A review by maidinnah
My Heart Underwater by Laurel Flores Fantauzzo

emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

A touching contemporary YA novel about a teen grappling with her identity, sense of belonging, and family history, all against the backdrop of a beautifully described, vibrant, bustling Manila. Fantauzzo also portrays the mind of a vulnerable, near-angsty Corazon very well. She feels like a relatable and real teenager healing from an abusive relationship while taking her first, tentative steps toward learning about and building truly loving ones -- familial, platonic, and romantic.

Although the story concluded with a neat little bow on top, I felt that the
SpoilerIggy/Cory romance was rushed and Bea's exit from the story brought her relationship with Cory to a halt. Additionally, I would have wanted a deeper exploration of Rommel Sr's infidelity, more so to flesh out the themes of love and family history more. Jun's own journey of coming to terms with his feelings of abandonment and shame was great though.
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