Izzy, a teenage Latin American girl trying to fit in a place where she thinks she doesn't belong to in this YA book. After Izzy's father died, her family struggles and moves a lot. Finally her family is gonna settle down in a place because of the Habitat of humanity initiative.

I loved how romance wasn't the main theme in this story. It has family drama with a little reunion and friendships.
I wasn't a big fan of Izzy and Roz's friendship. They both don't share much to each other and I found Roz kinda being mean to Izzy from the start. I didn't like how Izzy easily forgave Roz in the end. On the other hand, I loved Aubrey.
It also covers topics like racism and abuse.

Izzy is a strong willed character but she has her own flaws. I really liked Izzy as she was trying to find her true self and accepting her flaws. I liked Izzy's character development, family drama, friendship between Izzy and Aubrey, Sam, author's writing style.
What didn't work for me in this book is the romance element. I liked Sam but they didn't seem good for each other.

I really enjoyed reading the story.

HOW TO BUILD A HEART is brimming with friendship, loyalty, grief, mother-daughter issues, and struggles with identity. Heartfelt, thoughtful, and genuine, it follows Izzy Crawford as she dances the line between outsider and dutiful daughter, selfless friend and selfish crush, I love, love, LOVED how relatable this story was and how the romantic subplot gracefully hummed in the background, present but not invasive. It broke my heart to witness Izzy struggle--with herself, her friend Roz, her interest in same, her family--and all of this was a reminder of how rough teen years are; we're all trying to find our place, even if it feels like such a thing doesn't exist for us.

What an enjoyable YA read! It is easy for readers to empathize with Izzy and root for her. Readers of all ages can enjoy this story.

I love the writing style, it’s so easy to read this (do not let my reading date fool you lol). I enjoyed reading about the characters, they are so complex. I love the character development as well as the development and pacing of the story. All I could say for this book is, it’s a stunning gem of a book. I would re-read this again, in a heartbeat *wink*

This book is hard to categorize, but such a treat to read. Isabella is a teen on the verge of adulthood and in the midst of finding herself. Her dad, a Marine, passed away six years while serving, leaving Mami, Izzy, and Jack on the verge of poverty and moving around for jobs and affordable housing.
Izzy finally has a school she loves, a best friend who understands her, and the hope that things can be better when Mami gets news that the family was selected for a new Habitat for Humanity house. The dream of owning their own house will finally be realized; unfortunately, their new house will be right next to her best friend's crush who happens to be Izzy's new crush and the brother of her new classmate. How can Izzy find herself and help her family build a new life without losing hope for her life right now? This book has a little bit of everything - realistic fiction, romance, drama - but is such a great story that it defies categorization.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It did take me a while to get into because of the writing but I found myself really enjoying everything that took place from beginning to end. The relationships between the characters is a strong selling point of this book. I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys contemporaries or someone who is currently finding themselves in a situation unfamiliar to them. This book deals with the topic of identity and finding who you are. Thank you so much to Algonquin Young Readers for providing me with a copy of this book

"You understand that no one is just a color, like crayon"
-Maria Padian, How to Build a Heart

Nice the passing of her father who was a Marine 6 years ago, Izzy and her family have been moving constantly. Each place being smaller than the last.

Things seem to be going okay. She's going to a good school, she's part of a popular cappella group, and most of all her family has been selected by "Habitat for Humanity" for a new home. They're super excited. Being in the cappella group also comes with some extra perks. She becomes friends with Aubrey, whom is a new recruit. Aubrey is also the sister of the super hunk from school, Sam. The boy Roz, Izzy's friend, has had a total crush on for the longest.

Even though she starts feeling comfy and at home, she doesn't want her friends, school peers, and even Sam to know that she's low incomes and needs a scholarship to continue her studies. And most of all, she doesn't understand why her extended family wants nothing to do with them. Of course, those secrets come out into the light. Follow Izzy on her journey through secrets, jealousy, and friendships. I really enjoyed Maria Padian's writing. Thank you to NetGalley and Algonquin Young Readers for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

It has become clear to me that Algonquin publishes books that are meant for me to read. This book was so lovely and complex, dark and bright and so beautifully written. I laughed and I cried and I felt all the things. I’m so grateful this book came into my life.

