A review by justkarlah
Borrow My Heart by Kasie West

funny lighthearted reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I really wanted to love this book, but it ended up just being an okay read by the end. The beginning started off strong; Wren swooping in to save the day, her best friend at her side being honest but supportive, and the cute nerdy guy that could keep up with her sarcastic humor. 

There were plenty of cute moments between the main characters that had me smiling, although it was almost always ruined by the fact that she kept putting off telling him the truth. 

And the fact that he could've told her he knew all along, too, but never did? Then editing and sharing videos of her without getting her consent? Being shared online unknowingly, even to just "20 people" as he'd said, is just wrong. Especially when he knew how private she was with her life. How do you go about starting a relationship based on lies from both sides?


I did not expect to read about family and the struggles of an absentee parent, but it helped explain why Wren was the way she was in the beginning. Certain parts had me tearing up when they hit close to my own personal life. My only issue with this part of the story was how rushed the 'conclusion' to it was. 

After the whole TikTok thing, I was ready for the book to be over. It wasn't necessarily bad or anything, but the ending left me disappointed and feeling like there was something missing. I loved that it involved dogs and a shelter since I love dogs, so that was a plus. 

If you enjoy books with dogs, sarcastic main characters, and boys with golden-retriever energy, then this might be a fun read for you.

I got an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.