Jackie Clune The Man of the Month Club

The Man of the Month Club

Jackie Clune

Putnam. Aug 2006, $24.95

ISBN: 0399153667

In London Precious Little Darlings boutique owner Amy Stokes enjoys the freedom of an OINKS (one income no kids or spouse). However, several incidents in a short time leads Amy feels her biological clock running down as she turns thirty-nine to sudden introspection syndrome.

Following her thirty-ninth birthday party, Amy comes home drunk running over her dog; next she finds an abandoned newborn left by her apartment. That makes her think of the wealthy parents who buy her items for their children at her expensive Chelsea shop. Amy wonders if she should consider an offspring as her biological clock is running down. She needs the right throwaway mate so she begins solicitating partners choosing appropriate men to seduce at the right time of the month. Some are worth lusting over, but lack intelligence and or charm; some are losers; some have children that terrorize their dates; finally there is Joe, single father of twins, but their dates are disasters. Amy begins to think remaining OINKS status looks right for her though Joe believes otherwise.

This is an ultra lighthearted British chick lit tale that follows the sub-genre guidelines from start to finish. Even having an infant dumped on Amy only serves as a catalyst throwaway. Still Amy's metaphase is fascinating, as she ponders how she went from the centerfold of OINKS to a need to become pregnant with the right hunk. Sub-genre fans will enjoy this blithe character driven tale of a desperate woman's clock ticking down as her one year objective provides her with losers with children and losers with no children; the common theme being the male of the species is pathetic except perhaps for good dad Joe.

Harriet Klausner