Title: Don’t Let It Break Your Heart
Author: Maggie Horne
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Publication date: August 27, 2024
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Summary
Alana and Gray have always been a package deal. For them, dating just made sense. After all, everyone at school already considered them a perfect couple. Alana coming out as a lesbian shouldn’t change their status as a perfect couple. Nothing needs to change, except they’ll no longer be dating. They did it before, they can do it again.
However, everything gets complicated when they both fall for the new girl–Tal. Alana doesn’t know how to tell Gray about her feelings becuase this is all new territory for them. Alana has to decide if she wants to embrace her queerness–or just stick to what she knows.
Review: Don’t Let It Break Your Heart
Thanks to Feiwel and Friends and NetGalley for an advanced copy of Don’t Let It Break Your Heart by Maggie Horne to review! The moment I saw this cover on NetGalley, I knew that I had to read it. This is Horne’s YA debut, and she honestly knocks it out of the park. From great characters to complex relationships, there’s so many great things going on this book.
I loved the way that Alana and Gray’s relationship changed throughout the book. You can tell they’re trying to navigate their new situation, but neither of them really wants to disappoint the other. And neither of them really wants things to change; at least at the beginning. Part of Alana’s journey in the book is figuring out what she actually wants in her future; and not basing where she goes on what other people want. Definitely something that will be relatable to teen readers.
Though Alana and Gray are kind of the stars of the show, the side characters get a chance to shine as well, especially Tal. Tal partly helps Alana to learn to accept her queerness and to become a part of a queer community. She helps Alana to learn how to have confidence in herself, which is a great storyline for those that might also be struggling with their sexuality. At the end, Alana has to learn how to have confidence in herself and to put herself first; something that Tal helps her learn along the way.
All in all, if you enjoy character-driven novels with complext relationships, definitely check this out when it comes out at the end of August!
4.5/5 stars