Kindle
$13.49
Available instantly
Audible Logo Audiobook
$0.00
with membership trial
Hardcover
$15.81
Paperback
$9.89
$9.89 with 38 percent savings
List Price: $15.99

The List Price is the suggested retail price of a new product as provided by a manufacturer, supplier, or seller. Except for books, Amazon will display a List Price if the product was purchased by customers on Amazon or offered by other retailers at or above the List Price in at least the past 90 days. List prices may not necessarily reflect the product's prevailing market price.
Learn more
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Monday, May 13 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35. Order within 4 hrs 9 mins
In Stock
$$9.89 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$9.89
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon.com
Ships from
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Payment
Secure transaction
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access

Join or create book clubs

Choose books together

Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Explore Amazon Book Clubs
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Abdi Nazemian
+ Follow
More books from this author
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Like a Love Story Paperback – May 5, 2020

by Abdi Nazemian (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 787 ratings
See all formats and editions
{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$9.89","priceAmount":9.89,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"9","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"89","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"sRtOAM3pjy%2FJwnM2%2FPv5ltZSmyxCef7nXN%2FSkB%2FkNFpKV10t481Ukl7%2BlaV88%2BeL7x0FgSEkVTm%2FoQvIRi5%2BzDptIaxY7dPgW%2F7jJzEqtykJUCzMonFvhhZs%2BOp1szqV2bFV1JLx%2Fq36U7mxRuxJUg%3D%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

Stonewall Honor Book * A Time Magazine Best YA Book of All Time

"A book for warriors, divas, artists, queens, individuals, activists, trend setters, and anyone searching for the courage to be themselves.”—Mackenzi Lee, New York Times bestselling author of The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue

It’s 1989 in New York City, and for three teens, the world is changing.

Reza is an Iranian boy who has just moved to the city with his mother to live with his stepfather and stepbrother. He’s terrified that someone will guess the truth he can barely acknowledge about himself. Reza knows he’s gay, but all he knows of gay life are the media’s images of men dying of AIDS.

Judy is an aspiring fashion designer who worships her uncle Stephen, a gay man with AIDS who devotes his time to activism as a member of ACT UP. Judy has never imagined finding romance...until she falls for Reza and they start dating.

Art is Judy’s best friend, their school’s only out and proud teen. He’ll never be who his conservative parents want him to be, so he rebels by documenting the AIDS crisis through his photographs.

As Reza and Art grow closer, Reza struggles to find a way out of his deception that won’t break Judy’s heart—and destroy the most meaningful friendship he’s ever known.

This is a bighearted, sprawling epic about friendship and love and the revolutionary act of living life to the fullest in the face of impossible odds.

Read more Read less
Previous page
  1. Print length
    432 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Balzer + Bray
  4. Publication date
    May 5, 2020
  5. Grade level
    8 - 9
  6. Reading age
    13 - 17 years
  7. Dimensions
    5.31 x 0.97 x 8 inches
  8. ISBN-10
    0062839373
  9. ISBN-13
    978-0062839374
  10. See all details
Next page
Amazon First Reads | Editors' picks at exclusive prices

Frequently bought together

Like a Love Story
$9.89
Get it as soon as Monday, May 13
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
Last Night at the Telegraph Club
$7.98
Get it as soon as Monday, May 13
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
Felix Ever After
$10.79
Get it as soon as Monday, May 13
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
Choose items to buy together.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Nazemian paints a picture of late ‘80s queer life in New York City that’s neither romanticized nor viewed as only tragic…. [His] latest will remind readers that first love is isolating and unifying, exhilarating and terrifying, and every paradox in between.” — ALA Booklist (starred review)

“Three characters discover their inner truths at a time that sometimes feels apocalyptic for their community and loved ones…. The intense and nuanced emotions evoked by the characters’ journeys help to give this powerful novel by Nazemian a timeless relevance.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“At the height of the 1980s AIDS crisis, three teens grapple with love and friendship…. [A] truly lovely romance to cherish. Deeply moving.” — Kirkus Reviews

“A book for warriors, divas, artists, queens, individuals, activists, trend setters, and anyone searching for the courage to be themselves.” — Mackenzi Lee, New York Times bestselling author of The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue

