Symptoms of a Heartbreak - by Sona Charaipotra (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

"Doogie Howser, M.D. meets The Fault in Our Stars in this tender romcom." --Teen Vogue

The youngest doctor in America, an Indian-American teen makes her rounds--and falls head over heels--in Sona Charaipotra's contemporary romantic comedy Symptoms of a Heartbreak.

Sixteen-year-old Saira has always juggled family, friendships, and her Girl Genius celebrity. Now, as the youngest med school graduate ever, she can finally achieve her mission to treat young people dealing with cancer.

But proving herself in life-or-death situations is tough when everyone from her boss to her patients can't see past her age to trust her skills. And working in the same hospital as her mom isn't making things any easier!

Life gets even more complicated when Saira falls for a teenage patient. To improve his chances, she risks her lifelong dream--and it could cost her everything.

In her solo debut, Sona Charaipotra brings us a compelling #ownvoices protagonist who's not afraid to chase what she wants. Symptoms of a Heartbreak goes from romantic comedy highs to tearjerker lows and is the ultimate cure-all for every reader needing an infusion of something heartfelt.

An Imprint Book

"Fans of YA contemporary don't want to miss this one." --Buzzfeed

Review Quotes

"A rom-com with heart." --People

"Informative and thought-provoking... Charaipotra delicately balances the haunting realities of grief and despair with a nuanced lightness and warmth." --Entertainment Weekly

"Charaipotra masterfully delivers a rich, multi-layered story, sprinkled with news articles, texts, and sarcastic diagnoses that are well worth the reading." --NPR

"A smart, tender and thoughtful exploration of loving in the face of heartbreaking circumstances."
--Nicola Yoon, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of Everything Everything and The Sun Is Also a Star

"Saira's antics as a female, Indian American Doogie Howser kept me glued to the edge of my seat from the first page to the last. Symptoms of a Heartbreak is the summer rom-com to add to your list!"
--Sandhya Menon, New York Times-bestselling author of When Dimple Met Rishi

"Tender, insightful, and full of hope. Readers will fall in love with Girl Genius Saira, who is fierce, brilliant, flawed, and utterly relatable. Her journey reminds us that the human heart is fragile but has strength beyond measure. Doctor's Orders: Read Symptoms of a Heartbreak STAT."
--Samira Ahmed, New York Times-bestselling author of Love, Hate & Other Filters and Internment

"Equal parts compelling and charming, this pitch-perfect rom-com is just what the doctor ordered! Symptoms of a Heartbreak is absolutely unputdownable."
--Julie Murphy, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of Dumplin'

"Symptoms of a Heartbreak is the book I always wanted, and desperately needed, when I was growing up. Sona proves that she's a master storyteller who has gifted readers with unforgettable characters, a page-turning conflict, and a story that will stay in your heart long after it's over."
--Nisha Sharma, author of My So-Called Bollywood Life

"Saira's extended Indian-American family adds lively warmth to the medical drama." --Publishers Weekly

"A charming debut... offering rich, nuanced portrayals of Indian American family and professional life." --Kirkus Reviews

"A warm, bitingly funny rom-com about finding your feet." --Booklist

"Grey's Anatomy meets When Dimple Met Rishi in this medical romance centered around America's youngest doctor... Give to fans of romance and medical dramas such as John Green's The Fault in Our Stars." --School Library Journal

About the Author

Sona Charaipotra is not a doctor--much to her pediatrician parents' chagrin. She has worked as a celebrity reporter at People and TeenPeople and has contributed to publications ranging from the New York Times to TeenVogue. She uses her master's in screenwriting from NYU and her MFA in creative writing from the New School to poke plot holes in her favorite teen TV shows--for work, of course. She is the cofounder of CAKE Literary, a boutique book packaging company with a decidedly diverse bent, and the coauthor of the YA dance dramas Tiny Pretty Things and Shiny Broken Pieces, as well as the psychological thriller The Rumor Game. She is a proud We Need Diverse Books team member. Find her on the web or on Twitter.