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Each summer, women everywhere flock to beaches, pools, and parks, armed with sunscreen, blankets, and a colorful paperback or two. On a warm, summer day, there’s just nothing like a little bit of chick lit—something fun and fluffy, with a little bit of romance, a little bit of humor, and a warm, fuzzy happy ending.
Mitch Samuels, however, thinks that chick lit is ridiculous. The stories are cheesy, the characters are superficial, and the writing is brainless. And he should know; he’s an author—though, for some reason, no one will publish his masterpiece.
When Mitch meets bestselling author Katharine Longwell, he decides to show the world how easy it is to do her job—by writing his own chick lit. The only problem is that he doesn’t know any bubble-headed, fashion-obsessed women like the usual chick lit heroines. So, his roommate, Bradley, sends him to the dance studio where Bradley’s sister, Marie, takes lessons.
Thinking he’ll go once, get some girly insights, and run, Mitch introduces himself as “Jason.” But when he discovers that he likes the class—and the students—he sinks deeper and deeper into his lies.
Ms. Taken Identity is definitely an unusual work of chick lit—because, for starters, it wasn’t written by a chick. The main character isn’t a chick, either. Instead, he’s a guy who absolutely hates chick lit—and who isn’t particularly nice to women, either (just ask his ex, Hannah, who just dumped him). In fact, in the beginning of the book, Mitch is so cynical and self-absorbed that you’re pretty much guaranteed to hate him. Admittedly, that makes it pretty tough reading for a while, but don’t give up—because it gets better.
Although Mitch isn’t a particularly likeable character (especially in the book’s early chapters), his story is intriguing enough to keep you going—and, as you read, you’ll root for him to grow up and learn his lesson. Meanwhile, the supporting characters may not be written with the same depth and precision, but they do help to take some of the edge off Mitch’s unpleasant personality. The other dancer students—especially sweet, trusting Marie and her quirky friend, Rosie—are a breath of fresh air in comparison.
It may be built around the standard chick lit formula, but the fresh (male) perspective—and the clever twists—make Ms. Taken Identity an original and enjoyable read. So as you’re packing your beach bag, throw in a copy of this fun and fluffy dude lit.