“Like a Love Story is a fresh and poignant narrative about friends, family, friends who become family, and a society that is not always compassionate to those who need it most. I love this book with my entire heart. What a gift Abdi Nazemian has given us.” — Brandy Colbert, author of Stonewall Award winner Little & Lion

“A gorgeous, heart-wrenching book that explores love, loss, and forgiveness in all of their many forms. Abdi Nazemian deftly shows how we can only move forward by examining and embracing the past, and how anger and injustice can pave the way for a better and more hopeful future.”
— Robin Benway, National Book Award–winning author of Far from the Tree

“Like a Love Story brought me right back to the scene of my teen years... and it did so masterfully. This book made me sob, it made me laugh, it broke my heart and put it back together again. I absolutely loved it.” — Bill Konigsberg, Award-Winning Author of The Music of What Happens

Praise for THE AUTHENTICS: “As with the novels of Benjamin Alire Saenz or Randa Abdel-Fattah, Daria’s thought-provoking journey will resonate with teen readers of all backgrounds.” — Booklist (starred review)

Praise for THE AUTHENTICS: “The ferociously authentic Daria is a memorable protagonist.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Praise for THE AUTHENTICS: “A beautiful and compelling story about identity, race, and family love. A must read in an age where #weneeddiversebooks more than ever.” — Melissa de la Cruz, New York Times bestselling author

Praise for THE AUTHENTICS: “A charming and touching examination of everything that makes us who we are.” — Adi Alsaid, author of Let’s Get Lost and Never Always Sometimes

Praise for THE AUTHENTICS: “Will resonate with readers who have felt like they don’t know where they belong or who they want to be, and certainly with the children of immigrants who feel caught between worlds.” — Publishers Weekly

Praise for THE AUTHENTICS: “Surprisingly powerful…will appeal to any reader searching for identity and belonging, particularly those whose lives include two different cultures.” — Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

From the Back Cover

It’s 1989 in New York City, and for three teens, the world is changing.

Reza is an Iranian boy who has just moved to the city with his mother to live with his stepfather and stepbrother. He’s terrified that someone will guess the truth he can barely acknowledge about himself. Reza knows he’s gay, but all he knows of gay life are the media’s images of men dying of AIDS.

Judy is an aspiring fashion designer who worships her uncle Stephen, a gay man with AIDS who devotes his time to activism as a member of ACT UP. Judy has never imagined finding romance . . . until she falls for Reza and they start dating.

Art is Judy’s best friend, their school’s only out-and-proud teen. He’ll never be who his conservative parents want him to be, so he rebels by documenting the AIDS crisis through his photographs.

As Reza and Art grow closer, Reza struggles to find a way out of his deception that won’t break Judy’s heart—and destroy the most meaningful friendship he’s ever known.

This is a bighearted, sprawling epic about friendship and love and the revolutionary act of living life to the fullest in the face of impossible odds.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Balzer + Bray; Reprint edition (May 5, 2020)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 432 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0062839373
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0062839374
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 13 - 17 years
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 8 - 9
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.31 x 0.97 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 787 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Abdi Nazemian

Abdi Nazemian

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Abdi Nazemian spent his childhood in a series of exciting locations (Tehran, Paris, Toronto, New York), but could usually be found in his bedroom watching old movies and reading.

Abdi’s first novel, THE WALK-IN CLOSET, was awarded Best Debut at the Lambda Literary Awards. He has written three young adult novels, all published by Balzer + Bray / HarperCollins: THE AUTHENTICS (2017), LIKE A LOVE STORY (2019), and THE CHANDLER LEGACIES (2022). LIKE A LOVE STORY won a Stonewall Honor and was chosen by Time Magazine as one of the 100 best young adult books of all time.

Abdi has written for three television shows: NBC's ORDINARY JOE, Fox’s ALMOST FAMILY, and NBC’s THE VILLAGE. He has written six produced films including THE ARTIST’S WIFE (Strand Releasing, 2020) MENENDEZ: BLOOD BROTHERS (Lifetime, 2017), and THE QUIET (Sony Pictures Classics, 2006). He also wrote, directed and produced the short film REVOLUTION (2012). He is proud to say that his words have been spoken by the likes of Carmela Soprano, The Nanny, and The Girl With The Most Cake.

