A Novel Idea

Aimee Friedman's Simon Pulse paperback, available in prebind, is a serviceable story about a girl who, in need of an activity for her college applications, starts a book discussion group. A variety of quirky people gather, various crushes are had, and there is a nice story line involving a reclusive teenage author that they try to lure to a reading. The list of books that are considered was interesting, and the characters were interestingly drawn. I especially liked the gorgeous, well-dressed girl who turned out to have been geeky previously. Not seen that one done. Norah gets slightly annoying with her obsession with clothes and her apparent cluelessness about college applications, but in general, this is a pleasing high school romance story that will make readers of Chick Lit very happy.