How to Excavate a Heart by Jake Maia Arlow
Product details
Web ID: 17689032A Cute Wintery Read
I first heard about this book on Twitter when the author revealed this adorable cover. I'm happy to say that there is corgi content! His name is Raphael and he's fantastic! Other than Raphael, my favourite character was Shani, I appreciated the growth she went through as the story progressed. I also thought her relationship with May was cute but I wish that it could have been more developed. One thing that I was really intrigued by was Shani's internship in the paleoichthyology division of a museum. Unfortunately this wasn't a main focus to the plot and I found myself wanting to hear more about it, especially because Shani was determined to get the spot in the first place. While being a cute wintery romance, How to Excavate a Heart also talked about more serious topics such as toxic relationships. I thought that this created more depth to the plot and helped me connect with the characters on more of an emotional level. However I would have also enjoyed more character development using light hearted moments. Overall a cute holiday read but I would have loved to dive into Shani's internship a bit more and the characters as individuals.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Romcom-ish
After her first heartbreak, college freshman Shani swears off relationships. Until she meets May, whom Shani's mother hit with her car. Naturally, May is a bit hostile at first. But as they get to know each other, an attraction develops between May and Shani. Will Shani's past come between them? This book is romcom-ish, more quirky than funny. I like that it features women in STEM, as well as Jewish characters navigating conflicting feelings about the winter holiday season. Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
M e s s y lesbian representation!
I can’t say enough how much I wish I had been able to read this book when I was a teenager. Even as a jaded reader in her 20s, it meant the world to follow May and Shani through their adventures in snowy DC while they navigate the relationships they have with their friends, families, and each other. Everyone should read this book, but especially sapphics who have ever experienced crushes and heartbreak. Also, you quite simply will know more about fish by the time you finish the book than you did when you first opened it. Top tier contemporary YA.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Loved this book!
This book was super cute! I had so much fun reading it :) This would be a great gift during the holidays
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
holiday magic!
As a queer, Christmas-loving, jewish, hopeless romantic, this book is like a holiday gift that I get to excitedly unwrap all year round. Jake's beautiful description of details, from fish fossils to awkward coffee shop interactions, made me fall in love with the weird, funny characters quicker than they fell in love with each other, and more importantly themselves. I was moved to the point of tears, and I laughed to the point of tears, (my copy is definitely water damaged at this point). Without giving anything away, get ready to fall madly in love with DC winters, corgis, family, friendships and a romance that will melt even the coldest hearts.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
A Must Read
I thoroughly loved reading this book!! After Jake Maia Arlow’s debut, Almost Flying, I am officially in the fan club and look forward to reading all of her future books, as well as gifting her books to many people in my life. The book is a page-turner, witty, funny, and perfectly crafted. Highly recommend!!
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
OBSESSED WITH THIS BOOK
Lesbians of the world rejoice--the perfect lesbian romcom exists! You will fall for these girls as they fall for each other and into the snow. Arlow writes with humor, compassion, tenderness, and a great love of corgis. As a DC lesbian myself, I'd like to know how Arlow copied my diary of the gayest dates I've been in around the District of Columbia. Reading this book felt like finding a piece of myself trapped in a fairy light romcom and I couldn't have loved it more.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Great read!
Beautifully written, will read everything from this author going forward <3
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com