As Head of Development for Water’s End Productions, Abdi has been an executive producer or associate producer on numerous films, including CALL ME BY YOUR NAME, IT HAPPENED IN L.A., THE PRICE, THE HOUSE OF TOMORROW, and LITTLE WOODS.

Abdi lives in Los Angeles with his two children and husband, and holds dual citizenship between the United States and Canada.

Abdi is not the inspiration for Madonna’s children’s book “The Adventures of Abdi,” though he will forever insist that he is.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
787 global ratings
Stunning
5 Stars
Stunning
I LOVED this book. It’s full of heart, humility, humanity, courage, and queer history. A must read!
Hide
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

Brit *My Little Book Nook*
5.0 out of 5 stars I cannot sing this novel’s praises enough. It gets a billion stars and my highest recommendation.
Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2019
Verified Purchase
If you’re a fan of honest, hard-hitting contemporary YA, you need to read Like a Love Story.

I cannot, in recent memory, recall a book that has left me breathless and trembling quite like Like a Love Story. Days later and I am still given to bouts of overwhelming emotion because of this book. It’s brutally honest, witty, intriguing, and extremely diverse. It made me laugh and sob. It shattered my heart and left me sorrowful, but still filled me with happiness and hope. 

In my honest opinion, this is required reading.

These characters are works of art. Beautifully flawed, raw, and real. The passion and purpose that motivates them gave me chills, and even the secondary characters are brilliantly crafted. They have taken up residence in my heart and I will not soon forget them.

Like a Love Story is a wonderful coming of age story about finding oneself, finding purpose, and finding love. This story is affecting, thought-provoking, and compelling. It is unique and powerful, and it needs to be easily accessible to all people (and especially in high school libraries). Like a Love Story truly is a love story. It’s about loving yourself and embracing who you are, loving your history and others like you, loving the journey, and using that love to bring about change whenever and however you can.

And it’s also about loving Madonna.

I cannot sing this novel’s praises enough. It gets a billion stars from me and my highest recommendation.
19 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
FLPeter
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful
Reviewed in the United States on September 8, 2021
Verified Purchase
Take my word for it…Most gay romances will pale in comparison to this awesome entry. It makes the top 100 YA lists for a reason…justifiably!

The writing is beautiful….Pure magic….Just transports you.
The characters are diverse and well developed. So many supporting characters lend importance to the tale.

The novel gets sadder and heavier as it goes on, but it stays “real” and there are events, and dialogue, and character-evolving that will inspire you and give you some hope. Not a sugar-coated HEA ending, but enough to pull you away from your Kleenex box and feel like things will be ok.

I thought it was creative to have some of the uncle’s index cards on gay history highlighted here & there in the book. Nice touch.

My only small complaint is the Pulse tie-in at the end felt a bit too much. I liked that it was referenced along with other milestone events, but not that their annual meeting took place the weekend of the Pulse tragedy. I was like “I can’t take much more of this.” Just my humble opinion.

