Reviews with content warning for Sexual assault - How to Excavate a Heart

This is a sweet romance between two Jewish girls, Shana and May set during Christmas time in Washington DC. The meet-cute happens when Shana's mom accidently hits May with her car when dropping Shana off in DC to participate in a winter internship at the Smithsonian on paleontological ichthyology (dinosaur fish!). They met again when Shana takes a short-term job walking a neighbor's corgi who happens to be May's Dad. They have a cute non-queer date at the National Portrait Gallery. May is majoring in climatology. They both get so excited talking about climate change and dinosaur bones and it made me excited too.

I loved how this book tenderly explored the excitement and hesitation that goes with being vulnerable with someone, especially when you are young and inexperienced. It also gentles looks at how do you manage all these big new emotions from taking over your life and interfering with the other things that are important. Shana sees that her new romance is impacting her coveted internship.

I also loved how well the book handled intimacy and communication about intimacy. Shana has suffered a sexual assault and learning how to share that and ask for what she needs is done authentically.

Tropes: Forced proximity

Content Warnings

zackarinareads's review against another edition

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emotional funny informative lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Content Warnings

trashboatwinter's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Content Warnings

amberinpieces's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Content Warnings

mosbookcorner's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

This book started off as the Jewish version of a classic christmas rom com but ended up being something slightly more serious and complex. It's still a perfectly enjoyable and lighthearted book most of the way through, just be ready for the discussion of sexual assault in the last third of the story. Overall, a good romance that I would definitely recommend, with charming characters and a cute little dog!

Content Warnings

val_theburrowofstories's review against another edition

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lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Content Warnings

kaceyjoy's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Super cute but she's tough on some serious topics, check the content warnings

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