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, Disability, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction, Contemporary Romance

440 pages, Hardcover

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

[Marieke (mariekes_mesmerizing_books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

”You don’t have to hide who you are, Lennon. There are people who love the real you.”
“But why does it have to be that way? Why does it have to be this push and pull of who I want to be versus who they want me to be? There’s no way to win. You pick one, you lose the other. Either way, you lose.”
“Or,” John says, “you break the chain, and you set yourself free.”

This paragraph resonated with me so much even though I’m not a teen like Lennon. Far from it even. But don’t we all hide parts of ourselves sometimes (or often)? Just because we don’t want other people to see that part for whatever reason, or because we think or even know the people we love won’t like that piece of us.

With every new Jackie Khalilieh book, I end up loving it even more than the last, and the earlier ones were already fantastic. Somehow, the more I read her stories, the more she pulls me into the heads of those autistic, flawed teen girls who feel so incredibly real.

Everything Comes Back to You follows a girl who starts to feel sexually attracted to boys and slowly comes closer to having real sex, even though her dad expects her to wait until she’s married. This story is about want and shame and consent and how people judge boys and girls differently, which makes it incredibly important.

I also need to gush about Lennon and John (or can I say John (&) Lennon?) as a couple for a second because I loved them so, so much. I already gushed about Alex from You Started It, but oh John, how I loved you and how I rooted for you. And those last pages! Tears kept leaping to my eyes.

And finally, I have to talk about that cover. Because it’s just glorious.

Thank you, Tundra Books and NetGalley, for this amazing ARC!

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[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, including scenes depicting consensual sexual activity.
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."

[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. I don't think this book is for me.

[Jav · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of the ARC via NetGalley

4.5 stars

Jackie Khalilieh is one of my favourite authors. She writes her books in the only way she knows how: raw and real. There was a lot to unpack with this one; a lot of important discussions around shame, familial expectations, relationships and love. The multi-year love story was heartbreakingly beautiful and I don’t think John and Lennon’s story should have worked out any other way. Going through each chapter, each act, I felt as if I was reading Jackie’s own story. I got goosebumps at certain points—the writing poignant and poetic, the story familiar and heartbreaking.

My sole gripe with Everything Comes Back to You is that John’s character felt underwhelming. By act 3, we get to know him much better and he starts to feel like a more significant part of the story. But in act 1, it came off as instalove (which I think it was, but I didn’t think that was executed well). There was no substance or context to his character at first, it’s as if he were interchangeable with any other boy. And while this book reads more like a story about Lennon, as opposed to Lennon & John’s love story, I wish John’s character was fleshed out more.

P.S. I wish more than anything that there was an epilogue or a novella for this book so I can read John & Lennon’s HEA.

[Sierra Nathans Lightner · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐️ I always love Jackie’s books, she writes the teenage girl experience SO well (specifically autistic teenage girls). This book really gave us explorations of love in all forms - friendship, family, and romantic.

Lennon’s relationship with her family is extremely complicated, which is so real. She’s so close with her older sister, and they are always there for each other, despite her sister having a baby so young. Her relationship with her parents is rough since her parents are Palestinian and religious and have very high morals and standards for Lennon and Georgie. But it all ended beautifully.

Lennon also had her best friend, Andie, throughout high school who I am SO happy was there. She told Lennon the hard things, never thought of her as less than, and really and truly loved her. I am Andie’s biggest fan.

Then of course, we have Lennon and John. It was a LOT of back and forth, which is why I am dropping my rating a bit. It was giving me a bit of whiplash, even though it was sort of necessary for the plot(ish)? But they were so so sweet together, and it worked out so well for them (together and separately). I hope we get a lil short story or bonus epilogue kind of thing for them, because I’d love to see how their relationship plays out throughout/after college.

I hope that a teenage girl somewhere finds this book right when they need it. I can tell this will have such a positive impact on so many girls.

Side note, I cannot stand Theo <3 idc if he ended up being a friend to Lennon, fuck that guy

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Tundra Books for an ARC of this book.

I really resonated with Jackie's previous two books, so I was very excited when I got approved for this ARC!! I'm happy to say that this is another one of her stories that will live very close to my heart.

