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How to Build a Heart by Maria Padian


How to Build a Heart by Maria Padian was published 01/28/2020 by Algonquin Young Readers.  I was given a copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

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16 year old Izzy Crawford has struggled to fit in somewhere since her father died in Iraq 6 years ago, never returning from his employment as a Marine.  Izzy’s mom has worked multiple jobs, moving them constantly in search of something better.  When they make it to Virginia, Izzy finally feels like she’s starting to fit in…even though she hides her school scholarship, mother’s job, and where she lives from her friends and super popular new boyfriend.  When Habitat for Humanity gives her family a new house, Izzy will struggle to keep all of her secrets from colliding with her the life she has worked so hard to build.

Once I got past how shallow Izzy was acting, I really enjoyed this book.  I know what it’s like to hide your family from your “real life” as a teenager.  Her embarrassment was real to me, and brought back some of my own memories I fought hard to suppress.  The relationships in the book are so authentic, from her poor best friend to her long lost family members.  I was with her every step of the way as she struggled to understand why she had to struggle.  It was light hearted, but it wasn’t.  The ending definitely had me tearing up, and it ended in such a sweet way.

This was not my typical type of book.  I had no expectations when I requested this from NetGalley, but I’m so glad I did.  If you need a lighter read with a feel good ending, you’ll definitely want to grab this one.

🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 Stars

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