How to Excavate A Heart (by Jake Maia Arlow)

What's this? More queer YA? Why, I never.

Starting with the minor negatives - I found the main character frustrating from the start, but when I got to the conflict at 80% (with percentages on my Kindle app I can assure you there's always a conflict at 80%) it was the worst example of the miscommunication trope ever and I had to put the book down for a while.  (It turned out her reaction had a good reason, which in hindsight was obvious, and I did forgive her very quickly.)  She does have a good growth arc but you'll know pretty quickly when starting the book if you're okay with a very flawed protagonist.

Another minor negative - this is billed as "enemies to lovers" because the characters meet when our MC's mother hits the love interest with her car. And then the love interest is really super mean and nasty for seemingly no reason except to call it "enemies to lovers." (Like why are you so hateful towards the passenger of the car?) It doesn't make sense for her character at all (or her character is just underdeveloped) so by the time you get to the end you look back and think ???? what was that about? 

But the writing is solid. It's legitimately funny without trying too hard. And the details are what really make it: the D.C. setting, the corgi and his little snow booties, the art of David Hockney, a local meteorologist who drinks out of a cup with a picture of himself on it, paleoicthyology, Beatrice and her haunted sex bed. So many delightful details made everything else forgiveable.