Alisa Kwitney's FLIRTING IN CARS--and it was a book that delivered exactly what the cover ordered--a little hope, humor, sensitivity, and of course romance. Who could ask for anything more?
First and foremost the book focuses on the relationship of Zoe Goren and her daughter Maya. Because that is the reason Zoe is ripped from her favorite place of all time--the city. She's a single mom looking out for her daughter (and her daughter's education with dyslexia) so they head from middle of the city, to smack dab into the country. But not without some difficulty. And when I say difficulty, culture shock is only half of it. Zoe can't drive. Oh and wild animals? Yeah, not so friendly when they are in your house. Even if you do have a cat around.
This book delivered a lot of punch for its 323 pages. I fell in love with Zoe. Her honesty, bluntness, and to-hell-with-you attitude (listen, this woman? Yeah, she knows what she wants and goes after it. No excuses made). And her daughter Maya. Well, I think every woman can identify with her self-confidence issues. I mean who likes to be 13 and not fit in? No one. Then suddenly you find yourself fitting in somewhere... well it can only be called sweetness. And this is where the book thrives. Mother/daughter relationships. Parenting, and how we make some tough choices sometimes, that can hinder dreams and hopes we thought we had. It's all there, wrapped in this great relationship of a hard-working, dedicated mom and her daughter (I can only hope for so much with my daughter).
But I am forgetting something. The whole Out-of-City aspect of the book! Hey, I did the opposite. I moved from the rural Upper Peninsula of Michigan and landed myself in Chicago. Sure it was the 'Burbs, but for anyone that has done that little conversion. It's city. It took me 2 years to feel comfortable roaming the skyscraper, cement clad streets on my own. Now, I'm sad to not be in the concrete regularly. Kwitney also does a good job at creating the isolation that one feels by feeling like an outsider in a small (or big) town. Everything is so unfamiliar--foreign even. And coming from a small town, her whole feelings of being the outsider? Not such a stretch. I feel like that when I go home now. Once you leave the rural... well, it's hard going back. And Zoe had never been there (or wanted to go there) in the first place.
Oh--but does she have a surprise in store for her. First there is Mack (he's the romantic interest). Then there is Frances and Gretchen--also transplanted city folk--that, well, help Zoe's isolation issues. And of course a slew of other characters. They keep the country interesting and sorta sway Zoe away from her beloved city. Or at least as much as they can.
And this might be my only complaint with the book. The transition. It takes a BUNCH longer than a year to realize the country/city can work for anyone, you just need to find your place. Hell, it's taken me 10 years to finally find the common ground that works from me (I am 40 minutes from the city. And that is just fine by me). Less than a year and Zoe's completely happy with her beginning driver status, found Mack, and well given her career a face lift? A little like a sitcom. At least in novel form.
But please, don't let that deter you. The characters here are fun, playful, and definitely what keep you reading. The alternating points of view of Zoe and Mack are fun. Sexy. Hot. And well... just read the book. Let's just say, the sex is good (oops, sorry, a bit of a spoiler there). And the relationships all around are believable and definitely make for a wonderfully witty adventure that will make you beg to see where these characters DO land in about 5 years. I mean does Zoe land in the country forever?
