I Love Claire

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY 4 SEPT 2006

In this follow-up to Leave It to Claire and Claire Knows Best, Bateman rings wedding bells for the fallible protagonist maybe. Claire Everett, a divorced mother of three, is set to marry her good-hearted boyfriend, Greg Lewis. But Greg's decision to become a pastor is giving her cold feet, and his devotion to his calling may cost them their two-week honeymoon in Hawaii. A handsome executive is pushing Claire to reconsider tying the knot, which further muddies the waters. Things aren't so good for Claire's career as a writer, either; her agent has dropped her and she's trying to switch genres. Even worse, the wedding dress of her dreams has a hefty price tag. Although Claire's no dog lover, she finds herself in the dog-walking business to raise cash to cover the dress, providing some light humor throughout the story. Other complications include her teenage daughter's increasingly serious romance, her skateboarding teen son's flirtation with the wild side and a younger son's couch potato tendencies. Claire's ex-husband and his new family are on such good terms with her that some readers may find it difficult to believe it's all as rosy as it seems. Nonetheless, Bateman's chick lit for middle-aged moms is enjoyable, smooth and sweet without being cloying.