I liked the premise of the family getting a house from Habitat For Humanity and how they had worked hard to get to be able to do so. I found the book quite realistic and was happy with how things wrapped up. The racial and poverty issues were addressed in a thoughtful manner. I felt like this was a book I needed at this time, dealing with my own "family" drama and trying to figure out what does "family" really mean. I think it will always hold a place in my heart because of this.

In this story, Izzy Campbell's life is one huge tragic upheaval, constantly on the move from one place to the other after her father is killed in Iraq. Izzy and Roz’s friendship, which opened the story, was the weakest and least believable part .It took me a few chapters to get into the story.Izzy was easy to empathize with, and I really liked her relationship with her little brother Jack, and her mom.

Read the full review at <a href="https://elgeewrites.com/how-to-build-a-heart-book-review-maria-padian/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Elgee Writes</a>

<b>My thoughts </b>
I was glad that romance was not the main focus of How to Build a Heart, even though it was a romance book. It is a family drama/reunion story, and I loved it as much. I liked the older females in the book and Izzy’s relationship with her newfound cousin.

I didn’t like the main friendship in How to Build a Heart so much that I ended up not liking both Izzy and Roz. Izzy doesnt tell Roz anything and made it a point to keep Roz away from her life. And Roz in other hand was always mean to Izzy and literally threw a stone at her over a boy. Whoa!

And they got over their fight so easily? Well, I didn’t buy that one at all. Despite not loving the characters, I loved the writing style which was compelling and fast flowing.

<b>Things that worked for me</b>
The writing was perfect and I didn’t put the book down even once.
How to Build a Heart deals with difficult topics like poverty, racism, and grief and did a great job at it.
I love a book with a good family reunion and How to Build a Heart has one!

<b>Things that didn’t work for me</b>
Izzy and Roz were both difficult to like right from the beginning. And it got only tougher.
I found it difficult to adore Izzy and Sam, as Izzy had nothing in common with Sam.

<b>Bottom-line</b>
How to Build a Heart is a coming of age tale of a Latin American girl that discusses economic inequity, racism, friendship and of course love. I will definitely look out for more from the author.

Thanks Net Galley for the preview!

I loved this book! Izzy was vulnerable and funny and so real. I have heard a little about Habitat in the past but seeing this inside view made me inspired to get involved and help in some way. Izzy deserves that clean, beautiful, new home and a fresh start. Her family deserves that and it’s sad that they had to move so much and wait so long to get it. The writing was great and I loved all of the characters. Roz is a dynamic character and has so many sides- I’d read a sequel about her. I’d also love a sequel about Audrey and her struggles turned triumphs. I think there were many tough themes in here that played well and not overly dramatic. Loved it!

This book was so good! It dealt with so many issues related to friendship, relationships (especially ones between parents/siblings). I cared deeply about the characters and was enthralled by the plot. However, fair warning it includes a lot of heavy topics so trigger warning for abuse, racism, bullying and depression.

Timeless tale that deals with all the emotional turmoil we face as we grow up. Very well written and developed characters.

I really thought that was a great young adult read full of important messages. I loved how strong willed the protagonist was and I enjoy that this book wasn’t all pretty. It felt very realistic!

How to Build a Heart by Maria Padian was published 01/28/2020 by Algonquin Young Readers. I was given a copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

16 year old Izzy Crawford has struggled to fit in somewhere since her father died in Iraq 6 years ago, never returning from his employment as a Marine. Izzy’s mom has worked multiple jobs, moving them constantly in search of something better. When they make it to Virginia, Izzy finally feels like she’s starting to fit in…even though she hides her school scholarship, mother’s job, and where she lives from her friends and super popular new boyfriend. When Habitat for Humanity gives her family a new house, Izzy will struggle to keep all of her secrets from colliding with her the life she has worked so hard to build.