I don't even know where to start. Jackie is really skilled at writing realistic and relatable teenage girls (to me). Even now, as an adult, there is so much of myself I see in her MCs. There were several moments where I had to pause, put the book down, and reflect on similar experiences and feelings I've had to Lennon. Not ashamed to say that I cried during these reflections. Her relationship with her family and her feelings for John were all too familiar.

Speaking of John, their love story was soooo cute! I really do hope we get an epilogue or bonus short story... *wishful thinking*

I unfortunately know that there will be criticisms of this book due to there being depictions of teenagers talking, thinking about, and having sex (it is nothing explicit or written in a way that is meant to titillate the reader). I understand that some adults may feel uncomfortable reading about teenagers having sex. However, I don't think adults' feelings should be prioritized when the core audience are teenagers and teenagers deserve to have stories that reflect their own experiences, and their messy, complicated feelings etc. Teenagers go through a lot and are often met with very little understanding and sympathy from the adults around them (which we also see depicted in this book).

I wish I had a book like this when I was Lennon's age and was navigating conflicting feelings about family, religion, sex, sexuality, and shame. So much shame. I hope this book finds its way into the hands of whichever (autistic) teenager needs this and hope that they feel seen and know that they too, are the sun, moon, and stars.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual Rating 4.5/5 Stars

Publication Date: August 4th, 2026

First I want to thank Tundra Books and Jackie for having me be part of the travelling ARC team. It was awesome chance to read one of my lost anticipated releases and annotate my thoughts along the way.

Everything Comes Back To You is Jackie's third YA novel and probably her most ambitious because it covers the 4 year span of Lennon Hadid and her connection with John Brody who continues to come in and out of her orbit.

On top of that she is navigating 4 years of high school while also being autistic and being known as the sister whose der sister got pregnant her senior year.

This story is a roller coaster full of care, respect and understanding of what it means to be not only a teenage girl but a teenage girl who feels the weight of being first generation Palestinian Canada and her parents incredibly high expectations.

Jackie also takes care to address sex among teenagers, the stigma, the awkwardness and the inevitably that it happens so why not address in the context of consent and the practice of safe sex. I thought it was approached thoughtfully done and serviced a purpose for education not arousal.

As for the relationship between Lennon and John (yes this was intentional and There is whole Beatles subplot that I love) you can tell both of them wear their hearts on their sleeves but they all struggle to come together and commit because external forces. It's a four year journey of right person wrong time and I would love to revisit these characters as adults.

I think this is another fantastic YA that belongs on the shelf next to Jenny Han and John Green that tackles a multitude of  topics that an help young adults feeling seen.

[Katrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Tundra Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Everything Comes Back to You is beautifully told in four parts—ninth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grades. It follows Lennon, an autistic, Canadian-Palestinian teen, as she navigates life trying to be her parents’ perfect daughter while also searching for her own identity. When Lennon meets John, a boy her parents would never approve of, she instantly feels a connection to him and begins to question her beliefs. As the story progresses, Lennon and John are constantly pulled apart and brought back together throughout their four years of high school.

It’s difficult to review this book since so much happened in it. I will say it contains quite a few triggering topics, such as: teenage pregnancy, emotional abuse and manipulation, alcoholism, disordered eating, and depression to name a few. The story also explores more positive themes of family dynamics and forgiveness, friendship, first love, and having the courage to follow your dreams.

I would recommend this book for older teens, and as a discussion book for parents and teens. My favorite aspect of this book was probably Lennon’s relationship with her best friend, Andie. I also thought Lennon, John, and Georgie (Lennon’s older sister) were all very likable characters with a lot of depth. I can’t say I agree with every decision Lennon made, but I did enjoy reading her story, and I was rooting for her from the first page. This book is well-written, and I do think its message will resonate in some way with most readers.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rep: Autistic FMC, depression, Palestinian Canadian FMC

Thanks so much @penguinteenca, @tundrabooks, and @netgalley for the ARC! ECBTY is a coming-of-age novel that spans all four years of high school, following “good girl” Lennon as she navigates life under her parents’ strict cultural and religious expectations. When her older sister gets pregnant as a young teen, her family fractures, and the pressure for Lennon to be perfect intensifies. At the same time, she’s trying to figure out who she is, experiencing her first real crush, and falling in love.

There’s so much packed into this story: intergenerational trauma, the first-gen experience, familial pressure, purity culture, sister relationships, found family, first love, coming of age, independence, autism, and rebellion.

