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How to Excavate a Heart

“She has a sixth sense for knowing the exact moment I most want to be left alone and appearing out of nowhere, like a Victorian ghost-child.”
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How to Excavate a Heart
by Jake Maia Arlow
Pub Date – 11/1/22
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Stonewall Honor author Jake Maia Arlow delivers a sapphic Jewish twist on the classic Christmas rom-com in a read perfect for fans of Kelly Quindlen and Casey McQuiston.
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Shani is staying with her late great grandmas best friend while she has her internship with fossils. And I have never read about anyone so excited to work with fish fossils but she’s living the dream.

Her mom almost hits a girl with her car on their way there. This girl turns out to be the daughter of the man she is asked to dog walk for. And their snarky banter, cause May is not happy with her situation, is great.

During a heavy snow storm they start to explore their feelings. 

This is ya so it’s all pg. This is all told from Shanis pov as well.

There is a lot of talk about organized religion. We celebrate both Jewish and Christian holidays in our house. And Hanukah I have come to understand is a minor holiday but has been commercialized due to it’s close proximity to Christmas. Our two mcs have differing view points on this but both seem valid.

Forcing Hanukkah into the Christmas hegemony but on the other hand it made it mainstream so everyone knows it.

This was a sweet young romance but both are having different issues with independence from their parents and guilt from their behavior.

There was so much Winter vibes as this was set in DC and NY. They couldn’t escape Christmas though the music and decorations are everywhere.

❓ Are you interested in holiday reads?
Possibly sapphic Jewish rom-com. I have my holiday shelf starting. What should I add to it?

Thank you @harperteen and @netgalley for the e-ARC for my honest and voluntary review.

Synopsis:

Stonewall Honor author Jake Maia Arlow delivers a sapphic Jewish twist on the classic Christmas rom-com in a read perfect for fans of Kelly Quindlen and Casey McQuiston.

It all starts when Shani runs into May. Like, literally. With her mom’s Subaru.

Attempted vehicular manslaughter was not part of Shani’s plan. She was supposed to be focusing on her monthlong paleoichthyology internship. She was going to spend all her time thinking about dead fish and not at all about how she was unceremoniously dumped days before winter break.

It could be going better.

But when a dog-walking gig puts her back in May’s path, the fossils she’s meant to be diligently studying are pushed to the side—along with the breakup.

Then they’re snowed in together on Christmas Eve. As things start to feel more serious, though, Shani’s hurt over her ex-girlfriend’s rejection comes rushing back. Is she ready to try a committed relationship again, or is she okay with this just being a passing winter fling?