Elba Luz wanted to play with the idea of what would happen if someone went back to all their exes, and thus "Build a Girlfriend" was born.

What was your inspiration behind "Build A Girlfriend?"

The initial idea for "Build a Girlfriend" came to me after I saw some tweets about JLO getting back together with Ben Affleck. Being a storyteller comes with the curse of constantly consuming information with something in the back of your brain saying, “That would make a good story.” There’s always a reason for a breakup, so I wondered what could draw two people back together again. After that, I started playing with the idea of someone going back to their ex, which expanded to, “What if someone went back to all their exes?” After some fine-tuning, lots of staring at the ceiling contemplating my life’s decisions, and three watches of "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days," "Build a Girlfriend" was born!

What does Reading Rainbow mean to you? 

Reading Rainbow, to me, is something I wish to be the norm. From the time we’re born, the majority of media we consume contains heterosexual relationships and characters. In this way, it becomes the standard. The more access we have to LGBTQ representation, the more people will be able to understand that not only do queer people exist, but they also have a right to exist, and their love is something beautiful to be celebrated openly and safely. Straight people should read books with queer characters openly and empathetically and learn that queer love is just that — love. Queer people should have access to stories from people in the LGBTQ community in the same way straight people can walk into any bookstore and find shelf after shelf lined with straight characters. Reading Rainbow is reading with love in your heart.

Why do you feel representation of a variety of people is so important when it comes to writing books? 

When you walk out into the world, anywhere, you’ll find diversity. This world is filled with different people from various communities, identities, and cultures. Books have the responsibility to ensure their worlds mirror that. In the same way, when you have a conversation with someone, find something you have in common and get excited about that connection; readers deserve that same joy when picking up a book and finding a character they resonate with. Having representation in books and reading stories — even if they’re not of your own identity — allows all readers to better understand each other, find joy in reading all stories, and accept all people. It’s a writer's duty.

Tell us a little more about "Build A Girlfriend" and why you decided to write it.

"Build a Girlfriend" is a rom-com filled with laughs, love, and a tiny bit of heartache, and it explores how you deal with that. It also features a wonderfully loud, loving house filled with Puerto Rican women. It showcases my culture in a celebratory way while navigating the balance between love and obligation that the main character, Amelia, has for her family. At the same time, she tries to carve out a future on her own.

I love the joy you get from romance books and the fun of will-they-won’t-they, and I really wanted to write something where they-did-they-fail-but-will-again? On a personal note, I wrote this because, growing up, when I first got into reading, I never read a book that featured a Puerto Rican protagonist. I wanted my nieces to be able to read about someone like us, and for other young Puerto Rican girls to find themselves within a book filled with happiness, love, and hope, knowing that it was possible for them too. And, because I’m spiteful, I wanted to write and succeed because my unnecessarily cruel college professor almost failed me and said that if I wanted to be an author, I should probably learn how to spell. Well, Mr. Malton, I can spell P-U-B-L-I-S-H-E-D.

What can fans expect from "Build A Girlfriend?"

"Build a Girlfriend" is a quintessential teen rom-com that feels like cotton candy-colored skies, drive-in movies, lip gloss, and a radio station that only plays old pop songs and occasionally one slow country song. It’s lots of fun, charm, and warm romance that feels like basking in the sun. Expect to read it and feel all the love I put into it!

What's up next for you in the bookish world?

Next up for me is another rom-com coming in Fall 2025. Following that, there's a romance in the Spring of 2026. I have to be annoyingly vague about both projects, but expect hijinks, fun, banter, and occasional second-hand embarrassment.

You can buy the book here.