A review by bookish_selkie
How to Win a Breakup: A Novel by Farah Heron

funny hopeful lighthearted 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? Yes

5.0

How to Win a Breakup is the excellent story of Samaya- a talented gamer who just got dumped by her boyfriend, the school’s golden boy. Suddenly, the school is questioning Samaya’s math skills and ability to game. It’s unbearable- so Samaya leaks a picture of her with her online friend. It should be harmless- until she meets them in real life while getting her community service hours. However, some of what her online friend has said doesn’t match with Daniel in real life. Samaya must uncover who she was cat-fished by and why. Luckily, Daniel agrees to be her fake boyfriend to help with the cruel gossip. Samaya is horrified when she starts to develop feelings for the funny and sweet Daniel, which is strictly against their fake-dating rules. Samaya must choose if she will go against the parameters Daniel set for them and decide how much she cares about what her friends think…

Farah Heron is becoming one of my auto-buy authors!! I love how immersive and warm her writing is. Samaya and Daniel both feel so realistic and the type of people you’d want to be friends with. Heron’s writing is witty, while not shying away from important real-world issues such as discrimination, homelessness, and mental health. I loved how the fictional game felt so real! I became so invested in Samaya finding her way and deciding what/who was truly important to her. Samaya’s best friend Cass is another one of my favorite characters! I really enjoyed how they were so supportive of Samaya and also knew when to give her tough love. 

How to Win a Breakup has fake dating, gender role reversals, and excellent representation. This book would be perfect for fans of Emma Lord, Talia Hibbert, and Tashie Bhuiyan. I would highly recommend it to anyone and I can’t wait to read what Farah Heron writes next!! 
 
Thank you to Farah Heron, Skyscape, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.