"Sometimes love can be stranger than fiction."

Having founded a few book clubs myself, I was intrigued enough by A Novel Idea by Aimee Friedman that I picked it up at Barnes & Noble for the library. It's a fun read - a great summer beach read - about a girl, Norah, who starts a book club at a fun local book store to add to her list of extra curriculuar activities for college applications. She's a reader, and a bit of a book snob (or at least perceived as so), but she has a secret weakness for trashy romance novels.
Of course, the book club isnt' going to read any such thing; Norah sells them on The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time instead. The club's ecclectic, including a diva, a science nerd, Norah's best friend, a book store employee, and James, whom Norah is interested in right away. Norah's not quite sure how to snag him until her latest trashy romance provides some inspiration - a plan that should be impossible for James to resist.
Since book clubs are popular with teens, this book should be as well. The writing isn't great, and I was a little frustrated with Norah's plan - and I think many teens will be, too. It's pretty sit-commy. Still, this one is a clean romance choice for those who are looking for summer mind candy.

Friedman, Aimme. A Novle Idea. New York: Simon Pulse, 2006. ISBN 9781416907855 $5.99.