Build a Girlfriend is fun and chaotic with lots of summer vibes. It took me a little bit to really get into it, but once I got used to the characters & their personalities I started to fly through it. The loud and chaotic family trope is one that is overwhelming for me and right out of the gate you’re thrown into the Hernandez family madness. Once I got used to it, I enjoyed seeing the back and forth between all of the aunties. There are quite a few moments that tug at your heartstrings with several of the characters, not just our main character, Amelia. She’s lovable and funny. She’s also clumsy. The secondhand embarrassment I felt was crippling and thank god for little sisters because Sofia was perfection. *chefs kiss* As far as Amelia’s history with Leon, you’re left in the dark about specifics for most of the book & it felt like the right balance of him being this nice guy, but can he be trusted. I was dying to find out what happened because it’s difficult to dislike him. He’s a fantastic book boyfriend.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster for sending me an advance copy & thank you to NetGalley for the e-arc.

amelia hernandez has grown up hearing about her family’s curse: no woman in her family has ever had a long-lasting relationship. she’s determined to be the exception, though. so, she tracks down her exes to figure out where she went wrong to become a better girlfriend. when she unwillingly reunites with her ex leon, she decides this is a good opportunity to get a little revenge for how their relationship ended. however, this is much easier said than done, as her old feelings are rekindled.

i was so excited to read this book as soon as i heard its title, so i’m glad i got to read an early copy! this book was so funny, but had its serious moments, too, which makes a perfect rom-com, at least in my book. i really felt for amelia’s struggles with her love life and familial expectations. i loved how these aspects played out throughout the book, and i think they were handled with care.

i’d recommend this book to anyone who enjoys YA rom-coms. i can’t wait to see what’s next from elba luz!

Plenty of laughs and relationship advice wrapped up in revenge that goes astray. Fantastic entrance to the world of being a published author! Can’t wait to see what’s next.

Amelia Hernandez's latest breakup is, sadly, no surprise. Her family is "cursed" to never have a lasting relationship, and only daughters are born in the brief relationships that do occur. The eight-woman Hernandez household may be primarily dedicated to opening their dream bakery, but now Amelia's mother, aunts, and sisters are turning their attention to a new project: helping her beak her curse. And to do that, she's going to go back and date all her exes, using data from each date to build up "what works" in the dating scene.

There's just one problem: Leon, who dumped her on her birthday and disappeared for two years, is back in town. And he and his dad are helping with construction of the bakery. He seems more than happy to act like nothing went wrong between them, but Amelia still hurts. So her plan takes a new turn: she'll win his heart, then crush it just like he crushed hers. But maintaining her many secret and goals becomes harder. Because there's one more thing she hasn't told anyone: she doesn't want to work in the bakery, and she's saving up to go on a gap year program. Can she get the money she needs, succeed in her plan to break Leon's heart, and break the Hernandez curse? Or are her feelings for Leon something more than anger?

Build a Girlfriend follows what's becoming kind of a standardized YA rom-com plot progression: character has something bad happen to them, has terrible idea, lies about terrible idea, world comes crashing down around them, and then they have to atone. This doesn't make the book itself bad, of course. It's absolutely formulaic, but Luz tells an important story with that formula that will resonate for many firstborns. The tug-of-war between finding out who you really are and being a people-pleaser is real. And for all that Build a Girlfriend follows the YA beats, it has a valid and wholehearted message about the possibility of standing up for yourself while showing love to others.

Very cute YA romance with a focus on the importance of being yourself and finding someone who loves you for who you are and not who you can be for them. Our heroine, Amelia, has a great deal of character in that she is much more than one thing at a time, a vivid and lively protagonist who doesn’t always make the best decisions - and who among us always does - but learns from her mistakes and grows exponentially over the course of the novel.

I also enjoyed the additional themes of self-discovery, the importance of family, and also the willingness of the adults in the novel to apologize to the teenagers when they make a mistake. It’s as rare in life for guardians to do this as it is in fiction, and that is truly a shame. We, none of us our perfect and while, like the aunts, we may have the best of intentions as parents/parental figures, we do make mistakes: it’s only fair that if we expect our children to apologize when they make a mistake, we do the same as even Titi Sandra does here. The Hernandez family is such a lovely model of affection without expectation, of unconditional love, something to which we should all aspire and a wonderful model on which young adults can model their own future families.

Definitely recommend for young adults, and even adults, looking for respectful, kind, honest relationships both between partners and among families.

I thought this was a really cute YA Romance. I don't read much of that genre, so this was a nice change of pace. I am ready for the rest of the world to read and review this book because I had a great time with it!

