Why We Broke Up

By: Daniel Handler

Narrated by: Khristine Hvam

"I'm telling you why we broke up, Ed. I'm writing it in this letter, the whole truth of why it happened."

Min Green and Ed Slaterton are breaking up, so Min is writing Ed a letter and giving him a box. Inside the box is why they broke up. Two bottle caps, a movie ticket, a folded note, a box of matches, a protractor, books, a toy truck, a pair of ugly earrings, a comb from a motel room, and every other item collected over the course of a giddy, intimate, heartbreaking relationship. Item after item is illustrated and accounted for, and then the box, like a girlfriend, will be dumped.

Please note: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.

©2011 Daniel Handler (P)2011 Hachette

Critic reviews

"Written with an emotional depth that allows both adult and teen readers to revisit memories of heartbreak and find pieces of themselves in Min--and maybe even Ed, Why We Broke Up will leave you wondering how Handler knows exactly what it's like to be a teenage girl in love." (Amazon.com review)

"The Lemony Snicket author (writing under his own name) convincingly inhabits the mind of Min, a teenage girl reeling from her first heartbreak. This poignant, bittersweet novel centers on a box of objects infused with memories of her brief, unforgettable love." ( Entertainment Weekly)

Sound Effects Rock!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. The addition of the sound effects was fantastic.

What does Khristine Hvam bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She read the part of a teenaged girl who's recounting a bad break up very well. I also like the voice she used for Ed.

I never thought I would miss high school

This story is in no way even remotely close to my own experience in high school, but Handler has managed to evoke the way things felt and the way kids interact. He has managed to remind me that there were actually good things about high school. That there were good things about teenagers. And he's done it without ignoring the rotten things about teenagers and high school. And without resorting to some gimmicky trick like underappreciated geniuses or special needs kids or drug problems or social consciousness raising. He just tells a normal simple very real story, but with really vivid compelling characters. Maybe I shouldn't call it normal and simple. First loves can be so intense and so affecting. And yet it's normal in that everyone has been through it. Handler just does such a terrific job of evoking every single detail. Khristine Hvam does a fantastic job of capturing the nuances of how kids talks; different from my generation, but not so different from how my own kids talked at that age.

Students love it!

The book is homework reading in my class. Mostly girls select it, but even my reluctant readers struggle to put the book down. The only flaw with the audio version is there is no artwork.

A great book, with solid narration

I loved, loved, loved this book. I identified with Min from my teenage years and unpopular group of friends -- although I must say the teens in this book are a bit cooler than I remember anyone being when I was that age. The one thing that's lost in the audio book is Maira Kalman's illustrations of the things in the box. It's worth buying a print copy as well.

Good YA, not great.

I really wanted to love this after reading “and then, and then, what else” which is loved and underlined, but the story was lacking, and the end felt a little limp. I would have loved to dive into a deeper dimension with the characters.

Not as anticipated...? Disappointed.

Maybe I missed something, but I was not aware that this book was this type of fiction when I bought it.
The writing really leaves a lot to be desired even for this type of young genre; and I have to say that there was no way I could finish it.
Really predictable dialogue did not help; while this genre is not my fav at all, this was not a good example of writing in it.

heart broken guy so maybe not for me

I was recommended this book by a friend as I'm going through a horrible breakup with my ex partner of 11 years, hoping I would find it helpful. it was not. Not only is the story VERY teenage and melodramatic but also very negative when reading as a male presenting person. the narrator however was wonderful and I'll be sure to look for more of their work.

I hated this book!

What disappointed you about Why We Broke Up?

I was so excited to read this! (well I listened to the audio book) I was seriously disappointed, it was long and boring and just not very good, I wish I hadnt of wasted my money, its about a girl who dates a boy for 1 month and he is a jock she is a weird film girl, like indie or hipster type, anyways, they date. They break up, she is writing to him on why whilst giving back any relic she had saved from her relationship to him.
Its boring, it gets ok toward the end when it hits the climax, which is EXTREMELY PREDICTABLE. I listened to the whole thing thinking it would get better.
The entire thing is like the winey, woah is me first chapter of Twilight.

Would you ever listen to anything by Daniel Handler again?

I dont know if they're like this, then no.

What aspect of Khristine Hvam’s performance would you have changed?

she was fine

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

frustrastion, Take all the worst parts of 500 days of summer and make this immature teenagers and BAM you have this book.

Any additional comments?

wouldn't suggest reading it. I was so excited and it just lacked any redeeming fact for me. :/

Wasn't for me!

Very boring! Couldn't listen to most of it and fast forwarded. Want my money back :/