A Girl Like You
By Maria Geraci
Publisher: Berkley
Release
Date: August 7, 2012
As I mentioned in the introduction of Maria Geraci’s guest
blog on Wednesday, she is an author that surprised me—in a GOOD way. When I
read the blurb of the first book of hers I read, Bunco Babes Gone Wild, I figured it would be a cute read. I was
right, but it was so much more. It was fun, romantic, and an absolute delight!
The same can be said of her latest, A
Girl Like You. In fact, it is her best book yet and now my favorite!
Emma Frazier is a journalist for Florida!, a popular Florida
magazine. She lives in Tampa,
loves her job, gets along well with her coworkers, and has great friends. She’s
smart, upbeat, and works hard, but knows that with her average looks and size
12 body, she will never be a runway model. And she’s okay with that. What she
isn’t okay with is being referred to as the “ugly friend”. Emma overhears an
acquaintance say this to her best friend, Torie, who promptly chews out said
acquaintance. Emma pretends like she doesn’t hear it to spare anyone
embarrassment, but it does hurt. Especially when that very same acquaintance
ends up going home with Emma’s boss, Ben...who Emma has had a crush on for
months.
In an attempt to impress Ben, Emma says that she can get an
exclusive interview with famous NASCAR driver Trip Monroe. Emma and Trip grew
up in the same small Florida
town, Catfish Cove, and graduated high school the same year. Granted, they
weren’t the best of friends, but how hard could it be to score an interview
with an old classmate? As Emma finds out, it’s a lot harder than she thought.
But the determined Emma doesn’t give up. A visit to Catfish Cove stirs up old
memories, renewed friendships, and new feelings which eventually lead to a
whole lot more.
I love this book! It is not your typical romance (after all,
there are four possible heroes) and that’s what I love about it. I was constantly
surprised and it kept me turning the pages. Plus, I love that it is set in Tampa, where I used to
live. So many places were familiar to me. J Ms.
Geraci’s writing is sharp and her heroines are smart—not just in the “book
smart” way, but also in the decisions they make. Emma knows she’s not the
prettiest girl out there, but even when dating a good-looking guy, she is
intelligent enough to acknowledge when he isn’t her dream. Instead of being/staying
with him because he is attractive and isn’t a jerk, she makes the right
decision to break it off...and eventually finds her dream. She is one of those congenial
characters that so many women can instantly connect with. And I was completely
satisfied with who she ended up with.
Romance, chick lit, women’s fiction... No matter what you
call A Girl Like You, one thing is
for certain—it will surely please! I highly recommend it!
~Andrea