This author is amazing, and I’m off to see what else I can read by him. And to refer this book to my friends and family.
2 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Erica A. Guillot
4.0 out of 5 stars Great read
Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2021
Verified Purchase
Beautiful story with amazing characters and setting. It’s a little sexually graphic for what I consider young adult, but still a wonderful read.
Helpful
 Report
NataliaB
5.0 out of 5 stars Essential Book!!
Reviewed in the United States on July 8, 2020
Verified Purchase
Like a Love Story, it is a beautiful book that portrays the story of three teenagers in 1989, adolescence is a time of search, of discovery that is plagued with fears, pain and shame, and this book comes to counteract those feelings, brings Love and celebrate individuality. I hugged Reza, I felt like Judy and celebrated Art, although at the beginning as well as at the end I thought 'Wtf Art!' but you can't help but love him even so. Uncle Stephen, everyone needs a Uncle Stephen but Jimmy is the one who had my heart from the beginning.One of the most beautiful and powerful LGBTIQ books I have read, full of truth and strong voices. I definitely want my children to read this book, everyone should read this book and I would like to have those notes card from Uncle Stephen.I always wonder the same, how do I teach my children not to be ashamed? I teach them to be what they want, to dream big, not to use labels, to listen, to be strong and to be proud but all that is nothing if we fail to teach them not to be ashamed, for be and for ask and speak out loud.This book talks a lot about this andhave this beautiful characters that get in to you. I absolutely recommend it and I regret not having it on paper with that beautiful cover, surely it would be full of underlines, notes as I remain in my reader
4 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
DVM95
5.0 out of 5 stars I THOROUGHLY Loved This Book!!!
Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2020
Verified Purchase
I THOROUGHLY loved this book!!! It was a very nostalgic trip back to high school life in 1989.
The novel is set in New York City (1989) and tells the tale of three high school seniors.
Reza is an Iranian immigrant who has just moved to the city with his mother to live with his stepfather and stepbrother. He's terrified that someone will guess the truth he can barely acknowledge about himself. Reza knows he's gay, but all he knows of gay life are the media's images of men dying of AIDS.
Judy is an aspiring fashion designer who worships her uncle Stephen, a gay man with AIDS who devotes his time to activism as a member of ACT UP. Judy has never imagined finding romance...until she falls for Reza and they start dating.
Art is Judy's best friend, their school's only out and proud student. He'll never be who his conservative parents want him to be, so he rebels by documenting the AIDS crisis through his photographs.
The love triangle emerges as Reza realizes that his attempts to date Judy are not going to make him straight.....AND as he begins to fall in love with Art. Can these boys find happiness together without completely ruining their individual friendships with Judy?
Reza's feelings of fear, self-loathing, and trying to NOT be gay resonated true with my own experiences on the journey of self-acceptance.
This novel is a very touching and inspiring rememberance of a time when the gay community was first navigating the spectre of the AIDS epidemic in America. As such, it stirs up a mixture of emotions.....I cried, I laughed, but ultimately I experienced hope.
6 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Steph L
5.0 out of 5 stars A heavy but great novel
Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2021
Verified Purchase
This novel is about the AIDS Crisis so you know from the summary that it’s not a lighthearted story. I loved the characters they were so well crafted. I loved the story, yes it was heavy, but it is an emotional story, and there are fun moments. The writing in this book is fantastic. I loved the romance and the New York Setting. This is not a fun story, but I enjoyed my time reading it.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
Daniel lozano
5.0 out of 5 stars Bello! Excelente libro, divertido y emotivo
Reviewed in Mexico on December 22, 2022
Verified Purchase
Excelente libro, muy bien redactado, me hizo recordar mis épocas de preparatoria. Conecte con los personajes y me transporto a la época, con elementos de la cultura pop!
Report
Ana Carla Campos
5.0 out of 5 stars o que é amor? será possível descreve-lo?
Reviewed in Brazil on July 15, 2021
Verified Purchase
Tem como ler esse livro 20 vezes? Porque quero muito vivenciar essa história para o resto da minha vida. Esse foi um dos livros que acabei pensando: "Como seria incrível uma adaptação dessa história de amor"; amor? o que é amor? tantas descrições, um sentimento tão amplo, seria possível colocá-lo em apenas uma caixa? Essa história me fez refletir sobre o amor, o quão diferente ele pode ser para cada um de nós. Só leiam!
One person found this helpful
 Report
Allan’s Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Love Like A Love Story
Reviewed in Canada on July 20, 2019
Verified Purchase
I almost never give five-star reviews and I certainly haven’t ever given one before I finish a book but by the time I got to the end of #75 Love, I knew this book was made for breaking my own rules. The characters come to life and it’s just so wonderfully queer and so deliciously 80s — tinged with all the pain that comes with queer + 80s.
Report
Damien
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing book!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 22, 2020
Verified Purchase
I love! Love! Love! This book. Its a bit on the expenisve side but the queslity of the book is amazing and the story is so gripping and u want to know what happens next. I highly recommend this book for pride or anytime .
One person found this helpful
 Report
emanuele
3.0 out of 5 stars Non male
Reviewed in Italy on September 16, 2019
Verified Purchase
Ho letto questo libro, in lingua inglese, su consiglio di un amico, perché cercavo storie ambientate a New York e poi perché sono un fan di Madonna da lungo tempo. La storia è molto carina, solo che l'ho trovata un po' naive. Personaggi un po' abbozzati, però devo dire che la vicenda cattura e si segue e le tematiche sono davvero molto importanti.
One person found this helpful
 Report