Just Another Epic Love Poem

Best friendship blossoms into something more in this gorgeously written queer literary romance.

"The heartache and longing of witnessing a beloved character pine hopelessly over her best friend has never brought me this much unadulterated joy." -National Book Award Finalist Sonora Reyes, author of The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School

Over the past five years, Mitra Esfahani has known two constants: her best friend Bea Ortega and The Book--a dogeared moleskin she and Bea have been filling with the stanzas of an epic, never-ending poem since they were 13.

For introverted Mitra, The Book is one of the few places she can open herself completely and where she gets to see all sides of brilliant and ebullient Bea. There, they can share everything--Mitra's complicated feelings about her absent mother, Bea's heartache over her most recent breakup--nothing too messy or complicated for The Book.

Nothing except the one thing with the power to change their entire friendship: the fact that Mitra is helplessly in love with Bea.

Told in lyrical, confessional prose and snippets of poetry Just Another Epic Love Poem takes readers on a journey that is equal parts joyful, heartbreaking, and funny as Mitra and Bea navigate the changing nature of I love you.

Author: Parisa Akhbari
Publisher: Dial Books
Published: 03/12/2024
Pages: 400
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.08lbs
Size: 8.55h x 5.86w x 1.09d
ISBN: 9780593530498
Audience: Young Adult


Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 12/11/2023
Kirkus Reviews 01/15/2024
Booklist 02/01/2024 pg. 60
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 03/01/2024

About the Author
Parisa Akhbari is a writer and mental health therapist from Seattle, Washington. When not writing or therapizing, she can be found trying to replicate her grandmother's drool-worthy Persian recipes, hanging out with disability community, and marathoning sci-fi movies with her partner and dogs. Just Another Epic Love Poem is her debut novel.