. But somewhere, deep inside, she she knows that her reasons for doing everything she does are external, and her actions don't make her happy. Her parents are delighted with her, and she is held up to the community as an example of the child every parent wants.
Rajan, like Simran, is the child of Punjabi Sikh immigrants, but his life went another direction. Rajan's parents spent themselves into significant debt trying to maintain appearances, and when Rajan's mother becomes ill and eventually dies, Rajan does everything he can to help support his family - and like so many other teens in similar situations, he turns to dealing drugs for a gang, and later enforcing for the gang, to make the money his family needs to survive.
Their lives intersect multiple times, because they are members of the same community. In high school, Simran is assigned to tutor Rajan in math when multiple other tutors have failed, but after graduation, their lives go their separate ways. The encounter each other again when Rajan returns from a stint in juvenile detention, having pled guilty to vehicular homicide. Simran, still volunteering, is once again assigned as Rajan's mentor, but this time at Hillway, a community organization that provides opportunities for people who have been court-ordered to perform community service. Fighting their mutual attraction all the way, the two discover that they have far more in common than they thought, and that much of Simran's success, and Rajan's struggles, were based on circumstance far more than in-born characteristics. Each becomes involved in the other's world, with possibly fatal consequences.
Reasons We Break is a fascinating and well-spun coming-of-age story for contemporary times. It may be a bit difficult for non-Sikhs to follow, because of the use of Punjabi terms that are usually, but not always, evident from context, but this is a minor issue. This novel is recommended for older high school students and adults, due to explicit violence and mature themes.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided by Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Rajan, like Simran, is the child of Punjabi Sikh immigrants, but his life went another direction. Rajan's parents spent themselves into significant debt trying to maintain appearances, and when Rajan's mother becomes ill and eventually dies, Rajan does everything he can to help support his family - and like so many other teens in similar situations, he turns to dealing drugs for a gang, and later enforcing for the gang, to make the money his family needs to survive.
Their lives intersect multiple times, because they are members of the same community. In high school, Simran is assigned to tutor Rajan in math when multiple other tutors have failed, but after graduation, their lives go their separate ways. The encounter each other again when Rajan returns from a stint in juvenile detention, having pled guilty to vehicular homicide. Simran, still volunteering, is once again assigned as Rajan's mentor, but this time at Hillway, a community organization that provides opportunities for people who have been court-ordered to perform community service. Fighting their mutual attraction all the way, the two discover that they have far more in common than they thought, and that much of Simran's success, and Rajan's struggles, were based on circumstance far more than in-born characteristics. Each becomes involved in the other's world, with possibly fatal consequences.
Reasons We Break is a fascinating and well-spun coming-of-age story for contemporary times. It may be a bit difficult for non-Sikhs to follow, because of the use of Punjabi terms that are usually, but not always, evident from context, but this is a minor issue. This novel is recommended for older high school students and adults, due to explicit violence and mature themes.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided by Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
December 1, 2025
Solid 4.5 stars
I was expecting a typical YA novel full of angst and yes, romance, but I was pleasantly surprised to find quite a bit of substance in this one. I didn't know anything about the author, who grew up in British Columbia, so it initially threw me when I realized the story took place in British Columbia. But even more unexpected was Indo-Canadian gangs have a history in that region, and not just in the larger cities. So, in just this one aspect, I learned a little bit more about our world.
However, this story focused on two young adults, Rajan and Simran, who grew up in working class families in the same community, but ended up making very different choices in their lives, with Simran choosing the education pathway and Rajan choosing to affiliate himself with a gang. And yet, that didn't automatically make her a good person and him a bad person, although their communities would see it that way. What I loved about this story is that she never saw it that way. The story begins in high school when she is first introduced to him as his tutor, but then continues several years later, after he has been in prison. But although on paper everything looks amazing for her, she's keeping secret several stressors in her life (not by choice), and you can just see how it is breaking her. On the other hand, he is the typical bad boy who will never amount to any good, but he also never got over his crush on her. And yes, he served time. But as you read more, you start to learn there is more to him than what it says on paper.
As a heads up, there is quite a bit of violence, as well as implied sexual violence, and much in the way of parental alcoholism and abuse, but there is balance in this book, and a happy ending as well. Rajan and Simran both were very realistically portrayed, as were their respective parents, and the side characters added some insight to the bigger picture.
