Adib Khorram’s brilliant debut, Darius the Great, was for anyone who has ever felt not good enough—then met a friend who makes them feel so much better than okay.

Khorram’s new book, Kiss & Tell, is the story of a boy band star who is the only gay member of the band.  Hunter never expected to be a boy band star, but, well, here he is. He and his band Kiss & Tell are on their first major tour of North America, playing arenas all over the United States and Canada (and getting covered by the gossipy press all over North America as well). Hunter just had a very painful breakup with his first boyfriend–leaked sexts, public heartbreak, and all–and now everyone expects him to play the perfect queer role model for teens.

But Hunter isn’t really sure what being the perfect queer kid even means. Does it mean dressing up in whatever The Label tells him to wear for photo shoots and pretending never to have sex? (Unfortunately, yes.) Does it mean finding community among the queer kids at the meet-and-greets after K&T’s shows? (Fortunately, yes.) Does it include a new relationship with Kaivan, the drummer for the band opening for K&T on tour? (He hopes so.) But when The Label finds out about Hunter and Kaivan, it spells trouble—for their relationship, for the perfect gay boy Hunter plays for the cameras, and, most importantly, for Hunter himself.

About the Author…

Adib Khorram is a queer Iranian-American. His books have won several awards and accolades, such as the William C. Morris Award, Asian Pacific-American Award for Literature, a Boston Globe–Horn Book Honor, a Stonewall Honor, and been named one of TIME’s 100 Best YA Books of All Time.  He grew up in Kansas City, Missouri, and spent his summers with his extended family in Vancouver, British Columbia. When he’s not at his desk, you can find him playing his Fender Stratocaster, working on his crossovers, or trying to find decent poutine south of the 49th Parallel.

Cosponsored by the National Iranian American Council Iowa Chapter whose mission is to educate  and engage the Iranian-American community, and to highlight the work of Iranian Americans.   Please RSVP to attend the book talk.