July 1, 2007
Philomena Donovans boyfriend, Barrington Emery Wallace III, has money and prestige, but he kisses like a St. Bernard. As soon as she breaks up with him, her parents invite her and Barry to her perfect sister Daphnes thirtieth birthday party. Menas parents are Barrys biggest fans, and he is the only thing about her they approve of. Following her lifelong habit of trying to please her mother and father (albeit unsuccessfully), Mena decides to get her boyfriend back. But theres a glitch: Barry has replaced Mena with another woman. Using television hero MacGyvers planning tactics, Mena decides to date Barrys best friend, the stunningly handsome boxing instructor, Riordan McKenna, to make Barry jealous enough to leave his new love. But instead of the results she expects, Mena finds herself falling for the hunky Rio, a man her parents definitely wont endorse as son-in-law material. Perry (Project Daddy, 2006) has fashioned a hilarious romp with clever characters, especially Mena; her best friend, Matt; and Menas insect-collecting, environmentalist parents. A sure-to-please, entertaining romantic comedy.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)