The Lit Chick's MAY 2008 picks:

Hi folks!

Last month's recommended reads were Megan Crane's NAMES MY SISTERS CALL ME and Lisa Daily's FIFTEEN MINUTES OF SHAME, two great reads. Please click on the titles for more information.

This month's lit chick picks are two great reads to kick off your summer: Jane Porter's MRS. PERFECT and a fabulous YA novel called HOW TO BE BAD, which was penned by three of my favorite YA authors, Sarah Mlynowski, E. Lockhart and Lauren Myracle.

MRS. PERFECT is the follow-up to September's ODD MOM OUT, which was the story of single mom Marta Zinsser, who has trouble fitting in when she moves to an upscale Seattle suburb. Marta's nemesis in the first book, Taylor Young, is actually the main character of this book, and we see her world from an entirely different viewpoint. Porter, an incredibly gifted writer, does a wonderful job of letting us into Taylor's world, peeling back the layers, and showing us that underneath, perhaps she's not so bad after all. Fans of ODD MOM OUT will enjoy the cameos by Marta in MRS. PERFECT, but even if you haven't read the prequel, this book certainly stands on its own as a wonderful exploration of female friendship, suburban competition and, ultimately, personal growth. I loved it!

HOW TO BE BAD is a fantastic pick for teens this summer. Its three authors, Sarah Mlynowski, E. Lockhart and Lauren Myracle, teamed up for a unique collaboration in which each of them penned a different character. The three critically-acclaimed, bestselling writers then sent their three fictional heroines -- Vicks, Jesse and Mel -- on a wacky and wonderful road trip through Florida in which their beliefs in love, friendship and possibility are tested. A truly delightful read, HOW TO BE BAD has already received some great reviews. It's the perfect read for girls ages 14 and up who are just getting out of school for the summer.

Don't forget to check out my latest novels, THE ART OF FRENCH KISSING (about a woman who rediscovers herself in Paris, with the help of a crazy rock star) and WHEN YOU WISH (a teen novel about a pop star who runs away from her life of fame to discover what it's like to simply be a normal girl).

Happy reading!



**