The Haters: A Novel

Three teens flee jazz camp for a rock and roll road trip in this “extremely entertaining” novel by the New York Times–bestselling author of Me and Earl and the Dying Girl(USA Today).

For Wes and his best friend, Corey, jazz camp turns out to be lame. It’s pretty much all dudes talking in Jazz Voice. But then they jam with Ash, a charismatic girl with an unusual sound, and the three just click. It’s three and a half hours of pure musical magic, and Ash makes a decision: They need to hit the road. Because the road, not summer camp, is where bands get good. Before Wes and Corey know it, they’re in Ash’s SUV heading south, and The Haters Summer of Hate Tour has begun . . . .This is a groundbreaking young adult novel about music, love, friendship, and freedom, following a quest by three friends to escape the law long enough to play the amazing show they hope (but also doubt) they have in them.

“Hilarious . . . I laughed so hard I scared my cat off the couch multiple times.” —The New York Times

“Terrific. Shocking and funny, unsettling and charming.” —Roddy Doyle, author of The Commitments

“Both a classic road trip novel and a contemporary and inventive teen adventure: they play (horribly) at a Chinese food buffet, hang at a commune, and almost get shot (twice!) . . . Issues of race, family, and socioeconomics (Wes was adopted from Venezuela as a baby; Ash’s mom is French and her dad is a Brazilian billionaire/serial philanderer) play subtly throughout the book.” —The Horn Book

“It’s . . . downright hilarious when they riff on band names, new songs or just living life.” —USA Today

“Uproariously funny . . . readers will be sucked into this story, a raunchy bromance in the vein of Superbad, which celebrates friendship and adventure . . . Effortlessly readable, deeply enjoyable.” —Booklist (starred review)

“Truly hilarious.” —Kirkus Reviews