At first I had a hard time with this book because I’m not really into MC’s that are clumsy. Although I loved the family aspect of the story I wasn’t a big fan of the MC. She was a bit too whiny and I had a hard time believing the premise. It was only the ending that sold me about the sweetness of the story and by the end I had come around. It was a decent read if you give it time to deepen. 3.5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

The publisher reached out to me about this one and I wasn’t completely sure if I’d enjoy it, but I loved the idea of all the cultural aspects to the family, and the whole find out with the exes maybe what was the problem is one type of story that is fun as well. I was lucky enough to have snow days off from work and got to read almost straight through this in a little over a day.

There was a lot of humor, between how the family interacted with each other, which I loved – reminded me in ways of the sarcastic qualities of my own family, and the clumsiness and awkwardness that Amelia seemed to go through life and on her dates with. It was easy to see why Amelia wanted to get out and have a gap year away from her family. As wonderful as they were to have around and just be there for her, it also was a bit suffocating for her, not to mention no one had ever really asked what she actually wanted. She gave a description at the end of how she wasn’t good at anything, and not in a way that she was putting herself down, but a way she was describing that the choices she’d made led her to not know what she liked or try to get better at things other than what her family wanted or expected her to do. And those weren’t the things she was good at, or cared to get better at.

Her romantic life was funny, but also I definitely cringed for her a lot. The whole going back to try with exes reminded me both of one of my favorite books/movies – What’s Your Number? and also the episode of The Big Bang Theory when Raj had all his exes meet him and then he asked them questions about what went wrong and what he could do to improve. Of course there was the ONE ex, Leon, who suddenly showed back up in her life. The one who had broken her heart, and never apologized or even explained why he did what he did. And here he is back again in her life, and he still does neither of those things.

That irritated me for her, I mean if he’d just explained it could have saved so much heartache early on. Not to mention maybe she wouldn’t have gotten the revenge plan in her head. All the different things that made Amelia end up going viral, embarrassing things, made so much of the book, and wow, it just sucked for her! And oh did I want to punch that person at the end, I had a feeling that the little journal was going to get in the wrong hands, I just didn’t expect that to happen!

But it wasn’t just a romance, there was the whole issue with her family and how she felt with them, even as she loved them as much as she did. The moment when she talked about why she wasn’t good at anything, and then the whole what you might call “come to Jesus” discussion with her family was so good. There was so much emotion, and so many things that came out, it was great having her mom kind of come out and take a stand, as it seemed Amelia’s mother really did need to do something to take care of herself. And the things that we learned about her aunts, things they’d done and not told her, and how they reacted and possibly changed after the big talk, all of it made for so much more than just a contemporary romance type of story.

I had one small issue, but it is something that would be very unpopular as an opinion right now, so I won’t list it, and it was the reason I was unsure about taking the book and marked it down to 4.5 stars on my blog. However I was so into this story, once I picked it up with time to read I could barely put it down. Another one I can’t wait to share with my students!

Thank you so much to Simon Teen & NetGalley for the ARC!

This was a great YA contemporary romance - very realistic to the teenage experience through the eyes of our MC Amelia but also very mature in a good way.
I loved the romance, characters, and emphasis on her family and their fun, chaotic home life with so many women. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a great YA!

Book Review: Build a Girlfriend by Elba Luz

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5 stars)

Oh, Build a Girlfriend, you charming little rom-com. This book gave me all the warm fuzzies, especially with its heartwarming focus on family and the adorable chaos of Amelia’s journey.

Let’s start with Amelia. She’s the kind of protagonist you can’t help but root for—quirky, clumsy, and just so endearingly human. I loved how her clumsiness wasn’t just a cute gimmick but tied into her deeper insecurities and growth. Watching her fumble (both literally and emotionally) and then rise above it made her arc so satisfying.

Can we talk about her family? The predominantly female, close-knit dynamic was such a joy to read. From supportive moments to hilarious meddling, it felt vibrant and real. You could feel the love in every scene, and it added so much depth to the story.

Now, Leon. Oh, Leon. He’s the perfect MMC for a rom-com like this—kind, charming, and just the right amount of brooding. Their chemistry had me grinning like a fool, but here’s where the miscommunication trope comes in. Sigh. I wanted to shake Leon and Amelia for their lack of honest conversations. It stretched a bit too long for my liking, but at least the payoff made up for the frustration.

The rom-com vibes were spot on, with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, swoony scenes, and that sprinkle of chaos that keeps you flipping the pages. If you’re looking for a book with heart, humor, and a protagonist you’ll want to hug (and maybe shake a little), Build a Girlfriend is a great pick.

