Borrow My Heart

Gr 8 Up–West’s latest novel is another sweet, lighthearted story about young love and young problems. Wren lives her life by a set of rules and keeps herself closed off from most people because of abandonment issues she still carries from her estranged mom. However, she does something spontaneous and out of character when she sees a guy named Asher at a coffee shop; he appears to have been catfished by someone online and is being ridiculed by his friend. Wren pretends to be the girl he was there to meet, hoping to ease his embarrassment. She keeps up the charade with plans to tell Asher the truth, but the longer she pretends, the more of her own rules she begins to break. Now, Wren wonders whether he will forgive her for her deceit even though it was done with good intentions. Meanwhile, Wren has feelings of isolation because she hasn’t forgiven her mom, and her sister always defends their mom while their dad remains neutral. West’s contemporary writing is perfect for teens as it discusses dysfunctional family dynamics, the negative impact of social media, and experiencing first love. Wren and Asher are described as white; Wren’s best friend is Indian.