Why We Broke Up

Why We Broke Up is a 2011 novel by Daniel Handler (better known as Lemony Snicket), with art by Maira Kalman. It is told from the viewpoint of teenager Min Green, addressed to her recent ex-boyfriend, Ed Slaterton, a few weeks after their breakup. As Min explains in the opening pages, the novel itself is a letter to Ed, accompanying a box of possessions that she is returning to him, detailing why they broke up.


 * All There in the Manual: In-universe, the novel itself functions as this. It details all of Ed and Min's relationship, and why it came to an end.
 * Bittersweet Ending:
 * Cool Big Sis: Joan.
 * Epistolary Novel: The story’s framing device is Min writing a letter to Ed explaining to him why she broke up with him. It’s not entirely clear how much of the novel is part of her letter and how much is Min reminiscing, but certain comments she makes during her narration (like when she mentions near the end that her pen is running out of ink) imply that the entire novel is the letter.
 * Exact Words: How Ed justifies
 * Exactly What It Says on the Tin
 * Foregone Conclusion: Assuming you read the title, you know that Ed and Min are going to break up at the end.
 * Irony:
 * I Want My Beloved to Be Happy:
 * Just Friends: Min insists this is the case between her and Al, although Ed continually thinks there’s something more.
 * Opposites Attract: Ed and Min. It's commented on by most of the other characters in the novel, who can't see why they're together.
 * The Movie Buff: Min has a thing for older movies.
 * The Reveal: The reason Ed and Min broke up.
 * Second Person Narration: The novel is narrated by Min, but addressed to, "you, Ed."
 * Title Drop: About every other chapter ends with some variation of "...and that's why we broke up."
 * Their First Time: Ed and Min end up getting a hotel room while Ed’s parents are out of town. Although Min is nervous at first, since she was a virgin before Ed, and afterwards she briefly reflects on the fact that while she’s never done this before, Ed has.