It’s not quite a perfect five stars for me, mostly because of the lingering miscommunication. But honestly? The charm, humor, and family warmth more than makeup for it. This one will stick with me for a while!

📚 Perfect for fans of The Hating Game and The Unhoneymooners.

In the Hernandez family, every romantic relationship is cursed to come to an untimely end. So, it’s no surprise to her family that Amelia once again finds herself single. But Amelia is convinced that she is going to be the one to break the cycle.

To learn from her past mistakes, Amelia has decided to embark on a tour of exes, trying to figure out what went wrong in each relationship. With this information, she will become un-breakupable. When Leon, her first true heartbreak, enters the scenes, it’s her chance to get a little revenge, too. But what happens when she starts to develop feelings for Leon instead?

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an advanced copy of Build a Girlfriend by Elba Luz to review! I downloaded this one because the premise sounded like a good time, and I definitely wasn’t wrong. This book will add a ray of sunshine to what is a dreary month (January).

While Amelia, our star, is a well-developed, well-rounded character, the cast behind her was as well. One of the highlights is Amelia’s interactions with her family, who are all trying to give her dating advice. Even though none of them have technically had a successful romantic relationship. It works together to create some great rom-com moments.

In addition, we get to learn more about Amelia by going through her past relationships with her. Not only do we get to see how she’s grown in the past, but also how she’s growing throughout the course of the story. All the characters and plot points really work well together to create a funny, well thought-out story.

All in all, if you need a fun rom-com to get you through the winter season, definitely pick this book up in January!

This story was such a cute romcom. The main character lives in a house with all her aunts, Mom and sisters. He aunts are working on opening a family bakery.
Amelia is such a relatable character as she tries to figure out why she can't keep a relationship. She's also a bit of a klutz and ends up in different situations that sometimes end up viral. I love that she learns to stand up for what she really wants in life.

I'm not normally one to pick up a contemporary romance, but this book was packed with heart, charm, and humor that wouldn't let you put it down. A brilliant debut from a wonderful person and new voice.

Thank you for the free book, Simon Teen—out January 14!

Amelia believes her family is cursed to never find love—so she embarks on a project to re-date her exes in order to become the perfect girlfriend.

Important disclaimer: I think I’m now at an age where I struggle a bit with contemporary YA romance, simply because I am well-past the age range and can no longer relate to the characters as well. For that reason, I’ve tried to keep this review objective and relevant to the actual target audience (i.e., older teens and early twenties).

I really liked the concept of this one, and particularly loved the emphasis on family—both how supportive family can be and how important it is to find boundaries/remain your own person. The FMC is also Latina and her culture (particularly as it relates to cultural food) is important to the novel, which I appreciated.

The MMC, Leon, was an adorably sweet character and made for some super swoony moments throughout—I think the entire pig scene was one of my favorites (IYKYK), and there were many others! I was definitely rooting for them the whole way through, even if I was a bit frustrated by their decision making. I think those closer in age to the characters, in particular, might really love this one!

CW: Abandonment; parental neglect; fire

This was such a cute read, and extremely relatable. I loved the growth that Amelia experienced and I think everyone who has ever realized where they've gone wrong in life will love how realistic, sweet, and perfect this was.

Amelia Hernandez is cursed—every relationship in her family ends in disaster or running for the hills. Determined to break the cycle, she embarks on an “Ex Retrospective,” revisiting old flames to uncover her flaws and become the perfect girlfriend. But when she crosses paths with Leon, the ex who shattered her heart, the possibility for revenge and romantic sparks collide. Amelia’s quest for closure turns into a complicated journey of self-discovery, where learning to love herself might end up being the real way to break the curse.

Don’t be fooled by the synopsis and the focus on romance because, at its core, this story is all about family.

While Amelia is a wonderfully fleshed out, charismatic, and self-deprecating protagonist that you are going to adore following, it’s the intricate familial relations that make this book what it is: riveting to the core.

It was so refreshing to read about a household filled with badass women who all have their own drive and motivation and how that influenced Amelia’s self-image, not to mention her relationships with the women who have brought her up.

It’s no easy feat to make every character stand out even if they don’t get all that much page-time but Luz handled it really well.

The curse was a fun added quirk that just made the story feel more rounded. How do you break a never-ending cycle of romantic love lost when you have so much familial love to give and share at home? How do you forge your own path in the world without diminishing the achievements of those that came before you? It takes a talented writer to make a “curse” like this work in a contemporary novel and Luz nailed it on the head.

