Lani Diane Rich Ex and the Single Girl

Ex and the Single Girl

Lani Diane Rich

5 Spot, Nov 2005, $12.95

ISBN: 0446693073

On Valentine's Day in Syracuse, New York Portia Fallon received an epiphany when her boyfriend Peter dumped her. Over wine and corn chips she concludes that except for her quartet of cats, she is pathetically hopeless when it comes to men. Just like all her female relatives men always leave. Thus when mom asks her to come home for awhile, Portia, assumes she has lost her head or at least her grits, and puts aside her dissertation and heads to Truly, Georgia to spend a summer with her family.

Of course that means becoming the fourth member once again of the Truly famous Miz Fallons (mom, Aunt Vera; and grandma Bev) as mom warmly reminds her daughter that they are victims of the infamous "Penis Teflon Effect". Still the Miz Fallons decide that Portia needs a local "Flyer" to move past that peck Peter. They select British novelist Ian Beckett whom they assume has the right stuff (i.e., penis). While Portia and Ian work closely on renovating a farmhouse she falls in love with him. Peter arrives and proposes. The "Penis Teflon Effect" can be overcome with love, but to persuade that motley of female believers otherwise may take a lifetime.

The Miz Fallons are a zany trio who drives Portia crazy with their antics including trying to get her a temporary man to move her itch on. She, in turn, realizing the family curse is an unsubstantiated myth decides to out-zany the lunatic fringe of her family. Chick lit fans will enjoy this wild bunch even if the relationships are beyond the bizarre.

Harriet Klausner