Once I got past how shallow Izzy was acting, I really enjoyed this book. I know what it’s like to hide your family from your “real life” as a teenager. Her embarrassment was real to me, and brought back some of my own memories I fought hard to suppress. The relationships in the book are so authentic, from her poor best friend to her long lost family members. I was with her every step of the way as she struggled to understand why she had to struggle. It was light hearted, but it wasn’t. The ending definitely had me tearing up, and it ended in such a sweet way.

This was not my typical type of book. I had no expectations when I requested this from NetGalley, but I’m so glad I did. If you need a lighter read with a feel good ending, you’ll definitely want to grab this one.

When I first saw the cover I was attracted to this book, when I read the back cover I was interested in this book, when I read this book I fell in love with this book. Izzy is the type of character you wish you had in every book and that everyone could read. Maria Padian does an amazing job getting you to believe in Izzy and cheer for her. I can not recommend this book enough.

My Highly Caffeinated Thought: A complex, honest, and heartwarming coming of age story.

In HOW TO BUILD A HEART, Padian has given her readers a diverse cast of characters with all the issues troubling teens being laid out there with no veil to hide behind. By delving into the haves and have nots, prejudice, an unsafe home environment, and all-encompassing emotions of being a teen, the author is able to develop her characters authentically. Izzy and her friends came to life on these pages.

Here is the thing about this book. It is a genuinely wonderful depiction of life with all the experiences teens have and the consequences of holding onto secrets. I loved Izzy. Her voice is one that rang true to me. I felt what she was going through even though my adult self wanted to smack her from time to time. Better yet, I loved the characters, which propelled her growth as well as theirs.

This book the perfect example of how complicated life, friends, and family can be. However, it moves past that to show how opening your heart to those around you can make all the difference. Filled with heart, strong female characters, and all the facets of humanity, this book is one to read.

I LOVED this book! It's not just a YA love story, it tackles friendship, not fitting in, what it really means to be family. Nothing is overwrought. It feels like real life but manages to be interesting and compelling.

Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: How To Build A Heart

Author: Maria Padian

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 5/5

Diversity: Puerto Rican family and main character!

Publication Date: January 28, 2020

Genre: YA Contemporary

Recommended Age: 14+ (some rock throwing, slight gore, a gun, death, and healing)

Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers

Pages: 352

Amazon Link

Synopsis: One young woman’s journey to find her place in the world as the carefully separated strands of her life — family, money, school, and love — begin to overlap and tangle.

All sixteen-year-old Izzy Crawford wants is to feel like she really belongs somewhere. Her father, a marine, died in Iraq six years ago, and Izzy’s moved to a new town nearly every year since, far from the help of her extended family in North Carolina and Puerto Rico. When Izzy’s hardworking mom moves their small family to Virginia, all her dreams start clicking into place. She likes her new school—even if Izzy is careful to keep her scholarship-student status hidden from her well-to-do classmates and her new athletic and popular boyfriend. And best of all: Izzy’s family has been selected by Habitat for Humanity to build and move into a brand-new house. Izzy is this close to the community and permanence she’s been searching for, until all the secret pieces of her life begin to collide.

How to Build a Heart is the story of Izzy’s journey to find her place in the world and her discovery that the choices we make and the people we love ultimately define us and bring us home.

Review: Oh my God what can I say about a book that carved its way into my heart to deceptively that I found myself thinking about it at 1am this morning? This book was an absolute delight and I was so happy to read it! The book was well written with all the feels and the characters were very well developed. The world building was wonderful as well and the pacing is on key. This book will be one of those that will make you want to pick up a hammer and go help people like Izzy and Roz.

The only issue I had with the book is that sometimes the chapters will end with Izzy having to make a choice or something will happen, then in the next chapter it will skip forward to a different time and in that time ahead she will recount what happened after the event in the previous chapter. It’s a lot less complicated than what I’m making it out to be, but it was kinda weird to get into. However, I did like that approach to storytelling and found it very genuine to how some people think.

Verdict: A book that will build a house in your heart.