Indeed, by far my favourite part of the novel and undoubtedly where Luz’s talent shines the most is the realistic portrayal of balancing the love you have for your family with the responsibility you feel towards them, especially when everyone’s else’s expectations and vision for the next decades doesn’t mesh with what you have envisioned for your future.

Especially the ever-present dread and guilt that comes with wanting to break away from your familial obligation was so hard to read but also incredibly well-done.

Luz really stole my heart here. I’ve seen a lot of depictions of familial guilt that is always paired with wanting to escape your parents or your legacy obligations because you don’t love your family and that is absolutely not the case here. Amelia loves, appreciates and looks up to her family members so fiercely but also wants to break the cycle of living the lives everyone else has lived and see who she can be on her own. It’s so clear that Amelia values every relationship, from the ones to her sisters to those to her aunts, but she also wonders what her life would be like if she didn’t have to make herself fit within everyone’s expectations in that household. What holds her back for most of it is the fear of disappointing the people she looks up to more than anything. This intrinsic need to be independent while also fearing the repercussions of not following the path carved for her had my heart pounding multiple times.

It takes a certain level of talent and dedication to make this plotline keep you emotionally invested and Luz brings that to the table and more.

Of course, there’s also a whole lot of emotional turmoil when it comes to the romance aspect of this novel. In order to break the curse, Amelia tries to turn herself into the perfect girlfriend by revisiting past relationships—and ends up falling for the one person again who broke her heart years ago. Leon and Amelia have undeniable chemistry from the get go. Despite getting teased a lot with little tidbits of information about their break-up, it does take quite a while for that whole story to unravel. While I personally think the “secret” of why Leon left all those years ago was drawn out for a bit too long, the reveal shocked me nevertheless. I love me some meddling families stories because they always deliver on the drama but these women take that to a whole new level, which makes for an excellent reading experience and gave me patented telenovela “gasp-at-the-reveal-of-a-secret-villainy-twin” vibes for sure.

Despite it all, Leon is one of those guys you want your best friend to end up with, as in, if someone told me only half of the things that Leon does for Amelia in this novel (both in the past but also the present), I would just tell my friend to marry him immediately. Fans of “he fell first and he fell harder” are going to devour Leon’s displays of affection and hold their breaths to see whether these two can go the distance.

Altogether, there were some minor gripes I had with the story. For one, some of the scenes of the novel do not line up chronologically. To keep this somewhat spoiler-free, I’ll just say here that for example someone would confess their feelings to the other person but then the very next time they see each other one of the characters doesn’t have any recalling of that and acts like it’s brand-new information when the other character repeats it which left me feeling a) confused and b) like some scenes were perhaps slotted in at the wrong time. For another, I think there could have been a bit more exploration of the “dating your exes to become the perfect girlfriend” plotline. While the synopsis makes it seem like this will be an important part of the novel, it’s eschewed almost immediately after Amelia reconnects with Leon and for the most part relegated to quick recaps of the dates that happen off-page at the beginning of chapters. It was only picked up when it was convenient to the plot which was a pity. However, those are very small gripes that were probably fixed before publication and even with those minor issues, this book was nothing short of amazing.

Lovers of the “once I fix me, he’s gonna miss me” trope are going to fall head-over heels for Build a Girlfriend, an impeccable debut following a girl deep-diving into her dating history to break her family’s curse of tragic love affairs only to learn that loving herself might just be the real curse breaker.

Build a Girlfriend by Elba Luz is a fresh, thought-provoking story that blends sci-fi ingenuity with emotional depth. Luz explores themes of love, identity, and what it truly means to connect in a world of artificial perfection. Quirky, heartfelt, and layered with unexpected twists, this book is perfect for readers who enjoy speculative romance with a touch of humor and heart.

i really liked the vibes of this story, the motifs were cool, and all around i would recommend it. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.

My favorite thing about this book (besides the fact that it had me in tears from laughing so hard) was the realistic portrayal of a teenage Latina that is struggling to balance the love and responsibility she feels towards her family with the desire to find a future of her own. It was so healing and refreshing to read a YA story where family (one filled with beautiful, badass women) is at the center, but more importantly, that we got to explore all the emotions and relationships that stem from it. This is the book I needed to have when I was a teenager, especially when I was about to go to college away from my Latinx family. Can’t wait for everyone to read it!

4.5 stars
I recently read "Build a Girlfriend" and I absolutely flew through it! I didn't even realize I had finished it until I turned the last page. I can see why this is such a promising debut novel. It is filled with fun characters, a witty plot, and incredible execution. It is heartwarming and cute, with a new concept that I really liked. I think everyone who loves a sweet romcom with messy characters will absolutely devour this book.