Everything Sucks

Young Adult Speaking Tiger 2024

Kashish Asif, a popular Instagrammer, navigates life at 18, accompanied by her widowed father, and occasionally present older sister. As her witty reels earn her a large following, she falls into an online battle with Sameer, an aspiring cook and budding Instagrammer. But their playful conflict soon gets blown out of proportion through an error of judgement.

Then, unexpectedly, they meet in real life. And even more unexpectedly, sparks fly between them. When reality creeps in, and an unfortunate incident forces them to unplug from their phones, they will need to figure out how to deal with life and relationships away from the screens.

Is it possible to find a real friend (or someone more than a friend) in a world where reactions are staged, people pretend to date each other for the likes, and the only constant is that everything really, really sucks?

From the bestselling author of Asmara’s Summer, filmed as the popular web series Dil Dosti Dilemma, comes a pitch-perfect teenage drama about friendship, family, and finding love in unexpected places.

Reviews & praise

What readers are saying

★★★★★

“Loved this new one by Andaleeb Wajid - it's a story about two Instagram influencers so a lot of aspects were very relatable, but beyond that I loved the way modern teenage relationships as well as familial bonds have been portrayed. The death of a loved one is traumatic in so many ways and that angle has also been explored in a nuanced manner in this one. Loved it!”

— Amazon review

“Being a lifetime fan of Andaleeb and her work, Everything sucks is yet another masterpiece, she weaves a storyline that is special and speaks volume to today’s generation. The budding story of Kashish and Sameer, their Instagram influencer journey, yummy food, wholesome familial relationships is what makes the book even more special. This book was a gift to me by my best friend so it is all the more special to me. You need to pick this up!”

“A major accomplishment of this book must be the sensibility with which it portrays fun, lighter moments just as well as deeper moments of the characters’ inner struggle. There is a depiction of family dynamics in South-Indian Muslim families, and the way they are all linked one family to another. The episodes describing traditional dishes, and Sameer cooking and making videos along with his brother and grandmother have an endearing effect and an aesthetic appeal.”

— Kids Book Cafe · Magazine review

Read the full review

“This book is a breeze to read. A refreshing one from the adult fiction genre. Andaleeb Wajid has a lovely knack of touching the depth of human relations and pressure-filled environment of social media in a manner that makes the reader enjoy the book, but at the same time question the current times that we live in. Her flair for delving into both these aspects without seeming to preach about them is exemplary.”

— The Book Review India · Magazine review

“The book is a light fiction read that touches upon authentic emotions against the background of modern lives (where Instagram also plays an integral part!). Everything Sucks by Andaleeb Wajid is an easy to read, heartwarming and interesting teenage drama that is sure to connect with the teenage and young adult readers.”

— Booked For Life · Blogger review