Borrow My Heart

April 1, 2023
A girl's attempt at preventing a boy from being embarrassed by his friend's catfishing prank complicates their growing relationship. When Asher and his friend Dale show up at a coffee shop for Asher's date with Gemma, a girl he's met online but has never seen a photo of, it's clear to best friends Wren and Kamala that Dale has set Asher up and intends to humiliate him. Usually orderly Wren, eavesdropping and hidden from the boys' view behind a plant, impulsively presents herself as Gemma. What she didn't imagine was that she'd see Asher again or that they would form a connection and develop a trusting friendship that quickly heads toward something more. This initial lie eventually catches up with Wren, threatening to ruin the closeness they build over the summer. Though the romance is compelling, West's best writing tackles the complicated relationship between Wren and her mother, who left her family 7 years prior. The very real emotions of hope, disappointment, and heartache existing among Wren, 20-year-old sister Zoey, and the girls' mother are well drawn. Kamala is a present and active part of the story. The backdrop of Wren's job at an animal shelter gives the story shape as well, highlighting her personality traits and tenderness. Main characters are White; Kamala is Indian American. A solid teen romance with strong characterization and nuanced relationships. (Romance. 12-18)

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June 1, 2023

Gr 8 Up-West's latest novel is another sweet, lighthearted story about young love and young problems. Wren lives her life by a set of rules and keeps herself closed off from most people because of abandonment issues she still carries from her estranged mom. However, she does something spontaneous and out of character when she sees a guy named Asher at a coffee shop; he appears to have been catfished by someone online and is being ridiculed by his friend. Wren pretends to be the girl he was there to meet, hoping to ease his embarrassment. She keeps up the charade with plans to tell Asher the truth, but the longer she pretends, the more of her own rules she begins to break. Now, Wren wonders whether he will forgive her for her deceit even though it was done with good intentions. Meanwhile, Wren has feelings of isolation because she hasn't forgiven her mom, and her sister always defends their mom while their dad remains neutral. West's contemporary writing is perfect for teens as it discusses dysfunctional family dynamics, the negative impact of social media, and experiencing first love. Wren and Asher are described as white; Wren's best friend is Indian. VERDICT Recommended for YA collections in public libraries and for those looking for a romantic teen summer read.-Lacey Webster

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