Build a Girlfriend - by Elba Luz

About the Book

Eighteen-year-old Amelia revisits her past relationships to break her family's relationship curse, become the ideal girlfriend, and seek revenge on the ex who broke her heart, only to face unexpected complications along the way.

Book Synopsis

A teen deep-dives into her dating history to uncover her mistakes, become the perfect girlfriend, and get revenge on the wrong guy so she can ride into the sunset with the right one in this debut rom-com "brimming with heart and comedy" (School Library Journal).

To the surprise of no one, Amelia Hernandez is once again single. It's her family curse at work; whether it's by heartbreak, scandal, or even accidental death, every romantic relationship that a Hernandez woman has will meet its demise eventually. And that may be fine with Amelia's sisters, mom, and aunts, but definitely not with Amelia.

In an effort to cheer her up, Amelia's aunts and sisters develop the Hernandez Romance Boot Camp. Amelia will embark on an Ex Retrospective: tracking down her exes, finding out where she went wrong, and using that information to finally become un-break-up-able for whenever her next relationship comes along. By the end, Amelia should be free of the curse. Secretly, she also hopes her quest for self-improvement will give her the confidence to tell her loved ones she wants to take a gap year instead of working in the family café.

However, when Amelia is unwillingly reunited with Leon, the ex to end all exes, she can't resist having a little revenge on the side, too. After all, what better way to test out her new persona of perfect girlfriend traits than on the boy who broke her heart?

But old loves die hard, and as Amelia's feelings grow more complicated, she suspects that she may be in for more than she bargained for.

Review Quotes

Praise for Build a Girlfriend

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

"Luz debuts her first YA romantic comedy, filled with plenty of hilarious moments and family drama...A powerful mantra for graduates that having a 'family should be a gift, not an obligation.'"--Booklist

"Using friendly prose and witty banter, debut author Luz emphasizes one teen's struggle managing her mental health and personal desires while also crafting an organic portrayal of what it means to grow up in a household where 'women are the pillar.' At the heart of this hilarious rom-com is a large Latinx family filled with meddling aunts blasting reggaeton music and heartfelt, genuine female relationships."--Publishers Weekly

"A story brimming with heart and comedy."--School Library Journal

"Finally! The authentic teenage voice I've been waiting for. Elba Luz gets the awkward intricacies of young romance and family drama, allowing Amelia's hilarious voice to shine with nonstop heart and wit. A must-read debut for fans of YA!"--Page Powars, author of The Borrow a Boyfriend Club

"Funny from the very first page, Build a Girlfriend is a lighthearted coming-of-age story about self-discovery, familial love and expectations, heartbreak, and finding your way back to the person you feel your best with. Elba Luz is a talent, and this is a beautiful debut novel to be proud of."--Riss M. Neilson, author of Deep in Providence

About the Author

Elba Luz is a Puerto Rican author and a lover of stories, whether in the form of anime, manga, video games, or, of course, books. Speaking of books, she should be writing her own. Instead, you'll probably find her replaying Final Fantasy, listening to classical music, or cuddling up with her adorable pit bull, Stormy.