The Exes

Can opposites ever really attract? 
 
When star-crossed lovers Karim and Zara's worlds collide, they have to work out just how far they&rsquo;re willing to go to give their love a chance. 
 
When Karim and Zara meet, sparks shouldn&rsquo;t fly. 
 
They&rsquo;ve got nothing in common: Karim - with his on-and offline clique, The Exes - is a globally renowned influencer. Zara is just a normal teen, trying to get into uni, and not bring shame to the family by getting distracted by silly boys. 
 
Sparks do fly though. 
 
With Zara, Karim can finally let his guard down, while his glamorous world offers Zara an escape from her parent&rsquo;s control. 
 
But someone has their eye on them &ndash; a secret gossip who&rsquo;s been spilling truths about The Exes for years. 
 
While Karim and Zara&rsquo;s dates get swoonier, the blogger&rsquo;s posts get more personal &ndash; and more threatening. 
 
Can Karim and Zara unmask their tormentor in time to get their happily ever after? Or does fate have other plans in store for them?

A magnetic opposites-attract romance that's so much more than meets the eye! The Exes is a rich, layered story that doesn't shy away from the difficult topics, deftly exploring sexism, Islamophobia, and much more through characters who are flawed, real, and difficult not to root for.

Author of Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating

A smart, funny, heartwarming novel that perfectly captures the intensity of young love and the heartbreak of complicated family dynamics. I was completely immersed in the glamorous world of The Exes, spent the whole book cheering Zara and Karim on, and adored the rich fullness of all the friends and family who shaped their story. A brilliantly written debut that confidently explores important social issues through a story brimming with warmth and wit that that you&rsquo;ll be thinking about long after you read the final page.

THE EXES is a brilliant, devastating and dizzying read that you&rsquo;ll absolutely devour. Packed full of romance, heart, humour and an unflinching look at the impacts of culture and community both on- and offline, make sure you bump this to the top of your TBR!

Author of the bestselling YA series The Kissing Booth

Anam Iqbal is a debut author and her writing is inspired by her experiences growing up as a British Pakistani Muslim woman in London. She holds an MSc in Social Anthropology from the University of Oxford, where her thesis explored the identity of British South Asians in contemporary London. In her spare time, you can find her swooning over romances on TikTok @anamiiqbal with her 44,000+ followers.

Anam Iqbal

For fans of Today Tonight Tomorrow My Week with Him and 10 Things I hate About You all with a brilliant South Asian twist by emerging YA talent Anam Iqbal. 
 
Aliya and Kabir are rivals, willing to do whatever it takes to be top of the class. 
 
At their elite private school, Kabir is basically royalty. He prides himself on being loved by everyone, teachers included. 
 
Everyone except Aliya, the scholarship student. To her, he represents everything she hates. He’s rich, obnoxious and pokes fun at her at every chance he gets. 
 
When forced to pair up during uni applications, their rivalry intensifies. Tensions build and they must confront their complicated history. Though they’d never admit it now, they were once so much more than enemies. As they spend more time together, Aliya begins to let her guard down with him. 
 
Maybe she doesn’t really hate Kabir – and maybe he doesn’t hate her either? 
 
Or perhaps this is just another one of their games…..

Anam Iqbal

Books by Anam Iqbal

Follow penguin

Follow ladybird

Follow puffin

Sign up to the Penguin newsletter