How To Build A House by Dana Reinhardt

Things have been pretty bad at home ever since Harper's dad and stepmom got a divorce. Jane was the only mom Harper had ever known and she and her stepsister Tess couldn't have been better friends. But then the divorce happens and all bets are off. To get away from the drama, Harper flies down to Tennessee to help rebuild the home of a family's whose house was destroyed in a huge tornado. With all the government's money going to help Katrina victims, no money has been going to help the other victims in the nation. The first thing Harper notices when she gets off the plane is that it is hot. Hot as hell. Working in that heat is one of only many changes that Harper has to get used to in order to survive the next twelve weeks. But, against all odds, she starts to make friends. Kids from all over the nation have joined to reach one common goal and they find solace, comfort, and happiness with each other. And when Teddy, the boy who Harper's building the house for, starts to take notice of her, it's going to take all of what Harper's got to make this relationship work and forget once and for all, the troubles she's left behind.

This is an example of a beautiful, poignant, and perfectly crafted book. I have absolutely nothing to gripe about and only have praise for How To Build a House. The story deals with real life issues and puts them into perspective for the readers. I was able to feel myself in all of Harper's situations and I totally understood her which is a great thing. I loved that I was able to relate to all of the characters. They each were well written with a huge attention to detail that I loved. I also liked how Harper and Teddy's relationship was believable and realistic. The chemistry they had felt totally true to how teens interact with each other and it makes you root for them throughout the whole story. I also liked how we got to see all the dynamics of a complicated family life and how through all the hardships that Harper's family faced, they were able to pull through. The imagery and descriptions in the book were beautiful, the characters had a ton of depth to them, and the plot was sweet and poignant. What more could you ask for in a book? Pretty much nothing. I would completely recommend How To Build A House. It is a truly bittersweet, touching, and well-written book that will keep you flipping the pages and rooting for the characters throught its entirety. Pick up a copy soon!
How To Build A House will be released tomorrow; Tuesday, May 27.