I would definitely recommend this book, and would be interested in reading the author's first book as well.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I was expecting a typical YA novel full of angst and yes, romance, but I was pleasantly surprised to find quite a bit of substance in this one. I didn't know anything about the author, who grew up in British Columbia, so it initially threw me when I realized the story took place in British Columbia. But even more unexpected was Indo-Canadian gangs have a history in that region, and not just in the larger cities. So, in just this one aspect, I learned a little bit more about our world.
However, this story focused on two young adults, Rajan and Simran, who grew up in working class families in the same community, but ended up making very different choices in their lives, with Simran choosing the education pathway and Rajan choosing to affiliate himself with a gang. And yet, that didn't automatically make her a good person and him a bad person, although their communities would see it that way. What I loved about this story is that she never saw it that way. The story begins in high school when she is first introduced to him as his tutor, but then continues several years later, after he has been in prison. But although on paper everything looks amazing for her, she's keeping secret several stressors in her life (not by choice), and you can just see how it is breaking her. On the other hand, he is the typical bad boy who will never amount to any good, but he also never got over his crush on her. And yes, he served time. But as you read more, you start to learn there is more to him than what it says on paper.
As a heads up, there is quite a bit of violence, as well as implied sexual violence, and much in the way of parental alcoholism and abuse, but there is balance in this book, and a happy ending as well. Rajan and Simran both were very realistically portrayed, as were their respective parents, and the side characters added some insight to the bigger picture.
I would definitely recommend this book, and would be interested in reading the author's first book as well.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
October 27, 2025
The title’s overview promises “the high-stakes gang politics of Breaking Bad meets the star-crossed romance of Romeo & Juliet.” However, for me, it doesn’t quite reach the tragic intensity of Romeo & Juliet—no one dies & neither of the lovers truly come from opposing sides, just different walks of life.
At its core, this is the story of a boy & girl who first meet in high school when she tutors him because he's struggling in math class. After high school, they go their separate ways, only to be reunited when he’s forced to volunteer as part of his probation—& she ends up being assigned as his “mentor.”
She’s grappling with a family secret that pushes her to distract herself with saving him from himself. While he’s just trying to keep his life on track after juvie & the loss of his mother.
I really appreciated how Jasmeen Kaur Deo delicately guides readers through the lasting impact of childhood trauma—how it can shape us no matter how far we try to run from it. The novel also shines a light on the imperfect nature of parenting, reminding us that there’s no real handbook & that parents, too, must learn from their own mistakes.
Another standout element is Deo’s portrayal of honesty & deception—the way lies, even small ones, can quickly spiral out of control. It’s a quiet but powerful message about the importance of transparency.
I’ll admit, I had to look up a few words & phrases while reading, but that only deepened my appreciation for the cultural richness woven throughout this story. It’s not a “happily ever after” kind of book, & that’s exactly what makes it feel authentic. The ending left me misty-eyed, in the best way possible.
Overall, Reasons We Break is a heartfelt, culturally grounded exploration of love, loss, & the difficult lessons that shape who we become.
*I received an advance review copy for free & I am leaving this review voluntarily.*
#ThankGodForARCs
At its core, this is the story of a boy & girl who first meet in high school when she tutors him because he's struggling in math class. After high school, they go their separate ways, only to be reunited when he’s forced to volunteer as part of his probation—& she ends up being assigned as his “mentor.”
She’s grappling with a family secret that pushes her to distract herself with saving him from himself. While he’s just trying to keep his life on track after juvie & the loss of his mother.
I really appreciated how Jasmeen Kaur Deo delicately guides readers through the lasting impact of childhood trauma—how it can shape us no matter how far we try to run from it. The novel also shines a light on the imperfect nature of parenting, reminding us that there’s no real handbook & that parents, too, must learn from their own mistakes.
Another standout element is Deo’s portrayal of honesty & deception—the way lies, even small ones, can quickly spiral out of control. It’s a quiet but powerful message about the importance of transparency.
I’ll admit, I had to look up a few words & phrases while reading, but that only deepened my appreciation for the cultural richness woven throughout this story. It’s not a “happily ever after” kind of book, & that’s exactly what makes it feel authentic. The ending left me misty-eyed, in the best way possible.
Overall, Reasons We Break is a heartfelt, culturally grounded exploration of love, loss, & the difficult lessons that shape who we become.
*I received an advance review copy for free & I am leaving this review voluntarily.*
#ThankGodForARCs
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