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How to Excavate a Heart by Jake Maia Arlow

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How to Excavate a Heart

by Jake Maia Arlow

Narrator Hope Newhouse

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Length 8 hours 38 minutes

Language English

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Bookseller recommendation

“Shanni is running away from herself. She wants to run away from spending Hanukkah with her mom, and the horrible breakup with her girlfriend Sadie. After receiving a coveted monthlong internship with the Natural History Museum with the famous paleoichthyology, Dr. Charles Graham, Shanni drops everything and heads to Washington DC for the holiday season. What Shanni is not expecting is to run into the girl of her dreams. Yet, after just a few days in Washington DC, and a few close calls, Shanni meets May by happenstance. May is everything that Shanni didn’t know she was looking for. Yet, the lingering pain and uncertainty from her previous breakup with Sadie still haunts her, and could ruin it all. Who will she turn to when things get tough? How to Excavate a Heart is a laugh-out loud funny, tear jerking, and heart warming story that will leave your longing for more! A perfect read for anyone looking for that perfect holiday rom com that will leave your heart warmer, your spirit lifted, and will make you want to go hug your mom.”
— Gretchen • Fiction Addiction

Bookseller recommendation

“Not even sure where to start - I loved this book for so many reasons! Lesbian romance, first year of college woes, nerdy excitement, a badass 96-year-old landlady, corgi booties… a delightfully real (messy and imperfect) picture of early adulthood. ”
— Miriasha • Phoenix Books

Summary
About the author

Stonewall Honor author Jake Maia Arlow delivers a sapphic Jewish twist on the classic Christmas rom-com in a read perfect for fans of Kelly Quindlen and Casey McQuiston.

It all starts when Shani runs into May. Like, literally. With her mom’s Subaru.

Attempted vehicular manslaughter was not part of Shani’s plan. She was supposed to be focusing on her monthlong paleoichthyology internship. She was going to spend all her time thinking about dead fish and not at all about how she was unceremoniously dumped days before winter break.

It could be going better.

But when a dog-walking gig puts her back in May’s path, the fossils she’s meant to be diligently studying are pushed to the side—along with the breakup.

Then they’re snowed in together on Christmas Eve. As things start to feel more serious, though, Shani’s hurt over her ex-girlfriend’s rejection comes rushing back. Is she ready to try a committed relationship again, or is she okay with this just being a passing winter fling?

Romance LGBTQIA+ Fiction YA Fiction

Jake Maia Arlow is a Stonewall Honor author, podcast producer, and (reluctantly) Amtrak's number one fan. They live with their girlfriend and loud cat in the Pacific Northwest.