What better way to start off your new year reading than with a YA rom-com? Read on to learn more about the inspiration behind Elba Luz’s debut, Build a Girlfriend!
Interview with Elba Luz
Let’s start off with a quick teaser about your book—describe Build a Girlfriend in five words:
Funny, Romantic, Heartwarming, Messy, Exciting.
Build a Girlfriend is your debut novel. What inspired Amelia’s story?
Build a Girlfriend‘s inspiration came from JLO getting back together with Ben Affleck! I think the curse of a writer is whenever you intake most information, you wonder, “How can I make this a story?” I thought the idea of going back to my ex would be a horrible one, and the thought of any of my friends doing it made me want to throttle them. But when I pondered it more, I realized there is bravery in trying again with someone you’ve already failed with. So I sat and thought about what kind of person would do that. Why would they do that? And then threw in chaotic family members and a swoon-worthy romance—before I knew it, Build a Girlfriend was a book!
I love classic rom-coms like How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, 27 Dresses, etc. For books, Lynn Painter has mastered it. There’s also a book, Say a Little Prayer by Jenna Voris coming out March 4th, 2025. I was lucky to read it early, and I laughed so hard while doing so; such a funny and warm read!
I think Austin by Dasha sums up Amelia’s mindset perfectly when we first meet her.
I’m currently working on my second YA rom-com, releasing 2026 (that feels like a fake year), that will feature more hijinks, messy characters, and romance!
About Build a Girlfriend
Release Date: January 14, 2025
Find it: Goodreads, Bookshop, Barnes & Noble, Amazon
A teen deep-dives into her dating history to uncover her mistakes, become the perfect girlfriend, and get revenge on the wrong guy so she can ride into the sunset with the right one in this debut rom-com.
To the surprise of no one, Amelia Hernandez is once again single. It’s her family curse at work; whether it’s by heartbreak, scandal, or even accidental death, every romantic relationship that a Hernandez woman has will meet its demise eventually. And that may be fine with Amelia’s sisters, mom, and aunts, but definitely not with Amelia.
So, convinced that she is the problem, Amelia decides to embark on an “Ex Retrospective:” tracking down her exes, finding out where she went wrong, and using that information to finally become un-break-up-able for whenever her next relationship comes along. Because Amelia is determined to be free of the family curse…and her family.
However, when Amelia is unwillingly reunited with Leon, the ex to end all exes, she can’t resist having a little revenge on the side, too. After all, what better way to test out her new persona of perfect girlfriend traits than on the boy who broke her heart?
But old loves die hard, and as Amelia’s feelings grow more complicated, she suspects that she may be in for more than she bargained for.
About Elba Luz
WEBSITE | GOODREADS | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER
Elba Luz is a Puerto Rican author and a lover of stories, whether in the form of anime, manga, video games, or, of course, books. Speaking of books, she should be writing her own. Instead, you’ll probably find her replaying Final Fantasy, listening to classical music, or cuddling up with her adorable pit bull, Stormy.
