A Novel Idea (Romantic Comedies (Mass Market)) [Mass Market Paperback]

Aimee Friedman (Author)

Book Description

Series: Romantic Comedies (Mass Market) | Publication Date: December 20, 2005

Required reading has never been so hot.

Once upon a time there was a Brooklyn hipster named Norah. Unlucky in love, and short on extracurriculars for her college apps, Norah decided to start a book group. She knew the perfect locale -- a local indie bookstore with a crush-worthy cutie manning the soy latte counter.

When the first meeting arrives, Norah gets a page-turning surprise. The attendees may be bookish, but there are also a few hotties! Most noteworthy: sweet, literary James. He's like a modern Jane Austen hero.... Only, how to snag him?

Ever the romantic heroine, Norah devises a secret plan. And if it works, Norah may just find her "Happily Ever After" love story. The End.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 7-11–When Norahs guidance counselor informs her that she needs more extracurriculars to strengthen her college résumé, she starts a book club at a local independent bookstore. Along with her two best friends, several interesting high school students from different backgrounds join the group, and Norah becomes attracted to James. From that point on, her focus is less on literature and more on how to grab his attention. Taking cues from her favorite romance writer, she sets up various scenarios that inevitably go awry. For example, she writes herself a love letter, planning to let it flutter down and land at Jamess feet during a party, letting him know that other boys are interested in her. Instead, the note lands near Jamess friend, who embarrasses her by reading it aloud. Ultimately, Norah discovers that James has read the same romance novel and has watched her plotting with rapt attention. He also shares her feelings. Norahs voice is quick-witted and strong and conveys the lack of confidence that many teens experience. The books urban setting, in Brooklyns Park Slope, comes through clearly, and Friedmans references to numerous popular-culture icons will grab the teen crowds attention. Recommend this light read to fans of Janette Rallisons Alls Fair in Love, War, and High School (Walker, 2003).–Emily Garrett, Naaman Forest High School, Garland, TX
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Simon Pulse (December 20, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416907858
• ISBN-13: 978-1416907855
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,009,053 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I am an author of teen novels, as well as a book editor, living and working in New York City. NYC is where I was born, and have lived all my life, barring brief stints in glamorous Poughkeepsie, and (truly) sublime Aix-en-Provence, France. When I am not click-clacking on my trusty laptop or making pencil marks on manuscripts, I am happiest sharing good meals with good friends, losing myself in the pages of a thick novel, a poetry collection, or a magazine, exploring New York City on foot, browsing the Nanette Lepore boutique in SoHo, watching almost any kind of movie, laughing so hard my stomach hurts, and dancing around my room listening to (as of late) Ray Charles. Writing is my passion, and when I am away from my characters and stories, I miss them tremendously. I hope this blog (plog?) will give me a chance to connect with my readers, and see the world beyond the blank page.
Please visit me online at www.aimeefriedmanbooks.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Like Reading A Note From Your Book-Loving Best Friend, December 9, 2005

By 

Erika Sorocco (Southern California, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Novel Idea (Romantic Comedies (Mass Market)) (Mass Market Paperback)

Sixteen-year-old Norah Bloom has always been a trendy, Brooklyn hipster with a love of books - especially scandalous romance novels. However, Norah has been unlucky in love from day one, and has yet to even kiss a boy; whereas her thirteen-year-old sister, Stacey, has been fending off boys with a stick for years. When Norah finds out that she's short on extracurriculars, and may have a problem getting into the college of her dreams, she decides to start a book group. A high school book group at a quaint indie bookstore, with a drool-worthy guy manning the coffee counter. Norah is expecting a bunch of nerds to show up, but is quite surprised that a few of her new book loving buddies are...hotties! The hottest being shy James, a modern day Jane Austen character. But Norah has a problem...how to snag the guy of her dreams. Being the literary lover she is, Norah devises a secret plan - with the help of one of her favorite romance authors - to catch the guy, and make nice with her own little happily ever after tale.

I guess you could say that I judged this book prematurely, based on the cover - which is utterly adorable. However, as an avid reader, I loved the idea of a teenage girl starting a book group and meeting the guy of her dreams, which is why this book will stick with me for years to come. Aimee Friedman's snazzy dialogue, and name-dropping of indie bands reeks of fabulosity to me, and the characters she created each possessed their own quirks, that make each and every one of them rememberable. Norah is a wonderful heroine whose love of literature - and James - will make her appealing to all teenage girls - especially the bookworms - who dream of meeting a guy who shares the same interests as them. Like reading a note from your book-loving best friend!

Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good but your typical teen novel, February 7, 2007

By 

A. L. Wooden (Bedford, OH, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Novel Idea (Romantic Comedies (Mass Market)) (Mass Market Paperback)

In the beginning and in the end of reading this book, I did enjoy it. It was parts in the middle that made it seem a bit too silly and unbelieveable. Not to say all novels must BE believeable but there were just points where there was no way a girl would ever go through such lengths to win over a guy. Well, in my opinion anyway. But other than that i really enjoyed the book. I felt i could see myself in a lot of the characters during the story. Its not a great read but i do recommend it to others because it was indeed still entertaining. I will probably search out more of Aimee's books too see if there are ones bettert than this one.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book captured " my heart "!!!!!!!, August 20, 2006

By 

Carolina Girl91 - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Novel Idea (Romantic Comedies (Mass Market)) (Mass Market Paperback)

This is a book about sixteen year old Norah, who is short on college credits and needs to find a way to bring up her extra curricular activties. When she starts the book club, she finds that one person in particular catches her attention. To get the guy to look her way Norah comes up with plots... ( from a romance novel!!! ) This book is awesome with all the twists and schemes!! It is hilarious!!! This book totally captured my heart!!