Title: How to Excavate a Heart
Author: Jake Maia Arlow
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication date: November 1, 2022
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Summary
Shani has the ultimate plan for her holiday break, in order to get over a tough break up. Her perfect escape: a paleoichthyology internship in Washington D.C. It’ll help her get her mind off her ex-girlfriend and on something more productive. So, she’s sworn off romance for the duration of winter break.
However, everything changes when Shani’s mom almost runs over a girl in the street. Shani is embrassed, but doesn’t think anything of it. Until she ends up running into that girl again after volunteering to walk her dad’s dog. When the two are trapped together on Christmas Eve, sparks start to fly. This could be the distraction Shani needs. But is she really ready to jump into another relationship so soon?
Review: How to Excavate a Heart
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperTeen for an advanced copy of How to Excavate a Heart to review! I’m always looking for great new holiday romances, and while this one isn’t super heavy on the holiday, it’s a treat! You’ll definitely want to add it to your winter TBRs.
How to Excavate a Heart reads like a typical rom-com. An accidental meet up leads to something more. The setting is around Christmas, but both of our protagonists are Jewish. They have quite a few conversations about the overall holiday season and I thought they were great. They added a different perspective to the typical holiday romance we see, and we need more of that!
The evolving romance between Shani and May is also adorable. Yes, they make teenage mistakes, but that’s to be expected. Also, some of the subject matter gets a bit heavier than I was expecting. Be warned if you jump into this one, there are some discussions about sexual assualt. It adds an emotional depth but doesn’t take away from that mostly lighthearted feel. I would equate it to the way Heartstopper deals with eating disorders/depression/anxiety.
All in all, if you’re looking for an emotionally deep holiday story not centered around Christmas, I recommend checking this one out!
4/5 stars