Lauren Baratz-Logsted A Little Change of Face

A Little Change of Face

Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Red Dress, Jul 2005, $12.95, 304 pp.

ISBN: 0373895259

In Danbury, Connecticut, her best friend Pam commented that Scarlett Jane Stein has her share of male friends and admirers because of her chest size. This shakes up Scarlett Jane, who thought men liked her because she was friendly and a nice person. If Pam is right and not just jealous, Scarlett wonders if that could be why she never met Mr. Right.

Scarlett decides to experiment by sending out a frumpy schlumpy version. Pam helps her change into a dowdy version of herself. Scarlett changes her name to Lettie Shaw, her look, her home and even her job. Now she hopes to find someone who will get past her chest size to love the inner Scarlett. Two men enter her life, but does either see past Lettie to Scarlett.

A LITTLE CHANGE OF FACE is an intriguing contemporary chick lit starring a likable protagonist who wonders if her good looks are a handicap hindering her finding a man who loves her. The storyline is fun to follow when it concentrates on the transformation to a dumpy lead protagonist and the two men in her life. However, sidebars to include her so-called best friend acting like a Kamikaze drill instructor treating her like the enemy and Scarlett speaking hip hop with a black attorney pal seem inane for educated people and clearly in poor taste. Simply Scarlett needs to dump her best pal and treat TB (don't ask) with respect maybe the love of her life will do likewise.

Harriet Klausner