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.
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.
So, convinced that she is the problem, Amelia decides to 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. Because Amelia is determined to be free of the family curse…and her family.
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.
Praise for Build a Girlfriend!
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection!
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
Luz debuts her first YA romantic comedy, filled with plenty of hilarious moments and family drama. Readers will also get a kick out of the uplifting relationship advice from the aunts and sisters in the Romance Boot Camp journal. A powerful mantra for graduates that having a “family should be a gift, not an obligation.”
— Booklist
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 ... Luz really stole my heart ... 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.
— The Nerd Daily
"Build A Girlfriend is a kaleidoscope of charm, romance, and vibrant familial relationships. It is as laugh-out-loud funny as it is heart-warming. Despite it being written by the most annoying person alive."
—Kaylie Smith, USA Today bestselling author of Phantasma
“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
“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
“This book had me laughing from the very first page! Amelia is supremely lovable and charming, even as she’s inducing the worst secondhand embarrassment you’ve ever experienced.”
—Dainese S., Associate Editor, on Build a Girlfriend