What really stood out to me was how relatable Lennon was. Some moments were so close to my own teen experience—the confusion and the push-and-pull between who she is and who she’s expected to be.

I also loved the relationship between Lennon and her best friend, Andie. May we all have a friend like Andie who both encouraged Lennon to grow and supported her and saw her for exactly who she was.

CWs: teen pregnancy, alcoholism, drug and substance abuse, emotional abuse, disordered eating, depression, death, cancer, underage drinking, purity culture

[Natalie ☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐️ Thank you so much to NetGalley & the publisher for the e-ARC!
Rep: own voices autism
This might be my favorite of Jackie’s! All of her books have been great, but I really liked this one - it’s so beautiful and emotional but also so real and funny and raw. She just so perfectly knows how to capture the experience of being a teenager/young adult, and I think she’s one of the best authors at doing this. I loved how this book was split up and how we followed Lennon from 9th grade to leaving for college. The format really allowed for us to see how much her character develops and how she grows as a person, and she was so likeable as a character. I also adored the romance plotline and how it tied into familial pressures and other significant conversations, but was also sweet and emotional. Highly recommend this one!!

[LiteratiGlitterati · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 - So good but ahhhhh this was so frustrating!!! The amount of control exerted over Lennon’s life was so hard to bear and so baffling that she could abstain from fighting back for so long. I kind of loved the way it all blew up, even though it was painful and utterly miserable, because it felt like the only possible outcome after all that mounting pressure and the war of familial protection, safety, control, morals vs. passion, freedom, true identity, love, and the desire to live unmasked. As usual I love Jackie Khalilieh’s work, in content, raw emotion, lyrical style, and even banter. I read this via NetGalley and would note it did seem to be a longer, earlier edit (with some dialogue still being worked out), as the page count is about 120 pages longer than what is listed here.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

***ARC FROM BOOKTROVERT NOT NETGALLEY***
(I tried to change but seems I’m unable)


I don’t usually read many coming of age novels anymore. At 30 I find it hard to resonate again with a younger mindset. With Everything Comes Back to You I didn’t have a choice! Lennon pulls you in with every word, every thought she has. I saw so much of myself in her - in her struggles with being a good daughter or a good friend, while still being true to herself. Her frankness and realistic autistic tendencies struck a chord while still making me laugh out loud at times. She said everything I wish I could have when I was her age. Beautifully written, I can’t wait to buy a physical copy to put on my trophy, sorry, book shelf when it’s out!

[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.

[Anisa Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

while I did enjoy the story line I could not get over the fact that for this being a YA it wasn't very clean, lots of language and physical things happening I was not comfortable reading about as these are young teenagers. Had I know that In advance I wouldn't have read this. I did however enjoy the idea of a the FMC having autism and being able to see love and life navigated differently. Some topics discussed teen pregnancy, overprotective parents, cultural differences, emotional abuse, depression. I would have liked an epilogue to see what the future held for the FMC. Overall the storyline was enjoyable although i did have to skip the intimate parts.

[Alicen Ricard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an arc of this book. It’s taken me a couple days to be able to write a review because I was kind of stunned to silence by this book. The characters were so messy and real. I understood everyone’s motivations and reasons for what they were doing even though they frustrated me with their choices. I thought the language was really beautiful and I loved the insight into Lennon’s mind. It was raw and real and this book with me sticking with me for a long time.

[Wendy Sinclair · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful,emotional, thoughtful book about a young woman discovering herself, who she is and who she wants to be. Perfectly, imperfect families. Perfectly, imperfect romance. Jackie Khalileh has written another moving YA romance that is real and messy just like life. Five stars. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy. This is my honest review.

[B Croz · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5?

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved everything about this book ❤️

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

heartbreaking, messy, and bittersweet. and absolutely stunning. Jackie's books are the some of the best of YA contemporary/romance <3

[Maren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This coming of age story explores first love, family expectations, and being true to yourself through the eyes of Lennon as she navigates four years of high school. It’s an emotionally beautiful book that so many will relate to.

[Basma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Jackie's books but this did not do it for me personally. Trying to fit four years in one book did not work and the pacing was so so off. The writing in between time jumps was still good but jumping around lessened the impacts of everything happen.

Also, I fear I was not rooting for this romance